Differences NOT Deficits

The Hidden Story of a Good Student
Part 1: The Story My Body Was Waiting to Tell
What if the patterns you've carried your entire life weren't personality traits at all?
For most of my life, I believed I was simply controlling, perfectionistic, and anxious. I had no idea those patterns were protecting something much deeper.
In this deeply personal first part, I share the unexpected journey that led me to discover a fear I didn't even know I was carrying. What began as supporting my son through his return to public school became a moment when my own body revealed a story that had been waiting decades to be told.
This isn't a conversation about having the answers or following a particular path. It's about learning to listen—to our bodies, to our experiences, and to the quiet ways truth reveals itself when we're finally ready to hear it.
Sometimes healing doesn't begin because we go searching.
Sometimes it begins because our body finally feels safe enough to show us what it has been carrying all along.

Today we're joined by Jonathan Mooney, author of Normal Sucks, educator, speaker, and longtime advocate for human difference.
We actually recorded this conversation quite some time ago, but after taking an unexpected pause from the podcast, it took us a little longer to share it with you. Looking back now, this conversation feels just as relevant today—perhaps even more so.
Jonathan has spent his life challenging one of our culture's deepest assumptions: that there is a "normal" way to learn, think, behave, or be human. Together, we explore the hidden costs of trying to fit ourselves into systems that were never designed to honor our uniqueness.
What begins as a conversation about education quickly expands into something much bigger. We talk about belonging, identity, self-worth, labels, and the ways so many of us learn to measure ourselves against standards that have little to do with who we truly are.
As we've shared in recent episodes, both our work and our understanding have continued to evolve since this conversation was recorded. Looking back, we're grateful for the questions Jonathan invited us to ask—questions that have only become more meaningful on our own journey.
Whether you're a parent, educator, practitioner, or someone who has ever felt like you didn't quite fit the mold, we hope this conversation reminds you that being different was never something to overcome.
It may simply be part of what makes you, you.

We're back!
Not because we finally have all the answers, but because we realized we didn't need them to begin again.
We honestly thought we'd return much sooner. But life had other plans. Over the past several months, we've both continued to grow in ways we couldn't have predicted, and we weren't ready to come back until we could do so as ourselves—not the versions we thought we needed to be.
This episode is simply a conversation about where we've been, what we've been learning, and why this next chapter of the podcast may feel a little different.
We talk about masks, perfectionism, trusting ourselves, letting go of the need to perform, and why we believe slowing down was part of the journey—not a detour from it.
There are no polished takeaways here.
Just two humans showing up honestly.
Welcome back. We're grateful you're here!

After a long season of healing, unlearning, and deep transformation, we’re back - and starting with a little honesty about where we’ve been.
In this episode, Yolandi shares her personal journey over the past year: the shifts, the letting go, the reconnection with what really matters - and how it’s shaped the podcast moving forward.

After a long season of healing, unlearning, and deep transformation, we’re back - and starting with a little honesty about where we’ve been.
In this episode, Debbie shares her personal journey over the past year: the shifts, the letting go, the reconnection with what really matters - and how it’s shaped the podcast moving forward.
Yolandi will be sharing her own story in the next episode. 

After a long break filled with healing and unlearning, Differences NOT Deficits is back — with deeper conversations, broader perspectives, and way more realness.
This season, we’re expanding beyond neurodivergence to explore all the ways people feel “different” — and the harm in trying to make everyone “normal.”
Join Debbie and Yolandi as they unmask old labels, share personal truths, and invite you into messy, meaningful conversations about what it really means to be seen, supported, and fully yourself.
Interested in learning more about Debbie and her work...go to https://www.thetruthofyou.net/. Connect with Debbie or Yolandi at https://www.thetruthofyou.net/contact. 

In this episode we give a little update on what is happening with our podcast since it's been a while since we have published an episode.  We also have a discussion about the gifts, talents, contributions we see in neurodivergent people. The world is missing so much when the focus is on trying to "fix" people instead of looking at he unique gifts they have to offer. 

In this episode (part 2 of 2) I continue with an interview with Caroline Gaddy. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, please start there. Caroline is an Autistic SLP and AAC Solutions Consultant based in Virginia. She is also a disability advocate and neurodiversity educator who has presented at state and national conferences. She has worked in clinical and school-based settings as an SLP and teacher, and is passionate about communication access, disability justice, and inclusion. Caroline is also a mom to two spectacular neurodivergent kids.
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In this episode (part 1 of 2) Debbie interviews Caroline Gaddy. Caroline is an Autistic SLP and AAC Solutions Consultant based in Virginia. She is also a disability advocate and neurodiversity educator who has presented at state and national conferences. She has worked in clinical and school-based settings as an SLP and teacher, and is passionate about communication access, disability justice, and inclusion. Caroline is also a mom to two spectacular neurodivergent kids.
Listen on Podbean
Listen on Apple
Facebook: Mindsight Therapies
Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

**Trigger Warning: Content Might be Sensitive to Some**
In this episode (part 2 of 2) we continue with our interview with Matt Lowry. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, please start there. Matt is an autistic licensed psychological practitioner in Louisville, KY. He provides evaluations and therapy for children, teens and adults using a strengths-based approach to help autistic people in ways best suited for their individual needs. He also provides educational trainings and co-hosts the Autistic Culture Podcast where they discuss autistic contributions to society and culture.
In this episode Matt will share his thoughts about special interests - SPINs, his opinion on the DSM 5, and some advice for PARENTS. Take a listen
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Facebook: Mindsight Therapies
Instagram: Mindsight Therapies