What if the problem was never you but the system you were trying to fit into?

In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, Ann Thomas speaks with Khushi Sibal - a psychology student and neurodivergent young adult, about her long, complex journey of trying to understand herself in a world that kept trying to label her.

From anxiety and depression to trauma-related disorders and BPD, Khushi shares what it feels like to be repeatedly placed into boxes that never quite fit, and how exploring neurodivergence helped her reframe her experience.

They discuss self-discovery versus demonized self-diagnosis, lack of support from family and many educators, the gap between understanding concepts and translating them into grades, and how one-on-one teaching helped.

Khushi reframes neurodivergence through a social lens, critiques systems built for the majority, shares how she built financial independence through internships and skills, and urges people, especially parents, teachers, and neurodivergent youth to create their own spaces, ask questions, and prioritize acceptance.

This is not a conversation about neat answers or perfect diagnoses. It’s about unlearning, questioning, and creating space for yourself when none exists.

Timestamps:

00:00 Meet Khushi Sibal

01:16 Misdiagnosed And Misfit

03:01 Self Discovery Over Labels

05:39 Everyday Signs Explained

08:22 Family And Acceptance Gap

12:50 School Struggles And Grades

20:16 Fixing Not Helping

24:22 Systems Not Built For Us

29:14 Money Power And Survival

30:08 Building Independence Skills

33:44 Comparisons With Neurotypicals

34:21 Living With Comparison

35:23 Acceptance Over Molding

36:57 Marriage Career Pressure

40:14 Patriarchy And Trauma Cycle

41:18 Eye Contact Social Rules

43:10 Curiosity Shut Down

46:07 Reclaim Asking Why

50:01 Science Gender And Certainty

52:41 Learning Empathy And Masking

55:57 Advice For Self Parents Teachers

01:01:10 Closing Reflections And Outro

If this resonates with you, like, share, and subscribe for more conversations that question what we call “normal.”

🔗 Follow us on Instagram: @justyournormalmissfit

What happens when hope turns into harm?In this powerful episode, host Ann Thomas sits down with Sushama Nagarkar - psychologist, parent, and founder of Yash Charitable Trust. Together, they unpack the recent landmark Indian Supreme Court judgment that banned the commercial use of stem cell therapy for autism in India.💛 About the guest:Sushma Nagarkar is a school psychologist, special educator, and founder of Yash Charitable Trust. With decades of experience and lived insight as a parent, her work focuses on dignity, inclusion, and evidence-based practices for neurodivergent individuals.⚖️ Why this matters:In 2022, Sushama led a Public Interest Litigation challenging the promotion of stem cell therapy as an autism “cure.”In January 2026, it led to a landmark Supreme Court judgment banning its commercial use in India.But this isn’t just a legal story.It’s about parents, desperation, misinformation and the courage to ask: Are we helping, or hurting?📌Timestamps00:00 Landmark Autism Ruling01:35 Sushma’s Advocacy Journey03:05 Why Return to India06:05 Founding Yash Charitable Trust08:46 Building an Inclusive Community: What YCT does. 10:55 Barriers to Inclusion15:01 Evidence-Based Support17:20 Stem Cell Scam Emerges19:39 Filing the Supreme Court PIL22:10 Team and Legal Strategy25:38 Why Parents Stay Silent29:35 How the Case Was Won30:47 Judgment Summary and Impact32:40 Stem Cell Therapy Caveats34:09 Neurodiversity Support Mindset Shift35:52 Medical vs Social Model38:14 Advice for New Parents42:06 Caregiver Burnout and Letting Go44:20 Teaching Choice and Agency47:08 Teen Choices and Boundaries49:19 Evaluating New Therapies51:11 From Cure to Dignity53:20 Siblings Need Support Too57:05 Final Message and ThanksThis episode breaks down what that means for families, practitioners, and the future of neurodivergent care in India.Watch the full episode and subscribe for more conversations that challenge how we think, feel, and show up. 💛

India’s Trans Bill 2026 is a step backwards and in this episode, we discuss why that is the case.

We break down the newly introduced amendment to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act with educator and parent Meghna Kulkarni, who has two neurodivergent, trans, non-binary children, Shreesh and Rit. Meghna explains how society’s binary view of gender shapes misunderstanding, clarifies differences between sex, gender, and sexuality, and shares her family’s unlearning journey supported by Sweekar the Rainbow Parents and related workshops.

She outlines landmark legal moments including the 2014 NALSA judgment and the 2019 Act’s key provision of self-identification without medical intervention, then argues the new amendment removes self-identification, narrows recognition to specific communities, excludes trans men, trans women, and non-binary people, and could criminalize caregivers and allies while reintroducing medical board examinations.

The episode ends with a call to learn, respect differences, and practice compassion, plus information on support resources.

📌 Timestamps

00:00 Why This Amendment Matters

01:16 Breaking the Gender Binary

03:43 Unlearning as a Parent

04:50 Cis and Trans Explained

08:19 Sex Gender and Sexuality

10:59 Asexual and Aromantic Basics

13:04 Landmark Rulings 2014 to 2019

18:31 Self Identification in the 2019 Act

21:07 What Amendments Should Address

22:58 When Kids Cannot Come Out

25:01 Three Outcomes Family Rejection to Support

27:38 Compassion Over Empathy

29:43 Family Rejection Reality

30:39 Planning a Safe Exit

32:13 Amendments Shock Parents

34:59 Who Counts as Trans

37:16 Dividing the Community

38:45 Allies Made Criminals

43:46 Medical Board Policing

45:27 How to Be an Ally

49:12 Respect and Compassion

53:41 Support Resources Closing

What happens when you spend 40+ years thinking something is “wrong” with you… and then finally get language for it?

In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, our host Ann Thomas speaks with strategist and storyteller Vishnu Rao about being a late-diagnosed neurodivergent adult and what that diagnosis changed.

Vishnu is an award-winning clarity strategist, narrative architect, and storyteller working at the intersection of strategy, creativity, and human behaviour.

For years, Vishnu helped brands untangle complexity and find direction, all while quietly navigating anxiety, depression, and the pressure of living up to the “high performer” label.

From masking and high-performance pressure to anxiety, depression, burnout, and executive dysfunction, Vishnu shares what it actually felt like to grow up without the vocabulary to explain how his brain worked.

This conversation explores:

- Late diagnosis in adulthood

- The “high performer” trap and burnout

- Anxiety as a symptom, not just a condition

- Survival mode vs self-understanding

- Medication fears in creative fields

- Blind panic as creative fuel

- Executive dysfunction and masking

We talk about grief. We talk about rest. We talk about what changes and what doesn’t after diagnosis.

If you’ve ever felt “too intense,” “too much,” or “not enough,” this episode may feel uncomfortably familiar and deeply validating.

Timestamps 👇

00:00 Welcome + Meet Vishnu Rao (late-diagnosed neurodivergent adult)

01:52 “If you knew, why didn’t you tell me?” Reactions to the diagnosis

02:36 Childhood signs, discipline myths & the mask finally breaking

04:39 Rebuilding routine: fatigue, boredom-sleep & working from home

07:58 Freelance structure hacks: deadlines, clients & time-boxing

09:39 Last-minute panic as “creative fuel” (and why it burns you out)

11:02 Misconceptions, AuDHD reality & anxiety/depression as symptoms

21:37 High-achiever masking & the chase for external validation

24:34 Having a therapist partner: gentle nudges toward diagnosis

26:03 After the label: acceptance, identity fears & protecting your energy

28:14 Damaging coping strategies: insomnia, substances & productivity systems that fail

30:31 Burnout warning signs: Monday dread, body stress & “I’ve aged 10 years”

36:12 The turning point: work blow-up, proper assessment & starting medication

39:44 Building Calm Under Pressure (Field Work & Confrontation)

40:40 Showing Up for Family: Hospital Shifts & Mental Load

41:20 Wanting Real Friends: Community, Rituals & Asking for Help

43:04 Medication Fears: ‘Will It Kill My Creativity?’

45:59 ADHD Strengths & the ‘18 Tabs’ Brain—What Meds Actually Change

50:05 Diagnosed Earlier? The Case for Support Groups Over Labels

54:23 ‘Don’t Be a Burden’: The Lonely Loop in Your Head

55:47 Parents & Caregiving: Transactional Love, Real Support

58:28 Practical Advice: No Instant Wins, Avoid Google, Find Your People

01:04:03 Making ADHD Less ‘Shiny’: Helping Young People See the Dark Side

01:07:35 Wrap-Up: Stuck Between Generations + Why Stories Repeat

01:10:43 Advocacy in Workplaces: Beyond ‘Culture Fit’ + Building Third Spaces

01:13:56 Final Takeaways & Sign-Off

💬 If Vishnu’s story resonated with you, share it, write to us and follow us.

Let’s build a community that makes space for different ways of being. 💛

What does an ADHD-friendly classroom really look like and why does it benefit every student, not just neurodivergent ones?In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, host Ann Thomas is joined by Dr. Neena David, a Clinical Psychologist with over 27 years of experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. She also heads the Counselling Services Team at Mallya Aditi International School. Trained at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, with doctoral research from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, Dr. David’s work sits at the intersection of psychology, education, culture, and family systems. Her research on ADHD, rooted in Indian classrooms, challenges Western-centric narratives and asks a deeper question: What do children actually need to learn well?This conversation goes beyond diagnoses and labels to explore the lived realities of ADHD, learning disabilities, and neurodivergence, especially within Indian classrooms and family systems.Whether you’re a parent, teacher, caregiver, or an adult unpacking your own school experiences, this episode offers insight, empathy, and practical perspectives rooted in real-world experience.📌 You are not alone and there is a tribe waiting for you.00:00 Introduction to the Guest and Topic02:23 Dr. Neena David's Journey into ADHD Research05:09 Cultural Nuances in ADHD Diagnosis10:55 Challenges in Indian Classrooms22:01 ADHD-Friendly Classroom Strategies34:12 Communicating with Parents about ADHD45:49 Family Dynamics and Support Systems48:40 Family Dynamics and Neurodivergence49:23 The Paradox of Stress and Resilience51:10 Coping with Relationship Struggles53:30 Logistics and Emotional Challenges for Single Parents54:59 Building a Support System01:02:37 Balancing Family Dynamics01:05:47 Managing Transitions and Resilience01:15:25 Handling Aggression and Emotional Regulation01:19:56 Parental Self-Reflection and Support01:30:21 Hope and Community Support

What if the way you move through the world, slower, differently, non-linearly, wasn’t something to fix, but something to honour?

In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, host Ann Thomas is joined by Arpita Gaidhane, an artist, facilitator, and creator of Fireplace, a free and intentionally held community space for people seeking emotional safety and belonging.

This conversation explores neurodivergence, neuroqueerness, and what it means to live creatively in a culture obsessed with hustle, productivity, and “normal” life timelines.

Arpita speaks about concepts like crip time and queer time, the emotional cost of masking, and how both neurodivergent and queer lives often resist linear ideas of success, growth, and adulthood.

Together, Ann and Arpita reflect on:

– Neuroqueerness as a creative and resilient way of living

– The pressure to keep up in a fast, productivity-driven world

– Building emotionally safe and brave spaces through Fireplace

– Unlearning shame around difference, disability, and identity

– How community, slowness, and honesty can become acts of care

This episode is an invitation to slow down, to question the rules we’ve inherited, and to imagine gentler, more authentic ways of being with ourselves and each other.

🔥 Watch the full episode to learn more about Arpita and Fireplace.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Emotional Spaces

00:42 Arpita's Journey to Self-Discovery

01:32 Understanding Neurodivergence and Masking

02:59 Gender, Neurodivergence, and Societal Norms

10:18 Historical Context of Queerness in India

15:17 Challenges in Therapy and Psychiatry

18:43 The Complexity of Neurodivergent Identities

28:51 Exploring Neuro Queering and Time Concepts

36:15 The Pressure of Modern Life

36:56 The Concept of Spoons and Emotional Taxation

39:36 Introducing Fireplace: A Safe Space

43:09 The Importance of Safety and Bravery

48:05 Navigating Shame and Vulnerability

52:09 Building Authentic Relationships

01:01:58 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Watch the full episode now and share with your friends. You can also stream it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0zv2LWxobts

In this episode of Just Your Normal Missfit, host Ann Thomas sits down with Pooja Sharma, a neurodivergent adult and founder of the Sarvodya Collective. They discuss Pooja's personal journey of growing up with a sibling with an intellectual disability, discovering her own neurodivergent identity, and her mission to promote neuro-inclusion through her ongoing campaign, Inclusive Duniya. The conversation dives deep into the importance of empathy, identity, and the role of ordinary people in fostering an inclusive society.

Discover the importance of allyship, the challenges of advocacy, and the small actions that can lead to big changes in creating a world where everyone feels seen, supported, and safe.

00:00 Introduction to Just Your Normal Missfit

00:31 Meet Pooja Sharma: Founder of Sarvodya Collective

02:06 Pooja's Personal and Professional Journey

03:11 The Impact of COVID-19 on Disability Inclusion

05:10 The Birth of Inclusive Duniya

07:05 Challenges in the Education Sector

10:44 Sarvodya's Approach to Inclusive Education

14:56 The Role of Allies in Neurodiversity

27:58 Personal Reflections on Being a Special Sibling

31:00 The Simple Joys of Everyday Life

31:30 Challenges of Growing Up with a Neurodivergent Sibling

32:04 Reflections on Childhood and Family Dynamics

33:25 Inclusive Duniya Comic and Reconnecting with Old Friends

34:59 Sibling Relationships and Caregiving Roles

42:05 Navigating Neurodivergent Relationships

44:28 The Importance of Labels and Awareness

50:46 Gender and Neurodivergence

53:45 The Role of Allies in Inclusion

59:05 Advocacy and Emotional Sustainability

01:03:30 Final Thoughts on Inclusion and Advocacy

Watch the full episode here or catch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p1Jti_k0PLM

In this episode of 'Just Your Normal Missfit,' we speak with our very special guest Rashmi Shetty, founder and CEO of Cohort Communicationz about the intersection of strategic communication and parenting a child with autism. Together, we explore the intersection of strategic communications and parenting a child with autism. Rashmi, an autism advocate and certified psychology counselor, shares her personal journey and professional insights into creating empathy-driven narratives. The discussion delves into the basics of autism, the importance of customized environments for autistic individuals, and the impact of a supportive community. Rashmi also discusses the Hidden Disability Sunflower initiative for invisible disabilities and what it means for parents who worry about their children's future after they are gone.

Tune in to learn about the importance of community, the role of communication in inclusivity, and practical solutions for supporting children with autism.

📌 Timestamps below:

00:00 Introduction to the Episode

01:49 Understanding Autism: Rashmi's Perspective

04:53 Navigating Parenting and Autism

08:25 Dealing with Grief and Expectations

11:49 Challenging Misconceptions and Myths

15:39 Building a Supportive Environment

24:07 Effective Therapies and Strategies

33:12 The Hidden Disability Sunflower

34:01 The Sunflower Lanyard: A Symbol of Potential

34:29 Global Adoption and Implementation

35:04 India's Progress and Challenges

37:43 The Importance of Communication and Corporate Responsibility

49:13 Creating Inclusive Spaces in Schools and Workplaces

56:58 Planning for the Future: Wills, Trusts, and Residential Living

01:05:53 Final Thoughts and Reflections