Dear Dyslexic Podcast

In Part 2 of this Deep Dive series, host Dr Shae speaks with Nick Nagzam and introduces the show’s mission to share honest conversations and build community around dyslexia and other 

neurodivergent conditions, then moves into a discussion about working from home in a global, largely neurodivergent team and how home “distractions” can be less disruptive than office interruptions.

Nick shares how differences between his sons became clear during COVID lockdown homeschooling, leading to one child’s autism diagnosis at age four, and how a second child’s ADHD became more apparent after breaking his femur and losing physical outlets like sport. They discuss day-to-day family strategies such as running for self-regulation, setting device limits and screen lock times, bedtime wind-down routines, and sleep supports including slow-release melatonin. The guest also highlights support resources like Amaze and Autism Connect and learning through books.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:35 Remote Work Reality

03:19 Kids Diagnoses Story

05:29 Injury Reveals ADHD

07:25 Family Coping Strategies

09:44 Screens and Sleep

11:34 Finding Support

14:06 Resources and Wrap U

About Dear Dyslexic Podcast

The Dear Dyslexic Podcast amplifies the voices, experiences and expertise of people from the dyslexia and broader neurodivergent communities, creating conversations that inform, empower and inspire.

Learn more about re:think dyslexia: https://rethinkdyslexia.com.au/

Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to Dr Shae and the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, proudly produced by re:think dyslexia, a certified social enterprise.

To stay up to date with our latest episodes, resources and events, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast on your favourite podcast platform.

Listen to more Dear Dyslexic Podcast episodes: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jx91no...

Need Support?

If any of the topics discussed in this episode have caused distress, support is available:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636
• 13YARN: 13 92 76
• re:think dyslexia Helpline: 1800 13 6327

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The office is not always the most supportive place to work.

In Part 1 of this Deep Dive series, host Dr Shae speaks with Nick Nagzam about his work and his podcast, The Inclusive Shift, and his journey into advocating for neurodiversity inclusion at work after his two sons were diagnosed (autism with a PDA profile and ADHD, and ADHD). Nick shares how he founded a neurodiversity resource group at his workplace, partners with the DEI team to promote awareness days and fundraising events, and aims to

help employees feel safer being themselves. They discuss workplace stigma and misunderstanding, the benefits and challenges of working from home for neurodivergent people, and the importance of individualized support and outcomes-based leadership. They also note concerns about organizations pushing employees back into offices and the mistrust mindset of “if I can’t see you, you’re not working.”

00:00 Welcome to Dear Dyslexic

00:38 Meet Nick Nagzam

01:37 Nick’s Neurodiversity Journey

03:06 Workplace Awareness Calendar

04:40 Stigma and Support Gaps

05:35 Remote Work Realities

09:20 Flexibility for Individuals

11:06 Breaking the Nine to Five Box

12:22 Future of Work Generations

14:11 Wrap Up and Resources

About Dear Dyslexic Podcast

The Dear Dyslexic Podcast amplifies the voices, experiences and expertise of people from the dyslexia and broader neurodivergent communities, creating conversations that inform, empower and inspire.

Learn more about re:think dyslexia: https://rethinkdyslexia.com.au/

Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to Dr Shae and the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, proudly produced by re:think dyslexia, a certified social enterprise.

To stay up to date with our latest episodes, resources and events, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast on your favourite podcast platform.

Listen to more Dear Dyslexic Podcast episodes: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jx91no...

Need Support?

If any of the topics discussed in this episode have caused distress, support is available:

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

13YARN: 13 92 76

re:think dyslexia Helpline: 1800 13 6327

What if struggling with numbers wasn't just about being "bad at maths"?

In this episode of the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, Dr Shae is joined by Michael from Dyscastia, an intervention tutor and advocate with lived experience of dyslexia and dyscalculia. Together, they explore the often-misunderstood learning difference of dyscalculia and discuss why awareness remains so low compared to other neurodivergent profiles.

Michael shares his personal journey and professional insights, explaining how dyscalculia affects number sense, understanding value, time, money, fractions, measurement, and many everyday tasks that others often take for granted. The conversation also highlights the differences between dyscalculia and maths difficulties associated with working memory or processing speed challenges.

The episode offers practical, confidence-building strategies for learners, families, educators, and support professionals, emphasising explicit teaching, concrete representations, repetition, and mental maths approaches that help make mathematical concepts more accessible.

Whether you're a parent, educator, person with dyscalculia, or simply want to better understand neurodivergent learning differences, this episode provides valuable insights and practical takeaways.

In this episode:

What dyscalculia is—and what it isn't

How dyscalculia affects everyday life

Number sense, time blindness, and understanding value

Common misconceptions about maths difficulties

Practical support strategies that build confidence

Resources for parents, educators, and learners

About Dear Dyslexic Podcast

The Dear Dyslexic Podcast amplifies the voices, experiences and expertise of people from the dyslexia and broader neurodivergent communities, creating conversations that inform, empower and inspire.

Rethinking Maths, Dyscalculia & Confidence: Scaffolding, Practice, and Practical Tool

In part 3 of our latest episode DR Shae and Michael focus on lived experiences of dyslexia and other neurodivergent conditions and explore maths anxiety, shame, and the lasting trauma of school experiences such as being discouraged from using fingers.

The conversation reframes “not being good at maths” as a difficulty that can improve with time, patient step-by-step scaffolding, and regular practice, noting maths is cyclical and offers repeated chances to fill gaps compared with literacy. They discuss how breaks can erase progress, how anxiety reduces working memory, and share practical mental maths strategies (counting forwards/backwards, skip counting, counting in tens, “close to 10,” doubles/near doubles).

To reduce financial barriers, they recommend Ronit Bird’s The Dyscalculia Toolkit, Steven Chin’s Maths

Explained videos, and Eddie Woo, emphasising narrative context, hands-on learning, and that it’s possible to learn with the right support.

00:00 Welcome to Dear Dyslexic

00:37 Maths shame and labels

01:56 Rebuilding maths foundations

05:37 Practice without burnout

08:19 Counting drills and patterns

10:03 Mental maths strategies

12:32 Affordable learning resources

19:00 Learning through narrative

21:24 English origins and morphology

26:36 Hands on maths scaffolding

29:12 Final encouragement and wrap

If this podcast has caused you any distress, you live in Australia and need to speak to someone urgently, please contact:

- LifeLine on 13 11 14

- BeyondBlue counsellor on 1300 22 4636 13

- 13 Yarn (13 92 76)

Featured Resources

In our just released Part 2 of Ep 87 Dyscalculia Explained: Number Sense, Time Blindness, and Building Confidence with Practical Strategies, Dr Shae Marie Wisszell on the Dear Dyslexic Podcast sits down with Michael Shanaha to explore dyscalculia and why it is often invisible due to low awareness, even among maths teachers.

Michael explains dyscalculia as a core difficulty with basic number sense (value, bigger/ smaller, numerosity), distinct from maths anxiety, working memory limitations, or processing speed challenges that can also make maths hard.

The conversation covers real-life impacts beyond school, including understanding time, money, fractions, discounts, and financial decisions, with examples from the guest’s experience supporting their daughter and tutoring students.

Together, Shae and Michael discuss using concrete supports like counters, real money, visual timers, routines, and explicit instruction (counting, number bonds, practice and repetition) to build foundations, reduce anxiety, and create success that improves confidence and mindset over time.

Watch now on YouTube or on your favorite podcast platform and share this episode with someone who needs to know they’re not alone!

00:00 Welcome to Dear Dyslexic

00:29 Dyscalculia myths and awareness

03:07 What dyscalculia really is

06:57 Time sense and routines

10:10 Everyday maths challenges

11:38 Money and real world practice

14:37 Teaching number sense basics

22:23 Math anxiety and mindset

24:54 Building confidence with small wins

27:37 Core strategies and fluency drills

31:30 Gentle support and finger counting

35:12 Wrap up and resource

In this episode of Dr Shae and the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, our host Shae,welcomes Michael from the podcast Dyscastia to discuss dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, and why there aren’t enough conversations about these learning difficulties.

Michael explains his view on labels, using “disability” for official funding and support contexts and preferring “difficulty” personally, while questioning the term “difference.” He shares his work as an intervention tutor supporting children with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and related neurodivergence such as ADHD and autism, and describes the morphology-focused “word cracking” software and the Literacy Support Kit he developed with Sally Andrew to better support students for whom some programs move too quickly.

Michael also recounts his varied career path, his late identification through his children’s diagnoses, and his lived experience of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and dysgraphia.

00:00 Podcast Mission

00:36 Meet Michael

01:34 Labels Disability Or Difficulty

03:08 Tutoring And Tools

06:00 From Teaching To Tutoring

06:55 Family Diagnoses Spark Journey

08:28 Career Path And Wrap Up

09:00 Resources And Support Lines

In this Dear Dyslexic podcast episode, Dr Shae speaks with consultant and leader Ben Walkenhorst about psychosocial hazards and how to create psychologically safe workplaces, especially for neurodivergent people.

Ben shares his background (20+ years’ experience across sectors and leading teams up to 200) and his lived experience of dyslexia, including an auditory component and visual stress helped by Irlen lenses, which he says transformed his learning outcomes. He explains psychological safety as an environment where people can speak up without judgment or retaliation, and outlines three key factors: great leadership, job design/job demands, and environmental factors. Ben gives examples from remote work and local government process redesign, discusses clear role expectations, supportive feedback practices, reasonable adjustments, and why training and new legislation make this work essential.

00:00 Welcome to Dear Dyslexic

00:34 Meet Ben Walkenhorst

04:15 Ben’s Dyslexia Story

07:40 Irlen Lenses and What Works

09:25 Personal Strategies and Self Awareness

12:04 Psychological Safety Explained

16:25 Job Design and Workload

23:12 Environmental Adjustments That Help

26:21 Neurodivergence Trip Hazards at Work

36:52 Feedback Without Triggers

43:46 Why Leader Training Matters

46:30 Business Case and Legal Duties

48:41 Wrap Up and Next Steps

About Dear Dyslexic Podcast

The Dear Dyslexic Podcast amplifies the voices, experiences and expertise of people from the dyslexia and broader neurodivergent communities, creating conversations that inform, empower and inspire. Learn more about re:think dyslexia: https://rethinkdyslexia.com.au/

Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to Dr Shae and the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, proudly produced by re:think dyslexia, a certified social enterprise.

To stay up to date with our latest episodes, resources and events, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast on your favourite podcast platform.

Listen to more Dear Dyslexic Podcast episodes: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jx91no...

Need Support?

If any of the topics discussed in this episode have caused distress, support is available:

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

13YARN: 13 92 76

re:think dyslexia Helpline: 1800 13 6327

This episode of the Dear Dyslexic podcast explores how feedback and workplace practices can impact neurodivergent people, including those with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism, particularly when feedback feels overly critical or triggering due to past experiences. The conversation focuses on the role of great leadership in giving feedback privately and safely, discussing practical adjustments like changing red markup colors and reframing “feedback” as “advice.” It also covers how constant check-ins can raise anxiety and suggests creating adult-adult relationships where employees have permission to speak up about what works for them. The guest emphasises the importance of training leaders in psychological, social, and emotional dynamics and neurodivergence, linking psychological safety to improved productivity and business outcomes, alongside growing legal and regulatory obligations in Australia.

00:00 Welcome to Dear Dyslexic

00:33 Feedback and RSD

02:13 Better Ways to Give Feedback

03:54 Advice Not Feedback

04:20 Checking In Without Anxiety

06:05 Adult Adult Leadership

07:27 Training Leaders on Neurodiversity

10:11 Business Case and Compliance

12:22 Wrap Up and Next Episode

15:19 Resources and Sign Off

Resources

Understanding Neurodivergence and Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace

About Dear Dyslexic Podcast

The Dear Dyslexic Podcast amplifies the voices, experiences and expertise of people from the dyslexia and broader neurodivergent communities, creating conversations that inform, empower and inspire. Learn more about re:think dyslexia: www.rethinkdyslexia.com.au

Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to Dr Shae and the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, proudly produced by re:think dyslexia, a certified social enterprise.

To stay up to date with our latest episodes, resources and events, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast on your favourite podcast platform.

Listen to more Dear Dyslexic Podcast episodes on Spotify.

Need Support?

If any of the topics discussed in this episode have caused distress, support is available:

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

13YARN: 13 92 76

re:think dyslexia Helpline: 1800 13 6327

Creating Psychologically Safe Workplaces for Neurodivergent Teams

In this episode of the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, Dr Shae welcomes Ben Walkenhorst from BW Communications for a conversation about creating neurodiversity-inclusive workplaces through psychological safety, effective leadership and thoughtful workplace design.

Drawing on his leadership experience across government, private and not-for-profit sectors, Ben explains what psychological safety looks like in practice and why it is becoming an increasingly important focus under workplace health and safety regulations. He describes psychological safety as creating environments where people feel comfortable speaking up, sharing ideas and asking for support without fear of judgement or negative consequences.

Together, Dr Shae and Ben explore three key factors that influence workplace wellbeing and inclusion: leadership, job design and workplace environments. They share practical examples of how organisations can build more supportive cultures, including establishing non-judgemental meeting norms, fostering social connection in remote teams and using staff feedback to improve systems and processes.

Ben also discusses workplace adjustments that can support neurodivergent employees, including managing sensory demands, providing role clarity, holding confidential one-on-one conversations, setting clear expectations and allowing flexibility around timeframes and communication styles. The discussion highlights how tools such as AI, assistive technology and strengths-based leadership approaches can help employees perform at their best.

This episode offers practical insights for leaders, managers and workplaces looking to create psychologically safe environments where neurodivergent people can thrive.

Resources

Understanding Neurodivergence and Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace

About Dear Dyslexic Podcast

The Dear Dyslexic Podcast amplifies the voices, experiences and expertise of people from the dyslexia and broader neurodivergent communities, creating conversations that inform, empower and inspire. Learn more about re:think dyslexia: www.rethinkdyslexia.com.au

Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to Dr Shae and the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, proudly produced by re:think dyslexia, a certified social enterprise.

To stay up to date with our latest episodes, resources and events, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast on your favourite podcast platform.

Listen to more Dear Dyslexic Podcast episodes on Spotify.

Need Support?

If any of the topics discussed in this episode have caused distress, support is available:

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

13YARN: 13 92 76

re:think dyslexia Helpline: 1800 13 6327

00:00 Welcome to Dear Dyslexic

00:34 Self Awareness Strategies

03:14 Leadership Builds Safety

04:32 Remote Team Culture

06:25 What Psychological Safety Means

07:34 Job Design and Demand

09:50 Inclusive Process Redesign

14:21 Environmental Factors at Work

18:21 Role Clarity and Supports

23:05 Reasonable Adjustments and KPIs

27:31 Personal Dyslexia Workarounds

29:11 Wrap Up and Resources

In this episode, Dr Shae from the Dear Dyslexic Podcast welcomes Ben Walkenhorst, consultant at BW Communications, to explore psychosocial hazards in the workplace, psychological safety, and what organisations can do to create environments where people feel safe to be themselves.

With more than 20 years of experience across government, private and not-for-profit sectors, Ben shares insights from his leadership career and discusses why psychosocial hazards are becoming an increasingly important workplace issue as they are incorporated into work health and safety regulations across Australia.

Ben also shares his lived experience of dyslexia, having been identified in primary school. He reflects on challenges including words appearing to move on the page, blurred vision and difficulties processing information in noisy environments. He explains how Irlen lenses, prescribed following extensive assessment, had a significant impact on his learning, helping him improve academically and ultimately supporting his success at university and throughout his professional career.

Together, Dr Shae and Ben discuss the importance of understanding neurodivergence in the workplace, reducing barriers, and creating psychologically safe environments where people can thrive.

Resources

Understanding Neurodivergence and Psychosocial Hazards in the Workplace

About Dear Dyslexic Podcast

The Dear Dyslexic Podcast amplifies the voices, experiences and expertise of people from the dyslexia and broader neurodivergent communities, creating conversations that inform, empower and inspire. Learn more about re:think dyslexia: www.rethinkdyslexia.com.au

Stay Connected

Thanks for listening to Dr Shae and the Dear Dyslexic Podcast, proudly produced by re:think dyslexia, a certified social enterprise.

To stay up to date with our latest episodes, resources and events, follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and review the podcast on your favourite podcast platform.

Listen to more Dear Dyslexic Podcast episodes on Spotify.

Need Support?

If any of the topics discussed in this episode have caused distress, support is available:

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

13YARN: 13 92 76

re:think dyslexia Helpline: 1800 13 6327