For Mental Health Awareness Week, Ben chats with Dr Adrian James, one of the UK’s most senior psychiatrists and NHS England’s first Medical Director for Mental Health and Neurodiversity. Adrian takes on this role at a crucial time, with rising waitlists, overwhelmed services turning away new referrals, and medication shortages forcing patients to ration.

They delve into the postcode lottery of waiting lists, ongoing medication shortages, the lack of accessible NHS data, obstacles to the Right to Choose, why autism in women is so often overlooked, and what’s needed to fix a broken system.

_________

00:00 Introduction

2:03 Adrian’s Brain

3:09 Adrian: “I Thought Mental Illness Happened to Other People”

5:38 Psychiatrists VS Lived Experience

6:30 What Does Adrian Do?

7:53 Why Adrian Took on the Role: “Things Needed to Change”

9:50 NHS Director or Neurodiversity and Mental Health: One Year In

10:45 Mental Health VS Neurodiversity

11:12 If Adrian Had a Magic Wand

12:33 ADHD & Autism Assessments: How Do We Clear This Backlog?

15:08 Ben: “No-one is on the List on a Whim!”

17:14 Resource & Funding VS NHS

19:50 Ben’s Push For Real Answers on Long Wait Lists, ADHD & Autism Diagnosis Delays

22:00 The Messages Adrian Receives

23:43 Neurodivergence: The Power of Early Intervention

26:26 The Missed Women of Autism: “What Now?”

30:31 Declined Right To Choose: Why?

32:44 Can All GP’s Diagnose Neurodivergence?

34:23 What Neurodiversity Training is Happening in the NHS?

37:00 What Data Does the NHS Collect Around Neurodivergence?

37:33 Why Are Waitlist Times So Different Around the Country?

38:52 How Do You Action Change?

43:00 The ADHD Medication Shortage VS NHS

46:28 Do We Have Enough GP’s?

47:33 How Do We Up-Skill Gp’s Understanding of Neurodiversity?

50:56 Adrian: “I’m Very Aware We Haven’t Got Things Right”

52:21 Neurodiversity: Parallels to Mental Health Evolution

55:42 What is a Super Specialist?

56:37 PMDD: What Exposure Is Adrian Having to This?

57:45 A Face For Neurodiversity in the NHS

 58:44 NHS VS Change and Solutions

1:00:15 Weaving Neurodivergence into the NHS & Adrian’s Green Dot Badge Giving

__________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Dr Adrian James @dradrianjames

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.

Today, Ben is joined by two unforgettable voices from Big Brother UK 2024: show winner and forensic psychologist Ali Bromley, and her fellow housemate Lily Benson. Both Ali and Lily live with ADHD, but the way the public saw them couldn’t have been more different.

In this powerful conversation, Lily reveals why she chose to hide her diagnosis from the Big Brother team. Ali opens up about the not-so-subtle ways she witnessed Lilly being misunderstood and othered, and why some of the reactions inside the house still haunt her.

Together, they confront the uncomfortable truths about how neurodivergence is perceived by the wider public, especially when it doesn’t fit expectations. They unpack the emotional toll of being made to feel “different” or “odd”, and the quiet strength that comes from finding an ally when the world feels stacked against you.

__________

00:00 Introduction

1:40 How Ali & Lily Describe Their Brains

2:11 ADHD Meds VS The Brain

5:53 The ADHD Daydreamers

6:06 When Lily Was Diagnosed With ADHD

6:32 ADHD Diagnosis VS The School System

9:30 Why Ali Encouraged Lily to Share her ADHD Journey

11:10 ADHD VS The Big Brother House

14:43 Why Ali & Lily Clicked

15:07 Why Lily Wishes She’d Listened to Her Mum

16:36 Big Brother House: What Would Lily Do Differently

17:15 Why Ali’s Protection of Lily is Personal

21:40 Public Reaction: The Cost of “Othering”

22:38 Neurodivergent People: The Social Disrupters

23:52 Do Ali & Lily Regret Going in The Big Brother House?

27:12 ADHD Diagnosis: Why Lily Decided To Go Public

28:49 ADHD Sisters: Why Ali & Lily Love Spending Time With Each other

30:03 Why Lily Loves Having ADHD & The Most Challenging Parts

31:28 Lily: What ADHD Means To Younger People

32:15 ADHD is Not An Adjective

33:52 Ali on Her Potential Autism Assessment

37:43 Lily: Growing Up in The Digital World Was Normal

38:30 Ali & Lily’s Thoughts on Social Media Neurodivergent Content

39:47 Lily & Ali’s Advice to The Next Generation of Neurodivergent Reality Stars

41:45 Managing Public Reaction & Online Trolls

44:04 Trolling: The Real Dangers on the ND Community

46:37 Lily & Ali’s Best Piece of Advice for Supporting Someone With ADHD

48:12 Lily’s Superwoman Mum: Linda

49:30 Lily’s Green Badge Choice

__________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Lily Benson @_lily.benson

Ali Bromley @_ali.bromley

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 chats with leading nutrition entrepreneur and founder of Heights, Dan Murray-Serter about the link between brain health and mental health. Dan shares how discovering neuroplasticity changed his life, why gratitude can be a superpower, and how ADHD and entrepreneurship often go hand in hand. From simple daily habits to building mental resilience, Dan’s insights reframe how we look at burnout, anxiety, and brain fog. Dan also shares his top tips for neurodivergent entrepreneurs trying to build sustainable success.

Disclaimer: This episode was recorded in November 2024, and all information discussed reflects that time. 

_________________

00:00 Introduction

1:37 Inside Dan’s Brain 

2:42 I Can’t Live Like This: Discovering Neuroplasticity

5:57 The Superpower of Gratitude: Dan’s Top Tips for Creating Life-Changing Habits 

8:34 What Dan Has Learnt About His Brain 

10:13 Golden Advice That Changed Ben’s Perspective 

11:48 How Do You Build Mental Resilience?

13:12 Dan’s Top Two Books To Read

17:58 The Danger Of Overanalysing VS Taking Action

19:40 ADHD & Entrepreneurship: Why Are They Often Best Friends?

22:38 Why Dan is Self-Diagnosed with ADHD

27:21 Reflecting On Childhood Through An ADHD Lens 

28:02 Cambridge University Offer VS April Fools Day

29:42 The Reality of Having a Disabled Parent

34:35 Heights: Brian Nourishing Supplements 

37:33 Why Dan Started Heights

39:11 Brain Health VS Mental Health 

43:45 How Dan’s Research Led To Heights

47:00 The Dream Neurodivergent and Neurotypical Team 

49:40 Supplements VS Pharmaceuticals

52:33 Feeling Constantly Unwell VS Simple Interventions 

53:50 Advice For Neurodivergent Entrepreneurs 

__________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Dan Murray @danmurrays

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.

Autism is back in the political spotlight in the U.S., as Donald Trump and his Health Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., announce a major study to “find the cause” of autism — reviving the long-debunked claim that vaccines may be to blame. The move has sparked concern among scientists, advocates, and the autistic community.

In this episode, Ben is joined by Independent journalist, Washington correspondent, and author Eric Garcia to unpack what’s really at stake. They explore the dangers of anti-vax politics, the truth behind the so-called autism “epidemic,” and the billion-dollar autism industry — including who really profits. 

As one of the few openly autistic reporters in Washington, Eric also explains why he fears for autistic people across the country.

_________________

00:00 Introduction

1:54 What is Happening in the USA?

2:23 Anti Vaxxers & Autism

5:01 Setting the Facts Straight: Business Profits VS Facts

7:04 The World of Autism in the 2016 Former Presidency

7:45 “Autism Is An Epidemic” VS The Facts Behind The Numbers

10:57 Looking For Someone To Blame: Autism is Not a Disease

12:35 Why is Autism a Priority in the USA?

14:06 The Autism Industry in the USA: How Big Is It and Who Profits?

16:00 What’s it like to be Autistic in the US? - A personal perspective

17:06 Parents of Autistic Children in the USA: The Fear is Real

19:08 Autism in America Under Joe Biden: What Was Happening?

20:13 Why Eric Love’s Politics

21:00 Why Don’t We Hear About Other Neurotypes?

22:05 ‘Aspie supremacy’ & Elon Musk: Debunked

23:53 Two Narrative Extremes: Eliminate Autism VS Supreme Autistic Beings

24:30 How Does This All End?

25:41 Victor Perez: The Killing of an Autistic Teen in 12 Seconds

27:16 Why Eric Wrote His Book: Creating Autistic Acceptance

29:10 Connection: The Invisible Autistic String

30:37 Eric’s One Wish For the Future

30:51 Green Badge Segment

__________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Eric Garcia @ericmgarcia14

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.

If you’ve binge-watched a British teen classic, you’ll know Kimberley Nixon — from Wild Child to Angus, Thongs & Perfect Snogging and Fresh Meat. But it’s her off-screen honesty that’s truly resonated.

In this chat with Ben, Kimberley shares her raw and harrowing journey through perinatal OCD — a time when she felt trapped in “the Upside Down from Stranger Things,” her mind flooded with the darkest thoughts imaginable. They explore motherhood, mental health, and the compulsive need for repetition. Together, they unpack the overlaps between OCD, autism, and ADHD — and how Kimberley is helping shine a light on the struggles so many experience in silence. 

00:00 Introduction

1:54 Kimberley VS Her Brain

3:07 How Other People Think

4:10 Autism And Brains That Work Differently

4:52 The Brain VS OCD

5:39 OCD Stereotype VS The Reality: Hurricane Kimberley

6:47 Who Flagged Perinatal OCD?

8:04 Perinatal OCD: What We Need To Know?

9:36 Examples of Perinatal OCD

11:44 Intrusive Thoughts: Am I a Secret Serial Killer? Is My Brain Broken?

17:28 How Does Perinatal OCD Manifest?

18:45 Kimberley’s Husband VS Her Perinatal OCD

20:12 Autism & ADHD NHS Diagnosis Assessment Wait List

23:27 Ben’s Podcast Catalyst for Getting an AUDHD Diagnosis

25:43 The Cross Overs of OCD, Autism & ADHD Traits

30:40 Celebrating That Everyone’s Brain Is Different

31:20 How Does Kim’s Autism Show Up?

31:43 Opening Up To Friends & Family: “You’re Not Autistic!”

32:40 Taking Off The Mask

35:28 Physical Compulsions in Perinatal OCD

36:56 The Journey of Recovery: Being Kinder To Yourself

41:03 Literal Autistic Brains VS April Fools Day, Reading Between The Lines & Acting

44:09 Taking Off The Autism Mask & Becoming Yourself

45:22 OCD Therapy: Learning To Stop Enabling Reassurance

47:43 Why Did Kim Decide To Go Public With Her Perinatal OCD Crisis?

49:56 The Leading Cause of Death in Mother’s The First Year After Birth

50:33 Are You Born With OCD?

51:22 Avoiding Smoking & Drugs Due To Addictive Traits

52:37 The Power of Familiarity & Autism: Kim’s Secret Audio Book Safe Place

55:49 Autism, Motherhood & Resistance to Change

59:19 Ben’s Unofficial Autism Diagnosis

1:00:20 Perinatal OCD: Facing The Never Ending Nightmare

1:01:47 Excuses VS Explanation

1:08:08 The Benefits of Autism & A Career in Acting

1:10:17 What Does it Mean To Be Neurodivergent in Today’s Society?

1:16:49 Intrusive Thoughts: You Are Not Alone

1:17:43 Kimberley’s Promise

1:19:15 Kimberley’s Green Light

__________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Kimberley Nixon @realkimberleynixon

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 Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, one of the most influential yet controversial leading figures in Autism research. As the director of Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre, Simon has spent 40 years shaping how we understand autism, from pioneering diagnostic tools to exploring the genetics behind neurodiversity.

Together, they dive into some of the most hotly debated aspects of his work, confront some uncomfortable truths, and explore the link between autism and unique talents. They also unpack fascinating research into why women with PCOS are more likely to have autistic children.

This is Part 2 of a two-part episode — if you missed it, be sure to catch Part 1 from last week!

00:00 Introduction

1:54 Can You Become Autistic?

3:47 Autism: What Has Simon Proven?

4:39 Why Women With PCOS Are More Likely to Have a Child With Autism

5:48 The Role of Hormones in Autism

6:45 Autism: What Has Simon Changed His Mind On?

7:37 Simon’s Thoughts on His Controversial Work: Genetics

9:00 What is Mind Blindness?

10:58 Why Did Some Not Like This Concept?

12:23 How Simon Deals With Criticism

13:20 Ben: What Could Have You Done to Improve that Situation & How Much Were Autistic People Consulted?

14:26 How Much Do We Know About Autism?

15:53 Autistic Statistics: Autism: Some Dark Home Truths

19:06 Autism Assessment Waiting List Crisis VS Suffering Adults

20:07 Comorbidities VS Neurodivergence

21:58 Autism: What Are The Top 3 Questions That We Need To Know?

23:05 Mortality Rate VS Autism

24:04 Autism VS The Need For Further Research

25:22 Ben The Inventor: Unpacking ‘The Pattern Seekers’ & Autistic People

31:08 Neurodiversity VS Lack Of Role Models

32:40 Autism: Where Will We Be In Ten Years Time?

34:20 Simon’s Green Light Choice

__________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Simon Baron Cohen @sbaroncohen

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 Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, one of the most influential yet controversial leading figures in Autism research. As the director of Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre, Simon has spent 40 years shaping how we understand autism, from pioneering diagnostic tools to exploring the genetics behind neurodiversity.

They unpack the history of autism diagnoses, why prevalence has risen, and the shifting perception from ‘disorder’ to celebrating a different way of thinking. Plus, they dive into some of the most debated topics in autism research - The complexities of empathy and the ethical challenges of genetic studies.

This is the First of a Two Part Episode - tune in for some groundbreaking research next week in Part Two!

00:00 Introduction

2:08 Ben’s Child Asks Simon: 'Are You REALLY the World's Top Autism Expert?'

2:50 Back In Time: Autism 40 years Ago

4:08 Autism Diagnoses Then vs. Now: How Children & Adults Were Diagnosed 40 Years Ago

4:45 The Moment Autism Prevalence Began to Rise

5:21 Autism Diagnostic Criteria & Disappearance of Aspergers

10:42 The History of Autism

11:48 What Sparked Simon’s Interest in Autism?

13:44 Societies Beliefs and Understanding of Autism 40 Years Ago

15:07 Genetics and The Hidden 20%

17:05 Why Autism Isn’t 100% Genetic

17:34 Ethical Minefields: Genetics Research VS Autism

20:42 Were Scientists Trying to 'Cure' Autism 40 Years Ago?

21:57 When We Started Celebrating Autistic Strengths

23:23 Brains That Think Differently: The Birth of Neurodiversity

24:26 Autism VS Closing The Gender Gap

26:39 Brains That Systemise VS Brains That Empathise

28:32 Autism & Empathy: Cognitive Empathy VS Affective Empathy

35:33 Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

36:37 Why Are the CDC Investigating the Correlation Between Autism and Vaccines?

39:43 Changing The Way We See Autism: Celebrating the Differences

__________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Simon Baron Cohen @sbaroncohen

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.

The Made in Chelsea reality star turned author and entrepreneur, Millie Mackintosh has spent years in the spotlight while secretly grappling with undiagnosed ADHD, Dyspraxia and a complex relationship with alcohol.

In this chat with Ben, Millie opens up about late diagnosis, the blurry overlap between ADHD and Dyspraxia, and how alcohol became both a crutch and a crisis to escape from rejection, grief, social anxiety and self-doubt. She shares how motherhood reshaped her perspective, the realities of sobriety, and why she’s questioning if she might be autistic too. 

From EMDR therapy to people-pleasing, sensory overload, and parenting with ADHD - Millie gives her top tips for navigating life with late diagnosed ADHD.

00:00 Introduction 

1:47 Dyspraxia Diagnosis: How, What, When & Why?

3:45 Dyspraxia & ADHD Traits Overlap

4:30 History of ADHD Diagnosis in Society 

5:00 Late Diagnosis in Women: “She’s Dyspraxic and has a vision problem”

5:35 Being Bullied & Trying to Fit in As a Neurodivergent Person 

7:20 Dyspraxia VS Alcohol 

10:52 Reflecting on Undiagnosed ADHD: The Toxic Escapism

12:01 Finding the ‘Millie’ Wild Party Girl Persona

15:27 Easily Influenced and People Pleasing as a Neurodivergent Person

16:36 Millie’s Daughters: “I don’t want them to go through what I went through”

19:18 Pre Diagnosis: “What did you know about ADHD?”

19:58 The ADHD Moment of Realisation 

21:00 My Sober Mental Breakdown

22:14 Millie’s ADHD & Medication Journey

25:45 The Best Bits of ADHD

26:30 Hyper-fixation VS Cream Loungewear

27:21 ADHD & The Keto Diet

30:05 Routine VS ADHD

31:08 Personal and Public Reactions to ADHD Diagnosis

31:56 Navigating Parental Resistance to ADHD Diagnosis and Finding Resolution

33:38 Coming Out As Sober VS Revealing ADHD Diagnosis

34:32 The Challenges of ADHD: Navigating Parenting and Overwhelm

38:10 The ADHD Battle With Emotional Regulation and Parenting 

42:21 Hugo the Husband VS Millie’s ADHD

43:52 Millie: “I’m ADHD But Am I Autistic As Well?”

44:25 Empathy VS Autism

46:40 The Effects of Rejection & ADHD

47:32 Made In Chelsea 

48:47 Health Anxiety & ADHD

51:07 The Power of EMDR: From ADHD Panic Attacks on Planes to Yawning 

51:51 Social Anxiety & ADHD

58:11 What do you say to Late Diagnosed Female ADHD’ers?

1:00:51 Millie’s Top Tips for Managing ADHD

1:01:40 “Do My Kids Have ADHD?”

1:02:25 Spreading Dyspraxia Awareness

1:04:12 Millie’s Chosen Person For The Green Badge of Honour

__________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Millie Mackintosh @milliemackintosh

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.

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

In light of recent government proposals to cut £5 billion annually from disability benefits by 2030 , it might seem like an odd moment to celebrate neurodivergence—but that’s exactly why we must. In a world where neurodivergence is often used as a pawn in culture wars, it’s more important than ever to pause, raise awareness, and share the reality of thinking differently.

For Neurodiversity Celebration Week, Ben revisits some of the podcast’s most powerful moments—from Kit Harington on ADHD & addiction to Tylan Grant on autism & social anxiety, ADHD Love on relationships, and eye-opening conversations on Tourette’s, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, and more. Busting myths, challenging misconceptions, and honouring the resilience of the ND community.

_____________________________________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburne

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

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.

Urban gardener, TV producer and author Martha Swales shares how gardening soothes her busy ADHD mind. After producing MasterChef and Nigella Lawson’s Cook, Eat, Repeat, she found viral fame inspiring millions to embrace nature.

In this chat with Ben, Martha explores the contrast of her powerhouse producer persona who is always on time and in control VS her messy, sometimes late, fast-moving ADHD mind. She shares how gardening fosters mindfulness, soothes sensory overload, and why getting your hands dirty is the ultimate therapy. Martha also reveals her top beginners tips for budding urban gardeners!

00:00 Introduction

1:50 How Does Martha Describe Her ADHD brain?

2:17 Strengths VS Weaknesses of an ADHD Busy Mind

3:21 Tears of Tiny Pond Joy

4:12 ADHD: Excessive Quietness VS Uncontrollable Babble

4:37 The Beauty of The Tiny Details

5:43 ADHD VS Nature’s Natural Patience

7:00 Unlocking The Potential of Nature

10:22 Martha’s ADHD Diagnosis Journey: Mum Knows Best

12:00 The Voice of ADHD Truths From The Best Friend

13:23 Martha's Post-ADHD Diagnosis Distress

13:39 ADHD Acceptance

14:18 Being Kind to your ADHD Mind

15:40 Peeling Back The ADHD Onion Layers

16:45 ADHD VS Primary School

18:06 How a Neurodivergent Diagnosis Can Affect Our Loved Ones

19:02 The ADHD Girlfriend Laundry Agreement & Reciprocal Altruistic Bats

21:11 When Martha Is At Her ADHD Best

22:58 The Firecracker Senior TV Producer VS Being Late To Meet Friends & Getting Lost

27:37 I Need Gardening For My ADHD Brain

29:40 ADHD Sensory Soothing: Ben’s Moment with his Silver-birch & Martha’s Love of Whittling

32:09 Connecting To The Land

32:53 Martha’s Top Growing Tips For Beginners

35:59 Why Should ADHD’ers Get Gardening?

36:54 Cooking & Gardening for Busy ADHD Minds

38:18 The Perfect Storm: Cooking, Gardening & ADHD

41:16 The Graveyard of ADHD House Plants

41:41 What Martha Would Have Done Differently: The Garden VS The Allotment

43:43 What Is The Biggest Challenge For An ADHD Gardener?

45:28 Martha’s Book: Give It A Grow

47:12 The ADHD Cucumber Killer

48:37 Praise From The Greats

49:53 Martha’s Badge Of Honour & Gratitude

___________

On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburne

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

_____________________________________

Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20podcast

Ben Branson @seedlip_ben

Martha Swales @marfskitchengarden

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.