Neurodivergent Faith

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Welcome back to Neurodivergent Faith—a space where our whole selves are welcome, where questions are holy, and where the messy, miraculous work of being human meets the mystery of God.

We begin Season 2 with a sacred and tender conversation: ADHD + Shame.

I’m joined by my friend Jess Pentsil—a therapist and a fellow ADHDer—as we begin to explore the intersection of neurodivergence and shame.

Together, we reflect on:

• The shame scripts ADHDers often carry
• How spiritual practices can help in our healing
• What safety and freedom can look like in therapy, church, and community
• How God meets us in our most human places

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like they were too much or not enough, and anyone longing to find freedom from the weight of internalized shame.

If that’s you—lean in. There is grace here. There is truth. And there is room for all of you.

To connect with Jess: [email protected]

#NeurodivergentFaith #ChristianPodcast #NeurodiversityPodcast #ADHDLife
#ADHDAwareness #NeurodivergentVoices #ShameResilience #HealingFromShame #TherapyAndFaith

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.

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How do you respond when someone tells you they’re autistic?

In this tender and truth-telling episode, Josh invites us into a deeper way of responding when someone shares their neurodivergent identity. With grace and gentle clarity, he names some common responses that can harm—even when meant with kindness—and offers alternatives that cultivate connection, dignity, and trust.

Whether you’re autistic yourself, in relationship with someone who is, or simply want to be a more compassionate presence in the world, this episode will help you slow down, listen more deeply, and respond with love.

Because when someone says, “I’m autistic,” they’re not handing you a problem to fix. They’re inviting you to see them more fully—and to love them as they are.

#NeurodivergentFaith #AutismAcceptance #ActuallyAutistic #AutismAwareness #AutismAwarenessMonth #AutismAcceptanceAndAwareness #Neurodiversity
#SpiritualDirection

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.

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In this heartfelt episode of Neurodivergent Faith, autistic voices rise with clarity, honesty, and hard-won wisdom. When asked what they long for their churches, pastors, and fellow Christians to understand, their answers are rich with vulnerability, nuance, and sacred truth.

You’ll hear deep expressions of love, sincere accounts of pain and isolation, and powerful invitations to rethink what it means to welcome, include, and honor autistic people in our churches—not just in theory, but in practice.

This is a sacred conversation—a chorus of lived experience echoing the call: see us, hear us, make room for us.

🕊️

#NeurodivergentFaith #AutisticVoices #ChurchAndNeurodiversity
#SacredInclusion #DisabilityJusticeInChurch #SpiritualAccessibility #AutismAwareness

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.

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What if autism isn't a barrier to experiencing God's presence—but a uniquely beautiful lens for beholding God's glory?

In this rich and heartfelt conversation, Josh is joined by Harrison Litzell, a late-discovered autistic ordained minister, to explore the question: How do autistic people reflect the glory and character of God—not despite their autistic traits, but in them? Together, they delve into story, theology, and lived experience to illuminate how autistic ways of thinking, feeling, and relating can uniquely reveal divine attributes.

We press into the sacredness of autistic embodiment, perception, and relationality, considering the glory of God not as something abstract or far-off, but as something revealed in the particularities of neurodivergent lives.

This episode challenges deficit-based narratives and invites listeners to see autism not as an obstacle to spiritual life, but as a sacred and beautiful expression of it. Whether you're autistic yourself, walking alongside someone who is, or simply longing for a more expansive theology of humanity, you're welcome here.

#NeurodivergentFaith #AutismAndFaith #AutisticTheology #ImageOfGod #NeurodiversityInTheChurch #LateDiagnosedAutistic #GloryOfGod #AutismAcceptance #FaithAndDisability

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.

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How can the church better welcome and support autistic people? In this episode of Neurodivergent Faith, I interview Erin Burnett, an author from Belfast, Northern Ireland, whose latest book, With All Your Mind: Autism and the Church, weaves together biblical teaching, scientific research, and personal stories to explore this question.

Together, we discuss the intersections of church, religion, and spirituality, as well as Erin’s own journey of faith and neurodivergence. We talk about the challenges autistic people face in church spaces, the need for more inclusive theology and practice, and some practical ways faith communities can become places of true belonging.

Find more of Erin’s work at erinburnettauthor.co.uk.

#NeurodivergentFaith #AutismAndChurch #WithAllYourMind #ErinBurnett #AutismAcceptance #Neurodiversity #FaithAndInclusion #AccessibleChurch #AutisticVoices #DisabilityTheology #ChristianityAndNeurodiversity #BelongingInChurch #InclusionMatters #SpiritualityAndAutism

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.

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In this episode of Neurodivergent Faith, I reflect on what’s working—and what’s not—in my journey of connecting with God, myself, and others in this season of life. From spiritual rhythms to technological supports that help (or hinder) my connection with God, I explore the ongoing process of adapting faith practices to fit my neurodivergent wiring. As you listen, I invite you to reflect on what’s working (and not) in your own spiritual life—and consider what that might mean for you moving forward.

#NeurodivergentFaith #FaithAndNeurodivergence #NeurodivergentChristian #SpiritualRhythms #WhatsWorking #NeurodivergentLife #FaithAndMentalHealth

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.

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Some of us connect with God best through structured rhythms—predictable routines that provide safety and grounding. Others experience God in the unplanned, in moments of spontaneity and discovery. And for some neurodivergent people (I see you, fellow AuDHDers!), it’s a delicate dance between the two. In this final episode of our three-part series, we explore the tension between structure and flexibility in spiritual practices.

Listeners share their personal experiences—what doesn’t work for them and the rhythms they’ve found that do. From the comfort of liturgy to the need for novelty, from the struggle with traditional prayer methods to the freedom of creative expression, we hear how neurodivergent brains engage faith in ways that are both deeply personal and profoundly valid.

Join us as we reflect on the ways structure can hold space for divine encounters—and how spontaneity can open unexpected doors to connection. Where do you find yourself in this tension? And how does God meet you there?

#NeurodivergentFaith #AutismAndFaith #ADHDFaith #SpiritualityAndNeurodiversity #ConnectingWithGod #FaithAndRoutine #FaithAndSpontaneity #LiturgyAndCreativity #NeurodivergentWorship

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.

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In this episode of Neurodivergent Faith, we consider more of the creative and diverse ways neurodivergent people connect with God. We hear from listeners who share honestly about what works for them and what doesn’t, highlighting the beauty of diversity in faith expressions. Traditional spiritual practices like Bible reading don’t work for everyone—and that’s okay! We explore  alternative ways of engaging with Scripture beyond just reading. We also talk about engaging creativity and dialogue with others as meaningful ways to connect with God.

Together, we reflect on how Jesus invited his disciples into a dynamic, experiential relationship—walking, learning, and growing alongside him. For those who struggle with conventional spiritual practices, this episode offers encouragement: you would have made a great disciple, not despite how your mind works, but because of it.

#NeurodivergentFaith #NeurodivergentSpirituality #NeurodivergentLife #NeurodiversityMatters #MentalHealthAndFaith #FaithAndNeurodiversity #NeurodivergentChristianity #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #SpiritualGrowth #PodcastEpisode #FaithPodcast #NeurodivergentVoices #ChristianLife #SpiritualityForEveryone #NDChristianity #FaithAndNeurodiversity #ChristianityBeyondQuietTime #NeurodiverseChurch #InclusiveSpirituality #SacredRhythms

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.

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When the crowds pressed in, Jesus didn’t just push through—he found creative ways to create space while staying engaged. In this episode of Neurodivergent Faith, we explore Luke 4:42–5:3 and consider how Jesus’ choice to withdraw and even get into a boat might reflect a form of accommodation.

Too often, we’re told we must choose between caring for ourselves or serving the community. But what if that’s a false choice? What if Jesus shows us a way to do both—through creative accommodations that honor both our needs and our calling?

Join us as we challenge binary thinking, reimagine what inclusion can look like, and consider how Jesus’ example might affirm the needs of neurodivergent people in faith spaces.

#NeurodivergentFaith #NeurodivergentSpirituality #NeurodivergentLife #NeurodiversityMatters #MentalHealthAndFaith #FaithAndNeurodiversity #NeurodivergentChristianity #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #SpiritualGrowth #PodcastEpisode #FaithPodcast #NeurodivergentVoices #ChristianLife #SpiritualityForEveryone #NDChristianity #FaithAndNeurodiversity #ChristianityBeyondQuietTime #NeurodiverseChurch #FaithAndInclusion
#AccommodationsAreBiblical #DisabilityTheology 

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.

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In this episode of Neurodivergent Faith, listeners reflect on how setting and movement play a crucial role in spiritual connection for neurodivergent individuals. Traditional notions of "quiet time" or "personal devotions" often assume a structured, still, and silent approach to engaging with God, which often does not align with the sensory and attentional needs of neurodivergent people. Drawing from both listener experiences and biblical examples, we explore how finding the right environment—whether a peaceful, sensory-friendly space or the natural world—can support a regulated nervous system and make spiritual engagement more accessible. Examples from Scripture, such as Jesus meeting Zacchaeus in his unique context or seeking solitude in nature, reinforce the idea that connection with God is deeply personal.

The episode also highlights the importance of embodied connection, recognizing that many neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD, may struggle with traditional stillness-based spiritual practices. Movement—such as walking while praying, using fidgets, or listening to Scripture while engaging in another activity—can help sustain focus and create a meaningful spiritual rhythm. Biblical stories, including Peter walking on water, illustrate that encountering God is not a one-size-fits-all experience. Listeners are encouraged to explore what settings and practices support their own connection with God, embracing the unique ways their neurodivergence shapes their faith journey.

Stay tuned for more episodes on this topic! 

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#NeurodivergentFaith #NeurodivergentSpirituality #NeurodivergentLife #NeurodiversityMatters #MentalHealthAndFaith #FaithAndNeurodiversity #NeurodivergentChristianity #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #SpiritualGrowth #PodcastEpisode #FaithPodcast #NeurodivergentVoices #ChristianLife #SpiritualityForEveryone #NDChristianity #FaithAndNeurodiversity #ChristianityBeyondQuietTime #NeurodiverseChurch #InclusiveSpirituality #SacredRhythms

To connect further, find Josh on Facebook, Instagram or email at: [email protected]. You can also join the conversation in our Neurodivergent Faith Community Group on Facebook. Or, for personal encouragement on your own journey of neurodivergence, consider booking a spiritual direction session with Josh through Patreon.