In part two of Ben’s conversation with Dr Shyamal Mashru, they unpack what actually makes a good ADHD assessment - and why so many people are still waiting, misdiagnosed, or left without answers.

Dr Shyamal, an NHS Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Lead for Adult ADHD, explains what happens inside a thorough assessment, who is qualified to diagnose ADHD, and why emotional dysregulation is so often overlooked. 

Together, they explore NHS vs private pathways, co-occurring conditions like autism and RSD, and why ADHD rarely shows up in neat, textbook ways.

We hope this episode brings clarity to a process that can often feel stressful, and inaccessible. If you’re questioning ADHD, on a waiting list, or trying to understand what good care really looks like, this conversation is for you.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

________

Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction

01:12 Who Can Diagnose ADHD in the UK?

04:25 ADHD Assessment Options: NHS vs Private Explained

11:20 ADHD Assessments Outside the UK: What’s Different?

13:00 Why ADHD Assessments Are Complex & Often Siloed

20:14 ADHD & Reduced Life Expectancy: What the Research Shows

24:20 What Makes a Good ADHD Assessment?

29:25 ADHD at School vs University: Missed Support

32:50 RSD, Relationships & Emotional Regulation Flags

34:16 ADHD & Daily Life: Hobbies, Money, Sleep

41:02 When ADHD Gets Misdiagnosed - and Why

47:15 Autism + ADHD: What If You Suspect Both?

55:06 The Missing Piece in ADHD Diagnosis: Emotional Dysregulation

59:00 Dr Shyamal’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Dr Shymal Mashru @harrowhealthcic

Harrow Health offers bespoke NHS community outpatient services across London, plus fast adult ADHD assessment and treatment across England. For more information please visit: https://adhdrighttochoose.com/

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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

In this episode, Ben sits down with Dr Shyamal Mashru, Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Lead for Adult ADHD, for a clear and compassionate deep dive into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD).

Often misunderstood or dismissed as being “too sensitive,” RSD is explored here as a real, neurological experience - one that can hijack rational thought, flood the body with emotional pain, and quietly shape relationships, work, and self-worth. Dr Shyamal explains what RSD is (and isn’t), how it shows up differently across people, and why ADHD brains may be especially vulnerable.

They unpack the science, the role of trauma and hormones, why RSD isn’t currently in the DSM, and what actually helps when rejection hits hard.

If rejection feels overwhelming, confusing, or deeply personal - this conversation offers clarity, relief, and language for what you may have been carrying alone.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

________

Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Dr Shyamal Mashru’s ADHD Background & Clinical Work

03:15 What Surprises Clinicians About ADHD Assessments

04:41 Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Explained: What RSD Is & Why It Hurts

09:16 RSD Coping Mechanisms: Shutdown, People-Pleasing & Avoidance

11:44 Is It RSD or Something Else? How to Tell the Difference

15:05 The Neuroscience of RSD: Why Rational Thinking Switches Off

17:27 RSD in Romantic Relationships & Attachment

21:33 How to Support a Partner With Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

22:50 How Aware Is Society of RSD?

24:38 RSD, Hormones & ADHD: Menstrual Cycle, Perimenopause & Menopause

26:33 Is There an Upside to RSD? Emotional Depth & Sensitivity

29:56 Can Non-ADHD People Experience RSD?

31:55 RSD vs Trauma & Fear of Failure

34:46 Why RSD Is More Than “Not Handling Rejection”

36:15 Why Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Isn’t in the DSM

40:00 How RSD Shows Up in Children

41:29 Early Signs & Patterns Clinicians Look For

42:59 How Common Is RSD in ADHD — and When It Appears

46:20 Treating RSD: Therapy, Medication & Regulation

56:18 The One Thing Dr Shyamal Would Change About RSD Awareness

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Dr Shymal Mashru @adhdhealthclinic

www.adhdhealthclinic.co.uk

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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

Semi-Professional cyclist, Connie Hayes, joins Ben for a deeply personal conversation about growing up autistic, dyslexic and dyspraxic - and how cycling became both a regulator and a place of safety.

Connie reflects on the early signs of autism that were missed, the self-esteem battles that came with puberty, hormones and friendships, and the long road to understanding her neurodivergence.

She shares how sport - particularly cycling - helps regulate her nervous system, why environment matters so deeply for autistic performance, and how dyspraxia shows up at an elite level.

Together, they also explore autism in women, eating disorders in sport, disclosure, and the urgent need for more inclusive practices across the industry.

If you’re curious about neurodiversity, sport and identity, this episode is for you!

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

________

Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction

01:05 Connie Hayes: The Autistic, Dyslexic & Dyspraxic Professional Cyclist

02:20 Early Signs of Autism & Being Missed

03:07 How Cycling Regulates Connie’s Autistic Brain

04:41 Understanding Autism Through Sport (Post-Diagnosis)

05:57 Designing Environments Where Autistic Athletes Thrive

08:05 Autism, Dyslexia & Dyspraxia Diagnosis Journey: Self-Esteem, Puberty & Friendships

10:42 Dyspraxia in Elite Cycling: Coordination, Balance & Training

12:28 Fighting for School Support & Being Left With Questions

16:59 The Right University & Autism in Women: “It Saved My Life”

25:53 Identity: Seeing Herself as an Autistic Woman

26:38 Society’s Expectations vs Autistic Females

27:19 Neurodiversity in Sport: What We Get Wrong

29:21 Autism, Sport & Eating Disorders

39:43 Why Autism Can Be a Strength in Professional Cycling

46:45 Women’s Cycling Through an Autism Lens

55:06 Disclosing Autism: Regret, Relief & Reality

58:38 Is Cycling Good for Neurodivergent People?

01:02:07 Connie’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Connie Hayes @connie_hayes

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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

In part two of this conversation, neurobiologist and author of The Lost Girls of Autism, Gina Rippon, rejoins Ben to focus on the women autism research left behind.

Picking up where part one ends, Gina traces how early brain science, diagnostic bias and cultural assumptions combined to hide autistic women in plain sight. She unpacks why autism was framed as a “male condition,” how masking became a survival strategy, and the real cost of decades of late or missed diagnosis.

They explore the neuroscience behind prediction and masking, the forgotten female figures in autism’s history, and why the language of “over-diagnosis” risks oversimplifying a much more complex history of under-recognition .

Gina also reflects on autistic bullying, and what meaningful change in diagnosis and research could look like next.

If you’ve ever wondered why so many autistic women are only being seen now - or why you still don’t feel seen - this conversation is for you. We hope it offers some clarity, context, and hope.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

________

Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction

01:00 Gina Rippon’s Career in Autism & Neuroscience

02:00 The Brain Questions That Changed Autism Research

05:12 Autism & the Brain: Predictive Coding Explained

08:11 Why So Many Autistic Women Were Missed

09:09 The Forgotten Female Psychiatrist Who Identified Autism Decades Earlier

16:52 Autism Diagnosis Ratios: Female vs Male Explained

18:02 How Many Autistic Women Have We Missed? The “Overdiagnosis” Myth

24:02 Masking in Autistic Women: The Breakthrough Moment

29:30 The Reality of Bullying for Autistic Girls

31:18 The Cost of Late Autism Diagnosis in Women

35:59 Autism, Hormones & PMDD: What Research Still Lacks

37:00 Debunking the “Refrigerator Mother” Myth

40:15 What Neuroscience Tells Us About the Autistic Brain

44:11 Neurodivergent vs Neurodiversity: Why Language Matters

46:00 The Future of Autism Diagnosis in Women

47:54 What Gives Gina Rippon Hope

50:45 Gina Rippon’s Top Tips for Autistic Women

51:44 Gina’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Gina Rippon https://www.ginarippon.com/

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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

In part one of this two-part conversation, neurobiologist and author of The Gendered Brain and The Lost Girls of Autism - recently awarded the British Psychological Society’s Popular Science Book Prize - Gina Rippon joins Ben to unpack what we really know, and don’t know, about the human brain.

From left-brain/right-brain myths to the rise of gendered brain science, Gina explains why many of the ideas we’ve grown up with simply don’t stand up to scrutiny. Drawing on decades of research, she explores how brains change across the lifespan, how experience actively shapes neural pathways, and why no two brains - neurodivergent or not - are ever the same.

They dive into alpha rhythms, brain plasticity, ageing, and the cultural bias baked into neuroscience, including why the idea of distinctly “male” and “female” brains has caused more confusion than clarity.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

________

Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction

00:57 Why Gina Rippon Became Obsessed With the Brain

2:54 What Science Really Knows About the Neurodivergent Brain

7:18 Brain Waves Explained: Alpha Rhythms & Neurodivergence

10:24 Debunking Common Myths About the Neurodivergent Brain

12:00 Left Brain vs Right Brain: Does It Actually Exist?

17:14 The Best Analogy for How Brains Really Work

18:17 Why London Taxi Drivers’ Brains Change

19:30 How the Brain Changes With Age

21:46 Brain Plasticity, Careers & Learning Over Time

23:27 Why Every Brain Is Different And Neurodiversity

26:45 Gender Bias in Neuroscience: “Neuro Trash” Research

27:53 Is There Such a Thing as a Male or Female Brain?

35:18 The Real Impact of Gendered Brain Science

40:56 Neurodivergence, Gender & Brain Differences Explained

44:07 Moving Beyond Gendered Brains to Human Brains

45:22 What Are Thoughts, Really?

48:40 Why Gina Decided To Write “The Lost Girls of Autism”

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Gina Rippon https://www.ginarippon.com/

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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

Comedian, presenter and creator Holly Morris joins Ben for a candid conversation about living with AuDHD, the hidden cost of masking, and why being “funny” is often a survival strategy rather than a personality trait.

Holly shares how her comedy career grew out of lifelong hyper-vigilance - constantly scanning rooms, people and conversations and how that same awareness fuels both her humour and her exhaustion. She opens up about navigating networking, friendships and online spaces as a neurodivergent adult, and why masking can feel automatic, ingrained, and hard to switch off.

They explore Holly’s later diagnoses of ADHD and autism, imposter syndrome, her experience of Emetophobia, and how her Autism and ADHD overlap and show up in daily life. 

If you’ve ever felt socially switched on but internally depleted, this episode will feel quietly familiar.

AD Head to https://bit.ly/hidden20_getdopa and use code Hidden20 for 10% off.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

________

Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction & AD

1:48 Holly Morris’ AuDHD Comedy Journey

5:04 Masking as an AuDHD Comedian & Networking Pressure

8:36 How Masking Shapes Holly’s Online Content

13:14 Discovering AuDHD & Living With Emetophobia

17:25 Hypervigilance, Anxiety & the AuDHD Nervous System

21:50 ADHD vs Autism: How AuDHD Shows Up Day to Day

27:30 Being Open About Neurodivergence: Online vs In-Person

30:39 Adult Friendships, Social Energy & Neurodivergence

44:40 Masking vs Unmasking: What Actually Helps

46:48 The Hidden Cost of Being a Neurodivergent Creator

50:09 AuDHD, Imposter Syndrome & Self-Doubt

51:30 Thinking Differently: Strengths, Creativity & Hope

1:02:00 What’s Next for Holly Morris

1:10:30 Holly’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Holly Morris @hollymorrisss

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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

Dr Renata Fialho is back in the green chair.

In this conversation, Renata and Ben pick up where they left off - this time with Renata sharing her own ADHD diagnosis, what it was like to receive it later in life, and how it has quietly reshaped both her inner world and her clinical work.

Together, they unpack the realities of autism and ADHD assessments across the NHS and private sector, why certain myths continue to circulate, and where Renata sees genuine potential for more thoughtful, humane practice.

Renata also shares why she’s joining The Hidden 20% as a clinical psychologist, her hopes for the direction of neurodiversity care, and reflections on her work at the intersection of neurodivergence and sport - including why swimming can be such a powerful regulator for ADHD nervous systems.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

________

Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction

00:47 Dr Renata Fialho Reveals Her ADHD Diagnosis

03:57 Why Dr Renata’s ADHD Was Missed for So Long

08:39 How ADHD Shows Up in Dr Renata’s Daily Life

10:25 Neurodiversity Care: NHS vs Private Explained

11:45 The Autism Assessment Myth That Frustrates Clinicians

13:00 Why Many Clinicians Work Across NHS and Private Practice

15:46 What Gives Dr Renata Hope About the Private Sector

17:14 Dr Renata Joins The Hidden 20% Team

21:15 The Autism Assessment Case That Changed Dr Renata’s Practice

24:05 Identity, Community & Diagnosis: Beyond the Medical Model

29:22 Dr Renata’s Vision for The Hidden 20%

31:57 ADHD, Sport & Mental Health: Why Swimming Helps ADHD Brains

38:38 What a Good ADHD Assessment Actually Looks Like

42:44 Can One Clinician Assess All Neurotypes?

45:14 What Keeps Dr Renata Up at Night and Her Hopes for the Future

49:06 Dr Renata’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

@DrRenataFialho (LinkedIn)

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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

In this episode, Ben sits down with bestselling author, psychologist and behaviour change expert Shahroo Izadi for a deep, honest conversation about ADHD, addiction and how habits really form.

Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Shahroo reflects on how years spent working in addiction services helped her make sense of her own impulsivity, shame cycles and coping strategies - long before she had the language for neurodivergence. 

Together, Ben and Shahroo unpack why addiction is often misunderstood, how neurodivergent brains are especially vulnerable in a frictionless modern world, and why behaviour change isn’t about willpower or fixing yourself.

This is a compassionate, practical conversation about trust, self-belief and designing habits that work with your brain - not against it.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

________

Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction

01:26 Shahroo Izadi’s ADHD Diagnosis & Personal Journey

08:12 ADHD, Neurodivergence & Addiction: What’s the Link?

11:44 Is Addiction a Disease — or a Coping Strategy?

13:04 Why Willpower Fails: Understanding Habit Formation

16:50 ADHD vs Autism: Impulsivity, Dopamine & Delayed Reward

19:08 ADHD & Addiction: Shahroo’s Framework for Sustainable Change

29:18 Trusting an ADHD Brain After Years of Self-Criticism

33:33 Applying Behavioural Psychology to Living With ADHD

36:15 The ADHD Tax: Shame, Avoidance & Hidden Costs

39:25 External Dependence, Coping Mechanisms & Control

42:03 Shahroo’s 3 Practical Tips for Lasting Behaviour Change

52:13 Ben on Addiction & Recovery: Choice Without Deprivation

58:47 What We Still Get Wrong About Addiction & Neurodivergence

1:02:02 Healthy Habits vs Addiction: Where’s the Line?

1:07:21 Addiction, ADHD & Autism: What Needs to Change Systemically

1:15:20 Shahroo’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Shahroo Izadi @shahroo_izadi

www.shahrooizadi.co.uk

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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

As another year closes, we’re taking a gentler approach to New Year’s thinking. In this special episode, Ben is joined by familiar voices from across the year and a hint of who’s to come in 2026 - as he sits down with clinicians, creators, advocates and friends of The Hidden 20% to talk about goals, not resolutions.

From Dr Renata Fialho to Shahroo Izadi, Céin McGillicuddy, Dr Alison Lennox, Dr Josephine Neale and Tony Lloyd, each guest reflects on what they’re carrying forward into 2026 and what they’re intentionally leaving behind.

Together, we unpack why “resolutions” can feel loaded, deficit-focused and unrealistic for neurodivergent brains, and why goals rooted in compassion, flexibility and self-trust tend to work better.

This is a calm, grounding end-of-year listen - focused less on fixing yourself, and more on meeting yourself where you are.

From all of us at The Hidden 20%, thank you for your support this year - we’ll see you in 2026. 🟢

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

________

Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

00:00 Introduction

1:15 A Neurodivergent Rethink of New Year’s Resolutions with Dr Renata Fialho

4:25 Sam Branson on Realistic ND Goals & Letting Go of Pressure

5:50 Shahroo Izadi: Neurodivergence, Money & Rewriting Financial Goals

7:40 Céin McGillicuddy on ND Creativity, Balance & 2026 Intentions

10:13 Dr Alison Lennox’s New Year Goals as an Autistic Psychiatrist

12:19 Dr Alison Lennox: Hopes for Neurodivergence in 2026

22:10 The Hidden 20% Team: Community Goals for 2026

26:10 Dr Josephine Neale: Why “Goals” Work Better Than Resolutions for ND Brains

41:42 Tony Lloyd: How I Set ND-Friendly Goals Across Life, Work & Purpose

47:07 Tony Lloyd’s Three Wishes for Neurodivergence in 2026

48:25 Ben’s Personal New Year Goals for 2026

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Dr Renata Fialho

Shahroo Izadi

Sam Branson

Dr Tony Lloyd

Dr Alison Lennox

Dr Josephine Neale

Céin McGillicuddy

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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

Our Refocus series rewinds the moments too good to miss. Short takes. Big takeaways. No attention span required.

To celebrate Christmas 2025, we rewind to Carrie and David Grant talking about life post-diagnosis for Carrie, neurodivergent parenting, unmasking as a family, and how letting go of Christmas pressure can transform life for neurodivergent children and their parents.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

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Host: Ben Branson

Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.

Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.

No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.

1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.

To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.

With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.

Join us at hidden20.org/donate.

Become a monthly donor.

Be part of our community where great minds think differently.

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

______________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Carrie Grant @carriegrantsays

David Grant @davidgrantsays_

If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.

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