The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

What Happens When Autism, C-PTSD, and Self-Worth Finally Start to Make Sense
What if the hard parts of your past finally started to make sense—and you realized you still had a say in what comes next?
In this episode, I sit down with Lawrence Harris for an honest conversation about autism, C-PTSD, emotional regulation, and what it takes to rebuild self-worth when life has taught you to question it. We talk about what it feels like to grow up misunderstood, how trauma can shape relationships and daily life, and the quiet shift that happens when surviving turns into something more intentional.
Lawrence shares parts of his story with real honesty, from childhood abuse and abandonment wounds to the tools that helped him start seeing himself more clearly. We also talk about why journaling became such a powerful practice for him, what progress actually looked like, and how he turned painful experiences into work that now helps young people feel less alone.
If you've ever wondered why certain patterns keep showing up—or how healing can begin to feel possible—this conversation will give you a lot to think about. And there are a few moments in this episode that may stay with you long after it ends.

About the Guest
Lawrence Harris is a speaker and content creator who shares his lived experience with autism, C-PTSD, healing, and emotional growth to support young people who are still finding their footing.

Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Lawrence and ask what life felt like before he had words for autism and C-PTSD
3:21 - The moment therapy began helping things click into place
6:44 - What C-PTSD looked like in everyday life, emotionally and physically
14:03 - When Lawrence realized he wanted more than just getting through
16:41 - The first real step he took toward healing
17:28 - How journaling helped him build emotional awareness
24:59 - Rebuilding self-worth after years of feeling misunderstood
33:25 - What Lawrence does when old fears still show up
43:03 - How his story became a way to help others
50:36 - What lasting growth really looks like in real life

Lawrence's Links:
LawrenceCMpowers.com

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

If this episode speaks to you, listen to the full conversation and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they are not alone.
#NeurodivergentConnection #AutismAwareness #CPTSDHealing #MentalHealthSupport #SelfWorth

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 Doubt Doesn’t Break Faith, but Makes It More Honest
What happens when the beliefs you inherited no longer fit, but your faith doesn’t disappear? In this episode, I sit down with Brent Johnson to talk about what comes after certainty starts to crack.
We talk about growing up in a strict Christian world, how hard it can feel to question what you were taught, and why doubt isn’t always the enemy people make it out to be. Brent shares how years in ministry pushed him to ask harder questions about church, identity, leadership, and what faith looks like when performance falls away.
If you’ve ever wrestled with religious doubt, spiritual pressure, or the fear of asking honest questions, this conversation may stay with you. I’m also sharing what surprised me most in our discussion about community, belonging, and why some people leave systems while still holding onto God.

About my guest: Brent Johnson is a former pastor, author of Broken Before God: When Faith and Calamity Collide, and host of the More to Church podcast. He speaks openly about faith deconstruction, church culture, and finding a more grounded belief on the other side.

Key Timestamps
0:02 - Why this conversation about doubt, certainty, and faith matters
1:20 - Brent’s upbringing in a strict Christian home
5:28 - The slow moment when inherited beliefs started to crack
10:22 - Ministry, church culture, and the questions that wouldn’t go away
14:52 - Why deconstruction didn’t lead Brent away from faith
22:49 - When church identity starts replacing personal identity
25:36 - What felt more real after letting go of old assumptions
38:42 - The fear that comes with rethinking childhood beliefs
49:06 - Being a pastor, identity, and life outside official roles
56:13 - What parts of Christianity remained after everything was questioned
73:41 - What Brent wants people with doubts to know
80:01 - What a healthy Christian community could look like now

Brandt's Links:
Instagram: @bcj5_10TikTok: 
TicTok: brandtjohnson2
Email: somethingmorepod@gmail.com

Help me get my book published: https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US
Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION

If this episode speaks to something you’ve been carrying, listen all the way through and share it with someone who’s asking quiet questions of their own.
#FaithDeconstruction #SpiritualAbuse #ChristianCommunity #ReligiousDoubt #PodcastInterview
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 If “Picture This” Doesn’t Work for You?
What if the way I’ve been told to think, remember, or heal was built for a different kind of mind?
In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Paulina Trevenna to talk about ADHD, aphantasia, memory, and why so many therapy and hypnosis methods quietly assume that everyone can visualize. If you’ve ever felt like certain tools just don’t land for you, this episode may help you see why.
We talk about the moment Paulina realized people really do “see” images in their minds, how that changed her understanding of imagination, and why that discovery led her into research. We also get into the hidden gap between common hypnosis techniques and neurodivergent inner experiences, including what can happen when practitioners mistake difference for resistance.
You’ll hear why this matters for people with ADHD, autism, aphantasia, and anyone supporting neurodivergent people. More importantly, I’m sharing a conversation that asks a bigger question: how many systems were built around one kind of brain?

About the Guest
Dr. Paulina Trevenna is a researcher, speaker, and hypnotherapist focused on aphantasia, hypnosis, and neurodivergence. She also leads the Aphantasia World community and teaches practitioners how to better support people who can’t visualize in the usual way.

Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Dr. Paulina Trevenna
1:35 - Feeling different before having the words for it
7:40 - The therapy session that revealed aphantasia
13:43 - Entering hypnosis without visualization
22:50 - What happens when standard techniques don’t work
32:50 - The two big research questions Paulina set out to answer
36:05 - What thinking feels like without mental images
47:20 - Why therapy and meditation often miss neurodivergent minds
55:17 - Adapting hypnosis for different inner experiences
66:40 - What aphantasia reveals about human thinking
70:14 - Where to find Paulina online

If this episode speaks to you, listen through and share it with someone who’s been told they’re “doing it wrong” when they may just be wired differently.
#Aphantasia #ADHD #Neurodivergent #Hypnosis #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.

Why Knowing Isn’t Enough to Change, and What Actually Helps You Move Forward
I sat down with Dr. Radhika Achari for a conversation that felt both practical and deeply personal: why some things come naturally, why other things feel painfully hard, and why knowing what to do still doesn’t mean we’ll do it.

In this episode, I explore how growth mindset, environment, and self-story shape the way we act. We talk about the hidden space between intention and action, why simple advice can fall apart in real life, and how small wins can change the way you see yourself. If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or tired of comparing yourself to everyone else, this one will likely hit home.
I also get into how systems can reduce stress, why confidence often comes after action, and what it means to build support that fits the person instead of forcing a one-size-fits-all answer. There’s a lot here for parents, educators, neurodivergent people, and anyone trying to make change feel possible again.

About the Guest
Dr. Radhika Achari is a clinician, behavior analyst, and organizational leadership expert. She blends behavior science with a people-focused view of growth, helping individuals and families build skills, reduce barriers, and create change that fits real life.

Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Dr. Achari and ask what first shaped her curiosity about growth

4:20 - We talk about comparison, competition, and learning to value different strengths

13:31 - Why knowing what to do is rarely enough to create change

15:28 - How systems reduce stress and support executive functioning

22:53 - Why simple advice can feel almost impossible to follow

32:18 - How the stories we tell ourselves keep us stuck

36:05 - A simple “what if” question that can help you start again

41:06 - What behavior analysis and leadership taught her about people

45:00 - How workplaces can create burnout without meaning to

47:52 - How to pursue growth without turning life into a constant self-fix project

54:20 - The question that reveals what’s really blocking progress

55:08 - Why waiting for confidence usually keeps us frozen

66:13 - What helps people feel psychologically safe enough to grow

72:27 - What growth really looks like when life hasn’t gone to plan

Dr Achari's Links:
Website:analyzeandact.com

Instagram:@analyze_n_act

Help bring Fearless Footsteps into the World:
https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US

Show Affiliate:
https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
If this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who needs a gentler, clearer way to think about growth.
#GrowthMindset #Neurodiversity #ExecutiveFunctioning #ParentingSupport #PersonalGrowth

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

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.