Do you dream of flying?

Of becoming an aviator?

If you’re diagnosed with ADHD, that dream could be effectively over. The door is probably firmly closed.

And if you’re a young person with that ambition and later receive a diagnosis, it’s closed before you even get a chance to try. It’s far too difficult to overcome the stigma.

ADHD is classed as a disability in this context, and the system still appears to treat it as an automatic disqualifier.

Which raises a bigger question. How many incredible aviators are already flying with ADHD, undiagnosed or unsupported, because seeking a diagnosis would end their careers?

How many feel they can’t be honest about their own neurodiversity?

That feels archaic given what we now understand about ADHD, focus, performance, and capability.

On the next episode of ADHD: Beyond the Label, Dr Phil Anderton PhD and John Reynolds are joined by Beth Long and Squadron Leader Mark “Suggs” Sugden from the Mark Long Trust.

After BBMF fighter pilot Squadron Leader Mark Long tragically lost his life in the crash of Spitfire Mk356 on 25th May 2024, his widow Beth and family established the Mark Long Trust.

His legacy now lives on through flying scholarships and access to aviation delivered in partnership with organisations like Flying Scholarship for Disabled People, opening doors that were previously closed.

This episode isn’t just about aviation. It’s about fairness. About outdated systems and dated thinking. And about whether we are brave enough to rethink what “capable” really means.

Some doors shouldn’t be closed by a label.

In this powerful and insightful episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, hosts Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds sit down with the remarkable Dr Carly Jones MBE FRSA—an internationally respected autistic advocate, policy leader, author, and advisor who has spent nearly two decades driving meaningful change for autistic people across education, healthcare, government, justice, aviation, business, and beyond.

Across this conversation, we explore:

• The intersection of ADHD and Autism and why understanding both matters

• Gendered experiences in Autism and why diagnosis is often missed in women and girls

• Safety, safeguarding, and the realities autistic people face in education, healthcare, and society

• Carly’s landmark advocacy work—from addressing the United Nations to influencing UK and international policy

• Hope, resilience, and what real inclusion should look like

With honesty, warmth, expertise, and passion, Carly offers an unmissable blend of professional insight and lived experience, inviting us to look far beyond labels and towards genuine understanding and change.

In this episode of ADHD Beyond The Label, Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds talk to Lou Woods.

In this insightful interview the trio discuss personal experiences with ADHD, exploring professional challenges, career journeys from DJing to high-profile events, and the importance of understanding neurodiversity in workplace settings. We challenge stereotypical gender perceptions of ADHD symptoms and advocate for supportive work environments.

In this episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds talk to AuDHDer, scientist, storyteller, and founder of ADHD Girls, Dr. Samantha Hiew.

After achieving a doctorate in cancer research, Samantha was diagnosed with ADHD at 40, after years of feeling lost in a world that didn’t quite fit.

In this episode we discuss a personal journey through scientific research, exploring how understanding genetics and neurodiversity can provide insights into human experiences, particularly focusing on ADHD, autism, and the challenges women face in professional and personal contexts.

In this episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds talk with radio presenter, DJ and BBC Make a Difference Award recipient Ryan Swain.

"ADHD is a tornado - and you can get lost in the middle of it" is how Ryan explains ADHD when he speaks to kids in schools today. What makes this so powerful is that no one was talking like this when Ryan was a pupil.

Instead of understanding, he experienced exclusion.

Instead of support, he was labelled.

Now, Ryan pours his energy into giving young people what he never had - language, understanding, and permission to learn differently.

ADHD isn't bad behaviour. It isn't a choice. It's a neurobiological condition - and when it goes unrecognised, the damage can last far beyond the classroom.

This conversation reflects not just lived experience, but the impact of turning adversity into purpose - becoming what was missing for others.

‘Neurodivergence isn't a brake on progress - it might actually be the engine behind it.’

In this episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Dr Phil Anderton & John Reynolds talk with Dex Hunter-Torricke.

Dex has worked directly with some of the biggest names in tech, Eric Schmidt at Google, Elon Musk at SpaceX, Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook.

He's seen up close how innovation accelerates when neurodivergent thinkers are not only welcomed, but empowered.

Dex believes that all but one of his big-tech bosses were likely neurodivergent - and in Silicon Valley, that's not something people hide. It's often a headline strength.

Neurodivergence is credited as a driver of creation, disruption, and problem-solving. (Of course, hyper-focus and intense work cultures can also lead to burnout - a conversation for another day).

But outside that ecosystem, especially in the UK, neurodivergence is still too often masked, misunderstood, or surrounded by stigma & shame.

And that has consequences:

• ideas unspoken

• innovation lost

• potential untapped

There's so much we could learn from the way Silicon Valley elevates difference rather than burying it under rigid protocols and one-size-fits-all HR performance reviews.

Today, alongside recently joining the HM Treasury board, Dec is using his platform, experience and extensive networks to take n some of humanities most urgent challenges.

"I've always known I have ADHD"

Steven Thai aka 'The prawn King' is this week's guest on ADHD Beyond the Label.

Having met hosts John Reynolds & Dr Phil Anderton at Ideas Fest and sharing his back story, Steven was invited to be part of this filming series.

We discuss the personal journey of understanding ADHD, exploring how unique traits like crisis management and social adaptability can be viewed as strengths, and the ongoing process of self-improvement and leadership development.

The resilience and relentless drive to survive and protect family is both inspiring and humbling.

This is a conversation not to miss....

"To relax, I need to go to the gym, then my mind can be still."In this episode Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds speak with Ryan HopkinsRyan has ADHD. It's a fundamental part of how he thinks, moves, leads, and creates impact.Getting diagnosed with ADHD wasn't about having a label; it was about understanding himself better, so he could show up as the best version of himself.That self-understanding has allowed him to be more effective with his team, to help them fly, and to create the kind of impact that genuinely shifts culture.He'll tell you openly that he wants things done yesterday, and that he can rub people up the wrong way.But that same energy, pace, and restlessness are exactly what enable him to challenge outdated systems and deliver change that actually lands ~He's been called a disruptor, a non-conformist - this is a guy that did a Ted X talk sitting on a toilet on stage.The truth is, it's working for him And working for corporates because he's reframing what leadership, pace, and impact really look like.His relentless commitment, combined with the strength he shows in being vulnerable about his mental health, has been genuinely inspirational.Ryan is a two-time Ted Speaker, best selling author, and a genuine force for good in reshaping mental health in the corporate world.