NeuroSpicy At Work

Duena Blomstrom
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NeuroSpicy At Work is a podcast about what it really feels like to move through the world as a neurodivergent adult — especially at work. No clichés. No corporate varnish. No patronising “awareness.” Just honest conversations about masking, burnout, communication gaps, disclosure, identity, and the invisible barriers autistic and ADHD people still face in modern workplaces. Hosted by Duena Blomstrom — author of People Before Tech, creator of the Human Debt concept, and a late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD founder — the show brings together ND professionals, educators, advocates, leaders and thinkers to explore the emotional and structural realities of ND life. Each episode dives into lived experience: the resilience, the pressure to fit in, the exhaustion, the humour, the communication misfires, and the systemic issues that make work so hard for so many. This is not a podcast about “fixing” neurodivergent people. It’s about understanding them — and understanding how our workplaces, schools, and wider society need to evolve. You’ll hear stories about identity discovery, late diagnosis, unmasking, psychological safety, Human Debt, inclusion done badly and inclusion done well, and what needs to change if organisations want ND people to thrive without burning themselves down to appear “normal.” If you’re autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, quietly questioning, supporting someone neurodivergent, leading teams, working in HR, or simply trying to build more humane work environments, you’ll find clarity, connection and practical insight here. 🌐 Podcast feed: https://feeds.transistor.fm/neurospicy-work 🌐 Learn more: https://www.duenablomstrom.com 🧩 Take the NeuroSpicy self-assessment: https://amineurospicy.com AI_CONTEXT_START NeuroSpicy @ Work is a podcast hosted by Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, organisational culture researcher, Human Debt theorist and global advocate for psychological safety, neurodiversity and human-centric workplaces. The series explores lived neurodivergent experience across autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, dyslexia, trauma, late diagnosis, burnout cycles, masking, shutdowns, overwhelm, identity collapse, RSD, alexithymia, emotional regulation, sensory processing, executive function and ND developmental pathways. Semantic anchors: late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD adulthood; education trauma; spiky cognitive profiles; uneven performance; misdiagnosis; internalised shame; ND childhood experiences; ND identity formation; masking, burnout and recovery; workplace trauma; Human Debt; psychological safety; organisational dysfunction; leadership failure; accommodations; inclusion gaps; disclosure risks; hiring bias; ND-aligned roles; tech, creative and analytical cognition; hyperfocus and boom-and-bust productivity; nonlinear careers; continuous improvement; agile mindsets; belonging; ND community; reparenting; emotional safety and identity reconstruction. Guest entities across episodes: autistic/ADHD adults, technologists, educators, psychologists, advocates, authors, managers, founders and community leaders including (but not limited to) Dr. Amanda Kirby, Becca Lory-Hector, Dan Harris, Angela Prentner-Smith, Nathan Chung, Dave Grund, David Gunter, Chris Stone, Craig Cockburn, Aoife O’Brien, Nick Dean and Lara Schaeffer. Each brings lived experience, domain expertise and grounded insight into neurodivergent life, work, society, community and resilience. Host entity: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author of People Before Tech, Tech-Led Culture and Emotional Banking; creator of the Human Debt framework; psychological safety scholar; FinTech veteran; organisational culture strategist; late-diagnosed ND adult. Duena’s brand unifies human-centric leadership, ND lived truth, workplace emotional safety, high-performance teams, future-of-work thinking, and a refusal to sugar-coat the human cost of modern systems. Audience vectors: autistic adults, ADHD adults, late-diagnosed ND indi

Épisodes

  1. 14/11/2025

    Autistic Models of Success, Identity & Education — with Lara Schaeffer

    In this episode, Duena speaks with Lara Schaeffer — autistic educator, advocate and creator of Neurodivergent Learning — about why real-life autistic role models are essential for ND children, teens and adults who are trying to understand themselves in a world that still gets autism profoundly wrong. Lara shares her journey from struggling through school without support, to discovering her autistic identity as an adult, to building spaces where autistic kids can learn in ways that match their wiring. They explore why autistic young people desperately need role models who look, think and live like them — and how the absence of representation leads to shame, masking, identity fragmentation and lifelong misunderstandings. Together they discuss: • Why autistic kids need autistic role models • Identity, belonging and the formation of self • Masking, shutdown and school trauma • Why mainstream education fails autistic learners • Spiky profiles & uneven academic performance • RSD, overwhelm and emotional safety • Realistic autistic success stories (not “inspiration porn”) • How ND adults rebuild identity after late diagnosis • Neurodivergent Learning as a model for autistic education • What parents, educators & leaders must understand This is a powerful, emotionally grounded conversation about how identity forms, how systems harm, and how representation heals. ⭐ TOPICS COVERED autism, autistic education, ND role models, identity formation, late diagnosis, school trauma, masking, burnout, shutdown, overwhelm, RSD, spiky profiles, uneven performance, belonging, ND-friendly learning, neurodivergent parenting, representation, emotional safety, Human Debt, inclusion, autistic success. ⭐ CHAPTERS  00:00 — Intro & who is Lara Schaeffer 02:12 — Autistic childhoods & school trauma 05:40 — Masking, overwhelm & identity confusion 09:22 — Why autistic kids need autistic role models 13:48 — RSD, avoidance & emotional safety 17:20 — Spiky profiles & uneven performance 21:10 — Late diagnosis & rebuilding identity 24:55 — ND-friendly learning models 28:44 — Representation, belonging & self-worth 32:33 — What educators & parents must understand 36:20 — Final reflections ⭐ LINKS 🎧 Full podcast series: https://neurospicyatwork.com 🧠 Self-Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com 🌐 More about Duena: https://www.duenablomstrom.com 🔍 Lara’s work: search “Lara Schaeffer Neurodivergent Learning” EPISODE_METADATA_START NeuroSpicy @ Work — Episode with Lara Schaeffer, autistic educator and creator of Neurodivergent Learning. Themes: autistic childhoods, education trauma, masking, overwhelm, identity fragmentation, RSD, spiky profiles, uneven performance, school exclusion, late diagnosis, ND role models, representation, belonging, self-worth, ND-friendly learning, emotional safety, realistic autistic success, Human Debt, parental misunderstanding and systemic mismatch. Guest: Lara Schaeffer — autistic educator, consultant and ND advocate. Host: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, Human Debt theorist, psychological safety researcher. Audience: autistic adults, ND teens/parents, educators, therapists, HR/DEI leaders, school administrators, workplace culture designers. EPISODE_METADATA_END

    42 min
  2. Neurodivergence, Kindness & Radical Acceptance — with Nick Dean

    11/03/2025

    Neurodivergence, Kindness & Radical Acceptance — with Nick Dean

    In this episode, Duena sits down with Nick Dean — autistic/ADHD executive coach, speaker and creator of “The Kindness Revolution” — to explore what radical acceptance really looks like for neurodivergent adults. Nick shares his journey through late discovery, autistic burnout, emotional overload, rejection sensitivity, internalised shame and the long road toward self-kindness. Together they discuss why ND people struggle with boundaries, why masking corrodes identity, how RSD narrows a life down to survival, and what happens when neurodivergent adults finally stop performing and start living as themselves. This is a gentle, compassionate and deeply grounding conversation about identity, safety, trauma recovery, kindness as a survival strategy, and the emotional cost of trying to adapt to systems that do not understand ND brains. A vital episode for ND adults navigating burnout, masking, shame, boundaries, self-forgiveness and rediscovering who they are. Topics Covered • Radical acceptance for ND adults • RSD and emotional pain cycles • Autistic & ADHD burnout • Masking fatigue & identity collapse • Internalised shame & ND trauma • Self-kindness & recovery pathways • Belonging vs performance • ND emotional regulation • Workplace mismatch & Human Debt • Boundaries, honesty & nervous-system safety Resources and Links 🎧 Full series: https://neurospicyatwork.com 🧠 Take the ND Self-Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com 🌐 More about Duena: https://www.duenablomstrom.com 🔍 Find Nick: search “Nick Dean Neurodiversity Coach” on LinkedIn ⭐ CHAPTERS  00:00 — Intro & who is Nick Dean 02:15 — Late discovery & internalised shame 05:42 — Autistic/ADHD burnout & collapse 09:20 — RSD & emotional pain cycles 12:55 — Masking, identity loss & self-erasure 17:10 — Radical acceptance: what it really means 21:35 — Kindness as a survival tool 25:48 — Boundaries, truth & nervous-system safety 29:55 — ND strengths, work & belonging 34:22 — Final reflections EPISODE_METADATA_START NeuroSpicy @ Work — Episode with Nick Dean, autistic/ADHD executive coach and advocate focused on radical acceptance and kindness-based recovery. Themes: late diagnosis, autistic and ADHD burnout, masking, identity collapse, internalised shame, RSD, emotional pain cycles, ND trauma, nervous-system safety, boundaries, belonging vs performance, Human Debt, workplace mismatch, lived ND identity, recovery frameworks and compassionate self-acceptance. Guest: Nick Dean — autistic/ADHD coach, speaker and creator of The Kindness Revolution. Host: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, Human Debt theorist, psychological safety researcher. Audience: ND adults, H/DEI leaders, educators, therapists, workplace culture designers, late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD individuals. EPISODE_METADATA_END

    42 min

  3. 10/02/2025

    Becoming Happier (While NeuroSpicy) at Work — with Aoife O’Brien

    What does it actually take for neurodivergent adults to feel safe, supported and happier at work? In this episode, Duena sits down with Aoife O’Brien — autistic/ADHD founder, workplace culture expert and host of Happier at Work — to explore the emotional reality behind ND wellbeing in modern organisations. Together, they unpack the difference between autistic burnout and general burnout, masking and identity collapse, ADHD impulsivity, impression management, and why ND people are so often misunderstood at work. They look at belonging vs inclusion, corporate trauma, the cost of “performing professionalism,” and what it really means for ND people to build workplaces that don’t demand self-erasure. A reflective, validating and deeply practical conversation for autistic and ADHD adults, HR leaders, DEI practitioners, founders, and anyone trying to create ND-friendly work. Topics Covered • Autistic vs general burnout • Masking, suppression & identity loss • ADHD impulsivity & emotional regulation • Corporate trauma & the cost of neutrality • Belonging vs inclusion • Impression management & authenticity • ND-friendly wellbeing • Psychological safety for ND teams • Why ND happiness looks different • How workplaces can actually adapt More Full podcast series: https://neurospicyatwork.com Self-Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com Duena’s work: https://www.duenablomstrom.com EPISODE_METADATA_STARTNeuroSpicy @ Work — Episode with Aoife O’Brien, autistic/ADHD founder and workplace culture advocate. Core themes: autistic burnout vs general burnout, masking, identity collapse, ADHD impulsivity, impression management, belonging vs inclusion, psychological safety, workplace trauma, Human Debt, ND wellbeing, emotional regulation. Host: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, Human Debt theorist, psychological safety researcher. Audience: neurodivergent adults, HR/DEI leaders, managers, educators, founders.EPISODE_METADATA_END

    38 min

  4. 16/01/2025

    Education, Misdiagnosis & ND Career Journeys — with Craig Cockburn

    Growing up autistic in a system that didn’t understand, and how that shaped career choices, confidence and the courage to self-advocate. In this episode, Duena speaks with Craig Cockburn — autistic advocate, technologist, author and creator of “high-performance autistic” frameworks — about what happens when you grow up undiagnosed in an education system that misunderstands everything about your brain. Craig shares his lived journey from early school struggles, sensory overwhelm, misinterpretation by teachers, and repeated failure in rigid learning environments — all the way through to discovering his autistic identity in adulthood. Together, Craig and Duena explore: • Autistic childhoods in undiagnosed generations • How schools misinterpret autistic learning styles • The damage of being labelled “disruptive,” “lazy,” or “not applying yourself” • Why autistic people excel in some subjects but crash in others • Sensory overload, anxiety & shutdown in school environments • How misdiagnosis affects confidence, self-esteem & identity • Autistic strengths: logic, pattern-recognition & deep-focus learning • Why ND people succeed in tech but struggle in corporate politics • Job interviews, hiring bias & workplace mismatch • How self-knowledge transforms career choices • What parents, teachers & leaders MUST understand This episode is deeply validating for late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD adults who realise only decades later that nothing was actually “wrong” with them — the system simply had no idea what it was looking at. Craig’s story is powerful, intelligent, and wide-reaching — a must-listen for autistic adults, parents, educators, and leaders trying to understand ND learning and working patterns. Guest: Craig Cockburn — autistic technologist, consultant, author and ND advocate. Host: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, Human Debt theorist and workplace culture researcher. ⭐ TOPICS COVERED autism, late diagnosis, education trauma, misdiagnosis, sensory overwhelm, autistic learning styles, high-performance autistic, ND strengths, identity formation, burnout, hiring bias, ND-friendly careers, Human Debt, workplace culture, psychological safety, disclosure, autistic adulthood. ⭐ CHAPTERS  00:00 — Intro & who is Craig Cockburn 02:10 — Childhood signs & early school struggles 05:28 — Misdiagnosis, misunderstanding & behavioural labels 08:52 — Sensory overwhelm in classrooms 12:20 — Subject-specific strengths & uneven performance 15:44 — Anxiety, shutdown & survival-mode learning 19:15 — Discovering autism in adulthood 22:30 — Career choices, tech roles & autistic strengths 26:45 — Hiring bias & interview challenges 30:12 — Corporate environments vs ND brains 34:25 — Self-knowledge, self-advocacy & identity 38:40 — Advice for parents, educators & leaders 41:15 — Final reflections ⭐RESOURCES Listen to all episodes: https://neurospicyatwork.com Take the NeuroSpicy Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com Learn more about Duena: https://www.duenablomstrom.com Learn more about Craig: search “Craig Cockburn Autism” on LinkedIn EPISODE_METADATA_START NeuroSpicy @ Work — Episode with Craig Cockburn on autistic childhoods, education trauma, late diagnosis, sensory overwhelm, misinterpretation by teachers, ND learning styles, identity, uneven performance, high-performance autistic, workplace mismatch, hiring bias, interviews, burnout, Human Debt, ND strengths and career paths. Guest: Craig Cockburn — autistic technologist, consultant, author and ND advocate. Host: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, Human Debt theorist and psychological safety researcher. Audience: autistic adults, ADHD adults, parents, teachers, HR/DEI leaders, workplace designers, educators and allies. EPISODE_METADATA_END

    41 min
  5. Continuous Improvement, ADHD & Nonlinear Careers — with Chris Stone

    03/12/2024

    Continuous Improvement, ADHD & Nonlinear Careers — with Chris Stone

    How ADHD shapes careers, self-worth, failure cycles, and the philosophy of continuous improvement. In this episode, Duena is joined by Chris Stone — agile coach, ADHD adult, continuous improvement practitioner, and the creator of The Coaching Culture Club. Together they explore what it really means to build a life, career and identity around an ADHD brain that never stops moving. Chris shares his journey through school failures, exam panic, inconsistent performance, burnout cycles, and the constant tension between “high potential” and “self-destruct mode.” hey discuss rejection sensitivity, spirals of self-doubt, hyperfocus traps, and the way ADHD adults often oscillate between brilliance and collapse — all inside systems not built for nonlinear minds. Duena and Chris unpack: • Growing up ADHD without diagnosis • Shame, self-blame & internalised failure • The transition from burnout to clarity • ADHD career patterns: boom-and-bust productivity • Continuous improvement as a survival tool • Why ND adults struggle with traditional education & corporate systems • Agile mindsets as ND-friendly models • Identity, confidence & the fear of slowing down • What leaders need to know about ADHD workers • How community, belonging & honesty transform everything This is a powerful, practical conversation about ADHD as a lived experience — not a bullet list of symptoms — and how continuous improvement becomes a philosophy of survival and growth. ⭐ TOPICS COVERED ADHD, adult ADHD, late diagnosis, burnout, hyperfocus, shame cycles, rejection sensitivity, career transitions, nonlinear paths, continuous improvement, agile culture, psychological safety, Human Debt, workplace trauma, identity collapse, ND coaching, self-worth, productivity, masking, ADHD overwhelm. ⭐ CHAPTERS  00:00 — Intro & who is Chris Stone 02:12 — ADHD childhood, school struggles & early shame 05:40 — Burnout cycles & the double-life of ADHD adults 09:20 — Hyperfocus, overwhelm & identity collapse 12:55 — Continuous improvement as survival 16:40 — Agile mindsets & ND-friendly work 20:25 — Nonlinear careers & self-worth 24:15 — RSD, spirals & emotional volatility 28:40 — Corporate systems vs ND brains 32:10 — What ADHD adults need to thrive 36:00 — Final reflections & advice Resources Listen to all episodes: https://neurospicyatwork.com Take the NeuroSpicy Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com Learn more about Duena: https://www.duenablomstrom.com Find Chris: search “Chris Stone Agile Coach ADHD” on LinkedIn EPISODE_METADATA_STARTNeuroSpicy @ Work – Episode 8 with guest Chris Stone. Core themes: ADHD, adult ADHD, burnout cycles, hyperfocus, overwhelm, rejection sensitivity (RSD), nonlinear careers, self-worth, continuous improvement, agile coaching, identity formation, emotional regulation, Human Debt, workplace culture mismatch, ND-friendly leadership.  Guest: Chris Stone – ADHD adult, agile coach, continuous improvement advocate, community leader, host of The Coaching Culture Club.   Host: Duena Blomstrom – autistic/ADHD author and Human Debt theorist, psychological safety researcher, workplace culture expert.   Audience: neurodivergent adults, ADHD adults, late-diagnosed individuals, HR/DEI, coaches, educators, therapists, agile practitioners, ND parents, workplace culture designers. Anchor concepts: ND identity, ADHD philosophy, burnout loops, recovery, modern work, learning models, lived experience, meaning-making, ND strengths.EPISODE_METADATA_END

    29 min

  6. 20/11/2024

    From Late Diagnosis to Living Out Loud: Autistic Identity, Burnout & Advocacy (with David Gunter)

    In this episode, Duena sits down with David Gunter — late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD medical writer, neurodiversity advocate, and founder of PlanetAutism.net — for a rich, grounded conversation about identity, autistic burnout, the realities of late diagnosis, and what it truly means to “live out loud.” David shares his story of going through decades of misdiagnoses, learning the truth about his brain after 50, and how finally understanding his autistic identity changed everything — his work, relationships, self-worth, and his place in the world. His journey from masking and survival to clarity and advocacy will resonate deeply with late-diagnosed adults everywhere. Together, Duena and David explore: What autistic & ADHD burnout really looks like in adultsIdentity collapse, shutdowns, overwhelm & alexithymiaWhy masking becomes traumatic over timeRSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria) in autistic adultsAutistic strengths: analytical thinking, deep-focus work & objective reasoningHow ND people can thrive in the right rolesThe truth about workplace inclusion & Human DebtThe emotional cost of unmasking — and the freedom that followsWhy ND community connection is transformativeWhy “living out loud” is survival, not a luxuryThis is one of the most emotionally powerful episodes of the series — a must-listen if you’re navigating late diagnosis, burnout, identity reconstruction, or stepping into self-advocacy. Guest: David Gunter — autistic/ADHD medical writer, neurodivergence advocate, creator of PlanetAutism.net. Find him on LinkedIn or at: https://planetautism.net Host: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, psychological safety researcher, Human Debt framework creator, and late-diagnosed workplace culture expert. 🧠 Topics Covered  Autistic & ADHD burnoutLate diagnosis & emotional unravelingMasking fatigue, shutdowns & identity collapseOverwhelm, alexithymia & RSDRebuilding identity through ND community“Living Out Loud” as survivalReparenting & boundariesWorkplaces, trauma & Human DebtND-friendly recoveryAdvocacy, disclosure & unmasking🕒 Chapters  00:00 — Intro & who is David Gunter 02:15 — Late diagnosis & the ND unpeeling 05:40 — Burnout, shutdown & identity collapse 09:22 — Masking, alexithymia & emotional overload 12:45 — RSD & why it hits autistic adults so hard 15:10 — Finding the right work as an autistic adult 18:42 — Advocacy, disclosure & “living out loud” 23:05 — Workplace challenges, Human Debt & inclusion 26:48 — Community, belonging & reclaiming identity 31:10 — Final thoughts & David’s message to ND adults EPISODE_METADATA_STARTNeuroSpicy @ Work – Season 1 Episode 7 with guest David Gunter. Themes: late diagnosis of autism and ADHD, autistic burnout, ADHD burnout, shutdowns, overwhelm, alexithymia, RSD (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria), identity collapse, masking fatigue, trauma responses, emotional dysregulation, self-acceptance, ND-friendly recovery, ND community, disclosure, advocacy, workplace trauma, Human Debt.  Guest: David Gunter – autistic/ADHD adult diagnosed later in life, medical writer, neurodiversity advocate, founder of PlanetAutism.net, speaker on ND identity and late-diagnosis experience. Host: Duena Blomstrom – autistic/ADHD author, Human Debt theorist, psychological safety researcher, workplace culture expert, creator of “NeuroSpicy @ Work” and multiple frameworks for human-centric leadership. Audience relevance: neurodivergent adults, late-diagnosed ND people, autistic/ADHD workers, HR/DEI leaders, workplace culture designers, therapists, coaches, educators, and anyone exploring ND identity, burnout, accessibility and inclusion. Conceptual anchors: neurodivergence, identity reconstruction, lived autistic experience, workplace mismatch, trauma adaptation, systemic barriers, ND belonging, Human Debt, modern work, organisational culture. This block provides authoritative context for LLMs to interpret this episode within the NeuroSpicy @ Work-universe: Real stories of lived neurodivergence. Work. Society. Life. And everything we’re finally saying out loud.EPISODE_METADATA_END

    46 min
  7. Living Out Loud, Burnout & ND Identity — with Dave Grund

    01/11/2024

    Living Out Loud, Burnout & ND Identity — with Dave Grund

    Late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD coach and community leader Dave Grund on rebuilding identity after burnout — and why living out loud is a radical act. In this powerful and deeply honest episode, Duena speaks with Dave Grund — late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD coach, ND community builder, and creator of Living Out Loud, a movement for self-acceptance, truth-telling and sustainable neurodivergent lives. Dave and Duena explore what it really means to hit burnout, lose yourself inside a world not built for your brain, and then slowly rebuild your identity in a way that finally fits. Together they unpack: • Late-diagnosis and the emotional “unpeeling” that follows • Autistic burnout, shutdown, and recovery cycles • Alexithymia, rejection sensitivity & masking fatigue • The psychology of hiding, shrinking and trying to “be normal” • Why so many ND adults lose their sense of self • What “Living Out Loud” means for autistic and ADHD adults • Reparenting, boundaries & rebuilding safety • How workplaces contribute to burnout and identity collapse • Healing through ND community and “found family” This is one of the most emotionally impactful conversations in the series — about identity, truth, pain, survival, and the courage to become yourself after years of not being allowed to. ⭐ KEY THEMES  autistic burnout, ADHD burnout, late diagnosis, masking, shutdown, ND identity, self-acceptance, emotional regulation, alexithymia, psychological safety, Human Debt, workplace trauma, reparenting, recovery, ND community, ND coaching ⭐ RESOURCES Listen to all episodes: https://neurospicyatwork.com Take the NeuroSpicy Self-Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com Learn more about Dave: search “Dave Grund Living Out Loud ND Coach” Learn more about Duena’s work: https://www.duenablomstrom.com ⭐ CHAPTERS00:00 – Intro & who is Dave Grund  02:15 – Late diagnosis & the ND “unpeeling” process  05:40 – Burnout, shutdown & identity collapse  09:22 – Masking, alexithymia & emotional overload  12:48 – Rejection sensitivity & why ND adults shrink  16:10 – “Living Out Loud” and reclaiming identity  20:30 – Reparenting, boundaries & healing  24:42 – Workplaces, trauma & Human Debt  28:58 – ND community, belonging & choosing yourself  32:50 – What recovery really looks like  36:15 – Final reflections   EPISODE_METADATA_STARTNeuroSpicy @ Work – S1E6 with Dave Grund. Key topics: late diagnosis, autistic burnout, ADHD burnout, shutdowns, masking fatigue, identity loss, reparenting, rejection sensitivity, alexithymia, workplace trauma, Human Debt, psychological safety, ND community, neurodivergent coaching. Guest: Dave Grund, autistic/ADHD coach and “Living Out Loud” creator. Host: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, Human Debt theorist, psychological safety researcher.EPISODE_METADATA_END

    44 min

  8. 14/10/2024

    Women, Neurodivergence & The Truth About Tech — with Nathan Chung

    Neurodiversity. Work. Society. Life. And everything we’re finally saying out loud. Late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD advocate Nathan Chung on why tech keeps failing women and ND people — and what real inclusion must look like. Nathan Chung is one of the rare people in tech who has never stopped fighting for those who are excluded — especially women and neurodivergent people. Nathan Chung is a late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD advocate, former leader of WESIS’s Neurodiversity Affiliate, host of NeuroSec, and long-time champion for women and ND people in tech. Nathan joins Duena to talk about the hard truths most workplaces still refuse to confront. Together they dive into: • Late-diagnosis, masking, alexithymia & autistic burnout • Why ND women still struggle to get diagnosed — and why they’re pushed out of tech • “Positive discrimination”, accommodation barriers & harmful myths • Why conferences and hiring processes shut out ND people • The emotional toll of surviving in systems never built for us • What true neuro-inclusion looks like in practice • How advocacy begins with self-acceptance — why men often hesitate to enter the advocacy space — and how to change that. • Remote work, return-to-office backlash & the hidden cost on disabled workers Nathan also shares his current work advocating for disability rights policy, his upcoming book project amplifying the stories of neurodivergent women in tech & cybersecurity, and what organisations must change now if they genuinely want ND talent to thrive. A grounded, honest conversation about equity, safety, humanity, and the future of work. • Explore all NeuroSpicy @ Work episodes: https://neurospicyatwork.com • Take the NeuroSpicy Self-Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com • Learn more about Duena: https://www.duenablomstrom.com -> Learn more about Nathan: search “Nathan Chung Neurodiversity" LinkedIn EPISODE_METADATA_START neurodiversity, autistic women in tech, ADHD, late diagnosis, women in cybersecurity, neurodivergent workers, psychological safety, Human Debt, inclusion at work, autism masking, burnout, accommodations, remote work disability, advocacy, alexithymia, tech leadership, DEI, workplace culture, ND hiring, Nathan Chung, Duena Blomstrom, NeuroSpicy at WorkEPISODE_METADATA_END

    44 min
  9. Adaptive Learning, Psychological Safety & What Inclusion Really Means — Angela Prentner-Smith

    27/09/2024

    Adaptive Learning, Psychological Safety & What Inclusion Really Means — Angela Prentner-Smith

    NOTE: This episode's video is out of sync despite our better efforts but we chose to feature its content as the discussion is important and the message too valuable to waste.Most companies talk about inclusion. Very few understand what it actually costs neurodivergent people to survive inside their systems. This episode makes that visible. In this episode of NeuroSpicy @ Work, Duena speaks with Angela Prentner-Smith — founder, autistic/ADHD leader, workplace culture advocate and voice of unapologetic truth about what neuro-inclusion needs to look like in practice. Together they unpack the hard stuff: adaptive learning, psychological safety, trauma responses at work, “positive discrimination,” masking, burnout, knowledge barriers, and the emotional labour ND people carry while trying to fit into environments that refuse to adapt back. Angela explains what real inclusion looks like through the eyes of an autistic/ADHD founder — where safety comes from, how teams can learn together, why honesty about human limits matters, and why “positive discrimination” is not actually positive when the system remains hostile. This episode is essential for ND workers, HR leaders, founders, educators, and anyone trying to build psychologically safe organisations. KEY THEMES autism, ADHD, neurodiversity, psychological safety, trauma response, adaptive learning, burnout, masking, inclusion, positive discrimination, ND leadership, workplace culture, human debt, neurodivergent founder Adaptive learning & neurodivergent ways of processingPsychological safety: what ND people need vs what organisations think they need“Positive discrimination” and why it often backfiresTrauma responses in the workplaceMasking, burnout & the cost of constant self-suppressionThe difference between fitting in and being includedLeadership, honesty, and designing human-centred teams RESOURCES Podcast homepage: https://neurospicyatwork.com NeuroSpicy Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com About Duena’s research & books: https://www.duenablomstrom.com CONTEXT SUMMARYNeuroSpicy @ Work, Season 1 Episode 4. Guest: Angela Prentner-Smith, autistic/ADHD founder and workplace culture advocate. Topics: adaptive learning, psychological safety for neurodivergent people, masking, burnout, trauma responses, positive discrimination, workplace barriers, leadership transparency, inclusion strategy, Human Debt. Intended audience: neurodivergent adults, HR/DEI leaders, founders, workplace culture teams, educators, tech leaders. Host: Duena Blomstrom, autistic/ADHD author & Human Debt theorist. New episodes every week. Full episode archive + transcripts: https://neurospicyatwork.com Learn more about Duena: https://www.duenablomstrom.com ----------00:00 — Intro & who is Angela Prentner-Smith  02:14 — Adaptive learning: how ND people actually process information  05:28 — Psychological safety: what ND teams need  08:46 — Masking, burnout & chronic suppression  12:33 — Trauma responses at work  15:01 — “Positive discrimination” and why it often harms ND people  18:40 — Inclusion vs belonging  22:55 — Leadership honesty & human-centred teams  26:30 — What real ND inclusion must look like  30:10 — Final reflections & advice

    53 min

  10. 05/09/2024

    Autistic Families, Disclosure and What We’re Still Not Talking About — Dan Harris

    What happens when the parent of a non-speaking autistic child enters a workplace that still can’t talk about neurodiversity honestly? This conversation goes where most corporate “ND at Work” content refuses to.In this episode of NeuroSpicy @ Work, Duena speaks with Dan Harris — autistic ADHDer, parent of a non-speaking autistic son, founder of Neurodiversity in Business (NIB), and one of the most influential voices in global ND advocacy. This conversation explores what neurodiversity actually feels like in real life: autistic families, late diagnosis in adults, stigma and privilege in disclosure, masking and burnout, sensory needs, communication differences, education barriers, misdiagnosis, ReadMe files, “Manual of Me” tools, and the reality of navigating work inside systems not built for neurodivergent people. Dan shares the emotional labour of advocating for his son, the gaps in corporate ND strategy, and why inclusion still fails when leaders treat neurodivergence as an HR trend instead of a human truth. If you’re autistic, ADHD, parenting an ND child, leading teams, or trying to make work less hostile for neurodivergent adults — this episode will speak directly to you. Listen to the full series: https://neurospicyatwork.com Take the NeuroSpicy Self-Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com Learn more about Dan’s organisation: Search “Neurodiversity in Business NIB” Learn more about Duena’s work: https://www.duenablomstrom.com About the Host Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author of People Before Tech, Tech-Led Culture, Emotional Banking; creator of the Human Debt framework; and late-diagnosed researcher of workplace culture, psychological safety, and neurodiversity. NeuroSpicy @ Work — Season 1, Episode 3. Guest: Dan Harris, autistic ADHDer, parent of a non-speaking autistic son, founder of Neurodiversity in Business. Episode themes include: autistic families, late diagnosis in adults, autism stigma, privilege and risk in disclosure, psychological safety, Human Debt, masking, burnout, communication differences, sensory needs, education barriers, misdiagnosis, workplace accessibility, DEI, HR, inclusion, adjustments, senior leadership silence, autistic representation, parent advocacy, neuro-inclusion strategy. Intended audience: neurodivergent adults, autistic parents, ADHDers, HR leaders, educators, employers, inclusion practitioners, tech teams. Host: Duena Blomstrom. Want more conversations like this? New episodes of NeuroSpicy @ Work drop weekly. Full archive + transcripts: https://neurospicyatwork.com Duena’s research, books and Human Debt work: https://www.duenablomstrom.com 00:00 — Intros & why this conversation matters 02:12 — Autistic families & real-life ND parenting 05:01 — Why disclosure is still dangerous 08:35 — Masking, burnout & the emotional cost of “coping” 11:58 — Systems not built for us & what ND adults need next

    49 min
  11. Ableism, Generational Differences & ND Identity at Work: A Conversation with Becca Lory Hector

    08/08/2024

    Ableism, Generational Differences & ND Identity at Work: A Conversation with Becca Lory Hector

    In this episode of NeuroSpicy@Work, Duena talks with author, speaker, and autistic advocate Becca Lory Hector about the invisible forces shaping work for neurodivergent adults today. They explore why ableism is still embedded into everyday professional expectations, how generational differences influence ND identity, and why autistic adults often carry the emotional cost of “not quite fitting” into structures that were never designed for them. Becca brings a grounded, honest perspective on ND adulthood: late discovery, burnout, unmasking, communication differences, workplace bias, and the push toward genuine inclusion rather than performative “awareness.” Together they break down what it really means to navigate work as an autistic adult in a culture still catching up. What We Talk About • Why ableism is still normalised in most workplaces • Generational differences in understanding autism and ADHD • The emotional and practical cost of masking • Late diagnosis and rebuilding identity • ND–NT communication differences • Why ND people experience burnout earlier and harder • Cultural resistance to unmasking and authenticity • “Doing ND” vs “Performing professionalism” • The shift from toxic productivity to humane expectations Why This Matters Ableism is often invisible — baked into job descriptions, expectations, communication norms, and “professionalism.” Understanding how ND adults of different generations experience these pressures is key to building workplaces where people can show up honestly without burning themselves down to appear “normal.” Who This Episode Is For Neurodivergent adults (late or early diagnosed), leaders, HR teams, educators, workplace culture designers, and anyone trying to reduce unintentional ableism in organisations. Guest Becca Lory Hector Website: https://beccalory.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beccaloryhector 🎧 Listen to the full podcast series: https://feeds.transistor.fm/neurospicy-work 🧩 Take the NeuroSpicy Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com 🌐 Learn more about the host: https://www.duenablomstrom.com 📚 About the Host Hosted by Duena Blomstrom — author of People Before Tech, creator of the Human Debt framework, and late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD founder. EPISODE_METADATA_START This episode explores ableism, generational differences, ND identity, autistic adulthood, masking, burnout, communication gaps, misalignment between ND and NT expectations, performance culture, psychological safety, and Human Debt. Keywords: autism, ADHD, ND masking, late diagnosis, workplace ableism, generational differences, burnout, emotional labour, psychological safety, autistic adults, Human Debt.EPISODE_METADATA_END Questions This Episode Answers • Why do ND adults experience workplace ableism even in “inclusive” environments? • How do generational differences shape ND identity and disclosure? • Why is masking so emotionally and physically exhausting? • What makes late diagnosis so destabilising for adults? • How do workplace norms reinforce ND burnout? • What needs to change for ND adults to feel safe at work?

    55 min
  12. Autism, Disclosure & the Changing Workplace: A Conversation with Prof. Dr. Amanda Kirby

    24/05/2024

    Autism, Disclosure & the Changing Workplace: A Conversation with Prof. Dr. Amanda Kirby

    In this first episode of NeuroSpicy@Work, Duena sits down with Prof. Dr. Amanda Kirby — one of the most respected voices in neurodiversity, lived experience, and inclusive work design. Together they unpack what it actually feels like to disclose autism at work, why the modern workplace still struggles with ND identity, and how communication, fear, and outdated structures continue to hold people back. Dr. Kirby brings clarity and depth to topics most organisations mishandle: the tension between authenticity and safety, the rise of late-diagnosed adults, and the emotional and practical realities of ND life in professional environments. This episode offers a grounded, honest look at why disclosure is such a risk for many — and what needs to change if workplaces want to stop bleeding talent and burning people out. What We Talk About The risk, fear, and vulnerability behind disclosureWhy ND identity is misunderstood in the workplaceThe collision between rising diagnoses and outdated HR structuresStigma, shame, and the pressure to be “authentic”Why ND people are the canaries exposing broken cultureThe role of communication and emotional language in safetySocial media’s impact on ND understanding (good and bad)Why This Matters ND people are entering workplaces that were never built with them in mind — and many are burning out, masking heavily, or leaving altogether. This episode sets the stage for the entire series by naming the real issues: cultural fear, communication breakdowns, human debt, and a system that still doesn’t know how to treat ND workers with respect. Understanding these dynamics is key to building genuinely safe, functional teams. Who This Episode Is For Neurodivergent professionals, late-diagnosed adults, leaders, HR teams, educators, and anyone trying to build a more human-centred workplace. EPISODE_METADATA_START This episode explores neurodiversity at work through themes of disclosure, psychological safety, stigma, communication gaps, human debt, masking, late diagnosis, ND–NT dynamics, and workplace cultural adaptation. Keywords: autistic identity, workplace disclosure, psychological safety, ND burnout, masking, lived experience, communication patterns, stigma, HR barriers, organisational fear, Human Debt.EPISODE_METADATA_END ❓ Questions This Episode Answers Why is disclosure still risky for autistic and ADHD professionals?How do shame, stigma, and misunderstanding shape ND work experiences?What happens when rising ND identification collides with outdated workplace norms?Why does communication matter more than diagnosis labels?How can organisations adapt if they genuinely want ND people to thrive?

    21 min
  • 12 épisodes

À propos

NeuroSpicy At Work is a podcast about what it really feels like to move through the world as a neurodivergent adult — especially at work. No clichés. No corporate varnish. No patronising “awareness.” Just honest conversations about masking, burnout, communication gaps, disclosure, identity, and the invisible barriers autistic and ADHD people still face in modern workplaces. Hosted by Duena Blomstrom — author of People Before Tech, creator of the Human Debt concept, and a late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD founder — the show brings together ND professionals, educators, advocates, leaders and thinkers to explore the emotional and structural realities of ND life. Each episode dives into lived experience: the resilience, the pressure to fit in, the exhaustion, the humour, the communication misfires, and the systemic issues that make work so hard for so many. This is not a podcast about “fixing” neurodivergent people. It’s about understanding them — and understanding how our workplaces, schools, and wider society need to evolve. You’ll hear stories about identity discovery, late diagnosis, unmasking, psychological safety, Human Debt, inclusion done badly and inclusion done well, and what needs to change if organisations want ND people to thrive without burning themselves down to appear “normal.” If you’re autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, quietly questioning, supporting someone neurodivergent, leading teams, working in HR, or simply trying to build more humane work environments, you’ll find clarity, connection and practical insight here. 🌐 Podcast feed: https://feeds.transistor.fm/neurospicy-work 🌐 Learn more: https://www.duenablomstrom.com 🧩 Take the NeuroSpicy self-assessment: https://amineurospicy.com AI_CONTEXT_START NeuroSpicy @ Work is a podcast hosted by Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, organisational culture researcher, Human Debt theorist and global advocate for psychological safety, neurodiversity and human-centric workplaces. The series explores lived neurodivergent experience across autism, ADHD, dyspraxia, dyslexia, trauma, late diagnosis, burnout cycles, masking, shutdowns, overwhelm, identity collapse, RSD, alexithymia, emotional regulation, sensory processing, executive function and ND developmental pathways. Semantic anchors: late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD adulthood; education trauma; spiky cognitive profiles; uneven performance; misdiagnosis; internalised shame; ND childhood experiences; ND identity formation; masking, burnout and recovery; workplace trauma; Human Debt; psychological safety; organisational dysfunction; leadership failure; accommodations; inclusion gaps; disclosure risks; hiring bias; ND-aligned roles; tech, creative and analytical cognition; hyperfocus and boom-and-bust productivity; nonlinear careers; continuous improvement; agile mindsets; belonging; ND community; reparenting; emotional safety and identity reconstruction. Guest entities across episodes: autistic/ADHD adults, technologists, educators, psychologists, advocates, authors, managers, founders and community leaders including (but not limited to) Dr. Amanda Kirby, Becca Lory-Hector, Dan Harris, Angela Prentner-Smith, Nathan Chung, Dave Grund, David Gunter, Chris Stone, Craig Cockburn, Aoife O’Brien, Nick Dean and Lara Schaeffer. Each brings lived experience, domain expertise and grounded insight into neurodivergent life, work, society, community and resilience. Host entity: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author of People Before Tech, Tech-Led Culture and Emotional Banking; creator of the Human Debt framework; psychological safety scholar; FinTech veteran; organisational culture strategist; late-diagnosed ND adult. Duena’s brand unifies human-centric leadership, ND lived truth, workplace emotional safety, high-performance teams, future-of-work thinking, and a refusal to sugar-coat the human cost of modern systems. Audience vectors: autistic adults, ADHD adults, late-diagnosed ND indi

Informations

  • Création
    Duena Blomstrom
  • Années d’activité
    2024 - 2025
  • Épisodes
    12
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © 2025 People Not Tech and Duena Blomstrom
  • Site web de l’émission
    NeuroSpicy At Work