The Neurodivergent Experience

Hot Topic: Why Neurodivergent Kids Go Missing — It’s Not the ADHD

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott respond to an Independent article exploring whether undiagnosed ADHD increases the likelihood of young people going missing — and why headlines like this often oversimplify a much deeper issue. Jordan shares raw, personal stories of repeatedly running away as a child and how abuse, zero support, and misinterpretation shaped his behaviour — not ADHD itself. Simon unpacks why articles tend to blame neurodivergence rather than the environmental failures, lack of safeguarding, and lack of understanding that actually create crisis responses. Together, they discuss: * Why “ADHD made me run away” is an oversimplification * How unsupported neurodivergent kids end up in crisis * Sensationalist headlines vs. lived reality * The role of schools, police, and mental health services * How mislabelling kids as “naughty” shapes lifelong self-worth * Why early identification and whole-profile neurodivergent understanding matters * The urgent need for empathy-driven support systems This is a validating and eye-opening conversation for anyone who grew up misunderstood — and for anyone working with vulnerable neurodivergent young people today. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) [https://www.rtndiagnostics.com/right-to-choose] 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy * → https://bit.ly/ashleynde [https://bit.ly/ashleynde] 🔗 Stay Connected * Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod [https://instagram.com/theneurodivergentexperiencepod] * Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience [https://www.facebook.com/theneurodivergentexperience] & Jordan's Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/JoeJamesNeurodiversityawareness] * YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience [https://youtube.com/@TheNeurodivergentExperience] * TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience [https://www.tiktok.com/@neurodivergentexperience] ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

A Very Neurodivergent Christmas: Gift Anxiety, Family Gatherings, Expectations & Burnout

In this festive episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott are joined by hypnotherapist and breathwork practitioner Ashley Bentley for a warm, funny, and deeply relatable conversation about navigating Christmas as autistic and ADHD adults. From sensory overwhelm to social expectations, gift-giving anxiety to family dynamics, they explore why the holiday season can feel like both the best and worst time of year — and how reframing, self-compassion, and realistic expectations can make it easier to handle. Ashley shares practical tools for preventing burnout, managing sensory input, setting boundaries, saying no without guilt, and rediscovering small moments of joy. Whether you love Christmas, dread it, or experience both at once, this episode offers grounding guidance, humour, and permission to do the season your way. They discuss: * Why Christmas triggers overwhelm, burnout, and emotional whiplash * Sensory overload in crowds, shops, lights, and noise * Reframing expectations and rewriting old holiday stories * Gift-giving anxiety and navigating social pressure * Boundaries, saying no, and preserving your peace * Family dynamics, old roles, and masking at gatherings * Childhood memories, lost traditions, and reclaiming joy * Approaching the season with self-kindness and realistic goals A validating, light-hearted, and insightful look at surviving — and maybe even enjoying — a very neurodivergent Christmas. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) [https://www.rtndiagnostics.com/right-to-choose] 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy * → https://bit.ly/ashleynde [https://bit.ly/ashleynde] 🔗 Stay Connected * Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod [https://instagram.com/theneurodivergentexperiencepod] * Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience [https://www.facebook.com/theneurodivergentexperience] & Jordan's Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/JoeJamesNeurodiversityawareness] * YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience [https://youtube.com/@TheNeurodivergentExperience] * TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience [https://www.tiktok.com/@neurodivergentexperience] ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: The Quiet Weight of December | Navigating Loneliness & Holiday Overwhelm

In this week’s Mindful Mondays, Ashley Bentley explores the quiet emotional weight that December so often brings - especially for neurodivergent nervous systems. Through gentle storytelling, neuroscience, and ND-affirming insight, she unpacks why this season can feel overwhelming: the sensory demands, disrupted routines, family dynamics, social expectations, and the tender ache of loneliness that December can amplify. Ashley reframes exhaustion as the body’s boundary, loneliness as an emotional truth, and overwhelm as a physiological response rather than a personal failing. The episode includes a Bite-Sized Buddhism reflection on dukkha, a Microdosing Meaning moment for gentle re-framing, and a winter landscape meditation to help listeners find warmth, softness, and inner steadiness in a demanding season. A compassionate companion for anyone feeling stretched thin, out of sync, or quietly overwhelmed this December. ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) [https://www.rtndiagnostics.com/right-to-choose] 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy * → https://bit.ly/ashleynde [https://bit.ly/ashleynde] 🔗 Stay Connected * Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod [https://instagram.com/theneurodivergentexperiencepod] * Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience [https://www.facebook.com/theneurodivergentexperience] & Jordan's Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/JoeJamesNeurodiversityawareness] * YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience [https://youtube.com/@TheNeurodivergentExperience] * TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience [https://www.tiktok.com/@neurodivergentexperience] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Hot Topic: Neurodivergent Animals? The Problem Isn’t the Pets — It’s the Framing

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott react to a recent article claiming dogs can be “autistic” — and unpack why this framing misunderstands both animals and neurodivergence. They discuss how natural behaviours in animals get mislabelled as “autistic traits,” why deficit-based language harms autistic people, and how ableist assumptions shape research across species. Together, they explore: * How research bias leads to fear-based language like “risk” and “behavioural problems” * Why neurodivergence is a natural evolutionary advantage, not a deficit * The danger of reinforcing stereotypes (e.g., “cats are autistic,” “hyper dogs are ADHD”) * Why splitting neurodivergence into strict labels misses the bigger picture * How science goes wrong when it assumes autism is a negative trait * The importance of autistic-led insight in neurodivergent research This is a funny, fiery, and thought-provoking take on what happens when good intentions collide with bad science — and why autistic voices must guide any conversation about neurodivergence, no matter the species. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) [https://www.rtndiagnostics.com/right-to-choose] 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy * → https://bit.ly/ashleynde [https://bit.ly/ashleynde] 🔗 Stay Connected * Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod [https://instagram.com/theneurodivergentexperiencepod] * Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience [https://www.facebook.com/theneurodivergentexperience] & Jordan's Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/JoeJamesNeurodiversityawareness] * YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience [https://youtube.com/@TheNeurodivergentExperience] * TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience [https://www.tiktok.com/@neurodivergentexperience] ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Feeling at Home Away From Home: A Neurodivergent Weekend With Friends

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott share a warm, funny, and deeply relatable account of their weekend in Liverpool — a true neurodivergent experience of travel, routine disruption, sensory differences, social energy, and feeling safe with the right people. From road-trip anxiety and hyperfocus preparation to navigating cities, accents, crowds, and new environments, they reflect on what makes travel hard for autistic and ADHD adults — and what makes it easier when you’re with someone who understands your needs without judgment. They explore how their friendship works so well: no masking, no pressure to perform, no expectations to “join in,” just mutual understanding, space to stim or decompress, and the comfort of being fully themselves in each other’s homes. Together, Jordan and Simon discuss: * Travel anxiety, catastrophising, and the power of preparation * How hyperfocus can override fear and create excitement * Why immersive, paced environments feel more accessible for ND people * Echolalia, accents, dialects and how ND communication shifts by environment * Eating routines, interoception issues, and the pressure of being a “guest” * Navigating other people’s homes and maintaining boundaries * Why ND people need autonomy, quiet time, and freedom to roam * Unmasking safely and what it means to be welcomed “as you are” This lighthearted, genuine episode captures the everyday realities of neurodivergent living — the joy, the challenges, the humour, and the deep relief of finding people who get you. A comforting, relatable listen for anyone seeking ND community. Our Sponsors: 🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK) [https://www.rtndiagnostics.com/right-to-choose] 🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy * → https://bit.ly/ashleynde [https://bit.ly/ashleynde] 🔗 Stay Connected * Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod [https://instagram.com/theneurodivergentexperiencepod] * Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience [https://www.facebook.com/theneurodivergentexperience] & Jordan's Facebook page [https://www.facebook.com/JoeJamesNeurodiversityawareness] * YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience [https://youtube.com/@TheNeurodivergentExperience] * TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience [https://www.tiktok.com/@neurodivergentexperience] ❤️ Support the Show If this episode resonated with you: ✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience ⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify 🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.