The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

Karyn Whitaker has turned her own journey with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia into a mission to make life easier for others navigating similar paths. As the founder of Try Harder is BS, she’s all about ditching the old advice that just leads to frustration and burnout. Karyn’s style is refreshingly honest and relatable—she’s been through the messy moments and knows that real solutions come from lived experience, not just textbooks. Drawing on years of personal trial and error, she now helps neurodivergent people and their loved ones find straightforward, practical ways to manage daily overwhelm, build confidence, and use tools like AI to make tough days a little easier.

Resources:
Visit Karyn Whitaker’s website at tryharderisbs.com to learn more about her work and resources.

Access Karyn Whitaker’s “Five Prompts to Restart All the HD Brains” via the link provided in the podcast blurb.

Use AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot for support with writing, organization, and executive function tasks.

Explore agentic AI solutions to create custom AI agents with specific guardrails for tasks such as sales inquiries or writing assistance.

Utilize AI for step-by-step guidance in daily tasks, such as cooking or prioritizing to-dos, by prompting it for micro-steps or logical sorting.

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.

Raising Neurodivergent Kids in a Digital World: What I Wish Every Parent Knew
Online rules are invisible—and for neurodivergent kids, that can be costly. This conversation shows a safer way.
I sit down with Dr. Clark and her son, Chris, to talk about the moment a simple post turned into threats, what that did to their family, and how guidance changed everything. We get real about bullying, anxiety, and the hidden risks most parents don’t see—plus the guardrails that would’ve spared years of pain.

You’ll hear how they now teach kids to read social cues online, spot grooming tactics, and protect their digital footprint—without shutting them out of the internet entirely. We also talk about the one shift that stops kids from chasing the “top dog” for attention, and the parent habits that make a real difference at home.
If you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver, you’ll walk away knowing what to watch for, what to ask, and where to get support. And yes, we talk about the program they built so kids can practice social media safely—with real moderation and teachable moments baked in.
What changes when kids learn digital wellness early? How do you teach skills instead of rules? And what’s the first conversation to start tonight? That’s all inside.

About the Guests
Dr. Clark is an educator, parent advocate, and author who leads a monthly support group for parents of neurodivergent kids. She co-created a monitored social platform and curriculum that prepares kids for real-world social media.
Chris is her son, now an adult, who shares his lived experience with online bullying, depression, and how guidance reshaped his posting, mindset, and confidence.

Key Timestamps
0:28 – Chris’s hardest online moment and the fallout

1:22 – A parent’s first response and what changed at home

4:10 – “What I wish school taught me” and where the idea started

4:53 – Why unspoken social rules online overwhelm neurodivergent kids

10:03 – A safe space to practice social media (and how it’s moderated)

14:26 – From managing crises to building a solution for families

19:24 – When guidance replaced confusion for Chris

20:11 – How early digital wellness shapes future adults

22:18 – The parent side: tools, monitoring, and what most miss

30:07 – Why skills beat rules (and reduce secrecy)

34:58 – What parents need to hear right now

40:25 – Books, free ebook, and the parent support group

Keywords: neurodivergent, Autism, ADHD, digital wellness, online safety, social media literacy, bullying, digital footprint, parenting, educators, teens
Call to Action: Listen now, then share this with one parent or teacher who needs it. Grab Dr. Clark’s free ebook at mothersofexceptionalkids.com and check the monthly MOAC parent group.
#Neurodiversity #DigitalWellness #OnlineSafety #Autism #ADHD

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

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]

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

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.