Neurodivergent young people are more likely to question their gender identity, and it can be a confusing and confronting time. Not just for the individual, but also for their loved ones.

The support and validation of families is vital, but many feel unprepared; struggling to even navigate things like the role of pronouns.

This episode gives some insight into the unique way a number of autistic and ADHD young people experience identity - including gender identity. Through deeply personal stories and expert insight, we look at how families can best support young people as they navigate this complex space, and how they can reframe it as a natural period of exploration.

At the heart of this conversation is mental health. The statistics for those at this intersection are confronting, but responsibility for better outcomes extends beyond immediate families; it rests with society as a whole.

Greater awareness of lived experience can help reduce stigma - and with it, much of the suffering. As can recognising the immense courage it takes to live authentically, especially when that identity sits outside societal norms.

In this episode:

• Adolescence: a time of identity formation for all young people.
• The mental health risks and what can significantly reduce them
• The role of interoception in identity
• The reality for parents: Uncertainty, and the fear of ‘getting it wrong’.
• The impact of stigma, and what it feels like to navigate the world as non-binary or trans and neurodivergent
• Practical advice for parents: how to support without rushing or shutting things down
• Why authenticity isn’t a choice

No Such Thing as Normal is made with support from NZ On Air

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do so many neurodivergent people struggle in the workplace; even when they are highly capable?

In this episode, Sonia speaks to workplace strategist Rich Rowley about why modern workplaces value one narrow style of thinking, and how that can leave ADHD, autistic and dyslexic employees exhausted, ashamed and underperforming.

Rich argues neurodivergent people are not simply workers who need accommodations and support; they’re an untapped valuable resource for organisations.

Neurodivergent minds often excel at complex problem-solving, and workplace culture can either unlock or suppress that potential. Rich says that when organisations get this right, every metric improves - including the bottom line. Because true neuroinclusion benefits everyone.

Guest: Rich Rowley

For more on Brainbadge go to ​​https://neurofusion.co.nz/

In this episode:

• Why ADHD, autistic and dyslexic employees often struggle in traditional workplaces
• The hidden toll of masking, burnout and “fitting in” at work
• Why neurodivergent people may excel at solving complex problems
• How businesses may be overlooking their most valuable thinkers
• The Values–Decisions Gap
• Why psychological safety is the foundation of true neuroinclusion
• How better workplace design can benefit all employees

No Such Thing as Normal is made with support from NZ On Air

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Isabella* is just 22, but she’d been living with severe contamination OCD for eight years. It had taken over her life - touching people, objects, even parts of her own home, felt dangerous. Every interaction came with a cost: hours of cleaning, sanitising and rituals.

In this episode we follow Isabella’s story. From a life ruled by OCD to her experience with a revolutionary therapy: the Bergen 4 day Treatment (B4DT).

Over 100 thousand New Zealanders are estimated to suffer from OCD and access to treatment is difficult. Thanks to the charity Open Closed Doors the B4DT had it’s first New Zealand trial in January of this year. And the results were phenomenal.

Guests:

Isabella*

Dr Bjarne Hansen

Dr Marthinus Bekker

Dr Emma Chapman

Dr Mihi Gillies

To find out more, or to support the charity go to Open Closed Doors.

Resources:

Open Closed Doors.

Fixate - FB group

In this episode:

• Isabella’s story: what OCD feels like from the inside
• The hidden cost of OCD: intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and the exhausting mental load
• Why OCD is so often misunderstood, and why logic alone doesn’t work
• The impact on families, relationships, and daily life
• The gold-standard treatment: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and its limitations
• The first New Zealand trial of the Bergen 4-day Treatment (B4DT) - an intensive four-day therapy
• Insights from co-founder Bjarne Hansen on anxiety, intention, and “cracking the code”
• Willingness: the key predictor of recovery
• A strengths-based reframe of OCD: these traits are not weaknesses.
• “Don’t feed the cat”. Learning to respond differently to intrusive thoughts
• What recovery looks like in real life.
• Honest reflections on early recovery, the highs, the doubts, and what comes next
• Practical insights for parents and families: supporting without reinforcing OCD

No Such Thing as Normal is made with support from NZ On Air

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.