MiND Stim

You Are Super Duper Awesome (Episode 5) — with Arber Ismaili

In Episode 5 of MiND Stim, Jacques sits down with Arber Ismaili, a 20-year-old autistic advocate and soon-to-be degree apprentice at HSBC, to explore what it means to embrace difference, lead with positivity, and build real community online and off. Part lived experience, part playbook, this conversation gets specific: stimming without shame, masking and why suppression backfires, inclusive hiring that brings out strengths, and practical advice for social platforms. Arber shares how consistency and authenticity build trust, how to handle trolls, and why small, sensory-aware events can be more inclusive than large, noisy rooms. They also dig into the less-talked-about pieces: the social rules that trip people up, turn-taking and time limits on the mic, the feeling of isolation at school, and how choice and clarity lower stress and reveal strength. Arber reflects on early speech and language therapy, finding his voice on LinkedIn, and the role of support from Radical in preparing for interviews. His message to hiring teams is simple and actionable: “Treat them like they’re people, not numbers.” Arber’s story runs from shy school years to an HSBC offer in private banking, with a steady thread of self-acceptance, community, and courage. It closes with the spirit that defines him: “Never forget what cosmic, shining, gleaming stars you are.” 🎧 Tune in for grounded advice, myth-busting, and immediately usable steps for leaders, teams, event hosts, and neurodivergent professionals alike.

Strengths Over Deficits (Episode 4) — with Amanda Riley

In Episode 4 of MiND Stim, Jacques sits down with Amanda Riley — founder of Thriving with Neurodiversity, strengths-led neuroinclusion specialist, and proud late-diagnosed ADHDer — to explore how to turn awareness into practical, strengths-based action at work. Part lived-experience, part playbook, this conversation gets specific: busting myths and stereotypes, reframing ADHD beyond “deficit”, disclosure and masking at work, psychological safety, why C-suite sponsorship matters, and the simple communication habits (clear agendas, roles, shorter meetings) that make teams genuinely inclusive. They also dig into the less-talked-about pieces: RSD and emotional regulation, hormones and ADHD (from teen years to peri/menopause), sensory load and energy ebbs, delayed sleep phase, flexibility vs presenteeism, and the impact of social media misinformation on self-diagnosis and stigma. Amanda shares how her daughter’s diagnosis — and then her own — led her from a 20-year career in change and communications to founding Thriving with Neurodiversity, blending research, myth-busting and strengths coaching to help organisations design neuroinclusive cultures that actually work. 🎧 Tune in for grounded advice, myth-busting, and immediately usable steps for leaders, teams and neurodivergent professionals alike.

Justice-Flavoured Autism (Episode 3) - with Jill Johnson

In Episode 3 of MiND Stim, Jacques sits down with Jill Johnson — neurodivergent content strategist, military spouse, and future social worker — for a conversation that cuts through the noise and touches the nerve.   This one’s different. It’s the first time Jacques talks about his own autism diagnosis on air — not as a clean story or polished insight, but from right in the middle of it. Still navigating. Still not comfortable. Still here. Together, they explore the strange discomfort of late diagnosis, the emotional cost of masking, and why the label “high functioning” often hides the very thing people need support with most. There’s talk of D&D, justice, identity, and trying to rebuild yourself after years of not having the words. It’s unfiltered, nonlinear, and real — and maybe that’s the point.   🎧 Tune in for a bold, funny, and unscripted episode about speaking out… even when you're still figuring it out. New episodes drop fortnightly on Mondays.

Strong Path Forward (Episode 2) — with James Dewar-Haggart

In Episode 2 of MiND Stim, Jacques sits down with James Dewar-Haggart — trauma-informed coach and founder of Strong Path CIC — to explore what it really means to create safe, inclusive spaces for neurodivergent people. Almost like a confessional episode, this is a raw and reflective conversation between two people who’d only just connected that week. We talk about late ADHD diagnosis, the grief of being misunderstood, masking, masculinity, and the realities of addiction as a coping mechanism. Together we unpack the systems that weren’t built for us, and what healing can look like when it’s rooted in co-regulation, truth-telling, and lived experience. James shares how his own experiences of school exclusion, misdiagnosis, and burnout led him to found Strong Path CIC — a fitness and coaching space designed with, not for, the neurodivergent community. 🎧 Tune in for honesty, insight, and a powerful reminder that support doesn’t begin with a service — it begins with understanding.

Designing for All (Episode 1) – with Tania Gerard

In Episode 1 of MiND Stim, Jacques speaks with Tania Gerard — ADHD UK ambassador, TEDx speaker, and accessible marketing consultant — about what inclusion really means when it comes to design. From alt text and colour contrast to reducing decision fatigue, Tania breaks down the small changes that make a big difference for neurodivergent users. They explore the challenges and triumphs of navigating life with neurodivergent conditions, the importance of understanding sensory experiences, and the role of environment in shaping their journeys. This episode drops the same day the European Accessibility Act comes into force — and it couldn’t be better timed. 🎧 Tune in for insight, strategy, and a fresh take on what accessibility actually looks like in action.