In this episode, Ben sits down with Amanda Perry, ADHD business mentor and author, to discuss the UK government’s Access to Work scheme and the controversy sparked by a recent Daily Mail article. The piece claims that influencers labeled "sickfluencers" are driving a surge in applications, particularly from self-diagnosed ADHD’ers. Amanda, one of the individuals named in the article, joins Ben to share her side of the story.

In this chat with Ben, Amanda discusses the purpose of the scheme, who it truly benefits, why ADHD is often misunderstood, and how the media can influences people's views on it.

NB: We reached out to the Daily Mail / Mail Online for a response to this podcast but received no reply. The invitation is still open.

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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

Amanda Perry @amandaperry

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 special anniversary episode, Ben sits down with Head of Production, Bella, to reflect on an extraordinary first year of The Hidden 20%.

From the thrill of winning Gold at the British Podcast Awards to unpacking the most raw and emotional conversation on the show, we revisit the moments that shaped us and changed the way we think.

In this chat with Bella, Ben unpacks the three words that define our mission—"I feel seen"—answers listener questions, and bravely shares his extraordinary journey from homelessness to hosting this podcast.

Join us as we celebrate a year of speaking to great minds that think differently, and look ahead to what's next!

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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 & Joe Grace

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

Bella Neale @bella_neale

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.

Professor Amanda Kirby has been a leading voice in the neurodivergent community for over four decades. With a PhD in Education and a background as a GP, her extensive career spans academic research, medical practice, and consultancy. She’s the author of 10 influential books, including the award-winning Neurodiversity at Work and her latest publication, Neurodiversity and Education.

In this chat with Ben, Amanda delves into the evolution of neurodivergence awareness, highlights the often-overlooked overlaps between ADHD and Traumatic Brain Injury, and critiques the siloed research and diagnostic processes that are creating serious challenges. She also shares innovative ideas that could potentially save the government billions!

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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

Amanda Kirby @progamandakirby

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 2019, Clare Seal hit a breaking point in her life, facing £27K debt with no safety net. But after being diagnosed with ADHD, she rebuilt her relationship with money, becoming a certified financial coach, building a community of over 100k Instagram followers, and writing three books to help others manage their money.

In this chat with Ben, Claire opens up about the moment she hit rock bottom, how her ADHD hijacked her bank account and how she went on to use it to rebuild her career, all whilst inspiring others to do the same. From practical tips on tackling Impulse Spending to Self Assessment Tax Hacks, Clare gives some incredible take-aways on how to put your money where it matters.

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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: Joe Grace

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

Clare Seal @clare.seal

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.

CW: Mental Health, Gore, Blood

Marjolein Robertson, celebrated for her raw, relatable humour has taken the comedy world by storm. With widespread acclaim at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and a coveted spot on The List Hot 100, she has cemented her place as a rising star in comedy.

In this episode, Marjolein opens up about being overlooked in the healthcare system, unpacks the link between neurodivergence and PMDD, Adenomyosis, and Endometriosis, and shares the story of her near-death experience. She also reflects on how as an ADHD comedian, the stage is the only place she has control of time.

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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

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

Marjolein Robertson @marjoleinrobertson

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.

At just 22, Ward Thomas made history as the first UK country act to reach number one. Twin sisters Lizzy and Catherine have firmly established themselves as trailblazers in the British country music scene, but the journey to the top wasn't always smooth.

In this chat with Ben, Lizzy and Catherine reflect on how neurodivergence has shaped their identities, creativity, and music. They discuss Lizzy’s feelings of inadequacy as the "dyslexic twin," the struggles of ADHD decision paralysis, the importance of creating space for one another, and the challenges of sibling comparison in a neurodivergent family. The sisters also share why Dyslexic thinkers often thrive as singers and songwriters.

Stick around until the end—you might just be treated to a special a cappella performance!

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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

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

Ward Thomas @wardthomasmusic

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.

From West London roots to becoming the first Black CEO of Island Records in the UK and US, Darcus Beese has shaped the music industry, launching stars like Amy Winehouse, Jessie J, Shawn Mendes, and Demi Lovato.

He shares the challenges of being a CEO with ADHD, the dangers of relentless work, and how medication brought clarity—allowing him to see the world "in HD" for the first time. Darcus also reflects on growing up as a Black neurodivergent boy in 1970s Britain and unveils the reality of success in the music industry, from Sabrina Carpenter to Chappell Roan.

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

To celebrate the end of our first year at The Hidden 20%, we’re bringing back a familiar face from day one: Carrie Grant!

This time, Carrie is joined by her husband, David Grant — the legendary vocal coaches from Pop Idol and Fame Academy. But beyond their iconic careers, the Grants are parents to four neurodivergent children, making them the perfect guests to explore what a neurodivergent Christmas looks like.

In this chat with Ben, Carrie and David share why Christmas should come with zero expectations, the importance of unmasking as neurodivergent parent, why they allow their children to “walk away” on Christmas Day, the reality of gift-giving to neurodivergent children and the changes they hope to see in 2025.

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

Josh Hughes, aka The Tourettes Barber, has turned his experience with Tourettes into a powerful story of resilience and inspiration. With over a million TikTok followers, he uses humour and honesty to challenge stereotypes, raise awareness, and show that hands-on work is possible with severe tics.

In this conversation with Ben, Josh opens up about the real dangers he’s faced, including being attacked for involuntary outbursts, his struggles with social media censorship, battling depression, and finding his purpose. He also explores how is Tourettes and Dyslexia intersect.

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

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Miguel Toribio-Mateas, a neuroscientist, applied microbiologist, and holistic health expert with over two decades of experience. Dr. Miguel Toribio-Mateas has developed a unique expertise in the fascinating connections between neurodivergence, mental health, and the gut microbiome.

In this chat with Ben, Dr. Miguel uncovers some of the latest and, at times, unsettling discoveries in neuroscience. From exploring the risks of psychosis linked to ADHD medication to discussing a revolutionary imaging technique that identifies autism with 95% accuracy. this episode is a deep dive into the cutting-edge science shaping our understanding of the brain.

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