The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

What a Late Autism Diagnosis Can Reveal About ADHD, School, and Self-Understanding
I sat down with Carly Faye to talk about what happens when a late autism diagnosis suddenly puts years of questions into focus.
In this conversation, I explore Carly’s path from educator to functional nutrition practitioner and coach, and how her ADHD and recent autism diagnosis changed the way she sees her past, her work, and herself. We talk about the students she felt drawn to, the school experiences that didn’t quite fit, and the quiet signs that made more sense only later.

What stayed with me most is how often neurodivergent people are misunderstood, especially when they look “fine” from the outside. Carly shares what it meant to realize she had support needs all along, why certain advice never fit, and how that awareness is shaping the way she now helps others. There’s also a powerful part of this conversation about grief, relief, identity, and learning to stop treating difference like something that needs fixing.

About the Guest
Carly Faye is a former educator, functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner, and coach. She supports clients through nutrition, emotional processing, and nervous system-aware care, with a strong understanding of neurodivergence and inclusion.

Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Carly Faye and we begin with her background in education

1:09 - What her classroom looked like for students who learned differently

5:04 - Carly shares her ADHD diagnosis and recent autism diagnosis

11:00 - Why tests, language, and “right answers” can feel so complicated

20:17 - What led her to explore autism at 41

24:16 - What the diagnosis process was really like

26:14 - Relief, grief, and making sense of a late diagnosis

39:15 - How understanding her neurodivergence changed the way she supports clients

43:38 - What schools still miss about neurodivergent kids

52:46 - What Carly wants teachers, coaches, and helpers to know if they’re quietly wondering about themselves

Carlys Links:
https://www.instagram.com/carlyinfocus
https://www.carlyinfocus.com/
If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, overlooked, or unsure why certain things seem harder than they “should,” I think this episode will stay with you. Listen in, and see what clicks for you.

#AutismDiagnosis #ADHD #Neurodivergent #LateDiagnosed #Inclusion

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.

SSI Pitfalls: What No One Tells You About Disability Benefits (with Former SSA Attorney Spencer)
Fighting for SSI isn’t simple. I’m exposing the hidden hurdles—and how to avoid costly mistakes that put benefits at risk.
I’ve battled Social Security myself, and I know how confusing and exhausting it can feel—especially with autism, ADHD, or other invisible disabilities. In this episode, I sit down with Spencer, a former Social Security attorney who spent 11 years inside the system writing and reviewing disability decisions. Together, we pull back the curtain on why mental health and neurodivergent claims get denied so often, what the law actually weighs, and how to prepare without getting tripped up by technicalities.

You’ll discover what really drives denials, the role of vocational experts (and why their “jobs list” isn’t about you), and the key moments in an appeal that can change your outcome. I also ask Spencer the questions I wish I had answers to when I first applied—like what “partial wins” mean, when back pay gets reduced, and why waiting can quietly cost you your case.

About the Guest
Spencer is a former Social Security attorney who spent 11 years at the agency—seven writing disability decisions and four reviewing appeals. He’s the author of Social Security Disability Revealed and runs https://www.bishinspublishing.com/ where he educates claimants and professionals on the SSDI/SSI process.

Timestamps
0:02 – Why I call SSI a trap (and my own case)

1:33 – Meet Spencer: 11 years writing and reviewing SSA decisions

6:57 – The mental health gap: why neurodivergent claims face extra scrutiny

10:34 – “It’s not over after approval”: ongoing reviews and common cutoffs

13:13 – The $2,000 asset rule and easy mistakes that end benefits

25:48 – Denied? Your 60-day appeal window and what most people miss

32:53 – Full vs. partial awards and what really affects back pay

42:19 – How disability lawyers get paid (and why you still lead your case)

53:54 – If you’re just starting: the one thing I want you to know

58:32 – When you feel overwhelmed: what to hold onto next

Keywords: Social Security Disability, SSI, SSDI, disability appeal, vocational expert, back pay, autism, ADHD, neurodiversity, mental health, benefits review

Call to action: If this episode helps, share it with a parent, educator, or friend who’s in the thick of it. Subscribe for more accessible conversations around neurodiversity and practical support. Explore Spencer’sresources at bishenspublishing.com, or request his book at your local library.
#Neurodiversity #SSI #DisabilityBenefits #Autism #ADHD

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.

Late Diagnosis, Grief, and Growth with AuDHD Coach Jenny Lucas
Late diagnosis can feel like a relief and a gut punch. In this episode, I sit with Jenny Lucas to name both—then move forward.
I talk with Jenny about what the world saw versus what was really happening inside, the moment she heard “autistic” and “ADHD,” and the very real grief that followed. You’ll hear how she began unmasking in small, practical ways, what shifted in her marriage and parenting, and why she chose to become the support she couldn’t find. We also explore how AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot help with tone, clarity, and day-to-day overwhelm.
I reveal the questions I ask guests about burnout, people-pleasing, and work boundaries—plus the simple experiments Jenny used to figure out what she actually needed. You’ll discover how she reframed self-worth, how she talks to her AuDHD daughters after school, and the one message she wants every late-diagnosed person to hear tonight.

By the end, you’ll be thinking: What can I let go of? Where am I masking without realizing it? And how could small supports change my day this week?

About the Guest
Jenny Lucas is a late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer, mom to two AuDHD daughters, former high school music teacher, and creator of resources for neurodivergent women. She’s the author of “Your No-Guide to Life After Late Diagnosis” and shares accessible support across Instagram, TikTok, Substack, and more.

Key Timestamps
0:02 – Welcome and Jenny’s story: teacher, burnout, and late diagnosis

7:11 – “Why does this feel harder for me?” and the cost of people-pleasing

11:14 – The ADHD and autism diagnoses: shock, numbness, validation

20:12 – The grief no one warns you about—and why capacity dips

22:07 – Mourning old coping skills and rethinking energy

24:40 – When the diagnosis started to feel empowering

27:12 – Using AI for tone, clarity, and daily support

31:22 – Becoming the person she needed when support wasn’t there

39:17 – What unmasking actually looked like day to day

41:39 – How relationships changed at home and at work

43:54 – Parenting two AuDHD daughters with more compassion

46:25 – “You’re not broken”: inside Jenny’s book

52:03 – What clients say in the first conversation

55:45 – A message for anyone late diagnosed or questioning

56:37 – Where to find Jenny online

If this helped, share it with a parent, educator, or friend who needs real-talk support. Subscribe for more conversations on autism, ADHD, and life after diagnosis.
#Neurodiversity #Autism #ADHD #AuDHD #LateDiagnosis

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.

When a Dad Chooses to Show Up: Autism, Ego, and the Moment That Changed Everything
We often hear autism stories from moms—today, I sit with a dad who faced denial, checked his ego, and chose to show up for his child.
In this conversation, I open a door many families don’t talk about: what it takes for a father to move from “I’m fine” to “I’m here.” You’ll hear how one moment—unexpected and ordinary—shifted everything. I ask what cracked the armor, how he rebuilt trust at home, and the simple changes that helped him support his child with less friction and more care.

You’ll discover the mindset shift that made behaviors easier to read, the quiet routine that steadied their evenings, and the approach he now brings to meetings with teachers and therapists. I also share the questions I use with dads who feel stuck so you can try them at home or in the classroom. Want to know what finally moved him from silence to advocacy—and what he wishes he’d said on day one? That’s in here.
If you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver navigating an autism diagnosis, this one will feel honest and practical. Come for real talk, leave with clarity—and a few next steps you can use right away.

About the Guest
My guest is a father to an autistic child who has shifted from quiet uncertainty to active support at home and at school. He speaks candidly about identity, partnership, and learning to lead with curiosity.

If this helped, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and join our community for more conversations on autism, ADHD, and neurodiversity.
#AutismAcceptance #Neurodiversity #DadLife #SpecialNeedsParenting #IEP

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.

ADHD at Work and at Home: Motivation, Masking, and Real Support with Dr. Saara Haapanen
What happens when an Olympic-level athlete-turned-psychologist maps ADHD from the inside—and shows us what actually helps?
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Saara Haapanen to explore ADHD beyond stereotypes. You’ll hear how almost making the Olympics, years of elite sport, and a late ADHD diagnosis shaped her work helping individuals and organizations create environments where neurodivergent people can truly perform. I reveal the key questions I ask to shift shame into self-trust, while Sara shares a simple motivation model you can remember and use today.
You’ll discover why “just focus” backfires, what looks like laziness but isn’t, and the one feedback change workplaces can make that instantly eases RSD. We also get into perimenopause, parenting through a child’s assessment, and the very real emotional load adults carry—plus the small language tweaks that lower demand and raise follow-through.

By the end, you’ll be asking: Which part of motivation do I boost first? How do I request support at work without feeling exposed? And what would change if I spoke to myself like my own best friend?

About the Guest
Dr. Saara Haapanen is a sports and exercise psychology PhD, former elite diver ranked 30th in the world, and founder of Performance Is Haapanen. Since 2013, she’s coached high performers and advised schools, healthcare systems, and companies on neurodiversity, motivation, and well-being.

Key Timestamps
0:02 – Meet Dr. Saara Haapanen and her path from elite sport to health and performance

4:40 – Finland, near-Olympic selection, and the spark that led to sports psychology

11:26 – “I know what to do—why am I not doing it?” Motivation without a map

16:14 – From her own diagnosis to helping others thrive

24:09 – The most common misunderstanding about adult ADHD

27:46 – Inside the ADHD brain: floodlight vs. flashlight focus

33:35 – What looks like laziness but isn’t

35:41 – ADHD in a workplace not built for it: where things break down

44:10 – One feedback shift that reduces RSD on the spot

48:03 – The FUN.COM motivation model you’ll actually remember

53:42 – Do companies get it yet?

75:46 – A client story that changed a whole family’s trajectory

80:51 – “Nothing’s wrong with you”—what I want you to hear

82:27 – What I’d tell my younger self

84:38 – Where to find Dr. Saara

If this helped, share it with a parent, educator, or manager who needs it. Subscribe for more supportive conversations on neurodiversity, and tell me in the comments: Which part of FUN.COM do you need most this week?

Keywords: ADHD, neurodivergent, workplace inclusion, motivation, executive function, rejection sensitivity, perimenopause, body doubling, movement, positive psychology

#ADHD #Neurodiversity #WorkplaceInclusion #ParentingADHD #ExecutiveFunction

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.