The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

When Mental Health Recovery Needs More Than Rest
What if burnout, brain fog, and mood swings aren’t just “in your head” but signs your body is asking for help?
In this episode, I sit down with Mick Pozin to talk about a side of mental health recovery that many people rarely hear about. We get into burnout, mental health leave, ADHD, food sensitivities, blood sugar, and why rest alone may not be enough when your system is already running on fumes.
Mick shares how undiagnosed gluten and dairy issues shaped his mood, focus, and sense of self for years. Then we talk about the deeper thread behind it all: how energy, environment, and physiology can affect everything from irritability and procrastination to sleep and resilience. If you’ve ever wondered why therapy helps but still feels incomplete, this conversation will give you a new lens to consider.
You’ll hear why some people miss the signs until they crash, what often gets overlooked during mental health leave, and why recovery may need more than a break from work. There’s a lot here for neurodivergent people, caregivers, and anyone trying to make sense of burnout without shame.

About the Guest
Mik Pozin studies the connection between metabolism, energy, and mental health. His work focuses on helping people recover from burnout, especially during mental health disability leave.

Timestamps
0:42 - How food sensitivities changed Mick’s mood and focus

7:23 - What people misunderstand about mental health leave

10:05 - Why a vacation or job change may not fix burnout

14:47 - The moment blood sugar changed how Mick viewed mental health

28:32 - Realizing “this isn’t just who I am”

50:37 - Why burnout can hit especially hard for people with ADHD

55:07 - The one thing I want you to remember about recovery

Mik’s Website: https://www.feelsila.com/
Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
Help Bring Fearless Footsteps in the World: https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US

If this episode speaks to you, listen through and share it with someone who needs a more compassionate way to think about burnout, ADHD, and mental health recovery.
#MentalHealth #BurnoutRecovery #ADHD #Neurodivergent #MentalHealthLeave

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: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

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

What ADHD Costs Us Quietly, and Why Your Real Story Still Matters
If you’ve ever wondered why small tasks can carry such a heavy price with ADHD, this conversation will likely hit close to home.
In this episode, I sit down with Jill Ivey to talk about late-realized ADHD, masking, distraction, and the hidden costs that many neurodivergent people carry without anyone seeing them. We also get into something just as important: how our lived experience shapes the stories we tell about ourselves, at work and in life.
Jill shares what changed when she spoke publicly about her ADHD, why so many women miss the signs for years, and how everyday systems often fail neurodivergent brains. Then the conversation shifts into storytelling, identity, and why a polished bio can miss the most human part of who we are.
We also touch on AI, writing, and the big question many people are asking right now: can a tool really capture your voice, or does it miss the part that matters most?
If you’re neurodivergent, support someone who is, or you’re still finding the words for your own story, I think this episode will leave you feeling seen.

About the Guest
Jill Ivey is a writer, content strategist, and story expert who helps people find the personal stories that set them apart. She’s also spoken openly about her own ADHD experience and the real-life impact it can have.

Timestamps
0:01 - I welcome Jill Ivey and we begin with her ADHD story
0:27 - How late-realized ADHD showed up during the pandemic
7:49 - The hidden financial and daily costs of ADHD
12:54 - What happened after Jill shared her story publicly
21:25 - How Jill helps people find the story behind their work
29:30 - The small details that reveal a bigger story
33:17 - Why AI can’t fully capture lived experience
43:44 - How your story can stay honest as you change
50:35 - The story Jill is still learning to tell

Jill's Resources:
Website: https://jilletante.com/
Website: https://www.jillianivey.com/

Show Affiliate:
https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
Help Bring Fearless Footsteps into the World:
https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US

If this conversation resonates, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who needs clearer, kinder language around ADHD, autism, and neurodivergence.
#ADHD #Neurodivergent #LateDiagnosis #Storytelling #AutismAcceptance

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: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

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

What Freedom Costs: My Conversation with Zulal Habibi on Iran, Loss, and Resistance
What happens when freedom isn’t an idea, but something your family has paid for in blood? In this episode, I sit down with Zolal Habibi for a powerful conversation about Iran, grief, courage, and why real change must come from the people themselves.

Zolal shares how activism shaped her life from childhood, how personal loss changed her path, and why silence can carry its own cost. As we talk, she helps me see the human side of headlines that are often reduced to politics, numbers, or quick opinions.

You’ll hear why she believes Iran’s future can’t be reduced to war or acceptance, what younger generations are showing the world right now, and why the role of women matters far beyond what most people hear in the news. There’s also a deeper question running through this whole conversation: what responsibility do we carry when we live in freedom while others are still fighting for it?

About the Guest
Zulal Habibi is an Iranian human rights advocate and longtime supporter of the Iranian Resistance. Her work focuses on raising awareness of the people of Iran, political repression, and the ongoing fight for democratic change.

Timestamps
0:46 - I welcome Zolal and begin with her earliest connection to Iran

6:54 - When fear became part of everyday life

15:18 - Why she says the solution is not war or appeasement

27:46 - How her life became tied to the Resistance

35:53 - The personal cost of speaking publicly for Iran

47:26 - One story of courage she has never forgotten

54:50 - The central role of women in Iran’s Resistance

66:57 - Why Iran’s future must come from its own people

73:30 - What younger Iranians are doing differently now

79:10 - What she hopes to do the day Iran is free

Zolal's Resources:
ncr-iran.org

MaryamMajaviForChange.com

oiac.org

iranfreedom.org

https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
If this conversation moved you, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who needs a more human picture of Iran, resistance, and freedom.
#Iran #HumanRights #Freedom #WomenInResistance #TheCuriousStoryteller

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: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

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

What Happens When Autism, C-PTSD, and Self-Worth Finally Start to Make Sense
What if the hard parts of your past finally started to make sense—and you realized you still had a say in what comes next?
In this episode, I sit down with Lawrence Harris for an honest conversation about autism, C-PTSD, emotional regulation, and what it takes to rebuild self-worth when life has taught you to question it. We talk about what it feels like to grow up misunderstood, how trauma can shape relationships and daily life, and the quiet shift that happens when surviving turns into something more intentional.
Lawrence shares parts of his story with real honesty, from childhood abuse and abandonment wounds to the tools that helped him start seeing himself more clearly. We also talk about why journaling became such a powerful practice for him, what progress actually looked like, and how he turned painful experiences into work that now helps young people feel less alone.
If you've ever wondered why certain patterns keep showing up—or how healing can begin to feel possible—this conversation will give you a lot to think about. And there are a few moments in this episode that may stay with you long after it ends.

About the Guest
Lawrence Harris is a speaker and content creator who shares his lived experience with autism, C-PTSD, healing, and emotional growth to support young people who are still finding their footing.

Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Lawrence and ask what life felt like before he had words for autism and C-PTSD
3:21 - The moment therapy began helping things click into place
6:44 - What C-PTSD looked like in everyday life, emotionally and physically
14:03 - When Lawrence realized he wanted more than just getting through
16:41 - The first real step he took toward healing
17:28 - How journaling helped him build emotional awareness
24:59 - Rebuilding self-worth after years of feeling misunderstood
33:25 - What Lawrence does when old fears still show up
43:03 - How his story became a way to help others
50:36 - What lasting growth really looks like in real life

Lawrence's Links:
LawrenceCMpowers.com

Show Affiliate
https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION

If this episode speaks to you, listen to the full conversation and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they are not alone.
#NeurodivergentConnection #AutismAwareness #CPTSDHealing #MentalHealthSupport #SelfWorth

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: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

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

When Doubt Doesn’t Break Faith, but Makes It More Honest
What happens when the beliefs you inherited no longer fit, but your faith doesn’t disappear? In this episode, I sit down with Brent Johnson to talk about what comes after certainty starts to crack.
We talk about growing up in a strict Christian world, how hard it can feel to question what you were taught, and why doubt isn’t always the enemy people make it out to be. Brent shares how years in ministry pushed him to ask harder questions about church, identity, leadership, and what faith looks like when performance falls away.
If you’ve ever wrestled with religious doubt, spiritual pressure, or the fear of asking honest questions, this conversation may stay with you. I’m also sharing what surprised me most in our discussion about community, belonging, and why some people leave systems while still holding onto God.

About my guest: Brent Johnson is a former pastor, author of Broken Before God: When Faith and Calamity Collide, and host of the More to Church podcast. He speaks openly about faith deconstruction, church culture, and finding a more grounded belief on the other side.

Key Timestamps
0:02 - Why this conversation about doubt, certainty, and faith matters
1:20 - Brent’s upbringing in a strict Christian home
5:28 - The slow moment when inherited beliefs started to crack
10:22 - Ministry, church culture, and the questions that wouldn’t go away
14:52 - Why deconstruction didn’t lead Brent away from faith
22:49 - When church identity starts replacing personal identity
25:36 - What felt more real after letting go of old assumptions
38:42 - The fear that comes with rethinking childhood beliefs
49:06 - Being a pastor, identity, and life outside official roles
56:13 - What parts of Christianity remained after everything was questioned
73:41 - What Brent wants people with doubts to know
80:01 - What a healthy Christian community could look like now

Brandt's Links:
Instagram: @bcj5_10TikTok: 
TicTok: brandtjohnson2
Email: somethingmorepod@gmail.com

Help me get my book published: https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US
Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION

If this episode speaks to something you’ve been carrying, listen all the way through and share it with someone who’s asking quiet questions of their own.
#FaithDeconstruction #SpiritualAbuse #ChristianCommunity #ReligiousDoubt #PodcastInterview
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: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

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