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The Neurodivergent Experience
Jordan James and Simon Scott
134 episodes
21 hours ago

Being Neurodivergent is often shrouded in misconceptions, stereotypes, and limited knowledge. While our experiences may overlap, no two stories are the same. Hosted by The Autistic Photographer, Jordan James, and Simon Scott - The Neurodivergent Experience is the weekly podcast dedicated to exploring the vast world of Autism, ADHD and more!


Through this podcast, we aim to challenge those misconceptions and dive deep into the diverse experiences of those in the spectrum by sharing our personal stories, and exploring topics like early interventions, sensory processing, education, employment, and much more. Each episode will feature insightful conversations about living in the spectrum, with guest experts, advocates, and allies who are passionate about creating an inclusive and accepting world.

Whether you're Neurodivergent yourself, a friend, a family member, or simply curious about this extraordinary way of experiencing the world, this podcast is your guide to unravelling The Neurodivergent Experience.


Because Neurodivergent Voices Deserve to Be Heard—Support Us Today - https://theneurodivergentexperience.supercast.com/


Socials:

Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod

Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience

YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Mental Health
Personal Journals,
Society & Culture,
Health & Fitness
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All content for The Neurodivergent Experience is the property of Jordan James and Simon Scott and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Being Neurodivergent is often shrouded in misconceptions, stereotypes, and limited knowledge. While our experiences may overlap, no two stories are the same. Hosted by The Autistic Photographer, Jordan James, and Simon Scott - The Neurodivergent Experience is the weekly podcast dedicated to exploring the vast world of Autism, ADHD and more!


Through this podcast, we aim to challenge those misconceptions and dive deep into the diverse experiences of those in the spectrum by sharing our personal stories, and exploring topics like early interventions, sensory processing, education, employment, and much more. Each episode will feature insightful conversations about living in the spectrum, with guest experts, advocates, and allies who are passionate about creating an inclusive and accepting world.

Whether you're Neurodivergent yourself, a friend, a family member, or simply curious about this extraordinary way of experiencing the world, this podcast is your guide to unravelling The Neurodivergent Experience.


Because Neurodivergent Voices Deserve to Be Heard—Support Us Today - https://theneurodivergentexperience.supercast.com/


Socials:

Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod

Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience

YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Mental Health
Personal Journals,
Society & Culture,
Health & Fitness
Episodes (20/134)
The Neurodivergent Experience
Growing Up (Financially): A Neurodivergent Guide to Money, Growth & Stability

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott dive into the complicated relationship between money and neurodivergent brains— from impulsive spending and overdrafts to financial fear and learning to save later in life.


They share their own journey with overdrafts, dopamine-driven purchases, budgeting avoidance, and learning financial responsibility later in life — and how neurodivergent brains approach money differently from neurotypical ones.


Together, they discuss:

  • How autism and ADHD affect spending, saving, and financial regulation
  • The truth about the “ADHD tax” and impulsive spending for dopamine
  • How demand avoidance and executive dysfunction make bills feel impossible
  • Why financial shame is common for neurodivergent adults
  • How to build sustainable savings systems that actually work for autistic and ADHD minds
  • Learning to plan, budget, and build security without losing joy
  • The emotional link between money, control, and safety


This is a real, unfiltered conversation about growing up, getting organised, and finally learning how to make money work for you instead of against you. Whether you’re deep in overdraft or learning to save for the first time, this episode offers empathy, laughter, and practical insight into financial life with a neurodivergent brain.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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21 hours ago
1 hour 5 minutes 42 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: The Ladder Within | Understanding Your Nervous System

 Learning the language of safety, connection, and calm for the neurodivergent brain and body.


This week, we begin a brand new series - November Neuroscience for The Neurodivergent Nervous System.


Our journey starts with the foundation of it all: your nervous system — the hidden ladder within that shapes how you experience the world.


We’ll explore how your body’s three main states — rest, activation, and shutdown — form a living map of safety and survival.


For neurodivergent minds and bodies, this ladder is often more sensitive, more reactive, and more beautifully complex. You’ll learn how your sensory world, your emotions, and your energy are all guided by this internal rhythm — and how understanding it is the key to self-regulation and healing.


Through neuroscience, lived experience, and a deeply moving guided meditation, you’ll learn how to climb the ladder with awareness, presence, and compassion — returning again and again to your calm, connected state.


❤️ 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)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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3 days ago
33 minutes 49 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Hot Topic: Neurodivergent Halloween Special – Finding Comfort in the Dark

In this Halloween edition of The Hot Topic, Jordan James and Simon Scott delve into why many autistic and ADHD individuals are drawn to horror — from jump scares and haunted houses to true crime and the works of Stephen King.


They unpack the neuroscience and psychology behind the connection between fear, curiosity, and regulation, and why being safely scared can be surprisingly calming for neurodivergent minds. Drawing on personal stories and pop culture, Jordan and Simon discuss how horror offers a sense of control, catharsis, and community — and why dark stories can feel oddly comforting.


Together, they explore:

  • Why the autistic and ADHD brain may find “safe fear” regulating
  • The dopamine and sensory connection behind horror fascination
  • How pattern recognition and empathy draw neurodivergent people to dark stories
  • Horror as a mirror for survival, belonging, and identity
  • Why horror icons and underdogs often resonate with neurodivergent audiences


With humour and honesty, this episode celebrates spooky season through a neurodivergent lens — proving that sometimes, what scares us most can also make us feel most alive.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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6 days ago
46 minutes 32 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
100K Downloads Later: How Friendship and Community Changed Everything

In this milestone episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott celebrate a huge moment — over 100,000 downloads — and reflect on how the podcast has transformed their lives and the wider neurodivergent community.


What began as a passion project between two friends has become a lifeline for thousands of listeners around the world. Jordan and Simon open up about the behind-the-scenes work that goes into creating an independent podcast, the emotional highs and lows of advocacy, and the incredible messages they’ve received from listeners who finally feel seen and understood.


But this episode is more than a celebration — it’s a deeply personal look at how friendship, vulnerability, and community can rewrite long-held myths about autism and ADHD. The pair discuss the damaging stereotype that autistic people “prefer to be alone,” and how finding connection with others like themselves became the most healing experience of all.


They also share:

  • How The Neurodivergent Experience reached over 100,000 organic downloads — without a production team or funding
  • The life-changing impact of creating something by and for neurodivergent people
  • Breaking the myth of autistic isolation — and celebrating community and friendship
  • The personal growth they’ve each experienced through podcasting
  • How anger, burnout, and masking have given way to self-awareness, calm, and healing
  • Why embracing your inner child might be the truest form of unmasking


Heartfelt, funny, and reflective, this episode is a love letter to their listeners — a celebration of what happens when neurodivergent voices are given space, support, and each other.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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1 week ago
48 minutes 19 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: Winds, Waves & Resilience: Nature’s Lessons in Adaptation

Learning to bend, flow, and rise again.


In this final episode of the Nature as Teacher month, Ashley Bentley explores how the changing elements - wind, water, and stars - mirror the flexibility and strength within us. From the fierce gales of the Isle of Man to the calm rhythm of the tides, she reveals how adaptation, contrast, and curiosity build resilience in the neurodivergent mind and body.


Ashley shares personal stories of sensory overwhelm, growth, and self-compassion, alongside reflections from a listener on the metaphors of nature. You’ll learn how small shifts in perspective and gentle exposure to discomfort can nurture your nervous system’s ability to bend without breaking.


This week’s Microdosing Meaning invites you to rediscover playfulness - singing to cows, stargazing, tracing patterns in leaves - tiny acts that release oxytocin, calm the vagus nerve, and reconnect you with awe. The episode closes with The Winds, the Tides & the Stars - a deeply descriptive, hypnotic guided meditation blending breath, imagery, and stillness to anchor presence and peace.


❤️ 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)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 week ago
33 minutes 31 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Hot Topic: We're Not On The Autism Spectrum, We're In It

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott react to a recent Independent article questioning the old idea of a “single autism spectrum” — and explain why autism isn’t something you’re on, but something you live within.


They explore how the linear model of autism — from “mild” to “severe” — misrepresents reality, fuels stigma, and limits understanding. Drawing on conversations with Steve Silberman and the original intent behind Lorna Wing’s “spectrum” concept, they unpack how language like “high/low functioning” and DSM “levels” continues to harm autistic people.


Using the autism spectrum umbrella as a more accurate and inclusive metaphor, Jordan and Simon show how autistic experience exists in a vast, interconnected space — one where needs shift, context matters, and identity is shaped by environment and understanding.


Together, they discuss:

  • Why the “one line from mild→severe” model misses the reality of autistic diversity
  • The autism spectrum umbrella: a better way to understand fluctuating needs and context
  • How labels like “high/low functioning” and fixed DSM levels are misused and inconsistently applied
  • Language matters: why many prefer autistic over “on the spectrum,” and why deficit framing harms
  • The real-world impact of media narratives and “expert” takes — from stigma to lost opportunities
  • Dangers of ranking human value: how “usefulness” talk slides toward eugenic thinking
  • Personal reflections on self-acceptance, parenting, and ensuring autistic kids never learn to hate themselves


This episode is a call to move beyond outdated labels and start seeing autism for what it truly is: diverse, dynamic, and deeply human.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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1 week ago
30 minutes 42 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Re-Run: Living With Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

Hey everyone! We’re taking our own advice this week and looking after our energy levels — both of us are juggling some extra work hours and doing our best to avoid burnout. So instead of a brand-new episode today, we’re re-running one of our most popular and meaningful conversations. Thank you so much for your understanding as we take a breather — we’ll be back with our Hot Topic episode on Friday as usual. And next week, we’ll be celebrating a huge milestone — 100,000 downloads! 🎉


This episode dives into living with pathological demand avoidance (PDA). This condition isn’t officially recognised by most authorities, but one that deeply affects how some neurodivergent people experience daily life.

We share our personal stories and examples of how demand avoidance manifests — from struggles with completing tasks to seeking medical help, to even engaging in the hobbies we love. We also reflect on how PDA impacts mental health, relationships, and self-perception, and how a lack of understanding can make things even harder.


🧠 Key Takeaways:

  • Living with demand avoidance can deeply affect work, relationships, and well-being.
  • Demand avoidance isn’t laziness or procrastination — it’s a genuine internal struggle that can be difficult to explain or overcome.
  • The lack of official recognition can lead to frustration and a lack of proper support.
  • Listening to and validating the experiences of people with demand avoidance is essential — their struggles are real and valid.
  • Misdiagnosis or a lack of understanding of neurodivergent conditions can seriously impact a person’s mental health and access to support.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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2 weeks ago
48 minutes 7 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Taking a Breather to Avoid Burnout (Re-Run Tomorrow)

Hey everyone! Just a quick update from us — there’ll be a re-run episode tomorrow as both of us are doing a bit of overtime right now and working on managing our energy to avoid burnout.


We’ve always talked about the importance of saying no and protecting your spoons when you need to, and this week, we’re taking our own advice!

Don’t worry, our regular Hot Topic episode will still drop on Friday, and next week we’ll be celebrating something huge: 100,000 downloads! 🎉


Thanks as always for listening, supporting, and understanding. You’re the best 💜


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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2 weeks ago
1 minute 2 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: The Art of Allowing | Lessons from the Forest

This week on Mindful Mondays, we explore what it means to truly allow — to let life, emotions, and even other people simply be as they are.


Spiritual teacher, Ram Dass, once observed that when we look at trees, we accept them - crooked, bent, imperfect, yet utterly beautiful. But when we look at people and ourselves, we judge. In this episode, Ashley explores how we can return to that same compassionate seeing toward others and toward ourselves. Blending mindfulness, neuroscience, and psychology, we explore how allowing what is can reduce anxiety, soften resistance, and bring peace to the neurodivergent mind and body.

Ashley also shares a modern Buddhist parable and Jon Kabat-Zinn’s timeless reminder:


“Give yourself permission to allow this moment to be exactly as it is,

and allow yourself to be exactly as you are.”


The episode closes with a deeply hypnotic guided meditation - a forest journey into self-acceptance and inner stillness.


❤️ 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)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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2 weeks ago
32 minutes 46 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Hot Topic: The Problem Isn’t “Profound Autism” — It’s the Label Itself

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott respond to the growing media push to divide the autism spectrum — including a recent New York Times article that introduced the term “profound autism.”


They make it clear: the issue isn’t with autistic people who have higher support needs — it’s with the language, labels, and ableist frameworks used to define them. Jordan and Simon explore how separating the spectrum into categories like “high” and “low functioning” or “profound” and “mild” only deepens stigma, misunderstanding, and division within the autistic community.


Together, they discuss:

  • Why the “profound autism” label is harmful and reductive
  • The New York Times article that reignited this debate
  • How language shapes perception, policy, and empathy
  • The autism spectrum is an umbrella that unites, not divides
  • Why all autistic experiences — regardless of support needs — belong together
  • The need for compassion, inclusion, and respect across the entire spectrum


This episode calls out fear-based narratives and reframes the conversation around what truly matters: understanding, dignity, and unity for every autistic person — no matter where they sit under the spectrum umbrella.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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2 weeks ago
28 minutes 47 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
What School Taught Us (That It Shouldn’t Have)

In this raw and heartfelt episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Simon Scott and Jordan James open up about their own school experiences and how they continue to shape their adult lives as autistic and ADHD men.


They reflect on the impact of early school environments, where misunderstanding and exclusion were daily realities, and how those experiences left lasting marks on self-worth, relationships, and identity. Moving between humour and heartbreak, Simon and Jordan explore the long-term effects of being misunderstood in classrooms designed for neurotypical minds.


Together, they discuss:

  • How school systems, teachers, and peers often failed to recognise their needs
  • The emotional and psychological impact of masking and self-blame
  • The sensory and social overwhelm of neurodivergent childhoods
  • How early school experiences influence adult confidence, connection, and trust
  • What true understanding and support for neurodivergent students should look like


From detentions and misunderstandings to the quiet grief of being “the weird kid,” this conversation captures the lifelong effects of growing up neurodivergent in a system that was never built for you.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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3 weeks ago
52 minutes 5 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: The Beauty of Letting Go | Autumn Leaves & Seasonal Change

In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley explores the art of release for the neurodivergent mind through the wisdom of nature’s changing seasons. Just as autumn trees shed their leaves, we too are invited to let go of relationships, routines, or identities that no longer serve us — not as a loss, but as a transformation.


Through personal reflections, Buddhist teachings on impermanence (anicca), and gentle neuroscience, this episode reminds us that every ending carries the seed of renewal. Ashley also shares how “noticing what you’re noticing” can reveal your mindset and bring you back to presence in even the messiest moments.


The practice concludes with a deeply hypnotic guided meditation, The Forest of Release, where listeners are invited to walk through an autumn woodland, surrender old burdens, and reconnect with the grace of change.


🎧 Listen now to rediscover the beauty in letting go.


❤️ 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)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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3 weeks ago
33 minutes 2 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Hot Topic: Kellie Bright’s Autism Documentary Exposes Broken SEND System

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Simon Scott and Jordan James react to the brand-new BBC Panorama documentary Autism, Schools and Families on the Edge, presented by EastEnders actor Kellie Bright.


The documentary follows three families fighting for EHCPs (Education, Health and Care Plans) for their autistic children and exposes the devastating impact of a broken SEND system in the UK. Drawing on their own lived experiences and community feedback, Simon and Jordan unpack why the system feels rigged against neurodivergent children and families — and why system reform is urgently needed.


Together, they explore:

  • The uphill battle parents face to secure EHCPs for autistic and ADHD children
  • How government underfunding and council gatekeeping harm children’s futures
  • Why do so many families feel forced into private assessments or tribunals
  • The emotional toll on both neurodivergent children and their parents
  • The importance of representation and why documentaries like this matter
  • Why real change needs more than awareness — it needs action, funding, and empathy


Watch the Documentary on BBC iPlayer here 🔗.


This is one of the most urgent conversations the show has hosted, highlighting both the failures of the SEND system and the resilience of the families fighting within it.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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3 weeks ago
35 minutes 3 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
The Divergent Gift: Unboxing Autism - A Ground-Breaking Documentary

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott sit down with filmmaker and educator Bret Malley to discuss his groundbreaking documentary, "The Divergent Gift: Unboxing Autism."


This film is particularly powerful because it was created entirely by neurodivergent people! From concept and filming to animation, editing, and storytelling. The project began as Bret’s personal response to his son Kellan’s autism diagnosis and grew into a global documentary that amplifies autistic voices of all ages and backgrounds.


Through lived experience and innovative filmmaking, The Divergent Gift: Unboxing Autism reframes autism beyond stereotypes, celebrating its diversity, challenges, and beauty while centring autistic perspectives at every stage of production.


Jordan, Simon, and Bret explore:


  • How The Divergent Gift: Unboxing Autism began as a family story and became a powerful advocacy tool
  • Why authentic representation and autistic voices are essential in storytelling
  • The role of animation and creative filmmaking in capturing sensory and emotional experiences
  • How media can either perpetuate stigma or foster empathy and understanding
  • Early reactions to screenings and the film’s impact on communities and families
  • Why autistic-led creative projects are so vital for meaningful change


This episode is a celebration of storytelling, representation, and the power of film to reshape cultural conversations about autism.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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4 weeks ago
1 hour 11 minutes 6 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: Walking Off the Storm | Nature, Overwhelm, the Chemicals of Calm and the Wonder of Awe

In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley explores how nature helps us move through overwhelm and restore balance. From the science of the “happiness chemicals”—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins—to the practices of grounding and awe, discover how the natural world regulates our nervous system and reconnects us with presence and purpose. This week’s guided meditation, Walking Off the Storm, takes you on a deeply descriptive, awe-filled journey through nature to release stress and return to calm.


Ashley Bentley is an integrative coach, breathwork facilitator, and clinical hypnotherapist. She is also the in-house therapist for The Neurodivergent Experience podcast and a teacher on Insight Timer, where she shares meditations, courses, and live events to support presence, resilience, and connection.


✨ Connect with Ashley:

🔗 Website: www.integrativeiom.co.uk

🔗 Facebook: Integrative IOM

🔗 Insight Timer: Ashley Bentley


❤️ 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)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 month ago
30 minutes 50 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Hot Topic: Autism Is Genetic — And That’s Not a Bad Thing

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott unpack sensationalist headlines, genetic blame narratives, and the ongoing misinformation war around autism.


From genetic blame and parental guilt to Trump’s Tylenol claims and Facebook “science,” they expose how bad headlines spread faster than real research — and why this matters for autistic people and their families.


Jordan and Simon also explore:

  • Why autism isn’t a disease with a “cause,” but a form of neurodivergence shaped by synaptic development
  • The harm caused by framing autism through deficit-based narratives and severity labels
  • How pseudo-scientific headlines fuel ableism and self-blame in parents
  • The difference between genuine research, sensationalist headlines, and clickbait “Facebook science”
  • The need to shift funding from “preventing autism” to supporting autistic people who already exist
  • Why blanket statements about autism erase the vast diversity of lived experiences


This is a fiery, passionate conversation that blends science, personal experience, and sharp critique of ableist rhetoric.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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1 month ago
25 minutes 26 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Nature Heals: How the Outdoors Supports Neurodivergent Minds

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan, Simon, and Ashley explore the powerful relationship between nature, neurodivergence, chronic pain, and seasonal change. Recorded after a neurodivergent getaway in the Lake District, the trio reflect on the healing power of natural environments, the sensory overwhelm of urban life, and how embracing seasonal rhythms can support mental health and regulation for autistic and ADHD adults.


Through candid storytelling and humour, they unpack the challenges of pain management, executive dysfunction, and winter transition, and share personal rituals, mindset shifts, and unexpected joys found in the natural world.


Together, they explore:

  • How nature acts as a powerful regulatory tool for neurodivergent brains
  • Why modern urban environments can overwhelm autistic and ADHD sensory systems
  • The role of barefoot grounding, light exposure, and circadian rhythms in daily wellbeing
  • Practical strategies for navigating winter transitions, layering, and seasonal overwhelm
  • Pain, fatigue, and adapting outdoor experiences to fit different physical needs
  • Using photography, VR, and creative rituals to stay connected to nature indoors
  • Embracing cosiness, Christmas lights, and simple joys during the winter months


Whether you find winter draining, chronic pain exhausting, or city life overstimulating, this episode offers practical strategies and heartfelt conversation to remind you that neurodivergent people aren’t broken—the environments we live in often are.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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1 month ago
1 hour 4 minutes 45 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: Routines, Rhythms & Play — Building Gentle Architecture for Life

Routines can be a lifeline for neurodivergent brains — creating safety, reducing decision fatigue, and bringing balance to daily life. But when structure becomes too rigid, it can tip into pressure and burnout. In this episode of Mindful Mondays with Ashley Bentley, we explore how to build supportive routines that steady you without imprisoning you, weaving in rhythm and play so life feels both grounded and alive. You’ll also be guided through a soothing meditation that helps you reimagine your routines as flexible, life-giving scaffolding — steady enough to hold you, soft enough to bend.


✨ Connect with Ashley:

🔗 Website: www.integrativeiom.co.uk

🔗 Facebook: Integrative IOM

🔗 Insight Timer: Ashley Bentley


❤️ 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)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience




Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1 month ago
31 minutes 29 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Hot Topic: Trump, Tylenol & Autism - Why Misinformation Hurts Us All

In this week’s Hot Topic of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott tackle the shocking claim made by Donald Trump linking paracetamol (Tylenol) to autism.


With humour, rage, and razor-sharp critique, they dismantle the dangerous rhetoric, exposing how misinformation from political leaders fuels stigma, fear, and ableism against autistic and ADHD communities. From debunking pseudoscience to unpacking why terms like “suffering from autism” dehumanise neurodivergent people, this is one of the most important conversations the show has ever hosted.


Together, Jordan and Simon discuss:

  • Why Trump’s Tylenol-autism claim is scientifically baseless and politically motivated
  • The harm of framing autism as an “epidemic” or “disease”
  • How myths about the Amish and Cubans not being autistic are rooted in underreporting, not reality
  • Why dangerous rhetoric reduces autistic lives to something “worse than death”
  • The role of correlation vs. causation in autism research and why facts matter
  • How conspiracy-style politics distract from real issues like healthcare, disability rights, and education


Whether you’re autistic, ADHD, neurodivergent, or care about truth in public discourse, this fiery episode blends sharp advocacy, science, and satire to call out misinformation at the highest levels of power.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

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1 month ago
43 minutes 58 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience
Re-Run: Dr Luke Beardon – Changing The Autism Narrative

This week’s episode is a re-run — but one that feels more relevant than ever. Recent comments from Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have falsely suggested a link between paracetamol and autism, adding to the long history of misinformation that fuels stigma and fear.


To push back against these harmful narratives, we're revisiting this conversation with Dr. Luke Beardon, Senior Lecturer in Autism at Sheffield Hallam University and author of multiple influential works on autism.


In this episode, we explore:

  • Why language matters when talking about autism
  • The dangers of misinformation — even from professionals
  • How “us vs them” thinking harms autistic people
  • The identity challenges faced by those diagnosed later in life
  • Why autistic voices must be central in shaping the narrative


This is a powerful reminder that autism is not something to be blamed on medicines, parenting, or fearmongering politics — it’s a natural and valuable part of human diversity.


Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

  • → https://bit.ly/ashleynde


🔗 Stay Connected

  • Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
  • Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
  • YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
  • TikTok: @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 for more information.

Show more...
1 month ago
1 hour 10 minutes 20 seconds

The Neurodivergent Experience

Being Neurodivergent is often shrouded in misconceptions, stereotypes, and limited knowledge. While our experiences may overlap, no two stories are the same. Hosted by The Autistic Photographer, Jordan James, and Simon Scott - The Neurodivergent Experience is the weekly podcast dedicated to exploring the vast world of Autism, ADHD and more!


Through this podcast, we aim to challenge those misconceptions and dive deep into the diverse experiences of those in the spectrum by sharing our personal stories, and exploring topics like early interventions, sensory processing, education, employment, and much more. Each episode will feature insightful conversations about living in the spectrum, with guest experts, advocates, and allies who are passionate about creating an inclusive and accepting world.

Whether you're Neurodivergent yourself, a friend, a family member, or simply curious about this extraordinary way of experiencing the world, this podcast is your guide to unravelling The Neurodivergent Experience.


Because Neurodivergent Voices Deserve to Be Heard—Support Us Today - https://theneurodivergentexperience.supercast.com/


Socials:

Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod

Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience

YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.