Conscious Curiosity

🎉 Season Finale!

We’ve made it to the end of Season 2 of Conscious Curiosity, and this one’s a little different. No academic papers, no references, no guests - just Franck and Liz, two ADHD brains reflecting on what it really means to thrive (at least, in their interpretations of the word).

From structure and sustainability to self-awareness and sleep, they unpack what thriving looks like in real life. Whether that means staying messy, being mindful, or constantly curious, it should all, hopefully, be on your own terms.

Expect the usual honest reflections, practical insights, and a few confessions along the way.

🎧 Listen in to discover:
🧠 Why “rigid but flexible” routines can help ADHD brains thrive
💪 How discipline can actually create freedom
😴 Why sleep, structure, and self-kindness matter more than motivation

We hope it's the perfect wrap-up to a season full of curiosity, challenge, and growth: a reminder that thriving with ADHD isn’t about getting it perfectly right every time.

🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:
https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch
www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown
[email protected]

🧠 Connect directly with Business Psychologist & Neurodiversity Coach Liz Mulhall:
www.linkedin.com/in/lizmulhall
[email protected]

As ever, thanks for listening, and a HUGE thank you for being part of Season 2.

Stay curious, stay kind, and see you next time, if and when there is one!.

What does it really mean to work with neurodivergent people, not just about them?

In this powerful guest episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck sits down with Lauren Powell, lecturer in Psychology and Education at the University of Sheffield and a lived experience neurodiversity researcher.

She is also the author of the paper “We’re Not Your Empathy Exercise: Reclaiming Co-Production in Neurodivergent Research and Practice” which they both discuss in today's episode... the first time EVER that a paper’s author joins the conversation on the podcast. 

Together, Franck & Lauren unpack what true co-production looks like when lived experience meets academic research. Together, they explore how good intentions can slip into tokenism, why “nothing about us without us” still matters, and how to build research - and workplaces - that are genuinely equitable.

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🎧 Listen in to discover:
🧠 Why participation doesn’t always mean equity
💬 How to close the loop and avoid “lived-experience extraction”
🤝 What ethical, reciprocal collaboration really looks like in action

This one’s essential listening for anyone shaping neurodiversity research, policy, or practice.

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🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:
https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch
www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown
[email protected]

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🧠 Connect directly with Lauren Powell:
linkedin.com/in/lauren-powell-10175b87
https://sheffield.ac.uk/education/people/academic/edu/lauren-powell

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Link to today’s academic paper: We’re Not Your Empathy Exercise: Reclaiming Co-Production in Neurodivergent Research and Practice by Lauren Powell (2024)  -https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/id/eprint/229990/1/powell-2025-we-re-not-your-empathy-exercise-reclaiming-co-production-in-neurodivergent-research-and-practice.pdf 
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As ever, thanks for listening & catch you next episode!

What happens when we bring two passionate minds together to challenge how we think about neurodiversity at work?

In this special guest episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck welcomes Nat Hawley, founder of Divergent Thinking, neurodiversity strategist, TEDx speaker, and an all-round trailblazer in inclusive design.

Together, they unpack one of the most cited articles in workplace inclusion and ask: 'does it still hold up in 2025?'

🎧 From the evolution of the neurodiversity movement to the risks of over-simplifying strengths, they explore what inclusion really means in modern organisations.

🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:
https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch
www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown
[email protected]

🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity Strategist Nat Hawley:
www.divergentthinking.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nwhawley 
[email protected]
Nat's TEDx Talk: "Why we need neurodiversity"

Link to today’s article: Neurodiversity as a Competitive Advantage by Robert D. Austin and Gary P. Pisano (2017): https://hbr.org/2017/05/neurodiversity-as-a-competitive-advantage 

As ever, thanks for listening - catch you next episode!

What do people really think about the neurodiversity movement at the moment... and is everyone truly on board?

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Liz explore new 2025 research into public perceptions of neurodiversity - from optimism and inclusion to confusion, activism, and the ongoing tension between “difference” and “disorder.”

They unpack how language, identity, and social framing shape our collective understanding, asking whether the movement risks becoming fragmented or if it’s simply evolving.

🎧 This one’s reflective, challenging, and an honest look at where the conversation goes next.

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🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:

https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch 

www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown 

[email protected] 
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🧠 Connect directly with Business Psychologist & Neurodiversity Coach Liz Mulhall:

www.linkedin.com/in/lizmulhall 

[email protected] 
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Link to today's academic paper: Public Perceptions of the Neurodiversity Movement: A Thematic Analysis by RA VanDaalen (2025)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/27546330251325973 
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As ever, thanks for listening - catch you next episode!

What does it really mean to thrive with ADHD?

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Liz dive into new 2025 research exploring the factors that help adults with ADHD function, and continue to flourish, in everyday life.

From social support and coping strategies to the surprising role of depression and self-awareness, they unpack what separates surviving from thriving. Together, they explore the data, the nuance, and the real-world implications for how we live, work, and support each other.

🎧 Listen in to discover:
🧠 Why social support can boost functioning (but not reduce symptoms)
💬 How anxiety, depression, and ADHD overlap — and what that means for wellbeing
💡 Why being “distracted and hyperactive” doesn’t stop people doing just fine

Because functioning well isn’t about being flawless: it’s about finding the conditions that help your brain do its best.

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🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:

https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch 

www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown 

[email protected] 
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🧠 Connect directly with Business Psychologist & Neurodiversity Coach Liz Mulhall:

www.linkedin.com/in/lizmulhall 

[email protected] 
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Link to today's academic paper: Distracted, hyperactive, and thriving: factors supporting everyday functioning in adults with ADHD by Atique et al. (2025)
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As ever, thanks for listening - catch you next episode!

What makes friendships between neurodivergent people feel different, and why do they often “just click” ?

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Liz explore new research on how neurodivergent people communicate, connect, and create safe spaces with each other.

From “compatible weirdness” to the double empathy problem, they unpack what happens when shared experience becomes shared language... and how that shapes belonging, understanding, and trust.

🎧 Listen in to discover:
🧩 Why “birds of a feather” might be backed by neuroscience
💬 How miscommunication shows up across neurotypes
💖 What makes neurodivergent friendships feel safer - and sometimes more intense

Whether you identify as neurodivergent or not, this one’s a heartfelt, research-rich dive into the art (and science) of connection.

🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:
https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch 
www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown 
[email protected] 

🧠 Connect directly with Business Psychologist & Neurodiversity Coach Liz Mulhall:
www.linkedin.com/in/lizmulhall 
[email protected] 

Link to today's academic paper: Neurodivergent Friendships by Sharman and Seedorf (2025): https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/27546330251359958 

As ever, thanks for listening and catch you next episode!

 What if ADHD wasn’t about deficit but instead about intensity, passion, and creativity?

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Liz dive into new research that reframes ADHD through three themes:
 ✨ Intensity as a source of passion
 🔄 On/off attention dynamics
 🛠️ Recovery strategies beyond “just rest”

Along the way, they explore the role of playfulness in learning, the realities of spiky performance, and whether it’s time to rename ADHD altogether.

👉 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:

https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch 

www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown 

[email protected] 
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🧠 Connect directly with Business Psychologist & Neurodiversity Coach Liz Mulhall:

www.linkedin.com/in/lizmulhall 

[email protected] 
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Link to today's academic paper: Intensity and Variable Attention: Counter Narrating ADHD, from ADHD Deficits to ADHD Difference by Rosqvist et al. (2023)  https://academic.oup.com/bjsw/article/53/8/3647/7181434
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As ever, thanks for listening - catch you next episode!

What can something seemingly unrelated to neurodiversity, the US Department of Defence, teach us about workplace inclusion?

In this episode of Conscious Curiosity, we explore a fascinating report on neurodiversity in the national security workforce - and uncover lessons every organisation can use.

From the “accommodations dilemma” to rethinking interviews, we look at how small, simple changes can remove barriers, unlock talent, and boost retention.

It’s not about being anti-neurotypical. It’s about being pro-neurodivergent. And the benefits - for teams, culture, and performance - are far-reaching.

🎧 Listen now to discover:

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🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:

https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch 

www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown 

[email protected] 
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🧠 Connect directly with Business Psychologist & Neurodiversity Coach Liz Mulhall:

www.linkedin.com/in/lizmulhall 

[email protected] 
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Link to today's academic paper: Neurodiversity and National Security: How to Tackle National Security Challenges with a Wider Range of Cognitive Talents by Weinbaum et al. (2023)

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10501819/  

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As ever, thanks for listening - catch you next episode!

 Are Smartphones Sabotaging Our Ability to Pay Attention?

This week on Conscious Curiosity, Franck and Liz dive into a fascinating meta-analysis exploring the link between smartphone use and learning outcomes.

Spoiler alert: it’s not great news.

From fractured focus to poorer information recall, we explore how even light phone use can erode our ability to retain and understand information - especially for ADHDers.

🧠 Why does no one teach us how to learn?
📵 Can app blockers and dumb phones really help?
📊 What does the research actually say?
⚖️ And should tech companies bear some responsibility?

This one’s part science, part self-reflection, and fully essential listening for anyone trying to reclaim their attention.

🎧 Tune in now and start setting better boundaries with your tech.

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🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:

https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch

www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown

[email protected]
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🧠 Connect directly with Business Psychologist & Neurodiversity Coach Liz Mulhall: 

www.linkedin.com/in/lizmulhall

[email protected]

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Link to today's academic paper: The effects of smartphone addiction on learning: A meta-analysis by Sunday et. al (2021).

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958821000622 

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As ever, thanks for listening - catch you next episode!

In this powerful episode, Franck and Liz deep dive into the Independent ADHD Taskforce Report: Part One commissioned by NHS England in 2024 and released in June 2025 - focusing on the emotional reality behind the policy.

They explore what it means to live in a two-tier healthcare system, where access to support is often dictated by postcode, income, and crisis-point criteria.

From cross-agency data failures to the absence of AI innovation, the report’s recommendations offer hope - but also highlight just how far we have to go.

 Expect honest conversation around:

This isn’t just policy talk. It’s personal, political, and full of heart.

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🧠 Connect directly with Neurodiversity in the Workplace Coach Franck Brown:

https://www.consciousclarity.co.uk/get-in-touch

www.linkedin.com/in/franckbrown

[email protected]
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🧠 Connect directly with Business Psychologist & Neurodiversity Coach Liz Mulhall: 

www.linkedin.com/in/lizmulhall

[email protected]

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Link to today's source: NHS England's Report of the independent ADHD Taskforce: Part 1 (2025)

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/report-of-the-independent-adhd-taskforce-part-1/

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As ever, thanks for listening - catch you next episode!