Neurodivergent Report

Sarah Russell & Hind AlEnezi
  • 4.0 (3)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Neurodivergent Report is a podcast for ADHDers, autistic adults, and anyone navigating life through a neurodivergent lens. We blend expert interviews, personal storytelling, and research/evidence-based insights to explore the realities of living with invisible disabilities. Whether you’re seeking support for executive dysfunction, emotional regulation, trauma healing, or just looking for real conversations about neurodivergence, identity reconstruction, and mental health... this space is CREATED FOR YOU! Thank you for being here!

  1. 6D AGO

    50: Autism, OCD, and the Joy of Being Way Too Interested in Everything w/ Jonathan Katz-Ouziel

    Featuring: Jonathan Katz-Ouziel, autistic accessibility consultant and founder of Opossum House Accessibility What happens when autism is diagnosed early, supported well, and allowed to stay joyful — and how OCD complicates (and sometimes sharpens) everything that comes after In this episode, we explore: Early Diagnosis Moment: what it was like being diagnosed autistic at age three in the 1990s, and how access, parental belief, and early support shape sense of selfThe Identity Shift: From masking in a conformist school system to reclaiming autism as something fun, social, and deeply human — while naming the privilege baked into his journeyCreating Workarounds & Framework: How OCD-driven rituals around time, sleep, and lists evolved into autistic-friendly executive function systems that actually support his workCalming Sensory Needs: Why unmet sensory needs can amplify OCD, how light and heat regulation matter, and what it means to design life around nervous system safetyRandom moments: Eggplants are botanically berries, opossums are the ultimate autistic mascot, and leaning into “cringe” is a survival strategy Key Questions Answered in the Audio: How do autism and OCD interact — and when does one help or hinder the other? What does accessibility actually look like beyond ramps and compliance checklists? Is starting a business as a neurodivergent person empowering or a fast track to burnout? Resources Mentioned: Opossum House Accessibility (Jonathan’s consulting practice) >>>https://www.opossumhouseaccessibility.com/ Jonathan Katz-Ouziel on LinkedIn >>>https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-katz-ouziel-cpacc-6b098334/ Connect With Us >>>⁠https://www.ndreportpod.com/ ⁠Follow @ndreportpod on your social platform of choice

    1h 5m

  2. FEB 4

    49: Parenting w/ Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome & Perimenopause: The Birth of Self-Care Karen

    Ft:  Karen Kossow, disability advocate, neurodivergent parent, and co-founder of Faircare Idaho What happens when parenting, disability, hormones, and burnout collide — and the systems meant to support you quietly disappear? In this episode, we explore: Brain Fog + Burnout = Breaking Point Sarah gets vulnerable about worsening brain fog and fatigue, opening a larger conversation about perimenopause, disability, and survival under constant strain. Late Recognition & Reframing Expectations Karen talks parenting autistic kids, navigating Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and the loss of access of familiar coping mechanisms during perimenopause. The Reality of Caregiving Without Support: Why paid family caregiver programs matter, what happens when they’re cut, and how unpaid labor props up broken socioeconomic systems. Develop Self-Care Rituals: Learning to read non-verbal body signals, prioritize finite energy, and practice nervous system rest & regulation instead of pushing through. Key Questions Answered in the Audio: 1. How do I know I’m doing too much? 2. Why are families expected to survive without real systemic support? 3. What practical nervous system grounding tools actually help when you’re already overwhelmed & over-scheduled? Resources Mentioned: Karen Kossow’s Substack — Self-Care Support Squad https://karenkossow.substack.com/ Faircare Idaho (family paid caregiving advocacy) https://faircareidaho.substack.com/ Connect With Us ⁠https://www.ndreportpod.com/ ⁠Follow @ndreportpod on your social platform of choice

    44 min

  3. JAN 28

    48: Craft as Stimming, Craft as Repair w/ Art Therapist Lucy from Embrace This Space

    Featuring: Lucy — Art therapist based in Melbourne, Australia, working at the intersection of creativity, neurodivergence, sensory regulation, and relational healing. People rarely heal by talking alone; this week, Lucy joins me to explain that slow and soft sensory practices can be the most powerful tools for nervous system repair, especially for neurodivergent people who’ve built up trauma just trying to survive without proper self-understanding. Curious What’s Inside? Crafting for Nervous System Repair: how slow, tactile art forms like embroidery can support regulation, agency, and self-worth when words and traditional therapy fall short. Craft as stimming: How hand-crafting creates felt-safety through rhythm, repetition, and choice. Animals & Co-Regulation: Exploring how animals can buff your restoration score Sensory Awareness & Grounding: Low-demand grounding practices that don’t rely on breathwork or visualization techniques Questions We Answer: Why do some people heal more through creating art than in talk therapy? How can craft support executive function and emotional regulation? What makes breathwork grounding inaccessible for many neurodivergent people? How do animals support co-regulation in therapy and daily life? What does low-demand grounding actually look like in practice? Guest & Links Lucy, Art Therapist Instagram: @embrace.this.space Website: https://embracethisspace.com.au Pencil Dust — an animated podcast about art, neurodivergence, and late diagnosis @pencildustpod  Connect With Us ⁠https://www.ndreportpod.com/ ⁠Follow @ndreportpod on your social platform of choice

    58 min

  4. JAN 21

    47: BCBA Ryan talks late diagnosis of Inattentive ADHD, Parenting, & Stimulant Stigma

    Featuring: Ryan Baker-Barrett, BCBA — ADHD clinician, parent of neurodivergent kids, and adult diagnosed with ADHD later in life. I keep hearing stories of adults who don’t receive diagnosis until after their relationships fall apart.    In this episode, Ryan Baker-Barrett shares his late ADHD diagnosis, experience with inattentive ADHD, barriers to medication access, and what it’s like to parent neurodivergent kids while managing his own nervous system. Curious What’s Inside? Late ADHD Diagnosis Why inattentive ADHD is often missed in childhood.Inattentive ADHD (What Is It Actually Like) Time blindness, hyperfocus, weak interoception, and fatigue.Medication Access & Gatekeeping Long waitlists, neuropsych requirements, stigma, & shortages.Parenting With ADHD Naming overstimulation, modeling boundaries, and letting kids see adults rest. Questions We're Answering: Why does inattentive ADHD often go undiagnosed? What stops adults from accessing ADHD medication? How does ADHD affect parenting and emotional regulation? How to practice self-compassion with ADHD? Guest & LinksRyan Baker-Barrett, BCBA Founder, Applied Behavioral Health Practice Instagram: @adhd_by_abhp Website: appliedbehavioral.health Connect With Us!  ⁠https://www.ndreportpod.com/⁠ @ndreportpod on your social platform of choice!

    48 min

  5. JAN 14

    46: Neurodivergent Rebel & Identity Reformation Post-Diagnosis

    Most neurodivergent people have a story of collapse before success. Neurodivergent Rebel - Lyric Rivera - joins me to talk about the rite-of-passage crises that force us to confront burnout, identity, capitalism, and the quiet self-abandonment we were taught to survive with. Curious what’s inside? The “Rite of Passage” Crisis: Why so many neurodivergent people hit collapse?The “Queer-Adjacent Without Language”: Growing up in the Texas Bible Belt feeling out of place without ever having the words to name non-binary identity.The Capitalism Lie: How destroying your body, your boundaries, and even the planet gets framed as “success” & why we're refusing that narrative.Protecting Your Peace: Unlearning performative identity, setting boundaries, and choosing emotional safety over productivity theater.Lavender Gelato & Feeling at Home: talk of cozy things Key Questions Answered in the Audio: Why do so many neurodivergent people experience an identity collapse before healing can begin?How does discovering autism open the door to questioning gender, capitalism, and self-abandonment? What happens when racism, colonial thinking, and “just a difference of opinion” shape parenting, education, and mental health systems? Resources Mentioned: Lyric Rivera — The Neurodivergent Rebel & published author - https://neurodivergentrebel.com/ Autism Identity in Me — Lyric’s latest book Connect With Us!  https://www.ndreportpod.com/ @ndreportpod on your social platform of choice!

    1h 4m

  6. JAN 7

    45: Corporate Masking & The Freedom of 4 AM - Ft. Romina Massa [Digital Marketing Strategist & Content Creator]

    How does it feel to spend 20 years masking in the corporate world, only to have the rug pulled out the moment you finally ask for help? Romina Massa joins us to discuss her resilience story still being written as we speak. Curious what's inside? The "Reasonable" Request: Romina reveals the shockingly simple workplace accommodation she requested that led to her corporate exit—and why it was seen as "audacity" rather than a tool for success. The Post-Diagnosis "Switch": We discuss the frustrating (and often condescending) way people’s behavior shifts the moment you disclose a neurodivergent diagnosis. The Freedom of the "Outbox": How Romina uses technology to "hide" her non-traditional working hours and why she believes the freelance model is often a necessity rather than a choice for neurodivergent professionals. Protecting Your Peace: Romina shares her personal mantra for setting boundaries and why "I’m sorry" is usually the wrong response to an autism diagnosis. Diplomats & Comic Books: A look into Romina’s childhood as the daughter of a diplomat and how her family navigated her "dramatic" traits before anyone had a name for them. Key Questions Answered in the Audio: What is the one question you should always ask a friend who has just disclosed their diagnosis? Why does the 9-to-5 "creative brain" often feel like it’s whittling away to nothing? How can you tell if you are "masking" your way through your career? Resources Mentioned: https://www.kaboose.app/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/rominamassa/ https://www.instagram.com/rominamassa/ https://www.rominamassa.com/ Connect With Us!  https://www.ndreportpod.com/ @ndreportpod on your social platform of choice!

    53 min

  7. 12/08/2025

    44: Work Life Balance, Cyclical Burnout, & Overwhelm - the most emotional episode yet!

    This is the most emotionally honest episode I’ve ever recorded.  In today’s conversation, Shaun Arora returns to The Neurodivergent Report to discuss Microsoft research on work–life balance, but the fullness of what really happened is way more useful. Listen now to co-regulate with me from all things overwhelm, chronic illness, and executive dysfunction. If you feel dizzy surviving a world that won’t slow down for you, this episode will meet you exactly where you are. *TRIGGER WARNING; crying* Curious what’s inside: Why Microsoft’s “time spent = goal acheived” model falls apart for ADHD and chronic illness Why rigid systems don’t work for brains that fluctuate The somatic signs of emotional overload How to transition after a moment of dysregulation Vulnerability as leadership: find the courage to let yourself be witnessed However you are able to engage, thanks for being here! With love, Sarah 💜 Looking for Shaun?Shaun Arora Neurodiversity advocate, coach, and founder at braintypes.org Connect With Us Find The Neurodivergent Report on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, BlueSky, and Substack: @ndreportpod Want to support the show? Subscribe, leave a 5-star review, or visit ndreportpod.com to learn more or apply to be a guest contributor. Until next time— Be well. Do good.

    50 min

  8. 11/30/2025

    43: The Snark Knight Rises: Justice Sensitivity & Getting Diagnosed at 70

    Jonathan Bernstein [investigative journalist, crisis-management expert, and founder of The Snark Knight] joins us to talk late-life autism diagnosis, justice-driven activism, intuition as a superpower, and why everyone is “big enough to do something.” Jonathan shares his unconventional path—from military intelligence to investigative journalism to 40 years in crisis-management PR—before receiving an autism and bipolar diagnosis in his 70s. He reflects on growing up as a diplomat’s child, navigating shame, and developing hyper-intuition. Jonathan reminds us that “inaction is also action” and everyone can do something. Curious what’s inside? Recovering from shame via compassionate adult identity repairJustice sensitivity & responding to political crisis’Launching The Snark Knight and related media projectsWhy compassion matters in cult recovery and de-radicalizationHow neurodivergent people “feel” social climate shifts However you are able to engage, thank you for being here! With love, Sarah Looking for The Snark Knight? ⁠https://snarkknight.com/⁠ Connect with us! https://www.ndreportpod.com/ @NDreportpod on the socials

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Neurodivergent Report is a podcast for ADHDers, autistic adults, and anyone navigating life through a neurodivergent lens. We blend expert interviews, personal storytelling, and research/evidence-based insights to explore the realities of living with invisible disabilities. Whether you’re seeking support for executive dysfunction, emotional regulation, trauma healing, or just looking for real conversations about neurodivergence, identity reconstruction, and mental health... this space is CREATED FOR YOU! Thank you for being here!

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Russell & Hind AlEnezi
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Sarah Russell & Hind AlEnezi
  • Show Website
    Neurodivergent Report