The Neurospicy Author

12/05/2025 41 min Temporada 4 Episodio 6
The Neurospicy Author

Listen "The Neurospicy Author"

Episode Synopsis

Send us a textIn this episode, we speak with Kel Menton, a writer and debut author. Kel shares their journey as a non-binary, neurodivergent person growing up in Ireland, recently receiving an autism diagnosis after years of self-reflection and working in autistic support settings. We discuss the impact of early literary influences like Enid Blyton, Judy Blume, and Jacqueline Wilson, the value of seeing local spaces reflected in fiction, and how COVID lockdowns helped them unmask and better understand their needs. Kel opens up about their difficult school experiences, their academic path through UCC, and how literature and storytelling became powerful tools for connection and self-expression. The conversation also explores the shortcomings of traditional autism assessments and the need to shift toward a strengths-based, socially informed understanding of neurodiversity.4o