The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

When Autism Changes How I See Parenting, Identity, and Connection
What if understanding an autistic child starts with seeing yourself more clearly?
In this episode, I sit down with Irini Hara for a deeply personal conversation about raising an autistic son, living through years of uncertainty, and rethinking what “normal” even means. We talk about the early signs she noticed, the loneliness many parents carry in silence, and the moment she began looking at both her son and herself through a different lens.
What stayed with me most is how this conversation moves beyond labels. Irini shares why self-regulation matters so much in parenting, why acceptance can change the whole relationship, and why some of the biggest struggles families face are often missed by schools, systems, and even the medical world. She also opens up about the questions she’s still asking about trauma, autism, and support.
If you’re a parent, educator, caregiver, or someone finding your own way through neurodivergence, I think this episode will leave you feeling seen—and maybe questioning a few things in the best way.

About the Guest
Irini Hara is a researcher, facilitator, and mother who shares conversations around autism, trauma, healing, and family systems. She also hosts Autism 360 Degrees and creates content for parents and families looking for wider support and understanding.

Key Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Irini and we begin with the first signs she noticed in her son
3:19 - We talk about the emotions that came with uncertainty before diagnosis
5:43 - Irini shares how she began noticing autistic traits in herself
11:40 - What changed how she understood her son
14:01 - What parenting an autistic child taught her about connection
17:34 - The powerful lesson her son taught her about “normal”
20:25 - How motherhood led her toward trauma work and healing practices
29:02 - Why she started questioning traditional explanations of autism
38:15 - The conversations she wishes the medical world would have
47:34 - What she hopes her son never loses as he grows up
50:10 - Her message to overwhelmed parents listening right now

If this episode speaks to you, listen all the way through and share it with someone who needs more support around autism, parenting, and neurodivergence.
#AutismAwareness #NeurodivergentConnection #ParentingSupport #Neurodiversity #AutisticChildren

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 Rejection Sensitivity Really Feels Like—and How I Start Moving Through It
If you’ve ever read too much into a text, replayed a silence for hours, or felt one small moment hit far harder than it “should,” this conversation will likely feel very familiar.
In this episode, I sit down with "BB" Brito to talk about rejection sensitive dysphoria in a way that feels real, human, and easy to understand. We get into what rejection can feel like in the mind and body, why uncertainty can send us into a spiral so fast, and why so many neurodivergent people end up apologizing, overexplaining, or pulling away before anyone else can.
I’m also sharing parts of my own experience, so this isn’t just theory. It’s an honest conversation about ADHD, relationships, masking, people-pleasing, and the inner stories we tell ourselves when we feel left out or misunderstood. Bibi also shares a few gentle ways to create space between what happened and the meaning our brain adds to it.

About my guest: "BB Brito" is a nurse, speaker, and RSD guide who helps neurodivergent women understand rejection sensitivity and build a steadier relationship with themselves.
If rejection has been running the show in your friendships, family life, or sense of self, this episode may help you feel a little more seen—and a lot less alone.

Key Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome BB and we define what RSD can feel like
7:49 - When small moments turn into overwhelming pain
13:29 - What “RSD survival” looks like in daily life
15:01 - What rejection does to the nervous system
22:08 - Why unanswered messages can feel so personal
28:12 - A simple way to separate facts from the story in my head
30:02 - The link between people-pleasing and fear of rejection
42:01 - How to interrupt worst-case thinking
57:03 - How rejection sensitivity can strain close relationships
84:25 - What I want you to remember when your mind is spiraling

Listen in, and if this episode speaks to you, share it with someone who needs language for what they’ve been feeling. #RejectionSensitivity #Neurodivergent #ADHD #AutismAwareness #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: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

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

From Corporate Burnout to Building Wealth on Her Own Terms with Tanya Rooney
What happens when a “secure” job stops feeling safe and your life starts running on autopilot?
In this episode, I sit down with Tanya Rooney to talk about what it really took to walk away from corporate real estate, face the fear of leaving a steady paycheck, and start building wealth one property at a time. We get into the mental load, the risk, the hard conversations with a partner, and the part social media rarely shows when it comes to house flips and Airbnb ownership.
Tanya shares how she went from burnout and routine to owning multiple properties and creating a business that fits her life better. We also talk about why some “good opportunities” are actually expensive mistakes, what new investors often miss, and why changing lanes doesn’t mean you failed.
If you’ve been telling yourself “maybe someday,” this conversation might make you question what’s really holding you back.

About the Guest
Tanya Rooney is a real estate investor and business owner who built a short-term rental portfolio after leaving corporate real estate. She now helps women think differently about building long-term wealth through property ownership and practical action.

Timestamps
0:12 - Tanya looks back on corporate life and when things started to feel off

4:11 - Why “security” means something very different now

6:44 - The moment real estate became more than a day job skill

15:16 - Why she finally left corporate and took the leap

22:32 - The hidden emotional cost of flipping houses

32:36 - How one stalled sale led to an Airbnb business

36:26 - Why Airbnb is not passive, no matter what people say

51:43 - Building wealth one house at a time

61:39 - What Tanya wants women to hear before they wait another year

Tanya Links
https://www.tanyarooney.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tanyarooneymn/

https://www.facebook.com/TanyaRooney28

https://www.youtube.com/@tanyarooneymn

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

If this episode got you thinking about burnout, real estate investing, Airbnb, or building wealth in a way that fits your life, listen to the full conversation and let me know what part stayed with you most.
#RealEstateInvesting #AirbnbBusiness #WomenInBusiness #BuildWealth #EntrepreneurMindset

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 Neurodivergence, Gaslighting, and Emotional Abuse Overlap
What happens when being wired differently gets used against you? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Wanda Kaye to talk about why emotional abuse can hit neurodivergent people in ways that are confusing, isolating, and painfully hard to name.

We talk about gaslighting, trauma bonds, pattern recognition, and why leaving an abusive dynamic can feel harder than it looks from the outside. Dr. Wanda also shares how family culture, ADHD, autism, and the need for predictability can all shape what abuse feels like from the inside. More importantly, I explore with her what healing can look like when your mind understands the harm, but your body still feels stuck.

If you've ever questioned your reality, blamed yourself, or wondered why it takes so long to feel safe again, this conversation will give you language for experiences many people carry in silence. I also get into why community matters so much, and what early recovery can look like before life feels steady again.

About the Guest
Dr. Wanda is a clinician, professor, and the founder of Holisticated Health. Her work focuses on narcissistic emotional abuse recovery, somatic healing, and support for neurodivergent people working through complex relationship trauma.

Timestamps
0:40 - I welcome Dr. Wanda and set up the conversation
3:49 - Why neurodivergent traits can be targeted in abusive relationships
10:36 - When emotional abuse becomes something deeper and distorting
17:42 - The long road to realizing something isn’t right
21:53 - Why gaslighting and trauma bonds can hit so hard
37:33 - Why these patterns can take longer to break
43:09 - When logic isn’t enough and the body still holds the pain
48:33 - How the NEAR program came together
52:40 - What Dr. Wanda wants stuck listeners to hear right now

Dr Wanda's Site
holisticatedhealth.com

Show Affiliate
https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
If this episode speaks to you, listen through to the end and share it with someone who needs clearer words for what they’ve been living through.
#Neurodivergent #EmotionalAbuse #Gaslighting #TraumaHealing #AutismADHD

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 an Autism Diagnosis Makes the Past Finally Click
What does it feel like when a diagnosis doesn’t answer everything, but it helps your life make more sense?
In this episode, I sit down with Ebony Backes for a thoughtful conversation about autism, creativity, grief, comfort, and the quiet ways we come to understand ourselves over time. Ebony shares what it was like to feel confused by other kids, how drawing became the one thing that always made sense, and why a diagnosis can bring both relief and loss at the same time.
We also talk about the small but meaningful things that help her feel grounded, from cooking and comics to the ocean and even African painted dogs. Along the way, I explore how self-understanding can grow slowly, especially for neurodivergent people who don’t have all the words yet.
If you’ve ever wondered why certain parts of your past still sting, or why creative expression can say what words can’t, this conversation will stay with you. I think you’ll come away with a few new questions about identity, healing, and what it means to be seen.

About the Guest
Ebony Backes is an artist and creative who uses drawing and comics as a way to express herself, make sense of the world, and connect with others through shared experiences.

Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Ebony and ask what the world felt like as a child
1:55 - When drawing became more than a hobby
4:40 - Ebony shares the moment her autism diagnosis clicked
6:20 - The mix of grief and relief after getting answers
6:59 - Why cooking brings comfort and care
9:35 - How the beach helps her reset
11:38 - How her relationship with herself has changed over time
12:45 - What she wants young people still finding their words to hear
16:25 - Where to find Ebony online

https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
If this episode speaks to you, listen through and share it with someone who may need these words today.
#AutismAwareness #Neurodivergent #LateDiagnosis #CreativeExpression #TheNeurodivergentConnection

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.