The School System Failed My Son | ADHD, Autism & the Fight for Support with Danielle Broadbent

The School System Failed My Son | ADHD, Autism & the Fight for Support with Danielle Broadbent

In this powerful episode of Thick No More, Jay Giddens is joined by parent advocate Danielle Broadbent to discuss the reality facing thousands of families navigating ADHD, autism, school exclusions, EHCP applications, and a system many believe is failing neurodivergent children. Danielle shares her deeply personal journey supporting her son through years of struggles in secondary school, repeated exclusions, isolation, delayed assessments, and the battle to secure the support he needed. Together, Jay and Danielle explore the emotional impact on families, why so many children are falling through the cracks, and the urgent need for education reform. The conversation also shines a light on alternative pathways such as Functional Skills qualifications, challenging the belief that GCSEs are the only route to success. This episode is essential listening for parents, carers, educators, SEND professionals, and anyone passionate about creating a more inclusive education system. Topics covered: • ADHD and Autism diagnosis journeys • School exclusions and isolation rooms • EHCP applications and tribunals • SEND support and education reform • Functional Skills and alternative pathways • School attendance and school refusal • Neurodiversity in education • The impact on parents and families • Why GCSEs are not the only measure of success If you've ever felt unheard, exhausted, or frustrated while fighting for your child, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone.

Not Good Enough" to Unstoppable | Andy Vincent on Dyslexia, Trauma & Transformation

Season 3, Episode 1 – Andy Vincent | Thick No More Season 3 kicks off with one of the most honest, emotional and inspiring conversations we’ve had yet. In this episode, Jay sits down with Andy Vincent a man whose story of dyslexia, childhood trauma, survival and personal transformation will resonate deeply with parents, neurodivergent adults and anyone who has ever felt “not good enough.” Growing up in Portsmouth during the 70s and 80s, Andy struggled through a school system that didn’t understand dyslexia. Labelled, misunderstood and pushed into “special reading classes,” he carried the same painful words many neurodivergent people know all too well thick, lazy, not smart enough. But school wasn’t even the hardest part. Andy opens up about growing up in a deeply dysfunctional home, dealing with poverty, alcoholism and childhood sexual abuse — experiences he kept hidden for over 30 years. This episode is raw, powerful and incredibly human. Jay and Andy connect over shared experiences of growing up neurodivergent in a world that simply didn’t get them. Together, they explore how those labels can follow you into adulthood, shaping confidence, careers, relationships and mental health. Andy speaks openly about failing exams, struggling to fit into traditional systems and battling the constant internal voice saying, “I’m not good enough.” But this is not a story about giving up. It’s a story about belief, resilience and rebuilding yourself from the ground up. Andy shares how personal development and self-education completely changed his life, taking him from construction work and financial collapse during the 2007 recession to becoming a coach, mentor and advocate for using AI to empower neurodivergent people. One of the most fascinating parts of this episode is Andy’s approach to artificial intelligence. Rather than fearing AI, he explains how it became a life-changing tool that gave him confidence, clarity and a voice. From helping him communicate more effectively to building courses, creating content and organising his ideas, Andy believes AI can become a powerful support system for people with dyslexia, ADHD and other neurodivergent challenges. The conversation dives deep into: * Growing up dyslexic in the 70s and 80s * Trauma, shame and survival * Mental health and self-belief * The impact of labels on neurodivergent children * Why traditional education fails so many people * Personal development and breaking limiting beliefs * AI tools for confidence, learning and communication * Why “progression over perfection” matters * The importance of courage, consistency and change Andy also shares his “4 Cs” philosophy: Change. Courage. Confidence. Consistency. A message that perfectly captures the heart of Thick No More. As always, this episode is about more than storytelling. It’s about helping people feel seen, understood and hopeful. If you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child, someone struggling with confidence, or simply trying to find your place in a system that never seemed built for you — this episode will hit home. And yes… Andy’s entrance song choice is an absolute belter. 🎵 Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey 🎵 Because sometimes the biggest breakthrough starts with finally believing in yourself.

The Quiet Gift | Pamela Cass on Dyslexia, Feeling Invisible & Finding Your Purpose

This week on Thick No More, Jay sits down with performance coach, speaker, and author Pamela Cass, whose story will resonate with anyone who has ever felt invisible, “not enough,” or misunderstood. Diagnosed with dyslexia at age seven in 1977, Pamela spent her childhood being pulled out of class, whispered about, and shrinking herself to survive. At home, she hid in a hallway closet hoping someone would notice she was missing. No one did. Today, she calls her dyslexia a quiet gift — the very thing that built her resilience, empathy, creativity, and purpose. In this powerful conversation, we talk about: * Growing up dyslexic when support didn’t exist * Feeling invisible as a child and how that shapes adulthood * The emotional weight of hiding dyslexia/ADHD in the workplace * Burnout, and walking away from a VP role * Why she wouldn’t change anything about her past * How to discover your own “gift” through the things that put you in flow * The grounding technique that changed Jay’s public speaking forever * Her new book The Quiet Gift — and the mission behind it If you’ve ever wished you could go back and “fix” your past… this episode will help you see that your story may be the exact message someone else needs. 🌐 Website: PamelaCass.com 📘 The Quiet Gift on Amazon: PamelaCass.com/thequietgift 📲 Instagram: @pam.cass70 💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pamelacass-realtor Connect With Pamela Cass

I Lost Everything at 56... Then Discovered I Had ADHD | John O'Shea

🎙️ Thick No More – Episode 1: John O’Shea | NeuroSpicy, Resilience & Rediscovering Yourself What happens when your life completely unravels your marriage ends, your job’s gone, your home’s gone and you realise you’ve been living with undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia for decades? In this powerful first video episode of Thick No More, host Jay Giddens sits down with John O’Shea, founder of NeuroSpicy and author of the new book NeuroSpicy: The Raw and Honest Story of a Neurodivergent Mind. John opens up about hitting rock bottom, finding strength through self-discipline, meditation, and fitness and how that journey led him to finally understand his neurodivergent brain. Together, Jay and John talk openly about: 💥 Growing up dyslexic and being called “thick” in school 💥 The moment everything fell apart and the fight to rebuild 💥 How a diagnosis at 56 changed everything 💥 Why ADHD isn’t a “deficit” it’s an overload of ideas 💥 Why our education system still fails neurodivergent kids 💥 Turning pain into purpose through NeuroSpicy 💥 What “Thick No More” really means It’s raw, emotional, funny, and completely real two men talking openly about neurodiversity, failure, redemption, and the power of finally understanding who you are. 📘 Get John’s book: https://neurospicy.life [https://neurospicy.life] 🎧 Follow John on Instagram: @neurospicy66 💬 Discount code: ABC25 for 15% off 🔔 Subscribe to Thick No More for honest conversations about dyslexia, ADHD, and the journey from feeling “broken” to realising you were never broken at all.

Autistic and Thriving in Tech | Shea Belsky on Leadership, Inclusion & Being Yourself

Autistic self-advocate and tech leader Shea Belsky (Tech Lead @ HubSpot; ex-CTO & co-founder at Mentra; host of Autistic Techie) joins Thick No More to flip old labels into real strengths. We go back to his early years and diagnosis, talk sensory needs and self-advocacy, and get practical about what leaders miss—and how simple changes create belonging and better work. In this episode: * “Born This Way” and owning identity * Early diagnosis vs. today’s language and pop-culture stereotypes * School, sensory triggers, and finding environments that work * From Cornell to tech leadership: disclosure, boundaries, and growth * The business case for inclusion (and the cost of getting it wrong) * ERGs, remote/hybrid work, and universal design that helps everyone * Advice for leaders (what to do Monday morning) * Advice for “hiders” at work: asking for what you need, safely If this resonated, share it with a friend—and remember: labels are just words. We’re here to change the narrative. * Website: shaebelsky.com * Email: hello@shaebelsky.com * Podcast: Autistic Techie (available on all major platforms) * LinkedIn: Shea Belsky (search by name) Connect with Shea