The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast
I’m Paul, the host of The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast. I’m not a clinician, researcher, or professional expert — and that’s intentional. I come to this work as a neurodivergent individual with lived experience. I know what it feels like to navigate systems that weren’t designed for how your mind works, to question your own capacity because of labels, and to search for language that actually reflects who you are, not just how you’re measured. This podcast exists because too many conversations about neurodiversity happen about us, rather than with us. How This Podcast Is Different Unlike many podcasts in this space, The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast isn’t built on credentials or clinical authority. It’s built on listening, reflection, and shared humanity. I don’t position myself as an expert with answers. I show up as a facilitator of stories — asking curious, grounded questions from the perspective of someone who lives this reality every day. That means: Conversations aren’t rushed or overly polished Guests aren’t reduced to diagnoses or achievements Complexity, contradiction, and uncertainty are welcome Lived experience is treated as valid knowledge Whether I’m speaking with educators, parents, authors, creatives, researchers, or other neurodivergent individuals, the focus is always the same: seeing the person before the label. Why Lived Experience Matters Here Being neurodivergent shapes how I listen, how I notice patterns, and how I hold space. It allows me to ask questions that come from recognition rather than assumption — and to create conversations that feel safer, slower, and more honest. This isn’t a podcast about fixing people. It’s a podcast about understanding ourselves, our systems, and each other more clearly. If you’re looking for expert opinions, you’ll find many excellent shows. If you’re looking for real conversations, grounded in lived experience and mutual respect, you’re in the right place. The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast — Embracing Every Mind. Sharing Every Voice. Website: https://www.neurodiversityvoices.com Follow Us On Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn: @neurodiversityvoicespodcast Visit our merch store: https://www.neurodiversityvoices.com/category/all-products Your feedback means the world to us. Please rate and leave a comment on your favourite podcast app so we can continue amplifying neurodivergent voices.
Episodes
Guest: Jeff Brown. What does it truly mean to see a child — not just their behaviour, but the brain and experiences underneath it?
In this episode of The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, host Paul Cruz is joined by educator and author Jeff Brown, a high school teacher with over 25 years of experience and lived experience as an autistic and ADHD adult. Together, they explore how slowing down our perception can transform classr...
Guest: Lynn Greenberg is a former family law attorney turned children’s author. She shares the powerful story behind the Creative Cab Company, the award-winning book series she co-created with her son. Lynn opens up about advocating for neurodivergent kids, recognizing early signs of dyslexia and ADHD, and transforming her family’s journey into characters like Robbie the Dyslexic Taxi and Susie the ADHD Taxi—a heart-openin...
Guest: Kiran Rodriguez joins Paul to share the personal story and mission behind NeuroMatch—a new platform that creates safer, Neurodiversity-Affirming spaces for dating, friendship, and community. We delve into feature choices such as chat prompts, voice notes, dyslexia-friendly colour settings, and verification; why starting local in Hampshire is important; and how the team is addressing safety, moderation, and crisis si...
Guest: Andrew Letchuk—an autistic, disabled, and neurodivergent advocate, writer, and podcaster—to explore disability justice, representation, and what true access can look like in everyday life.
Andrew shares his journey through special education, diagnosis, and post-secondary accommodations, and how those experiences shaped his identity as a disabled person and pushed him into advocacy. Together, they unpack the differenc...
Guest: Nellie Nakhel — author, advocate, and founder of Lovely Life Library, a creative space where children’s stories celebrate neurodiversity and inclusion.
Diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, Nellie transformed what once felt like a barrier into her greatest creative strength. Through her storytelling and teaching, she’s helping kids and adults alike see that thinking differently isn’t a limitation — it’s a superpowe...
Guest: Dr. Gregory James Skinner, M.D., a Calgary-based family physician and leading advocate for accessible adult autism diagnosis.
Dr. Skinner shares his remarkable journey through international medical training, his personal connection to autism, and the challenges he faced building one of the few medical practices in Canada specializing in adult autism assessment. His story highlights the urgent need for better acce...
Guest: Cynthia Miller-Lautman – Occupational Therapist, Educator, and Host of Swinging Upside Down
In this episode of The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, host Paul Cruz sits down with occupational therapist Cynthia Miller-Lautman, whose work bridges sensory science and neurodiversity-affirming practice.
Cynthia shares how early clinical experiences, parenthood, and work in diverse communities taught her to “watch the person” ...
Guests: Gabe Galand and Stacey Smith — two individuals who found clarity and self-acceptance later in life through their ADHD and autism diagnoses.
Gabe, a producer from Vancouver who grew up in France, shares how years of being misunderstood shaped his sense of self — and how an ADHD diagnosis at 29 helped him rewrite his story.
Stacey, diagnosed autistic at 35, reads a heartfelt letter to her younger self about masking, s...
Guest: Nuriye Sinem Berthier. With a rich background in chemistry, pharmacology, genetics, and biochemistry, and personal experience as a parent navigating autism, Sinem offers a unique lens on child development, neurodiversity, and the microbiome.
She introduces her Autism Cascade Hypothesis, highlighting how early-life environmental factors—including birth method, feeding choices, and gut health—may influence neurodevelo...
Guest: Michelle Steiner, a writer, photographer, paraeducator, and disability advocate who lives with an invisible disability.
In this powerful and inspiring episode of the Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, hosts Paul Cruz and Gino Akbari sit down with Michelle Steiner.
Michelle shares her deeply personal journey of being told what she couldn’t do—only to go on and earn her college degree, publish widely, advocate for students ...
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Guests: Janelle Peters (Mental Health Counsellor) and Amy Bujak (Social Worker) from Coast Mental Health’s Brain Training Team. Together, they explore how cognitive remediation and neuroplasticity enable individuals to overcome challenges related to attention, memory, and executive functioning. From practical compensatory strategies like mental retracing and task linking, to stigma-smashing art pop-ups and the power of gro...
Guest: Samanta Merz, poet and mental health advocate. Samantha shares her journey of discovering poetry at 19, how her neurodivergence influences her creative process, and how writing became a powerful outlet for expressing emotions like loneliness and resilience. From her published collections, Kazoo and Meadowlite, to her newest book, Only You Will Do, Samantha opens up about the challenges and triumphs of being a neurod...
Guest: Nicola Rose—an accomplished director, producer, and writer—to discuss her new feature film Magnetosphere.
The film follows 13-year-old Maggie as she navigates her first crush, a big family move, and her unique way of experiencing the world through synesthesia, all set against the backdrop of the 1997 Hale-Bopp comet. With a cast that includes Colin Mochrie, Patrick McKenna, Debra McGrath, Tara Strong, Steven He, and ...
Guests: Jenna Ignaczak, Malka Finkelstein, and Maddie Sardone — Student leaders from the Neurodiversity Students Association (NDSA) at Toronto Metropolitan University discuss what it truly means to be a neurodivergent student in post-secondary education today.
In this powerful episode of The Neurodiversity Voices, host Paul Cruz hands the mic to Hussein and Zion, two university students from the Venture for Canada entrepren...
Guest: Angus Chan turned his early academic struggles into a mission to redesign education for everyone. He shares his deeply personal journey through higher education as a neurodivergent student and how those early struggles shaped his commitment to equity, inclusion, and educational reform.
We explore the evolving nature of autism understanding and why honouring cultural identity, holistic wellness, and student voice ...
We explore the intersection of leadership, inclusion, and informed decision-making within higher education. Building on our previous conversation with Dr. Craig Wells — where we unpacked self-discovery and communication in neurodivergent experiences — this episode shifts the lens to institutional systems.
Join us as we examine how leadership philosophy influences access, belonging, and the success of neurodivergent stud...
Guest: Dr. Craig Wells, D.O., explores the complex realities of neurodivergent living, emphasizing the lifelong journey of self-discovery, healing from trauma, and reclaiming personal identity. Drawing from his lived experience and professional practice, Dr. Wells discusses how effective communication, intentional parenting, and burnout recovery can transform the lives of neurodivergent individuals and their families.
Heali...
Guest: Emily Fitzpatrick, a CBC video journalist, candidly shares her personal journey with ADHD and broader neurodiversity. She explores how embracing self-awareness and choosing grace over guilt transformed her relationships, workplace experiences, and mental health.
Emily reflects on the challenges of a late diagnosis, the impact of executive dysfunction and rejection sensitivity, and how these shaped her path toward aut...
Guest: Becca Lory Hector reflects on how her late autism diagnosis at 36 transformed her life and deepened her commitment to advocacy amid today’s challenging political climate. She discusses the pervasive stigma and ableism that create barriers in professional and social spaces, and why inclusive environments are essential for genuine belonging.
Becca shares insights from her Self-Defined Living Course, designed to help au...
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