No Such Thing as Normal
Episodes
33. What can science tell us about neurodivergent brains?
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
If you - or your child - is neurodivergent, it can often feel like the world doesn’t always take you seriously. The challenges might be huge, bu...
32. ADHD and Perimenopause: The Perfect Storm
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many women, perimenopause brings more than just hot flushes. The impact on their cognition and mood is so extreme it feels like the chair has been...
31. Gender diversity & neurodiversity: Understanding the intersection
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Neurodivergent young people are more likely to question their gender identity, and it can be a confusing and confronting time. Not just for the indivi...
30. Neurodiversity at work: why traditional workplaces fail ‘different thinkers’
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why do so many neurodivergent people struggle in the workplace; even when they are highly capable? In this episode, Sonia speaks to workplace strategi...
29. Is there real hope for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Isabella* is just 22, but she’d been living with severe contamination OCD for eight years. It had taken over her life - touching people, objects...
Why ADHD still feels so hard - even when you understand it
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ADHD is being talked about more than ever. But for many, life still feels harder than it should. Even with a diagnosis there can be a lingering ...
Strengths-based education (part 2) - what happens when we build around strengths?
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sonia Gray speaks with 12-year-old Benjamin, whose extraordinary creativity sits alongside the challenges of dyslexia. His mother, Gr...
Strengths-based education (Part 1): Unlocking the gifts
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
For many dyslexic children, school is where self-doubt begins. Literacy and numeracy sit at the centre of how ability is measured, so it doesn’t...
Sensory overload: What your child is trying to tell you
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Parenting a child with ADHD, autism, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Pervasive Demand Avoidance (PDA) or sensory challenges can feel unpredictabl...
ADHD medication - Is is safe? Is it effective?
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ADHD stimulant medication use is rising in New Zealand, but questions about safety and side effects remain - as does the stigma surrounding these meds...
Episode 23: The mystery of Tourette’s syndrome
01 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all know what Tourette’s is - or we think we do. But this is a condition that is largely misunderstood and routinely misrepresented. Only aroun...
Episode 22: The Spiral of Shame
25 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A diagnosis of ADHD, autism or dyslexia is merely an indication that your brain works in a different - and exciting - way. So why are the rates of co-...
Episode 21: What is Dyspraxia?
18 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dyspraxia (or Developmental Coordination Disorder) is more than just a difficulty tying shoelaces or riding a bike. It impacts almost every aspect o...
Episode 20: The Shaming and Blaming of Parents
11 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The parents of kids with neurodifferences face multiple challenges. But while navigating a broken system is exhausting, the constant scrutiny of your ...
Episode 19: A PhD in Parenting - raising a neurodivergent child
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Parenting a neurodivergent child is wonderful, but it’s challenging. Often, it can feel like the only people who understand are other parents o...
Episode 18: The Fork In The Road
27 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The rates of ADHD and dyslexia in prisons is staggering. But these same neurotypes are also more likely to be successful CEO’s and entrepreneurs. ...
Episode 17: Autism - inside the non-speaking world
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It’s very difficult to get by in society when you don’t use words to communicate. Non-speaking autistic people tend to be invisible, unless they...
Episode 16: Autism - Removing the Mask
06 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Many autistic people have spent their lives masking, but it’s an exhausting and inauthentic way to live. Now, as understanding around neurodivergenc...
Episode 15: Dyslexia - A 'specialisation', not a disorder
30 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode Sonia Gray finds out how vital people with dyslexia are to the survival of the human race - they're the explorers, creative thinker...
Episode 14: Dyslexia - Are we getting it all wrong?
23 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dyslexia has long been thought of as that thing that makes it hard to read - and people are often made to feel dumb because of it.But we're learning m...
Season 2 Update
01 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
No Such Thing as Normal is taking a short break, but Season 2 will return from August 24th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Episode 13: AuDHD - When Autism meets ADHD
19 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
WARNING: This episode does contain explicit language Autism and ADHD were always thought of as mutually exclusive conditions, but in recent years it...
Episode 12: Adult ADHD - Is it more than just always losing your keys?
12 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
WARNING: This episode does contain explicit language There’s been a sharp rise in the number of adults seeking ADHD assessments, and for many a di...
Episode 11: Sensory Challenges - when you feel too much
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The whirr of an air conditioner; the feeling of socks on your feet; the sound of other people breathing: Sensory challenges are arbitrary, but the...
Trailer - Season 2 coming soon!
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Season Two of the award-winning No Such Thing as Normal returns from July 6th across NZ Herald, iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts. See om...
Episode 10: A Broader Definition of Normal
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
OCD is largely thought of as an aversion to germs and excessive hand washing, but it’s far more complicated than that. Obsessive thoughts can be aro...
Episode 9: Rethinking Dyslexia
04 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dyslexia is still thought of a problem with reading and writing but that’s just a small part of the picture; those who are dyslexic experience the ...
Episode 8: The Mechanics of a Meltdown
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neurodivergent people respond to the environment in unique ways. Occasionally, if their nervous systems are overwhelmed, the body responds by going i...
Episode 7: How ADHD hides in women and girls
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Although we think of ADHD as being a mostly male condition, it is just as prevalent in females. However, the diagnosis rates tell a different story - ...
Episode 6: Education (Part 2)
14 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we continue looking at whether our education system is meeting the needs of neurodivergent children. We ask: What are the supports and...
Episode 5: Education (Part 1)
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In Aotearoa, we pride ourselves on our inclusive education system. But is that really the experience for kids who are Autistic, ADHD, Dyslexic or Gi...
Episode 4: Beyond the Diagnosis
30 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There is growing awareness and acceptance of neurodivergent profiles like ADHD, autism and dyslexia. But even with a diagnosis, accommodations and sup...
Episode 3: Diagnosis.... Or Discovery?
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Getting a diagnosis is complicated, and not just because of the long waiting lists. There is so much to consider: Do you want your child – or you...
Episode 2: Navigating the System
16 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Trying to navigate the health and education systems is one of the biggest challenges for parents of neurodivergent kids. Where do you start? And where...
Episode 1: Different not Disordered
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There are 8 billion brains in the world...and they are 8 billion unique brains. We’re all different. So why are neurodivergent conditions (like Auti...
Trailer
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
No Such Thing as Normal launches June 10th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.