
The Neurodiverging Podcast
How do we create a neurodiversity-affirming society where people with all kinds of brains don't just live, but thrive? Neurodiverging serves practical strategies to improve our lives by amplifying the voices of neurodivergent leaders and thinkers, centering social justice. We're all in this together.Hosted by Danielle Sullivan. Learn more at http://neurodiverging.com or http://patreon.com/neurodiverging.
Latest episodes

Aug 17, 2023 • 49min
[Replay] Getting Started with Mindfulness for Neurodivergent Families
On today's summer replay, meet Dr. Rabia Subhani, neuropsychologist, certified mindfulness teacher (many times over!), and mother of an autistic child. Rabia is the creator of Mindful Village®, a secular eight to twelve week program geared towards the parents and caregivers of neurodiverse children.On this episode of Neurodiverging, Dr. Rabia and I are discussing what mindfulness is, how it works, why it's a good fit for many neurodiverse families, and why parents need to learn to practice mindfulness before they can teach it to their children. Plus, Rabia offers many examples of exercises you can do at home with your family!+ Learn more about Mindful Village®: https://dsullivan--mindful-living-llc.thrivecart.com/foundations-essentials-package/+ Buy Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thích Nhất Hạnh on Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/4824/9780553351392 | Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qsALIo+ Need a Hoberman sphere to practice mindful breathing? Check out this one: https://amzn.to/2TEzJwL+ See show notes on Neurodiverging.com: https://neurodiverging.com/mindfulness-neurodiverse-families-dr-rabia-subhani/+ Become a Patron and get behind-the-scenes goodies, self-help and coaching resources, and more: https://www.patreon.com/neurodiverging Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aug 3, 2023 • 46min
[Replay] How One Woman Made Classrooms More Accessible, Nationwide
My guest today is Suzanne Rupp DeMallie, who’s recently published an amazing book: Can You Hear Me Now?: Join the Conversation to Make Public Education a Better Choice. As a parent to a child with auditory processing deficit, Suzanne fought a nationwide battle against bureaucracy to get teacher microphones into classrooms throughout the United States.We're discussing her family's experience with auditory processing disorder, practical ideas for supporting kids dealing with the issue at home and at school, and what it was like fighting for microphones in the classroom at the national level.Check Neurodiverging out on Patreon to support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/neurodivergingBuy Can You Hear Me Now?: Join the Conversation to Make Public Education a Better Choice on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2P7cSbr | Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/4824/9781544517964 | or ask for it at your local bookstore.Suzanne's website is full of fantastic resources: https://suzannedemallie.com/Shownotes and a transcript are up at https://neurodiverging.com/auditory-processing-disorder-at-school-with-suzanne-demallie/ now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 20, 2023 • 36min
[Replay] The Diagnosis Journeys of Neurodivergent Women
Misdiagnosis after misdiagnosis. Disbelief from doctors and mental health professionals after you explain your symptoms. Being shuffled from one doctor to the next with no help in sight. Millions of neurodiverse women struggle everyday to get support from their healthcare and mental health professionals that actually improves their lives. So many of us are not getting our health needs met, and are falling into more anxiety and depression because of it. What could society do better to help us?Today, I am honored to present interviews with Lauren Melissa @autienelle, Dominica @the_ADHD_dynosaur, and Meg @arfidawareness to discuss their experiences getting help from medical and mental health systems for themselves and their families, what worked and what was a disaster, and what could be done to help neurodiverse people.- Hit the subscribe button to make sure you are notified when there’s a new episode: https://mailchi.mp/66e2de2c4b59/signuphere- Check Neurodiverging out on Patreon, and support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/neurodiverging- See Show Notes for this episode here: https://neurodiverging.com/take-better-care-neurodiverse-women/- Find Neurodiverging on Bookshop here: https://bookshop.org/shop/neurodiverging Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 6, 2023 • 54min
[Replay] Executive Function Life Hacks and Spirituality for Neurodivergent Folks with Rev. Catharine Clarenbach
I’m honored to be joined on this week’s episode by Reverend Catharine Clarenbach.Rev. Catharine is a white, fat, cis woman, a sovereign queer femme with ADHD, bipolar disorder, well-managed mental illness, and trauma from sexual assault.She is also an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister and an Initiate in the Tradition of Stone Circle Wicca (USA). She spent four years in discernment with an order of Roman Catholic religious sisters, and is trained and credentialed as a spiritual director.In this interview, we’re talking about creating safe spiritual and religious spaces for autistic, ADHD, and other neurodivergent folks; our favorite house cleaning hacks for folks with executive dysfunction like us; and, how to keep a fruitful, fulfilling relationship with a partner who is a different neurotype than you. Thank you to my patrons!- Hit the subscribe button to make sure you are notified when there’s a new episode: https://mailchi.mp/66e2de2c4b59/signuphere- Check Neurodiverging out on Patreon, and support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/neurodiverging- See Show Notes for this episode here: https://neurodiverging.com/creating-safe-spiritual-spaces-for-neurodivergent-folks-with-rev-catharine-clarenbach/- Buy ADD-Friendly Ways to Organize Your Life on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3qDuzMs / Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/4824/9781138190740- Find Neurodiverging on Bookshop here: https://bookshop.org/shop/neurodiverging--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neurodiverging/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 22, 2023 • 42min
[Replay] Building Your Emotional Toolkit with Autistic Therapist Kathy Carter
On today's episode, I'm talking with guest Kathy Carter, an autistic cognitive behavioral hypnotherapist who works with gender diverse and neurodiverse clients. We will be talking about: - the type of hypnotherapy Kathy practices and why it's useful for neurodivergent people - what emotional literacy and emotional regulation are and how to improve your own and your family's with some really great practical tips - how to assess whether a medical health provider or a mental health provider is neurodiversity-friendly and neurodiversity affirming.Learn more about Kathy Carter and her practice at arrivetherapy.co.uk and follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourholistictherapist/Watch the video version of this podcast here: https://youtu.be/aI93yULs5TgFull transcript, show notes, and further resources available here: https://neurodiverging.com/building-your-emotional-toolkit-with-autistic-therapist-kathy-carter/Want special access to Patrons-Only Downloads, and many other perks? Consider pledging $5 or $10 a month to fund the Neurodiverging Podcast. Find out more and pledge today at patreon.com/neurodiverging.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neurodiverging/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 8, 2023 • 23min
Why Do People Think ADHD Is A Moral Deficiency?
Today, we’re continuing our discussion on the history of ADHD in the early modern era, working from the 1850s through the 1980s. After this episode, when you hear someone say ADHD, you’ll have some idea of the historical and cultural context behind it, and you’ll know why some people think ADHD is just the result of us “not trying hard enough.”Thank you to our Patrons for funding this podcast. Find out more and pledge today at patreon.com/neurodiverging.Our sincere thanks to: Jacqueline, RW Painter, Mashbooq, Galactic Fay, Estevanny, Theresa, Brianne, Angel, Megan, Cee, Shilo, Valerie, Joseph, Margie, Winnie, and all of our other patrons.Show Notes & Sources: https://www.neurodiverging.com/the-history-of-attention-deficit-disorder/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neurodiverging/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 25, 2023 • 26min
Where Does the Stigma Against ADHD Come From?
Why is ADHD still so heavily stigmatized in our culture, when it's one of the most well-understood neurodivergences out there? We need to dig into the history of ADHD to understand where this stigma comes from and how to fight against it in our day-to-day lives.In today’s episode, we’re covering:
Theophrastus’ “Obtuse Man,” an ancient example of a person with ADHD traits
the medieval tie between spiritual health and mental health
Sir Alexander Crichton’s work, which changed the course of neurodivergent history at the very turn of the 19th century
Our sincere thanks to: Jacqueline, RW Painter, Mashbooq, Galactic Fay, Estevanny, Theresa, Brianne, Angel, Megan, Cee, Shilo, Valerie, Joseph, Margie, Winnie, and all of our other patrons.Thank you to our Patrons for funding this podcast. Find out more and pledge today at patreon.com/neurodiverging.Full show notes and sources: https://www.neurodiverging.com/the-history-of-adhd-part-1/--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neurodiverging/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 snips
May 11, 2023 • 38min
What You Need to Know to Advocate for Disability Justice
Dr. Bibi Pirayesh has spent the last 15 years working with hundreds of children, parents, teachers, and schools as an educational therapist to enhance the lives of children with learning disabilities. While the emphasis of her work is on remediating learning disabilities in a one-on-one setting, she is also a sought after community advocate for children and families around learning rights. In 2020, Dr. Pirayesh launched The Difference is Not Deficit Project to help promote the importance of seeing learning disability as a social justice issue. Full show notes and transcript here: https://www.neurodiverging.com/what-you-need-to-know-to-advocate-for-disability-justice/ ________________________ Danielle Sullivan is an autistic parent, the owner of Neurodiverging Coaching, and the host of The Neurodiverging Podcast. + Learn about life and parent coaching: https://neurodiverging.com/life-coaching/ + Listen to the Neurodiverging Podcast: https://neurodiverging.com/podcast-index/ + Join the Patreon to receive members-only content like self-help worksheets, recordings of our neurodiversity-related classes, live coaching and class discounts, and more! https://www.patreon.com/neurodiverging + Find me on social @neurodiverging. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 27, 2023 • 56min
Neurodiversity in the Kink Community
Today, we're interviewing Jake Maxwell, a neurodivergent DJ active in the kink community, who's working to make night club and kink spaces friendly for neurodivergent people. Jake co-created LOBO (Lights Out, Barks Out), a monthly event held for the kink community with a focus on welcoming everyone, as a way to encourage people to break free from societal expectations and create a space to be themselves. In today’s interview, we’re covering: - what strategies actually work to make busy events accessible for neurodivergent people - the challenges of ensuring consent in the kink space, especially for neurodivergent individuals - why we think there's so much overlap among the autistic community and the kink community Show notes and transcript available here: https://www.neurodiverging.com/neurodiversity-in-the-kink-community/ Learn more about Jake and LOBO here: https://jakemaxwellproductions.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 13, 2023 • 24min
Living Life with Dyspraxia with Rosemary Richings
Today, Rosemary Richings and Danielle discuss Rosemary's experience with dyspraxia and her work as a freelance writer, editor, and public speaker in the area of neurodiversity and disability. We're also talking about Rosemary's book, Stumbling Through Space and Time: Living Life with Dyspraxia, which uses stories from her own life to help people understand the condition in simple language. In today's interview, we're covering: - what dyspraxia is and some of the symptoms Rosemary's experienced - Rosemary's advocacy around creating accessible workplaces for dyspraxics - what accommodations can help dyspraxic folks at school and at work Show notes and more here: https://www.neurodiverging.com/living-life-with-dyspraxia-with-rosemary-richings/ *Check out Rosemary's book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/41NJKpP *Or Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/4824/9781839972690 *If you purchase through these links, Neurodiverging may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neurodiverging/message Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices