In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley explores how nature helps us move through overwhelm and restore balance. From the science of the “happiness chemicals”—dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins—to the practices of grounding and awe, discover how the natural world regulates our nervous system and reconnects us with presence and purpose. This week’s guided meditation, Walking Off the Storm, takes you on a deeply descriptive, awe-filled journey through nature to release stress and return to calm.

Ashley Bentley is an integrative coach, breathwork facilitator, and clinical hypnotherapist. She is also the in-house therapist for The Neurodivergent Experience podcast and a teacher on Insight Timer, where she shares meditations, courses, and live events to support presence, resilience, and connection.

✨ Connect with Ashley:

🔗 Website: www.integrativeiom.co.uk

🔗 Facebook: Integrative IOM

🔗 Insight Timer: Ashley Bentley

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If this episode resonated with you:

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Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
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In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott unpack sensationalist headlines, genetic blame narratives, and the ongoing misinformation war around autism.

From genetic blame and parental guilt to Trump’s Tylenol claims and Facebook “science,” they expose how bad headlines spread faster than real research — and why this matters for autistic people and their families.

Jordan and Simon also explore:

• Why autism isn’t a disease with a “cause,” but a form of neurodivergence shaped by synaptic development
• The harm caused by framing autism through deficit-based narratives and severity labels
• How pseudo-scientific headlines fuel ableism and self-blame in parents
• The difference between genuine research, sensationalist headlines, and clickbait “Facebook science”
• The need to shift funding from “preventing autism” to supporting autistic people who already exist
• Why blanket statements about autism erase the vast diversity of lived experiences

This is a fiery, passionate conversation that blends science, personal experience, and sharp critique of ableist rhetoric.

Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
• Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
• YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
• TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you:

✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience

⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan, Simon, and Ashley explore the powerful relationship between nature, neurodivergence, chronic pain, and seasonal change. Recorded after a neurodivergent getaway in the Lake District, the trio reflect on the healing power of natural environments, the sensory overwhelm of urban life, and how embracing seasonal rhythms can support mental health and regulation for autistic and ADHD adults.

Through candid storytelling and humour, they unpack the challenges of pain management, executive dysfunction, and winter transition, and share personal rituals, mindset shifts, and unexpected joys found in the natural world.

Together, they explore:

• How nature acts as a powerful regulatory tool for neurodivergent brains
• Why modern urban environments can overwhelm autistic and ADHD sensory systems
• The role of barefoot grounding, light exposure, and circadian rhythms in daily wellbeing
• Practical strategies for navigating winter transitions, layering, and seasonal overwhelm
• Pain, fatigue, and adapting outdoor experiences to fit different physical needs
• Using photography, VR, and creative rituals to stay connected to nature indoors
• Embracing cosiness, Christmas lights, and simple joys during the winter months

Whether you find winter draining, chronic pain exhausting, or city life overstimulating, this episode offers practical strategies and heartfelt conversation to remind you that neurodivergent people aren’t broken—the environments we live in often are.

Our Sponsors:

🧠 RTN Diagnostics - Right to Choose – Autism & ADHD Assessments (UK)

🧘‍♀️ Ashley Bentley – Integrative Coaching, Breathwork & Hypnotherapy

• → https://bit.ly/ashleynde

🔗 Stay Connected

• Instagram: @theneurodivergentexperiencepod
• Facebook: The Neurodivergent Experience & Jordan's Facebook page
• YouTube: @TheNeurodivergentExperience
• TikTok: @neurodivergentexperience

❤️ Support the Show

If this episode resonated with you:

✅ Follow or Subscribe to The Neurodivergent Experience

⭐ Leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

🔔 Turn on notifications for new weekly episodes

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.