SEND it. Brains At Work
SEND it. Brains at Work is a podcast about neurodivergent minds navigating the professional workplace. Hosts Steph and Claire share honest conversations, practical strategies, and real stories that challenge how work is done. The show aims to provide insights and support for neurodivergent employees and to inspire change in workplace culture.
Episodes
Episode 31 - Why Am I Struggling Now? Perimenopause and the Masking Effect
Send us Fan MailEver found yourself thinking, “Why can't I cope with things the way I used to?” What if it's not just perimenopause? What if it's revealing something that's been there all along?This week on SEND IT: Brains at Work, Steph and Claire dive into the fascinating and often overlooked connection between perimenopause, ADHD, autism and late-discovered neurodivergence.F
Episode 30 - Neurodivergent Burnout: Why Does It Feel Harder in Autumn and Winter?
Send us Fan MailWhy does everything suddenly feel harder as the seasons change? Darker mornings, rising bills, disrupted routines and endless demands can create the perfect storm for neurodivergent burnout.In this episode of SEND IT: Brains at Work, Steph and Claire explore why autistic burnout, ADHD burnout and AuDHD burnout can feel different, and how seasonal changes, financial stress, workplac
Episode 29 - Be yourself at work. But not too much.
Send us Fan MailFor neurodivergent leaders, authenticity can come with a cost.In this episode of SEND IT: Brains at Work, Steph and Claire explore the neurodivergent leadership authenticity paradox—why autistic, ADHD and other neurodivergent leaders may feel pressure to mask in order to fit traditional expectations of what a “good leader” should look and sound like.We explore the emerging research
Episode 28 - Who gets heard at work — and who has to work harder just to have a voice?
Send us Fan MailIn this episode of SEND It. Brains at Work, Steph and Claire explore the relationship between neurodiversity, workplace hierarchy, power and psychological safety.Hierarchy exists in almost every workplace. But what happens when your communication style doesn't match what people expect from a "good employee" or a "future leader"?We explore why some neurodive
Episode 27 The September Reset: ADHD, Autism & AuDHD — When Your Brain Isn’t Ready for Routine
Send us Fan MailSeptember is supposed to be the month when we get organised, reset our routines and magically get our lives back together.But what if your neurodivergent brain has other ideas? 🧠In this episode of SEND IT: Brains at Work, Claire and Steph are talking about the reality of the September reset for ADHD, autistic and AuDHD brains.From time blindness, sensory overload and changing routi
Episode 26 - Before You Fix Everything… Fix Nothing: September Self‑Care.
Send us Fan Mail Before you fix your routines, fix nothing. This is the final episode of our summer series and it's all about September self‑care: decompressing, recalibrating, and giving your brain a gentler landing. Steph and Claire are back next week with the full September Reset. Support the show
Episode 25 - Myth 5 - Disclosure: You Don’t Need to Disclose to Get Support — Here’s the Truth
Send us Fan MailYou don’t need to disclose to get support. Claire explains why disclosure still feels risky for many ND people (including her), and shares simple, safe ways to ask for what you need at work. A short, practical episode for your week. Support the show
Episode 24 Summer Toolkit #4 Neurodivergent Leadership Toolkit: ADHD, Autism, Boundaries & Leading Without Masking
Send us Fan MailCan neurodivergent people be great leaders without changing who they are? Absolutely. But sometimes we need different tools. 🧠In Part 2 of our Neurodivergent Leadership Myth Busting conversation, we're getting practical.We're opening the ND Leadership Toolkit and talking about what leadership can look like when you have ADHD, autism or an AuDHD brain – particularly when t
Episode 23 Summer Myth #4 Neurodivergent Leadership: Why Different Brains Make Great Leaders
Send us Fan MailWhat does a leader actually look like?Confident? Organised? Always calm under pressure? Someone with a perfectly managed diary, an empty inbox and absolutely no idea what it feels like to walk into a room and forget why they’re there?Yeah… about that.In this mini episode of SEND it. Brains at Work, we’re busting the myth that neurodivergent people can’t be leaders.We explore how tr
Episode 22 - Toolkit #3 Micro‑Accommodations for When Your Brain Says ‘Nope’
Send us Fan Mail Your brain isn’t the problem — your environment is. In this SEND IT Short, Claire drops tiny, game‑changing micro‑accommodations you can start using tomorrow to make work actually doable. Email templates, meeting hacks, sensory tweaks, time‑blocking for time‑blind minds — small shifts with massive impact. Try one today and feel your whole workday soften. Support the show
Episode 21 - Summer myth #3 Fairness isn't sameness
Send us Fan MailIn this summer‑short, Claire tackles the myth that workplace accommodations are “special treatment” and flips the script from sameness to fairness. We dig into why the term reasonable adjustments needs a rebrand, what “workplace supports” really mean, and how tiny changes can unlock better work for everyone.Your challenge this week: name one support that would make your work easier
Episode 20 - Toolkit #2 Stop Managing Time - Start Managing Energy
Send us Fan MailLast episode, we challenged the myth that neurodivergent people simply need to "try harder." Now it's time to explore what actually helps.In this Summer Series Toolkit episode, Steph introduces three practical strategies to help you protect your energy at work: 🥄 A neurodivergent-friendly take on Spoon Theory 🚦 The Red, Amber and Green task method 💬 How to communic
Episode 19 - Summer Myth #2: You Just Need to Try Harder
Send us Fan MailHave you ever been told to "just try harder"?It's one of the most common—and most damaging—myths that neurodivergent people hear. But what if the issue isn't effort at all?In this episode of SEND it – Brains at Work, Steph explores why executive function challenges are so often mistaken for laziness, why working harder isn't always the answer, and how chang
Episode 18 - Summer Toolkit #1: Clearer, Lighter, Easier Communication
Send us Fan MailIn this second episode of the SEND IT Summer Series, Claire introduces a practical, neurodivergent‑friendly toolkit: The 3‑Step Communication Reset. Building on last week’s myth‑busting episode, she explores how small, intentional choices can make communication feel clearer, lighter, and far less overwhelming.Claire breaks down the three steps — Clarify the Purpose, Choose the Chan
Episode 17 - Summer Myth #1: You’re Not Bad at Communication
Send us Fan MailIn this first episode of the SEND IT Summer Series, Claire tackles the myth that “neurodivergent people are bad at communication.” She explores how ND communication isn’t a deficit — it’s a different communication culture built on clarity, honesty, and directness. Claire shares her own experience of being told she was “too blunt” and the impact of shrinking herself to fit neurotypi
Episode 16 - Surviving the Summer Holidays: A Neurodivergent Survival Guide
Send us Fan MailThe summer holidays can be a time of fun, freedom, and family memories—but for neurodivergent individuals and families, they can also bring disruption, overwhelm, and exhaustion. In this episode of SEND it. Brains at Work, we explore the realities of navigating six weeks without the usual routines.From managing sensory overload and emotional regulation to balancing work, childcare,
Episode 15 - The Masking Recovery Toolkit: Different Ways to Reset Your Brain
Send us Fan MailMasking helps many neurodivergent people navigate workplaces, social situations and everyday life—but it comes at a cost. If you've ever got home feeling completely drained, overwhelmed, or like you've been "hit by a bus", you're not imagining it.In this practical 10-minute episode, we explore why masking places such a heavy load on the brain and nervous sy
Episode 14 - Summer Brain: Dopamine, Pleasure and Staying in Control
Send us Fan MailAs the days get longer and brighter, many of us feel happier, more energetic, and more social—but what's happening in the brain? In this episode, we explore the powerful role dopamine plays in shaping our behaviour during the summer months and how increased sunlight can influence our mood, motivation, and reward-seeking tendencies.We take a closer look at the links between dop
Episode 13 - Neuroinclusion Starts When We Change Systems
Send us Fan MailA single offhand comment can echo for years, and in workplaces it often hides in plain sight as “feedback”, “banter”, or “just how things are done”. We talk openly about how stigma shows up in real working life, from social stereotypes to internalised self-talk, and why micro stigma is so damaging. When you start making yourself smaller to fit in, that is not a personality flaw, it
Episode 12 - Understanding Tourette Syndrome: Awareness, Acceptance & Support
Send us Fan Mail Join Steph and Claire for an honest and informative conversation about Tourette Syndrome. In this episode, they share insights into what Tourette's is, challenge common misconceptions, and discuss the real-life experiences of people living with the condition. Together, they explore how greater awareness, understanding, and acceptance can make a meaningful difference. Whether
Episode 11 - Hiring for Talent, Not Performance: Making Recruitment Neuroinclusive
Send us Fan MailWhy do so many recruitment processes reward interview confidence rather than actual capability? In this episode of SEND It – Brains at Work, Steph and Claire explore how traditional hiring practices can unintentionally exclude neurodivergent talent. From inclusive job adverts and interview adjustments to work trials, quiet spaces, and the Neurodiversity Employers Index, they unpack
Episode 10 Hiring Fairly: Rethinking Interviews, Adjustments & Inclusive Recruitment
Send us Fan MailWhat does inclusive hiring actually look like in practice? In this episode, Steph and Claire unpack the barriers hidden inside modern recruitment, from exclusionary job ads and rushed interviews to the lack of meaningful adjustments for disabled and neurodivergent candidates. Grounded in UK guidance from ACAS and GOV.UK, they explore why traditional hiring processes often measure c
Episode 9 - Body Doubling: Work Together, Even When Alone
Send us Fan MailEver struggle to stay focused or get things done on your own? In this episode, we dive into body doubling—the simple but powerful practice of working alongside someone else (even virtually!) to boost productivity and focus.This isn’t just talk—we’ll body double together during the episode, so grab your favourite music, set up your workspace, and let’s tackle tasks side by side. Dis
Episode 8 - Burnout: When the Brain Moves from Thriving to Surviving
Send us Fan Mail Burnout is more than exhaustion — it’s a neurological and psychological response to chronic stress that reshapes how we think, feel, and work. In this episode of The Brain at Work, Claire and Steph unpack the science behind burnout, exploring how stress impacts the brain, why motivation disappears, and how workplace systems often fuel cognitive overload. They examine the different
Episode 7 - Dopamine & The Neurodivergent Brain: Why Motivation Isn’t What You Think
Send us Fan MailEver feel like you want to start something but just… can’t?In this episode of SEND It – Brains at Work, Steph and Claire unpack one of the most misunderstood drivers of motivation: dopamine. Far from being just the “feel-good” chemical, dopamine is what helps us start tasks, stay focused, and follow through — and for neurodivergent brains, it doesn’t always work in predictable ways
Episode 6 - Behind the Mask: Uncovering Hidden Effort at Work
Send us Fan Mail This episode explores what masking really means in the workplace—how individuals consciously or unconsciously hide aspects of themselves to fit in, meet expectations, or avoid judgment. It breaks down the different ways people mask, from suppressing emotions to mimicking communication styles, and highlights the toll this can take on wellbeing and performance. The episode also offe
Episode 5 - Locked In: The Power and Pitfalls of Hyperfocus
Send us Fan Mail What does it really mean to be “in the zone”? In this episode, we explore hyperfocus—that intense state where time disappears and productivity soars. Often linked to creativity, ADHD, and deep work, hyperfocus can feel like a superpower… until it isn’t. We unpack the science behind it, share personal experiences, and discuss how hyperfocus can both help and hinder our lives. How d
Episode 4 - Losing Track: The Reality of Time Blindness
Send us Fan MailEver feel like time just… disappears?In this episode, we dive into time blindness—what it really is, why it happens, and how it can quietly shape our daily lives. From missed deadlines to that constant feeling of running late, we unpack the science and psychology behind our distorted sense of time.Whether you’ve experienced it yourself or are just curious, we explore practical ways
Episode 3 - The Demand Avoidance Spiral: When Your Brain Says ‘No
Send us Fan MailIn Episode 3 of Brains at Work, Steph and Claire explore something many people experience but struggle to explain: demand avoidance and the powerful role autonomy plays in how we work.If you’ve ever opened your laptop, seen a deadline reminder, and suddenly found yourself reorganising your desktop instead of starting the task… this episode will feel very familiar. Building on the c
Episode 2 - RSD, Autonomy & The Workplace Spiral
Send us Fan MailWelcome back to Brains at Work! In Episode 2, Steph and Claire dive into a topic many people experience but rarely have the words to explain: Rejection Sensitivity Disorder (RSD) and how it shows up in everyday work life. If you’ve ever spiralled after hearing “Can we have a quick chat?”, replayed a conversation in your head at 2am, or avoided opportunities because the possibility
Episode 1 Better Brains - Better Teams
Send us Fan MailWelcome to the very first episode of Brains at Work, the podcast exploring neurodiversity, workplace stigma, and how we can create genuinely neuroinclusive environments.Hosts Steph and Claire kick off the series with a candid, honest, and occasionally humorous conversation about what neurodiversity really means and why support in the workplace can still feel frustratingly inconsist
