Shows
The Neuroconvergence PodcastRosie Bissett | Reading Between the Lines | Dyslexia, Education and Real Systemic ChangeEpisode: Reading Between the Lines: Dyslexia, Education, and Real Systemic Change Guest: Rosie Bissett — CEO of Dyslexia Ireland, national advocate for literacy, access, and equity in education. With decades of leadership, Rosie brings systemic insight, lived empathy, and policy-level experience into the conversation around dyslexia, co-occurring conditions, and structural change. Host: Peter O'Brien Producer: Ian Lawton Episode summary In this honest, wide-ranging conversation, Rosie Bissett breaks down the complex realities of dyslexia in Ireland today—from assessment bottlenecks to shame around reading, and from leaving cert reform to AI's limits in education. Rosie reflects on pers...
2026-02-2051 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastTierra Porter | Sharks, Scripts & Showing Up NeurodivergentEpisode: Sharks, Scripts & Showing Up Neurodivergent Guest: Tierra Porter — Actor, musician, writer, and neurodivergent artist of Indigenous American, African, and Puerto Rican descent. Tierra has toured internationally with Missoula Children's Theatre, graduated with First Class Honours from The Lir Academy, and recently performed at the Gate, Abbey, and Dublin Theatre Festival stages. Host: Al Bellamy Producer: Ian Lawton Episode summary This joyful and energising conversation with Tierra Porter moves from ocean documentaries to Shakespeare, from overstimulation to art as survival. Tierra shares her journey of discovering she's neurodivergent, emigrating from Georgia to Ireland to pursue ac...
2026-02-0647 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastElle Felicity | Close All Tabs: Coaching, Creativity & the ADHD Lived ExperienceEpisode: ADHD, Comedy & Coaching: Building a Life That Works for Your Brain Guest: Elle Felicity — Writer, performer, and ADHD coach; founder of Chaotic Good Coaching; creator of Close All Tabs (Smock Alley, 2024); advocate for lived-experience-led support and sustainable neurodivergent life design. Host: Al Bellamy Producer: Ian Lawton Episode summary Writer, performer, and ADHD coach Elle Felicity joins Al Bellamy for a deeply candid, often funny, and emotionally resonant conversation about late diagnosis, reframing your identity, and working with your brain rather than against it. Elle shares her journey from years of shame and self-help rabbit ho...
2026-01-2355 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastBlánaid Gavin | Research, Lived Experience & the Neurodiversity ShiftEpisode: Research, Lived Experience & the Future of Neurodiversity Practice Guest: Dr. Blánaid Gavin — Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist; subspecialist in ADHD; Chair of UCD's Neurodiversity Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Working Group; Co-lead of Making UCD a Neurodiversity-Friendly Campus; researcher, lecturer, and clinical practitioner. Host: Michele Van Valey Producer: Ian Lawton Episode summary Dr. Blánaid Gavin joins Michele for a deep discussion on the tension—and necessary collaboration—between medical frameworks, academic research, and lived experience within the neurodiversity movement. The conversation moves through the challenges of accessing assessments, the limits of current systems, the shifting understa...
2026-01-0944 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastEleanor Walsh | Relaxed Performance, Representation & Disabled Lives in the ArtsEpisode: Relaxed Performance, Representation & Disabled Lives in the Arts Guest: Eleanor Walsh — Autistic actor, writer, disability advocate; performer in Chronically Hopeful, Grace, Yellow, Daughter of God, and What I Don't Know About Autism at the Abbey Theatre; Youth Ambassador with AsIAm; featured in Be Inspired: Young Irish People Changing the World by Sarah Webb. Host: Al Bellamy Producer: Ian Lawton Episode summary Eleanor Walsh joins Al Bellamy for a deep exploration of relaxed performance, autistic representation, and what it means to build a sustainable career in the Irish arts sector as a disabled professional. She sh...
2025-12-2650 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastKen Kilbride | Understanding ADHD Across the Lifespan: Lived Experience, Leadership & Looking AheadEpisode: Understanding ADHD Across the Lifespan: Lived Experience, Leadership & Looking Ahead Guest: Ken Kilbride — CEO of ADHD Ireland; advocate for national ADHD supports; parent of a multiply-neurodivergent adult; long-time collaborator with national organisations. Episode summary Peter O'Brien speaks with Ken Kilbride about ADHD Ireland's mission, the realities of ADHD across the lifespan, medication and self-regulation, comorbidity, workplace culture, and the deeper human rights implications of ignoring adult ADHD. Ken shares personal motivations, organisational strategy, and why ADHD awareness must evolve into acceptance in schools, workplaces, and wider society. Key takeaways ADHD is lifelong, not a ch...
2025-12-1249 min
The Middletown Centre for Autism PodcastNeuroconvergence with Jody O’NeillOn the Middletown Podcast we chat to playwright, accessibility consultant and community activist, Jody O’Neill. She discusses Neuroconvergence, a new initiative that is building community and celebrating autistic creativity. You can find out more about Neuroconvergence here: https://www.neuroconvergence.ie/
2025-12-0329 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastAdam Harris | Autism, Advocacy & the Changing Landscape of IrelandEpisode: Autism, Advocacy & the Changing Landscape of Ireland Guest: Adam Harris — Founder & CEO of AsIAm; leading national advocate for autistic rights; writer, speaker, and policy influencer. Episode summary Adam Harris traces his journey from early childhood in Ireland—when autism was barely understood—to founding AsIAm, now the country's national autism organisation. He speaks openly about early school experiences, stigma, sensory and executive-function challenges, and autistic burnout. Adam and Peter explore the growing self-advocacy movement, the post-COVID cultural shift, structural barriers that persist, and why societal attitudes lag behind public awareness. The conversation moves into education, universal design...
2025-11-2851 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastDr. Mary Doherty & Elaine McGoldrick | Autistic SPACE in Practice | How Healthcare and Education Can Truly Meet Autistic NeedsA clear, lived-experience guide to the Autistic SPACE framework—how sensory needs, predictability, acceptance, communication, and empathy transform care in clinics, hospitals, and classrooms. Guests Dr. Mary Doherty — Autistic physician and researcher; lead author of the Autistic SPACE framework for healthcare. Elaine McGoldrick — Autistic educator and former special-education teacher; co-author on applying SPACE in schools. Host: Michele Van Valey • Producer: Ian Lawton What we cover What "SPACE" means: Sensory needs • Predictability • Acceptance • Communication • Empathy Plus three supports: Physical space, Processing time, Emotional space. Healthcare realities: Barri...
2025-11-1751 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastDr. John Sharry | Meeting Children Where They Are | Reframing School Stress and Parenting Through Discovery, Not DiagnosisThe Neuroconvergence Podcast — Show Notes Episode: Meeting Children Where They Are: Neuro-distinct Needs, School Stress & Strengths-Based Parenting Guest: Dr. John Sharry — social worker & psychotherapist; Clinical Director, Parents Plus; Adjunct Professor (UCD School of Psychology); Irish Times parenting columnist; author of 25+ books including Positive Parenting series; developer of the Parents Plus ADHD Children's Programme. Episode summary John Sharry explains why "diagnosis" frames neurodivergence as disorder, and offers a discovery-led, strengths-based approach. He maps common school attendance difficulties to unmet sensory, autonomy, and safety needs; shows how coercion backfires; and outlines practical, bespoke accommodations that reduce distress and rebuild conn...
2025-11-0841 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastAisling Leonard-Curtin | UMAAP, ACT & the Power of Small: ADHD Support that WorksShow Notes — Neuroconvergence: Unity, Creativity, Collaboration Episode Title "UMAAP, ACT, and the Power of Small: ADHD Support that Works" Episode Summary Host Michele Van Valey speaks with Aisling Leonard-Curtin, senior psychologist on ADHD Ireland's UMAAP programme, co-director of ACT Now: Purposeful Living, and co-author of The Power of Small. They unpack how UMAP (Understanding & Managing Adult ADHD) blends evidence-based psychoeducation with Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), why no formal diagnosis is needed to join, and how "toward vs. away" moves, values, and tiny, sustainable actions can transform day-to-day life. Guests Aisling Leonard-Curtin — Senior Psychologist, UMAAP (ADHD Irel...
2025-10-1746 min
Predictably GoodS5, Episode 1 - Creativity, Connection, and the Power of CommunityThis week we chat with Peter O’Brien, founder of Neuroconvergence, a collaborative platform that brings together the neurodivergent community, advocates, and organisations into a shared ecosystem of understanding and change. We chat about building spaces where every kind of mind belongs and about the power of community, creativity, and lived experience in shaping a more inclusive future. Join the Neuroconvergence Festival at the UCD Student Centre on 18 October for a free celebration of neurodivergent creativity, connection, and conversation.Go to Neuroconvergence.ie for the full line up in UCD and to learn more abou...
2025-10-1323 minThe Neuroconvergence PodcastNeuroconvergence: Building a Neuro-affirming MovementShow Notes — Neuroconvergence: Unity, Creativity, Collaboration Episode Title "Neuroconvergence: Building a Neuro-affirming Movement" Episode Summary Host Michele Van Valey speaks with Peter O'Brien, Jody O'Neill, and producer Ian Lawton about Neuroconvergence—a neurodivergent-led movement creating spaces for unity, creativity, and collaboration across Ireland. The conversation covers origins, language (neuro-affirming vs. neurodivergent), what inclusive events look like, and details for the UCD event on Saturday, 18 October. Guests Peter O'Brien — Events/festivals producer (Happenings); late-identified ADHD; parent to an autistic, minimally speaking son. Co-initiator of Neuroconvergence. Jody O'Neill — Autistic writer/producer; creator of What I Don't Kn...
2025-10-0346 min
Unscripted and UnchoreographedEpisode 39: Al BellamyOn this week's episode we chat to Al Bellamy. Al Bellamy first became interested in challenging traditional direction methods with her debut production, Anne (Samuel Beckett Theatre, 2019) where she self-directed her foray into ethics and intimacy onstage. She spent some years engaging as Creative Producer and Production Manager for works such as DUBH (Dublin Theatre Festival, 2021), The Tolu & Feli Show (YouTube & Spotify, 2021), Tough Meat (YouTube, 2022). She first took the leap into Disability-Inclusive practice through Jody O’Neill’s What I (Don’t) Know About Autism (The Peacock Stage, The Abbey Theatre, 2021) as the captions operator, working closely with the cast a...
2025-09-2545 min2025-09-0201 min