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In this episode of Neurodivergent Mates, I’m joined by Josh Michel, Programs and Pathways Manager at Co-Hive. With a career that spans from the kitchens of Sydney’s top restaurants to leadership roles in education, Josh brings a unique perspective on supporting both students and staff.

Josh has spent years developing strength-based strategies to help learners thrive, particularly those from diverse backgrounds including physical, neurological, and intellectual disabilities. He’s passionate about empowering staff to grow alongside their students, creating a ripple effect of support throughout the community.

Conversation Questions:

1. Josh, to kick things off, can you introduce yourself and share a bit about your background and the work you do?

2. You mentioned you focus on playing to students’ strengths—what does that look like in practice?

3. Can you share an example of a strategy you’ve used that really helped a student thrive?

4. How do you go about embedding these strength-based approaches across different student groups or learning environments?

5. You’ve also talked about building up the skills of staff. What are some ways you empower staff to better support students?

6. Have you noticed a change in student outcomes when staff feel more confident and equipped in this area?

7. On a personal note, what motivates you to continue this work, and what have you learned from your own journey?

8. Finally, if our listeners want to connect with you or learn more about your work, where’s the best place for them to find you?


🎧 To listen to more episodes of Neurodivergent Mates, visit the link below 👇

https://neurodiversityacademy.com/neurodivergentmates

#NeurodivergentMates #StrengthBasedLearning #NeurodiversityInEducation

#StudentAndStaffSupport #InclusiveEducation

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In this episode of Neurodivergent Mates, Will chats with South Australian author Alina Bellchambers, whose fantasy duo-logy The Order of Masks and The Weight of Crowns (Pan Macmillan) is being called a “feminist Game of Thrones.”

Diagnosed as autistic at 29 and living with aphantasia, Alina shares how she writes epic worlds without mental imagery, her journey from struggling student to breakout author and actor, and how embracing her neurodivergence has shaped her creativity and success.

Questions

1. Alina, to kick things off, could you introduce yourself and share a little about your journey into writing?
2. You grew up surrounded by stories in your family’s Adelaide bookshop — how did that environment shape your love for storytelling?
3. You’ve spoken about writing being a retreat for you during difficult times growing up. Can you tell us what role writing played in your life back then?
4. You were diagnosed as autistic at 29, after years of searching for answers. How did finally receiving that diagnosis change things for you?
5. You also live with aphantasia, which means you can’t visualise images in your mind. How does that affect the way you create such vivid and epic fantasy worlds?
6. Your duology The Order of Masks and The Weight of Crowns has been described as a “feminist Game of Thrones.” What inspired these stories and the strong female protagonists at the heart of them?
7. On top of being an author, you’re also an actor, recently appearing in Bring Her Back. How do writing and acting complement each other for you?
8. Finally, where can our listeners find your books, follow your work, and connect with you online?

🎧 To check out more episodes, visit Neurodivergent Mates

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In this very special episode of Neurodivergent Mates, I’m joined by my mum, Marilyn Wheeler, to have an open and honest conversation about what it was like raising neurodivergent children.

From the early challenges of navigating school systems and limited support, to the strategies that helped (and the ones that didn’t), Marilyn shares her experiences across different stages of parenting — from childhood to teenage years and into adulthood. Together, we explore what has changed, what still needs to change, and the advice she would give to parents who are just beginning their journey.

This episode is a heartfelt reflection on resilience, family, and the power of understanding.

Podcast Questions

1. To kick things off, can you share a little bit about yourself and our family?
2. Thinking back to when I was little, what were some of the biggest challenges you faced as a parent of neurodivergent children?
3. When you first realised I was neurodivergent, what kind of support — or maybe lack of support — did you get from schools, professionals, or even the community?
4. Over the years, what approaches or strategies did you find the most helpful in supporting me and [siblings, if relevant] as we grew up?
5. Were there things you tried along the way that didn’t really work, or things you wish you’d done differently?
6. How did things shift as I grew into a teenager and then an adult? What new challenges or opportunities came up during those stages?
7. From your perspective, what do you think still needs to change in schools, communities, or workplaces to better support both neurodivergent kids and their families?
8. And finally, what advice would you give to parents today who are just beginning their journey raising a neurodivergent child?

👉 To check out more episodes, visit neurodiversityacademy.com/neurodivergentmates

#NeurodivergentParenting #NeurodiversityJourney #ParentingNeurodivergentKids #NeurodiversityMatters #FamilyAndNeurodiversity

Please be sure to subscribe, like and follow all our social media platforms.

Click on our Linktree link provided below to access all of our social media platforms:

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