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.

________

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.

In this episode, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr Josephine Neale - Clinical Director for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services at the Priory and founder of Neale Health, the UK’s first fully online child and adolescent psychiatry service - joins Ben to unpack ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), a condition many people have never heard of but is increasingly recognised in autistic and ADHD individuals.

Josephine explains that ARFID isn’t about weight or body image, but driven by four key subtypes: sensory discomfort, fear and anxiety (often around choking or vomiting), low appetite, or a combination of these.

Drawing on her specialist work across autism, ADHD, and eating disorders, she breaks down why ND people experience food so differently, why ARFID is still often missed, and how eating difficulties can quietly build long before families know what’s happening.

This conversation offers clarity, compassion, and practical tools - whether you’re navigating ARFID yourself, supporting a young person, or simply trying to better understand ND eating differences.

If you would like to support us this Christmas please consider gifting from the below link to spread awareness and carry on the conversation:

https://www.hidden20.org/christmas-grotto

________

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

00:48 Dr Josephine Neale: Her Background in Eating Disorders, Autism & ADHD

7:20 Why Mind & Body Are Often Seen As Separate in Eating Disorders: & Why That Can Be Problematic 

11:26 What Is ARFID? (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Explained)

15:01 How Clinicians Assess ARFID 

23:35 ARFID in Neurodivergent People: Autism, ADHD & Sensory Profiles

25:29 The Four ARFID Subtypes: Fear, Sensory, Low Appetite & Combined

29:40 What Causes ARFID? Understanding Roots, Triggers & Early Signs

31:13 ARFID Fear Subtype: Anxiety, Choking Fears & Avoidance

32:44 ARFID Low Appetite Subtype: Interoception & Reduced Hunger

34:38 ARFID Sensory Subtype: Texture, Smell, Taste & Food Aversions

48:23 Can ARFID Come and Go? Understanding Episodic Presentations

50:30 Did ARFID Exist Historically? Why Modern Life May Be Increasing Cases

55:36 Christmas & ARFID: How to Support People with Eating Difficulties

1:01:08 ARFID at Someone Else’s House: How Families Can Navigate Christmas Day

1:05:59 Dr Josephine’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by ADHD & autistic 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 Josephine Neale @drjosephineneale www.nealehealth.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.

Christmas is often described as joyful, but for many neurodivergent people it can be overwhelming, exhausting and full of hidden pressure. In this special episode, Dr Alison Lennox returns to unpack why the festive season can feel so challenging - and how preparation, boundaries and regulation strategies can make a huge difference.

Ben and Alison discuss sensory overload, disrupted routines, family expectations, social fatigue and the pressure to “perform” throughout December. Alison shares practical, compassionate advice on preparing for gatherings, setting boundaries ahead of time, creating exit plans, managing burnout, supporting ND children, and finding small moments to regulate even in busy environments.

Whether you look forward to Christmas or quietly dread it, this episode gives permission to approach the season differently - with clarity, self-compassion and a plan that puts your wellbeing first.

CW: This episode contains discussion of mental health crisis, overwhelm and emotional distress, particularly around the festive period.

If you are struggling, in emotional distress or feel unsafe, please reach out:

• Samaritans (24/7) - Call 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
• Shout Crisis Textline - Text SHOUT to 85258
• Mind – https://www.mind.org.uk
• NHS 111 (urgent mental health support) – https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services
• If you are in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E.

________

If you would like to support us this Christmas please consider gifting from the below link to spread awareness and carry on the conversation:

https://www.hidden20.org/christmas-grotto

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 Being Neurodivergent at Christmas: Why the Festive Season Is Hard

3:34 Family Expectations, Routines and Holiday Pressure

5:00 Why the Festive Season Can Be Overwhelming for ND People

6:03 First Christmas After an ND Diagnosis: Handling Difficult Family Reactions

10:24 Setting Boundaries Without Guilt & Planning Ahead to Reduce Holiday Stress

14:40 Setting Boundaries Without Shame: ND Social Masking & Avoiding Burnout

25:25 How to Support Neurodivergent Children at Christmas

30:30 Dr Alison’s Top Tips for Setting Healthy Boundaries

34:42 Dr Alison’s Festive Advice for ADHD’ers on Medication

36:00 Alcohol vs Neurodivergent Brains

39:50 The Importance of Preparation for ND Regulation at Christmas

42:39 Managing Sensory Overload & Navigating Christmas Traditions

45:54 What ND People Can Do If They or a Loved One Are in Distress

48:03 Dr Alison’s Final Words of Advice: Q&A From Our Listeners

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by ADHD & autistic 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 Alison Lennox https://www.dralisonlennox.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.

Seventeen months on, Sam Branson - Ben’s Wife - returns for her most honest conversation yet. Their daughter River is now diagnosed autistic, and Sam and Ben reflect on how that has reshaped their marriage, family life and understanding of each other.

This episode is their most vulnerable yet.

Sam reflects on what it has really been like since Ben’s autism diagnosis and the pain of autistic shutdowns from both perspectives. 

Together, they talk about parenting an autistic child, adjusting their communication and finding understanding and compassion in the hard moments.

This is a raw, honest conversation for anyone raising an ND child or loving someone whose brain works differently.

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

00:00 Introduction

01:26 Reflecting Since Sam’s Last Episode (17 Months Later)

05:22 Autism Diagnosis: How Are Things Now in Our Marriage?

06:19 “Let’s Talk About Autistic Shutdowns”: The Pain From Both Sides

21:12 Ben & Sam on Their Daughter River’s Autism Diagnosis

28:34 Sam vs Ben: Parenting an Autistic Child Differently

36:25 The Importance of Neurodiversity-Aware Schooling

38:45 “I Have More Patience for Our Daughter’s Autism Than Yours”

39:45 “I Wasn’t For Our Daughter’s Autism Diagnosis”

58:11 Navigating Autism, Marriage, Shutdowns & Family Life

1:00:12 Sam’s Top Tips for ND Families at Christmas

1:14:15 Sam’s Green Dot Badge

The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by ADHD & autistic 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

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Follow & subscribe…

Website: www.hidden20.org

Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity

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.