The Hidden 20%

Content creators Lori and Max Siegel join Ben for an honest, deeply human conversation about late diagnosis, identity and what it means to build a life together as a neurodivergent couple.

Both diagnosed with AuDHD in adulthood, they reflect on being missed for decades - from masking and misdiagnosis to the quiet grief of realising how different things could have been.

They explore how gender, queerness and hormones shape their neurodivergent experience, and what happens when both partners are navigating sensory needs, communication and regulation in real time.

If you’re navigating late diagnosis, identity or relationships as a neurodivergent adult, this episode is for you.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
________

Host: Ben Branson
Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné
Video Editor: James Scriven
Social Media Manager: Charlie Young
Music: Jackson Greenberg
Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction
01:52 Late Autism Diagnosis & Where It All Begins
05:57 Early ND Experiences & Feeling Different
11:38 Self-Awareness & ADHD Masking
16:21 Life Before Diagnosis
23:59 Recognition & Getting Assessed For ADHD
27:45 Understanding Yourself After Autism Diagnosis
37:56 ND Communication Differences Explained
43:13 Discomfort, Boundaries & Misunderstandings
48:22 Trust, Relationships & Being Honest
52:09 Daily Life, Challenges & Coping
56:22 Gratitude & Positive Reflections
1:00:55 Identity, Background & Personal History
1:09:10 Shared ND Experiences & Validation
1:18:43 Overstimulation & Sensory Struggles
1:23:38 Secondary Impacts Of ND
1:28:59 Lori & Max's Green Dot of Light

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.
No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.
Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348
______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org
Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity
Ben Branson @seedlip_ben
Tony Lloyd

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ben is joined by Dr Tony Lloyd, former CEO of the ADHD Foundation, for a conversation that steps back and looks at the bigger picture of neurodiversity at a moment when the landscape is rapidly changing.

Now retired, Tony reflects on decades at the forefront of ADHD and neurodiversity advocacy, and why we’re still asking the wrong questions.

They explore why more people are recognising themselves than ever before, and the tension between medical models and the idea of thinking differently.

From SEND systems and long waiting lists to public narratives and stigma, Tony shares what he believes still isn’t working and where real progress is happening.

This is a conversation about where we are now, what needs to change, and why the future of neurodiversity may look very different to its past.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
________

Host: Ben Branson
Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné
Video Editor: James Scriven
Social Media Manager: Charlie Young
Music: Jackson Greenberg
Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction
1:03 The Current Neurodiversity Landscape: ADHD, Autism & Society
3:50 The Global Neurodiversity Identity Crisis Explained
5:50 “We Are Everywhere”: The Rise of Neurodivergent Voices
9:44 The Future of Neurodiversity: Why People Are No Longer Hiding
20:02 Medical Model vs Neurodiversity: Disorder or Difference?
27:00 SEND System & ADHD/Autism Reports: What’s Broken?
32:10 Why Neurodiversity Should Be Seen as Opportunity, Not Deficit
42:03 De-stigmatising ADHD & Autism: What Gives Tony Hope
48:06 ADHD & Autism Waitlists: Advice for Those Still Waiting
50:18 The Role of Neurodivergent Public Figures & Advocacy
55:16 Regressive Narratives vs Being Yourself: Courage & Kindness
1:02:22 Dr Tony Lloyd’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.
No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.
Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348
______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org
Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity
Ben Branson @seedlip_ben
Tony Lloyd

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Ben is joined by Kelly and Hester Grainger, the married co-founders of Perfectly Autistic.

Together they work with major organisations to build workplaces that actually work for neurodivergent people but as Kelly (AuDHD) and Hester (ADHD) explain, inclusion isn’t about a single training session or a handful of adjustments.

They reflect on careers shaped by masking, burnout and trying to fit systems that weren’t designed with neurodivergent people in mind. Together they unpack why so many workplaces unintentionally exclude ND employees, what genuinely neuroinclusive organisations do differently, and why awareness has to go beyond a one-off training session.

They also share the more personal side: exploring their own careers, why Hester once had over 30 jobs, and what it’s like running a business together as a neurodivergent couple.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted by work environments that don’t quite fit your brain, this episode will help you see why - and what could change.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
________

Host: Ben Branson
Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné
Video Editor: James Scriven
Social Media Manager: Charlie Young
Music: Jackson Greenberg
Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction
1:26 Neurodiversity at Work | Hester & Kelly Grainger on ADHD, Autism & Corporate Consulting
2:19 The #1 Thing Employers Need to Understand About Neurodiversity in the Workplace
3:50 Supporting Neurodivergent Employees at Scale: What Actually Works
7:26 Which Companies Are Asking for Neurodiversity Support at Work?
8:31 ADHD & Autism at Work: Common Challenges and Simple Workplace Adjustments
19:15 Who Is Responsible for Neurodiversity in the Workplace?
23:37 Why Neurodiversity Training Can’t Be a One-Off Session & The Power Of Listening & Curiosity at Work
26:38 Neurodiversity Labels at Work: Why Language Around Autism & ADHD Matters
33:16 Undiagnosed ADHD or Autism at Work: Your Rights as an Employee
37:40 What Does The Dream Neuroinclusive Employer Look Like?
42:30 Neurodiversity & Recruitment
49:34 Running a Business Together as a Neurodivergent Couple
50:40 Kelly’s AuDHD Diagnosis: Telling Employers About ADHD & Autism
53:48 Creating Safe Conversations About Neurodivergence & Advocating For Yourself
57:43 Neurodivergent Workers Are Everywhere: Why Companies Need to Adapt
59:30 What Do “Best in Class” Neuroinclusive Companies Do Differently?
1:06:06 What Neurodivergent Candidates Should Look for in an Employer
1:08:22 Practical Ways Employers Can Create Neuroinclusive Workplaces
1:09:50 If Hester & Kelly Had a Magic Wand: The One Thing They’d Change About Workplaces
1:19:26 Kelly & Hester’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.
No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.
Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348
______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org
Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity
Ben Branson @seedlip_ben
Hester Grainger @hestersvibe linkedin.com/in/hestergrainger
Kelly Grainger linkedin.com/in/kelly-grainger-9601b43
www.perfectlyautistic.co.uk

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today Ben is joined by Andy and Gaz, hosts and founders of The Autism Dadcast Podcast, which has quickly become a vital voice for parents raising profoundly autistic children - gaining tens of thousands of followers and millions of views in just weeks. They share candid insights about parenting, grief, and the day-to-day realities of life with children who have profound autism, from navigating meltdowns and stimming to advocating in school and in public.

Andy and Gaz reflect on the moments that may look small to an outsider - a smile, a new word, a shared laugh - but are in reality huge victories that shape their children’s lives and their family’s world. This episode offers quietly powerful perspectives on empathy, resilience, and the deeply human side of raising children with profound autism.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
________

Host: Ben Branson
Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné
Video Editor: James Scriven
Social Media Manager: Charlie Young
Music: Jackson Greenberg
Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction
1:03 Why Andy & Gaz Created the Autism Dadcast Podcast
4:44 Parenting Profoundly Autistic Children: Gaz & Andy’s Lived Experience
16:40 Processing Grief & Parenting Expectations for ND Children
23:40 Public Reactions to Autistic Meltdowns, Stimming & Neurodivergence
28:57 Being an Autism Dad: Advocating & Speaking Up on Parenting Challenges
33:29 Home Life vs School Masking: Supporting Autistic Kids Authentically
35:44 Understanding the Term “Profoundly Autistic” in Daily Life
41:36 Lessons Learned: How Andy & Gaz Navigate ND Parenting
47:06 Adjusting Life Around Autism: What Feels “Normal” Now?
54:12 The Future of Autism Dadcast & Growing Community Impact
56:06 Top 3 Parenting Tips for Raising Autistic Children Effectively
58:10 Surprising Insights About Being an Autistic Parent
1:03:33 Andy & Gaz’s Green Dot Badges

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.
No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.
Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348
______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org
Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity
Ben Branson @seedlip_ben
The Autism Dadcast with Andy & Gaz @autismdadcast

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of Ben’s conversation with Dr Shyamal Mashru, they unpack what actually makes a good ADHD assessment - and why so many people are still waiting, misdiagnosed, or left without answers.

Dr Shyamal, an NHS Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Lead for Adult ADHD, explains what happens inside a thorough assessment, who is qualified to diagnose ADHD, and why emotional dysregulation is so often overlooked.

Together, they explore NHS vs private pathways, co-occurring conditions like autism and RSD, and why ADHD rarely shows up in neat, textbook ways.

We hope this episode brings clarity to a process that can often feel stressful, and inaccessible. If you’re questioning ADHD, on a waiting list, or trying to understand what good care really looks like, this conversation is for you.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
________

Host: Ben Branson
Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné
Video Editor: James Scriven
Social Media Manager: Charlie Young
Music: Jackson Greenberg
Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction
01:12 Who Can Diagnose ADHD in the UK?
04:25 ADHD Assessment Options: NHS vs Private Explained
11:20 ADHD Assessments Outside the UK: What’s Different?
13:00 Why ADHD Assessments Are Complex & Often Siloed
20:14 ADHD & Reduced Life Expectancy: What the Research Shows
24:20 What Makes a Good ADHD Assessment?
29:25 ADHD at School vs University: Missed Support
32:50 RSD, Relationships & Emotional Regulation Flags
34:16 ADHD & Daily Life: Hobbies, Money, Sleep
41:02 When ADHD Gets Misdiagnosed - and Why
47:15 Autism + ADHD: What If You Suspect Both?
55:06 The Missing Piece in ADHD Diagnosis: Emotional Dysregulation
59:00 Dr Shyamal’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.
No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.
Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348
______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org
Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity
Ben Branson @seedlip_ben
Dr Shymal Mashru @harrowhealthcic

Harrow Health offers bespoke NHS community outpatient services across London, plus fast adult ADHD assessment and treatment across England. For more information please visit: https://adhdrighttochoose.com/

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.