The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this reflective conversation, Paul sits down with Zack Yarde, neurodiversity researcher, systems thinker, and longtime leader in human services.

Together they explore a question many neurodivergent people quietly carry:

What happens when you realize the problem might not be you — but the system you're trying to exist inside?

Zack shares insights from his work on workplace inclusion, leadership, and community spaces, including tabletop gaming environments that intentionally foster psychological safety.

Rather than offering quick fixes, this episode invites listeners into a deeper conversation about curiosity, systems thinking, and the ways neurodivergent people are often asked to carry the burden of change alone.

If you've ever questioned whether you're "too much," "not enough," or built differently than the systems around you, this episode is for you.

Memorable Moments

"We might get a good idea that helps one group — but when we apply it to everyone, we can accidentally exclude even more people."

"Stop blaming yourself for being your own manifestation of neurodivergence."

"True independence actually requires community."

About the Guest:

Zack Yarde is a neurodiversity researcher, leadership practitioner, and systems thinker focused on building more inclusive workplaces and communities.

His work explores how organizational systems, leadership practices, and culture shape accessibility, psychological safety, and employee agency.

Alongside his professional work, Zack is also involved in tabletop role-playing communities, where he facilitates collaborative storytelling spaces that support creativity and belonging.

Connect With Zack

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zackyarde/

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The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast Centering lived experience. Amplifying diverse minds and building inclusive systems.

Follow, rate, and review to help amplify neurodivergent voices.

Website: www.neurodiversityvoices.com

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At what point do you stop asking "What's wrong with me?" and start asking "What's wrong with the system?"

In this episode, Paul sits down with neurodiversity researcher Zack Yarde to unpack one of the most important mindset shifts for neurodivergent individuals: you are not the problem.

Zach shares powerful insights on self-acceptance, the pressure to fit "typical" presentations of neurodivergence, and why organizations often fail at true inclusion. Together, they explore where inclusion efforts break down—systems, leadership, or culture—and why all three must work together to create meaningful change.

This conversation is a reminder that authenticity isn't a weakness—it's a strength.

The full episode of this conversation goes live on March 25.

Make sure you're subscribed to The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast so you don't miss it—and be ready to join the conversation when it drops.

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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 signposting.

Notable quotes

• "ADHD is very hard to live with… It's shaped me because I've learned how to be strong and resilient."
• "Prompts are there to help when you can't think of what to say first."
• "I'm dyslexic—I want people to choose the colour that helps them read."
• "Friendship comes first… some people just want someone to talk to when they're lonely."
• "You're never alone… there's always somebody you can connect with."

Resources & links

• NeuroMatch (soft-launch; website first, app later): neuromatchapp.co.uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuromatchapp/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiran-rodriguez-1a625276?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuromatchapp?_t=ZN-90C62rnsqrn&_r=1
• Follow for meetups in Hampshire (UK) and global rollout updates
• Support & safety: in-platform reporting + support hub (as described)
• If you're an ND seeking an authentic connection, join the NeuroMatch soft launch to share feedback and help shape the platform.
• Creators & orgs in neurodiversity: reach out to collaborate on the pilot.

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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 differences between disability rights and disability justice, discuss media stereotypes of autism, and envision what it means to build accessible events, classrooms, and movements from the ground up.

This conversation is part story, part political education, and part invitation: to listen to disabled expertise, honour lived experience, and practice disability justice in our daily choices.

Connect with Andrew Letchuk:

Our Voices podcast: Our Voices: Conversations of Disability | Podcast on Spotify

Disability on the Street blog: Disability On The Street | disability issues neurodiversity social justice

FUTURES program (for interested listeners): Futures - The AccessStudio

Tangled Art + Disability: Tangled Art + Disability

The Disability Collective: Home | The Disability Collective

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Guest: Nellie Nakhel — author, advocate, and founder of Lovely Life Library, a creative space that celebrates neurodiversity and inclusion through children's stories.

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 superpower.

Together, Paul and Nellie explore how neurodiversity shapes learning, creativity, and empathy, and what it means to create stories that make every child feel seen.

Notable Quotes

"It's not necessarily a bad thing to think differently — it just means your mind works in its own amazing way." — Nellie Nakhel. "If I can make even one child feel better about their differences, that's success to me." — Nellie Nakhel

"Neurodiversity isn't something to overcome — it's something to celebrate." — Paul Cruz

Nellie Nakhel is an author, educator, and advocate for neurodiversity. As the founder of Lovely Life Library, she creates inclusive picture books that help children embrace their differences with pride. Her work blends her background in psychology, her experience in higher education, and her personal journey with dyslexia to empower learners of all kinds.

Learn more: lovelylifelibrary.com

Connect with Nellie Nakhel

• Website: lovelylifelibrary.com
• Instagram: @nellienakhel_lovelylifelibrary
• Facebook: nellie.nakhel
• Her books can be found on Amazon and Ingramspark
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• Learn more about the Neurodiversity Voices Podcast: www.neurodiversityvoices.com

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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 access, validation, and understanding for autistic adults who are often overlooked or dismissed.

Key Quotes:

"Autism isn't invisible—it's a visible neuro-minority. People see it, but it's misunderstood." – Dr. Gregory Skinner

"Diagnosis is not about weakness—it's about validation, recognition, and access to support." – Dr. Gregory Skinner

Resources & Links:

Learn more about Dr. Skinner's Clinic, Autism Exists Diagnosis Clinic - https://www.autismexists.com

Visit Lives in the Balance to explore Dr. Ross Greene's collaborative approach to care - https://livesinthebalance.org

Connect With Us

• Learn more about the Neurodiversity Voices Podcast: www.neurodiversityvoices.com
• 
  

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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" and see so-called "behaviours" as signals of dysregulation, not defiance.

Together, Paul and Cynthia explore the eight senses (including vestibular, proprioception, and interoception), what "just right" regulation actually feels like, and how to design sensory-safe micro-spaces in schools, homes, clinics, dental offices, and workplaces—without needing huge budgets or perfect setups.

You'll walk away with a minimum viable plan to support sensory regulation, plus a new lens on "behaviour" that centres safety, consent, and dignity for neurodivergent children and adults.

Key Quotes

• "Sensory is not a reward. Sensory is a human need." – Cynthia Miller-Lautman
• "Behaviours are often signals—our detective work is figuring out what's really going on."
• "Parents, teachers, and therapists must become sensory detectives to help kids (and adults) find 'just right.'"

Resources & Links

• Website & resources: cynthiamillerlautman.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cynthiamillerlautmanot
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cynthiamillerlautman
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cynthiamillerlautman
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiamillerlautman

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• Learn more about the Neurodiversity Voices Podcast: www.neurodiversityvoices.com

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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, sensory overwhelm, and learning to give herself grace.

This episode serves as a reminder that every voice matters — especially those that have been quiet for too long.

Memorable quotes

• "I wish I could tell my younger self not to feel bad about the way my brain works." — Gabe
• "I see you now. I'm holding you. I understand you now." — Stacey

Connect With Us

• Learn more about the Neurodiversity Voices Podcast: www.neurodiversityvoices.com

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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 neurodevelopment and proposes a connection between diet, immune function, and brain development. It's not a proven theory, but it's an example of how science is trying to map complex biological pathways rather than single causes.

To further explain, imagine a row of dominoes: a certain milk protein gets broken down into a peptide, which might affect the gut and the brain's protective barrier, leading to inflammation, and — in some individuals — changes in brain development. That's the 'cascade' this idea is trying to describe. It's still hypothetical — a chain of maybes, not certainties — but it's fascinating because it tries to connect dots across biology, diet, and development.

Autism is multi-factorial — genetic, neurodevelopmental, sensory, and environmental factors all intertwine. The Cascade Hypothesis is one of several emerging models that explore how biology and development might interact, especially early in life.

Understanding biology doesn't mean we're trying to 'fix' autism — it means learning more about how diverse brains develop. Insights from models like this could improve support, reduce distress, and honor neurodivergent experiences.

This hypothesis is an early-stage idea — not clinical advice or a proven model. It's a thought experiment that may guide future research. As always, any medical or dietary changes should be based on peer-reviewed science and professional guidance.

How do we balance curiosity about emerging science with respect for lived experience? We'd love to hear your thoughts — send us your reflections at info@neurodiversityvoices.com

As always on this show, we approach research with curiosity and humility. Today's topic is a developing hypothesis, shared to deepen understanding — not to define autistic lives or suggest that difference needs correcting.

Connect With Nuriye Sinem Berthier

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sinem-berthier

Orcid Account: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5840-7957

Journal Articles:

1. Proposing the Autism Cascade Hypothesis: A Novel Mechanistic Framework Linking Dietary Peptides, Neuroimmune Activation, and Developmental Timing. https://zenodo.org/records/17007271

2. Cascading Pathways in Autism: A New Clinical Lens on Early Pediatric Intervention. https://zenodo.org/records/17019400

Connect With Us

• Learn more about the Neurodiversity Voices Podcast: www.neurodiversityvoices.com

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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 with disabilities, and build a meaningful creative career. Through heartfelt storytelling, Michelle sheds light on the realities of invisible disabilities, self-advocacy, resilience, relationships, and the power of creativity as healing and expression.

This episode is a must-listen for neurodivergent individuals, educators, parents, caregivers, and advocates seeking hope, understanding, and actionable insight.

Memorable Quotes

"Just because people can't see my disability doesn't mean it's not there."

"I did it afraid. And when I started focusing on what I could do, I began to see success."

"Having a disability isn't a weakness—it can become a strength."

Connect with Michelle:

Website: https://www.michellesmission.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michelle.steiner.493966/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steiner7250/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-steiner-0573ba260/ Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/michellesmission.bsky.social

Connect With Us

• Learn more about the Neurodiversity Voices Podcast: www.neurodiversityvoices.com

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If you're listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any podcast player you love, please take a moment to rate the show and leave a comment. It makes a huge difference!

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