The Neurodivergant Connection / The Curious Storyteller

Late-Diagnosed ADHD, Masking at Work, and Real Self-Advocacy with Samantha Kelly
If you’ve ever asked “Is it me or my brain?” this one’s for you. I sit down with Samantha Kelly to make sense of late diagnosis, masking, and what true accessibility at work can feel like.

In this episode, you’ll hear how Samantha went from a panic attack at the office to becoming a sought-after neurodivergent speaker and coach. We talk about the quiet cost of masking, the myths we carry without knowing, and a simple way to ask for what you need at work without feeling “difficult.” You’ll discover what actually helps (and what accidentally harms) when managers try to be supportive, plus the one change that could reduce burnout more than most policies on paper.

I also ask the questions many of us hesitate to say out loud: How do I balance safety with being honest? What if my workplace won’t get it? And how do I practice self-advocacy when I’m already tired?

By the end, you’ll see a clearer path to feeling seen—and a few small moves that can create big wins.

About the Guest
Samantha Kelly is an ADHD entrepreneur, coach, and trainer who helps organizations build neuroinclusive workplaces. She speaks widely on accessibility, accommodations, and practical support for neurodivergent employees. Learn more at beyondnd.com or connect on LinkedIn.
Key Timestamps
0:16 – Why Samantha speaks up about neurodiversity and who gets missed

2:29 – The “human version” of late diagnosis (and what people don’t see)

8:34 – When the identity of “neurodivergent coach” clicked

10:34 – A moment in a talk that changed everything

13:59 – Therapy, stigma, and the comment that led to answers

19:03 – The workplace panic attack that became a turning point

30:41 – The biggest misunderstanding about neurodivergent employees

38:57 – One change that could make accommodations feel humane

44:57 – A low-pressure way to start self-advocacy

52:58 – Asking for reduced hours: scary ask, real payoff

69:08 – What employers miss—and what actually helps

72:20 – How embracing difference changed Samantha’s self-view

Call to action: If this episode helped you feel seen, share it with a manager or a friend who needs it. Subscribe for more supportive, practical conversations on ADHD, autism, and accessibility in real life.

Keywords: ADHD, autism, neurodivergent, late diagnosis, masking, workplace accessibility, accommodations, therapy, burnout, self-advocacy, inclusive leadership
#Neurodiversity #ADHD #AutismAcceptance #InclusiveWorkplaces #SelfAdvocacy

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.

From “Not College Material” to Advocate: Katie Shelby on Voice, Belonging, and Real Inclusion
Told she wasn’t “college material,” Katie Shelby went anyway—and what she learned can change how we support students.
In this episode of The Neurodiversion Connection, I sit down with Katie Shelby, a paraprofessional from St. Louis living with a language impairment and learning disabilities. She went from being nonverbal in preschool to earning her degree and supporting students with Autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other disabilities. You’ll hear how one conversation in high school shifted everything, why expectations matter more than we think, and the quiet practices that help students build independence and confidence.
I reveal the questions I wish more educators and parents asked, Katie shares what she uses today that she never had growing up (and why it matters), and together we push back on systems that still underestimate people. You’ll discover what real inclusion looks like day to day, how to approach self-advocacy without burning out, and a simple way to know you belong in spaces that weren’t built with you in mind.
By the end, you’ll be thinking about IEP meetings, AAC, and “college material” in a very different way. What shifted for Katie junior year? How did she turn no into a degree? And what does independence actually look like beyond test scores?

About the Guest
Katie Shelby is a paraprofessional supporting students across disabilities in St. Louis, MO. She’s written for The Mighty, is working on a book for people with learning disabilities and language impairments, and is known to many as Barney and Fred’s human (two very photogenic dachshunds).

Key Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome and Katie’s story beyond labels

1:58 – “Don’t go to college”: the moment that lit a fire

10:18 – The turning point: learning to self-advocate

12:51 – Failing forward in math and the worksheet bonfire

18:06 – “I belong here”: finding the right program and supports

19:51 – From student to para: communication, visuals, and AAC

24:00 – What real inclusion looks like in class

24:48 – Writing for The Mighty and sharing openly

28:08 – The book: who it’s for and why it’s needed

29:43 – Where to connect with Katie online

Keywords: neurodiversity, self-advocacy, special education, inclusion, learning disabilities, language impairment, AAC, Autism, college accessibility, paraprofessional
If this conversation helped you, share it with a parent, educator, or student who needs to hear it. Subscribe for more real, relatable stories and practical support.
Follow Katie on Instagram • Connect on Facebook
#Neurodiversity #SelfAdvocacy #SpecialEducation #LearningDisabilities #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.

Something has changed.
What started as conversations…
has become something deeper.
Both shows have shifted from asking questions…
to exploring the stories behind them.
Because the most powerful moments aren’t scripted.
They’re lived.

These are stories about:
who we are

how we think

what we struggle with

and what we’re still trying to understand

From neurodivergent experiences to curiosity-driven conversations about life, science, and everything in between…
This isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about slowing down…
listening…
and discovering what connects us.
Because when you really listen to someone’s story,
you start to see yourself in it.

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

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]

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

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.