The Divergence Department

12: Don't ask us what we're reading - A very neurodivergent reading list

This week we sat down with the best of intentions: recommend a book each. Simple, right? Reader, it was not simple. Picking just one book turned out to be its own whole thing, and what followed was less a polished recommendation list and more a live, unfiltered demonstration of what it's actually like inside our brains when faced with too many options and not enough certainty. We spiralled, we second-guessed and we went on tangents. We talked about books we loved, books we abandoned three chapters in, and books that have been sitting on our to-read pile since approximately forever. But sometimes, this is what neurodivergent decision-making actually looks like so if you've ever spiralled trying to pick a single favourite anything, you're going to feel very seen this episode.

11: Is professionalism dead?

Is professionalism actually about doing great work or just playing the part? In this episode, Luisa and Kerri get into the messy reality behind workplace “norms,” from dress codes and hierarchy to the subtle pressure to mask who you really are. They unpack where these ideas came from, who they benefit, and why they might be holding us back especially when it comes to neurodiversity. If the future of work is about authenticity, is professionalism due for a complete rewrite?

10: Running on a treadmill vs running from a bear (clearly not the same thing)

We all adjust who we are depending on the situation… but when does that stop being social awareness and start becoming something else? In this episode, we take a deep dive into neurodivergent masking — what it is, why we do it and what it actually costs. Using recent comments from Uta Frith as a starting point, we unpack how masking has been (mis)understood in autism research, how it can act as a survival strategy and why the line between adapting and losing yourself isn’t always clear. Join us as we question some of the science and sit with the uncomfortable bits — like how masking can shape identity, impact mental health and quietly show up in workplaces that claim to be inclusive. Along the way, we bring in our own experiences of masking and unmasking - because we definitely know that if there’s a manual for being yourself, it’s not exactly user-friendly.

9: Neurodiversity Index Report 2026 - A Slightly Unfiltered Review

We read the Neurodiversity Index Report 2026 so you don’t have to… but also, we think you really probably should! In this episode, we dig into the UK’s latest Neurodiversity Index — a report designed to measure how neurodivergent people are actually experiencing work, and how organisations are showing up when it comes to inclusion. It looks at everything from awareness and workplace practices to that ever-present gap between what companies say they’re doing and what people actually feel day to day. And as it turns out, awareness is doing great. The rest… is a bit more complicated. We talk through what the report is really telling us (and what it isn’t), where it reflects reality, and where it feels slightly… optimistic. From the often-quoted “20% neurodivergent” figure to the ongoing conversation around adjustments, flexibility, and what inclusion looks like beyond a policy document, we unpack it all in a way that’s honest, reflective, and occasionally a little bit side-eye-y. Along the way, we bring in our own experiences, question a few assumptions, and gently challenge the idea that progress on paper always translates to progress in practice. Because a report can measure a lot of things — but it can’t quite capture what it feels like to exist in those systems.

8: I came, I saw, I needed a break

In this episode, Luisa and Kerri unpack the reality of navigating parties, networking and connection as neurodivergent people. From surprise plans to post-COVID shifts and the pressure to “show up” a certain way. We explore creative, low-pressure ways to gather (yes, including PowerPoint and pizza parties), how to make networking actually human, and why shared purpose matters more than small talk. If you’ve ever left a social event feeling drained or out of place then you're among friends.