Episodes
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For two years, Ben Branson has sat in the green interviewer chair - asking the hard questions, holding the space, and speaking on behalf of The Hidden 20% community.
Today, the chair is flipped.
Phoebe De Leiburné - Production Manager and Head Producer of The Hidden 20% steps in as host to interview Ben for the first time.
In this conversation, Ben opens up about what drove him to create The Hidden 20% after being diagnosed Autistic at 39 and ADHD six months later. Together, they look back on 120+ episodes, 250 million social media views, two British Podcast Awards and the thousands of messages from listeners who, often for the first time, finally felt seen. They also unpack the uncomfortable truth sitting underneath everything The Hidden 20% has uncovered: what if the number we’ve all been using around neurodivergence is wrong?
Ben opens up about why continuing as “just a podcast” no longer felt enough, and why The Hidden 20% is now shifting towards a new chapter...and a new name.
This episode is not a goodbye.
It’s a thank you, a reflection, a line in the sand, and a rallying cry for what comes next.
We are not going anywhere.
We are just getting started.
We are here.
We always have been.
And we are not hiding anymore.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT:
https://hidden20.org/mailing-list
● Sign up to our newsletter at https://hidden20.org/mailing-list
● Buy a green dot badge at https://hidden20.org/products/badge - 2 for 1 in support of the charity
● Write to your local MP about neurodiversity - your voice matters
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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
02:08 Why Production Manager & Producer Phoebe Is Interviewing Ben
07:58 The Original Idea Behind The Hidden 20%
11:22 Did Ben Ever Expect The Podcast To Become This Big?
18:42 The Most Emotional Moments From The Green Chair
23:16 The Guest Conversations That Changed Ben Forever
28:04 Listener Messages That Left The Team Speechless
34:18 “We Didn’t Just Build A Podcast - We Built A Place People Felt Seen”
38:10 Why The Hidden 20% Couldn’t Stay “Just A Podcast”
42:56 The Research Suggesting Up To 1 In 3 People May Be Neurodivergent
47:44 The Systems Problem Facing Neurodivergent People
53:28 Why Awareness Alone Is No Longer Enough
57:02 What The Hidden 20% Is Becoming Next
1:01:46 The Campaign Ben Says Could Change Everything
1:07:12 Why The UK Needs A Different Conversation About Neurodiversity
1:12:08 The Hidden 20% Team Behind The Scenes
1:17:42 What Ben Has Learned About Neurodivergent People
1:22:34 What The Audience Means To Ben
1:27:48 “This Is Not Goodbye”
1:31:20 The Future Of The Hidden 20%
1:34:56 Ben’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
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.
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Psychiatrist, researcher and brain-body medicine specialist Dr. Jessica Eccles joins Ben for a fascinating conversation about the overlooked physical side of neurodivergence - and why ADHD and autism are often talked about as “brain-only” experiences when the body is deeply involved too.
Dr Jess is an Associate Professor in Brain-Body Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, a Consultant Psychiatrist within the Sussex Partnership NHS Neurodevelopmental Service, and co-leads the world’s first Neurodivergent Brain-Body Clinic. Her pioneering research explores the links between neurodivergence, hypermobility, chronic illness, inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, pain, fatigue and mental health - challenging the long-standing divide between “physical” and “mental” health.
Dr Jess explains the growing research linking neurodivergence with chronic illnesses, pain, hypermobility, fatigue, inflammation, eating disorders, nervous system dysregulation and temperature sensitivity. Together, they unpack why so many neurodivergent people describe feeling physically overwhelmed, burnt out or “unsafe” in their own body - and why those experiences are so often misunderstood or dismissed in the healthcare system.
This episode is about joining the dots between brain and body - and understanding why so many neurodivergent people have spent years feeling unheard in healthcare, while quietly trying to make sense of symptoms nobody seemed able to connect.
Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
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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
01:42 Dr Jess Eccles: Why Neurodivergence Is About The Brain AND Body
04:18 ADHD, Autism & Chronic Illness: The Overlap Explained
07:36 Why So Many Neurodivergent People Feel Physically Dysregulated
10:15 ADHD, Autism & Temperature Regulation
12:06 Eating Disorders, ADHD & Autism
16:08 Why Neurodivergent People Are Often Misunderstood In Healthcare
19:42 The Nervous System, Stress & Survival Mode
23:30 Trauma Isn’t Always Psychological
27:12 The Link Between Inflammation & Mental Health
31:28 What Is Hypermobility - And Why Does It Matter?
36:14 Autism, ADHD & Physical Health Research Findings
42:20 Why So Many ND Women Are Misdiagnosed
47:48 The Danger Of Separating Mental & Physical Health
52:09 What Dr Jess Wishes More Doctors Understood About Neurodivergence
56:17 Why Research Takes So Long To Reach The Public
59:12 Inside The World’s First Neurodivergent Brain-Body Clinic
1:05:42 Supporting Your Neurodivergent Nervous System
1:09:38 Dr Jess’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 Jess Eccles @drbendybrain
Youtube: @BendyBrainDrJessicaEccles
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/bendybrain
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.
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Missing episodes?
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Writer, podcast host and mental health advocate Gemma Styles joins Ben for a deeply honest conversation about ADHD, anxiety, depression and the emotional weight of going through life feeling constantly overwhelmed without understanding why.
Gemma reflects on being treated for mental health struggles long before anyone recognised ADHD, and how her diagnosis reframed years of self-blame, exhaustion and internal chaos. She speaks openly about the experience of internalised hyperactivity - where the mind never fully slows down, even when everything looks calm externally - and the pressure of trying to hold things together while quietly struggling underneath.
Together, they explore rejection sensitivity dysphoria, social anxiety, motherhood, burnout and the emotional toll of living in a world that often rewards productivity while misunderstanding overwhelm. They also unpack the growing public conversation around ADHD in women - including the tension between increased visibility and the backlash that can come with it.
This episode is about the reality underneath the headlines, labels and stereotypes - the lived experience of trying to navigate a world that often misunderstands overwhelm, emotional intensity and difference. And why finally understanding your brain can change the way you understand your entire life.
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
04:30 Gemma Styles on ADHD, Mental Health & Public Perception
05:35 “My ADHD Was Completely Missed”
06:40 Depression, Anxiety & Knowing Something Else Was Going On
07:17 The Relief of Finally Understanding Your Brain
08:32 Why Talking About ADHD Publicly Matters
09:12 ADHD, Boundaries & Being Online
12:41 Late Diagnosis Grief & “What If I’d Known Earlier?”
13:45 Why So Many Women With ADHD Were Missed
14:13 ADHD in Adults: The System Wasn’t Looking For It
19:00 What Inattentive ADHD Feels Like Internally
20:00 ADHD Brains in Crisis Mode
28:05 Therapy, Overthinking & Anxious Thought Loops
29:37 ADHD & Anxiety: “It Never Fully Switches Off”
30:18 Social Anxiety, Fame & ADHD
31:27 Can You Be Authentic Online Without Oversharing?
32:20 Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria & ADHD
34:15 Motherhood, ADHD & RSD
40:32 “ADHD Doesn’t Feel Like a Superpower To Me”
42:57 Writing a Book With ADHD
52:23 ADHD Community, Visibility & Feeling Seen
53:02 ADHD Social Media & The Attention Economy
56:41 Motherhood, Work & Stepping Back From Social Media
57:43 What Gemma Styles Finds Frustrating About ADHD Discourse
1:00:00 Gemma’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
Gemma Styles @gemmastyles
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.
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Dyslexic entrepreneur and Talamo co-founder Jamie Wace joins Ben for a conversation about why so many children with dyslexia are still being missed - and how technology could radically change access to support.
Jamie reflects on his own experience of school, including being told not to pursue subjects he loved because his dyslexia was misunderstood. He shares how years working in tech and entrepreneurship eventually led him to question why dyslexia assessment systems remained so inaccessible, expensive and outdated.
Together, they explore the emotional impact of unidentified learning differences, why schools often rely on “wait until they fail” models, and how understanding a child’s cognitive profile can shift the conversation from blame to support. Jamie also unpacks the future of assistive technology, overlapping neurodivergent conditions, and why early identification could change life trajectories for millions of children.
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
01:30 Jamie Wace’s Dyslexia Story
05:07 Being Told Not To Take History GCSE Because of Dyslexia
06:00 Has Awareness of Dyslexia Actually Improved?
08:31 Why Schools Need To Understand Cognitive Profiles
08:48 How Talamo Was Created
09:54 The Statistic That Changed Everything: 80% of Dyslexic Children Go Undiagnosed
10:21 Why Traditional Dyslexia Assessments Don’t Scale
19:19 Dyslexia, ADHD & Understanding The Whole Child
29:24 The Future of Assistive Technology For Neurodivergent Students
31:16 Dyslexia, Schools & Assistive Technology In The Classroom
40:32 Early Dyslexia Screening & Why Schools Are Changing
44:24 Why Dyslexic People Often Make Great Communicators
46:20 Dyslexia, ADHD & Neurodivergent Overlap
50:51 Building Talamo For Impact, Not Profit
55:46 Jamie’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
Jamie Wace @jamiewace
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.
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Content creator and author Luke Grosch joins Ben for an honest conversation about late-diagnosed autism, emotional overwhelm, grief, identity and learning to understand yourself in a world that often misunderstands autistic people.
Luke reflects on losing his dad at a young age, and how many of his autistic traits - meltdowns, sensitivity and shutdowns - were mistaken for grief rather than signs of neurodivergence. Diagnosed in 2019, he shares what changed once he finally had language for the way his brain works, and why being openly emotional online has become such an important part of his work.
Together, they explore masking, burnout, relationships, loneliness, internet culture and the pressure many autistic people feel to appear “fine” while struggling internally. Luke also opens up about writing his first book based on diary entries and emotional reflection, and why vulnerability can be a form of connection rather than weakness.
Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
Buy Luke's new book 'Diary of a Neurodivergent' at https://dashbook.com/book/diary-of-a-neurodivergent
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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
01:08 Luke Grosch’s Late Autism Diagnosis Story
03:42 Losing His Dad Young & Missing The Signs of Autism
07:15 When Autism Traits Get Mistaken For Grief
10:54 What Finally Led Luke To Seek a Diagnosis
14:02 Late Diagnosed Autism: “Everything Started Making Sense”
17:40 Masking & Pretending To Be Fine
21:18 Emotional Overwhelm, Shutdowns & Internal Struggle
25:11 Why Luke Shares Vulnerably Online
28:45 Autism, Loneliness & Feeling Misunderstood
32:04 Burnout & The Pressure of Social Media
35:27 Relationships, Friendship & Communication Differences
39:18 Why So Many Autistic Adults Feel Exhausted
42:56 Writing a Book Through Diary Entries & Reflection
46:21 What Luke Wishes More People Understood About Autism
50:12 The Power of Emotional Honesty
54:30 Luke’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
Luke Grosch @lukegrosch
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.
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Chef, content creator and food waste activist Martyn Odell - better known online as Lagom Chef - joins Ben for a chaotic, funny and emotional conversation about ADHD, creativity, food, and finally understanding his brain.
Diagnosed with ADHD midway through writing his first cookbook, Martyn reflects on growing up in kitchens where chaos and intensity were normalised, and why that made it difficult to recognise the difference between personality, coping and neurodivergence. They explore ADHD creativity, burnout, internet culture, the pressure of social media, and what happens when your job relies on constantly turning your brain into content.
Martyn shares why “eat the food you buy” became his philosophy, how cooking can help people reconnect with themselves, and why perfection is ruining the way we think about food.
This is a conversation about ADHD, identity, creativity, and learning to trust your own way of doing things.
Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
Eat The Food You Buy: 15 Everyday Ingredients, Endless Delicious Meals by Martyn Odell is publishing on 16th July 2026 (Penguin Life, £25)________
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 Martyn Odell: ADHD, Cooking & Internet Chaos
03:44 Why Kitchens Made ADHD Feel “Normal”
06:20 The Link Between Creativity, Chaos & Cooking
09:18 Growing Up With Undiagnosed ADHD
12:42 Social Media Pressure & Going Viral Online
16:10 Why Humour Can Become a Mask
19:25 Burnout, Content Creation & Internet Pressure
22:14 Being Diagnosed With ADHD Midway Through Writing a Book
25:39 ADHD, Executive Dysfunction & Writing Struggles
26:43 “Eat The Food You Buy”: Martyn’s Philosophy on Food Waste
28:30 Why Cooking Intuition Matters More Than Recipes
31:11 Social Media Pressure, Trolls & Public Perception
34:02 Why Perfection Is Ruining Cooking
38:16 ADHD Hyperfocus & Creativity in the Kitchen
42:05 The Emotional Connection Between Food & Memory
46:20 Why Simplicity Matters More Than Perfection
50:12 What Cooking Actually Gives Martyn’s Brain
54:40 Martyn’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
Martyn Odell @lagomchef
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.
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Clinical neuroscientist and nutrition researcher Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas returns to The Hidden 20% to challenge one of the most persistent myths in ADHD: that it’s just about the brain.
In this conversation, Ben and Dr Miguel explore ADHD through a whole-body lens - from nervous system regulation and eating patterns to capacity, sensory sensitivity and the gut–brain axis.
They unpack why food isn’t just fuel but a regulatory tool, why so many ADHDers struggle with inconsistent eating, and why “just eat better” advice often misses the point entirely. The conversation then goes deeper into why the same food can feel fine one day and intolerable the next, and how what we often label as “food sensitivities” may actually be linked to stress, overload and nervous system state.
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: ADHD Beyond The Brain
01:42 Why ADHD Is a Nervous System Condition
05:18 Fight, Flight, Freeze: ADHD & Regulation
09:12 Why Food Impacts ADHD More Than You Think
13:40 ADHD Eating Patterns: Skipping, Binging & Dopamine
18:25 Why “Just Eat Better” Doesn’t Work for ADHD
22:10 Regulation Before Optimisation: Rethinking Food
26:30 Simple Food Changes That Support ADHD Brains
31:05 Food, Mood & Energy Crashes Explained
35:22 Why The Same Food Feels Different Day to Day
38:40 Understanding Capacity in ADHD
42:15 Sensory Sensitivity, Stress & The Body
45:50 The Gut–Brain Axis Explained Simply
49:10 “Food Sensitivities” vs Nervous System Overload
53:05 Stress, Digestion & ADHD Explained
56:10 What Actually Helps: Supporting Regulation First
59:30 Dr Miguel’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 Miguel Toribio-Mateas @drmiguelmateas
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.
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Executive Director at the RSPB, Emma Marsh, joins Ben for a conversation that connects leadership, late autism diagnosis, and the often-overlooked role of nature in how we regulate and function.
Diagnosed autistic in 2023, Emma reflects on what it means to navigate senior leadership as an autistic woman, the decision to disclose at work after years of masking, and how that moment reshaped both her identity and the way she leads.
Ben and Emma dive into the power of nature and how fundamental it is for neurodivergent brains. From birdsong and the dawn chorus to simple ways of reconnecting with the natural world, Emma explains why nature can feel like a reset for the nervous system in ways modern environments often can't.
They also explore why so many workplaces still unintentionally exclude neurodivergent people - and what it looks like to move beyond awareness into systems that actually support people and their brains.
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
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
Emma Marsh RSPB LinkedIn
http://www.rspb.org.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.
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Pablo Lambrechts, Architect and Director at L+ Architects, joins Ben to explore something most of us feel but rarely question - the impact our environment has on our nervous system.
Drawing on his work designing neurodiversity-informed spaces (including Google HQ), Pablo explains how light, sound, layout and materials can either support regulation or quietly work against it.
This isn’t about aesthetics - it’s about how spaces shape behaviour, focus and wellbeing. Together, they unpack biophilic design, and why many schools, workplaces and homes are unintentionally disabling for neurodivergent people.
Pablo also shares simple, practical changes that can make an immediate difference, without big budgets.
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
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
Pablo Lambrechts https://lplusarchitects.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.
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Dr Ann Ozsivadjian, Clinical Psychologist specialising in autism, joins Ben to unpack the reality of mental health in neurodivergent children and adults - and why so much of it is misunderstood.
Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Ann explains how anxiety, depression and low self-esteem often sit on top of something deeper: emotional dysregulation, unmet needs and environments that don’t fit.
Together, they explore how this shows up in children and the long-term impact of being misunderstood early on.
They also break down the difference between meltdowns and shutdowns - what’s really happening beneath the surface, and how to respond with understanding, not judgment.
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
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 Ann Ozsivadjian www.drannozsivadjian.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.
-
Warda Farah, an autistic Independent Researcher and Speech & Language Therapist, joins Ben for a powerful conversation about identity, language and what happens when the systems designed to support you don’t see you properly.
Drawing on both lived experience and clinical insight, Warda reflects on leaving the NHS after recognising how standardised assessments were failing marginalised children - and why ideas of “normal” can exclude more than they help.
Together, they explore intersectionality, internalised ableism and the role language plays in shaping how we understand ourselves.
If you’ve ever felt unseen by systems, misunderstood by language, or caught between identities - 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
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
Warda Farah linkedin.com/in/warda-farah-210235129
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.
-
Content creators Lori-Jade 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
Max Siegel @maxsiegel_
Lori-Jade Siegel @midlifeinvintage
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.
-
In this episode, Ben sits down with Dr Shyamal Mashru, Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Lead for Adult ADHD, for a clear and compassionate deep dive into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD).
Often misunderstood or dismissed as being “too sensitive,” RSD is explored here as a real, neurological experience - one that can hijack rational thought, flood the body with emotional pain, and quietly shape relationships, work, and self-worth. Dr Shyamal explains what RSD is (and isn’t), how it shows up differently across people, and why ADHD brains may be especially vulnerable.
They unpack the science, the role of trauma and hormones, why RSD isn’t currently in the DSM, and what actually helps when rejection hits hard.
If rejection feels overwhelming, confusing, or deeply personal - this conversation offers clarity, relief, and language for what you may have been carrying alone.
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
01:00 Dr Shyamal Mashru’s ADHD Background & Clinical Work
03:15 What Surprises Clinicians About ADHD Assessments
04:41 Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Explained: What RSD Is & Why It Hurts
09:16 RSD Coping Mechanisms: Shutdown, People-Pleasing & Avoidance
11:44 Is It RSD or Something Else? How to Tell the Difference
15:05 The Neuroscience of RSD: Why Rational Thinking Switches Off
17:27 RSD in Romantic Relationships & Attachment
21:33 How to Support a Partner With Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
22:50 How Aware Is Society of RSD?
24:38 RSD, Hormones & ADHD: Menstrual Cycle, Perimenopause & Menopause
26:33 Is There an Upside to RSD? Emotional Depth & Sensitivity
29:56 Can Non-ADHD People Experience RSD?
31:55 RSD vs Trauma & Fear of Failure
34:46 Why RSD Is More Than “Not Handling Rejection”
36:15 Why Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Isn’t in the DSM
40:00 How RSD Shows Up in Children
41:29 Early Signs & Patterns Clinicians Look For
42:59 How Common Is RSD in ADHD — and When It Appears
46:20 Treating RSD: Therapy, Medication & Regulation
56:18 The One Thing Dr Shyamal Would Change About RSD Awareness
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 @adhdhealthclinic
www.adhdhealthclinic.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.
-
Semi-Professional cyclist, Connie Hayes, joins Ben for a deeply personal conversation about growing up autistic, dyslexic and dyspraxic - and how cycling became both a regulator and a place of safety.
Connie reflects on the early signs of autism that were missed, the self-esteem battles that came with puberty, hormones and friendships, and the long road to understanding her neurodivergence.
She shares how sport - particularly cycling - helps regulate her nervous system, why environment matters so deeply for autistic performance, and how dyspraxia shows up at an elite level.
Together, they also explore autism in women, eating disorders in sport, disclosure, and the urgent need for more inclusive practices across the industry.
If you’re curious about neurodiversity, sport and identity, 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
01:05 Connie Hayes: The Autistic, Dyslexic & Dyspraxic Professional Cyclist
02:20 Early Signs of Autism & Being Missed
03:07 How Cycling Regulates Connie’s Autistic Brain
04:41 Understanding Autism Through Sport (Post-Diagnosis)
05:57 Designing Environments Where Autistic Athletes Thrive
08:05 Autism, Dyslexia & Dyspraxia Diagnosis Journey: Self-Esteem, Puberty & Friendships
10:42 Dyspraxia in Elite Cycling: Coordination, Balance & Training
12:28 Fighting for School Support & Being Left With Questions
16:59 The Right University & Autism in Women: “It Saved My Life”
25:53 Identity: Seeing Herself as an Autistic Woman
26:38 Society’s Expectations vs Autistic Females
27:19 Neurodiversity in Sport: What We Get Wrong
29:21 Autism, Sport & Eating Disorders
39:43 Why Autism Can Be a Strength in Professional Cycling
46:45 Women’s Cycling Through an Autism Lens
55:06 Disclosing Autism: Regret, Relief & Reality
58:38 Is Cycling Good for Neurodivergent People?
01:02:07 Connie’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
Connie Hayes @connie_hayes
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 this conversation, neurobiologist and author of The Lost Girls of Autism, Gina Rippon, rejoins Ben to focus on the women autism research left behind.
Picking up where part one ends, Gina traces how early brain science, diagnostic bias and cultural assumptions combined to hide autistic women in plain sight. She unpacks why autism was framed as a “male condition,” how masking became a survival strategy, and the real cost of decades of late or missed diagnosis.
They explore the neuroscience behind prediction and masking, the forgotten female figures in autism’s history, and why the language of “over-diagnosis” risks oversimplifying a much more complex history of under-recognition .
Gina also reflects on autistic bullying, and what meaningful change in diagnosis and research could look like next.
If you’ve ever wondered why so many autistic women are only being seen now - or why you still don’t feel seen - this conversation is for you. We hope it offers some clarity, context, and hope.
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
01:00 Gina Rippon’s Career in Autism & Neuroscience
02:00 The Brain Questions That Changed Autism Research
05:12 Autism & the Brain: Predictive Coding Explained
08:11 Why So Many Autistic Women Were Missed
09:09 The Forgotten Female Psychiatrist Who Identified Autism Decades Earlier
16:52 Autism Diagnosis Ratios: Female vs Male Explained
18:02 How Many Autistic Women Have We Missed? The “Overdiagnosis” Myth
24:02 Masking in Autistic Women: The Breakthrough Moment
29:30 The Reality of Bullying for Autistic Girls
31:18 The Cost of Late Autism Diagnosis in Women
35:59 Autism, Hormones & PMDD: What Research Still Lacks
37:00 Debunking the “Refrigerator Mother” Myth
40:15 What Neuroscience Tells Us About the Autistic Brain
44:11 Neurodivergent vs Neurodiversity: Why Language Matters
46:00 The Future of Autism Diagnosis in Women
47:54 What Gives Gina Rippon Hope
50:45 Gina Rippon’s Top Tips for Autistic Women
51:44 Gina’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
Gina Rippon https://www.ginarippon.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.
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In part one of this two-part conversation, neurobiologist and author of The Gendered Brain and The Lost Girls of Autism - recently awarded the British Psychological Society’s Popular Science Book Prize - Gina Rippon joins Ben to unpack what we really know, and don’t know, about the human brain.
From left-brain/right-brain myths to the rise of gendered brain science, Gina explains why many of the ideas we’ve grown up with simply don’t stand up to scrutiny. Drawing on decades of research, she explores how brains change across the lifespan, how experience actively shapes neural pathways, and why no two brains - neurodivergent or not - are ever the same.
They dive into alpha rhythms, brain plasticity, ageing, and the cultural bias baked into neuroscience, including why the idea of distinctly “male” and “female” brains has caused more confusion than clarity.
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
00:57 Why Gina Rippon Became Obsessed With the Brain
2:54 What Science Really Knows About the Neurodivergent Brain
7:18 Brain Waves Explained: Alpha Rhythms & Neurodivergence
10:24 Debunking Common Myths About the Neurodivergent Brain
12:00 Left Brain vs Right Brain: Does It Actually Exist?
17:14 The Best Analogy for How Brains Really Work
18:17 Why London Taxi Drivers’ Brains Change
19:30 How the Brain Changes With Age
21:46 Brain Plasticity, Careers & Learning Over Time
23:27 Why Every Brain Is Different And Neurodiversity
26:45 Gender Bias in Neuroscience: “Neuro Trash” Research
27:53 Is There Such a Thing as a Male or Female Brain?
35:18 The Real Impact of Gendered Brain Science
40:56 Neurodivergence, Gender & Brain Differences Explained
44:07 Moving Beyond Gendered Brains to Human Brains
45:22 What Are Thoughts, Really?
48:40 Why Gina Decided To Write “The Lost Girls of Autism”
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
Gina Rippon https://www.ginarippon.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.
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