Traveling Gently Through a Neurodiverse World With Dr. Andrew Kahn

Travel is often pictured as excitement, new sights, and adventure. But for many, it can feel overwhelming, exhausting, or even impossible before a trip begins. For individuals navigating ADHD, anxiety, autism, or learning differences, the unfamiliar sounds, routines, and expectations of travel can make even the simplest journey feel heavy. 

And yet, these truths are rarely spoken with honesty, empathy, or care. In this deeply moving episode of Speaking of Travel, we sit down with Dr. Andrew Kahn, licensed psychologist, Associate Director at Understood.org, and a national voice on mental health and neurodiversity. Dr. Kahn brings more than 25 years of professional experience, along with his own lived experience as someone with learning and thinking differences. 

The result is a conversation that is both profoundly human and deeply practical, full of insight, compassion, and wisdom for travelers of all kinds. Dr. Kahn reminds us that preparation is an act of love for ourselves and for those we care about. He shares stories of patience and understanding that ripple outward, turning moments of stress into experiences of connection, growth, and joy. 

This conversation is an invitation to travel differently, not faster, not farther, but more gently. It’s about creating space for empathy, for self-compassion, and for recognizing the courage it takes to step into the world when it feels unpredictable or challenging. 

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