Neurodiversity Podcast

Why is inattentive ADHD so often missed, especially in girls? In this episode, Emily Kircher-Morris is joined by Cynthia Hammer, author of Living with Inattentive ADHD and founder of the Inattentive ADHD Coalition. Cynthia shares her personal journey of being diagnosed at age 49 and her late-life mission to ensure the next generation of girls doesn't have to wait decades for answers.
The two discuss the subtle clues of inattentiveness, the overlap between ADHD and autism, and how perfectionism often serves as a high-stakes masking strategy that leads to adult burnout. They also talk about the Big Sisters for ADHD Girls initiative, and the importance of early screening. It's a call to action for parents, educators, and clinicians to look past the surface and support the authentic neurodivergent self.
TAKEAWAYS
Inattentive ADHD isn't hard to see; rather, society hasn't been trained on what to look for.

It's been suggested that some girls begin masking as early as age three.

While masking helps girls fit in socially, the cognitive load of playing a role often leads to severe burnout in adulthood.

Perfectionism is frequently used as a coping mechanism to avoid the rejection sensitivity that comes with ADHD.

There is a significant overlap between inattentive ADHD and autistic traits, particularly regarding sensory processing and social cues.

A diagnosis provides a vital framework of self-empathy, replacing the labels of "lazy" or "unmotivated" with a biological explanation.

Because ADHD is highly genetic, a child's diagnosis is often the first step in recognizing neurodivergence across the entire family tree.

A reminder to sign up for a live 90-minute training workshop Emily will be presenting for parents, educators, and clinicians on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 at 12:30 PM Eastern, 9:30 AM Pacific. She joins with Elizabeth Sautter to provide a neurodiversity-affirming framework that helps kids and teens build real emotional regulation and resilience without shame, pressure, or power struggles. If you can't join live, a recording will be available shortly after the presentation ends. Register here.
Cynthia Hammer, MSW is an advocate, author, and nonprofit leader dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of Inattentive ADHD. Diagnosed at age 49 in 1992, she has spent decades working to amplify the voices of individuals whose ADHD often goes unseen and misunderstood.
Cynthia is the author of Living with Inattentive ADHD and the founder of two nonprofit organizations, ADD Resources and the Inattentive ADHD Coalition. She currently leads the FINDtheADHDgirls initiative, a project focused on identifying and supporting girls and women whose ADHD has been overlooked. Through her writing and advocacy, Cynthia continues to expand recognition and access to support for those with inattentive ADHD.
BACKGROUND READING
FINDtheADHDgirls: website, LinkedIn, LinkedIn Showcase, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, podcast. Inattentive ADHD Coalition: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube. Cynthia Hammer: LinkedIn, Facebook
The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.
If you'd like members of your organization, school district, or company to know more about the subjects discussed on our podcast, Emily Kircher-Morris provides keynote addresses, workshops, and training sessions worldwide, in-person or virtually. You can choose from a list of established presentations, or work with Emily to develop a custom talk to fit your unique situation. To learn more, visit our website.

This week, Emily welcomes Kyrus Keenan Westcott, the creator behind The Vibe with Ky. Ky is an ADHD/neurodiversity advocate, host, and theatrical director who uses his massive platform to validate the neurodivergent experience with humor and radical honesty.
In this episode, Ky opens up about his ADHD diagnosis at age 34 and the subsequent journey through anger, mourning, and eventual acceptance. They talk about the fluctuating capacity of the ADHD brain, why we can build a website in a day but struggle to get off the couch the next, and why the Western 9-to-5 ideology often fails neurodivergent people. From managing Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome to the true definition of introversion, this conversation is all about giving yourself grace as you navigate a world that wasn't built for your brain.
TAKEAWAYS
Adult diagnosis often triggers a transition from anger and mourning to self-forgiveness.

Task initiation is a neurological barrier, not a character flaw, and understanding the chemical basis of ADHD helps dismantle the "lazy" label.

Neurodivergent fluctuating capacity means your best effort looks different from one day to the next, based on environment, health, and brain chemistry.

Introversion is defined by energy replenishment and selectivity, not shyness. An introvert can be the "belle of the ball" when the topic and environment align with their interests.

Environmental hacks, like keeping your phone out of the bedroom, can serve as a physical bridge to overcome task initiation struggles in the morning.

Mental health professionals, join us for our upcoming training, Interpreting Autism Assessment Data in High-Masking and Under-Identified Presentations. Dr. Taylor Day is the presenter, and it will be held Friday, April 3 at 2:00 PM Eastern. If you can't make it live, the recorded self-study version will be available shortly after the live event. It's approved for both APA and NBCC continuing ed hours. You can register here.
Kyrus Keenan Westcott is a content creator, mental health advocate, and digital marketing strategist based in the Greater Philadelphia area. He is the founder of The Vibe With Ky, a digital platform that uses humor, honesty, and real-life storytelling to make conversations about ADHD, anxiety, and mental health more approachable and relatable.
Diagnosed in adulthood with ADHD (Inattentive Type), Major Depressive Disorder, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Kyrus blends lived experience with a refreshingly candid voice, offering validation without toxic positivity. Outside of his advocacy work, he's a Senior Paid Media Strategist with over 20 years of experience and an accomplished theater performer and director. Whether he's creating viral content or chasing a 3 AM burst of inspiration, Kyrus is all about keeping it real and helping others feel seen.
BACKGROUND READING
Ky's website, Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook, YouTube, Ky's most popular video
The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.
If you'd like members of your organization, school district, or company to know more about the subjects discussed on our podcast, Emily Kircher-Morris provides keynote addresses, workshops, and training sessions worldwide, in-person or virtually. You can choose from a list of established presentations, or work with Emily to develop a custom talk to fit your unique situation. To learn more, visit our website.

Why does friendship feel like an intuitive gift for some, but a complex, manual process for others? This week, Emily Kircher-Morris sits down with social-emotional learning expert Caroline Maguire, author of the award-winning Why Will No One Play With Me? and the upcoming Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults.
The conversation dismantles the harmful narrative that connection should happen organically, reframing social struggles not as character flaws, but as understandable skill gaps influenced by executive dysfunction and past trauma. They talk about the concept of "Middle School Caroline," the inner child who reacts to perceived slights with high-alert protection, and suggest advice on unmasking, managing rejection sensitivity, and finding "your people" who value compassion over perfect social performance.
TAKEAWAYS
The "friendship should be easy" narrative fuels unnecessary shame.

Connection is a complex skill set, not an innate character trait.

Executive dysfunction directly impacts the logistical and emotional labor of maintaining adult relationships.

Rejection Sensitivity (RSD) often functions as a protective mechanism whose past social trauma colors present-day perceptions.

Unmasking in friendships is a gradual spectrum that requires identifying safe people rather than an all-or-nothing disclosure.

Neurodivergent social strengths like info-dumping and deep empathy are valid forms of connection that deserve recognition and framing, rather than suppression.

Neurodivergent adults often base social perceptions on the most recent interaction, making objectivity and evidence-based thinking vital for relationship stability.

Mental health professionals, join us for our upcoming training, Interpreting Autism Assessment Data in High-Masking and Under-Identified Presentations. Dr. Taylor Day is the presenter, and it will be held Friday, April 3 at 2:00 PM Eastern. If you can't make it live, the recorded self-study version will be available shortly after the live event. It's approved for both APA and NBCC continuing ed hours. You can register here.
Caroline Maguire, M.Ed., PCC is an internationally recognized expert in social-emotional learning, ADHD coaching, and relationship development. She is the author of the award-winning book Why Will No One Play with Me? and the upcoming Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults (Balance Books, April 2026). As the host of The ADHD Social Playbook podcast, Caroline helps neurodivergent individuals build the confidence and connection skills needed to thrive in relationships.
A coach, educator, and sought-after speaker, Caroline developed a comprehensive SEL training methodology used by parents, clinicians, and educators to foster self-awareness, emotional regulation, and meaningful social interactions. She is the founder of the family-focused coach training program at the ADD Coach Academy, and brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work as a neurodivergent person with ADHD, dyslexia, and learning disabilities. Her work has been featured by TEDx, ADDitude, WebMD, MindBodyGreen, and more.
BACKGROUND READING
Facebook, Instagram, "Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults" book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Hachette, Audible
The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.
If you'd like members of your organization, school district, or company to know more about the subjects discussed on our podcast, Emily Kircher-Morris provides keynote addresses, workshops, and training sessions worldwide, in-person or virtually. You can choose from a list of established presentations, or work with Emily to develop a custom talk to fit your unique situation. To learn more, visit our website.

In this episode, Emily sits down with education leader, school founder, and author Chris Balme to completely reframe how we view the middle school years. Rather than treating early adolescence as a miserable phase to simply muddle through, it's a period of profound neurological transformation and peak human potential. Redesigning educational environments for neurodivergent students, by prioritizing smaller, consistent advisory cohorts and scaffolding executive function, creates a safer, more engaging culture for everyone. Other topics include the activation of the "social brain," why a baseline of belonging must be established before academic achievement can occur, and how traditional middle school structures often inadvertently fight against a student's natural developmental drives.
TAKEAWAYS
Middle school is a period of rapid cognitive and social development that requires specific developmental maps, not lowered expectations.

A balanced and healthy social brain provides a secure sense of belonging, which is a biological imperative.

Structuring middle schools to support neurodivergent learners enhances psychological safety and improves the educational baseline for the entire student body.

Middle schoolers possess a highly attuned radar for authenticity and are skeptical of artificial relevance, like busywork.

Objective, real-world responsibilities massively boost a middle schooler's maturity and self-efficacy.

Mental health professionals, join us for our next live 90-minute CE training, Inherited Neurodivergence: Supporting Parents' Identity Journeys, featuring presenter, Dr. Amy Marschall. The event is Friday, March 6 at 2:00 pm Eastern/11:00 am Pacific. It's approved for continuing education through the American Psychological Association and the National Board of Certified Counselors. If you can't make it live, you can still register for the self-study version.
Chris Balme is an education leader, writer, and school founder dedicated to helping young people unlock their human potential. He currently serves as Co-Principal at Hakuba International School and is the Founder and Director of Argonaut, an online advisory program supporting middle schoolers around the world.
Chris is an Ashoka Fellow, recognized for his leadership as a changemaker in education. He is the author of two books: Finding the Magic in Middle School, written for parents and teachers, and Challenge Accepted, written directly for middle school students. Through his work, writing, and international speaking and training, Chris continues to inspire more human-centered, transformative approaches to education. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife and three children.
BACKGROUND READING
Chris's website, Instagram
The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.
If you'd like members of your organization, school district, or company to know more about the subjects discussed on our podcast, Emily Kircher-Morris provides keynote addresses, workshops, and training sessions worldwide, in-person or virtually. You can choose from a list of established presentations, or work with Emily to develop a custom talk to fit your unique situation. To learn more, visit our website.

This week, Emily sits down with advisory teacher Rebecca Duffus, and neurodiversity advocate Lyric Rivera, to discuss the critical shift from viewing autism as a purely medical diagnosis to embracing it as a core identity. Lyric shares their personal journey of late discovery and the complex emotions that accompany it, from grief to validation. Rebecca provides some insight into the importance of authentic, affirming language. They also discuss how to empower autistic youth to advocate for their needs, navigate a world that isn't always accommodating, and ultimately discover the power of being exactly who they are. Rebecca and Lyric are co-authors of Autism, Identity and Me.
TAKEAWAYS
Identity vs pathology is all about framing autism as a core identity, rather than strictly a medical diagnosis or a list of deficits.

Late-diagnosis autism often results in a complex cocktail of emotions, including grief, anger, and eventually relief.

There is a crucial difference between forcing an upbeat perspective, and using language that genuinely validates an autistic person's lived experience.

Equipping, not just protecting, will help autistic kids understand neurodiversity, handle misunderstandings, and utilize an autism identity statement for self-advocacy.

There is a shifting landscape of autism support, language, and systemic challenges in the US, especially compared to the UK.

Mental health professionals, join us for our next live 90-minute CE training, Inherited Neurodivergence: Supporting Parents' Identity Journeys, featuring presenter, Dr. Amy Marschall. The event is Friday, March 6 at 2:00 pm Eastern/11:00 am Pacific. It's approved for continuing education through the American Psychological Association and the National Board of Certified Counselors. If you can't make it live, you can still register for the self-study version.
Rebecca Duffus, BSc, PGCE, MA, is an experienced Advisory Teacher with a background in psychology and a master's in Autism and Education. Based in the UK, she has worked across mainstream and specialist education settings, as well as with local councils, charities, and educational services to support autistic students and the professionals who serve them.
Rebecca is the author of Autism, Identity & Me, a workbook and guidebook set published by Routledge in both the U.S. and the UK. She regularly speaks at conferences, develops parent programmes, and provides training and coaching for educators and schools. Her work centers on supporting identity-affirming practices and building inclusive, informed environments for neurodivergent learners.
Lyric Rivera is the founder of NeuroDivergent Consulting and the author of the best-selling business ethics book Workplace Neurodiversity Rising, praised by Forbes as "an excellent 'how-to manual' based on lived experience and professional competence," and named a "Trend for 2023." A prominent voice in the neurodiversity movement, Lyric is also the creator of the popular blog NeuroDivergent Rebel and the originator of the #AskingAutistics hashtag, which has sparked wide-reaching conversations about the Autistic experience.
Through their writing, consulting, and online advocacy, Lyric helps organizations and individuals build more inclusive, neurodiversity-affirming environments. Their work fosters connection and understanding across communities and empowers neurodivergent people to be heard, supported, and celebrated.
BACKGROUND READING
Rebecca: Website, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn
Lyric: Website, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky, Substack
The Neurodiversity Podcast is on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and you're invited to join our Facebook Group. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com.
If you'd like members of your organization, school district, or company to know more about the subjects discussed on our podcast, Emily Kircher-Morris provides keynote addresses, workshops, and training sessions worldwide, in-person or virtually. You can choose from a list of established presentations, or work with Emily to develop a custom talk to fit your unique situation. To learn more, visit our website.