(Neuro)Diverse Dialogues

Damian
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Ever wondered what your colleagues or students who describe as neurodivergent really experience or how they feel about life in academia - but have been a bit fearful of asking? These chats are an opportunity for people who describe themselves as neurodivergent to talk about their life experiences and how they navigate the neurotypical waters of academia - and for me to ask questions I have always wanted to ask. I aim to load new chats fortnightly and if you would like to take part, or to suggest someone who might, then please let me know. The more we talk the more we learn. NeuroDiverseDialogues@gmail.com

  1. Sep 28

    Ruby (undergtraduate) - The Cost Of Masking,

    You can pass as “perfectly fine” all day and still be paying for it every evening. Ruby, a pharmacology student at Newcastle University, joins us for an honest fireside chat about living with a dual diagnosis of ADHD and autism while trying to study, work, and keep some energy left for being a person. We talk about what people miss when they only understand neurodiversity through stereotypes, and why looking capable can hide a serious daily cost. Ruby walks us through her university journey, including leaving a course after repeated exam struggles, then later passing once she had an ADHD diagnosis, an autism diagnosis, and the right support in place. We get into the emotional weight of being labelled a “naughty child” at school, the long shadow that misunderstanding can cast, and how late diagnosis can be both a relief and a reset. There’s also a real-world look at UK access routes, from private assessment to NHS-funded pathways like Right to Choose, and what timely support can change. We also go deep on ADHD medication experiences: how stimulants can boost focus but not choose the target, why side effects and sensory overload can spike, and why a non-stimulant option like atomoxetine can feel more sustainable. Along the way, Ruby breaks down masking, pattern recognition, friendships, and the guilt that shows up when you cannot “just push through” like everyone else seems to. If you’ve searched for ADHD and autism at university, high masking autism, ADHD medication UK, or neurodiversity in academia, this conversation will leave you with language, clarity, and practical perspective. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave us a review with your biggest takeaway or question.

  2. Aug 10

    Anna - What If The Label Matters Less Than Support

    (Neuro)Diverse Dialogues

  3. Jul 20

    Paul - Three operating systems in one brain - Navigating AuDHD in late diagnosed adults

    (Neuro)Diverse Dialogues

  4. Jul 6

    Tom - What Changes When You Stop Measuring Your Brain By Neurotypical Rules

    I had the amazing opportunity to talk to Dr Tom Nicholson on the podcast #NeurodiverseDialogues. On this we hear a story in mark contrast to when I spoke to Sally Ingram MBE regarding the impact that having support or not has on young people (and then through life). Sally talked of a teacher who came alongside her and supported her and endeavoured to understand. Tom had the opposite brutal experience, but he battled his way through and now uses this experience to talk nationally and beyond, and to encourage and support others who are neurodivergent and those who aren't but seek to support those who are.  I strongly urge you to engage with his work, and heady combination of evidence and experience based work. Between the two this is a real insight into the difference that we can make in our students, our colleagues, our friends, our families and neighbours lives.  I strongly recommend you listen to both and find your own messages, and hacks and advice within, he can be found via his website:  https://www.drtomnicholson.com/ Over all these 2 are stories of how people have taken their real life experiences, good and hard, and turning them into opportunities to support and encourage others. Apologies but I set the wrong release date so this came out a week early!

  5. Jun 29

    Sally - A Good Teacher Can Change A Dyslexia Story

    (Neuro)Diverse Dialogues

  6. Jun 15

    Kat - From Graduate To Dietitian With A Dual Diagnosis

    Warning:  On this episode Kat and I are joined but a Jack Russell contributing vocally at time (not for long).  This Causes a little disruption but in maintaining Kats stoic resiliance I have not edited.  Thanks Kat! People love tidy labels for autism and ADHD, but real neurodiversity refuses to stay in a single box. We sit down with Kat, a newly qualified dietitian who has a dual diagnosis of autism and ADHD, and we follow her path through higher education, diagnosis, and into clinical practice. Along the way she shares what it feels like when your traits do not match the stereotypes, and why that mismatch can leave you doubting yourself even when you are clearly capable. Kat talks candidly about her diagnosis journey, including an earlier OCD label that, in hindsight, may have been a misread of autistic traits. She explains the relief of finally having a framework that makes childhood memories, social misunderstandings, and sensory overload add up. We dig into the details people often miss: being highly sensitive rather than emotionally detached, taking language literally, and the exhausting work of dealing with “hidden meanings” in everyday conversations. We also get practical about neurodiversity at work. Kat describes how openness can unlock reasonable adjustments, reduce burnout, and help you perform better as a clinician. She highlights strengths her team values, like attention to detail and clinical curiosity, plus the courage to question processes that do not make sense. We talk hyperfixations, comfort foods, safe clothing, and the less-discussed impact of moral justice sensitivity when something feels unfair and you cannot let it go. If you have ever been told you are “not really” autistic or ADHD because you do not fit someone else’s template, this conversation will land. Subscribe for more honest stories, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

  7. Jun 1

    Rebecca - A Diagnosis At 32 Gave Language To A Lifetime Of Overthinking

    A fast mind can be a beautiful place—until the world demands it walk in a straight line. We sit down with Rebecca Jackson, a higher education administrator who found clarity at 32 with an ADHD diagnosis after years of masking, burnout, and misreads of mood. Her story is honest and practical, weaving personal turning points with the small, repeatable tactics that make daily life calmer and work more sustainable. Rebecca opens up about the years when anxiety felt random and school life taught her to hide. That history shifts once ADHD becomes the lens: the nonlinear thinking, the memory drop-outs right after unlocking the phone, and the heavy cost of performing “office normal” in an open plan. She walks us through the hard start and real benefits of lisdexamfetamine—initial side effects, dose titration, and what improved when the morning fog finally lifted. We get into workplace adjustments that actually help: noise-cancelling headphones, a quieter desk, flexible hours, and the underrated power of a short dance break when working from home. Beyond personal care, Rebecca is pushing for culture change. As a staff disability network co-chair, she champions training, community, and a more thoughtful approach to disclosure. She dismantles the “it’s a trend” trope with lived reality, and calls out hiring practices that privilege performance over proof. Her case for portfolios and practical assessments is compelling—hire the work, not the nerves. Along the way, we examine alcohol as a trigger, the sensory math of crowded family gatherings, and the comfort of familiar TV as a nervous system reset. The takeaway is both simple and strong: clear language, humane systems, and everyday boundaries can turn survival into growth. If this conversation helps you feel seen, pass it on. Subscribe for more candid stories, share this episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help others find the show. What hiring change would make the biggest difference for neurodivergent candidates? Tell us.

  8. May 18

    Jordan - From Dyspraxia To Doctorate: Rethinking Failure And Inclusion

    Ever looked at someone’s glittering CV and wondered what’s buried underneath? We sit down with Jordan, a PhD researcher and student union staffer with dyspraxia, to map the real academic journey—the wins above the waterline and the quiet stack of rejections below. Jordan’s take is refreshingly frank: persistence matters, but reflection matters more, and the path that looks straight in hindsight is usually anything but. We dig into what dyspraxia is—differences in coordination, balance and fine motor skills—and how those challenges ripple into school feedback, confidence and communication. A diagnosis gave Jordan language and leverage, not a shortcut: tools like a laptop and alternative presentation formats didn’t lower the bar, they let his ideas show. He shares how he built an “organised chaos” workflow that fits his mind, using compartmentalised projects, strong memory and strategic workarounds to keep momentum without burning out. From the classroom, Jordan offers tight, practical strategies that keep rigour while changing the frame. Instead of watering tasks down, he reframes group work for students who need structure: defined roles, clear written updates, predictable loops. The goal is autonomy—teachers as facilitators, not gatekeepers—so power shifts from us to the learner over time. We also challenge a stubborn myth: there isn’t a SEND problem caused by “too many diagnoses.” There’s an inclusion problem caused by systems that still expect neat, linear performance. Naming strengths matters, but training them matters more than calling them superpowers. If you’ve ever felt out of place in education or research, this conversation makes space for your route. Find your niche, bring your whole way of thinking, and let the work reflect the person—not the template. Listen, share it with someone who needs the nudge, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review so more people can find these stories.

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About

Ever wondered what your colleagues or students who describe as neurodivergent really experience or how they feel about life in academia - but have been a bit fearful of asking? These chats are an opportunity for people who describe themselves as neurodivergent to talk about their life experiences and how they navigate the neurotypical waters of academia - and for me to ask questions I have always wanted to ask. I aim to load new chats fortnightly and if you would like to take part, or to suggest someone who might, then please let me know. The more we talk the more we learn. NeuroDiverseDialogues@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Damian
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 (Neuro)Diverse Dialogues
  • Show Website
    (Neuro)Diverse Dialogues