In this final meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club Season One, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Simon Scott, co-founder of the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, co-host of The Neurodivergent Experience, and producer of this series.

Simon shares his own journey of identifying as neurodivergent, a story marked by missed signs, school struggles, identity, and years of feeling like an alien.

Together, Angela and Simon reflect on Simon’s work in podcasting — from co-hosting The Neurodivergent Experience to creating The Late Diagnosis Club — and how storytelling can create connection, validation, and community for neurodivergent people.

In the final part of the episode, they discuss the wider Autistic Culture Podcast Network, what they are building beyond this series, and what listeners can expect next.

This is a conversation about connection, self-understanding, and closing a season — while opening the door to what comes next.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Simon Scott — Podcast producer, co-founder of the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, and co-host of The Neurodivergent Experience

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair
• Member introduction: Late identification and early missed signs
• School experiences and feeling “different”
• Simon’s podcasting journey
• Building The Late Diagnosis Club
• Community, belonging, and shared experience
• Looking ahead to Season Two and the Autistic Culture Podcast Network
• Key learnings
• Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Simon Scott and reflects on the journey of The Late Diagnosis Club — a space created for connection, understanding, and shared experience.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Simon’s Story

Simon describes a childhood marked by missed signs and environments that didn’t fit his needs.

School brought challenges that were often misunderstood, leading him to internalise the idea that he was the problem.

Without a framework for Autism, he learned to adapt and cope, carrying those patterns into adulthood.

Over time, through reflection and exposure to neurodivergent experiences, Simon began to understand himself differently, leading to his identification as Autistic.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• Missed signs: Early indicators of neurodivergence not recognised
• School experience: Environments that didn’t meet his needs
• Internalised blame: Believing struggles were personal failings
• Adaptation: Coping without knowing why things were difficult
• Podcasting journey: From co-hosting The Neurodivergent Experience to producing The Late Diagnosis Club
• Community: Finding connection through listening and participation
• Reflection: Looking back with a new perspective
• The Autistic Culture Podcast Network: Expanding beyond one podcast into a wider platform
• What’s next: New shows, more voices, and continued community building

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• You can feel different without knowing why.
• Understanding yourself can change how you see your past.
• You are not alone in your experiences.
• Storytelling can be a powerful tool for connection and validation.
• Community can create a sense of belonging.
• There is no single way to be Autistic.

📌 Notice Board

• The Neurodivergent Experience on Spotify

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Nyck Walsh, writer, therapist, and advocate, who shares their journey to identifying as Autistic and ADHD later in life.

Nyck reflects on growing up feeling fundamentally different — navigating school, relationships, and work without the language to understand why things felt harder than they seemed for others. Like many late-identified adults, they developed ways to cope, adapt, and push through, often at the expense of their own well-being.

It wasn’t until adulthood, through a combination of burnout, reflection, and exposure to neurodivergent experiences, that Nyck began to recognise themselves, leading to a deeper understanding of their needs, identity, and way of being.

This is a conversation about unlearning, self-acceptance, and choosing a different way forward.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Nyck Walsh — Writer, therapist, and AuDHD advocate

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair
• Member introduction: Lifelong difference
• Discussion: Masking and adaptation
• Burnout and turning points
• Late identification journey
• Self-trust and unlearning
• Identity and authenticity
• Building a life that fits
• Key learnings
• Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Nyck Walsh and reflects on the shared experience of reaching adulthood before having the language to understand oneself.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Nyck’s Story

Nyck describes a lifelong sense of being different, not quite fitting into expected social, academic, or professional norms.

Without a framework for Autism or ADHD, they developed strategies to cope, often masking their natural responses and pushing themselves to meet external expectations.

Over time, this led to burnout and a growing awareness that something deeper needed to be understood.

Through reflection and exposure to neurodivergent experiences, Nyck began to recognise themselves, leading to a process of late identification and self-understanding.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• Lifelong difference: Feeling out of sync with others from an early age
• Masking: Adapting behaviour to meet expectations
• Internal pressure: Pushing through despite difficulty
• Burnout: The cost of long-term masking
• Late identification: Recognition through reflection and community
• Self-trust: Learning to listen to internal need
• Unlearning: Letting go of harmful narratives
• Identity shift: Moving toward authenticity
• Environment fit: Designing life around needs
• Coaching perspective: Supporting others through similar journeys

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• You can feel different long before you understand why.
• Masking can delay recognition but comes at a cost.
• Burnout is often a turning point toward self-understanding.
• Late identification can open the door to self-trust.
• Unlearning is as important as learning.
• Building a life that fits is a process, not a moment.

📌 Notice Board

• Neurodivergent Somatics in Therapy: an anti-oppressive model for whole person care - Nyck’s book - For book orders in Europe and Asia
• Nyck’s book - For book orders in the US
• The discount code is WN357 and offers a 30% discount on both the print and ebook when ordered through our site. nyckwalsh.com
• Nyck Walsh Counselling and Training Centre on Facebook
• Nyck Walsh on Instagram
• ADHD 2.0 and VAST
• Kinetic Cognitive Style (KCS) term for ADHD

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Katharine Gates, a writer, artist, and long-time creative who identified as Autistic and ADHD after a lifetime of questioning herself.

Katharine shares how she spent decades feeling like the “odd one out” — academically gifted, outwardly successful, yet constantly struggling with everyday life, relationships, and a persistent sense that something didn’t quite fit.

After 40 years of therapy, misdiagnoses, and searching for answers, it was a period of Autistic burnout that finally led her to recognise her neurodivergence and begin to reframe her life.

This is a conversation about being misunderstood for decades — and what changes when you finally understand yourself.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Katharine Gates — writer, artist, and Autistic + ADHD creator

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair
• Member introduction: Gifted child, lifelong difference
• Discussion: Masking, achievement, and burnout
• Privilege and hidden accommodations
• ADHD + Autism dual identification
• Alexithymia and emotional processing
• Special interests and bottom-up thinking
• Family patterns and generational neurodivergence
• Self-compassion and dropping shame
• Key learnings
• Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Katharine Gates, whose story reflects a common Late Diagnosis Club experience — decades of feeling different, capable, and confused all at once.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Katharine’s Story

Katharine describes herself as an “exceedingly odd child,” growing up academically gifted but struggling to translate that success into everyday life.

She became highly skilled at masking — orienting her life around achievement and external validation — while privately questioning why basic things felt so difficult.

Over time, this led to cycles of burnout, misdiagnosis, and self-blame, with labels such as depression, anxiety, substance use, and personality disorder used to explain her experiences.

It wasn’t until a major burnout in adulthood that Katharine encountered the concept of autistic burnout and began recognising herself in Autistic narratives.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• Gifted but struggling: Academic success masking real challenges
• Hyper masking: Performing competence at the cost of burnout
• Burnout trigger: Brain “stopping” rather than emotional collapse
• Therapist dismissal: Being told she “just wanted to feel special”
• ADHD alongside Autism: Dual identification later in the process
• Alexithymia: Difficulty identifying and processing emotions
• Masking as performance: Life experienced as “putting on a show”
• Parenting moment: Struggles with empathy prompting deeper reflection
• Generational patterns: Neurodivergence, trauma, and coping across family lines
• Special interests: Deep dives into systems, patterns, and categorisation

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• You can be highly capable and still struggle deeply.
• Masking can delay recognition for decades.
• Privilege can both hide support needs and meet them.
• Burnout can be the turning point toward understanding.
• Emotional processing differences are often overlooked.
• Special interests can shape identity, career, and meaning.
• Self-compassion can be one of the most powerful outcomes of a diagnosis.

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Dale Pickles — host of Sendcast and Managing Director of B Squared — for a wide-ranging conversation on late diagnosis, education systems, and what it really means to support neurodivergent people.

Dale shares how he grew up surrounded by special education — yet still missed his own Autism and ADHD. It wasn’t until 2023, prompted by supporting his daughter through her diagnosis journey, that everything finally clicked.

This is a conversation about understanding yourself, supporting the next generation, and rethinking systems that weren’t built for neurodivergent minds.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Dale Pickles — SEND specialist, podcast host, and Managing Director of B Squared

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair
• Member introduction: Family neurodivergence and missed recognition
• Learning social rules and masking
• Late diagnosis through parenting
• Navigating the UK diagnosis system
• Education system challenges and executive function in schools
• SEND reform and needs-led support
• AI and neurodivergent support tools
• Key learnings
• Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Dale Pickles and reflects on how someone can grow up immersed in special education and still miss their own neurodivergence.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Dale’s Story

Dale grew up in a family deeply connected to special education, yet his own Autism and ADHD were not identified.

Although he recognised he was different, he didn’t feel he met diagnostic criteria. Instead, he developed ways to adapt, learning social rules, structuring his environment, and building a life that worked for him.

His path to diagnosis came later, prompted by supporting his daughter through her own challenges and recognition.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• Missed in plain sight: Growing up around SEND without recognising himself
• Family neurodivergence: Traits present across generations
• Long-term relationships: Building connections through learned skills
• Diagnosis trigger: Supporting his daughter through school struggles
• Self-accommodation: Designing life to reduce friction
• Labels vs reality: Diagnosis doesn’t define ability
• Fail-first system: Support often comes only after crisis
• SEND reform: Moving toward needs-led support
• Early intervention: Preventing long-term harm
• Executive function gap: A missing focus in schools
• AI support: Tools for communication, reflection, and preparation
• Environmental impact: Needs to change depending on context

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• You can build a life that works without knowing why it works.
• Late diagnosis often comes through supporting others.
• Self-accommodation is a powerful but often invisible skill.
• Diagnosis is personal and not always necessary for everyone.
• Education systems often require failure before support.
• Early support can prevent long-term harm and trauma.
• Executive function is a key area often overlooked in schools.

📌 Notice Board

• Dale’s Podcast - https://thesendcast.com/sendcast-episodes/
• Dale’s LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/dalepickles
• Brain in Hand App

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Jason Killian, an engineer, hiking instructor, and long time member of the club, who shares his journey to understanding himself as Autistic in his 40s.

Growing up in a neurodivergent household, Jason was unknowingly accommodated in early childhood. Despite strong academic performance, Jason struggled with social integration, bullying, and later workplace dynamics, experiences that only made sense years later through the lens of Autism.

This is a conversation about understanding your needs, building a life that fits, and what changes when you finally have the right framework.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Jason Killian — Engineer, hiking instructor, and Autistic advocate

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair
• Member introduction: Early environment and hidden accommodations
• Discussion: School overwhelm and social expectations
• IEPs, missed diagnoses, and academic masking
• Workplace challenges and burnout
• Late identification and diagnosis journey
• Self-accommodation and relationships
• Hiking, regulation, and sensory experience
• Key learnings
• Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Jason Killian, a longtime LDC member whose story explores what it means to grow up supported, but not understood, and to find clarity later in life.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Jason’s Story

Jason grew up in a neurodivergent family where his needs were naturally accommodated — quiet spaces, independence, and room to explore interests.

But once he entered school, sensory overwhelm, social expectations, and group environments became challenging. Without a framework for Autism, these struggles were interpreted as social difficulties rather than unmet needs.

Although he performed well academically, Jason experienced bullying, isolation, and later workplace challenges, particularly around communication, expectations, and social norms.

It wasn’t until adulthood — after years of reflection, therapy, and recognising patterns — that Jason identified as Autistic and sought a formal diagnosis.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• Neurodivergent household: Early needs met without formal recognition
• School shock: Sensory overwhelm and social confusion in group settings
• IEP limitations: Focus on social skills, not sensory or learning needs
• Bullying experience: Social differences targeted in adolescence and work
• College turning point: Finding acceptance in the queer community
• Pandemic reflection: Patterns recognised through shared experiences online
• Relationship clarity: Shared neurodivergence improves understanding
• Workplace shift: Smaller company enabling better fit and autonomy
• Hiking regulation: Nature as a consistent nervous system support
• Sensory joy: Smell, sound, and visual richness in outdoor environments

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• Support without understanding can still leave gaps.
• Academic success does not mean needs are being met.
• Late identification often comes through pattern recognition over time.
• Self-accommodation is a critical skill for wellbeing.
• Relationships can improve with shared understanding and language.
• Environment plays a major role in regulation and success.
• Special interests can become both careers and lifelines.

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Danielle Procope Bell, PhD, an Autistic Black feminist scholar and Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Danielle shares how she knew from early childhood that she was different, finding other children chaotic, preferring books and structure, and feeling an invisible glass wall between herself and others.

Like many late-identified adults, Danielle’s recognition journey deepened after her son’s Autism diagnosis, when family patterns suddenly came into focus and helped her understand herself in a new way.

This is a conversation about identity, lineage, belonging, and what becomes possible when you finally see yourself clearly.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Danielle Procope Bell, PhD. — Scholar, professor, and Black feminist thinker

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair
• Member introduction: Early difference, late recognition
• Discussion: Hyperlexia, gifted programs, and childhood belonging
• Family neurodivergence and being accepted at home
• Son’s diagnosis and family pattern recognition
• Race, gender, and what gets missed in Autism conversations
• Autigendering and Black feminist theory
• Key learnings
• Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Danielle Procope Bell, PhD, whose work sits at the intersection of Autism, Black feminism, gender, and identity.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Danielle’s Story

Danielle recognised from kindergarten that she related differently to the world. While other children felt unpredictable and chaotic, she preferred reading, routine, and solitary play.

Her traits were interpreted as shyness and giftedness rather than Autism. She was moved into a gifted program, but the transition also brought racial and class isolation.

Later, after her son was diagnosed as Autistic, Danielle began to recognise familiar patterns in herself, her father, and wider family members — leading to her own formal diagnosis.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• Kindergarten awareness: Knowing early that other children felt chaotic
• Hyperlexia signs: Reading from age three and a deep love of books
• Son’s diagnosis: Recognition through seeing herself reflected in him
• Representation gap: Autism narratives dominated by white male stereotypes
• Traits misread: Black Autistic traits interpreted as aggression or defiance
• ODD pipeline: Black children funnelled into behavioural labels instead of support
• Medical privilege: Access to quality adult assessment shaped outcomes
• Black feminism as home: Intellectual spaces that affirmed difference before diagnosis

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• Many Autistic people know they are different long before they know why.
• Diagnosis journeys are shaped by race, gender, and class.
• Traits are often interpreted differently depending on who displays them.
• Representation changes who gets recognised and supported.
• Identity can be built through community as much as through medicine.

📌 Notice Board

• The Department of Africana Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• Black, White, and in Colour: Essays on American Literature and Culture by Hortense J. Spillers
• Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
• Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audry Lorde
• The users of the erotic - centring your internal experience by Audry Lorde
• Sula by Toni Morrison
• The Deep by River Solomon

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Warning: This episode includes discussion of terminal cancer, sudden bereavement, grief, burnout, and mental health struggles. Please listen with care.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Scott Simpson, a late-identified Autistic and ADHD creator, former broadcast journalist, and widowed father who has been raising his son solo since 2016.

After decades working in radio, Scott’s life began to unravel through grief, burnout, and the collapse of the structures that had quietly supported him for years. What followed was a search to understand executive functioning, ADHD, and eventually Autism.

Together, Angela and Scott explore hidden support needs, burnout after loss, Autistic shutdown, identity through memoirs and community, and why many late-identified adults only recognise their needs once life’s scaffolding disappears.

This is a conversation about grief, structure, survival, and finally understanding yourself.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Scott Simpson — Content creator, former broadcaster, and late-identified AuDHD parent

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair
• Member introduction: Gifted kid, burnout, and late recognition
• Discussion: Special education and social confusion
• Widowhood, solo parenting, and hidden support needs
• Radio career collapse and autistic burnout
• ADHD diagnosis and later Autism recognition
• Structure, scaffolding, and unmet needs
• Key learnings
• Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Scott Simpson, a creator and former radio professional whose late identification followed years of grief, burnout, and trying to understand why life had become so much harder.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Scott’s Story

Scott was identified as “gifted” in childhood and placed into a specialist education program. While his intelligence was recognised early, his social struggles and deeper support needs were not.

As an adult, he built a long career in broadcasting, married, became a father, and later experienced profound loss when his wife died of cancer while their son was still young.

When career structure and family scaffolding fell away, Scott began exploring executive functioning, received an ADHD diagnosis, and later recognised Autism.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• Gifted program: Early intelligence recognised, while deeper needs were missed
• Smart but struggling: Academic ability masking social confusion
• Relationship patterns: Trying hard without understanding the rules
• Sudden grief: Becoming a widowed father to a three-year-old
• Radio collapse: Career pressure, impossible demands, and burnout
• Hidden scaffolding: Job structure and parenting routines quietly sustaining life
• ADHD first: Executive functioning becomes the doorway to understanding
• Autism later: Shutdowns, overwhelm, and lifelong patterns making sense
• Memoirs mattered: Learning through Autistic voices and lived experience
• Support needs emerge: Struggles become visible once the structure disappears

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• High achievement can hide unmet support needs.
• Grief and burnout often expose needs that were once masked.
• Executive functioning struggles are often misunderstood as laziness or failure.
• Late recognition can come after life changes remove coping systems.
• Autistic voices and memoirs can be more powerful than diagnostic checklists.
• Support is often invisible until it is gone.

📌 Notice Board

Scott’s Website

Scott’s YouTube Channel

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes KW Raney, a therapist, creative, and podcast host who identified as AuDHD in adulthood after years of misdiagnosis, burnout, and self-blame.

As a child, KW was labelled with oppositional defiant disorder and grew up believing he was difficult, lazy, and broken. But decades later, recognition of ADHD, and later Autism, helped him reframe the struggles that had followed him since childhood.

Together, Angela and KW explore the cost of wrong labels, Autistic burnout, meltdowns mistaken for behavioural problems, sensory overwhelm, masking through work and education, and the long process of learning how to accommodate yourself instead of fighting yourself.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: KW Raney — Therapist, creative, and AuDHD advocate

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair 
• Member introduction: Misdiagnosis, masking, ADHD discovery and later Autism recognition
• Discussion: ODD labels and childhood misunderstanding
• Burnout, depression, and reframing the past
• Meltdowns, sensory overwhelm, and self-accommodation
• Music, animals, and nervous system regulation
• Trusting your own internal compass
• Key learnings
• Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces KW Raney, who reflects on how years of wrong labels shaped his identity, and how discovering he was AuDHD helped everything begin to make sense.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: KW’s Story

KW was diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder as a child, a label that framed his distress and overwhelm as bad behaviour rather than unmet needs.

Despite academic success, he carried deep feelings of failure and self-blame into adulthood. It was only later, through recognising ADHD and then Autism, that he began to understand the lifelong patterns beneath those experiences.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• ODD label: Childhood distress framed as defiance instead of neurodivergence
• Hidden struggle: Good grades masking internal overwhelm
• Adult ADHD recognition: A workplace conversation changed the lens
• Autism realisation: Later patterns are becoming clear through a new framework
• Burnout reframe: Depression and suicidality viewed differently in hindsight
• Meltdowns misunderstood: Pressure-valve overload mistaken for behaviour problems
• Self-accommodation: Learning to support needs instead of suppressing them
• Animal regulation: Comfort, pressure input, and nervous system calm
• Music as lifeline: Emotional release, identity, and connection
• Creative return: Rebuilding expression after burnout
• Inner compass: Learning to trust yourself over old labels

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• Wrong labels can shape identity for decades.
• Achievement does not cancel out struggle.
• Burnout is often misunderstood when neurodivergence is unseen.
• Meltdowns are overwhelm, not moral failure.
• Self-accommodation can be life-changing.
• Healing often begins when you trust your own experience.

📌 Notice Board

• https://substack.com/@mraskmore
• https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203579170

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Sha’mya Jones, a graphic designer and entrepreneur who was diagnosed as Autistic in early childhood — but didn’t learn about it until she was a teenager.

Sha’mya shares what it was like to grow up knowing she was different but not understanding why, navigating school, relationships, and identity without the language to describe her experience. From early academic success to social challenges and bullying, her story reflects the complexity of being both supported and left in the dark.

Together, Angela and Sha’mya explore masking, college burnout, creative identity, and what it means to build a life and business that reflects who you truly are.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Sha’mya Jones — graphic designer, entrepreneur, and Autistic self-advocate

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair
• Member introduction: Early diagnosis, late awareness
• Discussion: Childhood differences and school experiences
• IEP meeting and discovering her diagnosis
• Masking, bullying, and social challenges
• College life, burnout, and independence
• Art, identity, and creative expression
• Entrepreneurship and neurodivergent design
• Representation and visibility

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Sha’mya Jones, a graphic designer and entrepreneur whose work centres on neurodivergent and underrepresented communities, particularly entrepreneurs of colour.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Sha’mya’s Story

Sha'mya was diagnosed as Autistic as a toddler, but her diagnosis was not shared with her until she was in high school during an IEP meeting.

Growing up, she sensed she was different, often finishing work early, helping classmates, and connecting more easily with teachers than peers. Despite having accommodations, she navigated childhood without the language to understand her experiences.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• Early diagnosis, hidden identity: Diagnosed in early childhood but not told until high school
• Feeling different: Awareness of being out of step with peers from a young age
• Teacher connection: Easier relationships with adults than classmates
• IEP moment: Learning about her diagnosis during a school meeting
• Masking and bullying: Navigating teasing, social confusion, and self-protection
• Curiosity misunderstood: Being perceived as rude for asking direct questions
• College burnout: Over-involvement, pandemic disruption, and exhaustion
• Creative identity: Art as expression and pathway to career
• Entrepreneurship: Building a business centred on neurodivergent clients
• Representation: Highlighting Autistic women and people of colour

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• Being diagnosed early does not guarantee understanding or support.
• Without language, differences can lead to confusion and self-doubt.
• Masking and social challenges often emerge more strongly over time.
• Creative expression can provide clarity and identity.
• Representation matters — especially for marginalised Autistic voices.
• Self-understanding is an ongoing process, not a single moment.

📌 Notice Board

• Sha’mya’s LinkedIn
• Prisma kind Design Newsletter
• Prisma Kind Design Website
• Ko-Fi (for tipping)
• Brand Check-In Survey
• Free Brand Clarity Checklist 
• Brand Calm-Down Kit (paid audit and reset)
• Signature 2-tiered Brand Package (currently looking to book 3-4 beta clients to test and improve her offer) 

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Daria Brown, creator of Affect Autism and host of the We Chose Play podcast.

Daria shares her journey from parent advocate to late-identified Autistic adult, reflecting on the decade between her son’s diagnosis and her own. What began as a search for how to support her son eventually led to a deeper understanding of herself, reframing lifelong traits, parenting experiences, and ways of relating to the world.

They discuss DIR Floortime, rejecting compliance-based approaches, and the role of connection, regulation, and play in both parenting and personal growth.

This is a conversation about unlearning, identity, and what happens when the lens finally shifts.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Daria Brown — Parent advocate, podcaster, and late-identified Autistic adult

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

• Opening remarks from the Chair
• Member introduction: Parenting, advocacy, and late self-recognition
• Discussion: Son’s diagnosis, seizures, and early understanding of autism
• Medical model, ableism, and the “fixing” mindset
• Discovering Autistic voices during the pandemic
• Questioning identity and the late diagnosis journey
• DIR Floortime, connection, and rejecting compliance-based therapy
• Key learnings
• Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Daria Brown, a long-time parent advocate and creator of Affect Autism, whose work focuses on supporting families through DIR Floortime and neurodiversity-affirming approaches.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Daria’s Story

Daria’s journey into the autism world began with her son’s diagnosis following a serious medical event involving seizures and brain inflammation. At the time, her understanding of autism was shaped by ableist narratives and a belief that her role was to “fix” her child.

Over the years, as she supported her son and connected with other families, Daria became deeply involved in advocacy and alternative approaches like DIR Floortime.

A decade after her son’s diagnosis, Daria received her own autism diagnosis, reframing her identity and life experiences.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

• Early assumptions: Autism initially understood through an ableist, deficit-based lens
• Medical trauma: Son’s seizures, hospitalisation, and lasting impact on parenting
• DIR Floortime: Choosing connection and co-regulation over compliance
• ABA tension: Navigating systems that prioritise behaviour over individual needs
• Late recognition: Seeing lifelong traits through an Autistic lens
• Imposter syndrome: Questioning identity despite strong resonance
• Reframing traits: From “bossy” or “controlling” to regulation and coping strategies
• Special interests: Intense projects, creativity, and lifelong patterns
• Community: Finding belonging through shared neurodivergent experiences

4️⃣ Key Learnings

• Understanding autism often begins with outdated or ableist assumptions that require unlearning.
• Parenting a neurodivergent child can reshape identity and self-understanding.
• Connection and co-regulation are foundational to both parenting and personal growth.
• Traits once labelled negatively may be reframed as adaptive or regulating.
• Community plays a crucial role in reducing isolation and building self-acceptance.

📌 Notice Board

Affect Autism Website

Kieran Rose, The Autistic Advocate

Kathleen Platzman, PhD

We Choose Play Podcast

The Neurodivergent experience Podcast

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.