What if the reason someone has struggled at work for years isn’t down to effort, ability, or attitude……but because they’ve unknowingly been navigating the world with a neurodivergent brain?

In this deeply honest and emotional conversation, I’m joined by Chris Hood from Neurobridge, who shares his personal experience of receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood — and everything that came after.

We talk openly about the emotional fallout: the initial relief of finally having an explanation, and the overwhelming grief, shame and identity confusion that followed. Chris shares what it feels like to realise you’ve been masking your true self for years and how difficult (and beautiful) the journey back to yourself can be.

But this episode isn’t just about the individual experience. It’s also about what managers, leaders and organisations need to do differently to support neurodivergent colleagues, and why the typical “tick-box” approach to inclusion just doesn’t cut it.

Whether you're neurodivergent, a manager of people, or someone who simply wants to build a more human workplace, this conversation is full of insight, heart, and practical takeaways.

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Key Takeaways

• Diagnosis doesn’t bring instant clarity. It often opens the floodgates to grief, confusion, and decades of questions.
• Masking is survival. Many neurodivergent people spend years shaping themselves to fit in, often at the expense of their identity.
• Managers must lead with curiosity. Support isn’t just legal compliance; it’s about empathy, observation, and building trust.
• Workplaces thrive when inclusion is real. When people feel safe enough to be themselves, performance and wellbeing soar.

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Key Moments

The key moments in this episode are:

0:00:10 – What if ‘poor performance’ is actually undiagnosed neurodivergence?0:03:52 – Meet Chris Hood: From ADHD diagnosis to championing neuro-inclusion0:07:21 – What ADHD really feels like, and how diagnosis lifts the fog0:14:41 – The grief and shame of late diagnosis: “I didn’t know who I was”0:22:43 – Where shame begins: Abandoning yourself to fit in0:27:49 – Unmasking isn’t instant — it’s a journey back to yourself0:33:33 – What real support looks like (and why legal compliance isn’t enough)0:38:10 – “What support do you need?” is the wrong question — here’s what to ask instead0:42:21 – Chris’s 3 tips for supporting late-diagnosed team members

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Join The Conversation

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Get the full transcript of the episode here