In this first episode of The Sight Side, host James Hickey shares his origin story—from truck driver to systems integration specialist in nine months.

James explores why trucking was his “unicorn profession,” how a hip injury forced a sudden life pivot, and what happened when a single sentence in a peer recovery training shut him down completely:

That question led to a formal autism and ADHD diagnosis at 45, medication that silenced decades of chronic negative self-talk, and a complete reframe of what he had spent his entire life calling “broken.”

This episode also introduces the concept of Applied Neurodivergence—the deliberate and systematic use of neurodivergent cognitive patterns as functional assets rather than pathologies.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t fit, like you’re surviving instead of thriving, or like you’ve been asking yourself the wrong question—this episode is for you.

Topics Covered:

• Why trucking is the “unicorn profession” for AuDHD brains

• The pivot: injury, depression, and rebuilding from zero

• “What’s wrong with you?” vs. “What happened to you?”

• Late diagnosis at 45: autism, ADHD, and finally having language

• Medication, executive function, and the silencing of chronic negative self-talk

• Masking, survival, and the suicide risk nobody talks about

• Bottom-up processing and cognitive latency

• Neurodivergent productivity: the JPMorgan and HP studies

• From surviving to thriving: why this podcast exists

Resources Mentioned:

• From Liquor to Dhikr by James Hickey

• Path of the Sober Seeker podcast

• PathWays Collective — pathwayscollective.net

• JPMorgan Chase Autism at Work Program

Connect:

• Website: pathwayscollective.net

• Email: james@pathwayscollective.net

This is a long-form origin episode and sets the conceptual foundation for future, more narrowly focused discussions.

In this episode, James defines Applied Neurodivergence—a framework that shifts the ND conversation from accommodation to capability. He explores the difference between early and late diagnosis, the uncomfortable realities of how employers view accommodation, and why it's time to start talking about what neurodivergent professionals can actually deliver.

Topics covered:

What's missing from the current ND conversation

Early diagnosis vs. late diagnosis: accommodation vs. scars

The employer perspective on accommodation (uncomfortable but true)

The JP Morgan Autism at Work data

Applied Neurodivergence: definition and core cognitive operations

PathWays Collective: pathwayscollective.net

Connect: james@pathwayscollective.net

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/james-hickey-9b8ab43a2

I got written up once for trying to solve a customer's problem. Not for failing—for trying the wrong way. And here's the thing: the problem never got solved. The customer left without ever getting what they needed. But I still got the write-up. Because the process mattered more than the outcome.

In this episode, I break down one of the biggest friction points between neurodivergent talent and the organizations we work in: the NT obsession with methods over results. I share the casino story that still makes me salty twelve years later, and offer practical strategies for navigating hierarchy when your brain is wired to see answers directly.

Key quote from this episode:

1. The casino anecdote: written up for trying to solve a problem the wrong way
2. NT method obsession vs. ND results orientation
3. Why being right doesn't protect you if you're right the wrong way
4. The pattern recognition penalty
5. Circumspection: the skill late-diagnosed ND people learn the hard way
6. Practical strategies for communicating with supervisors
7. Reframing accommodation as communication protocol

1. Lead with the outcome, not the problem — "I want to make sure we hit [goal]. I noticed something that might get in the way."
2. Frame it as a question — "Have we considered..." gives room to engage instead of defend.
3. Document in writing — Creates a paper trail and gives you processing time to choose your words.
4. Find the person who can hear it — Sometimes the chain of command is the problem.
5. Know when to let it go — If you've raised it and documented it, you've done your part. Protect yourself.

1. PathWays Collective: https://pathwayscollective.net
2. Linkd In: James Hickey

Have a story about being punished for solving problems the wrong way? I want to hear it. Reach out on LinkedIn or leave a comment.

The Sight Side Pioneering the Field of Applied Neurodivergence From Friction to Flow