Aug 10, 2026 · 58 min · 12 segments
In this episode, we talk about ADHD, neurodiversity, and the reality behind the “just try harder” message so many people hear. Dr Kirsten McKenzie shares her own experience of living with ADHD, the…
Kirsten McKenzieGuest
Rosie ElvinHost
And we've talked over the years a lot about your research and... how, well, I mean, it's so interesting and how it links with the built environment.
And it was so nice to see how many connections there were with experiencing interior spaces and the built environment.
absolutely, isn't it? And especially because the built environment is so designed around specific stereotyped ideas of the human body as well.
And so Rosie and I did some great work on a paper that we had published last year, looking at how representations of people can be used to get people to really consider a vast array of people when designing rather than just looking at sort of stereotypes and that I guess the average user And actually, that was, I can honestly say that was some of the most fascinating and fun work that I've ever done.
Because it was so far outside of the kind of work that I would normally do.
And really fascinating to see how many, like you say, crossovers there were between what I do in terms of sort of psychology and cognitive neuroscience and what you do in terms of design.
And I think having met you and various other people in the psychology department, I have this sort of...
Well, I think it used to be a regret of not exploring psychology as a subject because...
And I think if it had it been, I would have definitely gone down the psychology route because I would stay fascinated with, I think, sort of mental health disorders.
However, what I've realised now is that I am interested in lots and lots and lots of different things.
And I love how they can get connected and I can learn things from you guys in the psychology department.
Yeah, I think, and this is the thing, I think the idea that people have to really just, you know, stick to your own wheelhouse, just do what you know, don't bother looking at anything else.
And we've talked over the years a lot about your research and... how, well, I mean, it's so interesting and how it links with the built environment.
And it was so nice to see how many connections there were with experiencing interior spaces and the built environment.
absolutely, isn't it? And especially because the built environment is so designed around specific stereotyped ideas of the human body as well.
And so Rosie and I did some great work on a paper that we had published last year, looking at how representations of people can be used to get people to really consider a vast array of people when designing rather than just looking at sort of stereotypes and that I guess the average user And actually, that was, I can honestly say that was some of the most fascinating and fun work that I've ever done.
Because it was so far outside of the kind of work that I would normally do.
And really fascinating to see how many, like you say, crossovers there were between what I do in terms of sort of psychology and cognitive neuroscience and what you do in terms of design.
And I think having met you and various other people in the psychology department, I have this sort of...
Well, I think it used to be a regret of not exploring psychology as a subject because...
And I think if it had it been, I would have definitely gone down the psychology route because I would stay fascinated with, I think, sort of mental health disorders.
However, what I've realised now is that I am interested in lots and lots and lots of different things.
And I love how they can get connected and I can learn things from you guys in the psychology department.
Yeah, I think, and this is the thing, I think the idea that people have to really just, you know, stick to your own wheelhouse, just do what you know, don't bother looking at anything else.
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