Neurodivergent Report

Jonathan Bernstein [investigative journalist, crisis-management expert, and founder of The Snark Knight] joins us to talk late-life autism diagnosis, justice-driven activism, intuition as a superpower, and why everyone is “big enough to do something.”

Jonathan shares his unconventional path—from military intelligence to investigative journalism to 40 years in crisis-management PR—before receiving an autism and bipolar diagnosis in h...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, we had an energetic chat with Ryann from @Support_The_Spectrum, a speech-language pathologist specializing in neurodivergent communication!

Curious what’s inside?

• What is Gestalt Language Processing? & how is it different from analytic language processing?
• What does PDA [Persistent Drive for Autonomy | aka Pathological Demand Avoidance] have to do with nervous-system dysregulat...

Meet Rebecca Irby, Founder of PEAC Institute!

What can we learn from her story of cross-cultural connection?

Together, we chat about cultural identity, empathy, and the neurodivergent experience through her lens as educator and UN peace advocate. (Peace, Education, Art & Culture).

Curious what’s inside?

- Empathy must be taught — but how?

- Psychological safety is the foundation for growth and collaboration.

- Storytelling and commu...

Do our brains and guts actually talk to each other???

In this episode, we’re sitting down with Annika from Nutrimind Lab to unpack how nutrition plays a pivotal role in ADHD & behavioral health. We explore everything from omega-3s and inflammation to interoception and hunger signals.

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with ADHD or have been navigating this your whole life, this conversation is for you.

🔍 Curious what’s inside:

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, Sarah and JQ welcome back Sol Smith, certified autism specialist, author of The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery, and founder of the NeuroSpicy Community!

Curious what’s inside:

• Autonomy and choice are essential for neurodivergent learners

• PDA as a drive for autonomy rather than “demand avoidance”

• “There’s no such thing as an academic emergency…”

• Supporting kids’ special interests ...

Come meet Brett, the AuDHD Boss!

We’re talking about workplace accommodations; both how to ask for them and what to even try!!!

Curious about what's inside:

• The realities of neurodivergence in professional spaces, namely the impacts to the way we show up at work.

• Unpacking the importance of accommodations and how/what to ask for

• Why open communication and psychological safety are essential for neurodivergent success.

T...

Dr. Kristen Eccleston is known online as The Neurodiverse Teacher, and we are digging back in to accommodations at school for our neurodivergent kids!

Curious what's inside:

• Schools over-discipline instead of supporting the mental health of EVERY child
• What undiagnosed mental health issues (ADHD, autism, OCD, and anxiety) look in the classroom

• What parents and students can ask for (but don’t know they can!)

Kristen...

Supporting young adults on the spectrum often means looking beyond traditional therapy.

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, I sit down with Patty McCallister, a counselor and autism coach who went back to school to better support her son and the neurodivergent young people in her life.

Patty shares how her work blends mental health counseling, LifeMap coaching through AANE (Asperger/Autism Network), and creative approa...

Dr. Nechama Sorscher is back to help us better advocate for our kids at schoolLife as the parent of a neurodivergent child is already overwhelming… but now we’re back at school!

Are you ready for the IEP/504 meetings where we’ll make decisions that impact your child’s entire school year?!

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, we’re talking candidly about the challenges and opportunities that arise when advocating for you...

A Canadian walked into the Pentagon and gave a talk on workplace accessibility & inclusion...

Being diagnosed as autistic at just six years old shaped Sydney Elaine Butler’s path in ways she’s still unpacking today.

From navigating education and career barriers to advocating for accessibility in HR, Sydney shares how lived experience fuels her work.

Public speaking, social media, and authenticity also come into play — with Sydney...

What is it like living life as a highly sensitive person?

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, we sit down with Karolina, a wordsmith and translator from Poland.

We dig into the science & lived experience, and how cultural perceptions of sensitivity can overlap with the neurodivergent experience.

✨ Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of depression, fatigue, and suicide attempts. Please listen with care....

Neurodivergent life often means navigating a world that wasn’t built with us in mind. But what if the key to better mental health isn’t just about thinking differently but functioning differently?

How does occupational therapy fit into this? In this episode, OT and ADHD coach Jamie Cutino joins us to unpack sensory needs, executive functioning, and a real simple guide to accommodations.

Curious about what's inside:

• Occu...

Ready to Liquidate The Billionaires?! WE ARE!!!

This week, The Propaganda Factory joins The Neurodivergent Report to teach us about propaganda and why it matters so much for neurodivergent folks.

We also dug into how repetition, storytelling, and vulnerability are used in propaganda (both to manipulate and to mobilize) & why neurodivergents can be especially impacted.

Curious about what’s inside?

• Republican troll turned radical...

The workplace should enable ALL people to thrive, not just neurotypicals. Join us for this conversation with Susan Fitzell, author of Neurodiversity in the Workplace and long-time educator, coach, and international speaker.

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Report, Susan shares her journey from the classroom to corporate consulting, why workplace design needs to move beyond “accommodations” toward inclusive flexibility for all, ...

Liam Saranich joins The Neurodivergent Report to lounge around & have a funny conversation about growing up with a learning disability, finding a voice through podcasting, and turning fear into fuel.

Curious about what’s inside?

• living with auditory perception disorder
• sensory processing quirks (spoiler: soda is a no-go)
• learning to feel it to heal it

However you are able to engage, thanks for being here!

Love, Sarah 💜

<...

In this follow-up conversation, Abbie J returns to The Neurodivergent Report to go deeper into the science of executive functioning!

This time we’re zooming in on the Default Mode Network (DMN) and the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

Curious what's inside?

• What the Default Mode Network is & why you should care (THINK: focus, memory & emotional regulation)

• How emotional salience and working memory affect attention and r...

Abbie J is back on The Neurodivergent Report to talk all things mind-body connection and the somatic experience of neurodivergence.

Curious what's inside?

• What heart rate variability and pupil size can tell us about neurodivergence
• Emotional regulation & the autonomic nervous system
• Personal reflections on how our collaboration is growing & how we’re learning to hold space for uncertainty

YOU WILL FIND VALUE...

Abbie Jedwab joins The Neurodivergent Report to teach us about polyvagal theory and its implications for managing life with ADHD, ASD, C-PTSD, and more!

Whether you're familiar with the term or not, you can expect to learn practical steps to feeling better in your body.

Curious about what's inside?

• Neuro-affirming coaching framework
• EMDR & bilateral stimulation exercises
• Personal connections & origin stories
<...

What started as a simple podcast swap turned into a beautiful new friendship!

This interview episode of The Neurodivergent Report is basically just three creatives hanging out! Featuring Gen X artist and peer burnout coach Leigh Ann Marlar, aka Gal, with hosts Sarah Russell (Millennial, aka Say-Rah!) and JQ Walker (Gen Z, aka QG Patooj 💜).

Curious what’s inside:

• A breakdown of the difference between empathy and compassion

• Discussi...