The Neurodivergant Connection / The Curious Storyteller

Intuitive Communication with Nonverbal Individuals: A 30-Year Exploration
Can intuitive communication help us better support nonverbal people? I sit down with a guest who’s spent 30+ years exploring it.
In this episode, I share the moment that set her work in motion: a horseback therapy session where she says she heard a child who didn’t use spoken language communicate with her. From there, we open up a thoughtful, respectful conversation about what this kind of communication might look like, how she approaches consent and ethics, and where it can sit alongside tools like AAC.

You’ll hear how she navigates skepticism, the boundaries she keeps to avoid overstepping, and the patterns she’s seen with families, educators, and care teams. I also ask questions you might be wondering: What signals does she pay attention to? How does she know she isn’t projecting? And what practical steps can supporters take without making assumptions?

Whether you’re a parent, educator, caregiver, or neurodivergent yourself, this conversation invites curiosity and care—without making big promises or skipping nuance.

About the Guest
My guest is an author and educator who has devoted more than three decades to intuitive communication with nonverbal individuals. Her work began in an equine-assisted setting and led to a book and ongoing support for families and professionals.
If this episode sparks a thought or question, I’d love to hear it. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs it, and join our community for resources and support.
#Neurodiversity #NonverbalCommunication #AutismAcceptance #CaregiverSupport #EquineTherapy

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: [email protected]

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ADHD Paralysis, The Anti-Planner, and Getting Unstuck with Dani Donovan
Feeling stuck but can’t explain why? In this episode, I sit with ADHD creator Dani Donovan to unpack what “stuck” really feels like—and how we can move again.

I ask Dani to paint that frozen moment we all know: the mess is obvious, the guilt is loud, and your body still won’t start. From there, we explore the real reasons ADHD brains stall, why it’s not laziness, and how to choose the right tool for what you’re actually feeling—stuck, overwhelmed, unmotivated, disorganized, or discouraged.

You’ll discover the simple shifts Dani uses to spark action, the low-pressure systems that help when motivation is flat, and the one thing to do first when your mind has “20 tabs open.” I also get Dani to share how she rebuilds self-trust when the inner critic won’t let up—and why a regular planner can set us up to quit.

Want to know the mantra that gets her moving, the playful kitchen routine that cleans itself, and the accountability pact that finally kept dishes out of the sink? I reveal all that and more—without turning your day into another rigid system.
Check the show notes for links to Dani’s work and The Anti-Planner.

About the Guest
Dani Donovan is an ADHD educator, illustrator, and the creator of the viral ADHD comics and bestselling book The Anti-Planner: How to Get Sh*t Done When You Don’t Feel Like It. Her work makes executive function struggles feel seen—and solvable.

Timestamps
0:02 – Welcome back + why “stuck” isn’t laziness

0:22 – Dani’s ADHD paralysis comic: what it looks like vs. how it feels

3:02 – Procrastination from the outside vs. what’s really going on

3:22 – Anti-Planner “stuck” tools and a speed-run approach

7:10 – Music-as-timer: making progress in one album

9:12 – The quiet mantra Dani uses to start anyway

12:05 – Why having “100 systems” can work better than one

14:15 – Task breakdowns that don’t create more overwhelm

21:18 – “20 tabs open” brain: what to do first

25:13 – Unmotivated ≠ lazy: the real blockers

30:14 – Chess while cleaning: a playful momentum builder

41:47 – One simple system you can start today

46:07 – Discouraged: shame, expectations, and feeling like a failure

49:10 – Rebuilding self-trust with small wins

51:06 – Forgive yourself, then make a plan you’ll keep

62:00 – Why traditional planners fail neurodivergent brains

If this episode helped, share it with a parent, educator, or friend who needs a little proof they’re not alone. Subscribe for more accessible conversations on ADHD and neurodiversity.

Dani's links
adhdd.com

Anti-Planner.com

@DaniDonovan - Instagram

#ADHD #Neurodiversity #ExecutiveFunction #ParentingADHD #MentalHealth

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: [email protected]

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Patience, Progress, and Real-World Teaching with Joseph Galloway
A 16-year-old lesson in patience reshaped how I see ability, progress, and what real teaching asks of us.
In this episode, I sit down with martial arts instructor and community advocate Joseph Galloway to talk about how one early teaching moment with a student with Down syndrome reframed success for him—and for me. We get real about labels, expectations, and why small wins matter more than most systems admit. Joseph shares how he holds the same standards for everyone while adapting with patience, and why confidence—not combat—is at the heart of martial arts.

You’ll hear how he reads different learning styles without stereotyping, why celebrating tiny steps can change a whole day, and how his nonprofit vision supports families who can’t afford classes. We also push on a hard question: What could schools look like if progress, not perfection, led the way?
By the end, you’ll see growth through a more generous lens—and you may rethink what “ability” really means. Which two class rules does Joseph use to build respect and effort? What shifted when he left teaching—and what brought him back? And how does he measure progress when it isn’t obvious?

About the Guest
Joseph Galloway is a lifelong martial arts instructor and advocate focused on discipline, confidence, and accessible training for all learners. He’s building the Iron Spirit Fellowship Foundation to fund scholarships so kids and adults can train regardless of income.

Key Timestamps
0:21 – Who Joseph is beyond titles

1:36 – The first teaching moment that changed everything

5:50 – Martial arts: confidence and growth vs. violence

6:49 – “Always earned, never bought” and why standards matter

13:08 – Teaching without labels—and keeping expectations high

19:47 – The power of small wins

li>24:54 – Seeing progress through connection and values

32:04 – Service, community, and why “Santa” is real

35:13 – Why a nonprofit opens doors for families

41:26 – Where to find Joseph and Iron Spirit Fellowship Foundation

Call to action: If this conversation helped you see progress differently, share it with a parent, educator, or caregiver who needs support right now. Subscribe for more accessible conversations on Autism, ADHD, and beyond. Connect with Joseph and the Iron Spirit Fellowship Foundation on Facebook and Instagram, and look for their GoFundMe to support scholarships.
#Neurodiversity #Autism #ADHD #Inclusion #MartialArts

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: [email protected]

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Autistic Kids and Sleep: What Parents Often Miss (and What Actually Helps)
Exhausted at 2 a.m.? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Ann Riley Smith to talk real-world fixes for autistic sleep struggles.
Kelly’s a neurodivergent former teacher, a mom of four neurodivergent kids, and an autism-and-anxiety sleep specialist. We get honest about what “my child doesn’t sleep” really means, why bedtime isn’t the true starting point, and how anxiety, sensory needs, and the nervous system all tangle together at night.

About the Guest
Kelly Ann Riley Smith is an autism and anxiety sleep specialist supporting parents of autistic children. She’s a former teacher and neurodivergent mom of four, including a son with high support needs. Find Kelly on Instagram, Facebook, her parent group Sleep Success for Autistic Children, or email [email protected].

Key Timestamps
0:02 – Meet Kelly Ann Riley Smith and why sleep matters so much

2:11 – Lived experience vs. professional training

8:43 – What “my autistic child doesn’t sleep” looks like in real life

10:10 – Falling asleep, staying asleep… or both?

12:06 – The bedtime routine myth many parents follow

13:15 – The most misunderstood part: sleep starts long before bedtime

14:37 – Autism and anxiety: how closely they connect at night

20:16 – What bedtime anxiety can look like

21:23 – The nervous system on high alert and why sleep won’t come

24:34 – Light, sound, temperature: what matters more than you think

33:21 – Room color and visual “noise” that keep brains alert

35:08 – Weighted blankets: helpful or harmful?

37:31 – White noise vs. silence (and real-life sleep setups)

39:04 – Is perfect sleep hygiene realistic for neurodivergent families?

40:12 – The toll on parents: from burnout to PTSD-like symptoms

41:27 – If you feel like you’re failing, hear this

51:35 – A message for the 2 a.m. listener

52:29 – Where to find Kelly and get support

If this helped, share it with a parent, educator, or caregiver who needs support. Subscribe for more neurodiversity conversations, practical strategies, and community resources.
#Neurodiversity #AutismParenting #SleepSupport #Anxiety #SensoryProcessing

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: [email protected]

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Writing as a Lifeline: AuDHD, Burnout, and Building Soul Scribe with Kristy Lee Rackham
What if the story you’re scared to share is the one that helps someone heal?

In this candid conversation, I sit down with Kristy Lee Rackham AuDHD mom, former nurse, boutique publisher, and creator of the Wisdom Keepers series. You’ll hear how she went from full burnout to building Soul Scribe Publishing, why writing became a practical path to wellness, and the quiet moment that changed everything. We get into fear of visibility, why highly sensitive people hesitate to be seen, and how multi-author books create ripple effects inside hospitals, families, and communities.

I reveal the simple shift Kristy uses to help writers move past imposter syndrome, you’ll discover how she blends science and spirituality without losing the plot, and we touch on her Mee Map an accessible way to come back to who you’ve always been. Want to know the unexpected first win most new authors feel? You’ll have to listen.

About the Guest
Kristy Lee Rackham is an AuDHD publisher, holistic counselor, and former nurse who founded http://www.soulscribegroup.com/. She mentors highly sensitive and neurodivergent writers and curates the multi-author Wisdom Keepers series.

Key Timestamps
0:20 – Kristy’s AuDHD story and raising autistic teens

4:04 – The moment writing shifted from hobby to healing

12:52 – Blending science, spirituality, and storytelling

16:49 – Burnout, stillness, and a clarinet at night

27:37 – Visibility, worth, and the fear beneath publishing

40:06 – A nonverbal writer steps into leadership

45:22 – The Mee Map explained in plain language

47:58 – Energy awareness you can use today

Explore Kristy’s work at solscribegroup.com.
or to learn more about you can go to her link tree: www.linktr.ee/kristyleerackham
Subscribe for more practical conversations on autism, ADHD, and real-world support. Share this with someone who’s sitting on a story. #Neurodiversity #AuDHD #WritingForHealing #ParentingAutism

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.