105. Building Safety on the Internet: Why Kendra Koch Created a Space for Neurodivergent Women
AND/BOTH Podcast - Real Conversations, Shared Experiences, and the Community You've Been Missing · Dr. Ashley Blackington
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Show Notes
In this episode, I sit down with Kendra Koch, the founder of Divergently, a private community built for late-diagnosed neurodivergent women who want clarity, support, and a softer landing than the internet usually offers.
Kendra came to this work through her own late diagnosis, years spent in the Silicon Valley wellness world, and a growing sense that the tools available to neurodivergent women were either too shallow, too loud, or too overwhelming to actually use. What started as her personal search for answers eventually became Divergently- a curated, trauma-aware space built to help women understand themselves and make daily life feel less chaotic and more doable.
We cover a lot in this conversation, including:
- What it feels like to receive a diagnosis later in life
- Why so many women only start connecting the dots after their kids begin evaluations
- The emotional and logistical realities of navigating care, systems, stigma, and uncertainty
- How trauma keeps showing up in ways many of us don’t expect
- The difference between “having information” and actually being supported
- Why “just disclose at work” isn’t simple — or safe — advice for everyone
- How creating boundaries inside a community can be what makes it truly inclusive
- The small, practical shifts that make life less prickly: body doubling, environmental tweaks, lowering the bar in smart, supportive ways
- And how Kendra is building a company while raising a young child, healing, and moving at a pace that fits her real life — not the one hustle culture demands
This conversation is thoughtful, honest, and full of moments that made me rethink how we support ourselves and each other. If you’ve ever felt like something wasn’t quite adding up, or you’ve been searching for a place that feels safe and steady, you’ll feel seen here.
Where to find Kendra:
Website: joinedivergently.com
Social: @joinedivergently
LinkedIn: Kendra Koch
Connect with Ashley:
Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.com
Podcast website: https://www.andbothpodcast.com/
Dovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822
Instagram: @mydovetail.app