Send us Fan Mail

In this first episode of the SEND IT Summer Series, Claire tackles the myth that “neurodivergent people are bad at communication.” She explores how ND communication isn’t a deficit — it’s a different communication culture built on clarity, honesty, and directness. Claire shares her own experience of being told she was “too blunt” and the impact of shrinking herself to fit neurotypical expectations, noting: “I got smaller, I talked less, until I didn’t recognise myself.”

The episode breaks down the science behind communication differences, why workplaces often mislabel ND communication as “bad,” and how miscommunication is usually a mismatch — not a failure. Claire offers practical reframes, including sharing preferences openly (like adding them to a Teams status: “I have included this on my Teams status at work.”).

Listeners are invited to notice one moment this week where they communicated clearly in their own way — and celebrate it. A short, warm, myth‑busting episode reminding us that difference isn’t a deficit, and ND communication is brilliant, valid, and worth recognising.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

The summer holidays can be a time of fun, freedom, and family memories—but for neurodivergent individuals and families, they can also bring disruption, overwhelm, and exhaustion. In this episode of SEND it. Brains at Work, we explore the realities of navigating six weeks without the usual routines.

From managing sensory overload and emotional regulation to balancing work, childcare, expectations, and your own wellbeing, we share practical strategies, honest experiences, and simple ideas that can make the holidays feel more manageable. Whether you're autistic, ADHD, dyslexic, have Tourette's, or are supporting a neurodivergent child or loved one, this episode is packed with reassurance and realistic advice.

Join us for an honest conversation that reminds you there is no such thing as a perfect summer—only finding what works for your unique brain and your family.

Because surviving the summer doesn't mean doing it all—it means doing what works for you.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Masking helps many neurodivergent people navigate workplaces, social situations and everyday life—but it comes at a cost. If you've ever got home feeling completely drained, overwhelmed, or like you've been "hit by a bus", you're not imagining it.

In this practical 10-minute episode, we explore why masking places such a heavy load on the brain and nervous system, and share a simple five-step recovery toolkit you can use after work, social events or any situation where you've had to perform.

We'll cover:
• Why masking is so mentally and physically exhausting
• How to regulate your nervous system after masking
• Sensory decompression techniques that really help
• Emotional unmasking without guilt
• Gentle ways to restore dopamine
• Creating a re-entry routine that helps you transition back to being yourself

Because recovery isn't a luxury—it's an essential part of protecting your wellbeing.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

As the days get longer and brighter, many of us feel happier, more energetic, and more social—but what's happening in the brain? In this episode, we explore the powerful role dopamine plays in shaping our behaviour during the summer months and how increased sunlight can influence our mood, motivation, and reward-seeking tendencies.

We take a closer look at the links between dopamine and food, alcohol, and drug use, examining why cravings and overindulgence can feel more tempting at this time of year. Most importantly, we share simple, practical strategies to help you enjoy the best of summer while staying balanced, mindful, and in control.

Whether you're curious about the science of pleasure or looking for ways to support your wellbeing this season, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable tips to help you make the most of the summer months.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

A single offhand comment can echo for years, and in workplaces it often hides in plain sight as “feedback”, “banter”, or “just how things are done”. We talk openly about how stigma shows up in real working life, from social stereotypes to internalised self-talk, and why micro stigma is so damaging. When you start making yourself smaller to fit in, that is not a personality flaw, it is a signal the environment is asking you to mask.

We also dig into the questions that cut through the noise: who is the workplace designed for, who has to mask to survive, and who gets labelled difficult. From there we tackle the strategy gap that so many organisations fall into, plenty of awareness and not enough follow-through. Neuroinclusion is not a shiny programme; it is everyday practice: clear communication, psychological safety, flexible work design, autonomy, and leadership that listens and then actually changes something.

Along the way, we share lived experiences of being told our natural communication is “too much”, “too blunt” or “too formal”, and how that can knock confidence and increase rejection sensitivity. We offer practical ways to rebuild your voice, including scripts like “I work best when…”, written agendas that make meetings safer, and manager questions that focus on removing blockers. We also zoom out to systems: redesigning processes with the people who use them, closing the feedback loop with “you said, we did”, embedding values through behaviour, and making sensory adjustments that stop punishing difference.

If you want neurodiversity and workplace inclusion to be more than posters on a wall, press play. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave us a review so more people find the conversation.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Join Steph and Claire for an honest and informative conversation about Tourette Syndrome. In this episode, they share insights into what Tourette's is, challenge common misconceptions, and discuss the real-life experiences of people living with the condition. Together, they explore how greater awareness, understanding, and acceptance can make a meaningful difference. Whether you're looking to learn more about Tourette Syndrome or discover practical ways to support someone who has it, this episode offers valuable perspectives, education, and encouragement for everyone.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Why do so many recruitment processes reward interview confidence rather than actual capability? In this episode of SEND It – Brains at Work, Steph and Claire explore how traditional hiring practices can unintentionally exclude neurodivergent talent. From inclusive job adverts and interview adjustments to work trials, quiet spaces, and the Neurodiversity Employers Index, they unpack practical ways organisations can create fairer, more effective recruitment processes. Expect evidence, insights, workplace realities, and a healthy dose of humour along the way.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

What does inclusive hiring actually look like in practice? In this episode, Steph and Claire unpack the barriers hidden inside modern recruitment, from exclusionary job ads and rushed interviews to the lack of meaningful adjustments for disabled and neurodivergent candidates. Grounded in UK guidance from ACAS and GOV.UK, they explore why traditional hiring processes often measure confidence over competence, and what employers can do differently to create fairer opportunities for everyone.

They discuss Disability Confident schemes, reasonable adjustments, alternative interview formats, and why inclusion isn’t about “special treatment”, it’s about removing barriers. Whether you’re hiring staff, applying for jobs, or simply curious about how recruitment could be more accessible, this conversation challenges the idea that current systems are truly fair.

Because talent isn’t the problem—access is

Support the show