The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

AUDHD Is Its Own Thing: Stephanie Lewis on RSD, Sensory Life, and a Therapy That Doesn’t Rely on Talking
Struggling with therapy that asks you to “talk it out” when words won’t come? This one’s for you.
In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Lewis—retired special education teacher, school psychologist, and coach—who discovered her own autism and ADHD in her 60s. We unpack why AUDHD isn’t just “autism + ADHD,” how that shows up day to day, and why so many of us feel unseen in traditional therapy.

Stephanie reveals a structured, non-language-based process she created that helps with things like rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), shutdowns, and overwhelm—without forcing you to label every feeling. You’ll hear how it works with the nervous system, why confidence is a habit you can build, and the subtle shifts clients notice first.

By the end, you’ll see new possibilities for relief and self-trust—and you’ll have a simple first step you can try today. But how does this approach reduce RSD episodes? What makes it flexible for different AUDHD profiles? And why do many clients feel “seen” long before they say much at all?

About the Guest
Stephanie Lewis is a retired special education teacher and school psychologist turned coach. After decades supporting neurodivergent folks, she learned she’s autistic with ADHD and now focuses on accessible methods that don’t depend on heavy talk therapy. She also offers free intro sessions to her process on Facebook and Zoom.

Key Timestamps
0:11 – Meet Stephanie Lewis and her late-in-life diagnosis

1:59 – What AUDHD really means (and why it’s not in the DSM…yet)

11:49 – The problem Stephanie set out to solve with a non-talking method

16:52 – When traditional therapy missed the mark

18:27 – “You function”: a simple way to describe the AUDHD experience

27:29 – How this structure differs from typical approaches

31:52 – Working with the nervous system, not against it

33:43 – Handling burnout, shutdowns, and overwhelm in real time

42:54 – For the AUDHD listener exhausted by bad therapy

44:18 – A quick, calming drawing practice for overwhelm

If this resonated, subscribe and share with someone who needs it. Find Stephanie’s links in the show notes, join our community newsletter, and keep the conversation going with me on socials.
Keywords: AUDHD, autism, ADHD, neurodivergent, RSD, rejection sensitive dysphoria, shutdowns, burnout, sensory sensitivity, DSM-5, nonverbal therapy, drawing-based therapy, habit building
Call to Action: Subscribe for more supportive conversations, grab the links to Stephanie’s free sessions, and send this to a parent, educator, or friend who could use practical, compassionate tools.
#AUDHD #Neurodivergent #Autism #ADHD #RSD
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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Comedy, Genetics, and Autism: A Real-World Guide with Dr. Sam Shay
Can stand-up comedy help autistic adults feel seen—and can genetics make life simpler?
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Sam Shay, an autistic functional medicine practitioner and stand-up comic. We talk about sound sensitivity that feels like a “kidney stone in the skull,” why testing beats guessing when you’re exhausted, and how humor can build shared reality when life has felt isolating.

You’ll discover how Dr. Shay uses functional genetics to help autistic adults increase resilience and capacity, what burnout can look like when you still have to “perform,” and the simple way he explains functional medicine to someone already overwhelmed. We also get into masking, blunt honesty, and why learning social “software” from sitcoms actually works.

I reveal the questions I ask to spot early overload, and you’ll hear the unexpected reason comedy helped Dr. Shay stop looping on trauma. Plus, there’s a moment about the word “Aspie” you won’t see coming.

About the Guest
Dr. Sam Shay is a functional medicine and genetics educator, clinician, and stand-up comic. He created the YouTube special Neurospicy: Love, Life & Comedy on the Spectrum to bridge understanding between autistic and non-autistic folks.

Timestamps
0:02 – Welcome and Dr. Shay’s late diagnosis and comedy mission

16:08 – How being autistic shaped his clinical lens

23:31 – Superpowers, kryptonites, and the “Neuroharmony” model

25:57 – Functional medicine in one clear sentence

29:37 – Testing vs. guessing: saving time, money, and energy

31:49 – Resilience vs. capacity for autistic adults

32:45 – Burnout when you still have to show up

36:31 – Early signs your system is overloaded

56:43 – When humor became a bridge—not a barrier

64:09 – What he wants exhausted autistic adults to know

71:09 – Where to watch “Neurospicy” and what he hopes you feel

Watch the full conversation, then share this with a parent, teacher, or clinician who needs a clearer picture of autistic life. Subscribe for more real talk on autism, ADHD, and building supportive communities. And check the show notes for Dr. Shay’s Neurospicy special on YouTube.
#Neurodiversity #Autism #FunctionalMedicine #Genetics #StandUpComedy

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.

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.