Divergent Conversations

Health & Fitness #227, Mental Health #85

Dr. Megan Neff and Patrick Casale are two Neurodivergent therapists in a neurotypical world. During this podcast, they’ll talk about their own personal experiences as Autistic-ADHDers. They will reflect on their lived experience as AuDHD mental health professionals, and entrepreneurs, as well as offer clinical guidance, and support. Episodes will be conversational in nature, and they’ll interview other ND Folx to amplify the voices of other neurodivergent advocates and individuals as they share their authentic stories. New episodes will come out weekly, on all major platforms. Megan told Patrick, ”I’ll bring the chaos, You organize it.” This perfectly sums up their working relationship and friendship. Reflections of two neurodivergent clinicians. Raw, Vulnerable, Affirmative As Hell. Follow on instagram.com/divergentconversationsTopics include Autism, ADHD, Sleep struggles, Chronic Illness, RSD, Alexithymia, Autistic burnout, Intersectionality, Neuroqueer, Creativity, OCD, Neurodivergence, Affirming Language, Small business ownership, Unpacking Internalized Ableism, and so much more. If you love the podcast, please leave us a 5 star review https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/divergent-conversations/id1662009631Visit our website for all podcast episodes and sponsorship opportunities divergentpod.comLegal Disclaimer: The content provided in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider or medical professional for personalized advice regarding any medical condition or treatment.

Recent Episodes

Episodes loading...

Recent Reviews

Fire Fae

Best ever podcast!

Thank you for modeling taking a break! And- I miss hearing both of your voices talk so authentically and supportively about autism. Especially Patrick- you always bring it back to a real very human place.
Responsible oil

Good podcast

Overall good podcast- are you aware that you are releasing the series episodes backwards?
EHill_MFT

Diversity

I love the work of both of these clinicians, however this podcast is lacking in ethnic diversity. Two white hosts with majority white guests is really disheartening. I’m a Black AuDHD clinician who would love to see some ethnic and cultural diversity in the line up. I don’t feel represented.
rbeccamari

Validation

I’m so grateful I’ve found your podcast. So many of the personal stories resonate for me and make me feel seen and understood in a way I don’t think I ever have. You share generously and clearly and I am grateful. The most recent episode about comfort zone spoke to me The most, everything Patrick shared and Megan too spoke to me so loudly as I go through my own journey of discovering and giving myself permission for accommodations I never let myself believe I needed. There really aren’t words for my gratitude. Thank you. I recommend this podcast for anyone wanting to more deeply understand ADHd and Autism.
DBNYC98

Best podcast on all things Neurodivergent

This podcast has been an incredible source of wisdom, laughter, and inspiration. Dr. Neff and Patrick have a heart-warming and playful rapport that brings their lived experiences to life! I have learned more from this podcast than any graduate course! Thank you!
Allison Mueller

Newly Diagnosed Adult Parent

This podcast is so helpful, and I was relieved to hear so much that mirrored my experience. I’m 44, a mom of two, and was diagnosed after my oldest child received his dx. It’s just mind blowing to have gone all my life knowing something was not “normal”, feeling so “crazy” at times and wishing I knew why. The things I’m hearing and reading now are both relieving and a bit heart breaking. Thank you for this. And also, do you have any recs for Adult ASD support groups? Thank you so much! Ali F Greensboro NC
Directusveritas

Refreshingly Insightful

I’m so grateful to have found this podcast. Megan and Patrick do an amazing job of making the topics approachable yet informative. They put their guests at ease and in position to shine. In turn, the listener to treated to conversations that spark curiosity and leave us better informed. As clinicians, it would be easy for this to be super stuffy but they are very down to earth. Give it a listen today!
erindavis09

Keeping it Real

As someone who hosts a podcast on OCD, I can’t say enough about how valuable these insights are! Dr. Neff and Patrick keep it real and I recommend listening to this show.
AnarchoPotato

I’ve never felt so valid and properly informed

This podcast has helped me understand myself so much more than I could have other hoped. It’s given me language for experiences and feelings that I’ve never been able to verbalize. It’s helped my loved ones understand and support me on my journey as a late diagnosed AuDHD adult with several other mental health diagnoses. This podcast is so important and needed. I am grateful I found such a wonderful resource
allieeeen

love this podcast!

I cannot even explain how helpful this podcast was in my autism/adhd journey. It is so comforting and empowering to hear so many topics discussed that I resonate with so deeply. Thank you both for making this podcast and everything you bring to it!!
sammysammy8675309

Love the hosts

The hosts make this podcast what it is! Patrick and Dr. Neff have such refreshing and unique perspectives.
Dikembe Motombo

Such an amazing resource

I hope to come back to this someday when I have the time to make this clever and heartfelt. But for now I wanted to express gratitude for this podcast. I can’t even describe how validating and helpful it has been for me. So thank you Megan and Patrick.
XiloDelSol

A MUST LISTEN

This podcast completely changed my understanding of myself and my loved ones in a transformational way. Patrick and Megan have a wealth of lived experience and knowledge of neurodiversity that they present in an accessible and approachable way. I recommend it to everyone interested in getting to know themselves or the people they interact with better. We all have a neurodivergent person in our life.
Justflintisfine

A lifesaving resource for this AuDHDer

This was one of the first podcasts I started listening to as I began to understand my diagnosis and what my life would look like from there. The episode on meltdowns and shutdowns changed everything, and I’ve been able to let go of an astounding amount of shame and internalized ableism. I recommend it to anyone who will listen to me.
qtpiechris

Informative and Relatable

I listen regularly and recommend to my clients. Thank you to you both for sharing your wisdom and creating this virtual community.
KJSum

Honest, real-world conversations from an autistic lens

I love the podcast whether it’s conversations between Patrick Casale and Dr. Neff or with an additional guest! Honest, relevant, grounded, evidence-based, real-world conversations about life and the autistic experience. I always come away with much to ponder and share within my neurodiverse family.
LPWMSW09

Divergent Conversations are crucial conversations that the world needs more of

I really enjoy the podcast and truly appreciate the vulnerability & authenticity of Patrick and Megan! It’s helped me better understand myself as someone diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. It’s also been a great resource for learning how to better support my neurodivergent clients as a therapist. I also share this podcasts with clients. I recently shared with someone who shared that it’s helped them to feel better about themselves than they’ve felt in years.
PNW Towanda

Practical and Refreshing

I love how the hosts neither sugarcoat nor go doom-and-gloom. I appreciate that while they have a conversational style, the content stays solidly focused on neurodivergence. Highly recommend.
Alexandria_A

One of my favorite podcasts!

I highly recommend this podcast for anyone wanting to learn more about being Autistic or an ADHDer. I really appreciate their honesty about the difficulties of living as an AuDHDer and the educational content is incredibly helpful context. This podcast has definitely helped me navigate being neurodivergent and I’m so grateful it exists! :)
Lil_9898

Endearing and Informative

I truly dearly adore this podcast. It has been a big part of helping me inform and grow into a peace I didn’t know was out there. I still have a lot of grief around being an audhder. A lot of anger and hurt. I also have so much joy. And I’ve been learning how to tap into that joy more and more. Learning how to work with my brain instead of against it. Learning how all of pieces of the 3D puzzle cubes that are our nervous systems interact. Megan Anna and Patrick also put voice to so so so many experiences that autists and adhder’s alike feel so isolated in. They provide a solace that feels like talking with another audhder when things just -click- and you feel free to discuss the hard things and the good things and acknowledge that, truthfully, none of them make you a bad person. It feels like a warm friendship even when friends are so hard to stay connected to among our neurotypes, with both Megan Anna and Patrick encouraging that connection to their audience. Thank you both so much for creating this space and inviting us in 🩵
biankitachikitita

Great resource for clients (and parents!)

As a clinical social worker I have been able to learn and share some resonance with Dr Neff and Patrick’s experiences. They are so honest and real and it’s such a breath of fresh air. I’ve recommended this podcast as a resource for several clients who are newly exploring their neurodivergence as well. Lastly, and most importantly for me personally, it has supported me in my mothering and parenting journey as I continue to support and guide my neurodivergent Children. I have found myself laughing out loud and crying with this podcast. Just can’t recommend enough.
wcalebb

Very thoughtful and deep show

THANK YOU for this podcast! As a late-diagnosed Autistic, it’s been a real light in my life. ❤️
SpecialAgentButt

Fantastic podcast for neurodivergent nerds!

This podcast was recommended by my therapist about a year ago now, which I later realized was because she believed I was high masking AuDHD and wanted me to identify with the content. I've enjoyed the podcast so much since then and get a lot of value out of it, both the episodes with guests and the episodes where Dr Neff and Patrick discuss specific topics in detail as neurodivergent mental health professionals. Both hosts are relatable in different ways for me, and I really appreciate how vulnerable they choose to be on many of the episodes with difficult subject matter. I also enjoy the variety in guests, as being exposed to diverse perspectives when it comes to how individuals from different backgrounds and neurotypes navigate the world in different ways has been very eye-opening. Over all, this podcast has been a fantastic resource that my partner and I listen to and discuss every week, and I'm grateful to Dr Neff and Patrick for continuing to produce it.
KaraLauren

Love this podcast

I absolutely love the podcast and the dynamic between the hosts. As a late diagnosed audhd adult it’s so comforting to relate to people for the first time in my life. Thank you 🖤
AMichelle808

So much knowledge here!

I’ve learned so much and felt such a sense of solidarity and understanding while listening to this podcast. I find the information shared to be more valuable than pretty much any other resource out there. Love these hosts, too! 10/10!
Bruns82

Life changing

Patrick and Dr. Neff have contributed to a broader understanding of Neurodiversity’s complexities, challenges, benefits, and as a whole in a way that is informative, insightful, and validating. I eagerly await episodes and find myself feigning for more content in between. Thank you Patrick and Dr. Neff, sincerely, for providing us this incredible resource. You have a listener for life!
anna thoma

Beyond Helpful

One of the best mental health podcasts I’ve ever listened to! I really appreciate Patrick and Megan Anna’s professional expertise and willingness to be honest and vulnerable sharing their personal lived experiences.
PissedPissyCat

Lovely

It’s so comforting to be able to listen in on these divergent conversations from fellow ND folks who are grounded and thoughtful about the way they live life. I’m constantly amazed by how the conversations evolve and unfold in ways that describe and framework our particular ND experiences.
Lauren NYC

One of the best podcasts for neurodivergent content

As an Autistic clinical psychologist working and living within the neurodiversity paradigm, this is one of the best podcasts for learning and affirming! I follow on Instagram also and love both of their work! Highly recommend for individuals wanting to learn about themselves and the community, as we as for professionals.
Osjsnsnsuwj

Deep bow of gratitude

Truly an excellent and needed resource! Deep bow of gratitude to Patrick and Dr. Neff. 🙏🙏🙏
Jrees09

Major source of support

This podcast has been such a source of support for me in my late diagnosis/self actualization journey. Highly recommend.
Rachel Qloqdub

This podcast saved my life

After I got my autism late diagnosis October 2023, my therapist recommended this podcast to me. I’ve been listening to every single episode… I’ve listened to some episodes multiple times. I’m not really sure what I would be doing right now or where I would be without this podcast. This podcast gave me reassurance. It made me feel validated, and most importantly it gave me language, and it gave me a perspective I needed to navigate unmasking as a 34 year old. Autistic ADHD and I still have a lot to learn about myself and others and it’s been an incredible experience to have Megan and Patrick in my life. Thank you both for all the time you put into this podcast. AuDHDer Queer They/She 34 years PDX
BlazeJester

Good content, challenging audio for this sensitive ND

I like the content of the podcast. Dr Neff has a very similar experience of the world and I appreciate hearing her perspectives on life. Hearing her talk reveals a lot to me about myself and I like the PsyD perspective. Technically, the editing is unpredictable and sometimes unlistenable. There have been episodes where I couldn’t turn the volume up enough to hear someone speaking, and that’s with turning my phone volume to max and turning up a sound system to near max. I also have auditory sensitivity challenges with gravelly voices so that can make it challenging for me to get through an episode. I often avoid listening to the new episodes and have chosen to unsubscribe because of it (so they stop popping into my up next feed). It’s challenging to skip ads when recorded by the podcast hosts in their “normal” voice, and I often skip through content of Patrick talking on the episode topic because of the ads.
neighborhoodotaku

Autism Insights Beyond Traditional Circles

As an entrepreneur and speaker on the spectrum, I’ve found great comfort and wisdom in this podcast! Megan and Patrick are a beautiful blend of compassion and candidness that paint the canvas of autism in a light you might not expect. There’s a lot of talk here not being had in professional spectrum circles that’s definitely worth your ears.
Billiam_27

Brilliant!

As an autistic adult myself, this podcast is truly worth committing to. Having two hosts, both on the spectrum, isn’t as common as it should be. Megan and Patrick sharing their life stories has been eye opening, since many of my experiences are similar! A must listen podcast for those on the spectrum, as well as neurotypical’s who want to learn what autism is, especially in adults. I would love to have both as guests on my podcast one day too!
trykind

Great information

I’ve been looking for a podcast to share with my clients who feel they may be autistic. I find this to be very informative and helpful. I like that it comes from a perspective of someone who is experiencing autism. Thanks!
Muskluvsdic

You guys sound like a blast to hang around

I also give the autistic body ZERO out of 5 stars. However, after listening to every episode you two have put out, I would certainly rate hanging out with you two for an hour every Friday: 5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you both for doing what you do!🙏🤓
BayArea!!!

Enjoying

Thanks!
babbaloooo

Vocal Fry Pod

I’d love to get past these vocal fry voices. Because they might be adding good content to the ND conversation. But I can’t. The lazy speech comes across as unprofessional. They are grating and sound bored or unambitious.
no_big

Five-star review

“Zero out of ten, do not recommend”: devastating and sometimes hilarious insights into autistic embodiment. Thanks for these real conversations.
JACNanny

Refreshing and Validating

Candid and enlightening conversations around living with a neurodivergent brain. I’ve gleaned SO many tips from this podcast and it’s help me navigate and distinguish my ADHD symptoms from other things I have going on. Such a good listen!
Bri_Naa

Refreshing and insightful

It’s so refreshing to hear directly from ND people living ND lives and working with and around other ND people. Knowledgeable in both a clinical and personal way, this is a favorite podcast of mine! Keep it up!
NeverNude McGillicuddy

Self-involved and unrealistic

Dr. Neff appears phony, arrogant, and lacking experience with navigating the world outside of academia or private practice
JennyAnyDot7

Brainy, delightfully awkward, & genuine

This podcast has been so helpful and validating to me as I navigate and seek to understand my children’s and my own neurodivergences. It is brainy and delightfully awkward in ways that hit all the right dopamine receptors for me.
Jamie ND

Refreshing

It is so refreshing to hear an honest and validating conversation about neurodivergence. Patrick and Megan are fantastic resources!
AshleyHosey

So Real

While I don’t think I fall into the neurodivergent category, I find myself being able to relate to something in the podcast. I’m learning what it’s like on the opposite side for those who ARE neurodivergent and how “simple” things can be really difficult. Patrick is very relatable to me. I’m in recovery from my own addiction and it’s so refreshing to have another professional name this and share their own journey to self discovery and empowerment. Worth a listen for sure!
Lone Sloan

Thank you, Patrick

…For your honest admission of struggles with addiction. If a therapist struggled, who am I to loathe myself for having troubles resisting marijuana. Neurodivergence can increase social isolation, and social isolation can lead to an urge to bury deep feelings of loneliness. I appreciate you.
BerylH

Wonderful content!

Excellent discussions! I’m only giving 4 stars because the podcast would benefit from occasional sound editing. The content is amazing, listening to the audio can be grating.
Brooke LW

So Affirming and Normalizing

As a neurodivergent person myself, and therapist, this podcast “feels like home” to everything I experience. I always share episodes as appropriate to ND clients too that is a wonderful addition to our sessions for further processing. So grateful for this podcast!
Anomaline

Giving words to those who need it most!

Love this podcast! I have used it in my personal life, as well as with my clients. It gives a voice to those who have a hard time explaining their needs and describing their existence. That is truly priceless and absolutely necessary! This podcast must exist and keep going!

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork on this page are property of the podcast owner, and not endorsed by UP.audio.