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NeuroSpicy Refugees · How we compare

Frequently Asked
Questions

NeuroSpicy Refugees · NeuroSpicy Community · Sol Smith · Professor Sol · Sebastian Knowles

First about us, then about how we compare to the paid NeuroSpicy Community. Every answer about them links to its source. Where the answer is “we don’t know,” that’s what the answer says.

About NeuroSpicy Refugees

Q01
What is NeuroSpicy Refugees?
A free, peer-led community for autistic and ADHD adults, hosted on Skool. The agreement was posted before the first member joined, and nobody is removed without being told why and given a chance to answer. Join free on Skool →
Q02
What does it cost?
Nothing. There is no paid tier.
Q03
Who runs it?
The model calls for three stewards deciding by consensus. Josh Wolf holds one seat. Two are open to member nomination. Until they’re filled, senior members step into the open seats for any removal or urgent policy change, so that no such decision happens on one person’s word. Stand-ins serve for that one decision and then step back.
Q04
Who owns it, and who pays for it?
Refugees is under the care of TranquilTech, a company Josh Wolf founded, which is raising its seed round. The whole budget is under $30 a month: Skool’s $9 basic plan and a paid Zoom account. TranquilTech covers it and does not moderate.
Q05
What does TranquilTech get out of it?
Proof that a community like this can run without charging for belonging. TranquilTech makes tools built for neurodivergent adults, and members hear about them sometimes, from Josh, labeled as his. Nobody needs one to belong, and joining doesn’t put anyone on a sales list. Investors may hear how many members there are. They won’t see what anyone said. Refugees plans to move from Skool to Mycelial, a platform TranquilTech is building.
Q06
How do decisions get made?
At Shared Ground, a monthly governance meeting any member can attend. Decisions are made by consensus. The rules are in the constitution.
Q07
What actually happens there, and when?
A message board that’s always open, a weekly peer session on Zoom, and Shared Ground once a month. Members can start their own circles. Days and times live in one place so they’re never out of date: the current schedule on Skool.
Q08
What happens to my email address if I ask for the free book?
We use it to send you the PDF and for nothing else.

How we compare to the NeuroSpicy Community

NeuroSpicy RefugeesNeuroSpicy Community (.com)
CostFree. No paid tier.$29 a month. No refund when a member is removed.Source: their sales page and Terms
RulesAgreement posted before the first member joined.Rules posted August 1, 2025, after the first removals.Source: the record
RemovalYou're told why and given a chance to answer. No removal on one person's word.Their Terms require no warning, no stated reason and no appeal.Source: their Terms
Who decidesThree steward seats deciding by consensus. One filled, two open to nomination, with senior members standing in until then.Coached by Sol Smith. Owned by Sebastian Knowles, who in Sol's words is "protecting his investment."Source: email, January 2, 2025
Who pays, and whyUnder $30 a month, covered by TranquilTech, which does not moderate. Product mentions are rare and labeled.Members pay. It is run as a business.Source: same email
Who leads sessionsMembers. No clinical authority claimed.Marketed as expert-led coaching.Source: their home page
Q09
Is neurospicycommunity.org affiliated with neurospicycommunity.com?
No. This site is published by Josh Wolf. neurospicycommunity.com is the NeuroSpicy Community’s own website, owned by Sebastian Knowles. The two are unrelated, in active disagreement about the facts, and run by different people with different interests. Readers are encouraged to consult both.
Q10
Is the NeuroSpicy Community legit?
The NeuroSpicy Community is a real, operating paid subscription service ($29/month) hosted on Skool. It is coached by Sol Smith (Professor Sol) and owned by Sebastian Knowles. It is not a scam in the sense of taking money without providing a service. What is documented is a pattern of member removals without explanation, without due process, and without refund, in a community marketed to autistic and ADHD adults as safe and predictable. Source →
Q11
Who runs the NeuroSpicy Community?
Sol Smith (known publicly as Professor Sol) is the community’s coach and public-facing operator. Sebastian Knowles owns the website, backend, and paid subscription infrastructure. Sol Smith’s January 2, 2025 email states directly: “Sebastian owns the website and manages the backend… he’s a business person.” Source →
Q12
How much does it cost, and can you get a refund if removed?
$29 per month at time of publication. Their Terms state that termination of membership does not entitle a member to a refund. Source →
Q13
What is the appeals process for removal?
No written appeals process exists in the NeuroSpicy Community’s Terms of Service, welcome materials, or community rules. The Terms do not require a warning, a stated reason, or an investigation before removal. Members who have been removed have been told only that unnamed community members raised unnamed concerns. The removed member is not informed of the specific conduct, the identity of the complainants, or any path to understanding or recourse. Source →
Q14
Has anyone been banned from the NeuroSpicy Community?
Yes. The author of this site was removed three times between December 2024 and March 2026. Other members have been removed as well, and their accounts are anonymized at their request. If you were removed and want to talk, contact contact@neurospicycommunity.org. Source →
Q15
Is Professor Sol a real professor?
No. Sol Smith uses the title “Professor Sol” as a personal brand name. He holds graduate degrees (MFA, EdS, MS, CAS) and has described himself publicly as having been a teacher. He is not, and has not claimed to be, a credentialed professor at an accredited university.
Q16
What are Sol Smith’s credentials?
Sol Smith publicly lists an MFA, EdS, MS, and CAS. He describes himself as an autism and ADHD life coach. His practice is Square Peg Coaching and Consulting, operating publicly as Professor Sol at professorsol.com. He is not a licensed clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist. This site does not assert that his credentials are fraudulent. The documented concern is how the community he fronts is governed.
Q17
Who is Sebastian Knowles?
Sebastian Knowles is the owner of the NeuroSpicy Community. He is not publicly identified as a psychology, autism, or neurodivergent-support professional. Note: this Sebastian Knowles is unrelated to Sebastian Knowles, the Professor of English at The Ohio State University.
Q18
What is the relationship between Sol Smith and Sebastian Knowles?
They are business partners in the NeuroSpicy Community, which launched June 19, 2024. Sol is the coach and public-facing operator. Sebastian owns the platform and manages business operations. Sol’s coaching practice (Square Peg) is a separate organization, distinct from other unrelated businesses that use the name Square Peg.
Q19
Where is the documentation?
Every claim above links to its source. The full account is in the book, The Story of NeuroSpicy.