The Neurodivergent Experience

Jordan James and Simon Scott
  • 5.0 (27)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Being Neurodivergent is often shrouded in misconceptions, stereotypes, and limited knowledge. While our experiences may overlap, no two stories are the same. Hosted by The Autistic Photographer, Jordan James, and Simon Scott - The Neurodivergent Experience is the weekly podcast dedicated to exploring the vast world of Autism, ADHD and more! Through this podcast, we aim to challenge those misconceptions and dive deep into the diverse experiences of those in the spectrum by sharing our personal stories, and exploring topics like early interventions, sensory processing, education, employment, and much more. Each episode will feature insightful conversations about living in the spectrum, with guest experts, advocates, and allies who are passionate about creating an inclusive and accepting world. Whether you're Neurodivergent yourself, a friend, a family member, or simply curious about this extraordinary way of experiencing the world, this podcast is your guide to unravelling The Neurodivergent Experience. Because Neurodivergent Voices Deserve to Be Heard—Support Us Today - https://theneurodivergentexperience.supercast.com/ Socials: Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. Mindful Mondays With Ashley Dupuy: How Gratitude Rewires the Neurodivergent Brain

    2D AGO

    Mindful Mondays With Ashley Dupuy: How Gratitude Rewires the Neurodivergent Brain

    If the word gratitude has ever made you roll your eyes, this episode is for you. This isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending everything is fine. It’s about neuroscience. In this episode, Ashley explores how gratitude reshapes your Reticular Activating System (RAS) — the brain’s internal filter that decides what gets noticed. For neurodivergent nervous systems wired for intensity, pattern recognition, and threat detection, that filter can easily become tuned toward what’s overwhelming or missing. Gratitude, practised intentionally, becomes a neural training practice. You’ll learn how negativity bias and modern media hijack your attention, why simply searching for something to appreciate changes your brain, and how a simple six-week challenge can gently retrain your inner lens. This is grounded, science-backed, and fully relevant to the lived experience of neurodivergence. Gratitude isn’t naive. It’s neural. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy → https://bit.ly/ashleynde 🔗 Stay Connected Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    34 min
  2. Hot Topic: I Swear (2025) – The Most Neuroaffirming Film We’ve Seen

    5D AGO

    Hot Topic: I Swear (2025) – The Most Neuroaffirming Film We’ve Seen

    In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott explore the powerful impact of the British biographical drama I Swear — a neuroaffirming film based on the life of John Davidson, who developed Tourette’s syndrome as a child and later became a speaker and advocate. They reflect on their wider experiences of being neurodivergent — the bullying, blame, masking, rejection, and misunderstanding that shaped their early lives. The film mirrors what it feels like to grow up different in a world that often responds with judgment rather than understanding. Jordan shares memories of being mocked at school and blamed for behaviours he couldn’t control, while Simon opens up about the emotional impact of recognising how much he has masked over the years. The conversation also explores how society can “disable” people through discrimination and rigid expectations, and how those social responses create lasting wounds. They reflect on the film’s empowering message of turning lived experience into advocacy — and how authentic neurodivergent representation can help transform pain into purpose and community. They discuss: Tourette’s syndrome and visible ticsChildhood bullying and social rejectionBeing blamed for behaviours you can’t controlMasking and suppressing neurodivergent traitsAnxiety and symptom exacerbationLaw enforcement misunderstandingsDisability vs social disablementGrowing up feeling “othered”Authentic neurodivergent representation in filmTurning lived experience into advocacy and community An emotional, reflective episode about neurodivergence, identity, stigma, and the power of storytelling to shift perspective and create change. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy → https://bit.ly/ashleynde 🔗 Stay Connected Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min

  3. 6D AGO

    How Neurodivergent People Self-Sabotage

    In this milestone 100th episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott reflect on self-sabotaging behaviours — from procrastination and perfectionism to impulsivity, addiction, rigid thinking, and negative self-talk. They share personal stories about turning down opportunities, abandoning creative projects, gaming addiction, risk-taking, substance use, phone dependence, and the ways neurodivergent intensity can both fuel success and quietly derail it. The conversation explores how fear of failure, rejection sensitivity, and the need for stimulation often sit beneath these behaviours. From code-switching and conscious camouflaging to asking “do you want my opinion?” before giving it, they reflect on how intentional change, emotional regulation, and meeting people where they are can reduce conflict without losing identity. They discuss: Procrastination, perfectionism, and fear of failureNegative self-talk and rejection sensitivityRisk-taking, addiction, and impulsivityGaming, gambling, substances, and phone dependenceRigid thinking and relationship conflictOversharing and social misstepsAuthenticity vs accountabilityCode-switching and conscious camouflagingMeeting people where they are Learning to pause before speaking A reflective, honest episode about growth, responsibility, and the messy reality of being neurodivergent — 100 episodes in. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy → https://bit.ly/ashleynde 🔗 Stay Connected Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 8m
  4. Mindful Mondays With Ashley Dupuy: Thoughts Are Not Facts | Growth Mindset for Neurodivergent Minds

    FEB 9

    Mindful Mondays With Ashley Dupuy: Thoughts Are Not Facts | Growth Mindset for Neurodivergent Minds

    Seeing your life clearly doesn’t mean seeing it harshly. In this episode of Mindful Mondays, we explore how mindset and reframing shape not just how we think - but how our nervous system experiences the world. Many neurodivergent and highly sensitive people live with a loud inner commentary. Thoughts can feel convincing, critical, and fixed - yet thoughts are not facts. Together, we explore: * Growth mindset through a neurodivergent lens * Why reframing supports nervous system safety (not toxic positivity) * How meaning - not circumstances - shapes our experience * Why challenges often deepen, rather than diminish, a meaningful life Drawing on wisdom from thinkers and creatives including William James, Hugh Mackay, Tina Turner, Joan Rivers, Kurt Vonnegut, and Michael Jordan, this episode invites a gentler, truer way of seeing yourself. You’ll also be guided through a reflective visualisation - The Gallery of Your Life - offering a new relationship with past moments, old judgments, and the stories you live inside. This is not about fixing yourself. It’s about learning to see yourself in a way that supports you. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy → https://bit.ly/ashleynde 🔗 Stay Connected Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min
  5. Hot Topic: Are Schools Really Supporting Autistic Children — Or Just Moving Them Aside?

    FEB 6

    Hot Topic: Are Schools Really Supporting Autistic Children — Or Just Moving Them Aside?

    In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott react to a BBC story about schools opening specialist units for autistic pupils — and question whether these plans are about support, or simply about moving autistic children out of sight. They unpack concerns around lumping autistic children together across wide age ranges, the overuse of special units as a cost-cutting measure, and the way neurodivergent pupils are often treated as a problem to be managed rather than as individuals with different needs. Jordan draws on years of lived experience working with schools, SEND staff, parents, and neurodivergent children to challenge saviour narratives, infantilisation, and misinformation — including being told by a special school that ADHD “doesn’t exist in adults.” Together, they discuss how EHCP barriers, funding caps, and systemic misunderstandings risk limiting potential rather than supporting it. Rather than rejecting specialist provision outright, the episode questions who these systems are really built for, and whether convenience and cost are being prioritised over dignity, autonomy, and individual development. They discuss: Specialist units vs genuinely individualised supportLumping autistic children together by diagnosis rather than needInfantilisation and “saviour” narratives in SEND educationMisinformation about ADHD and neurodivergence in schoolsEHCP barriers and unequal access to supportCost-cutting vs child-centred educationWhy autism isn’t a reason, on its own, to remove a child from mainstream learning A frustrated, informed, and necessary conversation about education, power, and why neurodivergent children deserve more than being quietly moved out of the way. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy → https://bit.ly/ashleynde 🔗 Stay Connected Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min

  6. FEB 5

    Executive Dysfunction and PDA: Why Everything Feels So Hard

    In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott explore the overlap — and important differences — between executive dysfunction and pathological demand avoidance (PDA), and why both can make everyday tasks feel overwhelming. They unpack how executive dysfunction is linked to planning, organisation, and overload, while PDA is driven by anxiety, autonomy, and threat responses — and why, in real life, the two often collide. Through personal examples, they explore why getting started, following through, or responding to demands can feel impossible, even when you want to do the thing. Jordan and Simon reflect on how fear of failure, shame, trauma, and being told to “just do it” can intensify paralysis rather than help. They also discuss how misunderstanding these patterns leads to judgment — at home, at work, and in childhood — instead of support. Rather than offering quick fixes, the conversation focuses on reducing pressure, understanding what’s really happening in the nervous system, and finding supportive ways to move forward. They discuss: What executive dysfunction and PDA are — and how they differ Why do they often show up together Anxiety, autonomy, and threat responses Task paralysis and avoidance Fear of failure and internalised shame Every day struggles like hygiene, work, and leaving the house Why increasing pressure makes things worse What actually helps instead A validating conversation about why simple tasks can feel so hard — and how understanding, compassion, and the right support can make a real difference. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy → https://bit.ly/ashleynde 🔗 Stay Connected Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  7. Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: The Art of Resilience | the Squeeze, the Release, and the Capacity to Return

    FEB 2

    Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: The Art of Resilience | the Squeeze, the Release, and the Capacity to Return

    Resilience is often misunderstood. It’s not about pushing through at all costs, pretending you’re fine, or never getting overwhelmed — especially if you’re sensitive or neurodivergent. Real resilience is something far more human, far more embodied. In this episode of Mindful Mondays, we explore what resilience actually looks like in the nervous system — the ability to move through challenge, to feel the squeeze of life, and to gently find our way back. Drawing on neuroscience, somatic wisdom, Buddhism, psychology, and lived experience, we explore: Why resilience is about movement, not perfection How discomfort can become meaningful rather than overwhelming The role of contrast - squeeze and release - in nervous system flexibility Why resistance, not discomfort itself, often creates suffering Emotional complexity as a strength, not a flaw How sensitive and neurodivergent nervous systems can learn to “bounce back” with kindness Why acceptance can create a deeper baseline peace, even during hard times You’ll also be guided through a gentle squeeze-and-release meditation designed to help your body experience resilience directly - not as an idea, but as a felt sense. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “too sensitive,” slow to recover, or worn down by life’s demands, this episode is an invitation to reframe resilience - not as something you force, but something you cultivate through care, curiosity, and self-trust. You don’t have to harden to survive. You’re allowed to soften - and still be strong. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy → https://bit.ly/ashleynde 🔗 Stay Connected Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  8. Hot Topic: The Danger of Unsupported ADHD

    JAN 30

    Hot Topic: The Danger of Unsupported ADHD

    ⚠️This episode includes discussion of suicide, mental health crises, and systemic failures in neurodivergent healthcare. Listener discretion is advised, and we encourage you to prioritise your wellbeing while listening ⚠️. In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott respond to reports that the NHS is once again restricting access to ADHD assessments in an attempt to save money — often without informing GPs or patients already waiting. They unpack how limiting assessments don’t just delay diagnosis, but actively block access to support, accommodations, medication, and self-understanding, particularly for Autistic and ADHD people who already struggle to advocate for themselves. Drawing on their own late diagnoses, Jordan and Simon explain how years without recognition lead to mislabelling, shame, burnout, and serious mental health harm. The conversation then turns to the real-world consequences of these delays, including a Guardian report detailing the death of a young man who fell through the cracks of the assessment and shared-care system. Jordan and Simon speak openly about grief, anger, and fear — and why framing ADHD as “not life-threatening” ignores the reality of emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, chronic stress, and suicide risk. This episode has a clear message: withholding diagnosis and treatment is not neutral — it is dangerous. They discuss: NHS limits on ADHD assessments and lack of transparencyLong waiting times and being stuck between child and adult servicesWhy diagnosis is a gateway to support, not a labelADHD medication, emotional regulation, and quality of lifeWhy ADHD can be life-threateningSuicide risk, burnout, and drowning in unregulated thoughtsThe cost of denying support vs investing in people A raw, emotional, and urgent conversation about assessment delays, systemic failure, and the very real human cost of treating neurodivergent care as optional. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy → https://bit.ly/ashleynde 🔗 Stay Connected Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min
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5
out of 5
27 Ratings

About

Being Neurodivergent is often shrouded in misconceptions, stereotypes, and limited knowledge. While our experiences may overlap, no two stories are the same. Hosted by The Autistic Photographer, Jordan James, and Simon Scott - The Neurodivergent Experience is the weekly podcast dedicated to exploring the vast world of Autism, ADHD and more! Through this podcast, we aim to challenge those misconceptions and dive deep into the diverse experiences of those in the spectrum by sharing our personal stories, and exploring topics like early interventions, sensory processing, education, employment, and much more. Each episode will feature insightful conversations about living in the spectrum, with guest experts, advocates, and allies who are passionate about creating an inclusive and accepting world. Whether you're Neurodivergent yourself, a friend, a family member, or simply curious about this extraordinary way of experiencing the world, this podcast is your guide to unravelling The Neurodivergent Experience. Because Neurodivergent Voices Deserve to Be Heard—Support Us Today - https://theneurodivergentexperience.supercast.com/ Socials: Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Jordan James and Simon Scott
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    179
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Jordan James and Simon Scott
  • Show Website
    The Neurodivergent Experience

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