Jack Brooks - Alexandra Palace

In this episode, Hayleigh and Keren are joined by Jack Brooks, Head of Visitor Services at Alexandra Palace. Jack has worked at Alexandra Park and Palace since 2018. Prior to this his career spanned a range of visitor and operation roles, including at The Forge and Roundhouse in Camden. Jack has been responsible for building the Visitor Services department at Ally Pally, including leading on Accessibility and transforming the charity’s facilities and provisions for people with access requirements. In the last year, the Palace’s team has won the Best Customer Experience Award at the Disability Smart Awards, Best Day Out at the Blue Badge Access Awards and achieved Platinum status with Attitude Is Everything, becoming only the third venue in the country to gain this accolade. You can follow Jack on LinkedIn.Links for Ally Pally:WebsiteInstagramLinkedInYou can find project LIVEND on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/livendTake part in our research study sharing your experiences of nightlife: https://redcap.link/plzfegstFollow Divergent Minds on Instagram and send us your questions, comments, and requests for episodes: www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcastPlease like, review, and subscribe!Follow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hayleigh and Keren are joined by Byron Vincent, who is a working-class, neurodivergent writer, filmmaker and multidisciplinary artist who has made work for the BBC, RSC, BAC and other notable acronyms. He is currently developing Lashers, a feature film supported by the BFI, and The In Between, a feature documentary exploring neurodivergence supported by the British Council and Unlimited is currently touring festivals. Byron also directs Disco Neurotico, an award-winning accessible club night for neurodivergent audiences. You can follow Disco Neurotico on Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/disconeurotico/You can find project LIVEND on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/livendTake part in our research study sharing your experiences of nightlife: https://redcap.link/plzfegstFollow Divergent Minds on Instagram and send us your questions, comments, and requests for episodes: www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcastPlease like, review, and subscribe!Follow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hayleigh and Keren are joined by Welsh producer and multi-instrumentalist The Anchoress (aka Catherine Anne Davies). She has released two acclaimed studio albums which have amassed an army of celebrity fans including The Cure’s Robert Smith, Caitlin Moran, and Elton John, as well as selling over 20,000 physical units in an age of streaming. Her trademark literate baroque songwriting mixes epic melancholic guitar anthems alongside “swaggering synth-pop” (UNCUT) and “shining alt-pop from the artisan of darkness” (RECORD COLLECTOR). Her second album The Art of Losing successfully transformed wall-to-wall critical plaudits into a Top 40 position in the UK charts. It was also named an album of the year by The Sunday Times, The Line of Best Fit, Mail on Sunday, Prog, and The Sun. She has been twice nominated for the Welsh Music Prize and has repeatedly collaborated with Manic Street Preachers and released a duo album with Bernard Butler. Catherine was previously part of the line-up of Simple Minds, appearing on the albums Big Music (2015) and Walk Between Worlds (2018) before departing in 2019. Versions, her 2023 collection of imaginative re-workings of indie anthems was named an album of the year by the Mail on Sunday and heralded by The Sunday Times as “beguiling and insightful”. This covers collection of tracks by Radiohead, REM, Depeche Mode, Nirvana, the Cure was hailed as “spine tingling” by BBC 6Music’s Chris Hawkins and described as “a thrill for teenage goth girls everywhere” by MOJO. You can order the Anchoress' new album here: found.ee/AsWeOnceWere Visit her website: www.theanchoress.co.ukFind her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theanchoressofficial/?hl=en You can find project LIVEND on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/livendTake part in our research study sharing your experiences of nightlife: https://redcap.link/plzfegstFollow Divergent Minds on Instagram and send us your questions, comments, and requests for episodes: www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcastPlease like, review, and subscribe!Follow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Hayleigh and Keren are joined by Ali Wagner (she/her), who is a nightlife researcher and cultural producer based in London. She is the founder of Dancefloor Intimacy, a consultancy focused on making nightclubs and music venues more accessible and inclusive for Disabled, Neurodivergent, Deaf, Blind, and chronically ill people. Her work is community-led, with focus groups at its core. Recent collaborators include fabric, Joy, in Birkenhead, Horst, and the Cause. She is also ⅓ of WORMHOLE, a DIY Sunday event in London, and ½ of Uhaul Dyke Rescue, London's hottest FLINTA club night and festival pop-up with recent takeovers at Field Manuevers, WHOLE, Glastonbury, +more. In this episode, we talk about Ali's work and how nightlife spaces can be made to be more inclusive with some excellent tips for venues, event organisers, and promoters for how to do this.Links for Dancefloor Intimacy:Website: https://dancefloorintimacy.org/Instagram: @dancefloor.intimacyYou can find project LIVEND on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/livendTake part in our research study sharing your experiences of nightlife: https://redcap.link/plzfegstFollow Divergent Minds on Instagram and send us your questions, comments, and requests for episodes: www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcastPlease like, review, and subscribe!Follow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are back with a new name, new branding and a new season! In season 2 we will be deep diving into neurodiversity in the music industry and we have some fantastic guests lined up! We will also be joined by a fabulous co-host for the season, Dr Hayleigh Bosher. Hayleigh is not only my best friend but is also creative industries law and policy expert. She is a Reader in Intellectual Property Law at Brunel, University of London, consultant and board member in the creative industries. She is currently a research fellow at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, funded by the British Academy Researcher-led Innovation Fellowship. Hayleigh is the author of Copyright in the Music Industry (Edward Elgar, 2026), the host of the Whose Song is it Anyway? Podcast. In this first episode of the season, Hayleigh and I chat about our project LIVEND and the research and work we have done to make live music venues and events more inclusive for Neurodivergent people. The episode also includes a recording of a panel discussion we hosted at our event as part of this project at the Royal Albert Hall in July 2024, alongside our reflections of this event. On the panel, we hear from Flo Schroeder, former Senior Engagement Manager at the Royal Albert Hall, Esta Rae, Senior Events Manager at AIM (Association of Independent music) and founder of Life with Dyslexia, and Georgia Harper, former policy manager at Autistica.You can find project LIVEND on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/livend The research paper on Autistic people's experiences of live music venues and events: https://doi.org/10.1177/25739581251375879Hayleigh's links:www.brunel.ac.uk/people/hayleigh-bosherwww.linkedin.com/in/hayleigh-bosher/ www.instagram.com/hayleigh.bosher/Follow Divergent Minds on Instagram and send us your questions, comments, and requests for episodes: www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcastPlease like and subscribe!Follow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I chat to Zoe-Jane Littlewood, who is a dynamic and inspiring mixed race dyslexic woman on a mission to revolutionise the way people view dyslexia. As an advocate and content creator, she utilises her personal experiences and expertise to raise awareness and create a more inclusive society for individuals with dyslexia. We chat all about the misconceptions of dyslexia and Zoe's experiences of education, employment, and her various incredible projects.Make sure you follow Zoe on her socials:Instagram: @the_dyslexic_movementLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zoe-jane-littlewood/?originalSubdomain=ukFollow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I chat to Lydia Wilkins, who is an award winning freelance journalist who specialises in disability and social inequality issues. She also is the current editor of Disability Review Magazine; her other work has been published in places such as The Metro, Refinery 29, Insider, the Brighton Seagull, PossAbility Magazine, The Simple Things and others. At AccessAble, who she is also an ambassador for, Lydia also edits their in-house newsletters. Her work as an ambassador has included speaking, video editing, consultancy and more. She is represented by Impacting The Young for speaking commitments. Lydia is also the author of The Autism Friendly Cookbook, which won 2 awards at the Gourmand awards in 2023. This has since been adapted into a pilot course in East Sussex, a first of its kind approach, with more to be developed.She is currently working on her second book. Lydia's website: https://lydiawilkins.co.uk/ Instagram, X: @journo_lydiaCooking Beyond the Spectrum course: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cooking-beyond-the-spectrum-tickets-765623690067?aff=ebdsoporgprofileFollow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jemma Freese is a composer, arranger, keyboardist, synth player, pianist, vocalist and spoken word artist based in the north of England.In this fantastic episode, we talk all about Jemma's music, her music career, and her experiences of being late diagnosed autistic and being a neurodivergent person working in the music industry.You can follow Jemma on her socials and check out her incredible music!Instagram: jemma freese (@jemma_freese) • Instagram photos and videosSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5YC0Dzt8J9MzVC2PzyVr6M?si=c1deEIzbSXuHtPsMtR9OvwBandcamp: Music | Jemma Freese (bandcamp.com)Twitter: Jemma Freese (@jemma_freese) / X (twitter.com)Youtube: (175) Jemma Freese - YouTubeFollow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Jane Gregory is a clinical psychologist, misophonia researcher and author of the book Sounds Like Misophonia: How to stop small noises from causing extreme reactions.In this truly fascinating episode, we deep dive into the topic of misophonia - why some people have a strong emotional reaction to certain sounds like people chewing and clicking pens. Jane talks all about her understanding of the topic from her research, clinical experience, and her own personal experience as someone who has misophonia.You can follow Jane on her socials and check out her amazing book!Instagram and X/Twitter: @drjanegregory @soundslikemisoFollow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily, known as @21andsensory, is an Illustrator, Graphic Designer, and Podcaster who communicates her experiences of being autistic (diagnosed November 2019, aged 25), dyslexic, and having Sensory Processing Disorder also known and referred to as SPD. She originally started blogging about her sensory experiences in 2015 when I was 21 years old (hence the name 21andsensory). Emily's aim with @21andsensory is to bring people together and raise awareness that sensory problems aren’t something children necessarily grow out of but learn to live with and adapt to for the rest of their lives.In this episode, Emily speaks very candidly about her experiences of being an neurodivergent person, including the origins and drivers of @21andsensory, her diagnostic journey, challenges with employment and diagnosis disclosure, and some amazing projects she's worked on.You can follow Emily on all socials through her handle @21andsensory, and check out her amazing podcast! All links can be found here: https://linktr.ee/21andsensory**Apologies for Keren's sound quality on this episode - her mic decided to fail at time of recording**Follow us on Instagram: [@divergentminds.podcast](https://www.instagram.com/divergentminds.podcast?igsh=YmhoczVwMDVxaGVm&utm_source=qr)Divergent Minds is hosted and produced by [Dr Keren MacLennan](https://www.instagram.com/kerenmaclennan/)Please like, subscribe, or leave us a review! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.