The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

What Happens When Neurodivergence, Fatherhood, and Advocacy Collide
What does it cost to stop masking—and what can happen when you finally let people see the real you?
In this episode, I sit down with Dan Roth for an honest conversation about neurodivergence, rejection, work, parenting, and the quiet weight so many of us carry. We talk about what the pandemic changed, why that inner voice can be so hard to settle, and how being openly ADHD shaped the way Dan
rebuilt his life when everything felt uncertain.

What stayed with me most is how this conversation moves beyond careers. We get into the tension around disclosure, workplace bias, and accommodations, but we also go deeper into what it means to raise autistic children in systems that still miss the mark. Dan shares what shifted for him as a father, advocate, and community builder—and why some of his biggest work started with one simple act of care.

If you're neurodivergent, parenting a neurodivergent child, or trying to build a more inclusive school or workplace, this one will likely hit close to home. I think you'll walk away feeling seen, and you may also start asking different questions about what support should really look like.

About the Guest
Dan Roth is a neurodivergent speaker, advocate, and community leader known for his work in hiring, inclusion, and special education support. He’s also a father of autistic daughters and a strong voice for more inclusive schools, workplaces, and communities.

Key Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Dan Roth and we set the stage for a deeply personal conversation

0:17 - What the pandemic felt like for neurodivergent people

2:42 - Why rejection can feel so personal

5:02 - Dan opens up about self-doubt and the nonstop inner voice

9:26 - The moment social media became a turning point

13:49 - What it felt like to share his first public post

15:20 - Neurodivergence, job applications, and workplace accommodations

21:16 - When advocacy became bigger than employment

27:02 - The story behind an inclusive school project that still gives me chills

31:02 - How parenting autistic daughters made the mission personal

36:00 - What feels broken in hiring systems

44:38 - Dan’s message for parents wondering if they’re enough

Dans Resources:
Dan Roth
Email: [email protected]

Book:Breaking the Silence: Voices of Survivors on Amazon

If this episode speaks to you, listen through to the end and share it with someone who needs this reminder: you’re not alone.
#Neurodivergent #Autism #ADHD #ParentingSupport #WorkplaceInclusion

Dans

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.

What the Ocean Is Doing Right Now That Most of Us Never See
When I sat down with Helen Czerski, I wanted to ask a simple question: what are we missing when we look at the ocean? What followed changed the way I think about waves, weather, and our place in the world.

In this episode, I explore how the ocean shapes far more than coastlines. Helen helps me see why it affects climate, rain, and daily life, even if you never live near the sea. She also shares why calling the ocean a “mystery” may keep us from understanding just how connected we are to it.
We also talk about science in a way that feels human. I ask Helen why stories matter so much in science communication, how curiosity starts in ordinary life, and why you do not need a lab coat to think like a scientist. There’s one everyday example she gives that makes this point beautifully.

About the guest: Helen Czerski is a physicist, ocean scientist, author, and broadcaster. She studies the physical world and is known for making science clear, vivid, and worth caring about.
If you’ve ever looked at the sea and felt something bigger than words, this conversation will give that feeling more shape.

Key Timestamps
0:02 - Why the ocean is a hidden force shaping our planet

2:38 - What Helen sees beneath a breaking wave

7:57 - The moment the ocean became real to her as a physical system

12:13 - Why people underestimate the ocean’s influence

14:30 - Why Helen pushes back on calling the ocean “mysterious”

20:52 - Why science needs narrative, not just data

29:39 - Why anyone can think like a scientist

39:01 - The map that shows the world as one connected ocean

Listen in, then tell me: after this conversation, will you ever look at the ocean the same way again?
#OceanScience #HelenCzerskii #ScienceCommunication #ClimateEducation #CuriousStoryteller
Helen's Website: https://www.helenczerski.net/

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.

What Happens After a Life-Changing Diagnosis? Annie Toro Lopez Shares What Helped Her Find Hope Again
What do you do when your body stops feeling safe, and the people around you can’t fully see what you’re carrying? In this conversation, I sit down with Annie Toro Lopez to talk about diagnosis, grief, trauma, food, and the long road back to trusting your body.
Annie shares what it was like to be diagnosed with lupus in her early 20s, how years of pain and medical fear shaped her life, and what shifted when she decided her diagnosis would not define her future. We also talk about the emotional weight of loss, the shock of a later celiac diagnosis, and why mindset, nutrition, and self-compassion mattered so much in her healing story.
If you or someone you love is facing a new diagnosis, chronic illness, or the quiet exhaustion that comes with being misunderstood, this episode will give you something many people need most: hope without pressure. You’ll hear how Annie rebuilt connection, found her voice, and created support instead of waiting for it to appear.

About the Guest
Annie Toro Lopez is a writer, speaker, cookbook author, and community builder who shares from lived experience with lupus, celiac disease, trauma recovery, and healing.

Key Timestamps
0:03 - I welcome Annie Toro Lopez and begin with her lupus diagnosis story

8:56 - The hardest parts of living with autoimmune illness in the early years

17:48 - How therapy and mindset changed the way she saw her body and life

26:05 - The meaning behind reaching a negative ANA after years of illness

31:23 - Grief, celiac diagnosis, and what that season took out of her

42:22 - Why Annie wrote Simply Gluten-Free and who it helps

53:38 - Her message for anyone facing a hard diagnosis right now

57:25 - Where to find Annie’s book, website, and latest work

If this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who needs a little more understanding and a little less fear.
#NeurodivergentConnection #ChronicIllness #LupusAwareness #CeliacDisease #HealingJourney

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 Your Mind Works Differently: Trauma, Leadership, and Finding What Fits
If you’ve ever felt like your brain doesn’t follow the same map as everyone else’s, this conversation will likely hit close to home.
In this episode, I sit down with Blaz Merlot to talk about what it means to move through the world feeling different, and how that can shape the way we lead, work, and understand ourselves. We get into the tension between structure and individuality, why some environments feel calming while others leave us drained, and how trauma can affect the way we think, react, and function day to day.

What stood out to me most is how Blaz connects his path from a difficult childhood to West Point, then into business leadership and coaching. We also explore a question many people quietly carry: Is this just how my mind works, or is it connected to what I’ve lived through? That part of the conversation opens up a much bigger one about identity, resilience, burnout, and how to build a life that actually fits your brain.

About the Guest
Blaz Merlot is a former military officer and West Point graduate who now helps service-based founders build stronger systems, reduce overwhelm, and lead without chaos or burnout.

Key Timestamps
0:00 - I welcome Blaz and start with his early story

3:33 - Why military structure felt meaningful to him

5:38 - How West Point changed the way he thought

10:48 - What the military taught him about leadership and trust

16:31 - How he defines neurodivergence for himself

19:39 - The strengths and challenges of a different-thinking brain

24:37 - Trauma, brain development, and the questions he still carries

36:04 - Why founders get stuck in chaos and burnout

43:01 - What healthy leadership looks like now

48:30 - What he wants neurodivergent listeners to remember

If this episode speaks to your experience, listen all the way through and share it with someone who needs a reminder that they’re not broken—they may just work differently. #Neurodivergent #TraumaAndHealing #Leadership #MentalHealth #AutismAndADHD

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.

Finding Your Voice When the Path Doesn’t Make Sense Yet
What happens when your voice belongs to more than one world? In this conversation, I sit down with Sonia Sohn to talk about art, identity, and the strange in-between space where so many creative lives are built.

Sonya is known for her viral performances with Julian the piano player, including the flash mobs that have caught millions of eyes across Europe. But in this episode, I go past the polished videos and into the real story behind the voice.
We talk about what it means to feel called to something before you can explain it, why training can help and still get in your way, and how self-doubt can show up even when the talent is obvious. Sonia also shares what it was like growing up between musical worlds, studying opera in Germany, building a pop sound of her own, and learning to live with uncertainty instead of waiting for a perfect plan.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re allowed to be more than one thing, or how people keep creating when they still don’t have it all figured out, this episode will stay with you.

About the Guest
Sonya aka Sone Sings is a singer and performer with roots in opera, pop, and live viral performance. She has appeared in widely shared musical collaborations across Europe and continues to create music that blends technical skill with personal expression.

Key Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Sonia Sohn and introduce her viral music background

0:35 - Sonia shares her early life, family influence, and first major performances

6:21 - We talk about the emotional feeling of singing opera for the first time

7:43 - Sonia explains the hard part of finding her own sound after formal training

17:11 - We explore the tension between her trained voice and personal voice

24:01 - Sonia reveals what people don’t see behind songwriting and recording

32:37 - She reflects on health, growth, and what her younger self would think now

41:07 - We revisit the flash mob videos and the moment everything changed

If this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and tell me what part stayed with you most. Subscribe for more conversations on creativity, voice, storytelling, and the messy middle of becoming who you are.
#SoneSings #TheCuriousStoryteller #MusicInterview #CreativeProcess #FindingYourVoice

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.