Meet Rebecca Irby, Founder of PEAC Institute!
What can we learn from her story of cross-cultural connection?
Together, we chat about cultural identity, empathy, and the neurodivergent experience through her lens as educator and UN peace advocate. (Peace, Education, Art & Culture).
Curious what’s inside?
- Empathy must be taught — but how?
- Psychological safety is the foundation for growth and collaboration.
- Storytelling and community are catalysts for peace and progress.
We also talk about what it means to create psychological safety, the power of storytelling, and why real social change always begins in community.
However you are able to engage, thank you for being here!
With love, Sarah
Looking for Rebecca?
🌍 peacinstitute.org
💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccairby/
📸 (@equity.doula on socials)
Connect with us!
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
Do our brains and guts actually talk to each other???
In this episode, we’re sitting down with Annika from Nutrimind Lab to unpack how nutrition plays a pivotal role in ADHD & behavioral health. We explore everything from omega-3s and inflammation to interoception and hunger signals.
Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with ADHD or have been navigating this your whole life, this conversation is for you.
🔍 Curious what’s inside:
We talk about managing hunger signals & interoception (that internal sense of what your body needs)
What does chronic stress have to do with nutrition?!
Ultimately: it’s not just about “fixing” something. It’s about understanding, acceptance, and building your community and tools so you can feel better in your brain, body, and day-to-day life.
However you are able to engage, thank you for being here!
With Love,
Sarah
Connect with us:
Socials: @NDreportpod
Apply to be a guest: NDreportpod.comLooking for Annika?Website: nutrimindlab.com
https://www.youtube.com/@nutrimindlab
🎧 Podcast: The Nutritional Mental Health Podcast
🧩 Keywords for SEO
neurodivergent · ADHD · nutrition · gut-brain connection · mental health · inflammation · omega-3 · diagnosis · health challenges · personal stories · neurodiversity · interoception · gut health · chronic stress · coping strategies · hunger signals · self-acceptance · ADHD nutrition · holistic health
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, Sarah and JQ welcome back Sol Smith, certified autism specialist, author of The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery, and founder of the NeuroSpicy Community!
Curious what’s inside:
Autonomy and choice are essential for neurodivergent learners
PDA as a drive for autonomy rather than “demand avoidance”
“There’s no such thing as an academic emergency…”
Supporting kids’ special interests as pathways to motivation and resilience
Importance of self-advocacy skills
However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!
With love, Sarah 💜
Looking for Sol?
🌐 professorsol.com
📘 The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery – available wherever books are sold
📱 Instagram: @theprofessorsol
📱 TikTok: @professorsol
Connect with us!
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
Keywords (we've gotta please the SEO) AuDHD, ADHD, autism, PDA, Pervasive Demand for Autonomy, neurodivergent students, school accommodations, emotional regulation, executive function, SEL, autonomy in education, self-advocacy, parenting neurodivergent kids, classroom strategies, masking, burnout, neurodiversity, Sol Smith, Sarah Russell, The Neurodivergent Report
Come meet Brett, the AuDHD Boss!
We’re talking about workplace accommodations; both how to ask for them and what to even try!!!
Curious about what's inside:
The realities of neurodivergence in professional spaces, namely the impacts to the way we show up at work.
Unpacking the importance of accommodations and how/what to ask for
Why open communication and psychological safety are essential for neurodivergent success.
Through personal experiences and practical strategies, we discuss self-regulation, emotional triggers, burnout prevention, and how to ask for clarity without feeling “difficult.”
Whether you are a neurodivergent in the workplace, or hold a position in management - this episode has something to offer you!
Looking for Brett?
Website: https://brettwhitmarsh.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettwhitmarsh/
Podcast: https://brettwhitmarsh.com/audhdboss-podcast/
Connect with Us!
✨ Follow us @NDreportpod on socials for more
🎤Apply to be our guest NDreportpod.com
Dr. Kristen Eccleston is known online as The Neurodiverse Teacher, and we are digging back in to accommodations at school for our neurodivergent kids!
Curious what's inside:
What parents and students can ask for (but don’t know they can!)
Kristen is passionate, funny, and radically student-centered. This episode is a MUST for parents, teachers, therapists, school leaders, and anyone who wants a future where neurodivergent brains are supported instead of punished.
However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!
Love, Sarah
🔍 Major Themes & Keywords (SEO)
Neurodiversity in education
ADHD & autism in the classroom
Executive dysfunction & regulation
Mental health support vs discipline
Masking, burnout & misdiagnosis
Late diagnosis in high achievers & girls
Inclusive teaching strategies
Advocacy for neurodivergent students
Coaching in entertainment industry
School accommodations & IEPs
Shame-free learning environments
Connect with Dr. Kristen Eccleston:
🌐 Website: www.theneurodiverseteacher.com
📱 Instagram/TikTok: @the.neurodiverse.teacher
Connect with Us!
✨ Follow us @NDreportpod on socials for more
🎤Apply to be our guest NDreportpod.com
Supporting young adults on the spectrum often means looking beyond traditional therapy.
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, I sit down with Patty McCallister, a counselor and autism coach who went back to school to better support her son and the neurodivergent young people in her life.
Patty shares how her work blends mental health counseling, LifeMap coaching through AANE (Asperger/Autism Network), and creative approaches like bilateral stimulation and “calm space” practices.
We also dive into her collaboration on The Art of Neurodivergence — an expressive, judgment-free art and spirituality program in Buffalo, NY that creates safe spaces for autistic and ADHD individuals to explore creativity, self-regulation, and identity.
Curious about what’s inside?
✨ How Patty’s parenting journey created a career shift
✨ What is LifeMap coaching for neurodivergent young adults
✨ Why community, spirituality, and creativity matter
✨ Using bilateral stimulation, calm spaces, and movement to support regulation
✨ How parents and caregivers can access resources and support networks
Patty’s story reminds us that supporting each other requires community, creativity, and compassion & that healing will never look the same for everyone.
However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here.
With love,
Sarah 💜
Looking for Patty?
🌐 Website: Patty McCallister Counseling & Coaching
📢 Connect with Us:
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
Dr. Nechama Sorscher is back to help us better advocate for our kids at schoolLife as the parent of a neurodivergent child is already overwhelming… but now we’re back at school!
Are you ready for the IEP/504 meetings where we’ll make decisions that impact your child’s entire school year?!
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, we’re talking candidly about the challenges and opportunities that arise when advocating for your child’s education.
From identifying early developmental indicators to understanding the difference between IEPs and 504 plans, this conversation shines a light on what parents need to know — so they can walk into the school feeling more confident and empowered.
And if you’re an educator or administrator, we didn’t leave you out! Community support makes all the difference, and the evolving science of neurodiversity is always strengthening our advocacy efforts.
Curious about what’s inside?
✨ How early should parents bring up developmental concerns at the doctor?
✨ IEPs vs. 504 plans — and what parents should really know
✨ The role of emotional well-being and movement breaks in learning
✨ How advocacy can lead to better outcomes — with or without legal help
✨ Shifting perceptions of autism in media and schools
✨ Why teachers need better training in brain development & neurodiversity
This episode is a reminder that advocacy isn’t about getting through the meeting… it’s about opening a written line of legal communication with the school team.
However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here.
With love,
Sarah 💜
Looking for Dr. Sorscher?
"Your Neurodiverse Child" - book on sale now!
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
A Canadian walked into the Pentagon and gave a talk on workplace accessibility & inclusion...
Being diagnosed as autistic at just six years old shaped Sydney Elaine Butler’s path in ways she’s still unpacking today.
From navigating education and career barriers to advocating for accessibility in HR, Sydney shares how lived experience fuels her work.
Public speaking, social media, and authenticity also come into play — with Sydney reminding us that success looks different for everyone, and that sustainability in advocacy and content creation starts with listening to your body.
Curious about what’s inside?
✨ How early diagnosis impacts education and career choices
✨ Why accessibility in HR can’t be standardized — and shouldn’t be
✨ Social media, authenticity, and sustainable content creation
✨ Why community and cultural perspectives matter in shaping neurodiversity
PLUS — listen for our methods of self-care in these trying times
However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!
With love,
Sarah 💜
Looking for Sydney?
🎧 Listen now + connect with their work:
📢 Connect with Us:
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
What is it like living life as a highly sensitive person?
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, we sit down with Karolina, a wordsmith and translator from Poland.
We dig into the science & lived experience, and how cultural perceptions of sensitivity can overlap with the neurodivergent experience.
✨ Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of depression, fatigue, and suicide attempts. Please listen with care.
Curious about what's inside:
What percentage of people are highly sensitive?
The daily minutiae of being highly sensitive... from needing more rest, to managing sensory overload, to experiencing art and relationships on a deeper level
How vulnerability can save lives
This conversation is a reminder that sensitivity is not fragility. It’s our way of being deeply attuned to the world, and it is both a blessing and a curse.
If you are looking for a conversation that intersects sensory sensitivity, neurodivergence, and resilience ... this episode is for you!
However you're able to engage, thanks for being here!
With love, Sarah
Looking for Karolina?https://itiskarolina.com/
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
Neurodivergent life often means navigating a world that wasn’t built with us in mind. But what if the key to better mental health isn’t just about thinking differently but functioning differently?
How does occupational therapy fit into this? In this episode, OT and ADHD coach Jamie Cutino joins us to unpack sensory needs, executive functioning, and a real simple guide to accommodations.
Curious about what's inside:
Jamie’s incredible passion shines through as she reminds us that ADHD care must go beyond medication and therapy!
We NEED to start learning how to function in real life.
If you’ve ever wondered how to better meet your sensory needs, advocate for yourself, or simply stop burning out, this episode is for you!
However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here!
With love,
Sarah 💜🎧 Listen now + don’t forget to check out Jamie’s podcast: Outsmart ADHD https://outsmartadhd.transistor.fm/
📌 Find Jamie here:
LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamie-cutino-014213256/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jamie.keller.165)📢 Connect with Us:
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
Ready to Liquidate The Billionaires?! WE ARE!!!
This week, The Propaganda Factory joins The Neurodivergent Report to teach us about propaganda and why it matters so much for neurodivergent folks.
We also dug into how repetition, storytelling, and vulnerability are used in propaganda (both to manipulate and to mobilize) & why neurodivergents can be especially impacted.
Curious about what’s inside?
Republican troll turned radical leftist propagandist
The difference between propaganda and advertising (spoiler: they overlap more than you think)
How neurodivergence plays into the way we process and resist messaging
This episode is equal parts personal storytelling, political education, and real talk about surviving, creating, and staying grounded in chaotic times.
However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!
Love, Sarah
👉 Join the Sick Radical Leftist Network:
Connect with Us!
✨ Follow us @NDreportpod on socials for more
🎤Apply to be our guest NDreportpod.com
The workplace should enable ALL people to thrive, not just neurotypicals. Join us for this conversation with Susan Fitzell, author of Neurodiversity in the Workplace and long-time educator, coach, and international speaker.
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, Susan shares her journey from the classroom to corporate consulting, why workplace design needs to move beyond “accommodations” toward inclusive flexibility for all, and how understanding our own learning preferences can transform the way we work and communicate.
Curious what else is inside?:
Diagnosed dyslexic by an eye doctor
The importance of psychological safety in meetings and classrooms
Scripts and strategies that make self-advocacy easier
Whether you’re a teacher, a manager, or someone navigating your own neurodivergent experience, this episode is packed with insights, practical tools, and a reminder that building inclusive environments is better for everyone.
However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!
Love, Sarah 💜
Looking for Susan?
📚 SusanFitzell.com – Books, resources, and blog articles
🎥 Susan on YouTube
📖 Neurodiversity in the Workplace – available now
Connect with Us!
✨ Follow us @NDreportpod on socials for more conversations and resources.
🎤Apply to be our guest NDreportpod.com
Liam Saranich joins The Neurodivergent Report to lounge around & have a funny conversation about growing up with a learning disability, finding a voice through podcasting, and turning fear into fuel.
Curious about what’s inside?
However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!
Love, Sarah 💜
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @NDreportpodApply to be our guest 🎤 NDreportpod.com
🌟 Looking for Liam?
🎙️ Lounging Around : http://www.youtube.com/@loungingaroundhub
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liam_saranich/
In this follow-up conversation, Abbie J returns to The Neurodivergent Report to go deeper into the science of executive functioning!
This time we’re zooming in on the Default Mode Network (DMN) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS).
Curious what's inside?
What the Default Mode Network is & why you should care (THINK: focus, memory & emotional regulation)
How emotional salience and working memory affect attention and regulation
Why traditional mindfulness can backfire (and what to try instead!)
YOU WILL FIND VALUE HERE!
Whether you’re exploring tools to manage ADHD symptoms, or curious about what your brain does “in the background”—this episode offers science-backed insight without the shame spiral.
However you’re able to engage, thanks for being here!
Love, Sarah 💜
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @NDreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 NDreportpod.com
🌟 Looking for Abbie?
🖥️ Website: superconnected.space
📸 Instagram: @super_connected
📚 References
Abbie J is back on The Neurodivergent Report to talk all things mind-body connection and the somatic experience of neurodivergence.
Curious what's inside?
YOU WILL FIND VALUE HERE!
Whether you’re new to polyvagal theory or just beginning to explore ADHD, executive functioning, and mental health… this episode is here for you.
However you’re able to engage—thanks for being here.
Love, Sarah 💜
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @NDreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 NDreportpod.com
🌟 Looking for Abbie?
🖥️ Website: superconnected.space
📸 Instagram: @super_connected
📚 References
Abbie Jedwab joins The Neurodivergent Report to teach us about polyvagal theory and its implications for managing life with ADHD, ASD, C-PTSD, and more!
Whether you're familiar with the term or not, you can expect to learn practical steps to feeling better in your body.
Curious about what's inside?
However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!
Love, Sarah 💜
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @NDreportpod
Apply to be our guest 🎤 NDreportpod.com
🌟 Looking for Abbie?
🖥️ Website: https://superconnected.space/
📸 Instagram: @super_connected https://www.instagram.com/super_connected/
What started as a simple podcast swap turned into a beautiful new friendship!
This interview episode of The Neurodivergent Report is basically just three creatives hanging out! Featuring Gen X artist and peer burnout coach Leigh Ann Marlar, aka Gal, with hosts Sarah Russell (Millennial, aka Say-Rah!) and JQ Walker (Gen Z, aka QG Patooj 💜).
Curious what’s inside:
A breakdown of the difference between empathy and compassion
Discussion on how ADHD meds might hit different for autistic women
The vision for a neurodivergent union (we’re manifesting it ✨)
If you’ve ever apologized for being “too expressive”… this episode is for you!
Let us know your thoughts @NDreportpod on the socials 💌
However you are able to engage, thank you for being here!
Love, Sarah 💜
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @NDreportpod
Apply to be our guest 🎤 NDreportpod.com
🎨 Looking for GAL?
🖥️ Website: https://www.aurtisticexpressions.com/
🎙️ Podcast: This Might Get Messy
📸 Instagram: @aurtisticexpressions https://www.instagram.com/aurtisticexpressions/#
Are you bendy, itchy, or dizzy all the time? You might be struggling to balance the trifecta of symptoms syndromes…
This research episode of The Neurodivergent Report features orthotics researcher Sam Silverman, along with the full @ndreportpod team! Together, we explore the interconnectedness of these often-overlooked chronic conditions and how they disproportionately affect neurodivergent people.
Curious what’s inside:
Defining MCAS, POTS, and EDS in plain terms
What the research says about comorbidity and prevalence (who even gets this?)
The importance of coordinated and compassionate medical care teams
If it feels like your body just called it quits one day… YOU’RE NOT ALONE. This episode is for anyone who’s been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or just trying to get through the day in a body that won’t cooperate.
Let us know your thoughts @ndreportpod on the socials.
However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!
Love, Sarah 💜
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
📚 Resources for more on this topic:
📚 Sam’s Research References:
Brittain et al. (2023). PT Interventions in G-HSD & hEDS. Disability & Rehabilitation. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2023.2216028
Buckner (2014). EDS in acute rehab. J. Prosthetics & Orthotics.
Castori (2012). EDS-HT overview. ISRN Dermatology. https://doi.org/10.5402/2012/751768
Csecs et al. (2021). Hypermobility & dysautonomia comorbidity. Am J Med Genet C. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.c.31957
Csecs & Iodice (2022). Neurodivergence & joint hypermobility. Front Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.786916
Dupuy et al. (2017). Somatosensory orthoses & balance. Front Hum Neurosci. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00283
Halverson et al. (2023). Misdiagnosis & diagnostic delay in hEDS. Genet Med Open. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gimo.2023.100812
Higo et al. (2023). Fabric orthoses case report. Clin Case Rep. https://doi.org/10.1002/ccr3.6821
Hsieh et al. (2019). Arch support for kids w/ flatfoot. LWW Journals. Link
Jensen et al. (2020). Finger orthoses & function. Sage Journals. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309364620956866
Lusardi et al. (2012). Orthotics & Prosthetics in Rehab (3rd ed). Saunders.
Pandey et al. (2021). Movement disorders & MSK overlap. Mov Disord Clin Pract. https://doi.org/10.1002/mdc3.13390
Russek (2022). Cervical instability in hEDS. JOSPT. https://www.jospt.org/do/10.2519/jospt.blog.20230917
Snowdon & Dadla (2023). Allied health views on fabric orthoses. Int J Ther Rehabil. https://doi.org/10.12968/ijtr.2022.0148
🔑 Keywords:#Neurodivergent #HypermobileEDS #POTS #MCAS #ChronicIllness #Neurodivergence #InvisibleDisabilities #ADHD #Autism #MentalHealth #MedicalGaslighting #SupportSystems #Neurospicy #SelfAdvocacy #IntersectionalHealth #HormonalHealth #WomenInMedicine #NDreportpod #ResearchPodcast
What’s the connection between chronic pain, misdiagnosis, and neurodivergent health?
This week’s episode takes a deep dive into Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and what it reveals about our healthcare system.
On this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, we explore the complex genetic overlap between the neurodivergence spectrum and chronic health conditions, particularly hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS).
From diagnosis delays to hormonal impacts and gender bias, we unpack what it's like to live in a body that’s often misunderstood.
Curious what’s inside:
What hypermobility actually is and why it takes so long to diagnose
The strong genetic link between hEDS, ADHD, and autism
How gender hormones affect symptoms and care
Listen now for coping strategies, community support, and a vision for better systems of identification and care!
Let us know your thoughts @ndreportpod on the socials.
However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!
Love, Sarah 💜
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
📚 Resources for more on this topic:
https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/assessing-joint-hypermobility/
2021 Prevalence study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/NDT.S290494#d1e171
🔑 Keywords: #Neurodivergent #HypermobileEDS #ChronicPain #MentalHealth #Community #Neurodiversity #HEDS #EDS #WomensHormones #Misdiagnosis #InformedConsent #CopingStrategies #Neurospicy #Intersectionality #SupportSystems #InvisibleIllness
This week on The Neurodivergent Report, Sarah sits down with Dr. Nechama Sorscher - clinician, parent, and author of Your Neurodiverse Child - to talk about what it really means to raise and support neurodivergent kids in a world that often misunderstands them.
Curious what’s inside:
🧠 Why girls are so often overlooked in ADHD/autism screenings
💬 The difference between masking and code-switching
🪞 The impact of confidence and community for neurodivergent families
Let us know what stood out @ndreportpod on the socials.
However you’re able to engage, thank you for being here.
With love,
Sarah 💜
Looking for Dr. Sorscher?
https://www.drnechamasorscher.com/
https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/your-neurodiverse-child-9781538192139/
📢 Connect with Us
Follow 👉 @ndreportpod
Apply to be a guest 🎤 ndreportpod.com
🧠 Keywords
neurodivergence, ADHD, autism, self-disclosure, diagnosis, education, parental involvement, confidence, resilience, support, masking, code-switching, parenting, community, self-esteem, mental health, gender differences, neurodiversity myths