Aisling Smith is an Irish neurodiversity coach and speaker based in Melbourne, Australia. In this episode, Ash shares her journey from rural Ireland to becoming a leading advocate for neurodivergent individuals, driven by her and her son’s autism diagnoses.
The conversation explores her mission to empower a million neurodivergent employees by fostering workplace inclusion. Aisling discusses the challenges of masking, the impact of social media on youth, and the power of self-understanding. Her candid reflections on overcoming personal and professional setbacks, including running the Melbourne Marathon on impulse, highlight her resilience. The episode delves into societal pressures, the importance of self-belief, and the need for tailored communication to support neurodivergent individuals. With humor and heart, Aisling and Lui connect over their shared experiences, offering listeners an inspiring look at embracing neurodiversity and personal growth.
Key Themes: Neurodiversity, self-understanding, resilience, workplace inclusion, societal pressures, masking, empowerment, communication, personal growth, social media’s impact.
Highlights:
Self-Understanding Empowers: Aisling emphasises that knowing your neurodivergent traits allows for self-compassion and effective support. “When you can see past the label… then you can become you” (00:10:34).
Masking’s Toll: Masking neurodivergent traits to fit in can be exhausting and unhealthy. “You’re just going to push through, which is, it’s unhealthy” (00:13:08).
Reframing Anxiety: Aisling’s mother taught her to view anxiety as excitement, a choice that shapes perspective. “It’s your decision as to how you want to frame it” (00:34:39).
Resilience Through Challenges: Running the Melbourne Marathon symbolised Aisling’s ability to tackle hard things. “If I could finish it, then I knew I could see things through” (00:40:54).
Neurodiversity in Workplaces: Effective communication tailored to neurodivergent needs fosters inclusion. “Communication is generally the biggest problem” (00:50:48).
Follow Aisling Smith’s inspiring work on neurodiversity at @aislingsmithneuroempowerment - https://www.instagram.com/aislingsmithneuroempowerment/
🫶 Thanks again for listening and watching! Let us know what you think and catch you in the next episode.
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Equipment
Audio Recorder - Zoom H6
Microphone - Shure SM58
Camera - Insta360 X4
Headphones - Audio Technica ATH-M50x
Mic Stands - MELODIC
Micro SD Card - Scandisk Extreme
Accessories
Rechargeable Batteries for Zoom H6
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