Interview with Nic King (on the topics of NeuroBears, understanding autism early, autistic parenting, and building community)

Join hosts Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi as they welcome Nic King, founder of Pandas Online and creator of the NeuroBears courses for autistic children and young people.

In this thoughtful and wide-ranging episode, Nic shares their journey of being autistic, ADHD, and dyslexic, and reflects on growing up in a family environment that was intuitively neuro-affirming long before the language of neurodiversity was widely used. The conversation explores how early acceptance, structure, and understanding can shape identity, reduce shame, and change how autistic people experience the world as they grow up.

Nic discusses the origins of Pandas Online and the development of NeuroBears, explaining why there is such a gap in child-focused, autistic-led resources that help young people understand their neurology in a neutral, non-deficit way. Nic also shares the thinking behind the much-loved bear analogies, used to explain autism, observation, and difference in ways that are accessible without being patronising.

Simeon, Sophia, and Nic delve into autistic friendships, loneliness, and connection, including the pressures of school environments, forced socialisation, and why shared interests often form the strongest foundations for meaningful relationships. The discussion touches on masking, the double empathy problem, and what genuine inclusion might look like if systems were designed around neurodivergent needs rather than compliance.

This episode offers a grounded and hopeful look at how understanding autism early, supporting autistic parents, and building community can make a real difference across generations.

Nic’s resources: Pandas Online: https://www.pandasonline.org NeuroBears courses: information available via the Pandas Online website

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Editorial leads - Dr Chris Papadopoulos, Mr James Gordon, Simeon Thompson and Dr Sophia Christophi