The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

Late Diagnosis, Grief, and Growth with AuDHD Coach Jenny Lucas
Late diagnosis can feel like a relief and a gut punch. In this episode, I sit with Jenny Lucas to name both—then move forward.
I talk with Jenny about what the world saw versus what was really happening inside, the moment she heard “autistic” and “ADHD,” and the very real grief that followed. You’ll hear how she began unmasking in small, practical ways, what shifted in her marriage and parenting, and why she chose to become the support she couldn’t find. We also explore how AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot help with tone, clarity, and day-to-day overwhelm.
I reveal the questions I ask guests about burnout, people-pleasing, and work boundaries—plus the simple experiments Jenny used to figure out what she actually needed. You’ll discover how she reframed self-worth, how she talks to her AuDHD daughters after school, and the one message she wants every late-diagnosed person to hear tonight.

By the end, you’ll be thinking: What can I let go of? Where am I masking without realizing it? And how could small supports change my day this week?

About the Guest
Jenny Lucas is a late-diagnosed autistic ADHDer, mom to two AuDHD daughters, former high school music teacher, and creator of resources for neurodivergent women. She’s the author of “Your No-Guide to Life After Late Diagnosis” and shares accessible support across Instagram, TikTok, Substack, and more.

Key Timestamps
0:02 – Welcome and Jenny’s story: teacher, burnout, and late diagnosis

7:11 – “Why does this feel harder for me?” and the cost of people-pleasing

11:14 – The ADHD and autism diagnoses: shock, numbness, validation

20:12 – The grief no one warns you about—and why capacity dips

22:07 – Mourning old coping skills and rethinking energy

24:40 – When the diagnosis started to feel empowering

27:12 – Using AI for tone, clarity, and daily support

31:22 – Becoming the person she needed when support wasn’t there

39:17 – What unmasking actually looked like day to day

41:39 – How relationships changed at home and at work

43:54 – Parenting two AuDHD daughters with more compassion

46:25 – “You’re not broken”: inside Jenny’s book

52:03 – What clients say in the first conversation

55:45 – A message for anyone late diagnosed or questioning

56:37 – Where to find Jenny online

If this helped, share it with a parent, educator, or friend who needs real-talk support. Subscribe for more conversations on autism, ADHD, and life after diagnosis.
#Neurodiversity #Autism #ADHD #AuDHD #LateDiagnosis

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.

When a Dad Chooses to Show Up: Autism, Ego, and the Moment That Changed Everything
We often hear autism stories from moms—today, I sit with a dad who faced denial, checked his ego, and chose to show up for his child.
In this conversation, I open a door many families don’t talk about: what it takes for a father to move from “I’m fine” to “I’m here.” You’ll hear how one moment—unexpected and ordinary—shifted everything. I ask what cracked the armor, how he rebuilt trust at home, and the simple changes that helped him support his child with less friction and more care.

You’ll discover the mindset shift that made behaviors easier to read, the quiet routine that steadied their evenings, and the approach he now brings to meetings with teachers and therapists. I also share the questions I use with dads who feel stuck so you can try them at home or in the classroom. Want to know what finally moved him from silence to advocacy—and what he wishes he’d said on day one? That’s in here.
If you’re a parent, educator, or caregiver navigating an autism diagnosis, this one will feel honest and practical. Come for real talk, leave with clarity—and a few next steps you can use right away.

About the Guest
My guest is a father to an autistic child who has shifted from quiet uncertainty to active support at home and at school. He speaks candidly about identity, partnership, and learning to lead with curiosity.

If this helped, subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and join our community for more conversations on autism, ADHD, and neurodiversity.
#AutismAcceptance #Neurodiversity #DadLife #SpecialNeedsParenting #IEP

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.

ADHD at Work and at Home: Motivation, Masking, and Real Support with Dr. Saara Haapanen
What happens when an Olympic-level athlete-turned-psychologist maps ADHD from the inside—and shows us what actually helps?
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Saara Haapanen to explore ADHD beyond stereotypes. You’ll hear how almost making the Olympics, years of elite sport, and a late ADHD diagnosis shaped her work helping individuals and organizations create environments where neurodivergent people can truly perform. I reveal the key questions I ask to shift shame into self-trust, while Sara shares a simple motivation model you can remember and use today.
You’ll discover why “just focus” backfires, what looks like laziness but isn’t, and the one feedback change workplaces can make that instantly eases RSD. We also get into perimenopause, parenting through a child’s assessment, and the very real emotional load adults carry—plus the small language tweaks that lower demand and raise follow-through.

By the end, you’ll be asking: Which part of motivation do I boost first? How do I request support at work without feeling exposed? And what would change if I spoke to myself like my own best friend?

About the Guest
Dr. Saara Haapanen is a sports and exercise psychology PhD, former elite diver ranked 30th in the world, and founder of Performance Is Haapanen. Since 2013, she’s coached high performers and advised schools, healthcare systems, and companies on neurodiversity, motivation, and well-being.

Key Timestamps
0:02 – Meet Dr. Saara Haapanen and her path from elite sport to health and performance

4:40 – Finland, near-Olympic selection, and the spark that led to sports psychology

11:26 – “I know what to do—why am I not doing it?” Motivation without a map

16:14 – From her own diagnosis to helping others thrive

24:09 – The most common misunderstanding about adult ADHD

27:46 – Inside the ADHD brain: floodlight vs. flashlight focus

33:35 – What looks like laziness but isn’t

35:41 – ADHD in a workplace not built for it: where things break down

44:10 – One feedback shift that reduces RSD on the spot

48:03 – The FUN.COM motivation model you’ll actually remember

53:42 – Do companies get it yet?

75:46 – A client story that changed a whole family’s trajectory

80:51 – “Nothing’s wrong with you”—what I want you to hear

82:27 – What I’d tell my younger self

84:38 – Where to find Dr. Saara

If this helped, share it with a parent, educator, or manager who needs it. Subscribe for more supportive conversations on neurodiversity, and tell me in the comments: Which part of FUN.COM do you need most this week?

Keywords: ADHD, neurodivergent, workplace inclusion, motivation, executive function, rejection sensitivity, perimenopause, body doubling, movement, positive psychology

#ADHD #Neurodiversity #WorkplaceInclusion #ParentingADHD #ExecutiveFunction

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.

Non-Speaking Is Not Non-Understanding: Autism-Affirming Inclusion with Amanda Toren
Non-speaking doesn’t mean non-understanding. In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Toren to rethink communication and real inclusion.
Amanda is an autism mom, speech and behavioral therapist, clinical autism specialist, and inclusion specialist who runs an inclusive martial arts academy. Together, we get honest about what belonging looks like beyond words—and what schools and programs often miss.
You’ll hear how Amanda builds autism-affirming environments where communication is a human right, why regulation comes before compliance, and how small wins add up to big change. I also press into the question so many parents and educators ask: What does success look like for a non-speaking student—and how do we know it’s happening?
I reveal the shift that changes outcomes in both the dojo and the classroom, and you’ll discover the first small step any educator can put in place tomorrow. We also talk about the quiet grief parents carry, what to say instead of “I’m sorry,” and the moment a single bow on the mat changed everything.
If you’ve wondered how AAC fits into sports, what “autism-affirming” really looks like, or why inclusion isn’t just “sharing a room,” this one’s for you.

About the Guest
Amanda Toren is an autism mom and a speech and behavioral therapist with 14+ years of experience. She’s a clinical autism specialist and inclusion specialist who owns an inclusive martial arts school focused on AAC, regulation, and strengths-based coaching for neurodivergent kids.

Timestamps
0:02 – Welcome and who Amanda is

1:12 – The early emotions of parenting a non-speaking child

3:03 – Behavior as communication and the role of AAC

6:31 – Support gaps and what to say instead of “I’m sorry”

12:19 – Why martial arts and what it builds beyond kicks and punches

16:33 – Honoring communication beyond words

18:08 – Autism-affirming inclusion in practice

20:29 – What well-meaning programs often get wrong

26:37 – Regulation before compliance: the shift

29:23 – A small step educators can use tomorrow

30:55 – The power of small wins: one student’s breakthrough

38:23 – Taking inclusion beyond one academy (Amanda’s e-book)

41:46 – Where to find Amanda

If this episode helped you, share it with a parent, teacher, or coach who cares about doing inclusion well.
Subscribe for more real conversations on autism, ADHD, AAC, regulation, and creating communities where everyone belongs.
#Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #AAC #Inclusion #SpecialEducation

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.

Seeing Ourselves in Fiction: Neurodivergent Characters That Actually Feel Real with Author Luna Westish
Representation isn’t just about labels—it’s about feeling seen. Today, I sit down with debut author Luna Westish to explore how fiction can shift how we understand Autism, ADHD, anxiety, and ourselves.
You’ll hear how Luna wrote a character readers either relate to deeply or find frustrating and why both reactions matter. I reveal the surprising moments that made me rethink labels, we compare “token” characters to fully human ones, and you’ll discover how inner monologue, sensory detail, and own voices storytelling can change empathy without turning pain into plot armor.
We also talk about growth that doesn’t erase struggle, the lines between honest depiction and drama, and why reading outside our comfort zones prepares us for real life at home, in classrooms, and in community.
If you’ve never seen yourself on the page, this conversation offers a starting point and a few questions that might change what you pick up next

About the Guest
Luna Westish is the author of Meet Me at the Ruins, a character-driven novel that threads anxiety, relationships, and messy growth with care. She’s also taught business to kids and adults, worked in federal policy, and made jewelry because one lane was never going to cut it.

Key Timestamps
0:03 – Why fiction can change how we see our own minds

2:06 – The first time a character felt “too familiar”

6:49 – What representation gets wrong (and what’s finally improving)

10:01 – Sensory layers that make characters believable

11:22 – Real vs. tokenized: the role of inner life

13:07 – Do labels help—or do subtleties matter more?

15:19 – Writing Meet Me at the Ruins: when representation found her

19:10 – Writing as healing (and why it can feel like therapy)

24:27 – Honoring struggle without exploiting it

29:04 – Showing growth without minimizing the hard stuff

32:50 – Why “just a story” isn’t just a story

44:14 – Readers who felt seen—and why that matters

51:46 – Where to find Luna’s book and connect

Resources: lunawestish.com • bookshop.org • Available via libraries on Hoopla and Libby
If this episode resonated, subscribe, rate, and share it with a parent, educator, caregiver, or friend. Your support helps our community grow.
#Neurodiversity #Fiction #MentalHealth #Autism #ADHD

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.