The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

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.

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.