🎙 Thick No More – Season 2, Episode 1: From Performative to Practiced Inclusion — Fixing Workplace Neurodiversity

Welcome to Season 2 of Thick No More, the podcast that challenges old narratives about neurodiversity, inclusion, and what it really means to thrive at work. In this powerful opening episode, host Jay Giddens sits down with Trisha S. Daho, founder and CEO of Empowered Leadership & Culture (EmpoweredLC) an international people and culture strategist helping organisations move from performative to practiced inclusion.

Trisha built her career as a Partner at a Big Four accounting firm, leading diverse teams and driving measurable, lasting change. Today, she works with firms across the US, UK, and Europe to build cultures that grow people and performance, not just profits.

🔊 In this conversation:

• Why so few UK companies (under 1%) are Disability Confident and how ignorance, not malice, keeps progress stuck.

• What it really takes for leaders to build neuroinclusive workplaces that empower, not exclude.

• How self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership and why most DEI programs fail without it.

• The small, simple actions that make a massive difference for employees who are “hiding” in plain sight.

• How inclusive hiring should start by asking: “What do we really need and why?” instead of filtering by CVs, psychometric tests, or outdated assumptions.

• The “magic wand” moment: what Trisha would have every CEO say tomorrow to transform trust across their teams.

• Why “you’re not going to struggle on my watch” might just be the most powerful leadership promise of all.

Trisha’s insights are deeply human, practical, and refreshingly direct. Her work strips away the corporate jargon and focuses on truth, courage, and creating real belonging where everyone can show up as their full selves.

💬 Key takeaway:
Inclusion isn’t a checkbox. It’s a covenant a mutual commitment between leaders and teams to meet people where they are, to listen, adapt, and make change that lasts.

✨ About Trisha S. Daho
Trisha is the Founder and CEO of Empowered Leadership & Culture, helping global firms evolve from traditional power structures to inclusive, high-performing environments. She has decades of experience leading cultural transformation and advising executives on inclusion strategy, leadership accountability, and sustainable change.

📧 Contact Trisha:
📩 Email: [email protected]
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/trishadaho
🌍 Website: www.empoweredlc.com

Even if you just want to bounce ideas or start a conversation about inclusive leadership, Trisha welcomes your message.

🎧 Host: Jay Giddens
Thick No More is a podcast for anyone who’s ever been labelled, misunderstood, or underestimated and for leaders ready to rethink what inclusion really looks like in practice.

🧠 Listen. Learn. Lead.
Because there are no labels and there are no limits.

🎵 Music Credit:
Intro music by Cris Lowis.

🎙️ Thick No More – Season 1 Finale with Katherine Perry

This week marks the end of Season 1 of Thick No More and it couldn’t be wrapped up by anyone more fitting than Katherine Perry. Katherine is a dynamic leader, strategist, and advocate whose personal story of growing up with dyslexia and dyscalculia has shaped a career dedicated to accessibility, inclusion, and challenging stigma.

She’s best known for her time as CEO of BATA (the British Assistive Technology Association), where she drove forward conversations about assistive technology, policy, and real-world change for learners and workers with diverse needs. But behind the leadership title is a deeply personal story of childhood struggles, red crosses on the page, messages of “not being good enough,” and the long journey from stigma to strength.

In this episode, Katherine and I go deep into:

✨ Early school years – the first moments she felt different in the classroom, the shame tied to red pens and marks, and how those experiences planted both coping strategies and scars.

✨ Diagnosis in the 90s – what it was like to be assessed for dyslexia and dyscalculia at a time when many teachers still denied these differences even existed, and how early interventions shaped her path.

✨ Home life and the word “thick” – the messages about intelligence and achievement she absorbed, the echoes of her father’s unrecognised dyslexia, and what she would gently say to parents today in similar situations.

✨ Breaking cycles of shame – we discuss the idea that “hurt people hurt people” and how unhealed experiences of dyslexic shame can ripple through generations unless we confront, heal, and reshape the narrative.

✨ Tools vs. culture – why assistive technology alone is never enough without cultural change in schools and workplaces. Katherine explains what it really takes to help people thrive: safety, kindness, and environments free from humiliation.

✨ Living with dyscalculia – often less understood than dyslexia, Katherine opens up about how it has affected her life and the strategies she’s developed to work around it.

✨ Redefining worth – why intelligence does not equal value, and what healthier measures of “success” could look like for both children and adults.

✨ Performance anxiety – the triggers Katherine has faced, how over-prepping can backfire, and what genuinely helps her when it’s time to step up and speak.

✨ A message to late or undiagnosed adults – for listeners still masking, copying, and quietly exhausted, Katherine offers one kind, practical step to take today.

And of course, we end with the question every guest answers: What does “Thick No More” mean to you? Katherine’s answer is powerful, challenging, and rooted in the belief that words like “thick” are not just outdated labels, but slurs that our community deserves to throw out once and for all.

This is not just a conversation about dyslexia or dyscalculia it’s about shame, resilience, community, and reclaiming identity. It’s about recognising that “worth ≠ grades,” and that no one should have to carry labels that diminish their potential.

As we close Season 1, I want to thank Katherine for her honesty, her courage, and her leadership. I also want to thank all of you the parents, educators, tech leaders, and countless listeners around the world who have joined this journey. Your messages, shares, and stories prove one thing: we are not alone.

Thick No More. No labels. No limits.

👉  Arenova.app launches mid-October on iOS & Android 

 Preregister at arenova.app before October 13th to enter the prize draw to win a mystery retro football shirt 

(And if you’re posting on LinkedIn, it would be amazing if you could tag @arenova.app so people can find us easily )

Find Katherine Perry on Linkedin

👉 Follow Thick No More on your favourite podcast platform to get notified when Season 2 drops.

🎙 Thick No More – Episode with Ben Sutcliffe

In this episode of Thick No More, Jay sits down with Ben Sutcliffe, a man whose story is one of resilience, community, and purpose.

Diagnosed with epilepsy as a teenager, Ben’s world changed overnight. The label carried stigma, misunderstanding, and daily fears of seizures but what could have been a lifetime defined by limits became a story of transformation. Thanks to unwavering support from family, loyal friends, and his own determination, Ben learned to live beyond the diagnosis.

Today, Ben is Director of Executive Projects at Caudwell Children, a UK charity dedicated to changing the lives of disabled and neurodivergent children. For over 17 years, he has poured his skills and lived experience into advocacy, fundraising, and direct support that empowers families to thrive.

In our conversation, Ben shares:
✨ His memories of being diagnosed at 17 and the mental and emotional toll of epilepsy.
✨ The role of true friends and family who stood by him through anger, frustration, and setbacks.
✨ How his parents’ belief in service and resilience shaped his own purpose.
✨ The mission of Caudwell Children and how they open doors of possibility for children across the UK.
✨ A moving story of Tilly Griffiths, a young girl whose powered wheelchair opened not just mobility but a future full of ambition including Stanford University and Disney.
✨ Why stigma still lingers in society and how schools and communities can help break it down.
✨ His vision for the future: more face-to-face, community-based support for families, and expanding services for neurodivergent children.

Ben’s journey reminds us of a simple but powerful truth: a diagnosis does not define you it can light the fire of your purpose. His story is a call to look past labels, believe in potential, and work together to break down barriers.

💡 “Thick No More” to Ben means that moment when someone looks past the stigma and sees your potential—reminding you to believe in yourself too.

🔗 How to Connect & Support
🌐 Visit Caudwell Children – learn more about their work and how you can support.
💬 Use the online chat on the website for direct questions and guidance.
📱 Reach out via Caudwell Children’s social media channels the team responds to all messages.
🙌 Get involved: Volunteer, fundraise, or partner with Caudwell Children to make an impact.

🎧 Tune in for a story of resilience, impact, and hope and hear how Ben’s journey proves that none of us should ever be defined by a label.

Laura Horn’s journey is one of survival, resilience, and transformation. Growing up with childhood trauma, family struggles, and poverty, Laura found herself battling addiction, living with PTSD, and carrying labels without the support she desperately needed.

But this is not a story about defeat it’s about rising. Diagnosed later in life with ADHD and autism, Laura reframed her past and began to unlock the strengths hidden within her neurodivergence. Through writing and poetry, she discovered a way to process pain and turn it into something extraordinary.

In this raw and moving conversation, Laura shares:

• Childhood trauma, loss, and being left without support after tragedy

• Addiction, rock bottom, and the pivotal moment that sparked change

• Living with PTSD and later discovering ADHD & autism

• How poetry, creativity, and nature became lifelines for healing

• Why “Thick No More” means breaking free of labels and reclaiming your brilliance

Laura is now a coach, therapist, and author who helps others navigate trauma and unlock their strengths. Her story proves that even in the darkest of times, hope and creativity can lead to transformation.

📚 Explore Laura’s work:

• Website: www.creatingchangeiemt.com

• Poems on Travel: Amazon UK

• Poems of the Goddess: Amazon UK

👉 If this episode resonates, please share it with someone who needs to hear Laura’s story.

What happens when you’re diagnosed with ADHD as a little girl in 1995, at a time when hardly anyone believed girls could have it? For Cristina Gilbert, it meant growing up under the weight of risk statistics, labels, and doubt but refusing to let them define her.

In this episode, Cristina takes us through her extraordinary journey:

• Early diagnosis at 8 years old and what it meant to grow up neurodivergent in the 90s.

• The impact of hearing “risk statistics” as a child and how that shaped her confidence.

• How swimming pools and high-pressure kitchens became unexpected lifelines, teaching her structure, focus, and confidence.

• Her reinvention from dropping out of college and battling the chaos of freedom, to finding new purpose in the kitchens, then leaping to the Netherlands to study agriculture.

• How a farming degree turned into a marketing agency, and eventually led her to EdTech with Cirrus Assessment, where she now champions fairness in exams and inclusion in education.

Cristina shares openly about masking, mirroring, and struggling to fit in but also about how those same survival skills turned into strengths. She reflects on how parents and educators can better support neurodiverse children by matching environments to their brains, rather than trying to force them into traditional moulds.

For anyone who’s ever felt “different,” this episode is proof that different isn’t broken — it’s powerful.

👉 Connect with Cristina on LinkedIn: Cristina Gilbert

🎧 Listen now to hear Cristina’s full story of grit, reinvention, and why “Thick No More” means shedding shame and embracing difference.

🎙️ Episode Description – Darren Clark | Thick No More Podcast

What happens when the world labels you as “different”? When you’re excluded, underestimated, and told you won’t amount to much?

For Darren Clark, that was his reality growing up with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism in a school system that didn’t see his strengths. Segregated into a porter cabin, given dot-to-dot books instead of lessons, and excluded before exams, Darren’s confidence was shattered early on. But his story didn’t end there.

Today, Darren is a global advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion. He’s taken his experiences from the UK to countries like Kenya and Bali, shining a light on the challenges – and opportunities – of creating a world that truly embraces difference. From corporate boardrooms to grassroots communities, Darren has dedicated his voice and his energy to making sure people with learning differences aren’t just supported… they’re celebrated.

In this powerful episode of Thick No More, Jason and Darren explore:
✨ Darren’s school years and the painful reality of being written off.
✨ The moment he began to see his neurodiversity as a strength, not a weakness.
✨ Stories from his work abroad and what they reveal about global attitudes to dyslexia and ADHD.
✨ Why businesses and schools need to move beyond “tick-box” inclusion.
✨ His message of hope for parents and young people navigating the system today.
✨ What the phrase Thick No More means to him personally.

Darren’s story is raw, inspiring, and filled with lessons for educators, parents, employers – and anyone who’s ever felt underestimated.

👉 Connect with Darren Clark
🔗 LinkedIn: Darren Clark
🌍 Project: Neurodiversity Stories

🎙️ “Just a quick note before we begin: this episode contains some strong language and open discussions about addiction and recovery. Listener discretion is advised.”🎧 Thick No More Podcast – Episode with Andy Stone

From expulsion and addiction to Guinness World Records Andy Stone’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

In this episode, Jay sits down with Andy to uncover how he turned a life of chaos into one of resilience, endurance, and hope.

Andy was expelled from school, battled addiction, and struggled to hold down jobs. Yet through his ADHD, he found not only challenge but also his superpower , With the right focus, support, and lifestyle changes, Andy went on to complete 70 half Ironman triathlons in 75 days, setting a Guinness World Record.

But Andy’s story isn’t just about physical achievement. It’s about:
💡 Understanding ADHD as more than just a label
💡 The power of resilience and self-awareness
💡 Why healthy living his Six Pillars of Health can transform both mind and body
💡 The importance of finding your “thing” and running with it
💡 Hope for anyone who has ever felt written off

Andy now works as an ADHD peer mentor, speaker, and advocate. He mentors young people and adults, speaks in schools, and helps others realise that their diagnosis doesn’t define their destiny. His message is clear: you are never too old, too broken, or too far gone to turn things around.

If you’ve ever felt written off by school, work, or even by yourself—this episode will remind you that change is possible and your strengths can become your superpower.

🔗 Connect with Andy Stone:
🌍 Website: andy-stone.com
📸 Instagram: @ADHDmentorAndy
💼 LinkedIn: Andy Stone
📧 First consultation: Always free – reach out for a chat!

Episode 2 – Rewiring the Reading Brain: Ingrid & Erika Poupart of NeuraLign
Season 1 | Thick No More

In this emotional and inspiring episode, I’m joined by mother-daughter duo Ingrid and Erika Poupart, the creators of NeuraLign – a game-changing program using neuroplasticity to help struggling readers.

Ingrid shares her deeply personal journey growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, learning to read at 21 while pregnant, and the years of frustration and resilience that led her to ask, "There has to be a better way." That mission grew into NeuraLign, built with the help of her daughter Erika — a graphic designer with ADHD and a powerful drive to help kids who think differently.

Together, we talk about:

• Why dyslexia is not a measure of intelligence

• How neuroplasticity can literally rewire the brain

• The moment their first group of students made 10-grade jumps in reading

• Why they're bringing NeuraLign to the UK now

• Powerful advice for parents, teachers, and neurodiverse kids everywhere

💥 Plus: hear what song would play when they walk into a room (and how overthinking it led to laughs).

🧠 “Reading is an important life skill — but it’s not a measure of intelligence.”

🔗 Connect with Ingrid & Erika at www.neuralign.org

👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review.
🎧 Thick No More – no more labels, no more limits.

🎙️ Episode 1: Believing in Yourself – with Mary Wilcox
In our very first episode, host Jay Giddens sits down with former teacher and assistive tech trainer Mary Wilcox. Mary opens up about her experience growing up with undiagnosed dyslexia, her love of learning, the challenges she faced in the classroom, and how one unexpected career detour led her to a job she truly loves.

From personal stories to powerful reflections, Mary shares how tech can unlock independence, what she'd say to her 10-year-old self, and why we all need to rethink what it means to be "smart."

🔥 Plus, find out which theme tune Mary would have playing every time she walks into a room a question we'll be asking every guest!

They called us thick. We weren’t.
Thick No More is the bold, honest podcast about growing up with dyslexia and finally rewriting the narrative. Hosted by someone who lived it, each episode dives into real stories, practical tools, and conversations with parents, students, educators, and innovators. Whether you’re navigating learning differences or supporting someone who is, this is your space. No shame, no limits just real talk.