Why do so many neurodivergent people struggle in the workplace; even when they are highly capable?

In this episode, Sonia speaks to workplace strategist Rich Rowley about why modern workplaces value one narrow style of thinking, and how that can leave ADHD, autistic and dyslexic employees exhausted, ashamed and underperforming.

Rich argues neurodivergent people are not simply workers who need accommodations and support; they’re an untapped valuable resource for organisations.

Neurodivergent minds often excel at complex problem-solving, and workplace culture can either unlock or suppress that potential. Rich says that when organisations get this right, every metric improves - including the bottom line. Because true neuroinclusion benefits everyone.

Guest: Rich Rowley 

For more on Brainbadge go to ​​https://neurofusion.co.nz/

In this episode:
Why ADHD, autistic and dyslexic employees often struggle in traditional workplaces
The hidden toll of masking, burnout and “fitting in” at work
Why neurodivergent people may excel at solving complex problems
How businesses may be overlooking their most valuable thinkers
The Values–Decisions Gap
Why psychological safety is the foundation of true neuroinclusion
How better workplace design can benefit all employees

No Such Thing as Normal is made with support from NZ On Air

Why do so many neurodivergent people struggle in the workplace; even when they are highly capable?
In this episode, Sonia speaks to workplace strategist Rich Rowley about why modern workplaces value one narrow style of thinking, and how that can leave ADHD, autistic and dyslexic employees exhausted, ashamed and underperforming.
Rich argues neurodivergent people are not simply workers who need accommodations and support; they&rsquo;re an untapped valuable resource for organisations.
Neurodivergent minds often excel at complex problem-solving, and workplace culture can either unlock or suppress that potential. Rich says that when organisations get this right, every metric improves - including the bottom line. Because true neuroinclusion benefits everyone.
Guest: Rich Rowley&nbsp;
For more on Brainbadge go to ​​<a href="https://neurofusion.co.nz/">https://neurofusion.co.nz/</a>
In this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why ADHD, autistic and dyslexic employees often struggle in traditional workplaces</li>
<li aria-level="1">The hidden toll of masking, burnout and &ldquo;fitting in&rdquo; at work</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why neurodivergent people may excel at solving complex problems</li>
<li aria-level="1">How businesses may be overlooking their most valuable thinkers</li>
<li aria-level="1">The Values&ndash;Decisions Gap</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why psychological safety is the foundation of true neuroinclusion</li>
<li aria-level="1">How better workplace design can benefit all employees</li>
</ul>
No Such Thing as Normal is made with support from NZ On Air

At least 20% of New Zealanders are believed to be neurodivergent, but there is very little awareness, understanding and support for people with conditions such as ADHD, Autism and Dyslexia.

Sonia Gray has a neurodivergent daughter and is an ADHDer herself. In this 10-part series she’ll talk to dozens of experts and people with a lived-experience of neurodiversity to better understand how we can support and celebrate those whose brains are wired differently.

No Such Thing as Normal is brought to you by NZ Herald and Team Uniform, with support from NZ on Air. New episodes are available every Saturday.

At least 20% of New Zealanders are believed to be neurodivergent, but there is very little awareness, understanding and support for people with conditions such as ADHD, Autism and Dyslexia.
Sonia Gray has a neurodivergent daughter and is an ADHDer herself. In this 10-part series she&rsquo;ll talk to dozens of experts and people with a lived-experience of neurodiversity to better understand how we can support and celebrate those whose brains are wired differently.
No Such Thing as Normal is brought to you by NZ Herald and Team Uniform, with support from NZ on Air. New episodes are available every Saturday.

No Such Thing as Normal

At least 20% of New Zealanders are believed to be neurodivergent, but there is very little awareness, understanding and support for people with conditions such as ADHD, Autism and Dyslexia.

Sonia Gray has a neurodivergent daughter and is an ADHDer herself. In this 10-part series she’ll talk to dozens of experts and people with a lived-experience of neurodiversity to better understand how we can support and celebrate those whose brains are wired differently.

No Such Thing as Normal is brought to you by NZ Herald and Team Uniform, with support from NZ on Air. New episodes every Saturday.

At least 20% of New Zealanders are believed to be neurodivergent, but there is very little awareness, understanding and support for people with conditions such as ADHD, Autism and Dyslexia.
Sonia Gray has a neurodivergent daughter and is an ADHDer herself. In this 10-part series she&rsquo;ll talk to dozens of experts and people with a lived-experience of neurodiversity to better understand how we can support and celebrate those whose brains are wired differently.
No Such Thing as Normal is brought to you by NZ Herald and Team Uniform, with support from NZ on Air. New episodes every Saturday.

30. Neurodiversity at work: why traditional workplaces fail ‘different thinkers’

Isabella* is just 22, but she’d been living with severe contamination OCD for eight years. It had taken over her life - touching people, objects, even parts of her own home, felt dangerous. Every interaction came with a cost: hours of cleaning, sanitising and rituals.

In this episode we follow Isabella’s story. From a life ruled by OCD to her experience with a revolutionary therapy: the Bergen 4 day Treatment (B4DT).

 

Over 100 thousand New Zealanders are estimated to suffer from OCD and access to treatment is difficult.  Thanks to the charity Open Closed Doors the B4DT had it’s first New Zealand trial in January of this year.  And the results were phenomenal.

 

Guests:

Isabella*

Dr Bjarne Hansen

Dr Marthinus Bekker

Emma Chapman

Mihi Gillies

 

To find out more, or to support the charity go to Open Closed Doors. 

 

Resources:

Open Closed Doors.

Fixate - FB group

In this episode:
Isabella’s story: what OCD feels like from the inside
The hidden cost of OCD: intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and the exhausting mental load
Why OCD is so often misunderstood, and why logic alone doesn’t work
The impact on families, relationships, and daily life
The gold-standard treatment: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and its limitations
The first New Zealand trial of the Bergen 4-day Treatment (B4DT) - an intensive four-day therapy
Insights from co-founder Bjarne Hansen on anxiety, intention, and “cracking the code”
Willingness:  the key predictor of recovery
A strengths-based reframe of OCD: these traits are not weaknesses.
“Don’t feed the cat”. Learning to respond differently to intrusive thoughts
What recovery looks like in real life.
Honest reflections on early recovery, the highs, the doubts, and what comes next
Practical insights for parents and families: supporting without reinforcing OCD

No Such Thing as Normal is made with support from NZ On Air

 

Isabella* is just 22, but she&rsquo;d been living with severe contamination OCD for eight years. It had taken over her life - touching people, objects, even parts of her own home, felt dangerous. Every interaction came with a cost: hours of cleaning, sanitising and rituals.
In this episode we follow Isabella&rsquo;s story. From a life ruled by OCD to her experience with a revolutionary therapy: the Bergen 4 day Treatment (B4DT).
&nbsp;
Over 100 thousand New Zealanders are estimated to suffer from OCD and access to treatment is difficult.&nbsp; Thanks to the charity Open Closed Doors the B4DT had it&rsquo;s first New Zealand trial in January of this year.&nbsp; And the results were phenomenal.
&nbsp;
Guests:
Isabella*
Dr Bjarne Hansen
Dr Marthinus Bekker
Emma Chapman
Mihi Gillies
&nbsp;
To find out more, or to support the charity go to <a href="http://opencloseddoors.org">Open Closed Doors</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Resources:
<a href="http://opencloseddoors.org">Open Closed Doors</a>.
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/533606270318161/">Fixate - FB group</a>
In this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Isabella&rsquo;s story: what OCD feels like from the inside</li>
<li aria-level="1">The hidden cost of OCD: intrusive thoughts, compulsions, and the exhausting mental load</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why OCD is so often misunderstood, and why logic alone doesn&rsquo;t work</li>
<li aria-level="1">The impact on families, relationships, and daily life</li>
<li aria-level="1">The gold-standard treatment: Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and its limitations</li>
<li aria-level="1">The first New Zealand trial of the Bergen 4-day Treatment (B4DT) - an intensive four-day therapy</li>
<li aria-level="1">Insights from co-founder Bjarne Hansen on anxiety, intention, and &ldquo;cracking the code&rdquo;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Willingness:&nbsp; the key predictor of recovery</li>
<li aria-level="1">A strengths-based reframe of OCD: these traits are not weaknesses.</li>
<li aria-level="1">&ldquo;Don&rsquo;t feed the cat&rdquo;. Learning to respond differently to intrusive thoughts</li>
<li aria-level="1">What recovery looks like in real life.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Honest reflections on early recovery, the highs, the doubts, and what comes next</li>
<li aria-level="1">Practical insights for parents and families: supporting without reinforcing OCD</li>
</ul>
No Such Thing as Normal is made with support from NZ On Air
&nbsp;

29. Is there real hope for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

ADHD is being talked about more than ever.  But for many, life still feels harder than it should. Even with a diagnosis there can be a lingering sense of “Why is life still so difficult?”

In this episode, Sonia speaks with ADHD coach Alex Campbell, to find out what we’re missing.

Alex says ADHD brains are motivated by interest, not importance. But the world expects the opposite, and that’s the where issues arise.

People often develop hidden systems to try to meet life’s demands - hypervigilance, hyper-independence and a harsh inner-critic.  But these come at a cost.  Their are high rates of burnout and exhaustion for those with ADHD.

This conversation explores a different way forward: understanding how your brain works, and learning how to work with it, rather than constantly pushing against it.

In this episode:
How interest acts as the fuel for focus and executive function
Why simple tasks can feel disproportionately hard to start
How the brain creates stimulation when things feel boring
Negative interest: why anxiety and urgency often become the default fuel
The hidden coping systems (hypervigilance, masking, hyper-independence)
The role of the inner critic
The long-term cost: exhaustion, stress and burnout
Internal vs external hyperactivity.
ADHD and emotional intensity
Spiky strengths: brilliant in some areas, challenged in others
Practical ways to begin working with your ADHD brain, rather than against it
The value of connection
Identifying strengths, and using them to get activated

Guest: Alex Campbell ADHD Coach
Alex’s book ADHD… Now What? Is available here.

Resources: 
VIA Character Strengths
ADHD NZ

No Such Thing as Normal is made with the support of NZ On Air

ADHD is being talked about more than ever.&nbsp; But for many, life still feels harder than it should. Even with a diagnosis there can be a lingering sense of &ldquo;Why is life still so difficult?&rdquo;
In this episode, Sonia speaks with ADHD coach Alex Campbell, to find out what we&rsquo;re missing.
Alex says ADHD brains are motivated by interest, not importance. But the world expects the opposite, and that&rsquo;s the where issues arise.
People often develop hidden systems to try to meet life&rsquo;s demands - hypervigilance, hyper-independence and a harsh inner-critic.&nbsp; But these come at a cost.&nbsp; Their are high rates of burnout and exhaustion for those with ADHD.
This conversation explores a different way forward: understanding how your brain works, and learning how to work with it, rather than constantly pushing against it.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">How interest acts as the fuel for focus and executive function</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why simple tasks can feel disproportionately hard to start</li>
<li aria-level="1">How the brain creates stimulation when things feel boring</li>
<li aria-level="1">Negative interest: why anxiety and urgency often become the default fuel</li>
<li aria-level="1">The hidden coping systems (hypervigilance, masking, hyper-independence)</li>
<li aria-level="1">The role of the inner critic</li>
<li aria-level="1">The long-term cost: exhaustion, stress and burnout</li>
<li aria-level="1">Internal vs external hyperactivity.</li>
<li aria-level="1">ADHD and emotional intensity</li>
<li aria-level="1">Spiky strengths: brilliant in some areas, challenged in others</li>
<li aria-level="1">Practical ways to begin working with your ADHD brain, rather than against it</li>
<li aria-level="1">The value of connection</li>
<li aria-level="1">Identifying strengths, and using them to get activated</li>
</ul>
Guest: Alex Campbell <a href="https://goldmindacademy.com/alex-campbell">ADHD Coach</a> Alex&rsquo;s book ADHD&hellip; Now What? Is available <a href="https://goldmindacademy.com/adhd-book">here</a>.
Resources: <a href="https://www.viacharacter.org/">VIA Character Strengths</a> <a href="https://www.adhd.org.nz/">ADHD NZ</a>
No Such Thing as Normal is made with the support of NZ On Air

28. Why ADHD still feels so hard - even when you understand it

In this episode, Sonia Gray speaks with 12-year-old Benjamin, whose extraordinary creativity sits alongside the challenges of dyslexia. His mother, Gretchen, reflects on the hidden effort behind his learning, and what changed when his strengths were recognised and understood.

Dyslexia advocate Dean Bragonier returns, making the case that strengths-based education is not just better for individuals, but for society. He argues that when we fail to recognise neurodivergent strengths, we fail to realise that potential, along with the innovation and creativity that come with it.

The Hyphen Project in Auckland offers a different model of learning for gifted and neurodivergent teenagers who have struggled in mainstream education.

For 17-year-old Travis, who has ADHD, that shift has been life-changing. A talented digital artist, Travis couldn’t find his place in the traditional school system. He arrived at Hyphen in a mental health crisis — and found an environment that worked with his brain, not against it.

In this episode:
Strengths-based education in practice at The Hyphen Project
ADHD, dyslexia and “spiky” learning profiles
Why many neurodivergent students disengage from school
The link between anxiety, mental health and learning
The role of belonging in re-engaging young people
How motivation changes when learning is built around strengths
Real-world pathways for creative and neurodivergent thinkers
The “opportunity cost” of overlooked potential

This is a continuation of the previous episode, Strengths-based education: Unlocking the gifts, which explores how identifying strengths early can transform a child’s experience of learning.

 

Guests: 

Dean Bragonier Noticeability

Benjamin

Gretchen

Holly Gooch The Hyphen Project

Travis

 

Resources: Dyslexia Foundation NZ 

 

No Such Thing as Normal is made with the support of NZ On Air

In this episode, Sonia Gray speaks with 12-year-old Benjamin, whose extraordinary creativity sits alongside the challenges of dyslexia. His mother, Gretchen, reflects on the hidden effort behind his learning, and what changed when his strengths were recognised and understood.
Dyslexia advocate Dean Bragonier returns, making the case that strengths-based education is not just better for individuals, but for society. He argues that when we fail to recognise neurodivergent strengths, we fail to realise that potential, along with the innovation and creativity that come with it.
The Hyphen Project in Auckland offers a different model of learning for gifted and neurodivergent teenagers who have struggled in mainstream education.
For 17-year-old Travis, who has ADHD, that shift has been life-changing. A talented digital artist, Travis couldn&rsquo;t find his place in the traditional school system. He arrived at Hyphen in a mental health crisis &mdash; and found an environment that worked with his brain, not against it.
In this episode:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Strengths-based education in practice at The Hyphen Project</li>
<li aria-level="1">ADHD, dyslexia and &ldquo;spiky&rdquo; learning profiles</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why many neurodivergent students disengage from school</li>
<li aria-level="1">The link between anxiety, mental health and learning</li>
<li aria-level="1">The role of belonging in re-engaging young people</li>
<li aria-level="1">How motivation changes when learning is built around strengths</li>
<li aria-level="1">Real-world pathways for creative and neurodivergent thinkers</li>
<li aria-level="1">The &ldquo;opportunity cost&rdquo; of overlooked potential</li>
</ul>
This is a continuation of the previous episode, Strengths-based education: Unlocking the gifts, which explores how identifying strengths early can transform a child&rsquo;s experience of learning.
&nbsp;
Guests:&nbsp;
Dean Bragonier <a href="http://noticeability.org">Noticeability</a>
Benjamin
Gretchen
Holly Gooch <a href="http://thehyphenproject.org">The Hyphen Project</a>
Travis
&nbsp;
Resources: <a href="https://dfnz.org.nz/">Dyslexia Foundation NZ&nbsp;</a>
&nbsp;
No Such Thing as Normal is made with the support of NZ On Air

30. Neurodiversity at work: why traditional workplaces fail ‘different thinkers’

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