Becoming You - The Podcast with John Fleming

• S1E10: Sexuality, Neurodivergence & the Journey to Self with Sarah Sproule

  What if your sexuality wasn’t something to figure out — but something your body already knows?In this season finale of Becoming You – The Podcast, John sits down with Sarah Sproule — a late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer, occupational therapist, sexuality educator, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner — to explore the unspoken links between neurodivergence, sexuality, shame, and coming home to the body.Growing up undiagnosed and unsure, she says she “absolutely grew up feeling too embarrassed to talk about anything to do with sex at all.”Diagnosed later in life, Sarah shares how autistic burnout shattered the façade she’d held together for years — and how it became a portal back to her body, her truth, and her who she is today.Together, John and Sarah navigate everything from neurodivergence, sensory identity, sexuality, queerness, trauma, and joy — all through the lens of someone discovering herself again, one moment at a time.What You’ll Discover in This Episode:How burnout brought Sarah back into relationship with her bodyThe moment she stopped apologising for her needs and sat on the floor with a yoga matWhy growing up without the words for queerness or neurodivergence shaped her early shameJohns reflections on sex education growing up in rural Ireland How John’s diagnosis reframed his relationship to the gay community and his own identitySarah shares a gentle way for you to explore sexuality through sensations (not labels)Follow Becoming You on Social Media:Instagram: @becoming_you_TikTok: @becoming_you_Share Your Story:John would love to hear from you! If this episode resonated with you, send an email to [email protected] the website at www.becomingyou.ieConnect with Sarah Sproule:Website: https://sarahsproule.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsarahsproule/Would you like to explore the idea of uncovering, embracing and being your true self?Download your free self led workbook: https://www.becomingyou.ie/#workbookDisclaimer: The content shared in this podcast represents the personal experiences, opinions, and insights of the host, guests, and contributors. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, whether medical, psychological, therapeutic, legal, or financial. If you are experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, or require professional support, we strongly encourage you to seek guidance from a qualified professional or relevant support services.

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• S1E9: What It Means to Be Yourself: Gender & Identity with Dr. Vanessa Lacey

  In this episode of Becoming You – The Podcast, John Fleming sits down with Dr. Vanessa Lacey, a psychotherapist, educator, parent, and one of Ireland’s leading voices in trans advocacy.Vanessa shares her deeply personal story - from growing up in 1960s Waterford, through years of survival and silence, to finding her truth and stepping into a life of authenticity, compassion, and service.This is a conversation about identity, family, healing, and the quiet courage it takes to live in alignment with who you are, even when the world doesn’t make it easy.Together, John and Vanessa explore the human side of gender, mental health, and the journey of becomingWhat You’ll Discover in This Episode:Vanessa’s story of growing up in 1970s Waterford,The emotional and physical toll of suppressing her gender identity - and the impact it had on her education and mental healthHow psychotherapy supported her begin to understand her truth and choose lifeVanessa’s journey of transitioning her gender to align with her natureHer work in gender identity advocacy, education, and family support — and why listening and language matterThe lifelong process of becoming and how that relates to our identityFollow Becoming You on Social Media:Instagram: @becoming_you_TikTok: @becoming_you_Share Your Story:John would love to hear from you! If this episode resonated with you, send an email to [email protected] the website at www.becomingyou.ieConnect with Dr. Vanessa Lacey:Website: www.gendercare.ieLinkedIn: Dr. Vanessa Lacey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-vanessa-lacey-8525b335/?originalSubdomain=ieWould you like to explore the idea of uncovering, embracing and being your true self?Download your free self led workbook: https://www.becomingyou.ie/#workbookDisclaimer: The content shared in this podcast represents the personal experiences, opinions, and insights of the host, guests, and contributors. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, whether medical, psychological, therapeutic, legal, or financial. If you are experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, or require professional support, we strongly encourage you to seek guidance from a qualified professional or relevant support services.

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• S1E8: Learning to Listen to the Body with Kamla de Haas

  In this episode of Becoming You – The Podcast, John Fleming is joined by Kamla de Haas, a dancer, somatic coach, and lifelong observer of the human experience, for a rich conversation about the body - and what it means to listen to the body.Kamla shares her early experiences of growing up adopted in the Netherlands, her deep curiosity about human behaviour, and how dance became her first language of expression and freedom. From a young age, she was someone people opened up to and now, through her work, Kamla invites others to come back into relationship with their bodies.This episode is a gentle invitation to get curious about your relationship with your body — and how it shapes your journey of becoming.Together, John and Kamla explore:How Kamla’s early experience of being adopted shaped her desire to observe and understand human behaviourThe wisdom of the body and why it’s often ignoredThe difference between thinking about your body and being in itWhy we focus so much on the head when the body holds so much moreWhy Kamla calls herself a “spiritual cheerleader” and stands beside, not above, the people she works withHow simple daily rituals - like touch, breath, and movement - can transform our relationship to ourselves.Follow Becoming You on Social Media:Instagram: @becoming_you_TikTok: @becoming_you_Share Your Story:John would love to hear from you! If this episode resonated with you, send an email to [email protected] the website at www.becomingyou.ieConnect with Kamla: https://www.splendid-coaching.com/ourstoryWould you like to explore the idea of uncovering, embracing and being your true self?Download your free self led workbook: https://www.becomingyou.ie/#workbookDisclaimer: The content shared in this podcast represents the personal experiences, opinions, and insights of the host, guests, and contributors. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, whether medical, psychological, therapeutic, legal, or financial. If you are experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, or require professional support, we strongly encourage you to seek guidance from a qualified professional or relevant support services.

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• S1E7: How Our Relationship with Money Shapes Our Identity with Michelle Thomé

  In this episode of Becoming You – The Podcast, John speaks with Michelle Thomé, a counsellor and Transactional Analysis practitioner from Brazil, whose work explores the emotional and relational dimensions of money.Michelle shares her personal journey of becoming and how her relationship with money has been a powerful lens into deeper questions of identity, self-worth, and belonging.Together, Michelle and John explore how our money patterns are often inherited, unconscious, and shaped by the roles we take on in childhood - and how reconnecting with ourselves can begin to shift our financial narratives in gentle, embodied ways.What You’ll Discover in This Episode:Why our relationship with money is rarely just about moneyHow grief, family dynamics, and loss shape financial identityThe link between Transactional Analysis “scripts” and the stories we tell ourselves about worthWhat Michelle means by “being loyal to a dysfunctional system” - and how to begin healing itHow small moments of joy, like browsing flights or enjoying a shower, helped her to build connection with the present selfWhy curiosity, community, and compassion are key to transforming your relationship with moneyFollow Becoming You on Social Media:Instagram: @becoming_you_TikTok: @becoming_you_Share Your Story:John would love to hear from you! If this episode resonated with you, send an email to [email protected] the website at www.becomingyou.ieConnect with Michelle Thome on Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellethome/?originalSubdomain=brDisclaimer: The content shared in this podcast represents the personal experiences, opinions, and insights of the host, guests, and contributors. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, whether medical, psychological, therapeutic, legal, or financial. If you are experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, or require professional support, we strongly encourage you to seek guidance from a qualified professional or relevant support services.

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• S1E6: Embracing Neurodiversity with Dr. Luke Beardon

  In this episode of Becoming You – The Podcast, John Fleming welcomes Dr. Luke Beardon, senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University. Luke has worked for over three decades in the autism field. He is an advocate of autistic individuals’ rights and seeks to redress inequalities often faced by the autistic community. He has published several books on autism and has won several autism - related awards.Together, they explore what it really means to support neurodivergent people - not by trying to fix them, but by changing the systems, expectations, and environments that get in their way.Luke shares how his own journey began as a child when he first realised that adults - even those closest to us - don’t always know what’s right for you. Since then, his work has centred around challenging the assumption that neurodivergent people need to change or be “fixed” - and instead focusing on creating environments where people can be exactly who they are.What You’ll Discover in This Episode:The childhood moment that sparked Luke’s questioning of normative behaviourWhat masking means and why people do itWhat “autistic courtesy” means and how we can use it to create more inclusive spacesHow environments - not individuals - are often the biggest barrier to inclusionThe importance of lived experience and participatory research, especially in autism studiesFollow Becoming You on Social Media:Instagram: @becoming_you_TikTok: @becoming_you_Share Your Story:John would love to hear from you! If this episode resonated with you, send an email to [email protected] the website at www.becomingyou.ieWould you like to explore the idea of uncovering, embracing and being your true self?Download your free self led workbook: https://www.becomingyou.ie/#workbookConnect with our guest Dr. Luke Beardon: https://www.shu.ac.uk/about-us/our-people/staff-profiles/luke-beardon#firstSectionDisclaimer: The content shared in this podcast represents the personal experiences, opinions, and insights of the host, guests, and contributors. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, whether medical, psychological, therapeutic, legal, or financial. If you are experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, or require professional support, we strongly encourage you to seek guidance from a qualified professional or relevant support services.

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