The Gift of Dyslexia: The Book that Completely Changed my World

Caragh McMurtry, an Olympic Rower for Team GB, shares her remarkable journey on this podcast. Despite the already challenging path of pursuing Olympic excellence, Caragh’s neurodiversity added an extra layer of complexity. She reveals how she initially struggled as she was misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and underwent ineffective treatments, including medication that hindered her rowing performance.

It took five years, until 2019, for Caragh to receive the correct diagnosis of High-functioning Autism. This revelation empowered her to embrace her uniqueness, leading to newfound happiness. Following her retirement after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Caragh founded Neurodiverse Sport CIC to ensure others with neurodiversity don’t face the same hurdles she did. Her mission is to provide support, education, and advocacy for neurodivergent athletes, believing that no athlete should feel isolated due to not conforming to neurotypical standards.

Caragh’s inspiring story highlights the importance of inclusivity in sports and is a must-listen for all.

In this podcast episode, host Matthew Head interviews Lou Barnes, a former primary school teacher with 20 years of experience, who sought new ways to support children with dyslexia. Frustrated by the traditional education system labeling students as ‘lazy’ or ‘naughty,’ Lou believed there was more to their struggles. After trying various teaching methods, Lou discovered Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and saw its potential to transform learning for dyslexic students. Deeply inspired, she trained in NLP and integrated it into her teaching, witnessing remarkable results. Eventually, Lou left full-time teaching to focus solely on NLP. Find out how NLP might offer solutions for dyslexia in this compelling episode.