The Neurodivergant Connection / The Curious Storyteller

I Threw My Mask Away: Living AuDHD Out Loud with Nick Pagano
Masking nearly cost my guest his life — and his honesty about it changed everything. In this episode I talk with Nick Pagano about what happens when you stop pretending and start living as AuDHD.

I’ll share why this conversation matters: you’ll hear how chronic masking, suicidal thoughts, and unmasking intersect with work, relationships, and identity. Nick reveals the personal rules and small practices that helped him move from constant masking to steady growth — and I ask the hard questions that most people avoid.

You’ll discover one surprising habit that helped Nick survive the worst moments, one place masking shows up most in daily life, and how reclaiming authenticity affected his job and relationships. I tease the frameworks and strategies we discuss, but I leave the “how” for the episode — because you need to hear Nick’s voice to feel it.

About the Guest
Nick Pagano (Real Conversations with Neurodivergent Nick) is a creator and host who speaks openly about living AuDHD, masking, and mental health. He uses candid storytelling and practical rules to help others recognize and grow from their neurodivergent traits.
Timestamps

0:02 – Welcome and intro to Nick

0:55 – Nick’s turning point: depression and unmasking

3:39 – Realization at a basketball game: how his mind works

7:01 – Music, masking, and emotional expression

12:48 – Masking at work and being fired for honesty

21:02 – Self-diagnosis and responding to pushback

35:29 – Growth rule: “grow every day” and neuroplasticity

47:06 – Nick reads the poem that changed everything

52:50 – What Nick refuses to apologize for: existing

53:09 – Where to find Nick’s podcast and channels

Listen to the full episode to hear Nick’s poem, the strategies he used to ask for help, and how he balances masking with being true to himself. If this resonated, subscribe and share — someone in your life might need to hear it.

Find Nick: YouTube & Spotify — Real Conversations with Neurodivergent Nick (@therealconvoswithNDNick)

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Training for a World That Doesn’t Slow Down: Neurodivergent Tools, Food Rescue, and Real Vocational Pathways

What if the world didn’t have to slow down for us — we just needed better tools to meet it on our terms?
In this episode I talk with Shannon Dobbs about three decades of navigating disability, designing assistive tech, and building practical community systems that actually work. You’ll hear why Shannon built an AI-driven “just-in-time” training scaffold (think wearable or tablet-based guidance tuned for ADHD and autism), how a hotel chain used blast chillers to rescue millions of meals, and why community-scale grocery and vocational models matter more than traditional degrees right now.

I reveal parts of Shannon’s blueprint for vocational pathways that pay while teaching real skills, and we tease the systems, certifications, and community networks that make this possible. You’ll discover the outcomes — more dignified work, anti-fragile neighborhoods, and meaningful roles for neurodivergent people — and you’ll be left asking: What would a local blast-chiller node look like in my city? How could “living resumes” change hiring? Which tools could help me or my student show capability, not just compliance?

About the Guest
Shannon Dobbs — retired military veteran, entrepreneur, and nonprofit founder focused on regenerative food systems and assistive tech. Shannon combines satellite/signal experience with decades in small business and community organizing to build vocational pathways and scalable food-rescue solutions. Contact: [email protected] | ria.earth

Timestamps
0:03 - Intro: why this conversation matters for neurodivergent communities

2:12 - The AI "goggles" concept: just-in-time, personalized skill scaffolding

12:53 - The spark: building community grocery solutions after confronting local barriers

24:00 - MGM’s blast-chiller model: rescuing meals and why nonprofits resisted

40:10 - Vocational pathways: earning while learning, HACCP, cold-chain skills, and living resumes

52:46 - Resilience reframed: community wisdom over lone toughness

61:27 - How to get involved: donate, volunteer, or help with tech at ria.earth

Keywords: neurodivergent, ADHD, autism, vocational training, food rescue, regenerative, assistive tech, augmented reality, community resilience.
I’d love for you to keep the conversation going — subscribe, share this episode with someone who cares about inclusive workforce design, or visit ria.earth to get involved.

#Neurodiversity #FoodRescue #VocationalTraining #AssistiveTech

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About the Guest
Gary Martinez Jr. — autism parent, Manitou Incline devotee, and fundraiser for Kishami Academy. He averages multiple laps per day, uses the trail to raise awareness, and shares practical sensory strategies learned parenting his daughter.
Timestamps

0:04 - Episode open and intro to Gary's climb

1:19 - Gary explains the one-year Manitou Incline challenge

3:53 - Elevation, lap counts, and sponsor match

7:02 - Gary on discovering his own neurodivergent traits

18:52 - Daily sensory supports that help his daughter succeed

23:13 - Surprises from months of climbing

27:04 - How sponsors and community stepped up

36:40 - How listeners can help the school

37:53 - Where to find Gary and donate

Want to help? Visit Gary's profiles (Gary Martinez Jr. on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok) for the GoFundMe link and more. Please listen to the episode to hear the full story and consider donating or volunteering — every step counts.

#AutismSupport #Neurodiversity #CommunityFundraising #ManitouIncline #ParentingTips

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When a Diagnosis Opens the Door: A Mother’s Story of Autism, School Battles, and Small Wins
I sit down with Anita G., a retired teacher and podcast host, to hear how one diagnosis changed everything for her family—and why that could matter to you.

In this episode I talk with Anita about recognizing subtle signs of autism, the relief and confusion that followed her son Tyler’s diagnosis at 10, and the ways schools and doctors sometimes miss children who don’t fit a stereotyped image. You’ll hear why she started a podcast called G Family Chronicles, how being a former educator shaped her advocacy, and the quiet strategies that helped Tyler move toward college and independence.
We also cover the emotional toll of fighting for accommodations, when to bring in an advocate or attorney, and the simple supports—like pets and captioned TV—that changed daily life. I reveal a few of the systems and paperwork she relied on, but I save the step-by-step for the episode because the details matter.

Key Timestamps
0:02 – Episode intro

1:30 – Who Tyler is and early signs

4:06 – Receiving the diagnosis: relief and next steps

6:46 – Hopes and fears before the word “autism”

11:27 – How Anita’s view of autism changed

24:53 – What led to reevaluation in school

34:17 – The impact of “invisible” autism on treatment

68:12 – Avoiding burnout: advocates, attorneys, and supports

93:19 – Where to find Anita’s podcast and resources

About the Guest
Anita G. is a retired teacher, mother of Tyler (diagnosed with autism at 10), and host of the podcast G Family Chronicles. She shares candid stories from the classroom and home, focusing on practical advocacy for neurodivergent kids and their families.
Want practical examples and real paperwork stories? Listen to the full episode to find out which strategies Anita used, when she brought in legal help, and what she wishes parents knew in year one after a diagnosis.

Listen, subscribe, and join the conversation—links in the show notes. #Neurodiversity #AutismParenting #IEPAdvocacy

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From Nightclubs to Food Justice: Shannon Dobbs on Neurodivergence, Disability, and Building Better Systems (Part 1)
What happens when a former nightclub owner rethinks food access, work, and learning through a neurodivergent lens?
In this conversation, I sit down with Shannon Dobbs—an Army vet turned nonprofit advocate—who shares how health scares, a late ADHD diagnosis, and hard-won lessons from the VA pushed him to redesign how communities get fed and how people learn. You’ll hear how he went from running a smoke-filled bar to installing a commercial kitchen that kept downtown Reno fed during COVID—and why that experience sparked a bigger mission.
We get into the real reasons food deserts persist, why some organizations resist root-cause solutions, and the unexpected tech that can turn “waste” into meals. Shannon also teases a new path for sensory-friendly, on-the-job learning using assistive hardware and small language models—built for those of us who learn best hands-on.

You’ll discover: - How Shannon reframed food insecurity with practical tools most people overlook - The pattern-seeing skill that helps him cut through red tape - A simple kitchen swap that changes meal prep for ADHD brains - Why vocational, self-directed learning could be a better fit than traditional classrooms

What would shift if grocery models fit the community—not the other way around? And how close are we to offline AI that coaches you through a task in real time?

About the Guest
Shannon Dobbs is a retired nightclub owner, Army veteran, and nonprofit founder focused on food systems, vocational pathways, and sensory-friendly tech. He works at the intersection of neurodivergence, disability, and community-led solutions.
Timestamps
0:03 – Meet Shannon: from nightclubs to nonprofit advocacy

1:48 – The wake-up call that changed his health—and his work

5:58 – The part of his story most people miss

7:25 – Late ADHD diagnosis, head injury, and what actually changed

10:27 – Building a bar community that won “Best Dance Club”

12:56 – The HEPA hack that made a smoking bar breathable

13:34 – Military life, creativity, and a sudden detour

20:46 – Real-life kitchen challenges with ADHD

22:17 – The one-pot tool that makes cooking simpler

35:09 – Why grocery stores don’t reach food deserts—and a different model

43:11 – “We rescued 5M meals”: what Vegas taught him about waste

55:24 – Sensory overwhelm and a new assistive hardware concept

63:30 – How on-device AI could guide real work, step by step

70:14 – Wrap-up: Part 2 coming soon

Call to action: If you’re neurodivergent, a parent, educator, or caregiver, this one’s for you. Listen now, share with someone who needs it, and subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2.
#Neurodiversity #FoodInsecurity #ADHD #Disability #Veterans

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