Explore every episode of the podcast Thick No More

Millions of adults with dyslexia still believe they're the problem.

Not because they aren't intelligent.

Because nobody ever explained how their brain actually works.

In this deeply honest conversation, dyslexia coach and author Natalie Brooks joins Jay Giddens to unpack the realities of adult dyslexia—from working memory and masking to confidence, executive function and why so many people spend decades believing they simply aren't good enough.

This isn't another conversation about famous entrepreneurs or "superpowers."

It's about understanding yourself.

Inside this episode you'll discover:

🧠 Why working memory affects conversations, meetings and everyday life

💜 Why confidence isn't just emotional—it changes how your brain functions

🎭 What masking really looks like in adults with dyslexia

💡 Why "picture thinking" can be one of your greatest strengths

📖 The inspiration behind Natalie's new book, Dyslexia Unlocked

Whether you're dyslexic, neurodivergent, a parent, teacher or employer, this episode will leave you understanding dyslexia in a completely different way.

🎙️ Guest: Natalie Brooks
📚 Book: Dyslexia Unlocked

If this conversation resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

What happens when one of Britain's most recognisable TV personalities becomes one of the country's most powerful voices for neurodivergent families?

In this deeply personal episode of Thick No More, Jay sits down with Carrie Grant MBE to explore autism, education, parenting and the fight for a more inclusive future.

Known by millions from Fame Academy, Pop Idol and decades in television and music, Carrie opens up like never before about receiving her own autism diagnosis later in life, raising neurodivergent children and why she believes our education system is still failing too many families.

Together, Jay and Carrie discuss:

• Receiving an autism diagnosis as an adult
• Why so many autistic girls and women have been overlooked
• The emotional toll carried by SEND parents
• Why schools need a complete rethink
• The power of music and creativity
• Hope, resilience and building communities that truly include everyone
• Why labels should never define potential

This is an honest, emotional and hopeful conversation that every parent, teacher, educator and neurodivergent adult should hear.

If you've ever felt misunderstood, labelled or underestimated, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Don't forget to Follow Thick No More so you never miss an episode.

🎙 Thick No More – Season 2, Episode 1: From Performative to Practiced Inclusion — Fixing Workplace Neurodiversity

Welcome to Season 2 of Thick No More, the podcast that challenges old narratives about neurodiversity, inclusion, and what it really means to thrive at work. In this powerful opening episode, host Jay Giddens sits down with Trisha S. Daho, founder and CEO of Empowered Leadership & Culture (EmpoweredLC) an international people and culture strategist helping organisations move from performative to practiced inclusion.

Trisha built her career as a Partner at a Big Four accounting firm, leading diverse teams and driving measurable, lasting change. Today, she works with firms across the US, UK, and Europe to build cultures that grow people and performance, not just profits.

🔊 In this conversation:

• Why so few UK companies (under 1%) are Disability Confident and how ignorance, not malice, keeps progress stuck.

• What it really takes for leaders to build neuroinclusive workplaces that empower, not exclude.

• How self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership and why most DEI programs fail without it.

• The small, simple actions that make a massive difference for employees who are “hiding” in plain sight.

• How inclusive hiring should start by asking: “What do we really need and why?” instead of filtering by CVs, psychometric tests, or outdated assumptions.

• The “magic wand” moment: what Trisha would have every CEO say tomorrow to transform trust across their teams.

• Why “you’re not going to struggle on my watch” might just be the most powerful leadership promise of all.

Trisha’s insights are deeply human, practical, and refreshingly direct. Her work strips away the corporate jargon and focuses on truth, courage, and creating real belonging where everyone can show up as their full selves.

💬 Key takeaway:
Inclusion isn’t a checkbox. It’s a covenant a mutual commitment between leaders and teams to meet people where they are, to listen, adapt, and make change that lasts.

✨ About Trisha S. Daho
Trisha is the Founder and CEO of Empowered Leadership & Culture, helping global firms evolve from traditional power structures to inclusive, high-performing environments. She has decades of experience leading cultural transformation and advising executives on inclusion strategy, leadership accountability, and sustainable change.

📧 Contact Trisha:
📩 Email: trisha@empoweredlc.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/trishadaho
🌍 Website: www.empoweredlc.com

Even if you just want to bounce ideas or start a conversation about inclusive leadership, Trisha welcomes your message.

🎧 Host: Jay Giddens
Thick No More is a podcast for anyone who’s ever been labelled, misunderstood, or underestimated and for leaders ready to rethink what inclusion really looks like in practice.

🧠 Listen. Learn. Lead.
Because there are no labels and there are no limits.

🎵 Music Credit:
Intro music by Cris Lowis.

🎙️ Thick No More – Season 1 Finale with Katherine Perry

This week marks the end of Season 1 of Thick No More and it couldn’t be wrapped up by anyone more fitting than Katherine Perry. Katherine is a dynamic leader, strategist, and advocate whose personal story of growing up with dyslexia and dyscalculia has shaped a career dedicated to accessibility, inclusion, and challenging stigma.

She’s best known for her time as CEO of BATA (the British Assistive Technology Association), where she drove forward conversations about assistive technology, policy, and real-world change for learners and workers with diverse needs. But behind the leadership title is a deeply personal story of childhood struggles, red crosses on the page, messages of “not being good enough,” and the long journey from stigma to strength.

In this episode, Katherine and I go deep into:

✨ Early school years – the first moments she felt different in the classroom, the shame tied to red pens and marks, and how those experiences planted both coping strategies and scars.

✨ Diagnosis in the 90s – what it was like to be assessed for dyslexia and dyscalculia at a time when many teachers still denied these differences even existed, and how early interventions shaped her path.

✨ Home life and the word “thick” – the messages about intelligence and achievement she absorbed, the echoes of her father’s unrecognised dyslexia, and what she would gently say to parents today in similar situations.

✨ Breaking cycles of shame – we discuss the idea that “hurt people hurt people” and how unhealed experiences of dyslexic shame can ripple through generations unless we confront, heal, and reshape the narrative.

✨ Tools vs. culture – why assistive technology alone is never enough without cultural change in schools and workplaces. Katherine explains what it really takes to help people thrive: safety, kindness, and environments free from humiliation.

✨ Living with dyscalculia – often less understood than dyslexia, Katherine opens up about how it has affected her life and the strategies she’s developed to work around it.

✨ Redefining worth – why intelligence does not equal value, and what healthier measures of “success” could look like for both children and adults.

✨ Performance anxiety – the triggers Katherine has faced, how over-prepping can backfire, and what genuinely helps her when it’s time to step up and speak.

✨ A message to late or undiagnosed adults – for listeners still masking, copying, and quietly exhausted, Katherine offers one kind, practical step to take today.

And of course, we end with the question every guest answers: What does “Thick No More” mean to you? Katherine’s answer is powerful, challenging, and rooted in the belief that words like “thick” are not just outdated labels, but slurs that our community deserves to throw out once and for all.

This is not just a conversation about dyslexia or dyscalculia it’s about shame, resilience, community, and reclaiming identity. It’s about recognising that “worth ≠ grades,” and that no one should have to carry labels that diminish their potential.

As we close Season 1, I want to thank Katherine for her honesty, her courage, and her leadership. I also want to thank all of you the parents, educators, tech leaders, and countless listeners around the world who have joined this journey. Your messages, shares, and stories prove one thing: we are not alone.

Thick No More. No labels. No limits.

👉  Arenova.app launches mid-October on iOS & Android 

 Preregister at arenova.app before October 13th to enter the prize draw to win a mystery retro football shirt 

(And if you’re posting on LinkedIn, it would be amazing if you could tag @arenova.app so people can find us easily )

Find Katherine Perry on Linkedin

👉 Follow Thick No More on your favourite podcast platform to get notified when Season 2 drops.

🎙 Thick No More – Episode with Ben Sutcliffe

In this episode of Thick No More, Jay sits down with Ben Sutcliffe, a man whose story is one of resilience, community, and purpose.

Diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager, Ben’s world changed overnight. The label carried stigma, misunderstanding, and daily fears of seizures but what could have been a lifetime defined by limits became a story of transformation. Thanks to unwavering support from family, loyal friends, and his own determination, Ben learned to live beyond the diagnosis.

Today, Ben is Director of Executive Projects at Caudwell Children, a UK charity dedicated to changing the lives of disabled and neurodivergent children. For over 17 years, he has poured his skills and lived experience into advocacy, fundraising, and direct support that empowers families to thrive.

In our conversation, Ben shares:
✨ His memories of being diagnosed at 17 and the mental and emotional toll of epilepsy.
✨ The role of true friends and family who stood by him through anger, frustration, and setbacks.
✨ How his parents’ belief in service and resilience shaped his own purpose.
✨ The mission of Caudwell Children and how they open doors of possibility for children across the UK.
✨ A moving story of Tilly Griffiths, a young girl whose powered wheelchair opened not just mobility but a future full of ambition including Stanford University and Disney.
✨ Why stigma still lingers in society and how schools and communities can help break it down.
✨ His vision for the future: more face-to-face, community-based support for families, and expanding services for neurodivergent children.

Ben’s journey reminds us of a simple but powerful truth: a diagnosis does not define you it can light the fire of your purpose. His story is a call to look past labels, believe in potential, and work together to break down barriers.

💡 “Thick No More” to Ben means that moment when someone looks past the stigma and sees your potential—reminding you to believe in yourself too.

🔗 How to Connect & Support
🌐 Visit Caudwell Children – learn more about their work and how you can support.
💬 Use the online chat on the website for direct questions and guidance.
📱 Reach out via Caudwell Children’s social media channels the team responds to all messages.
🙌 Get involved: Volunteer, fundraise, or partner with Caudwell Children to make an impact.

🎧 Tune in for a story of resilience, impact, and hope and hear how Ben’s journey proves that none of us should ever be defined by a label.

Laura Horn’s journey is one of survival, resilience, and transformation. Growing up with childhood trauma, family struggles, and poverty, Laura found herself battling addiction, living with PTSD, and carrying labels without the support she desperately needed.

But this is not a story about defeat it’s about rising. Diagnosed later in life with ADHD and autism, Laura reframed her past and began to unlock the strengths hidden within her neurodivergence. Through writing and poetry, she discovered a way to process pain and turn it into something extraordinary.

In this raw and moving conversation, Laura shares:

• Childhood trauma, loss, and being left without support after tragedy

• Addiction, rock bottom, and the pivotal moment that sparked change

• Living with PTSD and later discovering ADHD & autism

• How poetry, creativity, and nature became lifelines for healing

• Why “Thick No More” means breaking free of labels and reclaiming your brilliance

Laura is now a coach, therapist, and author who helps others navigate trauma and unlock their strengths. Her story proves that even in the darkest of times, hope and creativity can lead to transformation.

📚 Explore Laura’s work:

• Website: www.creatingchangeiemt.com

• Poems on Travel: Amazon UK

• Poems of the Goddess: Amazon UK

👉 If this episode resonates, please share it with someone who needs to hear Laura’s story.

What happens when you’re diagnosed with ADHD as a little girl in 1995, at a time when hardly anyone believed girls could have it? For Cristina Gilbert, it meant growing up under the weight of risk statistics, labels, and doubt but refusing to let them define her.

In this episode, Cristina takes us through her extraordinary journey:

• Early diagnosis at 8 years old and what it meant to grow up neurodivergent in the 90s.

• The impact of hearing “risk statistics” as a child and how that shaped her confidence.

• How swimming pools and high-pressure kitchens became unexpected lifelines, teaching her structure, focus, and confidence.

• Her reinvention from dropping out of college and battling the chaos of freedom, to finding new purpose in the kitchens, then leaping to the Netherlands to study agriculture.

• How a farming degree turned into a marketing agency, and eventually led her to EdTech with Cirrus Assessment, where she now champions fairness in exams and inclusion in education.

Cristina shares openly about masking, mirroring, and struggling to fit in but also about how those same survival skills turned into strengths. She reflects on how parents and educators can better support neurodiverse children by matching environments to their brains, rather than trying to force them into traditional moulds.

For anyone who’s ever felt “different,” this episode is proof that different isn’t broken — it’s powerful.

👉 Connect with Cristina on LinkedIn: Cristina Gilbert

🎧 Listen now to hear Cristina’s full story of grit, reinvention, and why “Thick No More” means shedding shame and embracing difference.

🎙️ Episode Description – Darren Clark | Thick No More Podcast

What happens when the world labels you as “different”? When you’re excluded, underestimated, and told you won’t amount to much?

For Darren Clark, that was his reality growing up with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism in a school system that didn’t see his strengths. Segregated into a porter cabin, given dot-to-dot books instead of lessons, and excluded before exams, Darren’s confidence was shattered early on. But his story didn’t end there.

Today, Darren is a global advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion. He’s taken his experiences from the UK to countries like Kenya and Bali, shining a light on the challenges – and opportunities – of creating a world that truly embraces difference. From corporate boardrooms to grassroots communities, Darren has dedicated his voice and his energy to making sure people with learning differences aren’t just supported… they’re celebrated.

In this powerful episode of Thick No More, Jason and Darren explore:
✨ Darren’s school years and the painful reality of being written off.
✨ The moment he began to see his neurodiversity as a strength, not a weakness.
✨ Stories from his work abroad and what they reveal about global attitudes to dyslexia and ADHD.
✨ Why businesses and schools need to move beyond “tick-box” inclusion.
✨ His message of hope for parents and young people navigating the system today.
✨ What the phrase Thick No More means to him personally.

Darren’s story is raw, inspiring, and filled with lessons for educators, parents, employers – and anyone who’s ever felt underestimated.

👉 Connect with Darren Clark
🔗 LinkedIn: Darren Clark
🌍 Project: Neurodiversity Stories

🎙️ “Just a quick note before we begin: this episode contains some strong language and open discussions about addiction and recovery. Listener discretion is advised.”🎧 Thick No More Podcast – Episode with Andy Stone

From expulsion and addiction to Guinness World Records Andy Stone’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

In this episode, Jay sits down with Andy to uncover how he turned a life of chaos into one of resilience, endurance, and hope.

Andy was expelled from school, battled addiction, and struggled to hold down jobs. Yet through his ADHD, he found not only challenge but also his superpower , With the right focus, support, and lifestyle changes, Andy went on to complete 70 half Ironman triathlons in 75 days, setting a Guinness World Record.

But Andy’s story isn’t just about physical achievement. It’s about:
💡 Understanding ADHD as more than just a label
💡 The power of resilience and self-awareness
💡 Why healthy living his Six Pillars of Health can transform both mind and body
💡 The importance of finding your “thing” and running with it
💡 Hope for anyone who has ever felt written off

Andy now works as an ADHD peer mentor, speaker, and advocate. He mentors young people and adults, speaks in schools, and helps others realise that their diagnosis doesn’t define their destiny. His message is clear: you are never too old, too broken, or too far gone to turn things around.

If you’ve ever felt written off by school, work, or even by yourself—this episode will remind you that change is possible and your strengths can become your superpower.

🔗 Connect with Andy Stone:
🌍 Website: andy-stone.com
📸 Instagram: @ADHDmentorAndy
💼 LinkedIn: Andy Stone
📧 First consultation: Always free – reach out for a chat!

Episode 2 – Rewiring the Reading Brain: Ingrid & Erika Poupart of NeuraLign
Season 1 | Thick No More

In this emotional and inspiring episode, I’m joined by mother-daughter duo Ingrid and Erika Poupart, the creators of NeuraLign – a game-changing program using neuroplasticity to help struggling readers.

Ingrid shares her deeply personal journey growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, learning to read at 21 while pregnant, and the years of frustration and resilience that led her to ask, "There has to be a better way." That mission grew into NeuraLign, built with the help of her daughter Erika — a graphic designer with ADHD and a powerful drive to help kids who think differently.

Together, we talk about:

• Why dyslexia is not a measure of intelligence

• How neuroplasticity can literally rewire the brain

• The moment their first group of students made 10-grade jumps in reading

• Why they're bringing NeuraLign to the UK now

• Powerful advice for parents, teachers, and neurodiverse kids everywhere

💥 Plus: hear what song would play when they walk into a room (and how overthinking it led to laughs).

🧠 “Reading is an important life skill — but it’s not a measure of intelligence.”

🔗 Connect with Ingrid & Erika at www.neuralign.org

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review.
🎧 Thick No More – no more labels, no more limits.

🎙️ Episode 1: Believing in Yourself – with Mary Wilcox
In our very first episode, host Jay Giddens sits down with former teacher and assistive tech trainer Mary Wilcox. Mary opens up about her experience growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, her love of learning, the challenges she faced in the classroom, and how one unexpected career detour led her to a job she truly loves.

From personal stories to powerful reflections, Mary shares how tech can unlock independence, what she'd say to her 10-year-old self, and why we all need to rethink what it means to be "smart."

🔥 Plus, find out which theme tune Mary would have playing every time she walks into a room a question we'll be asking every guest!

They called us thick. We weren’t.
Thick No More is the bold, honest podcast about growing up with dyslexia and finally rewriting the narrative. Hosted by someone who lived it, each episode dives into real stories, practical tools, and conversations with parents, students, educators, and innovators. Whether you’re navigating learning differences or supporting someone who is, this is your space. No shame, no limits just real talk.

🎙️ When the Headteacher Becomes the SEND Parent | Kate Manning on Dyslexia, Inclusion & Fixing Education

What happens when the person leading a school suddenly finds themselves fighting the education system as a parent?

In this episode of Thick No More, I sit down with headteacher, SEND advocate and founder of Edgewood School, Kate Manning, for one of the most honest conversations we've had about education.

Kate shares the deeply personal story of supporting her daughter Annie through dyslexia and additional learning needs, while balancing the pressures of leading a school herself.

We discuss why so many parents feel lost in the SEND system, why education often measures compliance instead of capability, and why Kate believes it's time to stop trying to "fix" children and start building schools around how they actually learn.

This conversation also explores AI in education, accessible technology, the future of learning, and Kate's vision for a completely different kind of school designed around inclusion rather than conformity.

If you're a parent, teacher, school leader or simply believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

• Life as both a headteacher and a SEND parent
• Dyslexia, additional needs and the reality families face
• Why so many parents struggle to access the right support
• The emotional impact of raising a neurodivergent child
• AI, accessibility and the future of education
• Why schools should prepare children for life, not just exams
• Building a truly inclusive education system
• Why it's time to celebrate strengths instead of labels

Kate's message is simple but powerful:

"It's not about fixing the child. It's about changing the system around them."

🎙️ Follow Thick No More for more conversations challenging labels, celebrating different ways of thinking and sharing the stories that deserve to be heard.

🔗 Follow Thick No More:
https://linktr.ee/nomorepod

📲 Follow Jay Giddens:
https://www.instagram.com/thicknomorepod

If this conversation resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a rating and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

In this episode we discuss:

What happens when a parent is made to believe their child is the problem?

In this powerful episode of Thick No More, I sit down with bestselling author, SEND advocate and campaigner Heidi Mavir to talk about the reality facing thousands of families across the UK.

We discuss why so many parents are left feeling like they've failed, why children are being labelled instead of supported, and why Heidi believes the education system is failing some of the very children it was designed to help.

From school refusal and mental health struggles to SEND reforms, class sizes and the future of education, this is an honest and emotional conversation that every parent, teacher and policymaker should hear.

Heidi also shares the deeply personal story behind her bestselling book, Your Child Is Not Broken, and explains why so many families need to hear that message right now.

Topics covered:

• School avoidance and emotionally based school non-attendance
• Autism, ADHD and neurodiversity
• Why parents blame themselves
• SEND support in UK schools
• Mental health and family wellbeing
• School reform and government policy
• The future of education
• Why community matters for struggling families

If you're a parent fighting for support, a teacher trying to make a difference, or someone who has ever felt labelled, judged or misunderstood, this episode is for you.

🔗 Follow Heidi Mavir
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heidimavir
Website: https://www.heidimavir.com

📖 Buy "Your Child Is Not Broken"
https://www.amazon.co.uk

🎙️ Follow Thick No More
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thicknomorepod

🔗 All podcast links:
https://linktr.ee/nomorepod

#ThickNoMore #HeidiMavir #SEND #Dyslexia #ADHD #Autism #Neurodiversity #Education #SchoolRefusal #Parenting #MentalHealth

In this powerful episode of Thick No More, Jay Giddens is joined by parent advocate Danielle Broadbent to discuss the reality facing thousands of families navigating ADHD, autism, school exclusions, EHCP applications, and a system many believe is failing neurodivergent children.

Danielle shares her deeply personal journey supporting her son through years of struggles in secondary school, repeated exclusions, isolation, delayed assessments, and the battle to secure the support he needed. Together, Jay and Danielle explore the emotional impact on families, why so many children are falling through the cracks, and the urgent need for education reform.

The conversation also shines a light on alternative pathways such as Functional Skills qualifications, challenging the belief that GCSEs are the only route to success.

This episode is essential listening for parents, carers, educators, SEND professionals, and anyone passionate about creating a more inclusive education system.

Topics covered:

• ADHD and Autism diagnosis journeys
• School exclusions and isolation rooms
• EHCP applications and tribunals
• SEND support and education reform
• Functional Skills and alternative pathways
• School attendance and school refusal
• Neurodiversity in education
• The impact on parents and families
• Why GCSEs are not the only measure of success

If you've ever felt unheard, exhausted, or frustrated while fighting for your child, this conversation will remind you that you are not alone.

Season 3, Episode 1 – Andy Vincent | Thick No More

Season 3 kicks off with one of the most honest, emotional and inspiring conversations we’ve had yet. In this episode, Jay sits down with Andy Vincent a man whose story of dyslexia, childhood trauma, survival and personal transformation will resonate deeply with parents, neurodivergent adults and anyone who has ever felt “not good enough.”

Growing up in Portsmouth during the 70s and 80s, Andy struggled through a school system that didn’t understand dyslexia. Labelled, misunderstood and pushed into “special reading classes,” he carried the same painful words many neurodivergent people know all too well thick, lazy, not smart enough. But school wasn’t even the hardest part. Andy opens up about growing up in a deeply dysfunctional home, dealing with poverty, alcoholism and childhood sexual abuse — experiences he kept hidden for over 30 years.

This episode is raw, powerful and incredibly human.

Jay and Andy connect over shared experiences of growing up neurodivergent in a world that simply didn’t get them. Together, they explore how those labels can follow you into adulthood, shaping confidence, careers, relationships and mental health. Andy speaks openly about failing exams, struggling to fit into traditional systems and battling the constant internal voice saying, “I’m not good enough.”

But this is not a story about giving up.

It’s a story about belief, resilience and rebuilding yourself from the ground up.

Andy shares how personal development and self-education completely changed his life, taking him from construction work and financial collapse during the 2007 recession to becoming a coach, mentor and advocate for using AI to empower neurodivergent people.

One of the most fascinating parts of this episode is Andy’s approach to artificial intelligence. Rather than fearing AI, he explains how it became a life-changing tool that gave him confidence, clarity and a voice. From helping him communicate more effectively to building courses, creating content and organising his ideas, Andy believes AI can become a powerful support system for people with dyslexia, ADHD and other neurodivergent challenges.

The conversation dives deep into:

• Growing up dyslexic in the 70s and 80s
• Trauma, shame and survival
• Mental health and self-belief
• The impact of labels on neurodivergent children
• Why traditional education fails so many people
• Personal development and breaking limiting beliefs
• AI tools for confidence, learning and communication
• Why “progression over perfection” matters
• The importance of courage, consistency and change

Andy also shares his “4 Cs” philosophy:
Change. Courage. Confidence. Consistency.
A message that perfectly captures the heart of Thick No More.

As always, this episode is about more than storytelling. It’s about helping people feel seen, understood and hopeful. If you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child, someone struggling with confidence, or simply trying to find your place in a system that never seemed built for you — this episode will hit home.

And yes… Andy’s entrance song choice is an absolute belter.

🎵 Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey 🎵

Because sometimes the biggest breakthrough starts with finally believing in yourself.

This week on Thick No More, Jay sits down with performance coach, speaker, and author Pamela Cass, whose story will resonate with anyone who has ever felt invisible, “not enough,” or misunderstood.

Diagnosed with dyslexia at age seven in 1977, Pamela spent her childhood being pulled out of class, whispered about, and shrinking herself to survive. At home, she hid in a hallway closet hoping someone would notice she was missing. No one did.

Today, she calls her dyslexia a quiet gift — the very thing that built her resilience, empathy, creativity, and purpose.

In this powerful conversation, we talk about:

• Growing up dyslexic when support didn’t exist

• Feeling invisible as a child and how that shapes adulthood

• The emotional weight of hiding dyslexia/ADHD in the workplace

• Burnout, and walking away from a VP role

• Why she wouldn’t change anything about her past

• How to discover your own “gift” through the things that put you in flow

• The grounding technique that changed Jay’s public speaking forever

• Her new book The Quiet Gift — and the mission behind it

If you’ve ever wished you could go back and “fix” your past… this episode will help you see that your story may be the exact message someone else needs.

🌐 Website: PamelaCass.com
📘 The Quiet Gift on Amazon: PamelaCass.com/thequietgift
📲 Instagram: @pam.cass70
💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/pamelacass-realtor

Connect With Pamela Cass

🎙️ Thick No More – Episode 1: John O’Shea | NeuroSpicy, Resilience & Rediscovering Yourself

What happens when your life completely unravels your marriage ends, your job’s gone, your home’s gone and you realise you’ve been living with undiagnosed ADHD and dyslexia for decades?

In this powerful first video episode of Thick No More, host Jay Giddens sits down with John O’Shea, founder of NeuroSpicy and author of the new book NeuroSpicy: The Raw and Honest Story of a Neurodivergent Mind.

John opens up about hitting rock bottom, finding strength through self-discipline, meditation, and fitness and how that journey led him to finally understand his neurodivergent brain. Together, Jay and John talk openly about:
💥 Growing up dyslexic and being called “thick” in school
💥 The moment everything fell apart and the fight to rebuild
💥 How a diagnosis at 56 changed everything
💥 Why ADHD isn’t a “deficit” it’s an overload of ideas
💥 Why our education system still fails neurodivergent kids
💥 Turning pain into purpose through NeuroSpicy
💥 What “Thick No More” really means

It’s raw, emotional, funny, and completely real two men talking openly about neurodiversity, failure, redemption, and the power of finally understanding who you are.

📘 Get John’s book: https://neurospicy.life
🎧 Follow John on Instagram: @neurospicy66
💬 Discount code: ABC25 for 15% off

🔔 Subscribe to Thick No More for honest conversations about dyslexia, ADHD, and the journey from feeling “broken” to realising you were never broken at all.

Autistic self-advocate and tech leader Shea Belsky (Tech Lead @ HubSpot; ex-CTO & co-founder at Mentra; host of Autistic Techie) joins Thick No More to flip old labels into real strengths. We go back to his early years and diagnosis, talk sensory needs and self-advocacy, and get practical about what leaders miss—and how simple changes create belonging and better work.

In this episode:

• “Born This Way” and owning identity

• Early diagnosis vs. today’s language and pop-culture stereotypes

• School, sensory triggers, and finding environments that work

• From Cornell to tech leadership: disclosure, boundaries, and growth

• The business case for inclusion (and the cost of getting it wrong)

• ERGs, remote/hybrid work, and universal design that helps everyone

• Advice for leaders (what to do Monday morning)

• Advice for “hiders” at work: asking for what you need, safely

If this resonated, share it with a friend—and remember: labels are just words. We’re here to change the narrative.

• Website: shaebelsky.com

• Email: hello@shaebelsky.com

• Podcast: Autistic Techie (available on all major platforms)

• LinkedIn: Shea Belsky (search by name)

Connect with Shea

Diagnosed & Dumped — with Beth Thomas (ADHD/ND Life Coach, Neurodivergent by Design)

This week, Jay sits down with Beth Thomas — ADHD & neurodivergent life coach, neuroinclusion trainer, and founder of Neurodivergent by Design — to talk honestly about being “diagnosed & dumped,” why so many adults still feel stuck after assessment, and what good support actually looks like at work and at home.

Beth shares her late-diagnosis journey, the pressure of growing up “gifted,” and how reframing perfectionism, people-pleasing, and RSD can unlock real change. We dig into Access to Work (what’s great, what’s broken), common mistakes companies make, and simple, low-cost adjustments that create safer, more productive teams. Beth also walks through her 1:1 coaching ethos (no coaching someone to cope in an unfit environment) and her self-paced course, Neurodivergent by Design: From Exhausted to Empowered.

• “Diagnosed & dumped” why assessments often end with no real aftercare

• Access to Work: backlogs, decisions, and what to do next

• Workplace myths: “standardised fixes” and “it’ll be expensive”

• Practical wins: boundaries, energy management, assertive comms

• Beth’s theme tune: “Leave a Light On” (Tom Walker, acoustic)

• A listener offer for Beth’s course (see below)

• Website (free call + all socials): https://www.beth-thomas.co.uk/ Beth Thomas

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-thomas-0a6800244/ LinkedIn

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unboundmindcoaching/ Instagram

🎁 Listener Offer: Beth has kindly offered 25% off her Neurodivergent by Design self-study course. Code is TNM25