Hot Topic: What Fake Reason Causes Autism This Week?
In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott pull apart the latest headline claiming that “COVID during pregnancy causes autism.”With sarcasm, dark humour and actual science, they look at why every week the media invents a new “cause” — Tylenol, vaccines, circumcision, video games, rain — and how these stories spread without logic, peer review or any understanding of genetics.Jordan and Simon explain why this reporting is dangerous: it fuels stigma, panic and political agendas, while ignoring the real science behind autistic brains — including genetics and reduced synaptic pruning. Instead of treating autism as part of human diversity, the media keeps framing it as a threat, tragedy or contagious condition.They discuss:The latest claim: “COVID during pregnancy causes autism”Why correlation is not causation (no matter how many headlines say it is)Politicians weaponising autism for attention and votesThe Tylenol lawsuit and RFK’s shifting conspiraciesHow media language treats autism like a disease or warning labelWhy autism isn’t “caught” — it’s genetic and always has beenWhy support and accessibility matter more than fearmongeringThis episode is a sharp, honest takedown of pseudoscience and scare tactics. If you’re tired of autism being used as clickbait, you’ll want to hear this one.Our Sponsors:🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)🧘♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy→ https://bit.ly/ashleynde🔗 Stay ConnectedInstagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience❤️ Support the ShowIf 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.
--------
33:19
--------
33:19
I Don’t Belong Here: Imposter Syndrome and the Neurodivergent Brain
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott open up about imposter syndrome — the belief that you’re never good enough, never qualified enough, and that one day everyone will “figure you out.”With humour and honesty, they share personal stories of childhood bullying, masking, perfectionism and self-doubt, and how growing up misunderstood leaves many autistic and ADHD adults feeling like their achievements aren’t real. From turning down opportunities to assuming every success is luck, they explore why confidence is so difficult for neurodivergent minds.They discuss how imposter syndrome shows up in work, relationships, creativity and social media — and how therapy, self-compassion and supportive people can slowly rewrite the story.They explore:Why imposter syndrome is so common for autistic & ADHD adultsGrowing up hearing you’re “lazy,” “too much,” or “not trying”How masking and people-pleasing destroy self-worthThe fear of failure — and the fear of successSocial media, comparison and anxietyWhy confidence takes time and why small wins matterWhen self-criticism becomes self-harmWhy reaching out can save people from spiralling aloneThis is a raw, validating conversation for anyone who has ever worked twice as hard and still felt like a fraud. If you struggle to believe in yourself, this episode is proof that you’re not alone — and that healing is possible.Our Sponsors:🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)🧘♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy→ https://bit.ly/ashleynde🔗 Stay ConnectedInstagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience❤️ Support the ShowIf 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.
--------
57:33
--------
57:33
Mindful Mondays With Ashley Bentley: The Breath Between Worlds
Part 2 of our November Neuroscience for the Neurodivergent Nervous System seriesYour breath is more than air - it’s a bridge between worlds.In this week’s Mindful Mondays, Ashley Bentley explores the mystical and scientific magic of the breath — how this constant companion connects body and mind, order and chaos, logic and emotion.Through science, story, and spirit, we uncover why the breath is the only part of the autonomic nervous system we can consciously guide — making it both a biological tool for regulation and a spiritual doorway to presence.Ashley shares her own journey through burnout and healing, reflections from Alan Watts on the bridge between the voluntary and involuntary, and insights into how breathing can help regulate the neurodivergent nervous system, ease hypersensitivity, and even calm addiction patterns.This episode also includes a deeply immersive guided breath practice with multiple techniques, woven with vivid visualizations to help you awaken, ground, and return to yourself.“Every breath a teacher. Every exhale a prayer. Every inhale — a return.”❤️ Support the ShowIf 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 episodesOur Sponsors:🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)🧘♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy→ https://bit.ly/ashleynde🔗 Stay ConnectedInstagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
--------
31:49
--------
31:49
Hot Topic: Autistic Workers Deserve Pay – The “Volunteer” Scandal
In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott discuss two shocking news stories exposing how autistic workers are being used as unpaid labour — ‘volunteering’ in supermarkets and retail stores for months or even years, only to be dismissed the moment they ask to be paid.They break down how companies hide exploitation behind charity language and “work experience,” and how vulnerable adults are pressured to feel grateful for opportunities that would be paid roles for anyone else. Jordan and Simon talk about gaslighting, legal rights, and why disabled people are repeatedly told they should expect less — or nothing at all — from employers.Together, they explore:Why Autistic workers are vulnerable to workplace exploitationThe public's belief that disabled people should “just be grateful” to be thereGaslighting, low expectations, and the damage of being told you’ll “never achieve anything”How parents and carers are often manipulated into accepting unpaid labour for their Autistic loved onesThe legal reality: taking advantage of a vulnerable person is a crimeWhy these stories matter and how many more are likely happening unseenThis episode is angry, honest, and necessary — shining a light on a system where disabled workers are treated as props, not people. If you work, you deserve to be paid. And if this is happening to you or someone you love, you’re not alone — and it needs to be exposed.Our Sponsors:🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)🧘♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy→ https://bit.ly/ashleynde🔗 Stay ConnectedInstagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience❤️ Support the ShowIf 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.
--------
23:00
--------
23:00
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 regulationThe truth about the “ADHD tax” and impulsive spending for dopamineHow demand avoidance and executive dysfunction make bills feel impossibleWhy financial shame is common for neurodivergent adultsHow to build sustainable savings systems that actually work for autistic and ADHD mindsLearning to plan, budget, and build security without losing joyThe emotional link between money, control, and safetyThis 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 ConnectedInstagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook pageYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperienceTikTok: @neurodivergentexperience❤️ Support the ShowIf 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.
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: @theneurodivergentexperiencepodFacebook: The Neurodivergent ExperienceYouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ireland