The Neurodivergant Connection / The Curious Storyteller

Autistic Kids and Sleep: What Parents Often Miss (and What Actually Helps)
Exhausted at 2 a.m.? You’re not alone. In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Ann Riley Smith to talk real-world fixes for autistic sleep struggles.
Kelly’s a neurodivergent former teacher, a mom of four neurodivergent kids, and an autism-and-anxiety sleep specialist. We get honest about what “my child doesn’t sleep” really means, why bedtime isn’t the true starting point, and how anxiety, sensory needs, and the nervous system all tangle together at night.

About the Guest
Kelly Ann Riley Smith is an autism and anxiety sleep specialist supporting parents of autistic children. She’s a former teacher and neurodivergent mom of four, including a son with high support needs. Find Kelly on Instagram, Facebook, her parent group Sleep Success for Autistic Children, or email [email protected].

Key Timestamps
0:02 – Meet Kelly Ann Riley Smith and why sleep matters so much

2:11 – Lived experience vs. professional training

8:43 – What “my autistic child doesn’t sleep” looks like in real life

10:10 – Falling asleep, staying asleep… or both?

12:06 – The bedtime routine myth many parents follow

13:15 – The most misunderstood part: sleep starts long before bedtime

14:37 – Autism and anxiety: how closely they connect at night

20:16 – What bedtime anxiety can look like

21:23 – The nervous system on high alert and why sleep won’t come

24:34 – Light, sound, temperature: what matters more than you think

33:21 – Room color and visual “noise” that keep brains alert

35:08 – Weighted blankets: helpful or harmful?

37:31 – White noise vs. silence (and real-life sleep setups)

39:04 – Is perfect sleep hygiene realistic for neurodivergent families?

40:12 – The toll on parents: from burnout to PTSD-like symptoms

41:27 – If you feel like you’re failing, hear this

51:35 – A message for the 2 a.m. listener

52:29 – Where to find Kelly and get support

If this helped, share it with a parent, educator, or caregiver who needs support. Subscribe for more neurodiversity conversations, practical strategies, and community resources.
#Neurodiversity #AutismParenting #SleepSupport #Anxiety #SensoryProcessing

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]

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Writing as a Lifeline: AuDHD, Burnout, and Building Soul Scribe with Kristy Lee Rackham
What if the story you’re scared to share is the one that helps someone heal?

In this candid conversation, I sit down with Kristy Lee Rackham AuDHD mom, former nurse, boutique publisher, and creator of the Wisdom Keepers series. You’ll hear how she went from full burnout to building Soul Scribe Publishing, why writing became a practical path to wellness, and the quiet moment that changed everything. We get into fear of visibility, why highly sensitive people hesitate to be seen, and how multi-author books create ripple effects inside hospitals, families, and communities.

I reveal the simple shift Kristy uses to help writers move past imposter syndrome, you’ll discover how she blends science and spirituality without losing the plot, and we touch on her Mee Map an accessible way to come back to who you’ve always been. Want to know the unexpected first win most new authors feel? You’ll have to listen.

About the Guest
Kristy Lee Rackham is an AuDHD publisher, holistic counselor, and former nurse who founded http://www.soulscribegroup.com/. She mentors highly sensitive and neurodivergent writers and curates the multi-author Wisdom Keepers series.

Key Timestamps
0:20 – Kristy’s AuDHD story and raising autistic teens

4:04 – The moment writing shifted from hobby to healing

12:52 – Blending science, spirituality, and storytelling

16:49 – Burnout, stillness, and a clarinet at night

27:37 – Visibility, worth, and the fear beneath publishing

40:06 – A nonverbal writer steps into leadership

45:22 – The Mee Map explained in plain language

47:58 – Energy awareness you can use today

Explore Kristy’s work at solscribegroup.com.
or to learn more about you can go to her link tree: www.linktr.ee/kristyleerackham
Subscribe for more practical conversations on autism, ADHD, and real-world support. Share this with someone who’s sitting on a story. #Neurodiversity #AuDHD #WritingForHealing #ParentingAutism

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Dani Donovan is an ADHD advocate, educator, and creator of The Anti-Planner, a revolutionary tool designed to help neurodivergent minds work with their brains instead of against them. Through her art, resources, and lived experience, Dani helps adults better understand executive dysfunction, self-compassion, and how to build systems that actually fit the way they’re wired.

Growing up, Dani always felt out of place—curious, quick to finish tasks, and constantly getting in trouble for asking too many questions or working ahead of the lesson. Instead of praise, she got more work or was told to sit down and be quiet, which left her feeling isolated and misunderstood. It wasn’t until college, when life became overwhelming and adult responsibilities piled up, that she finally heard the word “ADHD” attached to her struggles. Suddenly, the confusing mess of missed laundry, forgotten deadlines, and emotional meltdowns had a name, and that changed everything. Dani realized she wasn’t lazy or broken—she just hadn’t been given the right tools or language to understand herself. Finding that label, and later discovering others like “anticipatory anxiety” and “rejection sensitivity,” felt like a lifeline. It meant she could finally talk about her challenges without shame and start searching for real solutions, not just blame.,Dani’s journey with ADHD started long before she even knew what it was. As a kid, she was always outpacing her classmates, asking questions, and getting in trouble for not fitting the mold. Teachers didn’t know what to do with her, and instead of support, she got more work or was told to stop disrupting. This left Dani feeling like she was always the problem, never quite understanding why everyday things felt so hard. It wasn’t until college, when life threw her into the deep end of “adulting,” that she finally got her ADHD diagnosis. That moment was a revelation—suddenly, all the things that made her feel different started to make sense. For the first time, she could let go of some of the self-blame and see her challenges as part of a bigger picture, not a personal failing. Discovering the right words and connecting with others who shared her experiences helped her turn confusion into clarity and isolation into community.

Visit Dani Donovan's website with her ADHD comics at adhdd.com (ADHD with DD, her initials, after it).

Visit AntiPlanner.com to see the Anti Planner book and access digital PDF bundles that are currently on sale.

Follow Dani Donovan on social media platforms at @DaniDonovan (D A N I D O N O V A N) for more content.

Watch Jessica McCabe’s YouTube channel, especially her video about why showering is hard, for ADHD-related insights.

Try the Kanban board method using Post-it notes on your computer monitor as described by Dani Donovan for task management.

Contact Me:
https://www.facebook.com/TheNeurodivergentConnection

https://aspergersstudio.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/reidmiles/

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

https://www.twitter.com/AspergersStudio

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When Schools Don’t Fit: How to Advocate for Neurodivergent Kids with Janet Krebs
I sit down with Janet Krebs to talk about raising neurodivergent kids in unkind education systems—and what actually helps.
In this episode I ask the tough questions parents avoid: why schools still treat difference like a problem, how to push back when meetings feel hostile, and what parenting leadership actually looks like when the stakes are your child’s future. Janet shares real stories from decades in classrooms and with families, and I reveal the mindset shifts and practical frameworks that help parents move from fear to focused action.
You’ll discover why consistency often fails, when “resets” actually make things worse, and one powerful way to reframe labels so children get support without being boxed in. We tease specific strategies and systems I use with clients so you can advocate more confidently—but I save the step-by-step for the episode. Who should be in the room? When is accountability necessary? How do you keep your cool so solutions can happen? Listen to find out.

About the Guest
Janet Krebs – Educator, consultant, and strategic partner to families. With over 30 years in classrooms and working alongside parents of neurodivergent kids, Janet focuses on practical advocacy, vision-driven planning, and helping families build confidence to raise capable adults.

Key Timestamps
0:21 - Janet’s background: why she centers teaching and learning

1:10 - How education can be unkind to kids who don’t fit the mold

6:49 - Visual learning and why some kids need different ways to process

15:52 - When school discipline misses the mark: the “reset” example

31:45 - How to show up and advocate in IEP and school meetings

48:46 - Leadership for parents: L.E.A.D. framework

62:07 - How parents find support and stay grounded during slow progress

65:46 - Where to find Janet online: janetkrebs.com

Want more episodes like this? Subscribe and share with a parent, teacher, or caregiver who needs a better way into these rooms. Visit janetkrebs.com to connect with Janet.

#Neurodiversity #Parenting #InclusiveEducation #ADHD

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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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