The Neurodivergent Experience

Episode: 2025: How We’ve Changed — And How the Podcast Changed With Us

Hosts: Jordan James and Simon Scott
Release Date: January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

In this reflective and heartfelt New Year’s episode, Jordan James and Simon Scott revisit their personal journeys and chart the evolution of The Neurodivergent Experience podcast. The pair explore the highs and lows of 2025, discuss personal triumphs and struggles, and share how their experiences—and those of their community—have influenced the show’s growth. With honesty, humor, and vulnerability, they offer insight into how sharing lived neurodivergent experiences can break down stigma and foster meaningful connections.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Starting on a Positive Note

Both hosts agree to focus on the positive aspects of the year, intentionally steering away from revisiting negative events that have already been discussed at length.
Quote (Jordan):
“We've been talking about the bad things all year.” (03:58)
They briefly note broader socio-political negativity (Trump, RFK Jr., right-wing attacks on neurodivergent communities) but quickly pivot back to their personal growth.

2. Jordan’s Journey: Breaking Free From Anger

Jordan shares an emotional milestone—after 40 years, he’s freed himself from longstanding anger, much of which stemmed from childhood trauma and the loss of his brother.
- This was achieved with support from family, friends, and his own dedication to personal work.
- Jordan recounts a morning when, rather than melting down over a series of small annoyances, he simply handled the situation and moved on—a tangible sign of his progress.
Quote (Jordan):
“I was finally released from this prison of anger that I have carried with me for over 40 years.” (05:28)
Anecdote: The story about cleaning up after his dog and nearly smashing a door (06:31–08:16).
He reflects on the difference between passion and anger, and the importance of internal change over external perceptions.
Quote (Jordan):
“If people perceive me as being less angry, that's wonderful... But if you're losing weight for the right reason, it's for your health, it’s for your personal gain... That's how I feel about getting rid of my anger.” (08:22)

3. Simon’s Year: Building a Home, Tackling Imposter Syndrome

Simon shares his major life changes: buying and making a home, deepening his partnership, and taking pride in his personal and professional growth.
Quote (Simon):
“This year has almost been like the year my life got color. You know, I feel like I've achieved an awful lot.” (13:14)
He reflects on battling imposter syndrome—accepting, recognizing, and celebrating his achievements for the first time.
Quote (Simon):
“I think this is the first time in my life I've sort of reflected on a year and not focused on the negatives. I've just gone, God, you've done really well this year.” (14:14)

4. Mutual Support and Found Family

Jordan calls Simon his “little brother,” and they bond over supporting and learning from each other.
Notable Quote:
“You’ve become the person I always knew you would be. I am just in awe of you, my friend.” (15:33, Jordan to Simon)
Both discuss learning that “no is a sentence” and the importance of accommodating themselves as neurodivergent people.

5. Therapy, Community, and Growth

The podcast itself has served as a form of therapy for both hosts, helping them process emotions (like anger, alexithymia, and PDA) and providing a channel to share these struggles with a supportive audience.
Quote (Simon):
“If you want to know what's going on — what's wrong — I talked about it on my podcast.” (20:21)
Quote (Jordan):
“Just being able each week to talk and just get it all out there is the most therapeutic thing I've ever done in my life.” (19:23)
They reflect on the value of communicating with the community—how listener messages validate their impact and inspire further growth.

The Podcast’s Milestones and Evolution

6. Explosive Growth and Audience Connection

They celebrate surpassing 100,000 listeners and discuss the unexpected but gratifying success of the podcast, especially as an indie operation recorded entirely online.
Quote (Jordan):
“Our entire relationship is literally built through being able to just talk about whatever we talk about. And I think that genuine honesty... speaks volumes.” (26:43)
The connection with listeners—stories, comments, and meeting people in real life—personalize the impact of the show.

7. Breaking Stereotypes and Inspiring Achievement

Both hosts stress the harm of societal narratives—especially rhetoric suggesting neurodivergent people are incapable.
Quote (Jordan):
“Don’t believe what others tell you. Do something and then see if you were capable of doing it... But don’t think for one second that you aren’t capable just because the narrative says that, because that’s horseshit.” (30:09)
They encourage listeners to try, even if not every attempt will lead to success—and share personal examples of breaking through imposter syndrome and self-doubt.

8. Paying It Forward: Community Ripple Effect

Simon relates how listeners have helped one another, including stories of individuals who have improved their lives by unmasking and embracing community connections.
Quote (Simon, relaying a listener’s Matrix analogy):
“He’s beginning to believe.” (39:22)

9. The Power of Realistic Positivity

The hosts caution against toxic positivity—acknowledging that life with neurodivergence is a daily coin flip.
Quote (Jordan):
“I have so many disabilities just on a day-to-day basis... [but] I wanted people to see both sides of the coin, and it literally every day is a coin flip.” (41:53)

10. Societal Progress and the Next Generation

Jordan recounts a conversation with his nephew and celebrates the normalization and pride in neurodivergent identities among younger people.
Quote (Jordan):
“He said, ‘I've got loads of friends, they all say, I'm autistic, I'm ADHD. Like, it's just like normal now.’ And I'm like, I love that. Oh, dude, I nearly cried.” (37:23)

11. Looking Forward

The hosts are reluctant to set big goals beyond simply “keep doing it”—recognizing the difficulties of sustaining an indie show with full lives, but reaffirming their love for the community and commitment to the podcast’s mission.
Quote (Jordan):
“My goal is just to keep doing it... We do it because we love to do it and we do it because we love to help people.” (43:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On anger and change:
“It’s like a whisper in the night. It’s there and then it’s gone. And that is the greatest thing that has happened to me in 2025.” (08:22, Jordan)
On achievement:
“This year has been my year to tackle my imposter syndrome. I feel like I’ve really made big steps at liking who I am, being proud of my achievements…” (13:52, Simon)
On family and friendship:
“You are, in a way, my little brother…you’ve really come out of your shell, you’ve become the person I always knew you would be.” (15:18, Jordan)
On spreading kindness:
“I’m just a dude that loves love. I love it when people are happy. I love it when people are successful and I love it when people love each other…” (35:35, Jordan)
On the neurodivergent wave:
“There is a generation…of people coming through…just feeling better about themselves. And we are a small part of that. And just being a small part of that makes me feel like everything I wanted from the day I first said on social media, I am autistic and I am proud of, literally feels like it’s…it. That is how it should be. And we're not there, but we’re getting there.” (38:13, Jordan)
On continuing the podcast:
“My goal…is just to keep doing it. Because I love this so much…We do it because we love to do it and…to help people.” (43:55, Jordan)

Timestamps for Key Segments

Show start & recap of year’s intention: 02:30–04:53
Jordan’s story of anger & recovery: 05:10–09:36
Simon’s reflections on home & imposter syndrome: 11:49–15:05
Therapeutic nature of the podcast & discussing emotions: 17:50–21:00
Podcast milestones & listener impact: 26:07–32:02
Breaking stereotypes & words of encouragement: 30:09–33:49
On the younger generation’s acceptance: 37:23–39:22
Looking ahead - keeping it going: 43:33–44:54

Final Thoughts

Jordan and Simon’s candid reflection offers both practical and emotional validation for neurodivergent listeners. By recounting their own struggles and triumphs, and highlighting the podcast’s impact as a safe therapeutic space, they encourage vulnerability, perseverance, and community connection. Their closing message is one of solidarity: “You’re not alone in this journey.” The spirit of The Neurodivergent Experience remains strong—growing, adapting, and always striving to amplify neurodivergent voices.

The Neurodivergent Experience

Episode: 2025: How We’ve Changed — And How the Podcast Changed With Us

Hosts: Jordan James and Simon Scott
Release Date: January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Starting on a Positive Note

Both hosts agree to focus on the positive aspects of the year, intentionally steering away from revisiting negative events that have already been discussed at length.
Quote (Jordan):
“We've been talking about the bad things all year.” (03:58)
They briefly note broader socio-political negativity (Trump, RFK Jr., right-wing attacks on neurodivergent communities) but quickly pivot back to their personal growth.

2. Jordan’s Journey: Breaking Free From Anger

Jordan shares an emotional milestone—after 40 years, he’s freed himself from longstanding anger, much of which stemmed from childhood trauma and the loss of his brother.
- This was achieved with support from family, friends, and his own dedication to personal work.
- Jordan recounts a morning when, rather than melting down over a series of small annoyances, he simply handled the situation and moved on—a tangible sign of his progress.
Quote (Jordan):
“I was finally released from this prison of anger that I have carried with me for over 40 years.” (05:28)
Anecdote: The story about cleaning up after his dog and nearly smashing a door (06:31–08:16).
He reflects on the difference between passion and anger, and the importance of internal change over external perceptions.
Quote (Jordan):
“If people perceive me as being less angry, that's wonderful... But if you're losing weight for the right reason, it's for your health, it’s for your personal gain... That's how I feel about getting rid of my anger.” (08:22)

3. Simon’s Year: Building a Home, Tackling Imposter Syndrome

Simon shares his major life changes: buying and making a home, deepening his partnership, and taking pride in his personal and professional growth.
Quote (Simon):
“This year has almost been like the year my life got color. You know, I feel like I've achieved an awful lot.” (13:14)
He reflects on battling imposter syndrome—accepting, recognizing, and celebrating his achievements for the first time.
Quote (Simon):
“I think this is the first time in my life I've sort of reflected on a year and not focused on the negatives. I've just gone, God, you've done really well this year.” (14:14)

4. Mutual Support and Found Family

Jordan calls Simon his “little brother,” and they bond over supporting and learning from each other.
Notable Quote:
“You’ve become the person I always knew you would be. I am just in awe of you, my friend.” (15:33, Jordan to Simon)
Both discuss learning that “no is a sentence” and the importance of accommodating themselves as neurodivergent people.

5. Therapy, Community, and Growth

The podcast itself has served as a form of therapy for both hosts, helping them process emotions (like anger, alexithymia, and PDA) and providing a channel to share these struggles with a supportive audience.
Quote (Simon):
“If you want to know what's going on — what's wrong — I talked about it on my podcast.” (20:21)
Quote (Jordan):
“Just being able each week to talk and just get it all out there is the most therapeutic thing I've ever done in my life.” (19:23)
They reflect on the value of communicating with the community—how listener messages validate their impact and inspire further growth.

The Podcast’s Milestones and Evolution

6. Explosive Growth and Audience Connection

They celebrate surpassing 100,000 listeners and discuss the unexpected but gratifying success of the podcast, especially as an indie operation recorded entirely online.
Quote (Jordan):
“Our entire relationship is literally built through being able to just talk about whatever we talk about. And I think that genuine honesty... speaks volumes.” (26:43)
The connection with listeners—stories, comments, and meeting people in real life—personalize the impact of the show.

7. Breaking Stereotypes and Inspiring Achievement

Both hosts stress the harm of societal narratives—especially rhetoric suggesting neurodivergent people are incapable.
Quote (Jordan):
“Don’t believe what others tell you. Do something and then see if you were capable of doing it... But don’t think for one second that you aren’t capable just because the narrative says that, because that’s horseshit.” (30:09)
They encourage listeners to try, even if not every attempt will lead to success—and share personal examples of breaking through imposter syndrome and self-doubt.

8. Paying It Forward: Community Ripple Effect

Simon relates how listeners have helped one another, including stories of individuals who have improved their lives by unmasking and embracing community connections.
Quote (Simon, relaying a listener’s Matrix analogy):
“He’s beginning to believe.” (39:22)

9. The Power of Realistic Positivity

The hosts caution against toxic positivity—acknowledging that life with neurodivergence is a daily coin flip.
Quote (Jordan):
“I have so many disabilities just on a day-to-day basis... [but] I wanted people to see both sides of the coin, and it literally every day is a coin flip.” (41:53)

10. Societal Progress and the Next Generation

Jordan recounts a conversation with his nephew and celebrates the normalization and pride in neurodivergent identities among younger people.
Quote (Jordan):
“He said, ‘I've got loads of friends, they all say, I'm autistic, I'm ADHD. Like, it's just like normal now.’ And I'm like, I love that. Oh, dude, I nearly cried.” (37:23)

11. Looking Forward

The hosts are reluctant to set big goals beyond simply “keep doing it”—recognizing the difficulties of sustaining an indie show with full lives, but reaffirming their love for the community and commitment to the podcast’s mission.
Quote (Jordan):
“My goal is just to keep doing it... We do it because we love to do it and we do it because we love to help people.” (43:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On anger and change:
“It’s like a whisper in the night. It’s there and then it’s gone. And that is the greatest thing that has happened to me in 2025.” (08:22, Jordan)
On achievement:
“This year has been my year to tackle my imposter syndrome. I feel like I’ve really made big steps at liking who I am, being proud of my achievements…” (13:52, Simon)
On family and friendship:
“You are, in a way, my little brother…you’ve really come out of your shell, you’ve become the person I always knew you would be.” (15:18, Jordan)
On spreading kindness:
“I’m just a dude that loves love. I love it when people are happy. I love it when people are successful and I love it when people love each other…” (35:35, Jordan)
On the neurodivergent wave:
“There is a generation…of people coming through…just feeling better about themselves. And we are a small part of that. And just being a small part of that makes me feel like everything I wanted from the day I first said on social media, I am autistic and I am proud of, literally feels like it’s…it. That is how it should be. And we're not there, but we’re getting there.” (38:13, Jordan)
On continuing the podcast:
“My goal…is just to keep doing it. Because I love this so much…We do it because we love to do it and…to help people.” (43:55, Jordan)

Timestamps for Key Segments

Show start & recap of year’s intention: 02:30–04:53
Jordan’s story of anger & recovery: 05:10–09:36
Simon’s reflections on home & imposter syndrome: 11:49–15:05
Therapeutic nature of the podcast & discussing emotions: 17:50–21:00
Podcast milestones & listener impact: 26:07–32:02
Breaking stereotypes & words of encouragement: 30:09–33:49
On the younger generation’s acceptance: 37:23–39:22
Looking ahead - keeping it going: 43:33–44:54

2025: How We’ve Changed — And How the Podcast Changed With Us

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Summary

The Neurodivergent Experience

Episode: 2025: How We’ve Changed — And How the Podcast Changed With Us

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Starting on a Positive Note

2. Jordan’s Journey: Breaking Free From Anger

3. Simon’s Year: Building a Home, Tackling Imposter Syndrome

4. Mutual Support and Found Family

5. Therapy, Community, and Growth

The Podcast’s Milestones and Evolution

6. Explosive Growth and Audience Connection

7. Breaking Stereotypes and Inspiring Achievement

8. Paying It Forward: Community Ripple Effect

9. The Power of Realistic Positivity

10. Societal Progress and the Next Generation

11. Looking Forward

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Final Thoughts

Summary

The Neurodivergent Experience

Episode: 2025: How We’ve Changed — And How the Podcast Changed With Us

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Starting on a Positive Note

2. Jordan’s Journey: Breaking Free From Anger

3. Simon’s Year: Building a Home, Tackling Imposter Syndrome

4. Mutual Support and Found Family

5. Therapy, Community, and Growth

The Podcast’s Milestones and Evolution

6. Explosive Growth and Audience Connection

7. Breaking Stereotypes and Inspiring Achievement

8. Paying It Forward: Community Ripple Effect

9. The Power of Realistic Positivity

10. Societal Progress and the Next Generation

11. Looking Forward

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Timestamps for Key Segments

Final Thoughts