The Neurodivergent Experience

Episode: Hot Topic - Justice Sensitivity in an Age of State Violence

Hosts: Jordan James & Simon Scott
Date: January 16, 2026

Episode Overview

This emotionally charged episode tackles the theme of justice sensitivity in neurodivergent individuals, set against the backdrop of recent acts of state violence in the United States. Jordan and Simon confront the consequences of systemic brutality—most recently, the shooting death of Renee Goode by an ICE agent in Minnesota. Through the lens of their own neurodivergence, the hosts grapple with feelings of powerlessness, moral outrage, and global ripple effects, bringing in personal, historical, and cultural reflections. The conversation illuminates how neurodivergent people uniquely experience and react to injustice, particularly when witnessing or fearing for marginalized groups.

Key Topics and Discussion Points

1. The Outrage: ICE Shooting and State Violence (02:50–09:55)

• Satirical Cold Open
  Host 2 opens with a satirical song lampooning ICE’s actions, immediately setting a raw, direct tone.

  • “Well, fuck ICE, boy, ain’t it nice? Fuck ICE… if you’re lacking control and authority, come with me and hunt down minorities.” – Host 2 (02:50)

• Reaction to Renee Goode’s Death

  • Deep condolences for Renee Goode’s family and others harmed by ICE and U.S. agencies.
  • Outrage over the clear, “cut and dry” video evidence showing Goode shot by an ICE agent after dropping her child at school.
  • Emphasis on the reckless danger posed: “Not only does the ICE officer kill a woman point blank… her foot then slumps onto the accelerator… What happens if there are people there?” – Host 1 (04:35)

• Contrasts between US and UK policing

  • The hosts, both British, are struck by American police violence: “Our police don’t carry guns. No, they don’t, they don’t shoot people.” – Host 1 (07:28)
  • Host 2 admits, “I’ve never even seen a real gun, a physical, real gun, let alone fired one.” (07:50)

• Personal impact and empathy

  • The connection to justice sensitivity: “My justice sensitivity has been through the roof on this… I have many friends… from what would be called a minority background… terrified that they’re just going to be driving… and somebody’s just going to pick them up.” – Host 2 (08:25)

2. Systemic Cover-Ups and Political Hypocrisy (09:55–14:43)

• Propaganda and denial

  • Dissection of the US government’s immediate labeling of Goode as a “terrorist” without evidence.
  • “The US Government have gone full Russia, North Korea, nothing to see here, people, move along…” – Host 1 (10:01)

• Broader critique of American leadership

  • References to Trump’s foreign policy: seizing Venezuelan oil, threatening Mexico and Cuba.
  • “Trump literally makes a truth social post and says, I’m taking their oil.” – Host 1 (19:45)
  • Parallels to Russia-Ukraine conflict and hypocrisy in international responses.

• Historical and dystopian allusions

  • Links current events to the behavior of historic dictatorships and empires.
  • Satire and distress at the normalization of lies and power abuse.

3. Neurodivergent Justice Sensitivity & Intersectionality (14:43–19:33)

• The Neurodivergent Perspective

  • Feeling of powerlessness: “That is our neurodivergent sense of justice that we sit on the sidelines, we have no control over it, yet it absolutely destroys us inside…” – Host 1 (14:45)
  • Fear of what could happen to neurodivergent individuals in America: “What happens when a neurodivergent person has a meltdown and an ICE agent just goes, they’re attacking me and fucking shoots them?” – Host 1 (15:02)

• Personal and Community Safety

  • Reference to the killing of Victor Perez, a disabled Puerto Rican teen shot during a meltdown.
  • “It scares me, man. I’m not even in this country and I am scared for not just members of my community, but just human beings all around the world.” – Host 2 (16:21)

• Media & Literature Allusions

  • Quoting ‘Andor’ and George Orwell’s ‘1984’:
    • “‘The party told you to reject the evidence of your ears and eyes. It was their final, most essential command.’ And I feel like we are literally entering dystopia.” – Host 2 (17:13)

• Contrast with the UK Experience

  • Even with limited neurodiversity understanding in the UK, hosts express that being killed by police here is almost unimaginable.
  • “But I don’t think I’m going to be shot and killed without having to at least tell my side of the story…” – Host 1 (18:23)

4. American Leadership, Influence, and Global Ripples (19:33–26:32)

• American “Amnesia” & Repeating Mistakes

  • “It’s the United States of Amnesia, is what it is.” – Host 2 (19:33)
  • Discussion about repeating the errors of Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq.

• Grassroots Resistance and Worry for the Future

  • Noticing increased demonstrations against ICE, including tribute-laying and calls for abolition.
  • “I fear for our cousins across the pond…” – Host 2 (21:51)

• Love–Hate Relationship with US Culture

  • Hosts express affection for American culture, media, and people while lamenting the country’s current direction.
    • “The American people, the US, what they’ve given the world… so much joy… and now it just, it’s just so scary.” – Host 1 (24:35)

• America's Global Role

  • “When the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches that cold.” – Host 1 (25:45)
  • Fear that US violence and attitudes set precedents for the rest of the world.

5. Historical Reflections & Final Thoughts (26:32–28:10)

• America as the new empire

  • “You’ve become the very thing you swore to destroy.” – Host 2 (26:32)
  • Hosts mention the bitter irony their generation is witnessing.

• Surrealism of Modern Tragedy

  • Jarring moment: News footage of a bombing interrupted by an Applebee’s ad: “We literally are living in an episode of South Park, aren’t we?” – Host 2 (27:00)

• Self-care amidst chaos

  • A reminder of community and the need for self-care: “Be safe if you can.… When you see atrocities and crimes and terrorism being committed on your home soil, call it out.… We’re thinking of you over here.” – Host 2 (27:32)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Neurodivergent Justice Sensitivity:
  “That is our neurodivergent sense of justice that we sit on the sidelines, we have no control over it yet it absolutely destroys us inside that we see this injustice all over the world…” – Host 1 (14:45)

• Historical Parallels:
  “‘The party told you to reject the evidence of your ears and eyes. It was their final, most essential command.’ And I feel like we are literally entering dystopia.” – Host 2 (17:13)

• On American Exceptionalism Gone Wrong:
  “It’s not the United States of America anymore. It’s just the United States of Trump.” – Host 1 (19:23)

• Cultural Love and Mourning:
  “All the games I love are made in the US… all the movies and TV shows and the US is such a freaking awesome country for what it can produce, but now the only thing it’s producing is terror.” – Host 1 (22:10)

• On Global Impact:
  “When the US sneezes, the rest of the world catches that cold.” – Host 1 (25:45)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• ICE Shooting Satire & Outrage – 02:50–09:55
• Political Hypocrisy & Propaganda – 09:55–14:43
• Neurodivergent Perspective on Justice – 14:43–19:33
• America’s Influence and Protests – 19:33–24:35
• Cultural Reflections & The Global Ripple – 22:00–26:32
• Surrealism & Self-care Call to Action – 26:32–28:10

Tone and Delivery

Jordan and Simon mix deep empathy, biting satire, personal vulnerability, and dark humor. The tone oscillates between emotional frustration, world-weary exasperation, and sardonic commentary, all the while maintaining an undercurrent of solidarity with marginalized groups and an urgent call for awareness and action.

Conclusion

This episode of The Neurodivergent Experience stands as a powerful example of how neurodivergent perspectives bring unique depth and passion to social justice issues. Jordan and Simon offer listeners validation for their own outrage and fears, all while calling for collective resistance, self-care, vigilance, and compassion—especially for those marginalized by state violence.