Joanne Lockwood is joined by talent lead and podcast host Sophie Power to explore what it feels like to discover, in adulthood, that you have been “running on a different operating system” all along. Sophie shares her experience of being diagnosed as autistic in her early thirties, what it changed, and what it didn’t, as she reframed years of school, relationships, and work through a new lens.
The conversation unpacks how popular culture and workplace narratives can over-simplify autism into the “autistic savant” trope. Sophie discusses why the language of “superpowers” can be well-intended yet still put pressure on autistic people to prove their worth, and how traits like pattern recognition are often misunderstood or over-romanticised.
They also move from story to practical inclusion. Sophie and Joanne discuss simple, low-cost adjustments that help neurodivergent people thrive, from fidget tools and sensory-friendly lighting to clarity in processes and reducing unhelpful expectations around eye contact, handshakes, and interview performance. In recruitment specifically, Sophie argues for transparency, offering adjustments up front, and being consistent if interview questions are shared in advance.
Throughout, the episode returns to belonging, authenticity, and the idea that supportive environments benefit everyone, not just those who disclose a diagnosis.
