The Divergence Department

Is professionalism actually about doing great work or just playing the part? In this episode, Luisa and Kerri get into the messy reality behind workplace “norms,” from dress codes and hierarchy to the subtle pressure to mask who you really are. They unpack where these ideas came from, who they benefit, and why they might be holding us back especially when it comes to neurodiversity. If the future of work is about authenticity, is professionalism due for a complete rewrite?

We all adjust who we are depending on the situation… but when does that stop being social awareness and start becoming something else?In this episode, we take a deep dive into neurodivergent masking — what it is, why we do it and what it actually costs. Using recent comments from Uta Frith as a starting point, we unpack how masking has been (mis)understood in autism research, how it can act as a survival strategy and why the line between adapting and losing yourself isn’t always clear.Join us as we question some of the science and sit with the uncomfortable bits — like how masking can shape identity, impact mental health and quietly show up in workplaces that claim to be inclusive. Along the way, we bring in our own experiences of masking and unmasking - because we definitely know that if there’s a manual for being yourself, it’s not exactly user-friendly.

We read the Neurodiversity Index Report 2026 so you don’t have to… but also, we think you really probably should!In this episode, we dig into the UK’s latest Neurodiversity Index — a report designed to measure how neurodivergent people are actually experiencing work, and how organisations are showing up when it comes to inclusion. It looks at everything from awareness and workplace practices to that ever-present gap between what companies say they’re doing and what people actually feel day to day.And as it turns out, awareness is doing great. The rest… is a bit more complicated.We talk through what the report is really telling us (and what it isn’t), where it reflects reality, and where it feels slightly… optimistic. From the often-quoted “20% neurodivergent” figure to the ongoing conversation around adjustments, flexibility, and what inclusion looks like beyond a policy document, we unpack it all in a way that’s honest, reflective, and occasionally a little bit side-eye-y.Along the way, we bring in our own experiences, question a few assumptions, and gently challenge the idea that progress on paper always translates to progress in practice.Because a report can measure a lot of things — but it can’t quite capture what it feels like to exist in those systems.

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.