We were going to say the neurodivergent behaviours you've got all wrong, but it was a bit too long for the title space on our graphic! :D

This started out as an exploration of the things neurotypical people often misunderstand about ADHD and autism... it grew from a conversation we were having on the sofa.

For instance: interrupting can ruin a conversation in seconds, but what if the person doing it is trying to connect rather than compete? We get properly honest about one of the biggest flashpoints between neurotypical and neurodivergent communication: the mid-sentence jump-in, the sudden personal anecdote, the “I promise I’m listening” blurting that lands like rudeness.

We unpack what’s going on under the bonnet: empathy expressed through shared stories, the urge to be relatable, and the working memory panic that makes a thought feel like it’ll disappear if it’s not said now. That leads us into the messy reality of meetings and networking, where you can either speak up and get judged, or stay silent and lose the insight you actually bring. We also share practical tools that help in the moment, from quick notes and voice notes to setting expectations with the people around you.

Then we widen the lens to other neurodivergent traits that get misunderstood all the time: oversharing, info dumping, going quiet, delayed replies, rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), blunt honesty, eye contact extremes, and processing delays. We keep it real, we keep it funny, and we aim for something useful: language you can use to explain yourself, and empathy you can offer others without lowering standards.

Subscribe for more neurodiversity-friendly conversations, share this with someone who’s ever been misread, and if it resonates, leave us a review and tell us which moment hit hardest.

Something you’d love us to know? Send us a message - we’d love to hear from you.

Support the show

✨ Unfiltered. Unedited. Awesomely Off-Topic. New episodes every Tuesday.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more rants, rambles and random brilliance: 👋 @AwesomelyOffTopic, plus our co-hosts @thetazthornton + @ashaclearwater

🔥☎️ 🔥 ALL NEW AWESOMELY OFF-TOPIC HOTLINE: +44 (0)33 00 272871.

Please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.