WTF is AuDHD?

In this episode, we’re excited to be joined by Mike Cochrane (@nzpsychologyclinic), a Clinical Psychologist and fellow AuDHDer who specialises in Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD assessments. We had an insightful and validating chat about life with an AuDHD brain. Together, we unpack: Commonly missed traits in ADHD and autism How to get a diagnosis Why diagnosis often comes with both relief and grief Stra...

Autism or trauma - or both? In today’s episode, we (very basically) unpack the complex relationship between Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and autism. We explore the ways the two can look similar, why autistic people are more likely to experience trauma, and why it’s so important to approach self-identification with care and curiosity. We reflect on personal experiences, share research insights, and offer g...

If you’re constantly exhausted no matter how much you feel like you're resting, it might autistic, ADHD or AuDHD burnout (and yes, it's different from traditional 'burnout'). Our neurodivergent brains are different and therefore the causes and treatment for burnout need to be neurodiversity affirming. We unpack the causes of ADHD, autistic, and AuDHD burnout, what we've experienced, how it can be...

Getting an ADHD or autism diagnosis - especially later in life - can bring an avalanche of emotions: relief, validation, anger, grief, confusion, and imposter syndrome. In today’s episode, we talk about the messy, beautiful, and often overwhelming feelings that come before and after a diagnosis. We share real community stories and our own experiences of trying to make sense of this new identity, p...

This week, we’re diving deep into justice sensitivity - the intense emotional reaction many AuDHDers have to unfairness, inequality, and being misunderstood. We explore what justice sensitivity actually is, how it shows up differently in autism and ADHD, and why it’s more than just being “too sensitive. We share our own real-life examples and strategies to cope when injustice feels personal. ✨ Li...

Join our private Reddit community: https://www.reddit.com/r/wtfisaudhdpodcast/ Feeling lonely even when you're surrounded by people? You're not broken and you're not alone. In this episode, we unpack loneliness, friendship struggles, and the invisible barriers that come with having both ADHD and autism (AuDHD). We unpack why so many ADHDers and autistic people struggle with connection, friendship...

What is RSD? Is it just an ADHD thing? Is it trauma? In this episode, we’re breaking down Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria - a common but sometimes misunderstood experience in the ADHD community. We explore how RSD affects people with ADHD and autism, why it might develop, and how it shows up in everyday life. Plus, we share personal stories, examples, and strategies to cope when rejection feels like...

In this practical and personal episode, we’re diving into real-life strategies for navigating the daily chaos of living with ADHD (and autism!) but this is more focused on the ADHD side. Paige's entrepreneurial and creative brain has come up with a bunch of strategies that she's affectionately called Paige's Pointers. These tips help with everything from executive dysfunction to sensory overwhelm....

Today we dive into the world of ADHD medication and our experiences - what it is, how it works, and how it's helped us. We break down the science in (very) simple terms - even though we don't know how to say norepinephrine. We share our personal journeys with different medications, and discuss the pros, cons, and side effects we’ve experienced along the way. We also touch on what options are curre...

Content warning: The content discussed in this episode is for informational and personal storytelling purposes only. We are not medical professionals, and this should not be taken as medical or therapeutic advice. If you are struggling with substance use or addiction, please reach out to a qualified professional or a trusted support service. In this episode, we're diving into a sensitive but cruci...

DISCLAIMER: this episode lightly mentions suicide, self harm and substance abuse. In response to recent comments made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about autism, we dive into why this kind of rhetoric is not only harmful and dehumanising, but also rooted in outdated, ableist thinking. We break down some of the direct quotes, talk about the real-life impact of these messages, and remind listeners that e...

In this episode, we tackle the common misconception that “everyone is being diagnosed these days.” From ADHD to autism, it can feel like neurodivergence is suddenly everywhere—but is that really a bad thing? We unpack why diagnosis rates are rising, what’s changed in how we recognise neurodivergence (especially in adults, women, and marginalised groups), and why it’s not about a trend. We also tou...

In this episode, we explore how to start unmasking and embracing your authentic self. We break down what masking is, how to recognise when you’re doing it, and the steps you can take to slowly unmask in safe and supportive spaces. We take inspiration from Devon Price's book Unmasking Autism, and we acknowledge that unmasking is a lifelong process, not an overnight transformation. It takes time, pr...

In this episode, we dive deep into masking—the conscious and unconscious ways that neurodivergent people camouflage their traits to fit into a neurotypical world. We explore what masking is, why we do it, how it impacts mental health, and the long-term cost of constantly suppressing our true selves. We also share personal experiences of masking and briefly discuss the journey toward unmasking and...

Why did school never teach us what actually happens during the menstrual cycle?! In this episode, we break down the four phases of the menstrual cycle, what hormones are at play, and how they impact mood, energy, and brain function. We dive deep into PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder)—what it is, why it’s often misunderstood, and how it disproportionately affects neurodivergent people. We shar...

This episode touches on some of the differences between autism and ADHD and why it can be rough having both conditions in one brain. We talk about the aspects of AuDHD that can feel contradictory to live with, and further discuss how the AuDHD neurotype is a completely unique and different experience to just having one or the other. It's also Neurodiversity Celebration Week! This week aims to reco...

In this episode we finally get to the whole point of this podcast - what is like to be the unique neuro-type of AuDHD? Having only been 12 years since you could diagnose autism and ADHD simultaneously, there’s not a huge amount of research on the combination. We share our perspective on our AuDHD experience, with the aim of adding to the research pool of lived experiences. We mention conditions it...

In this episode of WTF is AuDHD? we explore what Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is. We explain the three levels of autism, and touch on popular theories such as neural pruning, nervous system links and we discuss how autistic brains process differently to neurotypical people. This is from the perspective of two white cis-women born who are reasonably privileged and we appreciate this may not relat...

In today’s episode, we kick things off with an open conversation about the menstrual cycle and an introduction to PMDD, as Paige shares her experience with a new medication designed to manage its symptoms. Then, we dive into ADHD—what it is, common misconceptions, and why neurodiversity plays a crucial role in the world. SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube Submit your suggesti...

Disclaimer: we are not medical professionals and this episode is brought to you by Ellie and Paige's personal lived experiences. From a late ADHD diagnosis, to realising we're autistic too, this episode explores our diagnosis journeys to autism - both of which have been very different! We explore how we came to realise we might be autistic, share stories of being denied by medical professionals an...

DISCLAIMER : This episode is based on our personal experiences of being diagnosed with ADHD in New Zealand, with a focus on the private healthcare route. We're not medical professionals, and this isn't a comprehensive guide—so please do your own research and seek advice from qualified experts. In next week's episode, we'll cover more about the public healthcare options available in NZ, including o...

Trigger warning: light mentions of alcohol and substance use. This week, we continue the conversation regarding life before our ADHD and Autism diagnoses. We chat about life after leaving school, what our relationships were like, how we coped in the workplace and how & why our mental health was severely impacted. This episode leads up to the point before diagnosis which we will cover in next w...

In this episode of WTF is AuDHD?, we go back to our childhoods and observe what we were like as AuDHD kids before diagnosis. Despite being made by the same parents and brought up in the same household, our childhood experiences and behaviours were vastly different. Now in hindsight, we know there was evidence of AuDHD that was missed. This chat starts to highlight the idea that the same condition...

Welcome to the first episode of WTF is AuDHD? , hosted by Ellie and Paige—late-diagnosed sisters navigating life with the unique combination of ADHD and Autism. Ironically, we won’t dive fully into the burning question, 'What exactly is AuDHD?' just yet—it’s a big one! Instead, let's start by telling you who we are, why we started this podcast, and how it might resonate with you. Feel free to subm...

Hi! We’re Ellie and Paige and we’re sisters with AuDHD (that’s the combo of autism and ADHD). We were both diagnosed later in life, and we want to share our experiences living with undiagnosed neurodivergence and how our lives changed after diagnosis, in the hopes that it might help others. This podcast will explore the vast manifestations of neurodivergence and show that even sisters with the sam...