In this episode of NeuroSpicy@Work, Duena talks with author, speaker, and autistic advocate Becca Lory Hector about the invisible forces shaping work for neurodivergent adults today. They explore why ableism is still embedded into everyday professional expectations, how generational differences influence ND identity, and why autistic adults often carry the emotional cost of “not quite fitting” into structures that were never designed for them.

Becca brings a grounded, honest perspective on ND adulthood: late discovery, burnout, unmasking, communication differences, workplace bias, and the push toward genuine inclusion rather than performative “awareness.” Together they break down what it really means to navigate work as an autistic adult in a culture still catching up.

What We Talk About

• Why ableism is still normalised in most workplaces
 • Generational differences in understanding autism and ADHD
 • The emotional and practical cost of masking
 • Late diagnosis and rebuilding identity
 • ND–NT communication differences
 • Why ND people experience burnout earlier and harder
 • Cultural resistance to unmasking and authenticity
 • “Doing ND” vs “Performing professionalism”
 • The shift from toxic productivity to humane expectations

Why This Matters

Ableism is often invisible — baked into job descriptions, expectations, communication norms, and “professionalism.” Understanding how ND adults of different generations experience these pressures is key to building workplaces where people can show up honestly without burning themselves down to appear “normal.”

Who This Episode Is For

Neurodivergent adults (late or early diagnosed), leaders, HR teams, educators, workplace culture designers, and anyone trying to reduce unintentional ableism in organisations.

Guest

Becca Lory Hector
 Website: https://beccalory.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beccaloryhector

🎧 Listen to the full podcast series:
 https://feeds.transistor.fm/neurospicy-work

🧩 Take the NeuroSpicy Assessment:
 https://amineurospicy.com

🌐 Learn more about the host:
https://www.duenablomstrom.com

📚 About the Host
Hosted by Duena Blomstrom — author of People Before Tech, creator of the Human Debt framework, and late-diagnosed autistic/ADHD founder.

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This episode explores ableism, generational differences, ND identity, autistic adulthood, masking, burnout, communication gaps, misalignment between ND and NT expectations, performance culture, psychological safety, and Human Debt.
 Keywords: autism, ADHD, ND masking, late diagnosis, workplace ableism, generational differences, burnout, emotional labour, psychological safety, autistic adults, Human Debt.
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Questions This Episode Answers

• Why do ND adults experience workplace ableism even in “inclusive” environments?
 • How do generational differences shape ND identity and disclosure?
 • Why is masking so emotionally and physically exhausting?
 • What makes late diagnosis so destabilising for adults?
 • How do workplace norms reinforce ND burnout?
 • What needs to change for ND adults to feel safe at work?

In this first episode of NeuroSpicy@Work, Duena sits down with Prof. Dr. Amanda Kirby — one of the most respected voices in neurodiversity, lived experience, and inclusive work design. Together they unpack what it actually feels like to disclose autism at work, why the modern workplace still struggles with ND identity, and how communication, fear, and outdated structures continue to hold people back.

Dr. Kirby brings clarity and depth to topics most organisations mishandle: the tension between authenticity and safety, the rise of late-diagnosed adults, and the emotional and practical realities of ND life in professional environments. This episode offers a grounded, honest look at why disclosure is such a risk for many — and what needs to change if workplaces want to stop bleeding talent and burning people out.

What We Talk About

• The risk, fear, and vulnerability behind disclosure
• Why ND identity is misunderstood in the workplace
• The collision between rising diagnoses and outdated HR structures
• Stigma, shame, and the pressure to be “authentic”
• Why ND people are the canaries exposing broken culture
• The role of communication and emotional language in safety
• Social media’s impact on ND understanding (good and bad)

Why This Matters

ND people are entering workplaces that were never built with them in mind — and many are burning out, masking heavily, or leaving altogether. This episode sets the stage for the entire series by naming the real issues: cultural fear, communication breakdowns, human debt, and a system that still doesn’t know how to treat ND workers with respect. Understanding these dynamics is key to building genuinely safe, functional teams.

Who This Episode Is For

Neurodivergent professionals, late-diagnosed adults, leaders, HR teams, educators, and anyone trying to build a more human-centred workplace.

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This episode explores neurodiversity at work through themes of disclosure, psychological safety, stigma, communication gaps, human debt, masking, late diagnosis, ND–NT dynamics, and workplace cultural adaptation.
 Keywords: autistic identity, workplace disclosure, psychological safety, ND burnout, masking, lived experience, communication patterns, stigma, HR barriers, organisational fear, Human Debt.
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❓ Questions This Episode Answers

• Why is disclosure still risky for autistic and ADHD professionals?
• How do shame, stigma, and misunderstanding shape ND work experiences?
• What happens when rising ND identification collides with outdated workplace norms?
• Why does communication matter more than diagnosis labels?
• How can organisations adapt if they genuinely want ND people to thrive?