The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

What Happens to My Child When I’m Gone? A Hard but Necessary Conversation
If you’ve ever quietly wondered what happens to your disabled child in the future, this conversation is for you.
In this episode, I sit down with Michael Ringel to talk about one of the biggest fears many families carry: how to plan ahead without making a costly mistake that affects benefits, housing, care, or long-term stability. We get into why so many families wait, what can go wrong with gifts or inheritance, and why “good intentions” can still create real problems later.
What stood out to me most is that this isn’t just about money on paper. It’s about reducing panic, creating more choice, and making sure support still works in real life. We also talk about ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, family communication, and the question many people avoid until it becomes urgent.
If you’ve felt overwhelmed by SSI rules, Medicaid concerns, or planning for adulthood and beyond, I think this episode will give you a clearer place to start while still leaving you with a few important questions to think through.

About the Guest
Michael Ringel works with families on long-term financial planning for disabled and neurodivergent loved ones. He focuses on helping families prepare for “two lifetimes” so future care, benefits, and financial support are better protected.

Key Timestamps
0:12 - The question many parents are afraid to ask out loud
3:04 - The mistake that can put benefits at risk
5:27 - Why support on paper can fail in real life
10:56 - Gifts and inheritance problems families often miss
15:19 - What ABLE accounts can and cannot do
20:04 - When a special needs trust may still matter
24:34 - Why these talks should happen before a crisis
32:34 - How to create a “playbook” for future caregivers
35:06 - When fear of losing benefits starts limiting life
38:48 - Where to find Michael’s book and resources

Michael's Resources:
Website:planningfortolifetimes.com
Book: Free download on the website, or purchase on Amazon for $5
Phone:917-734-4748
Email:mringle@strategiesforwealth.com

Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
Help Bring Fearless Footsteps into the World: https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US

If this episode speaks to where you or your family are right now, listen all the way through and share it with someone who needs this conversation too. #NeurodivergentConnection #SpecialNeedsPlanning #DisabilitySupport #ABLEAccount #SSI

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.

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

Late Diagnosis, Perimenopause, and the Career Questions No One Prepared Us For
What happens when your routines fall apart, your symptoms get louder, and a late diagnosis suddenly makes your whole life look different? In this episode, I talk with Gina Molinas about what it was like to be diagnosed during lockdown while also moving through perimenopause—and why that combination changed everything.
We talk about the grief, relief, anger, and clarity that can show up after a late diagnosis. Gina shares how old memories started to make new sense, why some workplaces drain neurodivergent people more than others, and what many professionals get wrong when they blame themselves for struggles that may be tied to environment, burnout, or masking.
We also get into career transitions, rejection sensitivity, and the question so many people quietly ask: Do I need a new job, or do I just need a workplace that fits me better? There’s a lot in this conversation that may leave you rethinking your own story.

About the Guest
Jeanna Malines is an ADHD coach and career transition guide who supports neurodivergent professionals. Through her company, Trajekta, she helps people better understand how they work, what they need, and where they can thrive.

Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Gina and we get into her late diagnosis during lockdown

5:24 - What became easier to notice when routines disappeared

14:26 - The grief that can follow a late diagnosis

16:53 - How perimenopause complicated ADHD traits

20:15 - Rebuilding your identity after diagnosis

33:05 - What neurodivergent professionals struggle with during career transitions

46:42 - New career or wrong environment?

56:37 - What employers still misunderstand about neurodivergent workers

59:57 - Becoming the support you once needed

Jeanna;s Links:
Trajekta:https://www.trajekta.net

Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
Help Bring Fearless Footsteps in the World: https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US

If this episode speaks to you, listen to the full conversation and share it with someone who needs to hear they’re not broken—and they’re not alone.
#Neurodivergent #ADHD #LateDiagnosis #Perimenopause #CareerSupport

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 OCPD Really Feels Like, and Why It’s So Often Misunderstood
What if the thing you’ve called perfectionism your whole life was actually something deeper?
In this episode, I sit down with Janice Russell for an honest conversation about living with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder, or OCPD. We talk about what life felt like before she had a name for it, why OCPD is so often confused with OCD, and what people around her rarely see: the constant mental noise, the pressure to get things right, and the exhaustion that follows.
What stayed with me most is how Janice describes the gap between how someone looks on the outside and what’s happening inside. If you’ve ever replayed conversations, felt trapped by perfectionism, or wondered why your brain won’t slow down, you’ll likely hear something familiar here.

Janice Russell is a speaker, writer, and coach who helps people manage overwhelm. In our conversation, she shares her lived experience with OCPD, along with the perspective that came after diagnosis and years of self-awareness.

I’m also sharing a question that runs through the whole episode: when does a coping pattern become part of your identity, and what do you do with that once you see it clearly?

Timestamps
0:13 - What life felt like before Janice knew she had OCPD

10:56 - Her reaction to the diagnosis

12:31 - Why OCPD and OCD are not the same

19:05 - What a day inside her mind actually feels like

36:26 - How perfectionism shows up in everyday life

42:00 - When wanting it done right makes it harder to finish

45:43 - The difference between wanting control and needing it

56:26 - One small thing to do when overwhelm hits

61:33 - What she’d tell herself after diagnosis

Janice's Links
https://janicerussell.com/

https://www.facebook.com/JaniceRussellCoach

https://www.instagram.com/janice.russell.coach/

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

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

Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
Help Bring Fearless Footsteps in the World: https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US

if this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and subscribe to The Neurodivergent Connection for more honest stories about neurodivergence, identity, and being human.
#OCPD #NeurodivergentConnection #MentalHealth #Perfectionism #Neurodivergence

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

When Mental Health Recovery Needs More Than Rest
What if burnout, brain fog, and mood swings aren’t just “in your head” but signs your body is asking for help?
In this episode, I sit down with Mick Pozin to talk about a side of mental health recovery that many people rarely hear about. We get into burnout, mental health leave, ADHD, food sensitivities, blood sugar, and why rest alone may not be enough when your system is already running on fumes.
Mick shares how undiagnosed gluten and dairy issues shaped his mood, focus, and sense of self for years. Then we talk about the deeper thread behind it all: how energy, environment, and physiology can affect everything from irritability and procrastination to sleep and resilience. If you’ve ever wondered why therapy helps but still feels incomplete, this conversation will give you a new lens to consider.
You’ll hear why some people miss the signs until they crash, what often gets overlooked during mental health leave, and why recovery may need more than a break from work. There’s a lot here for neurodivergent people, caregivers, and anyone trying to make sense of burnout without shame.

About the Guest
Mik Pozin studies the connection between metabolism, energy, and mental health. His work focuses on helping people recover from burnout, especially during mental health disability leave.

Timestamps
0:42 - How food sensitivities changed Mick’s mood and focus

7:23 - What people misunderstand about mental health leave

10:05 - Why a vacation or job change may not fix burnout

14:47 - The moment blood sugar changed how Mick viewed mental health

28:32 - Realizing “this isn’t just who I am”

50:37 - Why burnout can hit especially hard for people with ADHD

55:07 - The one thing I want you to remember about recovery

Mik’s Website: https://www.feelsila.com/
Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
Help Bring Fearless Footsteps in the World: https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US

If this episode speaks to you, listen through and share it with someone who needs a more compassionate way to think about burnout, ADHD, and mental health recovery.
#MentalHealth #BurnoutRecovery #ADHD #Neurodivergent #MentalHealthLeave

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 ADHD Costs Us Quietly, and Why Your Real Story Still Matters
If you’ve ever wondered why small tasks can carry such a heavy price with ADHD, this conversation will likely hit close to home.
In this episode, I sit down with Jill Ivey to talk about late-realized ADHD, masking, distraction, and the hidden costs that many neurodivergent people carry without anyone seeing them. We also get into something just as important: how our lived experience shapes the stories we tell about ourselves, at work and in life.
Jill shares what changed when she spoke publicly about her ADHD, why so many women miss the signs for years, and how everyday systems often fail neurodivergent brains. Then the conversation shifts into storytelling, identity, and why a polished bio can miss the most human part of who we are.
We also touch on AI, writing, and the big question many people are asking right now: can a tool really capture your voice, or does it miss the part that matters most?
If you’re neurodivergent, support someone who is, or you’re still finding the words for your own story, I think this episode will leave you feeling seen.

About the Guest
Jill Ivey is a writer, content strategist, and story expert who helps people find the personal stories that set them apart. She’s also spoken openly about her own ADHD experience and the real-life impact it can have.

Timestamps
0:01 - I welcome Jill Ivey and we begin with her ADHD story
0:27 - How late-realized ADHD showed up during the pandemic
7:49 - The hidden financial and daily costs of ADHD
12:54 - What happened after Jill shared her story publicly
21:25 - How Jill helps people find the story behind their work
29:30 - The small details that reveal a bigger story
33:17 - Why AI can’t fully capture lived experience
43:44 - How your story can stay honest as you change
50:35 - The story Jill is still learning to tell

Jill's Resources:
Website: https://jilletante.com/
Website: https://www.jillianivey.com/

Show Affiliate:
https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION
Help Bring Fearless Footsteps into the World:
https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US

If this conversation resonates, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who needs clearer, kinder language around ADHD, autism, and neurodivergence.
#ADHD #Neurodivergent #LateDiagnosis #Storytelling #AutismAcceptance

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.