Hey everyone! We’re taking our own advice this week and looking after our energy levels — both of us enjoying a week off post-Christmas to get back into our routines and doing our best to avoid PDA. So instead of a brand-new episode today, we’re re-running one of our most popular and meaningful conversations. Thank you so much for your understanding as we take a breather — so please enjoy one of our favourite episodes from 2025.

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott open up about imposter syndrome — the belief that you’re never good enough, never qualified enough, and that one day everyone will “figure you out.”

With humour and honesty, they share personal stories of childhood bullying, masking, perfectionism and self-doubt, and how growing up misunderstood leaves many autistic and ADHD adults feeling like their achievements aren’t real. From turning down opportunities to assuming every success is luck, they explore why confidence is so difficult for neurodivergent minds.

They discuss how imposter syndrome shows up in work, relationships, creativity and social media — and how therapy, self-compassion and supportive people can slowly rewrite the story.

They explore:

• Why imposter syndrome is so common for autistic & ADHD adults
• Growing up hearing you’re “lazy,” “too much,” or “not trying”
• How masking and people-pleasing destroy self-worth
• The fear of failure — and the fear of success
• Social media, comparison and anxiety
• Why confidence takes time and why small wins matter
• When self-criticism becomes self-harm
• Why reaching out can save people from spiralling alone

This is a raw, validating conversation for anyone who has ever worked twice as hard and still felt like a fraud. If you struggle to believe in yourself, this episode is proof that you’re not alone — and that healing is possible.

Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
• Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
• YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
• TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience

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⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey everyone! We’re taking our own advice this week and looking after our energy levels — both of us enjoying a week off post-Christmas to get back into our routines and doing our best to avoid PDA. So instead of a brand-new episode today, we’re re-running one of our most popular and meaningful conversations. Thank you so much for your understanding as we take a breather — so please enjoy one of our favourite episodes from 2025.

This episode isn't just good, it's sofa king good!

Ever catch yourself - or someone else - repeating the same phrase again and again? Why do Neurodivergent people repeat words or phrases over and over? Is it just mimicry or something more meaningful? In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, hosts Jordan James and Simon Scott are once again joined by in-house therapist Ashley Bentley to dive into the fascinating world of echolalia, the often misunderstood speech pattern based on mimicry and repetition, a common autistic trait that relates to early language development, and is the backbone of neurodivergent communication.

Here's what we cover in this episode (THE MYSTERY POND):

• We share humorous examples and cultural references that illustrate the quirks of echolalia, the beauty and complexity of using echolalia as a form of expression and connection, while also addressing the potential for misunderstandings and social faux pas
• We explore the nuances of echolalia, particularly how it is influenced by comedy and pop culture.
• We share personal anecdotes about our favourite TV shows , catchphrases, and family dynamics, highlighting how these elements shape our communication styles but create complexities in social interactions with neurotypicals.
• From immediate repetition to delayed scripting, echolalia can serve important roles in learning, self-regulation, and expression for Autistic people and be a relief from when Alexithymia hits!

SUPPORT US THROUGH OUR SPONSERS:

Work with Ashley Bentley at Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy to break free from old patterns and start living with more clarity, confidence, and connection - https://bit.ly/ashleynde

Get an Autism and ADHD assessment in the UK with https://www.rtnmentalhealthsolutions.com/ Use the Discount Code RTN23 when you make your initial enquiry through the RTN website or the website portal.

Follow NDE on social media:

Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod

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YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience

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If you have ever enjoyed any of these episodes, could we please ask that you consider leaving a short a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey everyone! We’re taking our own advice this week and looking after our energy levels — both of us enjoying a week off post-Christmas to get back into our routines and doing our best to avoid PDA. So instead of a brand-new episode today, we’re re-running one of our most popular and meaningful conversations. Thank you so much for your understanding as we take a breather — so please enjoy one of our favourite episodes from 2025.

Struggling with everyday tasks as a neurodivergent adult? In this candid and insightful episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, hosts Jordan James and Simon Scott unpack the lived reality of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) — a form of demand sensitivity often misunderstood, dismissed, or mislabelled as laziness.

From dodging the dishwasher to putting off doctor’s appointments, and from procrastinating over paperwork to resisting even self-imposed goals, we explore:

• What PDA really is — and why the NHS still doesn’t formally recognise it
• How demands (even ones we place on ourselves) trigger an instant “no” response
• The link between PDA, trauma, anxiety, and the obsessive need for autonomy
• Why even fun things can feel impossible once they become obligations
• Practical examples: chores, eating, car washes, and the endless hurdle race of daily life
• Partner strategies — how reframing demands as favours can unlock cooperation
• Why small wins matter: celebrating every task completed as a genuine victory
• How to create accommodations that turn mountains back into molehills

Whether you’re living with PDA yourself, raising a neurodivergent child, or just want to understand why “simple” tasks aren’t simple at all, this conversation blends raw honesty, humour, and real-world strategies for navigating life when demand avoidance touches everything.

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you:

✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience

⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes

Our Sponsors:

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🧠 RTN Mental Health Solutions – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

• → Use code RTN23 for a discount when making your initial enquiry.

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
• Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
• YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
• TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

January often invites us to push harder, fix ourselves, or finally “get it right.” But for the neurodivergent brain and nervous system, real change requires a very different starting point.

In this opening episode of our January series, Ashley Bentley introduces a compassionate, neuroscience-informed framework for breakthrough inspired by Tony Robbins’ work and refined through years of therapeutic practice.

You’ll discover why lasting change doesn’t begin with strategy, willpower, or self-criticism — but with your inner state, your nervous system, and the stories you’re living inside. This episode gently reframes breakthrough as a learnable process, one that works with your sensitivity, depth, and pattern-recognition rather than against it.

The episode closes with a richly immersive guided meditation designed to help your system soften, settle, and prepare the ground for meaningful change.

This is the beginning of a different kind of January — one rooted in safety, self-trust, and real transformation.

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you:

✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience

⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes

Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
• Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
• YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
• TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott react to the news that Tom Holland is neurodivergent, and why that kind of representation actually matters. They discuss Tom Holland’s openness about dyslexia and ADHD, his experiences with creativity, and how embracing his inner child has helped him navigate both life and his craft.

The conversation also explores why characters like Spider-Man resonate so strongly with neurodivergent audiences, how many iconic characters are coded as neurodivergent, and why seeing well-known figures talk honestly about neurodivergence can be validating without tipping into toxic positivity.

They discuss:

• Tom Holland’s dyslexia and ADHD
• Creativity, acting, and neurodivergent thinking
• Embracing your inner child without infantilising yourself
• Neurodivergent-coded characters in film and TV
• Why Spider-Man resonates with neurodivergent audiences
• Healthy representation vs “inspiration” narratives
• Sobriety, coping, and self-awareness under pressure
• Why balanced conversations about neurodivergence matter

A warm, affirming Hot Topic about visibility, creativity, and why it matters when neurodivergent people see themselves reflected — without being turned into a headline or a stereotype.

Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
• Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
• YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
• TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you:

✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience

⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott reflect on the past year — sharing personal wins, hard-earned growth, and the moments that changed how they see themselves as autistic adults.

Together, they explore how connection, shared lived experience, and honest conversation have helped them move forward — both personally and through the podcast itself. They also reflect on the growth of The Neurodivergent Experience, the power of community, and what it means to advocate without toxic positivity.

They discuss:

• Releasing long-held anger and emotional regulation
• Imposter syndrome and learning to acknowledge achievements
• Buying a home, building stability, and redefining success
• The power of community and shared lived experience
• Advocacy, self-belief, and breaking limiting narratives
• PDA, alexithymia, and personal growth through conversation
• How the podcast has supported both hosts and listeners
• Why neurodivergent people are more capable than they’re told

A reflective, hopeful conversation about growth, healing, and why believing in yourself can change everything.

Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
• Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
• YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
• TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you:

✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience

⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the year draws to a close, many of us feel the pull toward change - resolutions, goals, and the quiet pressure to become someone “better” next year. But what if real change begins with meeting yourself differently?

In this final Mindful Monday of the year, Ashley Bentley explores why self-acceptance - not self-criticism - is the true foundation for lasting transformation. Through grounded psychology, gentle neuroscience, and the wisdom of Ram Dass, this episode invites you to step out of self-judgement and into appreciation for your full humanity.

You’ll hear why New Year’s resolutions so often fail, how the neurodivergent nervous system responds to pressure and demand, and why acceptance is not giving up - but creating the conditions where change becomes possible.

The episode closes with a deeply nourishing loving-kindness (metta) meditation, offering compassion and care to all parts of you - the seen and unseen, the strong and the tender - just as you are.

This is an invitation to end the year softly, and to begin again from a place of kindness, honesty, and self-respect.

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you:

✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience

⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes

Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
• Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
• YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
• TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott examine how age limits, apprenticeships, and “youth-focused” career pathways quietly exclude neurodivergent adults — particularly those diagnosed later in life or whose paths didn’t follow a linear timeline.

They explore why these systems penalise late bloomers, how autistic and ADHD people are expected to “get it right” the first time despite growing up unsupported or misunderstood, and why burnout, delayed development, and real-world capacity are so often ignored in favour of rigid age-based judgments.

They discuss:

• Apprenticeship age limits and youth-only career schemes
• Late diagnosis and delayed life milestones
• Why neurodivergent development isn’t linear
• Burnout, missed opportunities, and starting again later in life
• Why inclusion must account for neurodivergent timelines

A grounded, validating conversation about work, access, and why it’s never “too late” — even when systems pretend it is.

Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
• Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
• YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
• TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you:

✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience

⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.