The Divergence Department

In this episode, Luisa and Kerri unpack the reality of navigating parties, networking and connection as neurodivergent people. From surprise plans to post-COVID shifts and the pressure to “show up” a certain way.We explore creative, low-pressure ways to gather (yes, including PowerPoint and pizza parties), how to make networking actually human, and why shared purpose matters more than small talk.If you’ve ever left a social event feeling drained or out of place then you're among friends.

What if you weren’t “bad at school”… school was just bad at you?In this episode, we’re joined by our intern Charlotte to gently interrogate the systems we were told just needed a bit more effort. From classrooms to boardrooms, we explore what actually makes learning and working hard for neurodivergent people and why it’s rarely about intelligence, motivation or “trying harder.”We chat teacher-student dynamics, the invisible rules no one explains and what happens when you build environments that work with neurodivergent brains instead of against them. Expect real talk about systemic barriers, the training educators aren’t getting, and practical tools for self-regulation, learning, and navigating adulthood without burning out.Whether you’re an educator, parent, neurodivergent adult, or recovering former “problem student,” this episode might just reframe your entire school narrative.Because when we redesign the system, suddenly a lot more people start to thrive... who knew?

Think autistic people lack empathy? Spoiler: that’s a myth, one baked into decades of research. In this episode, Luisa and Kerri dig into the science (and the research that got it wrong), unpacking how early studies misread social differences as deficits.Enter the Double Empathy Problem: a game-changing idea showing that communication isn’t one-sided. Misunderstanding happens both ways and recognizing that flips the script on everything we thought we knew about empathy.Luisa and Kerri break down the research, share real-world examples, and explore why neurodivergent perspectives have been left out of the conversation for far too long.

Join Kerri and Luisa on their escapades through Berlin, where finally meeting in person turns into a delightful mix of laughs and unexpected discoveries. Along the way, they dive into the accidentally neuroinclusive moments and the art of clear communication — all while sharing stories, insights, and some exciting updates straight from the city that inspired it all. Whether you’re neurodivergent, neurotypical, or just curious about the messy, wonderful ways humans navigate friendship, travel, and connection, this episode is packed with honesty, humor, and a more than the usual sprinkling of chaos.

In this episode, Luisa and Kerri pull apart the stories we’ve been told about productivity and ask who they really serve. Through a neurodivergent lens, they explore how work becomes tied to identity, why invisible labour goes unnoticed, and how the pressure to perform can slowly lead to burnout — even when we’re “doing everything right.”This episode is an invitation to loosen your grip on productivity culture and imagine ways of working that leave more room for rest, creativity, and real connection.If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or not “productive enough,” you’re not alone — and this conversation might change how you see work altogether.

Who decides the pace we’re all expected to live by — and what happens when yours doesn’t fit?In this episode, Luisa and Kerri explore pacing through a neurodivergent lens, unpacking the unspoken norms that shape how we work, rest, celebrate and show up in everyday life. From Christmas routines and New Year expectations to workplace assumptions and energy limits, they question why one pace is treated as “normal” — and who that leaves out.Join the conversation about normativity, energy and the quiet pressure to keep up, even when systems aren’t built for different bodies and brains. Less about doing more, and more about asking why we’re expected to do things this way at all.If you’ve ever felt out of step with the world’s rhythm, you’re not alone — and you’re not the problem.

In this episode of The Divergence Department, Kerri and Luisa take a wander through the hobby graveyard, you know those once-beloved interests we picked up, poured ourselves into, and quietly let go of.We chat about how hobbies connect to neurodivergence and identity, why capitalism keeps whispering “you should monetize that”, and who even gets to decide what counts as a hobby anyway. Along the way, we unpack the science behind why hobbies matter, share personal hobby wins (and flops), and explore how joy, rest, and self-regulation often get lost in the process.Expect laughs, relatable tangents, and thoughtful insights—plus some gentle ideas for resurrecting old hobbies or simply making peace with letting them stay buried. If your interests come and go, or you’ve ever felt guilty for quitting something you once loved, this episode is for you.

In our very first episode, we - Luisa (ADHD) and Kerri (Autistic)- pull back the curtain on who we are, how we met and why we created The Divergence Department.We share the stories of how each of us discovered we were neurodivergent, what those realisations meant for our lives and how they shaped our journey into becoming neuroinclusion consultants. From misunderstandings and missed signs to “aha” moments and self-acceptance, we unpack the messy, human side of neurodivergence.We also chat about why this podcast exists: what we hope to challenge, what we want to celebrate, and the conversations we’re excited to have. Whether you’re neurodivergent yourself or just curious, join us as we kick off a space built on honesty, humour and genuine inclusion.