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You may have heard something somewhere about the crisis of recycling and the problem of microplastics. But have you heard about how scientists are discovering very cool and creative solutions to fight this problem?
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There is so much fake news about everything, I think that it is quite dangerous to talk about this. But microplastics are one of the biggest silent poll of all time and they are getting everywhere. In the sea, in the soil, in the air, and already inside our bodies.
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That was scientist and self described bacteria trainer Patricia Aima Maldonado. Here, a special interview for our fellow Friday series with her to find out the fascinating scientific and technological solutions she's working on to combat the invasive problem of microplastics. Listen only TED Talks daily.
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oh, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot. Hello and welcome to the Neurospicy news Hot topic.
C
It's hot. Super hot. Super spicy. Hello, I'm Simon Scott. I'm your co host with Mr. Jordan James giving you the news. We had to start again because I went to click on the WhatsApp so that I could read the story and I just fired up a video game and it scared the living shit out of me. I was like, what's going on? Maybe I'll, maybe I'll throw that in at the end there just for a giggle. So what is the news, my friend? Because we said if this happened, we'd do a hot topic about it. And it only went and happened.
B
So I wanted, I wanted to give myself a shout out for this one. Okay, okay. So me personally and you can attest to this. I contacted you after I watched I Swear and then the Oscar nominations came out and I said it's a fucking travesty that Robert Aramao from I Swear was not at least up for an Oscar because I swear is my second favorite movie of 2025, Superman being my first.
C
Yep, I agree with that.
B
And I. Everything about that movie just spoke to me. In fact, I watched it on the plane on the way.
C
Really?
B
Yeah. Cause I downloaded it onto my tablet.
C
All right. I thought I was gonna say it was. Was just showing on the plane.
B
No, I like that movie. I fucking bought it, dude.
C
Oh, right.
B
And Sylvia, Sylvie and I watched it and I was crying on the airplane. Laughing and crying at. And Sylvia also absolutely loved it because she hadn't seen it before. It was the first time she's seen it. And I said to you, that guy deserves an Oscar for that role. And then you said, oh, but he is up for the BAFTA. But it's up against, you know, Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothy Shyamalam Alum. Lam. That is his proper name, If you are dyslexic. And we are, you know, that Leonardo DiCaprio, personally, for me, is my favorite actor. Just. He is. He's my favorite actor. Him and Tom Hanks are my favorite actors. I love Leo. I did really like the movie that he was in.
C
I now forgot one battle after.
B
That'll be the one that was. That was one word too long for a title for me to remember. But I. I didn't. I liked it, but I didn't love it. And I watched the Shamalam Lambla movie Marty supreme again. Liked it. It's a bit hectic. Didn't love it.
C
Yeah. Joss Safdie films are a little bit mental. Yeah.
B
But again, both their performances were outstanding. Like, put film aside.
C
I mean, that Leo one's unreal. Leo is so good in one battle after another.
B
Every time I watch a movie and I'm like, oh, that's really un. Unlikable character. I really don't like that character. I really do like that character. If I have a feeling about a character, it means they've done a good job, because I can't. I can't see the actor. I see the character.
C
They've done their job, which means they've
B
done a really, really great job. You know, And I swear was. Was. Was just so good, but his performance wasn't. It wasn't Rain Man. It wasn't Rain Man.
C
No. It was so human, wasn't it?
B
It's not like Dustin Hoffman did a bad job. I'm not saying that Dustin Hoffman's amazing, but it was so, so much of a horrible stereotype at the time that Rain man actually set us back as neurodivergent people for probably decades. And still to this day, I think a lot of people think of Rain man and Think of autism.
C
Yeah, yeah.
B
And it shouldn't be because it was literally it was based on an actual person. An actual person that Dustin Hoffman followed around and spoke to. And you know, so Dustin Hoffman did that. But what I loved about, I swear is it didn't say this is Tourette's. They said, this is one person who has Tourette's. And it had loads of other representatives of people all different with Tourette's that all had Tourette's but were all different. I have Tourette's. It's nothing like the Tourette's that he.
C
I have tics. And they're absolutely nothing like anything compared to what John Davison has.
B
Yeah. And I just thought it was such good representation. But we did the episode. We've talked about how much we love it. So there's no point in going over old ground. So what we are here to discuss is how great I am at spotting. Spotting award winning actors.
C
Your pattern matching for the award winning actors. Yeah.
B
And I was like, this man is better than, than all those others. And I was correct. So the whole topic is that I am really good at this spotting.
C
So the next hot topic is Jordan's gonna pick lottery numbers for all of us now. But one of the things that is incredible is the Robert Aramao beat competition from huge names. So he won the EE Rising Star award, which is like the person upcoming in the, in the British film industry who to watch out for. And when he won that, I turned to Caris and I was like, oh, amazing. I'm just so glad that he's won a award for this performance because it so deserved the recognition. But also what will come from him winning this award and how it all, you know, spread awareness and, and the like. And when the, the best actor category came up, I, I will be totally honest. I did not think he would win. I was really happy that he was nominated, but I was like, timothy Chalamet is going to win it or Leo's gonna win it. But he didn't think he was gonna win because when his name was read out, dude. His family's reaction and the crew of I swear's reaction was just so wholesome. And he literally got up on the stage and he was like, I cannot believe I'm even in the same category as this man sat in front of me and Leonardo DiCaprio sat on the front row. He's like, I cannot even believe I'm in the same room being discussed in the same level as this man, let alone winning it. And dude, you could see how much he was shaking. And he just had this really great moment where he managed to collect himself and just thanked everybody that worked on the film. And he was saying how the people that he researched were incredible. And he learned so much about just humanity from working on this film. And he talked about John Davidson being the most incredible human being he'd ever met and was just somebody that chose to help people. He said, you know, this is a man that. That took something that nobody understood about him and helped other people understand themselves. And he says, and that's the. The message from this film is, you know, don't judge everybody and give it. Give people a chance. And it was just mental, absolutely mental to just see a young guy from Hull. And even when I was watching this guy give his speech, the performance is so good, I couldn't see John Davidson's character. Like, even his body language, the way he held his. Like, his shoulders and everything was totally different, Totally, totally different from the performance. I'm just, like, overjoyed that he won. Like, I literally jumped off my sofa and was like, I'm so happy that he's won. It's just so exciting. That film about neurodivergent people are. People with disabilities that are sort of shunned and shamed and not understood are now absolutely at the forefront. There was a film about. Oh, it's literally just disappeared from my head. But there was an amazing speech as well, that endometritis, I think it's called. Okay, yeah, so it was a documentary that won a. A bafta. And in her speech, she was saying, this is for all of the people that were not believed. And I says, and I hope that this award will remind doctors to understand people with endometriis. And I went, and if you don't believe us, while the baftas do, I was like, oh, wow. Unbelievable. So it was a really great night for the British filmmaking. And Jesse Buckley won the hamnet. And I've not seen that film, but absolutely everything that I've read about it says that it's just absolutely phenomenal. So this really, really exciting time for sort of British film, and especially stories about neurodivergent people and not treating them as, like, entertainment or like a circus act. They're actually treating them as human stories and creating awareness. It's. It's really great.
B
Yeah, it's. It's kind of. It's representation that actually works, rather than. It doesn't feel forced, it doesn't feel pushed in unnecessarily, Just. Just so Something can be popular, you know, and I hate to go on about this again because it does sound red pilly, but obviously people who know me know that we are the opposite to red pill, blue pill. In fact, in the fact that Disney does just shove, you know, diversity into their projects just for the sake of diversity rather than it being like a natural reason to.
C
Oh, it's an executive producer box tick.
B
Yeah. And you can see it when it's not legit. I want to quote south park. And you know, don't, don't take it, take offense to what thing I'm going to say because it is South Park. It's when Eric Cartman literally, in the episode where he is just getting angry with Disney and he's taking the piss and he's like, put a chicken it, make her gay, make it lame. And they're not too far off that Disney, it's not saying that you can't have a lesbian actress, you know, cool, hard hitting character, but do it right,
C
do it authentically, with, with intention.
B
Yeah. And, and I, I will keep going back to the perfect example. There are many, many wonderful examples nowadays and Disney don't seem to have a lot of them. But fallout. Like, talk about like, like, like a female lead character, Lucy, just fucking awesome. Just finished season two as well. Just absolutely awesome.
C
That show is just absolutely littered with brilliant characters just in general.
B
Yeah.
C
Across the entire show
B
and oh my God, what is her name? Nancy. Nancy in Stranger Things is fucking awesome. I absolutely love, I love all the kids and all the characters in Stranger Things and there are so many ways of doing things right and representation right. Because, I mean, let's be honest, they're all neurodivergent in that program. In Stranger Things, it's literally about neurodivergent kids playing Dungeons and Dragons and doing Stephen King things. And I think the. I had something to say and we're gonna have a break and I'm gonna set when we come back. That is the thing. Let's have a break.
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Cool. We'll be right back. This is a neurodivergent Experience podcast announcement. If you're looking for a private ADHD or autism assessment in the uk, RTN mental health offers a clear and supportive option without long waits. Private assessments with RTN are gold standard NHS approved and adhere to nice guidelines from the beginning of the process. You'll have access to a patient support coordinator who will guide you through every step of your journey, ensuring that you feel heard and supported. Care at RTN doesn't end at diagnosis with follow up recommendations, medication and therapy options available where appropriate. Jordan chose RTN for his own family because their care and attention to detail was second to none. They didn't just look at ADHD or autism in isolation. They took the time to understand the full picture. The team is neuro affirming, highly experienced and includes neurodivergent professionals who truly get it. To help make private assessment more accessible, RTN is pleased to offer the option to pay in three 0 interest instalments with Klarna, allowing you to spread the cost in a way that works for you. Terms and conditions apply. Beginning the process is simple. Visit rtnmentalhealth.co.uk to book your assessment now to take the first steps towards understanding and Getting started. In 24 hours, redeem 10% off your booking using Jordan's code JJ007 at checkout. RTN Mental Health offering clarity, care and answers without the wait. Welcome back to the Neurodivergent Experience. This is your hot topic for the week and we have been discussing the movie I Swear that won three baftas at the, the self titled baftas last night and what it means for representation. And before the break, Jordan had a thought and before he loses it again, I'm going to hand over to him. What was your thought, my friend?
B
Well, so the point I was trying to make about, about the way that I swear did the representation is they did it very, very naturally and they did it with purpose and they didn't do it with the idea of oh look, you know, we, we're going to, we're going to do this because we're going to win awards. They, they did this because it's a wonderful story. But it's also made me think about the representation of neurodivergent people which was again natural and not forced that no one seemed to recognize. But now, now I look back and I look at all these things and we've talked about them in the past. Things like Simpsons, things like Bob's Burgers, obviously Rick and Morty. With Rick actually being an autistic person and with Dan Harmon who created that, who is an actually autistic person like spongebob as well. Spongebob. Super, super neurodivergent as was the writer. And the middle, the middle is just a neurodivergent family in, in Malcolm in
C
the Middle is coming back, isn't it?
B
And that was the other one. I've, I've started watching Malcolm in the Middle and I never watched it first time around. I just, you've Never watched Malcolm in the Middle. I missed it.
C
Dude, such a great show.
B
First time I saw Bryan Cranston was on my favorite show of all time, or at least one of them is Breaking Bad. And I knew he was the dad for Malcolm in the Middle. Never, ever watched Malcolm. It was one of those things. It just. It just passed.
C
Such a great show.
B
So I've been watching it. Now it's on Disney plus and I've been watching it, and at first I was not thinking, oh, this is a neurodivergent family. It wasn't even in my brain. And the more I watched it and I was like, yeah, no, what. What's happening? Because this is funny. Because I googled this. I was like, okay, so Malcolm is a genius. And I'm like, okay, so why is he so stupid? And I literally googled that. I went, if Malcolm is a genius, why is he so stupid? And Google came back to me with his AI abilities, and it scanned the Internet and said, okay, so he's intellectually incredibly talented at schoolwork, maths and things like that, but socially is completely and utterly stupid. Like, he's. He's. It's. It's paradoxical.
C
The whole family is socially inept.
B
Yeah, I mean, the whole family is neurodivergent. I don't know about the mum. I. I haven't watched enough of it to. To know.
C
Oh, you've not got to the bit where she asks her husband to change the light bulb yet, and it takes him all day. Wait until you get to that. I mean, that one's amazing.
B
Hal is. Is just so nervous.
C
So she asked him to change a light bulb and he's under the car trying to fix it because he needs to go to the hardware store to fix the. The draw that the light bulb should have been in. And she's like, why are you under the car? I thought you were changing a light bulb.
B
First season, I'm in the first season. I'm like eight or nine episodes in, and I am. I'm. I am loving it.
C
It's a great show. Always used to be on either before or after the Simpsons and Sky one. So I used to always, like, do a double billing of. Of Simpsons of Malcolm in the Middle. That was what I grew up on. And then Stargate SG1 used to be on after the other. The two.
B
It was brilliant. But yeah, so I. I definitely wasn't thinking about it being a neurodivergent show. But then when I googled, why is Malcolm so stupid if he's so Smart. It literally was talking about it and. And like, oh, most people think Malcolm's neurodivergent and so are the family. And I was like, I did not Google this. It just came up on me and I was like, oh, yeah, that's. I mean, I was kind of thinking that. But I don't want to fall into that trap of like, I'm thinking everyone is neurodivergent or everything I look at is neurodivergent because sometimes you get, you know, those sort of ND goggles where you think everybody's nd.
C
Yeah.
B
And I was really happy because it. It though those programs, I mean, they've been around for decades now, long time, and they're representing neurodivergent people in a real way without having to force it down your throat that this is autism or this is adhd.
C
It's not the driving narrative, is it? It's not. This is a show about autistic people, like the A word or at. And, you know, that's the driving narrative. It's just neurodivergent people and their lives.
B
So when. When it came to. I swear. And yes, that is the driving narrative is obviously this man and his Tourette's. But it didn't. It didn't feel like it was for some sort of pity pound or that, you know, felt real. It felt natural. So even though they used the Tourette's as, like the main focus of the movie, it didn't feel like it was the main focus of the movie. The main focus of the movie, to me, felt about people who are different, who are shunned, but when they are accepted, it can change their entire life. That's how I felt. I didn't see this movie as a movie about Tourette's. I saw this movie as a movie about being different. And you. You can put in being autistic, being adhd, being gay, being a minority, you can swap out his story and add in your disability or your difference, and it. It's the same uplifting story.
C
It feels like the difference between telling a story about a disabled person or telling a story about a person with disabilities. It's like it focused on John Davison's story, who has Tourette's. It didn't focus on his Tourette's. And John is the person who is the. The vessel of the Tourette's.
B
Yeah.
C
And it's so true. You know, I think about a lot of tv, film, media, and, you know, there was so much of this film, I swear, that made me question what was and wasn't real. Like, you know, Robert Aramayo's performance had me questioning whether he was autistic or had Tourette's. And it then amazed me. It amazed me even further when I realized that he's the guy who played Elrond in the Lord of the Rings Amazon series, and he played young Ned Stark in Game of Thrones. At no point did I connect that actor to those roles. When I saw this film, I was like, I've never seen this guy in anything.
B
I was deliberately trying to not connect him as Elrond. Even though I watched the first season of the Lord of the Rings fan fiction hashed out, though I've not even
C
watched any of it. I just recognize this image from trailers and in the.
B
I hated it so much. Hated it. He was actually really good as Elrond. He. He was actually really good at that one. He was like. It was one of the highlights. It was. It was most of the rest of it. That was terrible. But I do remember him being outrun, and I do remember him being good. I just don't remember anything else being good. It was not. And this is from a huge.
C
Wearing the one ring, for God's sake.
B
Wearing the one ring that I went to Hobbiton in New Zealand just to buy. And I've got Hobbit slippers. Hobbit feet slippers.
C
A Balrog tattoo.
B
A Balrog tattoo.
C
Not that we're every.
B
Every Lord of the Rings pop character you can possibly imagine. I. And we watch Lord of the Rings religiously every single year. We will watch all three extended editions religiously at least once, if not twice a year. And I am. I just. I can't watch that Ring of power. It's just a load of horseshit. It really is so sad.
C
But he's great in it.
B
He's great in it.
C
Yeah. And that shows.
B
That matters.
C
And that just shows the importance of what film and storytelling can do. You know, it's. It's. It's about watching films that when the. The credits roll, you feel different, you feel changed. And after watching, I swear I just felt so confident in what I was doing as an advocate and. And, I don't know, I came away from it and just believed in myself more.
B
Yeah.
C
And when you watch a film as a neurodivergent person and you come away feeling more confident than when you went in, that's a really, really powerful film.
B
Yeah, he did a great job. He definitely deserved the bafta. Let me just, you know, reiterate that I did call it.
C
Thank you for joining us for this week's Hot Topic. We will be back with you on a Thursday for the main show and Ashley will be with you for mindful Monday. Start your week with purpose. Bye everybody. We'll see you then nightly by. Thanks for tuning in to the neurodivergent Experience. We hope today's episode sparks something for you, whether it's a new idea, a bit of validation, or just a moment of connection. Remember, new episodes are every week, so be sure to join us for the next one for more conversations and insights into the neurodivergent Experience. If you've enjoyed this podcast, help us grow. Grow. You can do that by rating and reviewing this show. Your support makes a huge difference in helping us reach more people who could benefit from these conversations. You can connect with us on social media, find us on Instagram, Facebook, Tik tok. Just search for the neurodivergent Experience. Thank you again for listening and until next time, take care of yourself. You're not alone in this journey. ACAST powers the World's Best Podcasts Here's a show that we recommend.
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F1 has taken north America by storm in recent years and 2026 is shaping up to be the most exciting season of Formula One race racing yet. With a completely fresh set of cars and engines, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and the rest of the world's fastest drivers are speeding into the unknown this season. Whatever happens, the Race F1 podcast will be with you for every corner crash and controversy, starting with F1's all important pre season testing. This month, we're on the ground at every Grand Prix, including the three unmissable US Events in Miami, Austin and Las Vegas Vegas, talking to the key players and bringing expert analysis on the stories that matter. Just search for the race F1 podcast to listen or watch wherever you get your podcasts.
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ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.
Hot Topic: Robert Aramayo’s BAFTA Win | Why Authentic Neurodivergent Representation Matters
Date: February 27, 2026
Hosts: Jordan James & Simon Scott
This episode of The Neurodivergent Experience is a lively, in-depth discussion celebrating Robert Aramayo’s recent BAFTA win for his groundbreaking role in the film I Swear. Hosts Jordan James and Simon Scott explore why this win—and the film itself—matters profoundly for the neurodivergent community. Drawing on their personal experiences, the hosts reflect on authentic representation in media, how it compares to past portrayals, and the impact of seeing nuanced neurodivergent characters on screen. The conversation weaves critical analysis with humor and candid lived experiences.
[02:28 – 06:29]
Jordan’s prediction and excitement: Jordan proudly recounts predicting Robert Aramayo’s success after seeing I Swear, expressing how deeply the film resonated with him and his family.
Comparison with other nominees: Both hosts discuss the stiff competition, with names like Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothy Chalamet, highlighting just how significant Aramayo’s win was.
The live reaction at the BAFTAs: Simon recounts Aramayo’s authenticity and humility in his acceptance speech.
[05:13 – 13:01 and continuing after the break [15:11]]
Contrast with earlier stereotypes: Jordan critiques historic portrayals like Rain Man, noting the damage caused by narrow stereotypes.
Authenticity in I Swear: Both hosts praise I Swear for presenting multiple, varied neurodivergent experiences instead of reducing characters to a diagnosis.
Natural vs. Forced Representation: Simon compares I Swear's natural integration of neurodivergent characters to more “tokenistic” studio attempts, such as some Disney projects.
[15:11 – 21:14]
Spotting ND representation in existing media: The hosts dissect shows like The Simpsons, Bob’s Burgers, Rick & Morty, SpongeBob, and especially Malcolm in the Middle, surfacing examples where neurodivergent narratives have been present subtly for years.
Difference Between Telling vs. Showing Neurodivergence: Simon observes that, unlike on-the-nose shows (like The A Word), many classics told neurodivergent stories without making diagnosis the narrative’s focus.
[19:40 – 23:43]
Universal themes of difference and acceptance: Jordan notes that while I Swear has Tourette’s as a narrative lens, its real subject is about being “different” and finding acceptance—a theme that resonates for all marginalized identities.
Impact on neurodivergent viewers: Simon shares a powerful personal reflection on how authentic stories boost self-esteem and give viewers hope.
On historic stereotypes:
On the importance of natural representation:
On tokenism in big studio projects:
On recognizing ND lives in shows:
On the impact of I Swear:
On leaving viewers empowered:
The discussion is candid, direct, and peppered with humorous asides and nerdy references, reflecting both hosts’ passionate advocacy and their personal neurodivergent identities. Both Jordan and Simon speak openly about their reactions, sprinkle in personal anecdotes, and never shy away from critiquing the industry.
This episode is a heartfelt ode to seeing real, lived neurodivergent stories reflected in film—stories that don’t just label or stereotype, but genuinely empower. The hosts argue that I Swear’s success is not just an individual win, but a meaningful cultural step for authentic representation, inviting everyone to celebrate difference and the power of being seen.