"Growing Up Misunderstood," The Neurodivergent Reality. Conversation with Erin Geddes

In this episode, I sit down with Erin Geddes to explore the emotional and often overlooked experience of growing up neurodivergent without a diagnosis. She shares what it feels like to move through childhood and adulthood believing you’re “not trying hard enough,” when the real issue is that the world isn’t built to recognize or support different ways of thinking. And I have to ask—how many kids are still silently living that reality today?For Erin, writing her book wasn’t just a creative outlet—it was a process of self-understanding. She has lived her life navigating two different worlds: the neurotypical systems she was expected to fit into, and the neurodivergent identity that finally makes sense of her challenges and strengths. That dual perspective allows her to translate between experiences in a way most people can’t. And it raises an uncomfortable question: why do we keep asking individuals to adapt while our systems stay exactly the same?When we turn to education, the urgency becomes impossible to ignore. Teachers are overworked and under-supported. Parents are left to advocate alone. Kids are evaluated against standards that ignore the full spectrum of ability, learning styles, and human development. And we still pretend the problem is effort or discipline. Where is the baseline everyone should be guaranteed—food, safety, education, dignity?Erin argues that neurodivergent voices reveal weaknesses in our systems early and clearly. When we listen, we improve. When we don’t, everyone loses. Inclusion isn’t a favor—it’s how society evolves.---Find more info on Erin Geddes here:Get In Touch/School Speaker Requests: [email protected]: and_thats_okay_bookFacebook: ⁠ And That's OKAYYouTube: And That's OkayWhere to buy And That’s Okay: I’m Wired Differently: Direct from the publisher Redemption Press AmazonWalmartI reference a video about Martin Luther King discussing the Civil Rights Movement. You can watch that here:Eloquent Civil Rights Leaders Dialogue 1963---Contact Tabitha:[email protected]