Differences NOT Deficits

Debbie & Yolandi
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Education

Where being different is normal — and connection is universal. This podcast is for the ones who’ve always felt a little off-script — and are starting to realize maybe they were never the problem. What started as a therapy-centered conversation has evolved into something deeper: an exploration of what it means to be fully human in a world obsessed with “normal.” We still care deeply about supporting neurodivergent individuals and families — but now we’re widening the lens. We’re talking about sensitivity, chronic pain, emotional intensity, burnout, masking, healing, and the thousand quiet ways people learn to hide who they are to fit in. Hosted by Debbie (former speech-language pathologist turned soul-listener and Human Design guide) and Yolandi (behaviorist turned radical connector and label-questioner), this podcast explores what happens when we stop trying to fix people — and start seeing them. Together, we talk about: The harm in pathologizing difference The beauty in unmasking and remembering who you are The power of reconnecting with your body, soul, and deeper wiring The systems that need rethinking — and the truths we’re reclaiming Whether you’re a parent, a practitioner, or a person simply trying to feel more at home in yourself — you belong here. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real. Let’s unmask what divides us — and remember what connects us. Interested in learning more about Debbie and her work...go to https://www.thetruthofyou.net/. Connect with Debbie or Yolandi at https://www.thetruthofyou.net/contact.  Follow the podcast and leave a comment on Instagram @DifferencesNotDeficits. And please rate, review, share, and subscribe! Thanks for listening!

  1. Aug 19

    S2 Ep 6: The Hidden Story of a Good Student - Part 2

    The Hidden Story of a Good Student Part 2: What I Didn't Realize School Was Teaching Me Once my body revealed the fear I had been carrying, I began looking back at my childhood through an entirely different lens. I realized that although I had been a "good student"—earning good grades, following the rules, and doing everything I was supposed to do—I wasn't thriving. I was surviving. In this second part, I reflect on what school quietly taught me about safety, mistakes, performance, and self-worth. This isn't about blaming teachers or criticizing education. It's an invitation to become curious about the emotional lessons children absorb alongside the academic ones. We often notice the children who struggle on the outside. But what about the children who learn to disappear inside themselves? Perhaps the greatest lesson isn't learning how to perform. Perhaps it's learning how to remain true to who we are.

    S2 Ep 6: The Hidden Story of a Good Student - Part 2

  2. Aug 12

    S2 Ep 5: The Hidden Story of a Good Student - Part 1

    The Hidden Story of a Good Student Part 1: The Story My Body Was Waiting to Tell What if the patterns you've carried your entire life weren't personality traits at all? For most of my life, I believed I was simply controlling, perfectionistic, and anxious. I had no idea those patterns were protecting something much deeper. In this deeply personal first part, I share the unexpected journey that led me to discover a fear I didn't even know I was carrying. What began as supporting my son through his return to public school became a moment when my own body revealed a story that had been waiting decades to be told. This isn't a conversation about having the answers or following a particular path. It's about learning to listen—to our bodies, to our experiences, and to the quiet ways truth reveals itself when we're finally ready to hear it. Sometimes healing doesn't begin because we go searching. Sometimes it begins because our body finally feels safe enough to show us what it has been carrying all along.

    S2 Ep 5: The Hidden Story of a Good Student - Part 1

  3. Aug 5

    S2: Ep: 4 A Conversation with Johnathan Mooney

    Today we're joined by Jonathan Mooney, author of Normal Sucks, educator, speaker, and longtime advocate for human difference. We actually recorded this conversation quite some time ago, but after taking an unexpected pause from the podcast, it took us a little longer to share it with you. Looking back now, this conversation feels just as relevant today—perhaps even more so. Jonathan has spent his life challenging one of our culture's deepest assumptions: that there is a "normal" way to learn, think, behave, or be human. Together, we explore the hidden costs of trying to fit ourselves into systems that were never designed to honor our uniqueness. What begins as a conversation about education quickly expands into something much bigger. We talk about belonging, identity, self-worth, labels, and the ways so many of us learn to measure ourselves against standards that have little to do with who we truly are. As we've shared in recent episodes, both our work and our understanding have continued to evolve since this conversation was recorded. Looking back, we're grateful for the questions Jonathan invited us to ask—questions that have only become more meaningful on our own journey. Whether you're a parent, educator, practitioner, or someone who has ever felt like you didn't quite fit the mold, we hope this conversation reminds you that being different was never something to overcome. It may simply be part of what makes you, you.

    S2: Ep: 4 A Conversation with Johnathan Mooney

  4. Jul 29

    S2: Ep:3 Coming Back (for real) With Nothing to Prove.

    We're back! Not because we finally have all the answers, but because we realized we didn't need them to begin again. We honestly thought we'd return much sooner. But life had other plans. Over the past several months, we've both continued to grow in ways we couldn't have predicted, and we weren't ready to come back until we could do so as ourselves—not the versions we thought we needed to be. This episode is simply a conversation about where we've been, what we've been learning, and why this next chapter of the podcast may feel a little different. We talk about masks, perfectionism, trusting ourselves, letting go of the need to perform, and why we believe slowing down was part of the journey—not a detour from it. There are no polished takeaways here. Just two humans showing up honestly. Welcome back. We're grateful you're here!

    S2: Ep:3 Coming Back (for real) With Nothing to Prove.

  5. Jan 23

    S2 Ep 2: Where We've Been, Part 2: Yolandi

    After a long season of healing, unlearning, and deep transformation, we’re back - and starting with a little honesty about where we’ve been. In this episode, Yolandi shares her personal journey over the past year: the shifts, the letting go, the reconnection with what really matters - and how it’s shaped the podcast moving forward.

    S2 Ep 2: Where We've Been, Part 2: Yolandi

  6. 12/16/2025

    S2 Ep1: Where We’ve Been, Part 1: Debbie

    After a long season of healing, unlearning, and deep transformation, we’re back - and starting with a little honesty about where we’ve been. In this episode, Debbie shares her personal journey over the past year: the shifts, the letting go, the reconnection with what really matters - and how it’s shaped the podcast moving forward. Yolandi will be sharing her own story in the next episode.

    S2 Ep1: Where We’ve Been, Part 1: Debbie

  7. Season 2 Trailer

    Season 2 Trailer

    After a long break filled with healing and unlearning, Differences NOT Deficits is back — with deeper conversations, broader perspectives, and way more realness. This season, we’re expanding beyond neurodivergence to explore all the ways people feel “different” — and the harm in trying to make everyone “normal.” Join Debbie and Yolandi as they unmask old labels, share personal truths, and invite you into messy, meaningful conversations about what it really means to be seen, supported, and fully yourself. Interested in learning more about Debbie and her work...go to https://www.thetruthofyou.net/. Connect with Debbie or Yolandi at https://www.thetruthofyou.net/contact.

    Season 2 Trailer

  8. 05/26/2024

    Ep. 16 Embracing Neurodiversity: Honoring Unique Talents

    In this episode we give a little update on what is happening with our podcast since it's been a while since we have published an episode.  We also have a discussion about the gifts, talents, contributions we see in neurodivergent people. The world is missing so much when the focus is on trying to "fix" people instead of looking at he unique gifts they have to offer.

    Ep. 16 Embracing Neurodiversity: Honoring Unique Talents
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
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About

Where being different is normal — and connection is universal. This podcast is for the ones who’ve always felt a little off-script — and are starting to realize maybe they were never the problem. What started as a therapy-centered conversation has evolved into something deeper: an exploration of what it means to be fully human in a world obsessed with “normal.” We still care deeply about supporting neurodivergent individuals and families — but now we’re widening the lens. We’re talking about sensitivity, chronic pain, emotional intensity, burnout, masking, healing, and the thousand quiet ways people learn to hide who they are to fit in. Hosted by Debbie (former speech-language pathologist turned soul-listener and Human Design guide) and Yolandi (behaviorist turned radical connector and label-questioner), this podcast explores what happens when we stop trying to fix people — and start seeing them. Together, we talk about: The harm in pathologizing difference The beauty in unmasking and remembering who you are The power of reconnecting with your body, soul, and deeper wiring The systems that need rethinking — and the truths we’re reclaiming Whether you’re a parent, a practitioner, or a person simply trying to feel more at home in yourself — you belong here. This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real. Let’s unmask what divides us — and remember what connects us. Interested in learning more about Debbie and her work...go to https://www.thetruthofyou.net/. Connect with Debbie or Yolandi at https://www.thetruthofyou.net/contact.  Follow the podcast and leave a comment on Instagram @DifferencesNotDeficits. And please rate, review, share, and subscribe! Thanks for listening!

Information

  • Creator
    Debbie & Yolandi
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Differences NOT Deficits