Episodes
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This week Monique welcomes Arnikka de Kort to the podcast, to chat about breastfeeding and infant sleep.
Arnikka is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), Neonatal Nurse and Founder of SuckleBubs - a space that reimagines how women and babies are supported in the early weeks of newborn life. She is also the creator of In Bloom - a postpartum and breastfeeding mentorship program guiding mothers through their transition to motherhood, from pregnancy and into postpartum. Drawing from her clinical and lived experience as a neurodivergent mother, Arnikka blends her clinical skills with a deeply attuned and compassionate approach to the care of mothers and babies.
This ep is packed with knowledge gems direct from Arnikka’s brain, so flick it on to anyone you know who is pregnant or postpartum, neurodivergent or not!
Monique and Arnika cover:
What is an IBCLC? What neurodivergence means to Arnikka and her personal journey to discovering her own neurodivergence and the self-acceptance that came with that. Arnikka’s personal experience as a neurodivergent mother with birth and breastfeeding. The variability in infant sleep needs. The interrelationship between infant sleep, feeding, and baby’s sensory needs. Some of the key challenges parents face in their infant feeding journey, including those specific to neurodivergent mothers. Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER). Arnikka’s tips for parents experiencing infant feeding challenges. Tips for problem solving issues with infant sleep and supporting infant circadian development. Elements of pregnancy, birth, and infant care that can be particularly challenging for neurodivergent mothers and tips to manage these.Things we mentioned:
Before the Letdown: Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex and the Breastfeeding Mother by Alia Macrina Heise The NDC institute – free resources and a practitioner directory. Motherkind by Zoe Blaskey Mama Rising by Amy Taylor-KabbazConnect with Arnikka through her website, Suckle Bubs, or on Instagram @sucklebubs.
Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
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On this week’s episode Monique chats with two amazing guests – Specialist GP Dr Megan Thomas (she / they) and Clinical Psychologist Bianca Comfort (she / her) – about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAS).
Dr Megan is a queer, disabled, neurodivergent doctor with lived experience of EDS, POTS, MCAS, and related conditions. She is a GP Specialist and one of the Founding Directors of Connected Health Alliance, an EDS CORE Network of Excellence and health promotion charity working to improve the lives of hypermobile humans through the provision of interdisciplinary healthcare, clinician education, and research. Megan is a passionate advocate of holistic, trauma-informed, person-centred care that is affirming for people of all neurotypes, identities, and experiences.
Bianca is a Melbourne-based neurodivergent Clinical Psychologist and is the Director of Comfort Psychology, a telehealth practice focused on chronic illness and neurodivergence. She is also the Vice President of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), and Co-Chair of the Australian EDS & HSD Network. Bianca's expertise lies in the intersection between neurodivergence and chronic illnesses such as EDS, POTS, and MCAS. Drawing from both her professional and lived experience, Bianca is a passionate advocate and educator.
Monique, Megan, and Bianca cover:
Megan and Bianca share what neurodivergence means to them, and their experiences as neurodivergent health practitioners with chronic illnesses. What are EDS, POTS, and MCAS, and how are these conditions diagnosed? Why do we see EDS, POTS, and MCAS commonly occurring together? How do these three conditions relate to Autism and ADHD? Factors to consider when managing multiple co-occurring conditions. The triple empathy problem. The types of supports people may need if they have these conditions. How to access support.Things we mentioned:
The Beighton Score System for EDS and the Hakim 5 questionnaire for hypermobility can be found on the Ehlers-Danlos Society website. Mast Cell Mediator Release Syndrome Questionnaire. The EDS Society The Australian POTS foundation The Australian EDS and HSD Network The Australian Mastocytosis Society Studies on the overlap between EDS, Autism, and ADHD: Cederlöf et al., 2016; Dogan et al., 2011; Shiari et al., 2013; Csecs et al., 2020; Csecs et al., 2022. Research on “clinician associated trauma” experienced by patients with EDS - Halverson, Penwell, & Francomano, 2023.Find Bianca at her clinic, Comfort Psychology, and on Instagram @comfortpsychology. Find Megan through her website, Dr Megan Thomas, or her clinic, Connected Health Alliance, and on socials @drmeganthomas and @connectedhealthalliance.
Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
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Episodes manquant?
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Hey everyone, just a heads up that in this episode Jessica mentions times in her life when she was suicidal. If this brings up anything for you, please reach out to someone you trust, or contact one of the support lines we’ve included in the show notes. Take care of yourselves, and feel free to pause or skip this one if you need to.
This week we are chatting to Jessica Horner about neurodivergent stories. Jessica is a proudly AuDHD and disabled woman and she works as a policy advisor with People With Disability Australia. She has previously worked as a journalist at the ABC, where she focused on the experiences of late diagnosed Autistic adults across Australia and wrote, among other pieces, a long form feature article called “A Rich New Lens”. She would later be nominated as a finalist for this article, alongside her producer, for the Media Diversity Australia Award, issued by the Walkley Foundation in 2023. She has also written for ABC Everyday, ABC News, Reframing Autism, Yooralla, and others.
In this episode we deep dive into how neurodivergent stories are told, by whom, and for what purpose, and unpack to impact of this on the neurodivergent community.
We cover:
How Jessica thinks about neurodivergence. Jessica’s experience of her neurodivergence, and how this evolved over time along with her sense of self and identity. What are stories, why do we tell stories, and why are stories important? How power dynamics become embedded in cultural stories and ways we can work to shift this. Unpacking how neurodivergent stories are told. What does trauma-informed journalism and storytelling look like? Jessica’s current hyperfixations and a personal story on how Autism can show up for her.You can find Jessica through her website, Spoonfuls of Whimsy, or on Instagram and Facebook @spoonfuls_of_whimsy
Looking for mental health support? Try these resources:
Immediate Support
Lifeline Australia — 13 11 14 (24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention) Suicide Call Back Service — 1300 659 467 (24/7 telephone and online counselling for people affected by suicide) Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636 (24/7 support for anxiety, depression, and suicide prevention) Kids Helpline — 1800 55 1800 (24/7 free, private, and confidential phone and online counselling for young people aged 5 to 25)Additional Resources
headspace — Support for young people aged 12–25, with mental health, physical health, work, and study support. SANE Australia — Support for people living with complex mental health issues and their families. 13YARN — 13 92 76 (24/7 crisis support line run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) QLife — 1800 184 527 (Support for LGBTQIA+ people, available every day from 3pm to midnight)Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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This week Monique chats with Sienna Macalister (they/them), who listeners may know by their Instagram handle @sienna.stims, about being an Autistic person with high support needs. Sienna is a non-binary, ‘unreliably speaking’ Autistic advocate, diagnosed with Autism Level 3. They are multiply neurodivergent and have a number of co-occurring health conditions, including Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). Sienna is passionate about creating a world where Autistic people are not just accepted but celebrated, with a deep affinity for exploring neurodivergence with nuance.
Monique and Sienna cover:
What does ‘unreliably speaking’ mean? What neurodivergence means to Sienna and the importance of understanding the term to mean more than just Autism and ADHD. Sienna’s experience of early diagnosis of Autism and the diagnostic overshadowing this led to, particularly around diagnosis of their health conditions. The evolution of Sienna’s neurodivergent identity. Sienna’s experience of using mobility, communication, and health and wellbeing supports. Support needs, disability, and therapeutic intervention as a valid part of the neurodivergent experience, and the difference between affirming and non-affirming therapies. The role of lateral violence and internalised ableism in excluding people with higher support needs from the cultural conversation on Autism. Sienna’s suggestions to increase inclusion and representation for Autistic people with higher support needs. Sienna’s current special interest – budgie breeding!Find Sienna on TikTok and Instagram @sienna.stims, on their professional Instagram @sienna.macalister_media, or on YouTube @sienna_stims.
Sienna’s writing is features in the anthologies Someone Like Me, edited by Clem Bastow and Jo Case, and Hyperfocus, edited by Spectrum Writing.
Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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On today’s episode we are deeply honoured to have Dr Michelle Garnett speaking with us about neurodivergence in the teen years, as well as her own life experience as a neurodivergent woman. Dr Garnett is a clinical psychologist, author, and late-diagnosed AuDHDer, and she has worked in the autistic community for over 30 years. Listeners would likely know her as the co-founder of Attwood & Garnett Events, with Professor Tony Attwood. Dr Garnett is a leading voice in neuro-affirming care, research, and advocacy.
We cover:
What neurodivergence means to Michelle. Michelle’s experience of her neurodivergence and anxiety throughout her life, and things that she has personally found helpful in managing anxiety. [We get here at about the 40 minute mark!] Reasons why the transition to the teen years can be so challenging for neurodivergence teens and their families, including neurological changes and differences, and school and the broader environment. Identity formation in the teen years for neurodivergent teens. Making room for your own emotions as a parent. Signs to look out for that may indicate your young person is struggling. Tips for parents and caregivers supporting neurodivergent young people. Michelle’s five key messages for neurodivergent teens.Things we mentioned + helpful resources:
Attwood & Garnett Events in general Webcast: Autism and Carer Burnout - 11th April 2025 – Attwood & Garnett Events Webcast: Autism: Developing a Positive Self-Identity - 22nd August 202 – Attwood & Garnett Events Succeeding with Autistic Teenagers – Attwood & Garnett Events School Can’t Australia Books Dr Garnett recommends for parents Out of the Box by Madonna King and Rebecca Sparrow Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Youth - Yellow Ladybugs If autistic themselves: The Neurodivergence Skills Workbook for Autism and ADHD by Jennifer Kemp & Monique Mitchelson Podcasts Dr Garnett recommends for teens For identity and self-acceptance (not identified as ND): Feeling Seen, The Happiness Lab, Ologies For identified and accepted ND: Uniquely Human: The Podcast, The Divergent Mind Storytelling & relatable for teens: This Teenage Life, Teenager Therapy, Brave Not PerfectFind Michelle at Attwood and Garnett Events and on socials @ attwoodgarnett
Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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We’re super excited to bring you this week’s episode with Senior Clinical Neuropsychologist, Simone Mangelsdorf-Collett (she/her). We chat with Simone about Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) – or, as Simone puts it “the most common disorder you’ve never heard of”. Simone specialises in FND, neurodegenerative syndromes, and movement disorders, and practices out of Yarra City Psychology in Richmond, Melbourne. She is experienced in both ends of patient care, including assessment and diagnosis and rehabilitation and intervention.
If you’ve been wondering about FND, this episode is for you! We cover:
What is Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and how does FND differ from other neurological disorders (like epilepsy, stroke, Parkinson’s etc.) What does the term ‘functional’ mean, in this context? The historical context of FND and how our understanding of this condition has evolved over time. Some of the currently known mechanisms behind FND, including predictive coding theory. Some common vulnerabilities and triggers for FND. The overlap between FND, neurodivergence, and gender. Simone takes us through treatment options for FND and who would be involved in the treatment team. How Simone came to specialise in FND and her work in FND advocacy and education.Things mentioned:
FND Australia Support Functional Neurological Disorder in Australia Functional Neurological Disorder Society (FNDS), for professionals. Here are some studies on the link between FND and Autism – Tamilson et al., 2024, Gonzalez-Herrero et al., 2024, Pun et al., 2020, Link between gender and FND – McLoughlin et al., 2023.Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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This week Monique chats with Sharen Lui. Sharen is a neurodivergent Educational and Developmental Psychologist, and the Director of Sprout Psychology Melbourne. Sharen specialises in neurodivergence within Asian communities, supporting families with assessments, therapy, and culturally responsive mental health support.
Sharen and Monique cover:
What neurodivergence means to Sharen and the driving force behind establishing Sprout Psychology in Melbourne. Sharen’s path to discovering her own neurodivergence and the role of her cultural identity in this process. The impact of words and language on the perception of neurodivergence in Chinese culture. The importance of meeting Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) families and individuals ‘where they are at’ when working therapeutically. How do Chinese cultural norms interact with the experience of neurodivergence? Sharen talks Monique through filial piety, gendered expectations for women, and behavioural norms around what it means to be a ‘mature’ adult within Chinese culture. The layers of masking for neurodivergent Chinese folk. Barriers to accessing culturally competent neurodiversity-affirming health care in Australia for neurodivergent Chinese folk, and Sharen’s work in this space. Things to keep in mind when working with CALD groups.Find Sharen at her Melbourne-based practice – Sprout Psychology. Monique and Sharen also gave a shout-out to LOAPAC (The League of Autistic Psychologists and Affirming Colleagues), which you can check out to find an affirming psychologist.
Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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On this week’s episode we chat with Sari González and Becka Koritz – co-founders of Radical Learning – about unschooling and alternative models of education. Sari and Becka are mums to neurodivergent unschoolers, youth rights advocates, and agile learning facilitators who challenge conventional education and parenting. Through their business, Radical Learning, and their podcast, Radical Learning Talks, they support parents and educators in unlearning control-based approaches to education and embracing trust, consent, and youth agency - especially when supporting neurodivergent kids.
On this episode we cover:
How Becka and Sari think about neurodivergence. Becka and Sari’s paths to alternative education. What’s the difference between homeschooling and unschooling? Concepts in unschooling, including de-schooling, consent-based learning, and understanding how power manifests in mainstream ideas of teaching and learning. How can we teach our kids if we aren’t teachers? Navigating our inner ‘Mrs. Trunchbull’ and the internal work of de-schooling. Neurodivergence and learning; honouring our unique talents and skills. Unpacking the concept of ‘resilience’. The Shift Retreat from Radical LearningSari and Becka are coming to us from Mexico, so listeners may occasionally hear the sounds of nature in the background!
Connect with Sari and Becka through their podcast, their website, or their Instagram @radical_learning.
Plus, books that Marie recommends in this space:
Unschooling To University: Relationships matter most in a world crammed with content by Judy Arnall Homeschool Gone Wild: Inspired Learning Through Living by Karla Marie Williams College Without High School: A Teenager’s Guide by Blake Boles The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud and Ned Johnson Raising Free People: Unschooling as Liberation and Healing Work by Akilah S. RichardsGot questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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We’re kicking off Season 7 with a deep dive into learning and memory – this one’s for the nerds out there!
We cover:
Four stages of memory: perceiving, encoding, retaining, and retrieving. What can affect perceiving and encoding; the ‘front end’ of memory. Different types of memory, including working memory, short term memory, long term memory, and different kinds of long-term memory. What can affect our longer-term memory. Learning and memory in neurodivergent brains. The impact of hormonal changes for women and AFAB folk on memory. Tips and strategies for supporting memory.We've had some requests for the study on ADHD, attention, and movement that we mentioned. Here it is (by Rassovsky & Alfassi, 2019). A Google Scholar search will also yield plenty of additional studies around the benefits of movement for ADHDers.
Got questions for us?? Come along to our LIVE Q&A event! Held online on 27th June (with replay available to all ticket holders). Grab a ticket here and submit your question!
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive ad-free episodes, basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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We are back with Season 7 of the podcast on March 24th!
In the meantime, we both have some online training for professionals. Check out Michelle’s training on providing meaningful and theraputic Assessment Feedback for psychologists, running online on the 28th Feb, and Monique’s training on the Square Model – Supporting Neurodivergent Folks in Therapy, running online on the 12th-14th March. Both trainings can be attended live or watched later.
See you in a month for Season 7!
~ Michelle and Monique
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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For our final episode of Season 6 we are thrilled to welcome Australian actor and vocalist Clare Bowen to the podcast, to chat with us about her experiences as an Autistic and ADHD woman. Clare has been in a number of wonderful films, series, and theatre productions both here in Australia and internationally, with her most recognizable role being Scarlett O’Connor in the American TV series, NASHVILLE. Clare is also a globally touring musician, and she currently makes music with her husband, Brandon Robert Young, as the duo – BOWEN YOUNG. The soul mates split their time in a tear in the fabric of reality, between Nashville, Tennessee and Yuin Country, Australia.
This episode is a winding route through Clare’s experiences as a neurodivergent woman, from a childhood coloured by cancer treatment to working as an internationally acclaimed actor and musician, we cover a lot of ground! Including:
- What neurodivergence means to Clare.
- Her path to discovering her neurodivergence.
- Navigating the neurodivergent duality of having areas of extreme strength and gifts and other areas of significant challenge.
- Understanding why her response to stress and trauma may be different to others.
- Finding deep connection with others and the power of nourishing relationship.
- What identification of her neurotype has meant for Clare.
- Clare’s special interests in music and medicine, and role these interests have served for her throughout her life.
- Clare’s message for others who may resonate with her story.
You can find Clare on Instagram @clarembee and @bowenyoungofficial, or through her website - www.clarebowenofficial.com. You can find her music under BOWEN YOUNG on Spotify or wherever you get your music.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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This week Monique interviews Dr. Jamie Marich (she/they) about dissociation. Jamie is a clinical trauma specialist, EMDR Consultant, expressive artist, recovery advocate, and author of many excellent books, including ‘Dissociation Made Simple’, and their latest book ‘You Lied to Me About God’ – a memoir of spiritual abuse and recovery. She is a queer woman in long-term recovery from an addictive disorder and lives with dissociative identities. Jamie unites all of these elements in their mission to redefine therapy.
Monique and Jamie cover:
What is dissociation and what is its purpose. What are the different forms of dissociation and why does Jamie tend to avoid using a ‘continuum of severity’ framework when thinking about dissociation. The history of ‘dissociation’ as a diagnostic concept. What is dissociative amnesia. Myths about dissociative conditions. Jamie’s lived experience of dissociative identities and the role that expressive and martial arts has played in their own journey and in their therapeutic work. How does dissociation fit under the neurodivergence umbrella, and what is the overlap of dissociative conditions with Autism and ADHD? Ways that people can reduce the stigma of dissociative conditions and support others experiencing dissociative conditions.See more of Jamie’s work through their website – www.jamiemarich.com. You can access their professional trainings through The Institute for Creative Mindfulness and resources of professionals and the public through Redefine Therapy.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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On today’s episode we’re excited to welcome Dr. Megan Anna Neff to the podcast to chat with us about neurodivergence and self-care. Megan is a clinical psychologist, author, and the founder of Neurodivergent Insights. She’s written Self-Care for Autistic People and has a new book on autistic burnout coming soon. Megan discovered her own neurodivergence at 37, which sparked her passion for raising awareness around non-stereotypical presentations of autism and ADHD. Through her work, she creates resources to support the neurodivergent community and co-hosts the Divergent Conversations podcast.
On this episode we cover:
How Megan thinks about neurodivergence, including side quests into right brain / left brain ideas and the concept of time. (Trust us, it’s relevant!) Megan’s path to discovering her own neurodivergence, and the relief and grief associated with that. Understanding self-care within our socio-cultural context. A re-imagined definition of self-care. Examples of self-care strategies and ways that we can embed self-care into our everyday functioning. Common blocks to self-care experienced by neurodivergent women, AFAB, and parents. The experience of transitional identity for late diagnosed folks. De-shaming from self-care strategies that may be perceived negatively or have unwanted unintended consequences.Find Dr Neff’s work at her website - https://neurodivergentinsights.com/ - or listen to her on the Divergent Conversations podcast. She is also on Instagram @neurodivergent_insights. Follow her through your preferred medium to be notified when her new book on autistic burnout is released!
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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This week on the pod we chat with Marie Masse (pronounced ‘moss’) about special interests and creativity. Marie is part of our little ND Woman Pod team, and she has been the creative genius behind pretty much everything except the actual episodes themselves, so if you follow us on socials, or you’ve checked out our website, or you’ve downloaded one of our gorgeous PDF episode articles, you’ve definitely seen her work!
Marie is a late-identified 2e AuDHDer with two neurodivergent kids, navigating life with OCD and chronic health conditions —mostly from her creative sanctuary: a little cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the USA. During a period of trauma and burnout, Marie lost access to her most sacred interest—her creative process—but has since reclaimed it, proving that healing and recovery are possible. Since 2013, she has crafted over 300 creations—articles, digital tools, guides, books, podcast episodes, and transformative programs centred around story work. Her creations invite others to stay awake to the tiny stories that shape their lives and use them as opportunities to heal, thrive, and live fully expressed.
On this episode we cover:
How Marie thinks about neurodivergence and her path to discovering her own neurodivergence. How ‘special interests’ manifest for Marie. The difference between Autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD special interests. The centrality of special interests as an ‘organising force’ for autistic folk. Marie’s experience of losing access to her creative process (her special interest). The difference between living a ‘balanced’ life for neurotypicals, versus what ‘balance’ can look like for neurodivergent people. Marie’s experience of her special interests in childhood. How the internet has made interests and interest-based connections more accessible for neurodivergent folk. Neurotypical special interests. Marie explains ‘story work’.You can find Marie’s work through her website – www.dangerouslygoodstories.com – on Instagram @dangerouslygoodstories and @myneurodivergentjoy, or through her Substack (Live Like You Mean It).
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
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Today’s guest is Jess Rowlings. Jess is the CEO and co-founder of Next Level Collaboration, as well as a qualified speech and language therapist. She also works as a researcher at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, and previously Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Jess is an adult diagnosed AuDHDer and has a lifelong love of games, both of which inform her work and research. As a researcher, she is passionate about the use of digital games-based learning to promote inclusion and a sense of belonging, and her work has included developing and running a dedicated Minecraft server to support neurodivergent girls and women.
Monique and Jess cover:
Jess’ path to identifying her own neurodivergence. Her research on gaming and neurodivergence. How gaming can support both sides of the AuDHD brain, what it can tell us about a person’s problem-solving style, and how it can promote collaborative problem-solving skills. Jess’ relationship to gaming throughout her life, and the purpose gaming has served for her. Gender in gaming, including the popularity of gaming amongst adult women, blocks to gaming accessibility for girls, women, and AFAB folk, and Jess’ suggestions around what parents and adult gamers can do to have safer and more accessible gaming spaces. The huge variety of experiences and play options that come under the ‘gaming’ umbrella and how this has evolved over time. Discussion on the potential negative effects of gaming, including recognising active vs. passive screen time, the balance of gaming with other life activities, and what parents and adult gamers can do to support healthy gaming activity. The importance of taking kids’ interest and strength in gaming seriously. The many benefits of gaming for neurodivergent folk.You can find Jess on LinkedIn or Twitter @JessRowlings, or through Next Level Collaboration. Jess has also co-written a book with Matthew Harrison - Press B to Belong – on creating inclusive Esports programs for school communities.
This episode with Jess is kicking off a little mini-series we have planned for you on neurodivergent joy; next week we’ll be talking about special interests and creative expression, followed by self-care and self-nurturance. We hope you enjoy!
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Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
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This week Monique interviews Professor Sandra Thom-Jones about aging as an autistic person. Sandra is an autistic author, artisan, academic, and advocate. She provides consultancy services to education, employment, and healthcare providers, and supports for autistic people, through her consultancy ‘Autistic Professor’. Sandra is the author of Growing in to Autism, and she has undertaken numerous research projects in partnership with the autistic community on the experiences of autistic people and the knowledge and attitudes towards autism in the community; including research that won the Autism CRC’s 2019 and 2021 awards for research translation and the 2022 award for inclusive research.
Monique and Sandra cover:
Sandra’s experience of her neurodivergence throughout her life and her path to identifying her autistic neurotype. Why do older autistic adults tend to be ‘invisible’ to society at large, and what factors contribute to the support needs of this population? Generational trends in the understanding of and meaning associated with an autism diagnosis, and the implications for disclosure and self-advocacy. The unique needs of autistic folk when navigating later stages of life like menopause, increasing healthcare needs, aged care, retirement, and managing family changes and transitions. The importance of discarding neuro-normative expectations about what aging or retirement ‘should’ look like, and Sandra’s tips for a joyful retirement as an autistic person.You can find more of Sandra’s work through her website – www.autisticprofessor.com – or follow her on Facebook (@autisticprofessor) or Instagram (@sandrathomjones_au_author).
Get a copy of Sandra’s book, Growing in to Autism, and pre-order her upcoming book, Autistics in Academia, through Cambridge University Press.
Follow Sandra on socials to stay updated on her next book, on the experiences of autistic people in the workplace!
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
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Content warning: This episode discusses grooming and sexual assault. Some listeners may decide to skip this one.
This week Monique interviews fellow psychologist Anna Clarke on grooming. As a multiply neurodivergent psychologist, EMDR therapist, and play therapist, Anna is passionate about supporting care teams with a trauma-informed, neurodivergent-affirming lens, and they are experienced in working with survivors of sexual assault and family violence.
On this episode Monique and Anna unpack this incredibly important topic, including what makes grooming such an insidious, ‘hard to pin down’ practice. Monique and Anna cover:
Anna’s understanding of neurodivergence, their path to discovering their own neurodivergence, and what late identification has meant for them. What is grooming? What kinds of relationships have the potential for grooming behaviour? The distinct phases of grooming. The factors that increase the likelihood of disabled, neurodivergent, and / or previously traumatised folk being targeted for grooming. What effect does grooming have on the individual and on their broader support network? Other forms of manipulation like love bombing and gaslighting. Signs to look out for – both in the perpetrator and the person being groomed. Ways that parents and the broader community can protect vulnerable people from grooming. Anna’s advice for those who have experienced grooming or who suspect they may be experiencing this.Find out more about Anna’s work on this topic and sign up for their upcoming Grooming Webinar (with all profits being donated to support services for survivors of sexual assault) through Divergent Futures.
Here are some resources we’d recommend:
Blue Knot Foundation. Call 1300 657 380 or email [email protected] - Supporting adult survivors of childhood trauma and adult survivors of institutional child sexual abuse around the National Redress Scheme. Also has resources for supporters of survivors. Check out the National Resource on grooming. This page has all the National information for Australia on grooming, and on reporting grooming or abuse. State based victim support reporting and links. Autistic Guide to Healthy Relationships.Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
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This week we speak with Penny Moodie about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Penny is a writer, OCD advocate, and mum of three little people. She is the author of ‘The Joy Thief: How OCD steals your happiness – and how to get it back’ and the co-creator the website soocd.com.au, which is packed with information on OCD and how to get support.
In this episode Penny very generously shares her personal experience with OCD, and she takes us through the ‘why’ of OCD and the strategies and treatment approaches she has found helpful.
We cover:
What is OCD, and crucially, what isn’t OCD? Some of the key mechanisms of OCD, including thought-action fusion, uncertainty anxiety, the ‘just right’ feeling, and the feedback loop between obsessions and compulsions. Periods of OCD onset. Talking to kids about their thoughts. Penny’s personal experience of OCD throughout her life, including in childhood, her adolescence, and throughout her adulthood, and her path to accurate diagnosis. OCD in the perinatal period. Treatment approaches for OCD and strategies that Penny has found useful, including ERP, methods to reframe and manage distressing thoughts, medication, self-compassion practice, and connecting with other people experiencing OCD.You can find Penny on Instagram @pennymoodie and through her website, So OCD. Get a copy of Penny’s book, The Joy Thief, here.
The book Penny mentioned was The Man Who Couldn’t stop, by David Adam.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
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On today’s episode Monique interviews Liam Spicer about grief and loss. Listeners will notice that Liam is not a neurodivergent woman, but we’ve decided to make an exception this time as Liam is an expert in the area of neurodivergence and grief.
Liam is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology, and he’s a Psychologist, EMDR Consultant, and Accredited Schema Therapist based in Launceston, Tasmania. He is also an Autistic ADHDer, and is passionate about training, research, and collaboration with other neurodivergent individuals in the Neurodiversity Affirming Space. Liam’s current PhD is focused on the use of Schema Therapy for Prolonged Grief, and he has published journal articles and book chapters on grief in addition to presenting at national and international conferences. His interest in this area is derived from both professional and personal lived experience of loss.
Just a quick warning for listeners, this episode contains mention of death and loss. Some of our listeners may decide to skip this one.
Monique and Liam cover:
Liam’s journey to understanding his own neurodivergence. What is grief? Is there such a thing as a ‘normal’ response to grief, and what are some common myths about grief. Different types of grief and loss (and the validity of feeling big feelings about all of these types of losses!), including death loss, loss of aspects of daily living, loss associated with life transitions and with chronic or acute health conditions, loss of routines or coping mechanisms, and grief associated with diagnosis. Some key factors for neurodivergent people and their supports to keep in mind when dealing with grief and loss, and strategies around managing these ND specific factors. What is ‘Prolonged Grief’ and what can you expect when seeing a therapist for Prolonged Grief? Liam’s personal experiences with grief and strategies for supporting grieving loved ones. (Note: this section discusses miscarriage loss, so consume with care if this is a tough subject for you).You can find Liam through his website or on Instagram or LinkedIn @LiamSpicer.
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
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We are thrilled to interview Margo White this week on working with eating disorders in the neurodivergent population. Margo is an Accredited Clinical Nutritionist, proudly neurodivergent AuDHDer, mother of two, and founder of Whole Body Nutrition. Margo helps Neurodivergent folk of all ages, genders, and backgrounds to cultivate an emotionally healthy relationship with food. A relationship that understands, and accepts that there are different ways of eating, and that validates all sensory feeding differences. Margo draws from a neuro-affirming, trauma informed, and lived experience lens.
In this episode we cover:
Margo’s own path to discovering her neurodivergence and how this was integral to developing her current clinical focus. Why it is so important for a person’s neurodivergence to be taken into account when treating eating disorders. Can you ‘cure’ neurodivergence with a specific diet??? (spoiler alert: no). Some of the key challenges that neurodivergent folk can have with food and eating, what drives these challenges (including sensory processing differences, executive functioning, interoception, burnout and motivation, + more), and what are some strategies to ease these friction points. Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – what is this and how does Margo approach treatment of ARFID with her neurodivergent clients. Anorexia and Binge Eating Disorder in neurodivergent folk. Margo’s lived experience of an Eating Disorder. Margo’s advice on how parents of neurodivergent kids with atypical eating can best advocate for their kids’ needs, and how adults can advocate for their own needs.You can find Margo through her website – Whole Body Nutrition – and on Instagram (@margos_wholebodynutrition) and Facebook.
Check out Margo’s eBooks on Neurodiversity Affirming Feeding Practices and on ARFID and the Nervous System.
Margo also mentioned Naureen Hunani’s work on neurodivergence and eating – find her on Instagram @rds_for_neurodiversity
Want polished copies of our episodes in beautiful and readable pdf article format? Grab them here.
Enjoyed the episode and want to support us further? Join our Patreon community! Patreon subscribers receive basic episode transcripts from Season 4 onwards, access to a monthly live zoom hang out, 50% off our episode articles, plus bonus monthly content (depending on subscription tier). Check out our Patreon page to support us, as we aim to make quality mental health care information accessible to everyone: www.patreon.com/ndwomanpod.
Contact us at [email protected], or visit our website: www.ndwomanpod.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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