Real people, real science, real neurodiversity, real experiences.
Join neurodivergent evolutionary biologist & science communicator Dr Chris Freelance in conversation with his fellow neurodivergent STEMM professionals about their science, their strengths & challenges, and their lived experiences.
With the rate of neurodivergence up to 2.5x higher in science professionals than in the general population, it’s time to connect with this large in number but largely unseen community of neurodiverse knowledge-makers.
For more, visit https://drchrisfreelance.com/divergent-in-stemm-podcast/
Just a quick update about the early end to season 2 after the last couple of guests lined up became unavailable due to illness. Since season 2 was two episodes short, season 3 will be two episodes longer!
Speaking of season 3 - we want to know if the format of the episodes is still working. Do you want to hear more from the guests about their STEMM? More about their neurodivergence? Or is the balance already just right? Let us know in the Spotify poll!
Thanks for listening, and make sure to come back when season 3 starts!
6 Jul 2026
Episode 14 - science communicator Dr Kira Hughes: "making science accessible"
Being a high school student wanting to be a journalist and not seeing herself in science, becoming a science communicator is not what Dr Kira Hughes ever anticipated.
Tune in to hear host Dr Chris Freelance talking with Kira about her journey from aspiring author to laboratory to research grants officer, how an adult Autism diagnosis helped her better understand herself, her passion for making science more accessible, and the importance of visibility for the neurodivergent community.
And while they met performing science comedy, we can't promise anyone else will find Kira's or Chris' jokes funny!
22 Jun 2026
Episode 13 - educational neuroscientist Dave Brebner: "if you can't hide it, make a feature of it"
While circuits provide common ground between electrics and brains, going from electrician to trade school teacher to educational neuroscience is an uncommon career journey by most measures!
Tune in to hear host Dr Chris in conversation with Dave Brebner about: Dave's experience of being an unlikely electrician with Tourette's Syndrome to finding his way into educational neuroscience, how he has made a feature of his Tourette's, his efforts to de-stigamatise and normalise neurodivergence, and his plan to use his understanding of how people learn to better support neurodivergent youth to find the career that's right for them.
Be prepared for some self-deprecating humour and to be surprised at how learning to laugh at himself has helped Dave accept the challenges of his tics.
9 Jun 2026
Episode 12: speech pathologist & CEO Jess Rowlings - "making things better for everyone"
IT worker to qualified healthcare practitioner to education researcher to CEO of a social enterprise: a non-traditional career path for sure, but one Jess Rowlings wouldn't change.
Tune in with host Dr Chris Freelance in conversation with Jess about her career journey, her experience being a speech pathologist with AuDHD working with AuDHD school students, being CEO of the spin-out social enterprise Next Level, her love of video games, and how her neurodivergence helps her approach problems differently to find ways do things better and more efficiently.
And spoiler alert: there may be analogies drawn between neurodivergent life and Mario Kart!
25 May 2026
Episode 11: science teacher Dr Matt Bird - from research lab to classroom
Most people who do a science PhD don't intend to be a high school science teacher. But for Dr Matt Bird, the pull of science education drew him back.
Matt has done a lot of science jobs: overseas postdocs, traveling Australia doing science "magic tricks" with the Questacon Science Circus, classroom science teacher, and now a science educator at the Gene Technology Access Centre which provides specialist science activities for high school students. Tune in to hear about his journey, and how the challenges his ADHD presented in various roles has shaped his approach to educating and inspiring future scientists.
11 May 2026
Episode 10: wildlife ecologist Dr Grainne Cleary - inspiring people with passion
You may have heard her on ABC Radio, seen her talking all things birds on channel 7's Sunrise, or read her popular science books on birds. And now you'll hear her on the Divergent In STEMM podcast too!
This episode, host Dr Chris Freelance is joined by wildlife ecologist Dr Grainne Cleary. Tune in to hear Grainne share how her passion for wildlife drove her to persist through the challenges presented by dyslexia and dyspraxia while navigating a difficult transition from research scientist to radio & TV regular and bestselling author.
27 Apr 2026
Episode 9: education academic A/Prof Matt Harrison: "essential for some, harmful for none"
What do you do if you struggled to stay on track at school and later find out it was ADHD?
For Dr Matt Harrison, eventually the answer was become an Associate Professor in Learning Intervention and, later, a co-founder of the University of Melbourne's Neurodiversity Project!
Tune in to hear about Matt's experience with school and work, how a late ADHD diagnosis changed how he interacts with the world, how his work is making learning better for neurodivergent people, and his experience of how to thrive in academia with neurodivergence.
Bonus content: as they discovered when recording this episode, both Matt and host Dr Chris Freelance are massive Lego nerds who grew up in country Victoria!
26 Apr 2026
Season 2 is coming!
Season 2 is finally here - launching tomorrow, to be precise!
While I already have some fantastic guests, I am always looking for more - tune in to find out how you can come on the podcast if you're a neurodivergent STEMM professional!
18 Nov 2025
Episode 8: Our host (biologist/science communicator) Dr Chris Freelance: “evolving with complexity”
The roles have reversed! After a season of interviewing some fellow neurodivergent STEMM professionals, one of them now gets to interview our host Dr Chris Freelance!
Tune in to hear guest interviewer (and Episode 1 guest) Dr Ollie Thomas chatting to Chris about about balancing the push and pull of Autism and ADHD, his journey from researcher to research infrastructure facility manager, STEMM strengths and challenges through the lens of an AuDHD person, diving into science comedy, and the deeper motivations for why the Divergent in STEMM podcast was born.
This is the final episode of season 1. The podcast will be back for season 2 in early 2026.
And if you’re a glutton for punishment, here’s the video of Chris’ most recent comedy talk (August 2025): https://youtu.be/p8V1iDbf-Bk
4 Nov 2025
Episode 7: Stem cell biologist Jordan Clarke: “without ADHD, I wouldn’t have gotten where I am”
What do cosplay and research science have in common?
This episode, host Dr Chris is joined by PhD candidate Jordan Clarke from The University of Melbourne. Tune in to hear about Jordan’s research bringing stem cell biology to the study of neuropsychiatric disorder, her experience of neurodiversity-friendly work practices in STEMM, and how aspects of her ADHD have made her a successful scientist. (And with her and Chris’ offices just a few doors apart, there’s plenty of banter and laughs!)
This is the last of the episodes made during ADHD Awareness Month 2025, and the second-last episode of season 1.
21 Oct 2025
Episode 6: Science communicator Emily Groves: “follow your passion”
What do you get if you cross two science communicators come comedians with ADHD? This podcast episode!
Join host Dr Chris in conversation with science communicator Emily Groves about their shared experience of an adult ADHD diagnosis and burnout, Emily’s varied experience working in science communication with hands-on science centres and a national program for high school students, and creating neuroinclusive work environments in STEMM.
7 Oct 2025
Episode 5: Environmental engineer Dr Ray Trevorah - “flourishing through our actions”
A school reunion on a very small scale! Join our host Dr Chris in conversation with high school friend and environmental engineer Dr Ray Trevorah about reforming the Australian organic waste sector into organic resource recovery, the power of in-person interactions to influence behavioural change, and how Ray has leveraged technology and strong oral communication skills to reduce some of the barriers of his dyslexia.
23 Sept 2025
Episode 4: Neuroscientist Steph Olliff: "a career indulging my Autistic special interest topic"
Many people with Autism have special interest topics, but what's it like for an Autistic neuroscientist whose special interest is neuroscience?
Join our host Dr Chris Freelance in conversation with neuroscientist Steph Olliff about her research using brain-infecting viruses to find new treatments for neurodegenerative disease, the struggle to 'switch off' when your work is one of your Autistic special interest topics, re-framing how people view the spectrum and functioning labels, and making neurodiverse-friendly environments to support STEMM professionals to be their best.
9 Sept 2025
Episode 3: Laboratory manager Elyas Arvell: "aspiring to whimsy at every turn"
Join host Dr Chris Freelance in conversation with laboratory manager and neuroscience PhD candidate Elyas Arvell. From ongoing efforts to unravel the molecular mysteries of Parkinson's disease to a love for lab work, microscopy as mindfulness, and the importance of curiosity and humility, tune in to hear two adult-diagnosed AuDHDers exploring how neurodivergence and science are a core part of who they are.
26 Aug 2025
Episode 2: Biostatistician A/Prof Karen Lamb: "working with my chaotic brain"
Host Dr Chris Freelance is joined by biostatistician A/Prof Karen Lamb (https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/561639-karen-lamb). Tune in as they discuss Karen’s experience in the inaugural cohort of STA’s Superstars of STEM program, the benefits of mentoring, and how she has navigated her “chaotic” brain and ADHD to transform an interest in mathematics into a flourishing academic career supporting dozens of health & epidemiology research projects.
12 Aug 2025
Episode 1: Science educator Dr Ollie Thomas: "because of, not in spite of, my Autism"
Join host Dr Chris Freelance in conversation with science educator and researcher Dr Ollie Thomas (https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=LYfDwsEAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao). With a successful career spanning over two decades, explore Ollie's non-traditional path with science and how he believes it is the learned approach to communication he developed because of, not in spite of, his Autism that has enabled him to flourish as a science educator.
12 Aug 2025
Welcome to Divergent in STEMM!
Welcome to Divergent in STEMM! In this trailer episode, host Dr Chris Freelance introduces himself, and the motivation for and format of the podcast.
Follow Divergent in STEMM on LinkedIn, X (@DivergentSTEMM), and BlueSky to stay up to date, or for additional information and resources visit https://drchrisfreelance.com/divergent-in-stemm-podcast/
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