AuDHD IRL

Content warning: brief mentions of trauma, PTSD, dissociative identity disorder, chronic illness and healthcare self-advocacy, and online hatred directed at trans people. Nothing graphic. Look after yourself! Summary: This one's a bit different. Bri grabbed Emily and Jade, her Psych Hive co-directors and real-life mates, for two quick check-ins recorded live from NATCA (the Neurodivergence Aff...

Content warning: This episode touches on sexual assault, postpartum rage, and suicide statistics (in the context of perimenopause research). Please look after yourself. If this isn't what you have capacity for today, keep scrolling. Show notes: This one is a hormone deep dive and it's some knowledge I wish someone had handed me years ago. I sat down (in person, so much fun) with Samantha J...

Content warning This episode includes discussion of transphobia, misgendering and microaggressions, and a brief mention of non-consensual medical procedures performed on intersex infants. Please look after yourself while you listen. Summary This week I sat down with Morgs, and was such a joy. We actually met years ago working retail together (selling very overpriced cups and plates), and I have lo...

Summary This week I'm joined by Steph Robertson, a neurodivergent occupational therapist, speaker and advocate whose work centres trauma-responsive, neurodiversity-affirming care. Steph is autistic, ADHD, complex PTSD and a plural system, and brings their professional, research and lived experience to everything they do. We dig into the overlap between joy and monotropism: why a monotropic flo...

Content warning: If you don't like swearing, scroll on by Summary: This week I'm joined by Joanne Hatchard: award-winning neurodivergent therapist, social worker, parent and founder of Better Being Me (and host of the wonderful Talking Twaddle). I'll be honest, when Joanne first pitched this topic I said "heck yes" and then immediately thought "wait, I have no idea what that means." So this episod...

This episode is for my fellow PDAers (and the people who love us and are quietly very confused by us). Sharmayne and I had never met before we hit record, which felt weirdly perfect for an episode about nervous systems that do their own thing in real time. What followed was the info dump I have been waiting for. Sharmayne Bennett is a non-binary, neuroqueer, 2E, AuDHD PDA-er and psychologist, foun...

Bri sits down with Sandhya Menon, AuDHD developmental psychologist, author of The Brain Forest , The Rainbow Brain , and My Body's Power Pack , and one of Australia's most trusted voices in neurodivergent affirming practice. Together, they explore a topic that doesn't get nearly enough airtime: what it actually means to be AuDHD and an immigrant, and why the dominant narrative in neuro...

Summary: Bri sits down with Dr Jacinta Thomson, clinical psychologist, AuDHDer, and director of Time to Untangle Clinical Psychology Services, for one of those conversations where you spend half the time laughing in recognition and the other half going "wait, that's been happening to me this whole time?" The topic is internalised ableism, which sounds like a very serious academic con...

Content warning: This episode contains discussion of postpartum depression and anxiety, intrusive thoughts, and a brief reference to maternal mortality statistics. Please take care of yourself while listening. Summary: Bri sits down with Claire Britton, occupational therapist, university lecturer, founding director of Neuroinclusion, mum of two (nearly three) and proudly AuDHD, for a conversation...

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of chronic pain, injury, disordered health behaviours and addiction, as well as references to neurodivergent experiences including RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria), sensory sensitivities, and the process of autism diagnosis. There is also a brief mention of nocebo effects and catastrophising language in healthcare settings. Summary: Bri sits do...

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of relationship trauma, emotional distress following breakups and rejection, a period of depression and questioning one's sense of purpose, and calling off a wedding. There is also mention of over-the-counter sleep medication. Please take care if any of these topics are sensitive for you. Summary: In this episode, Bri sits down with Sydney-bas...

Content Warning: Discussion of emotional distress and dysregulation Experiences of feeling unsafe (including in school and home environments) Masking, people-pleasing, and chronic invalidation Inner child work (including references to early childhood experiences) Trauma (including developmental / “little t” trauma) Systemic barriers impacting neurodivergent people Summary: In this episode, Bri is...

Content Warning: Discussion of burnout and overwhelm Experiences of feeling misunderstood or “not fitting” Academic and school-related stress Perfectionism and pressure around potential Mental health challenges (including anxiety and low self-worth) If these are prickly for you today, go have a cuppa instead! Summary: In this episode, Bri sits down with Caitlin to explore multi-exceptionality — th...

Content Warning: Burnout and chronic exhaustion Workplace stress and misalignment People-pleasing and self-sacrifice Parenting stress (including early childhood challenges) Internal pressure, overwhelm, and productivity struggles Summary: In this episode, Bri sits down with Adina to explore what it really looks like to build a life and business that actually fits an AuDHD brain, not one shaped by...

Content Warning: Burnout and shutdown Masking and identity confusion People-pleasing and self-sacrifice Discussion of childhood experiences and labels Social pressure, fitting in, and internalised expectations Go gently if these topics are dysregulating for you. Summary: In this episode, Bri sits down with Laetitia Andrac to explore AuDHD through the lens of parts, identity, and the roles we devel...

Content Warning: Discussion of trauma (including “little t” developmental trauma) People-pleasing, masking, and burnout Emotional overwhelm and RSD Gender expectations and systemic pressures Brief mention of distressing childhood experiences Summary: In this deeply validating and expansive conversation, Bri sits down with Em from NeuroWild (an autistic ADHD speech pathologist, illustrator, and adv...

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of... Trauma and systemic oppression Racism, colonisation, and minority stress Misdiagnosis (including BPD) and mental health stigma Brief mention of self-concept distress Please take care while listening and pause if needed. Summary: In this deeply thoughtful and expansive conversation, Bri sits down with Mish - a non-binary, neurodivergent, Sout...

Content Warning - This episode includes discussion of: Experiences of being misunderstood, shamed, or corrected for communication differences Neurodivergent masking and social challenges Workplace and school-based communication difficulties Please take care while listening and pause if needed. Summary: In this episode, Bri sits down with AuDHD speech pathologist Cammy to explore the nuanced, often...

Content Warning: This episode discusses chronic illness, medical gaslighting, healthcare discrimination, trauma within healthcare systems, and brief references to medical neglect and historical misogyny in medicine. Listener discretion is advised. Summary: In this episode of AuDHD IRL , Bri sits down with provisional psychologist Nina Buchborn, who shares her lived experience of AuDHD alongside ch...

Summary: Dive into a lively conversation about how AuDHD, identity, and self-expression intertwine through hair, fashion, and everyday choices. Charlotte (a hairdresser) and Bri explore how embracing our differences can foster confidence, control, and community. They discuss how being proud of our differences and showing it on the outside can signal safety to others. They also discuss parenting Au...

Content Warning: This episode discusses topics related to being AuDHD, late diagnosis, and societal stigma. There is mention of suicidality and trauma, which may be sensitive for some listeners. Go gently. Summary: In this episode, we explore the transformative power of understanding our neurotype, and cultivating genuine belonging, both personally and socially. Sarah Eagle, a passionate advocate...

Content warning: mention of suicidality, parental burnout, trauma and stress. Listen with care. Summary: In this heartfelt episode, Hollie-Ann shares her experience as an AuDHD mother navigating diagnosis, parenting, advocacy, and self-care with host Bri Thomas. Hollie-Ann's story highlights the importance of community, self-awareness, and embracing strengths on the parenting journey. She is h...

Content warning: Don't listen to this one with the kids in the back seat... and discern whether it's going to be safe for your nervous system to hear Lil and Bri talk about relationships, sex, intimacy and pleasure at this time. Keywords: ADHD, autism, AuDHD, relationships, intimacy, neurodivergent, sex education, communication, sensory experiences, self-acceptance Summary: In this engagin...

Overview: In this engaging conversation, Jess, a registered psychologist, shares her journey of discovering her autism and ADHD. She discusses her early career experiences, the importance of lived experience in psychology, and the challenges of masking in social situations. Jess emphasises the push-pull dynamic between autism and ADHD, exploring how it affects her daily life and interactions. The...

Keywords (Please consider this when listening to this podcast; make sure you're in an okay place to hear these topics): Food, AuDHD, eating disorders, ARFID, OCD, trauma, safety, nutrition, sensory processing, mental health. Overview: In this conversation, Margo White and Bri Thomas explore the intricate relationship between food, AuDHD, and safety. Margo shares her personal journey with eating di...