Spinning on a Spectrum: Championing Neurodiversity & Inclusivity in Music with Sandy Maclarty

What does it take to look at an industry you love and decide, this could be kinder, more inclusive, more human and then actually build something to change it? In this episode of the Pink Nest Podcast, Nika sits down with Sandy Maclarty, Glasgow DJ, producer, and the heart behind Spinning on a Spectrum, for a conversation that is honest, warm, and quietly extraordinary.Sandy's story begins long before the decks. A challenging childhood and a life-altering accident could have closed doors. instead, they opened one. Music became his language during recovery, a way of making sense of the world when words weren't enough. And that deep, personal relationship with music is exactly what makes everything he's built since so meaningful.Spinning on a Spectrum was born from Sandy's encounter with the charity Attitude is Everything, and its mission is beautifully simple: to make the music scene genuinely accessible for neurodivergent and disabled artists and audiences alike. Not a niche night. Not a tokenistic gesture. A real, vibrant event where everyone belongs and where the only thing that matters is the music.Sandy opens up about the challenges of the first year, the emotional weight of feeling responsible for attendees' wellbeing, and what it really means to scale something built on such a personal foundation. He also reflects on the feedback that keeps him going. "this is such a unique night", and why inclusivity in music isn't charity. It's recognition of potential that has always been there.This episode sits right at the intersection of everything Pink Nest stands for, neurodiversity, community, mental health, and the quiet power of creating spaces where people feel truly seen.IN THIS EPISODE* How Sandy's childhood and a life-altering accident shaped his relationship with music* Music as a language and a lifeline during recovery* The encounter with Attitude is Everything that sparked Spinning on a Spectrum* The mission, making the music scene accessible for disabled and neurodivergent artists* What Sandy wants his events to feel like and why that matters* Highlights and challenges from the first year of running inclusive events* The emotional responsibility of caring for attendees' mental health* What scaling up really means when something is this personal* The impact that goes far beyond fundraising* Self-care in the DJ world, how Sandy looks after himself* Why inclusivity in music is about recognising potential, not offering charitySandy's LinksINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thesandman_dj/& https://www.instagram.com/spinnin_on_the_spectrum/☕ This podcast runs on coffee and quiet confidence that different minds build better worlds. Buy me a coffee : https://buymeacoffee.com/nikabrunet.📌 Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast for more impactful conversations like this one!🌐 WEBSITE: https://pinknestpodcast.com📷 INSTAGRAM: @pinknestpodcastℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Pink Nest Podcast.