What happens when the people actually living with ADHD get a seat at the table?

In this special panel episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie AuDHD Capstick is joined by her co-host Daran, aka Man on Pause, and a diverse panel of voices to discuss and respond to Channel 4’s The Great ADHD Myth.

Together, the panel explores some of the biggest and most controversial conversations surrounding ADHD today, including ADHD diagnosis, late diagnosis, ADHD medication, overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis, neurodivergence, mental health, stigma, access to assessment and the reality of living with ADHD and AuDHD.

Rather than reducing ADHD to statistics, headlines or a television debate, this conversation puts real lived experience at the centre.

The panel shares personal perspectives on what ADHD actually looks and feels like, the impact of spending years without understanding your brain, the barriers people face when seeking diagnosis and support, and why conversations about ADHD need nuance, compassion and the voices of neurodivergent people themselves.

Expect disagreement, honesty, humour and some very big conversations.

Whether you're ADHD, AuDHD, autistic, questioning whether you might be neurodivergent, supporting someone with ADHD, or simply interested in the debate surrounding ADHD diagnosis in the UK, this episode offers perspectives that often get lost in the headlines.

❤️ With Thanks

With so much thanks, gratitude, kindness and appreciation to Chloe-Louise, Abdul-Ahad, Chris Anderson, Mick Miller, and, of course, our fabulous Daran Man on pause.

And last but absolutely not least, Angie Rhys.

Thank you all so much for giving your time, your voices, your experiences and your perspectives to this conversation. It genuinely wouldn’t have been the same without you. ❤️🌈

🎙️ AuDHD and Then Some, hosted by Ellie AuDHD Capstick

Topics include: ADHD, AuDHD, autism, ADHD diagnosis, late-diagnosed ADHD, ADHD medication, neurodivergence, ADHD assessment, ADHD stigma, mental health, lived experience, Channel 4's The Great ADHD Myth, and the ADHD diagnosis debate.

Author, entrepreneur and Jess Saying podcast host Jessica Danel joins Ellie AuDHD for one of the most unfiltered, shocking and unexpectedly funny conversations yet.

Jessica shares raw stories from her no-filter memoir, Bucket List from a Redneck Girl, including childhood trauma, motherhood, marriage, raising children with additional needs, building a million-dollar preschool business and finding the strength to begin again.

Despite the difficult subjects, Jessica brings warmth, honesty and humour to every story. The conversation feels less like an interview and more like two friends chatting at a bar about the experiences that shaped them.

Find Jessica, her podcast, book and social-media links at:

https://jesssaying.net

Find Ellie AuDHD:

https://www.ellieaudhd.com

What does it really mean to be a highly sensitive person, and how can we learn to treat ourselves with greater compassion?

In this episode, I’m joined by Elizabeth Cush, a licensed clinical professional counsellor, women’s life coach and highly sensitive person. We explore high sensitivity, anxiety, trauma, nervous-system overwhelm and the importance of learning to understand your own needs.

Elizabeth shares her personal and professional insight into why deeply feeling people can become overwhelmed, how past experiences affect the way we respond to the world, and why self-compassion is so important. We also discuss boundaries, people-pleasing, rest and learning to be kinder to ourselves instead of constantly believing we should be coping better.

This is a warm, honest conversation for anyone who feels deeply, becomes easily overwhelmed or has spent years believing they are simply “too sensitive.”

Topics include:

• What it means to be a highly sensitive person
• Anxiety, trauma and nervous-system overwhelm
• People-pleasing and boundaries
• Recognising your emotional needs
• Practising self-compassion
• Learning to work with your sensitivity rather than fighting it

Please follow AuDHD and Then Some for more honest conversations about ADHD, autism, trauma, mental health and the beautifully complicated reality of being human.

Find out more about Ellie AuDHD:
https://www.ellieaudhd.com

Find Elizabeth Cush:

Website: https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awakenyourwisewoman/
Podcast: Awaken Your Wise Woman
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/64SRf073AoPVAAg8TEyc4i

Find Ellie AuDHD:

Website: https://www.ellieaudhd.com

This was an incredibly moving and meaningful conversation with Malisa Hepner, LCSW, author, podcast host and speaker, and I cannot thank her enough for joining me and sharing so openly.

At the heart of this episode is Malisa’s beautiful son, Jake, who tragically died at just 18 years old following an accidental overdose. Malisa speaks about Jake, motherhood and navigating unimaginable grief with such love and honesty. I am incredibly grateful to Malisa and her family for allowing us to hear part of Jake’s story and for using their experience to raise awareness and help others.

We also explore motherhood, mum guilt, spirituality, trauma, healing, perfectionism, self-compassion and what it means to keep moving through life when your world has fundamentally changed.

Unfortunately, technology was absolutely NOT on our side! One of our connections struggled throughout the interview, resulting in several technical difficulties, and after around 52 minutes we eventually had to admit defeat. 😂 We gave it everything we had, though, and what we managed to capture was far too important and beautiful not to share.

Malisa, thank you profusely for your patience, your honesty and your willingness to share such a deeply personal part of your life with AuDHD and Then Some.

We hold Jake, Malisa and her family in our thoughts, and I sincerely hope Malisa will come back for another conversation. Next time, preferably with the internet behaving itself! 💜

🎧 AuDHD and Then Some
Conversations about neurodivergence, trauma, grief, mental health, motherhood, healing and the beautifully complicated reality of being human.

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, I’m joined by former National Geographic photographer and conservation scientist turned transformational coach, Jen Guyton.

Jen spent years building an extraordinary career, eventually reaching a milestone most photographers could only dream of: having her incredible infrared photographs of spotted hyenas featured on the cover of National Geographic.

But instead of feeling like she had finally "made it", Jen found herself asking a much bigger question: Is this actually the life I want?

We talk about success, fulfilment, identity, career changes and those moments in life when everything looks right from the outside but something inside you is asking for more.

Jen shares how she began exploring who she was beyond her achievements, why what we sometimes call a "midlife crisis" can actually be an invitation to reassess our lives, and how choosing to pivot opened doors she might never have discovered otherwise.

Today, Jen is a transformational coach while continuing her photography work, helping other ambitious people step away from the achievement trap and create lives that actually feel like their own.

A beautiful conversation about reaching the dream, discovering it isn't the destination you expected, and having the courage to ask: What now? 💜

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, I’m joined by the wonderful Janna Holterman, an ICU nurse, coach, mentor and trained intuitive who brings together neuroscience, nervous system regulation, emotional processing and intuition in the work she does with her clients.

And this conversation went in some BEAUTIFUL directions.

We touch on Janna’s own story and the devastating loss of her husband, Shane, and how that experience changed the course of her life. But our conversation is also very much about the woman Janna is today, the work she now does, and what she has learned about herself along the way.

We talk about intuition and what it actually feels like, learning to hear and trust yourself, nervous system regulation, emotional processing, and how our brains and bodies can influence the way we move through the world.

Janna also shares how she works with her clients, combining practical understanding of neuroscience with intuition and helping women move towards lives that feel sustainable, successful and, most importantly, like their own.

We explore what happens when you stop living according to all of the things you think you should be doing and start asking what you actually want your life to look like.

And despite touching on some deeply emotional subjects, this conversation was full of laughter.

Honestly, talking to Janna felt like catching up with an old friend over coffee. She’s funny, clever, warm and incredibly easy to talk to, and I could genuinely have carried on chatting to her for hours.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Intuition and learning to trust yourself
• Neuroscience and the nervous system
• Nervous system regulation
• Emotional processing
• Recognising what your body is trying to tell you
• Moving away from the life you think you “should” have
• Janna’s work with her clients
• Rebuilding and rediscovering yourself after life changes
• Creating sustainable success
• What Janna’s life looks like today

We also briefly discuss the loss of Janna’s husband, Shane, to suicide. Please listen with care if this is a sensitive subject for you.

Thank you so much, Janna, for such a beautiful, funny, open and genuinely fascinating conversation. ❤️

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie is joined by Arky Jones, creator of PersonalityPeek, for a conversation that very quickly becomes about MUCH more than personality tests.

We explore different personality types and personality assessments, how personality tests are created, what they can actually tell us about ourselves, and why they should be used as tools for self-discovery rather than boxes we squeeze ourselves into.

But, in true AuDHD and Then Some fashion, we also disappear down some pretty spectacular rabbit holes. 😂

From Homo sapiens and human evolution to relationships, compatibility, self-awareness, behaviour and why certain personalities seem to naturally mesh, this becomes a much bigger conversation about what actually makes us human.

We talk about how our personalities develop, why humans behave so differently from one another, what makes certain people connect, the patterns we repeat throughout our lives, and whether understanding ourselves can help us understand the people around us too.

Arky also takes us behind PersonalityPeek, explaining the thinking behind personality assessments and how understanding your own patterns, strengths and tendencies can become a starting point for personal growth.

And yes… Ellie took the personality assessment herself. 👀

The result was surprisingly bloody accurate.

This is one of those conversations that starts with “What personality type are you?” and somehow ends up asking “Why are human beings like this in the first place?”

If you’re interested in personality psychology, personality types, human behaviour, self-discovery, relationships, personal growth, evolution or simply understanding yourself and other people a little better, this one’s for you.

🎧 Featuring Arky Jones, creator of PersonalityPeek

🔗 Take the PersonalityPeek assessment and learn more about Arky’s work at:
https://personalitypeek.com/

Topics include:
Personality types • Personality tests • Human behaviour • Homo sapiens • Human evolution • Psychology • Relationships • Personality compatibility • Self-awareness • Self-discovery • Personal growth • Identity • Why people behave the way they do

Why does rejection feel so overwhelming? Why do so many AuDHD people apologise constantly, struggle to say no, and put everyone else’s needs before their own?

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie is joined by Tasha for an open and honest conversation about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), people pleasing, masking, and the emotional impact of growing up feeling misunderstood.

Together, they explore why rejection can feel physically painful, how people pleasing often develops as a survival strategy, and why setting boundaries can be one of the hardest—but most important—things neurodivergent people learn to do.

Whether you’re autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, or simply relate to the fear of letting people down, this episode will help you understand that you’re not “too sensitive”—your experiences make sense.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)

• People pleasing and trauma responses

• ADHD, autism and AuDHD

• Masking and self-abandonment

• Boundaries without guilt

• Fear of rejection

• Emotional regulation

• Self-worth and healing

If this conversation resonates with you, this month’s workbook in the Ellie AuDHD Subscribers Hub explores RSD and people pleasing in more depth, with practical exercises and gentle reflections to help you understand yourself with greater compassion.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow AuDHD and Then Some, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they were never “too much”—they were simply trying to survive in a world that didn’t always understand them.

#AuDHD #ADHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #RSD #PeoplePleasing #Boundaries #Masking #MentalHealth #EmotionalRegulation

In this episode, Ellie sits down with Justin Smith, founder of Cray, a dating safety app created following his own experience of an eight-year relationship that he describes as emotionally abusive and deeply traumatic.

Justin shares the story behind Cray, how his experiences affected his physical and emotional wellbeing, and why rebuilding his life led him to create a tool designed to help others think more carefully about red flags, manipulation and relationship safety.

But this isn't simply a conversation about an app.

Ellie asks some challenging questions along the way. Who decides what counts as a red flag? Can something considered unhealthy in one relationship be completely acceptable in another? How much does circumstance matter? And how do we make sure our own experiences don't become the standard by which everybody else's relationships are judged?

Justin openly explains his thinking and the reasoning behind Cray, while Ellie offers alternative perspectives and questions some of the broader assumptions surrounding relationships, dating and modern culture.

They discuss:

• How childhood experiences can influence adult relationships

• Recognising potential warning signs and manipulative behaviour

• Why context matters when discussing relationship red flags

• Justin's experience of rebuilding after relationship trauma

• How Cray's scoring and safety features work

• Online dating, catfishing and AI

• The difference between personal boundaries and universal red flags

• Why Justin believes education around dating safety needs to start earlier

• Cray's work with colleges and students

• Whether technology can really help us make safer relationship decisions

It's an open, sometimes challenging and thought-provoking conversation in which host and guest don't automatically agree on everything, and that's exactly what makes the discussion interesting.

Whether you're navigating online dating, rebuilding after a difficult relationship, or simply interested in how we decide what healthy relationships actually look like, this episode offers plenty to think about.

Find out more about Cray at cray.app or search “Cray – Dating Safety” in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

We explore why boundaries can feel so difficult for neurodivergent people, the reality of rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), masking, emotional overwhelm, and how growing up misunderstood can shape the way we experience relationships and ourselves.

Robert shares compassionate, practical insights that help make sense of the neurodivergent experience, while we have an honest conversation about the challenges—and strengths—that come with living as an AuDHD adult.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, questioning whether you’re neurodivergent, or supporting someone who is, this episode is full of validation, understanding, and practical takeaways.

In this episode we discuss:

• ADHD and autism

• AuDHD

• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)

• Boundaries and people-pleasing

• Emotional regulation

• Masking and unmasking

• Neurodivergent mental health

• Late diagnosis

• Self-understanding and self-compassion

If this conversation resonates with you, don’t forget to follow the podcast and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

In this episode of AuDHD… And Then Some, I’m joined by Gazit Chaya Nkosi for one of my favourite conversations I’ve had on the podcast so far.

We explore the relationship between ADHD, autism (AuDHD), identity, justice sensitivity, authenticity, the nervous system, burnout, masking, and belonging. We also discuss why so many LGBTQIA+ people identify as neurodivergent, what it means to question cultural expectations, and how listening to your body can help you build a life that truly fits who you are.

This is a thoughtful, compassionate, and deeply honest conversation that covers:

* Justice sensitivity in neurodivergent people

* ADHD, autism and the drive for fairness

* Neurodivergence and the LGBTQIA+ community

* Queer and gender-expansive identity

* Masking and authenticity

* Nervous system regulation and burnout

* Living in alignment with your values instead of other people’s expectations

This episode genuinely became one of my favourites. I learned so much from Gazit, and I found myself completely absorbed in the conversation. Whether you’re neurodivergent, questioning your identity, supporting someone you love, or simply curious about the intersection of neurodiversity and gender, I think there’s something here for you.

If this episode resonates with you, please consider following AuDHD… And Then Some, leaving a rating or review, and sharing it with someone who might benefit from hearing this conversation.

#AuDHD #ADHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #LGBTQIA #NonBinary #JusticeSensitivity #Authenticity #Burnout #Masking #NervousSystem #MentalHealth #Neurodiversity

Ever wonder why starting a simple task can feel impossible… yet you can spend three hours researching something completely random? 😅

In this episode, Natasha and I have a completely honest, funny, and very real conversation about executive function and executive dysfunction. We talk about the everyday struggles, the unexpected laughs, and why this month’s theme inside our AuDHD… And Then Some Subscribers Hub is all about executive functioning.

It’s a relaxed chat with plenty of relatable moments (and yes… a little bit of swearing from me 🤭).

If you’ve ever thought…

🧠 “Why can’t I just get started?”

🧠 “Why does my brain work like this?”

🧠 “Is anyone else like this?”

…this one’s for you.

Someone said they hate TikTokers who make fun of ADHD and AuDHD.

It got me thinking about the way I talk about neurodivergence online and why I choose to share not only the funny and relatable moments, but also the difficult realities of living with AuDHD.

In this episode, I talk openly about:

• Living with Autism and ADHD (AuDHD)

• Being sectioned as a teenager before understanding what was wrong

• The impact of executive dysfunction on everyday life

• Debt, relationships, burnout and mental health struggles

• Masking, shame and being misunderstood

• Why awareness needs to include the hard parts, not just the relatable memes

• The importance of honest conversations about neurodivergence

I recently Googled my own name and found a description that said I share my experiences of AuDHD, including “the shit parts” — and honestly, that might be the most accurate thing ever written about me.

This episode is a reminder that AuDHD isn’t quirky, cute or trendy. For many of us, it has shaped every part of our lives. By sharing the reality, I hope to help others feel seen, understood and less alone.

#AuDHD #ADHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #Neurodiversity #LateDiagnosis #ExecutiveDysfunction #MentalHealth #AutisticAdult #ADHDAwareness #AutismAwareness #AuDHDPodcast #NeurodivergentWomen #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #Mas

Masking.

The years spent adapting.

The pretending you’re okay.

The hiding parts of yourself.

The exhaustion of constantly trying to fit into a world that wasn’t designed for your brain.

In this episode, I’m sharing what’s been happening inside our neurodivergent community this week — from conversations around ADHD, autism, support, medical cannabis discussions, and our biggest topic this month…

✨ Unmasking and reconnecting with yourself ✨

We talk about:

💜 ADHD & autistic masking

💜 late diagnosis and identity

💜 why traditional support doesn’t always fit neurodivergent brains

💜 feeling “too much”

💜 burnout from years of pretending

💜 learning who you are underneath the mask

This month inside our community, Tasha has released our 56-page Masking Toolbox & Guide — a printable resource created to gently explore masking, identity, self-understanding, and what it means to slowly reconnect with yourself.

Members also get access to:

🌈 printable workbooks & guides

🌈 neurodivergent resources

🌈 relaxation audios

🌈 exclusive conversations

🌈 deeper discussions

🌈 our growing resource library

Because so many of us spent years asking:

“What’s wrong with me?”

When maybe the question should have been:

“How long have I been hiding who I really am?”

You can join our Facebook Subscriber Hub (which includes complimentary Patreon access for the month ✨)

Or join Patreon directly:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

A little corner of the internet where you don’t have to mask 💜

Topics:

ADHD, autism, AuDHD, neurodivergent, masking, autistic masking, ADHD women, late diagnosed autism, late diagnosed ADHD, burnout, identity, self discovery, executive dysfunction, emotional regulation.

This episode explores the hidden shame many neurodivergent people carry around executive dysfunction, emotional overwhelm, burnout, masking, overstimulation, self-doubt, rejection sensitivity, and feeling emotionally “behind” in life.

I talk openly about:

✨ ADHD shame spirals

✨ burnout & mental exhaustion

✨ masking and emotional masking

✨ feeling overwhelmed by basic tasks

✨ waiting mode & paralysis

✨ emotional dysregulation

✨ feeling misunderstood

✨ grieving the version of yourself you thought you’d become

✨ the invisible exhaustion of trying to function every day

This is an honest, vulnerable, voice-note style ADHD reflection for neurodivergent adults who are tired of pretending they’re coping better than they are.

If your brain constantly feels overloaded, emotionally chaotic, exhausted, or stuck in survival mode… this episode will probably make you feel very seen. 💜

Topics include:

ADHD, AuDHD, executive dysfunction, ADHD burnout, masking, emotional dysregulation, overstimulation, neurodivergent overwhelm, late diagnosed ADHD, ADHD paralysis, mental exhaustion, rejection sensitivity, and nervous system overwhelm.

“I feel like I’m just pretending…

and one day people are going to realise I don’t actually know what I’m doing.”

The worst part?

You can be doing really well… and still feel like a fraud.

I talked about imposter syndrome in today’s episode — especially how it shows up with AuDHD and masking.

If you’ve ever felt like this, you’re not alone.

A little voice note from me talking you through everything coming this week on AuDHD & Then Some patreon …

✨ Free course with a hypnotherapist

✨ Free AuDHD support group

✨ New guided relaxation drop

✨ 24-page burnout guide (usually paid 👀)

Come have a listen and join the chaos https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

In this episode, I explore the connection between true crime and the neurodivergent brain — from dopamine and curiosity to pattern recognition, hyperfocus, and the need to understand “why.”

We talk about:

– why true crime can feel calming or regulating

– dopamine, curiosity, and ADHD interest patterns

– pattern recognition and making sense of human behaviour

– control, predictability, and understanding danger

– when true crime becomes overwhelming or overstimulating

This isn’t about glorifying anything — it’s about understanding why your brain is drawn to it.

If you’ve ever wondered

“why am I so hooked on this?”

this episode will make a lot of sense.

In this episode I explore executive dysfunction, sensory overwhelm, transitions, and why hygiene tasks can feel much harder for AuDHD brains than people realise.

If you’ve ever wanted to shower but just couldn’t get yourself to do it, this is a gentle reminder that you’re not lazy or failing — your brain may just need a softer way in.

In this short AuDHD reflection, we explore why routine can feel so hard with ADHD / AuDHD — and how it’s not a failure, it’s how your nervous system works.

If you’ve ever felt inconsistent, frustrated, or like you “should be able to just stick to things”… this one’s for you 💛

I genuinely could have spoken to Nikki Allen forever.

Nikki is the author of Loved You, Hated You, but her story goes far beyond the book. She has lived through heartbreak, betrayal, relationships that changed her, and some genuinely crazy experiences along the way. But rather than allowing those experiences to become the end of her story, Nikki has taken them and turned them into something else entirely: a rebirth.

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, we talk about losing yourself in relationships, emotional betrayal, starting again, reclaiming your identity, choosing yourself and finding the courage to turn painful experiences into something creative.

We also talk about how Loved You, Hated You began as a song, became a screenplay and eventually found its home as a novel, allowing Nikki to tell emotional truths through fiction.

But this conversation is definitely not all serious.

Nikki is hilarious, candid, down to earth and completely herself. We laughed, we went off on tangents, and at times I genuinely forgot we were recording a podcast at all.

What struck me most about Nikki is that she hasn’t allowed the difficult chapters of her life to define the rest of the book. She keeps reinventing herself, keeps creating, keeps getting back up and, quite frankly, keeps going and going and going.

And she’s amazing.

This is a conversation about heartbreak, relationships, emotional healing, self-love, identity, resilience, personal growth, women rebuilding their lives and what can happen when the ending you never wanted becomes the beginning of something completely different.

Nikki, I wish you every bit of luck and success with Loved You, Hated You and everything that comes next.

Here’s to the next 27 years. ❤️

Introducing the AuDHD and Then Some Subscriber Hub | The Stories Behind the Podcast

I’ve spent a lot of time deciding whether to create a subscriber space, and in this episode I explain why I’ve chosen to do it.

Many people know me through my ADHD, autism and AuDHD content, but there are also parts of my life story that have shaped who I am today. Some experiences are funny, some are difficult, some taught me valuable lessons, and some are stories I don’t feel comfortable sharing publicly with the entire world.

The main podcast will continue to be free and accessible to everyone. However, the subscriber hub will give me a space to share some of the more personal experiences, life lessons, challenges and reflections that have influenced my journey.

This isn’t about sensationalising difficult experiences. It’s about sharing lived experience in a way that may help others feel less alone, better understand themselves, or learn from some of the things I’ve experienced throughout my life.

If you’ve ever wondered about the stories behind the podcast, this episode explains what you can expect from the subscriber hub and why I’ve decided to create it.

Topics include ADHD, Autism, AuDHD, Neurodivergence, Late Diagnosis, Family Dynamics, Childhood Experiences with themes of abuse , Personal Growth, Mental Health, substance abuse, Parenting, Resilience, Boundaries, Self-Worth and Lived Experience and unfortunately much more

💜 Ellie

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, I’m joined by neurodivergent coach, educator, and founder of Neurodiverging, Danielle Sullivan. We explore how autistic and ADHD people can stop fighting their brains and start building lives around their unique strengths, needs, and ways of thinking.

We discuss:

• Building a life around your strengths instead of your struggles

• ADHD, autism and AuDHD

• Burnout and why it happens

• Reducing shame and embracing self-acceptance

• Emotional regulation and practical strategies

• Late diagnosis and understanding yourself

• Danielle’s new book, Embracing Your ADHD Brain

This is a compassionate, practical conversation for anyone wanting to better understand their neurodivergent brain and create a life that feels sustainable, authentic, and fulfilling.

#ADHD #Autism #AuDHD #Neurodiversity #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #AutismPodcast #Burnout #ExecutiveFunction #SelfAcceptance

Do you worry about upsetting people, feel responsible for everyone else’s emotions, or struggle to put your own needs first?

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, I’m joined by Barb Nangle for a thoughtful conversation about boundaries, people-pleasing, self-worth, and why learning to set healthy boundaries can completely change your life.

We explore why boundaries can feel especially difficult for neurodivergent people, how trauma and past experiences influence the way we relate to others, and practical ways to begin protecting your time, energy and wellbeing without feeling guilty.

Whether you’re living with ADHD, autism, AuDHD, or you’ve simply spent years putting everyone else first, this episode is packed with insights that may help you build healthier relationships—with others and with yourself.

Topics include:

* Healthy boundaries

* People-pleasing

* ADHD & AuDHD

* Autism

* Neurodivergence

* Self-worth

* Emotional regulation

* Trauma

* Relationships

* Burnout

* Personal growth

* Mental wellbeing

💜 If you enjoy the episode, please follow the podcast and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

#ADHD #AuDHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #Boundaries #PeoplePleasing #MentalHealth #PersonalGrowth #Relationships #SelfWorth #Burnout

Unfortunately, our recording kept being interrupted by poor internet signal, so we decided to split the interview into two parts rather than lose such an important discussion.

In this episode, we continue talking about addiction, harm reduction, recovery, trauma, stigma, hope, and the lessons Dave has learned through his own lived experience.

If you haven’t already, I’d recommend listening to Part 1 first, where Dave is joined by the fantastic Man on Pause, whose thoughtful questions helped shape the conversation.

Find out more about Dave’s work:

🌐 ASAP Community: https://asapcommunity.org/

In this episode of AuDHD And Then Some, Ellie talks about task transition paralysis — that strange neurodivergent experience where switching between tasks feels harder than the task itself.

We’ll explore ADHD, autism, executive dysfunction, mental overload, and why seemingly simple transitions can leave us staring into space wondering what comes next.

If you’ve ever felt like your brain needs a loading screen between activities, this episode is for you.

🌈 Topics include:

• ADHD and task switching

• AuDHD and executive dysfunction

• Task transition paralysis

• Neurodivergent humour

• ADHD overwhelm

• Late diagnosis experiences

• Everyday neurodivergent struggles

🔗 Explore everything, book a discovery call, join the community, and find all resources:

linktr.ee/Ellieaudhd

#ADHD #AuDHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #ExecutiveDysfunction #ADHDPodcast #AuDHDPodcast #MentalHealth #LateDiagnosis #Neurodiversity #TaskTransitionParalysis #ADHDAwareness

This title should be searchable while still sounding like something your audience would actually click on. 💜

Can childhood trauma shape the person we become? Can healing rewrite the story we’ve spent a lifetime believing? In this powerful episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie sits down with Simone Boyer, author of Chasing Light and founder of The Light Within Collective, for an honest conversation about trauma, addiction, survival, recovery, and finding hope after profound loss.

Simone shares her remarkable journey from childhood trauma, addiction, and near-death experiences to discovering purpose, self-worth, and healing. Together, Ellie and Simone explore how trauma creates survival responses such as hypervigilance, people-pleasing, codependency, and perfectionism—and why understanding the language of survival is the first step towards lasting change.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• ​How childhood trauma influences adult relationships and behaviour.
• ​Why survival mechanisms aren’t personality flaws.
• ​The power of inner child work and reparenting.
• ​Breaking free from toxic family dynamics.
• ​Finding compassion for yourself after trauma.
• ​Hope, resilience, recovery, and rebuilding a meaningful life.

Whether you’re healing from childhood trauma, navigating addiction recovery, living with neurodivergence, or supporting someone you love, this conversation offers practical insights, validation, and a powerful reminder that your past does not have to define your future.

If you’ve ever wondered whether healing is possible, this episode is for you. Your story isn’t over yet—and neither is your light.

Why can I run a business, host a podcast, support clients and manage a community, but the thought of dyeing my hair or going to the hairdressers makes me want to lie down in a dark room? 😭😂

Join me as I discuss AuDHD life, executive dysfunction, sensory issues, avoiding the hairdressers, finding ADHD-friendly shortcuts and why my son has apparently taken the only comb in the house to Egypt.

If you’ve ever found yourself avoiding a simple task for months and then wondering why you made it so difficult, this episode is for you.

🌈 AuDHD

🌈 ADHD in women

🌈 Executive dysfunction

🌈 Sensory issues

🌈 Neurodivergent life

🌈 ADHD humour

🌈 Late-diagnosed ADHD

You’ll find all my podcasts, support groups, mentoring, body doubling, brain dumps and resources here:

🔗 https://linktr.ee/Ellieaudhd

Lots of love,

Ellie 💜

In this episode, I talk about people pleasing, masking, rejection sensitivity, weak boundaries, trauma, and why neurodivergent people can find themselves stuck in cycles of manipulation. We explore narcissistic behaviour, red flags, self-worth, and how to protect yourself without losing your kindness.

#ADHD #Autism #AuDHD #Neurodivergent #Narcissism #PeoplePleasing #Boundaries #ToxicRelationships #LateDiagnosis #MentalHealth

If you want something even more SEO-focused, I’d actually go with:

Why Narcissists Target Neurodivergent People | ADHD, Autism, AuDHD & People Pleasing

That title is packed with terms people actively search for on Spotify and Google. 💜

If that thought loops in your head, this episode is for you.

In this short episode, I talk about AuDHD and ADHD rejection sensitivity (RSD) — why small things can feel so big, why your brain jumps to worst-case scenarios, and why it’s not “overreacting”… it’s your nervous system trying to protect you.

We explore:

– rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) in ADHD & AuDHD

– why your brain assumes rejection before it happens

– overthinking, people-pleasing, and emotional spirals

– how past experiences shape present fear

– gentle ways to ground yourself when the feeling hits

If you’ve ever replayed conversations, worried you said the wrong thing, or felt crushed by something others brushed off — you’re not alone.

This is about understanding your brain, not judging it.

In this episode, I explore what “romanticising your life” actually means as a neurodivergent adult, and how it can help soften ADHD burnout, overwhelm, and emotional intensity.

We talk about:

– romanticising your life with ADHD, autism & AuDHD

– finding small moments of calm in a busy or overstimulated brain

– shifting out of survival mode and into something gentler

– why joy can feel hard when you’re overwhelmed

– simple ways to reconnect with yourself and your environment

This isn’t about pretending everything is perfect — it’s about creating tiny, meaningful moments that feel safe, grounding, and real.

If you’ve been feeling burnt out, disconnected, or stuck in survival mode…

this might be a softer way back to yourself.

In this episode I talk honestly about the exhausting feeling of impending doom that can come with being an AuDHD parent — the constant anxiety, catastrophising, hypervigilance, overthinking, and fear of losing the people you love most.

Because sometimes it feels like your brain is always scanning for danger.

Even when everything is okay.

I talk about:

• catastrophising and intrusive thoughts

• nervous system hypervigilance

• anxiety and emotional overwhelm

• why parenting can feel extra intense with AuDHD

• and the guilt and exhaustion that comes with always being “on alert”

If your brain constantly jumps to worst-case scenarios when it comes to your kids… you’re definitely not alone.

🎧 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jI63soCWdWPIW08qWYVIB

✨ Bonus episodes & support: https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

This episode explores rejection sensitivity (RSD) through an AuDHD lens — the deep emotional response, overthinking, and pain that can come with perceived rejection.

If you’ve ever felt like everything is personal, or struggled to shake off small interactions, you’re not alone in that 💛

This is a gentle space to understand what’s happening in your brain and take some of the pressure off.

For deeper support, resources, and weekly audio, you can join us here:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

In this episode of AuDHD And Then Some, Ellie talks openly about:

* sensory overload in hot weather

* emotional dysregulation

* autistic burnout

* ADHD overwhelm

* sleep struggles

* irritability and shutdowns

* nervous system exhaustion

* masking during summer

* why heat can make neurodivergent symptoms worse

If you’ve ever felt exhausted, overstimulated or emotionally drained during hot weather, this episode is for you.

A relatable and validating neurodivergent podcast for late diagnosed adults navigating ADHD, autism, AuDHD, burnout and mental overload.

🎧 Available on all podcast platforms via Linktree:

linktr.ee/Ellieaudhd

#ADHD #Autism #AuDHD #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #AutismPodcast #ExecutiveDysfunction #SensoryOverload #AutisticBurnout #MentalHealthPodcast

She asked me:

“What actually IS the difference between ADHD and autism?”

And honestly… it became one of those huge “wow, people still don’t really understand neurodivergence” moments for me.

Not because my mum isn’t loving or supportive — she absolutely is. She’s spent her whole life loving neurodivergent people, supporting me through all my quirks, overwhelm, emotional intensity, shutdowns, hyperfixations, impulsivity, burnout, and chaotic AuDHD moments.

But that conversation made me realise something really important:

If even loving, supportive families still don’t fully understand how neurodivergent brains process the world…

then what about the children growing up constantly misunderstood?

In this episode I talk about:

💜 the difference between ADHD & autism

💜 why neurodivergent children are so often misunderstood

💜 how behaviours get misread as “bad” or “difficult”

💜 masking, sensory overwhelm & emotional dysregulation

💜 growing up feeling “too much”

💜 late diagnosis & self-understanding

💜 why neurodivergent awareness matters so deeply for families

This episode is emotional, honest, funny in places, and deeply reflective — especially for late diagnosed ADHD/AuDHD adults who grew up misunderstood despite being deeply loved.

Because sometimes the issue isn’t lack of love.

Sometimes people simply were never taught how our brains actually work.

Topics include:

ADHD, autism, AuDHD, neurodivergence, late diagnosis, emotional dysregulation, masking, executive dysfunction, sensory overwhelm, neurodivergent parenting, misunderstood children, ADHD in women, autistic burnout, and family understanding.

In this episode, I talk about people pleasing — why it happens, why it’s so hard to stop, and how it often shows up in AuDHD and neurodivergent people.

This isn’t about being “too nice” or “too soft”… it’s about fear, rejection sensitivity, and learning to keep yourself safe in ways that don’t always serve you anymore.

If you struggle to say no, avoid conflict, or feel responsible for everyone else’s emotions… you’re not alone.

💜 If this resonates, I go deeper into this kind of support, tools, and understanding over on Patreon:

👉 https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

In this episode, I talk about catastrophising in AuDHD and ADHD — why your mind goes straight to “what if everything goes wrong?” and why it’s not as irrational as it feels.

We explore:

– catastrophising and worst-case thinking in ADHD & AuDHD

– anxiety, pattern recognition, and past experiences

– why your nervous system expects danger or rejection

– overthinking, spiralling thoughts, and emotional intensity

– how to gently ground yourself when your brain runs ahead

If your mind turns small things into big fears, or you find yourself stuck in “what if” loops — you’re not alone.

This isn’t about being dramatic.

It’s about a brain that’s trying to stay safe.

This episode explores social exhaustion through an AuDHD lens — from masking and overstimulation to the hidden effort of navigating conversations.

If you find yourself needing long recovery time after socialising, or feeling overwhelmed even when things went “fine”, you’re not alone in that 💛

This is a gentle space to understand what’s happening in your brain and take the pressure off.

For deeper support, resources, and weekly audio, you can join us here:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

This episode explores:

• ADHD catastrophising

• intrusive thoughts in ADHD and autism

• OCD traits and anxiety

• emotional dysregulation

• neurodivergent parenting

• AuDHD motherhood

• hypervigilance and overthinking

• why ADHD brains struggle to relax

• rejection sensitivity and fear

• neurodivergent mental health

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by anxiety, constantly imagined worst-case scenarios, or struggled to calm your nervous system as a neurodivergent adult or parent, this episode will make you feel less alone.

🎧 AuDHD And Then Some — unapologetically autistic and emotionally honest.

Come into my diary room where I’m going to tell you the unfiltered truth about living with ADHD and AuDHD.

The truth about how I don’t always see ADHD as a superpower.

The truth about how much I struggle with it some days.

The truth about burnout, dysregulation, overwhelm, masking, emotional chaos, and trying to function in a world that doesn’t always understand neurodivergent brains.

I think it’s important that I speak honestly about this stuff… because maybe then you won’t feel so alone or ashamed about the days where you’re struggling too.

This is not polished.

This is not toxic positivity.

This is the raw side of ADHD.

So step inside… and take a fucking seat. 💜

This guided mindfulness session is for the exhausted minds, anxious hearts, and overwhelmed nervous systems needing a little softness today.

Who am I actually, underneath the masking?

From sensory overload and masking exhaustion to social burnout, rigid routines, and suddenly hearing every background noise known to mankind… this episode explores what happens when ADHD chaos quiets down and autistic traits become impossible to ignore.

If you’re AuDHD, late diagnosed, or have ever felt confused by how medication changed your brain, this episode will probably feel very familiar.

We discuss:

* ADHD medication & autism unmasking

* sensory overwhelm

* masking and social exhaustion

* late diagnosis & self-understanding

* the difference between ADHD chaos and autistic overwhelm

* why so many AuDHD people relate to this experience

Raw, funny, honest conversations for neurodivergent minds trying to understand themselves a little better. 💜

If you’re AuDHD, ADHD, or autistic, you might have spent years adapting, people pleasing, and changing yourself to fit in — until you’re not even sure who your “real” self is anymore.

In this episode, I explore neurodivergent masking, identity, and what it means to be authentic after years of blending in.

We talk about:

– what masking actually is (ADHD, autism & AuDHD)

– why so many neurodivergent people become “chameleons”

– the link between masking, people pleasing, and burnout

– losing your sense of identity after late diagnosis

– how to start reconnecting with your authentic self

This isn’t about suddenly “unmasking perfectly” — it’s about gently noticing where you’ve been hiding and giving yourself permission to exist as you are.

If you’ve ever thought

“I don’t know who I am without masking…”

this episode is for you.

Why does bedtime feel like a full-blown argument inside your own brain? 😭

In this episode, I act out the chaotic internal battle between the part of my brain craving routine, sleep, and stability… and the other part that suddenly wants to deep-clean the house, lose the vape, start 14 new hobbies, and scroll TikTok at 2am.

If you’re ADHD, autistic, AuDHD, neurodivergent, chronically overwhelmed, or stuck in the “I need sleep but my brain has other plans” cycle — this one will feel painfully relatable.

Topics:

• ADHD at night

• Autism and routines

• AuDHD struggles

• Racing thoughts before sleep

• Neurodivergent burnout

• Executive dysfunction

• Sleep procrastination

• Funny ADHD/autism content

• Overstimulated brain at bedtime

#ADHD #Autism #AuDHD #Neurodivergent #ADHDTok #AutisticAdult #MentalHealthPodcast #SpotifyPodcast

This episode explores motivation through an AuDHD lens — why it can feel so hard to start, follow through, or find energy, especially when you’re overwhelmed or burnt out.

If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or like you “should” be able to do more but just can’t, you’re not alone in that 💛

This is a gentle space to understand what’s happening in your brain and take some of the pressure off.

For deeper support, resources, and weekly audio, you can join us here:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

If you’re AuDHD, ADHD, or autistic, you might find yourself explaining things in way more detail than others — trying to avoid being misunderstood, judged, or rejected.

In this episode, I explore why overexplaining happens, and how it links to masking, people pleasing, and rejection sensitivity (RSD).

We talk about:

– overexplaining and ADHD / autism / AuDHD

– fear of being misunderstood or “getting it wrong”

– masking, trauma, and needing to justify yourself

– rejection sensitivity and overthinking

– how to start trusting yourself without overexplaining

This isn’t about “just stop doing it.”

It’s about understanding why your brain does this — and meeting yourself with compassion instead of shame.

If you’ve ever left a conversation thinking

“why did I say all that?”

you’re definitely not alone.

If you’re AuDHD or ADHD, hobbies don’t always feel like hobbies — they feel like full-on identities.

One minute you’re all in…

hyperfocused, consumed, excited

and the next?

you can’t even bring yourself to look at it anymore.

In this episode, I talk about:

• ​ why hyperfixations feel so intense
• ​ why they become part of your identity
• ​ why you lose interest so suddenly
• ​ and why it’s not a lack of discipline — it’s how your brain works

If you’ve ever thought

“why can’t I just stick to something?”

this is for you.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

✨ Bonus episodes & deeper support on Patreon

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some., I talk about trying to find my own “sweet spot” on the autism and ADHD spectrum — understanding which environments, routines, boundaries, and ways of living help me feel most regulated, comfortable, and like myself

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, I’m joined by relationship pattern coach, dating coach, and narcissistic abuse recovery coach Virginia McConnell. We explore why unhealthy relationship dynamics can repeat, how manipulation affects our self-trust, the warning signs many people miss, and what healing can look like after a toxic relationship.

We also discuss the possible crossover between neurodivergence and unhealthy relationship dynamics, including why some autistic and ADHD individuals may struggle with boundaries, people-pleasing, or recognising manipulation.

Whether you’re recovering from a toxic relationship, interested in narcissistic abuse recovery, or simply want to build healthier relationships, this conversation is packed with practical insights and compassionate advice.

You can learn more about Virginia, explore her coaching, and take her free relationship quizzes at breakthepatterns.net.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow AuDHD and Then Some, leave a review, and share it with someone who might find it helpful.

#AuDHD #ADHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #NarcissisticAbuse #ToxicRelationships #RelationshipPatterns #MentalHealth #Healing #Boundaries #SelfTrust #Podcast

Not because you miss the past more than anyone else—but because so much of your life was spent just trying to get through it.

When your nervous system is constantly in survival mode, it’s hard to be fully present. Even in the moments you’ve waited for, dreamed about, or thought would finally make everything feel okay.

Then years later, you find yourself desperately trying to remember them. Trying to hold onto moments that never had the chance to fully sink in because your brain was focused on surviving, not storing memories.

That’s the heartbreak.

It’s not just grieving the past.

It’s grieving the version of you that never got to fully experience it.

If this resonates with you, you’re not alone. ❤️

In this episode of AuDHD And Then Some, Ellie explores why so many late-diagnosed ADHD, autistic and AuDHD adults become deeply interested in learning about neurodivergence after receiving a diagnosis.

Is it obsession?

Or is it finally understanding your own brain for the first time?

After years of feeling different, confused, overwhelmed, misunderstood, or wondering why life seemed harder than it appeared to be for everyone else, receiving a diagnosis can feel like finally being handed the missing manual.

In this episode, Ellie discusses:

🌈 ADHD hyperfocus and special interests

🌈 Why late diagnosis can feel life-changing

🌈 Understanding your neurodivergent brain

🌈 The grief and relief that often comes with diagnosis

🌈 Why learning about ADHD isn’t an excuse—it’s self-understanding

🌈 The irony of ADHD becoming a hyperfocus

🌈 Adult ADHD and autism diagnosis journeys

If you’ve ever found yourself researching ADHD for hours, listening to every neurodivergent podcast you can find, watching endless reels, or suddenly seeing your entire life through a different lens, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes we’re not obsessed with ADHD.

We’re fascinated by finally understanding ourselves.

💜

🔗 Find my support groups, podcast links, resources and discovery calls:

linktr.ee/Ellieaudhd

#ADHD #AuDHD #Autism #LateDiagnosis #AdultADHD #AdultAutism #Neurodivergent #ADHDPodcast #AuDHDPodcast #WomenWithADHD #ADHDAwareness #Neurodiversity #ExecutiveDysfunction #ADHDSupport #AutismAcceptance #LateDiagnosedADHD #LateDiagnosedAutistic #MentalHealth #NeurodivergentPodcast

My brain was too busy, my thoughts moved too fast, and every time someone suggested meditation, I felt like they clearly didn’t understand what it was like to live with a neurodivergent mind.

In this episode, I talk honestly about why I resisted mindfulness for years, why I felt like I was failing every time I tried it, and what finally helped me see it differently.

This isn’t an episode about becoming perfectly calm or clearing your mind. It’s about learning that mindfulness can look very different for neurodivergent people, and how a few small changes helped me become more aware of stress, overwhelm, anxiety and burnout before they completely took over.

If you’ve ever thought mindfulness wasn’t for you, you’re definitely not alone.

Topics include ADHD, AuDHD, Autism, Neurodivergence, Mindfulness, Meditation, Emotional Regulation, Anxiety, Burnout, Overthinking, Mental Health, Self-Awareness and Late Diagnosis.

💜 Ellie

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, I sit down with Dr. Inyang Takon, Consultant Neurodevelopmental Paediatrician with over 30 years of clinical experience, to discuss the early signs of ADHD and autism, why early intervention matters, and how parents can access the right support.

Together, we explore:

• The early signs of ADHD and autism in children

• When parents should seek an assessment

• What happens during the diagnostic process

• ADHD medication and non-medication support

• Practical strategies for families and schools

• Common myths about neurodivergence

• The impact of culture and stigma on diagnosis and support

• How parents can move from confusion to clarity

Dr. Takon shares compassionate, evidence-based advice that empowers parents, carers and professionals to better understand and support neurodivergent children.

Whether you’re raising a neurodivergent child, working in education, or simply want to learn more about ADHD, autism and early intervention, this conversation is packed with practical insights and reassurance.

🔗 Find Dr. Inyang Takon:

Website: https://www.drtakon.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow AuDHD and Then Some, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who might find it helpful. Your support helps more people discover honest conversations about AuDHD, ADHD, autism and neurodiversity.

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie Capstick sits down with therapist, clinical hypnotherapist, coach, trainer and author Andrew Parr to get underneath the myths, misconceptions and slightly bonkers image many of us have of hypnosis.

Andrew explains what therapeutic hypnotherapy actually is, what happens during a session and why the problem someone walks through the door with isn’t always the real problem underneath.

We talk about the deeper beliefs, experiences and emotional patterns that can sit beneath the surface of the things we’re struggling with — and why simply trying to tackle the obvious symptom doesn’t necessarily address what’s driving it.

Andrew also shares his journey into hypnotherapy, what more than three decades of working with people has taught him, and the ideas behind his book The Real You.

And, importantly, we answer the question we’re all secretly wondering…

Can a hypnotherapist actually make you believe you’re a dog? 😂🐶

A fascinating, refreshingly down-to-earth conversation about what hypnotherapy really is, what it isn’t, and what might actually be going on underneath the problems we think we’re trying to solve.

🎧 Topics include: hypnotherapy, hypnosis, subconscious beliefs, emotional patterns, behaviour, anxiety, habits, therapy, self-understanding and The Real You.

Today, Man On Pause joined my podcast, where we spoke about all things medical cannabis, cannabis for medical use alongside different ailments, and ADHD.

I went into the conversation without a strong opinion because I honestly didn’t know too much about it beforehand. The discussion made me much more aware of the realities, benefits, and wider conversations surrounding medical cannabis.

I’m really grateful to Man On Pause for sharing his knowledge, experiences, and perspective, and for helping bring more awareness to the community through such an open and honest conversation.

Honestly, I just want to thank Man On Pause for coming back onto the show. It’s always a pleasure talking with you, and I’m looking forward to having many more interesting conversations together in the future.

If you’d like to listen to the episode or explore the podcast and community, you can find everything here:

https://linktr.ee/Ellieaudhd

Together, they discuss the impact of late diagnosis, emotional suppression, silent burnout, loneliness, and the reality of trying to function in systems that often don’t support neurodivergent people properly.

As a mother of three neurodivergent and male-born children, Ellie also shares why these conversations matter so deeply to her personally and why creating safe spaces for open discussion is so important.

A huge thank you to Daran for taking the time to join the podcast, share his experiences so openly, and help raise awareness around men’s mental health and AuDHD.

If this episode resonates with you, please remember you are not alone and support is out there.

In this episode, I talk about what it feels like to realise you’re neurodivergent — especially as an AuDHD adult — and how that shift can completely reframe your life.

We explore:

– late diagnosis and the “everything suddenly makes sense” moment

– feeling different, misunderstood, or like you don’t quite fit

– the grief, relief, and identity shifts that come with neurodivergence

– masking, self-perception, and finally understanding your brain

– learning to see yourself with compassion instead of confusion

If you’ve ever felt like you were on the outside looking in, or like everyone else got a manual you didn’t — this episode is for you.

You were never a dinosaur. You were just navigating the world with a different brain.

In this episode, I share what the Flourish Neurodivergent Hub is, and how it’s designed to support neurodivergent people in a way that actually works for our brains.

Inside Flourish, the focus is on:

– gentle structure without pressure

– support for executive dysfunction and burnout

– feeling understood, not judged

– realistic tools for daily life

– a space where you don’t have to mask

This isn’t about fixing yourself.

It’s about having support that meets you where you are.

If you’ve been trying to “just try harder” and it’s not working — you’re not the problem.

This episode explores overthinking through an AuDHD lens — the constant analysing, questioning what you said, and worrying about how you came across.

If you’ve ever left a conversation and immediately started replaying it, picking it apart, or feeling like you got it wrong, you’re not alone in that 💛

This is a gentle space to understand why this happens and take some of the pressure off.

For deeper support, resources, and weekly audio, you can join us here:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

In this episode, I talk about masking in AuDHD and ADHD — how it starts, why we do it, and what it can feel like when your “real self” gets lost in the process.

We explore:

– autistic masking and ADHD masking

– people-pleasing, adapting, and blending in

– losing your sense of identity

– burnout and emotional exhaustion from masking

– the fear of being seen as your authentic self

– gently reconnecting with who you actually are

If you’ve ever felt like you’re performing, shape-shifting, or don’t quite know what’s you vs what’s learned — this episode is for you.

You’re not fake.

You adapted to survive.

“What’s the point of getting diagnosed later in life?”

For years, I felt too much, not enough, too weird, too sensitive, and like I was somehow failing at being a person. As my children were diagnosed with ADHD and autism, I began to recognise myself in their experiences and started my own late-diagnosis journey.

In Part 1, I talk about growing up feeling different, the labels I carried throughout my life, and why seeking an AuDHD diagnosis changed everything.

#AuDHD #ADHD #Autism #LateDiagnosis #Neurodivergent #WomenWithADHD #AdultAutism #Neurodiversity #ADHDPodcast #AutismPodcast

In this episode, I explore something I’ve noticed in myself and in countless other neurodivergent people: the surprising link between ADHD, autism, AuDHD, intuition, pattern recognition, spirituality, and magical thinking.

From believing I had special abilities as a child to noticing how many neurodivergent people are drawn to tarot, astrology, synchronicities, spirituality, and reading people, I unpack why this might be more common than we think.

Is it intuition? Hypervigilance? Pattern recognition? Imagination? Trauma? Or something else entirely?

Let’s talk about it.

#ADHD #Autism #AuDHD #Neurodivergent #Psychic #Intuition #MagicalThinking #PatternRecognition #Spirituality #LateDiagnosis #ADHDWomenandmen

In this episode, I talk about the difference between motivation vs capacity — and why sometimes it’s not that you “can’t be bothered”… it’s that your brain and nervous system literally don’t have the capacity.

We explore:

– ADHD motivation struggles and burnout

– executive dysfunction and “why can’t I just do it?”

– the difference between wanting to do something vs being able to

– nervous system overload and shutdown

– letting go of shame around productivity

If you’ve ever felt lazy, stuck, or frustrated with yourself for not doing things you want to do — this might help you understand why.

You’re not lacking motivation. You might be lacking capacity.

Oh my goodness… where do I even begin?

Dr. Lisha has taught me so much about myself, healing, and perspectives I’d never even considered before—particularly around the more spiritual and energetic aspects of healing. Whether or not every idea resonates with every person, our conversation genuinely challenged me to think differently, and I’m so grateful for that.

I will absolutely be recommending Dr. Lisha’s courses and website to anyone interested in exploring her approach to trauma recovery and personal transformation. She has opened my mind to looking at healing from a completely different perspective.

Thank you, Dr. Lisha, for your openness, your wisdom, and such a fascinating conversation. You’re not only beautiful—you are incredibly intelligent too. It was an absolute pleasure to have you on the podcast.

In Part 1, I’m joined by Dave Kopney, alongside the brilliant Man on Pause, who asks some incredibly thoughtful and insightful questions throughout the conversation.

Together we explore addiction, harm reduction, recovery, lived experience, and the realities behind substance use without judgement or stigma.

Topics include:

• Harm reduction

• Addiction & recovery

• Mental health

• Trauma

• Lived experience

• Neurodivergence

• Compassion over judgement

Find out more about Dave’s work:

🌐 ASAP Community: https://asapcommunity.org/

In this episode, I sit down with Nadia to talk about the heart behind Regulate & Thrive — our 8-part mini series created specifically for neurodivergent adults.

This isn’t just about what the course includes…

It’s about why it exists.

We explore:

✨ what regulation actually means (in real life, not just theory)

✨ how hypnotherapy can gently support a dysregulated nervous system

✨ why so many spaces don’t work for neurodivergent people — and what we’re doing differently

✨ what you can expect if you join us

This conversation is soft, honest, and rooted in lived experience — not pressure or “fixing”.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or like nothing quite fits… this might help you understand why — and what support can look like instead.

💛 As part of this community, you’re getting early insight into something really special.

Want to join the sessions? (Completely free):

🗓 Starts Saturday 23rd May

⏰ 7:00–8:15

In this episode, I talk about why I ask so many questions when I’m getting to know people — and how it can sometimes be misunderstood.

For a lot of us with AuDHD, connection isn’t surface level. We want to understand people properly, but that can come across as too much, too fast, or even a bit “weird.”

This isn’t about being too intense… it’s about being genuine, curious, and wired for deeper connection.

If you’ve ever felt like you have to hold yourself back or tone yourself down just to fit in — you’re not alone 💜

👉 I go deeper into this kind of support and understanding over on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

In this episode, I’m talking you through Patreon — what it is, why I created it, and what you get at each tier.

This space is about more than just content. It’s about building something supportive, affirming, and real.

If you’ve been curious about joining or just want to understand what’s offered, this episode will walk you through everything.

👉 https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome/membership

If you have ADHD and you’re going through perimenopause, you might feel like everything has suddenly got harder — your focus, your memory, your emotions… even just getting through the day.

And the hardest part?

You can’t tell what’s ADHD, what’s hormones, and what’s just burnout.

In this episode, I talk about what it feels like to navigate perimenopause with an AuDHD brain, and why things that were already difficult can feel even more intense.

We get into:

• ​ brain fog, overwhelm, and emotional intensity
• ​ why ADHD symptoms can feel amplified
• ​ the confusion of not knowing what’s causing what
• ​ and why this isn’t you failing — it actually makes sense

If you’ve been feeling like you’re “losing it” or not coping the way you used to…

you’re not imagining it.

🎧 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jI63soCWdWPIW08qWYVIB

✨ Bonus episodes & deeper support: https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

This episode explores why replying can feel so overwhelming for AuDHD people — from shutdown and burnout to the pressure of knowing what to say.

If you’ve ever seen a message, wanted to reply, and just couldn’t bring yourself to do it, you’re not alone in that 💛

This isn’t about not caring — it’s about your nervous system being overwhelmed.

This is a gentle space to understand what’s happening in your brain and take some of the pressure off.

For deeper support, resources, and weekly audio, you can join us here:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

This episode gently explains the nervous system through an AuDHD lens — helping you understand overwhelm, shutdown, and why your body reacts the way it does.

If you’ve ever felt overstimulated, exhausted, or like your system just can’t cope, this is a space to make sense of that 💛

You’re not broken — your nervous system is responding exactly as it’s learned to.

For deeper support, resources, and weekly audio, you can join us here:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

If you’re AuDHD or ADHD, you might stay up late even when you’re exhausted — not because you want to… but because it’s the only time you finally feel calm, in control, or alone.

In this episode, I talk about:

• why your brain resists going to bed

• the need for alone time after masking all day

• “revenge bedtime procrastination” in neurodivergent minds

• and why it’s not a failure — it actually makes sense

If you’ve ever thought

“why can’t I just go to sleep like everyone else?”

you’re not alone.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify

✨ Bonus episodes & deeper support on Patreon

That might be Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria, or RSD, an intense emotional reaction to perceived or actual rejection, criticism, or failure.

For AuDHD adults, RSD can be especially overwhelming because social uncertainty, emotional regulation differences, and years of being misunderstood can all stack together.

It’s not being too sensitive.

It’s your brain and body reacting fast to something that feels unsafe.

In this episode, we’re talking about what RSD can look like, why it happens, and gentle tools that can help you pause, regulate, and respond with more compassion.

You’re not broken for wanting to feel safe, understood, and accepted.

#RSD #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #AuDHD #ADHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #NeurodivergentAdults #EmotionalRegulation #ActuallyAutistic #ADHDAwareness

This is an honest, funny, chaotic, painfully relatable ADHD reflection for anyone who has ever:

✨ sat in a car park unable to go inside

✨ avoided replying to messages for weeks

✨ bought planners hoping to “fix” themselves

✨ felt overwhelmed by basic tasks

✨ struggled with ADHD paralysis or burnout

✨ felt emotionally exhausted by everyday life

These are the raw, unfiltered, unmasked parts of ADHD that many people silently struggle with but rarely say out loud.

If you’ve ever thought:

“surely it’s not just me…”

This episode is for you. 💜

Topics include:

ADHD, AuDHD, executive dysfunction, ADHD burnout, emotional dysregulation, masking, overstimulation, waiting mode, ADHD paralysis, late diagnosed ADHD, neurodivergent overwhelm, rejection sensitivity, and mental exhaustion.

Ever felt like the “black sheep” in your family?

In this episode, we explore why so many neurodivergent people (AuDHD, ADHD, and autistic individuals) grow up feeling different, misunderstood, or like they don’t quite fit within their own families.

We talk about:

* masking and people-pleasing in family dynamics

* being labelled as “too much” or “too sensitive”

* the emotional impact of feeling like the outsider

* how neurodivergence can be misinterpreted as behaviour problems

* and what it means to start understanding yourself differently

If you’ve ever questioned yourself, felt isolated in your family, or struggled with identity after a late diagnosis — this episode is for you.

You’re not broken. You’ve just been navigating life with a different map 💜

🎧 Listen, reflect, and feel a little less alone.

I’m joined by the lovely Wendy from our AuDHD community to talk openly about perimenopause, late diagnosis, masking, burnout, identity, and the reality of discovering you’re neurodivergent later in life.

Wendy is a psychologist specialising in neurodiversity, as well as a senior HR professional, and she shares both her professional insight and lived experience of being diagnosed as AuDHD after perimenopause. We discuss the struggles she faced in school and work before understanding herself, and how she’s now using her experiences to support other neurodivergent people.

This conversation is raw, honest, validating, emotional, and deeply relatable for anyone navigating ADHD, autism, perimenopause, or late diagnosis.

Topics include:

• ​Perimenopause & neurodivergence
• ​Late diagnosed AuDHD
• ​ADHD & autism in women
• ​Masking & burnout
• ​Emotional overwhelm
• ​Workplace struggles
• ​Self-understanding & healing

If you’ve ever felt like you were “too much,” “not coping,” or suddenly struggling in ways you couldn’t explain — this episode is for you.

Nerodivergent travel

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jemma from who is passionate about making travel more accessible, enjoyable, and inclusive for neurodivergent people and their families.

During our conversation, we explored the unique challenges that many neurodivergent travellers can face, from sensory overwhelm and disrupted routines to the importance of planning, flexibility, and finding environments that truly meet individual needs.

One of the key messages from our discussion was that there is no “one size fits all” approach to travel. Every neurodivergent person is different, and creating positive travel experiences starts with understanding, adapting, and recognising those individual needs.

We also talked about how travel can support confidence, independence, wellbeing, and personal growth when the right support and accommodations are in place.

A huge thank you to Jemma from Nerodivergent Travel for sharing her expertise, experience, and passion for helping neurodivergent people access meaningful travel opportunities. It was an insightful and inspiring conversation, and I know many of our listeners will take away valuable tips, encouragement, and practical advice.

🎧 Listen to the full episode on your preferred platform by visiting:

www.ellieaudhd.com

From there, you can choose to listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, YouTube, Audible, and more the episode is called Neurodivergent Travel: Accessible Holidays for Autistic, ADHD & Neurodivergent Families | With Jemma from NeuroDivergent Travel

If you’ve ever wondered how travel can be made more accessible, inclusive, and enjoyable for neurodivergent people and their families, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

In this episode I talk about the pressure to see AuDHD as a “superpower” — even when you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, burnt out, struggling with executive dysfunction, masking, emotional regulation, or just trying to survive daily life.

Because yes, there can be strengths.

But that doesn’t cancel out the reality of how difficult it can feel.

This is an honest conversation about the parts people don’t always talk about:

• burnout

• sensory overwhelm

• emotional exhaustion

• masking

• shame

• struggling to function

• and feeling guilty for not seeing your neurodivergence as a gift

If you’ve ever felt disconnected from the “ADHD is a superpower” narrative… this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jI63soCWdWPIW08qWYVIB

✨ Bonus episodes & support: https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with trauma recovery coach, therapist, author, podcaster and filmmaker Anu Verma to explore the lasting impact of childhood trauma and what healing can really look like.

Together we discuss how traumatic experiences can shape our relationships, self-worth, nervous system and sense of identity long into adulthood. Anu shares her personal journey of recovery and offers insight into trauma bonds, people-pleasing, unhealthy relationship patterns, emotional healing and nervous system regulation.

We also explore whether trauma can be stored in the body, how childhood experiences can influence the partners we choose later in life, and why so many survivors feel they need to earn love rather than simply receive it.

This episode includes an important discussion inspired by Anu’s conversation with Hannah Shewan Stevens on sexual violence against women, the lack of support available to many survivors, and the long-term effects trauma can have on both physical and emotional wellbeing.

Topics covered include:

✨ Childhood trauma and its lasting impact

✨ Trauma stored in the body

✨ Sexual violence and recovery

✨ Trauma bonds and relationship patterns

✨ People-pleasing and the “fixer” role

✨ Self-worth and validation

✨ Nervous system healing

✨ Fight, flight, freeze and fawn responses

✨ Emotional resilience and recovery

✨ Learning that love doesn’t have to be earned

Whether you’re navigating your own healing journey, supporting someone who has experienced trauma, or simply wanting to better understand the connection between trauma, relationships and recovery, this episode offers compassion, insight and hope.

📌 Connect with Anu Verma:

https://victim2victor.net/

In this episode, I share how receiving a diagnosis helped me replace years of self-criticism with self-understanding, why diagnosis can impact entire families, and the surprising ways it helped me build confidence and self-compassion.

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late” to seek an ADHD, autism or AuDHD diagnosis, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes a diagnosis doesn’t change who you are.

It helps you understand who you’ve always been.

#AuDHD #LateDiagnosis #ADHDWomen #AutisticAdults #Neurodivergent #ADHDSupport #AutismAcceptance #AuDHDPodcast #NeurodiversityPodcast #AdultDiagnosis

💜 Bonus Ellie-style title option if you want something a bit more clickable:

If you’re an AuDHD or ADHD adult, this is more common than you think.

In this episode, I talk about why so many neurodivergent people mentally script conversations — from anxiety and masking, to rejection sensitivity (RSD) and the need to “get it right.”

We explore:

– why your brain prepares for conversations in advance

– why you replay interactions afterwards

– the link between masking, overthinking, and self-doubt

– how this connects to ADHD, autism, and AuDHD

– ways to gently reduce the mental loop

This isn’t about “fixing” yourself — it’s about understanding your brain and finding a bit more self-compassion in the process.

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation and thought

“why did I say that?” or “I should’ve said something else…”

you’re not alone.

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some., I talk about the intense embarrassment, overthinking, and emotional overwhelm that can happen after opening up to people — especially as an AuDHD or neurodivergent person.

After simply telling someone they looked nice, I came away feeling misunderstood, ashamed, and stuck replaying the entire interaction in my head.

We get into:

• rejection sensitivity and AuDHD

• overthinking social interactions

• masking and vulnerability

• emotional dysregulation and shame

• why neurodivergent people can feel things so deeply

• replaying conversations and “cringe attacks”

If you’ve ever left an interaction feeling exposed, embarrassed, or emotionally spiralling over something small… you’re definitely not alone.

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jI63soCWdWPIW08qWYVIB

✨ Bonus episodes & deeper support on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

In this episode of AuDHD And Then Some., Ellie talks honestly about the connection between ADHD, autism, AuDHD, people pleasing, masking, AND being too trusting.

We explore why many neurodivergent people struggle with boundaries, overexplaining, emotional vulnerability, rejection sensitivity, AND trusting the wrong people — especially after a lifetime of masking, misunderstanding, trauma, or feeling different.

This episode covers:

• ADHD AND autism (AuDHD)

• people pleasing AND over-giving

• ignoring red flags

• emotional overwhelm AND nervous system responses

• rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD)

• neurodivergent relationships

• masking AND vulnerability

• trusting your gut as a neurodivergent person

• healing after emotional burnout

If you’ve ever felt emotionally exhausted from constantly trying to understand other people while ignoring yourself… this episode is for you.

AuDHD And Then Some. is a mental health podcast for ADHD, autistic, AND neurodivergent minds navigating burnout, identity, overwhelm, healing, AND self-understanding.

🎧 Listen on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/0jl63soCWdWPIW08qWYVIB

✨ More support, bonus episodes AND community:

https://www.audhdandthensome.com

https://www.audhdandthensome.com/audhdmembership

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

We talk about Joshua’s belief that ADHD can be a superpower when it is harnessed correctly. I agree, but with a very important emphasis on the words “harnessed correctly”, because ADHD can bring incredible drive, creativity and determination, while also making life and business incredibly difficult without the right understanding and support.

Joshua shares the honest story behind building a successful company, experiencing major losses and finding himself £35,000 in personal debt. We discuss what that level of debt does to you emotionally, how it can affect your confidence and decisions, and how you begin rebuilding when it feels as though everything you worked for has fallen apart.

We also talk about Joshua’s journey back from that point, co-founding his agency Intrinzi and writing his upcoming book, Built It. Nearly Lost It. Built It Again.

This is an honest, natural conversation about ADHD, entrepreneurship, resilience and the version of business success that people rarely post online.

Why does so much traditional self-help advice fail neurodivergent people?

In this emotionally honest AuDHD podcast episode, Ellie is joined by Natasha — fellow AuDHDer, social worker, accredited ADHD coach and neurodiversity coach — to talk about what neurodivergent people are REALLY struggling with emotionally right now.

We discuss:•

ADHD and autistic burnout•

executive dysfunction•

nervous system overwhelm•

shame and late diagnosis grief•

why traditional productivity advice often fails•

emotional dysregulation•

neurodivergent support systems•

ADHD coaching and autism support• what actually helps overwhelmed neurodivergent minds

We also talk honestly about creating ADHD and autism-friendly resources from lived experience, why so many neurodivergent adults feel broken or exhausted, and the importance of emotionally safe support and community.

If you’re navigating ADHD, autism, AuDHD, burnout, masking, intrusive thoughts, overwhelm or late diagnosis, this episode will help you feel understood and less alone.

🎧 AuDHD And Then SomeUnapologetically autistic and emotionally honest.

✨ Resources, bonus episodes & community support:patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

In this episode, I talk about why so many AuDHD and neurodivergent people need recovery time after social events, busy weekends, and even enjoyable experiences.

From masking and sensory overload to social exhaustion and nervous system overwhelm, I share my own experiences of attending events, navigating social situations, and dealing with what I jokingly call the “AuDHD hangover.”

If you’ve ever wondered why you need time to recover after being around people, why your social battery drains so quickly, or why enjoyable events can still leave you exhausted, this episode is for you.

Topics include:

• AuDHD and social exhaustion

• Masking and burnout

• Sensory overload

• Recovery time and self-care

• Nervous system overwhelm

• Neurodivergent experiences

🌿 Be gentle with yourself.

In this episode, I’m sharing everything that’s been happening inside our Patreon community this week — including mindfulness content, emotional processing, personal reflections, nervous-system support, exclusive resources, and some very honest conversations about life with ADHD and AuDHD.

There’s also an invitation into my soul a little bit this week… which honestly feels quite vulnerable and slightly embarrassing to admit 😂 but I wanted this space to feel real, human, and unmasked.

Inside Patreon you’ll find:✨ exclusive podcast collections✨ ADHD & AuDHD support resources✨ mindfulness & nervous-system content✨ personal audio diary-style reflections✨ community support & Slack access✨ weekly uploads & deeper conversations

If you’ve been looking for your tribe, or somewhere that feels honest, safe, relatable, and supportive… come and join us 💜

🎧 Patreon & Membership Hub:audhdandthensome.com

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, I sit down with author, speaker and betrayal trauma advocate Roxanna Johnson to explore the devastating impact of discovering a partner’s sexual addiction, pornography addiction or infidelity—and, most importantly, how healing is possible.

Roxanna shares her own deeply personal story after discovering her husband’s secret sexual addiction after almost 24 years of marriage. Together we discuss betrayal trauma, trust, boundaries, forgiveness, detaching with love, people-pleasing, shame, rebuilding your identity, and what recovery can look like whether your partner chooses healing or not.

We also explore whether neurodivergent people, including those with ADHD and autism, may experience betrayal, rejection and uncertainty differently, and how emotional regulation, rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), hypervigilance and black-and-white thinking can influence the healing journey.

Whether you’re recovering from betrayal, supporting someone who is, or simply want to understand the psychology of trust and trauma, this conversation offers compassion, practical insights and hope.

In this episode we discuss:

• What betrayal trauma is and why it hurts so deeply

• Sexual addiction, pornography addiction and partner betrayal

• Healthy boundaries vs trying to control someone else

• Detaching with love

• Forgiveness and rebuilding trust

• People-pleasing and shame

• Rebuilding your identity after betrayal

• Betrayal trauma in ADHD and autistic adults

• Finding hope after heartbreak

Connect with Roxanna Johnson:

https://forgottenspouse.com

If this episode helped you, please follow AuDHD and Then Some, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need to hear this conversation.

What if the masks you’ve worn your whole life weren’t your personality, but survival strategies?

In this thought-provoking episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie is joined by author Susan Eileen to explore the complex relationship between trauma, ADHD, autism, AuDHD, masking, addiction and healing.

Together, they discuss the differences between neurodivergent masking and trauma masking, why so many late-diagnosed adults struggle to know who they really are, and how unresolved trauma can shape our relationships, behaviours and sense of self.

Susan also shares her perspective on addiction, explaining why she believes trauma often sits at the heart of addictive behaviours, and introduces the concept of survival masks such as the people pleaser, the martyr and the loner. The conversation also explores boundaries, self-compassion, generational wounds, and what healing can look like for neurodivergent adults.

Whether you’re autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, a trauma survivor, or simply trying to understand yourself more deeply, this episode offers an honest, compassionate conversation that encourages reflection and curiosity.

In this episode:

• ADHD, autism and AuDHD

• Trauma vs neurodivergent masking

• Addiction and the neurodivergent brain

• People pleasing and survival responses

• Generational trauma and healing

• Boundaries and self-compassion

• Late diagnosis and identity

• Unmasking your authentic self

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who might need to hear this conversation today. 💜

And I don’t mean the occasional little chat.

I mean full conversations.

With hand gestures.

Facial expressions.

Different voices.

The lot.

The other day I was sat at the traffic lights having a full conversation with myself.

Honestly, it was Oscar-worthy.

I was explaining things.

Arguing points.

Making dramatic gestures.

Basically hosting my own podcast before I’d even got to work.

Then I noticed somebody in the car next to me looking over.

For a split second, my brain went:

“Oh my God, are they checking me out?” 😏

Then I remembered that inside my head live an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old who are largely unsupervised and make most of the decisions.

The confidence lasted about three seconds.

Then reality arrived.

And I realised they were probably looking at me because I’d been performing a one-woman show at a set of traffic lights.

Honestly, if anybody had muted the audio, it probably looked like I was negotiating a hostage situation.

Please tell me I’m not the only neurodivergent person who has entire conversations with themselves in the car.

Because at this point, I spend more time talking to imaginary people than real ones. 😭😂

As a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman with ADHD and autism, I’ve spent years explaining myself to other people.

Why am I overwhelmed?

Why do I need alone time?

Why do I cancel plans?

Why do I struggle with social exhaustion?

Why do I seem fine one day and burnt out the next?

In this episode, I talk about ADHD, autism, masking, people pleasing, neurodivergent burnout, social fatigue, late diagnosis, overwhelm and the emotional exhaustion that comes from constantly having to justify your needs to others.

This isn’t about being antisocial.

It’s about being tired of translating your brain for a world that doesn’t always understand neurodivergence.

If you’ve ever felt exhausted by social expectations, struggled with masking, experienced autistic burnout, ADHD burnout, or felt guilty for needing space, this episode might resonate with you.

#ADHD #Autism #AuDHD #Neurodivergent #LateDiagnosis #ADHDWomen #AutisticWomen #Masking #PeoplePleasing #Burnout #NeurodivergentBurnout #SocialExhaustion #MentalHealth #ADHDPodcast #AutismPodcast

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie talks about the classic school report comments so many neurodivergent adults relate to:

“Very bright but lacks focus.”

“Needs to apply herself.”

“Talks too much.”

“Distracts others.”

Why were so many ADHD and autistic girls overlooked at school? Why did neurodivergent children grow up believing they were lazy, dramatic or not trying hard enough? And why do old school reports suddenly hit differently after a late diagnosis?

This episode explores:

* ADHD in girls

* Autism in women

* AuDHD traits

* masking in school

* late diagnosis grief

* gifted but struggling children

* executive dysfunction

* rejection sensitivity

* neurodivergent burnout

* school trauma and shame

If you were constantly told you had “potential” but struggled silently underneath, this episode will probably feel painfully familiar.

This is NOT about judgement or shame.

It’s about understanding WHY ADHD brains often search for stimulation, novelty, relief, escapism, comfort, or quick dopamine hits — especially when living in burnout, overwhelm, trauma, masking, stress, emotional dysregulation, or nervous system exhaustion.

I’ll be discussing:

✨ dopamine & ADHD brains

✨ impulsivity and reward-seeking

✨ emotional regulation & addiction vulnerability

✨ ADHD burnout and compulsive behaviours

✨ the science behind dopamine-seeking

✨ why shame often makes the cycle worse

✨ why addiction doesn’t always “look obvious”

✨ how understimulation and overwhelm affect neurodivergent brains

This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered:

“Why do I get obsessed with things?”

“Why do I struggle with moderation?”

“Why do I constantly chase dopamine?”

“Why do I spiral into impulsive behaviour when overwhelmed?”

Over on Patreon, I go much deeper and more personally into some of these themes in a more vulnerable and private space for those who relate to this topic on a deeper level 💜

Topics include:

ADHD, AuDHD, dopamine, addiction, impulsivity, executive dysfunction, emotional dysregulation, burnout, compulsive behaviour, neurodivergence, ADHD burnout, binge behaviours, dopamine seeking, trauma, masking, overstimulation, and nervous system regulation.

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, I talk about the emotional impact of being late-diagnosed with ADHD, autism, and AuDHD — especially the grief that comes from wondering who you could’ve been if you’d understood your neurodivergent brain sooner.

We explore:

• late-diagnosed ADHD and autism

• AuDHD identity and masking

• executive dysfunction, burnout, and people pleasing

• grieving lost time and missed support

• emotional overwhelm and self-understanding

• healing after late diagnosis

If you’ve ever felt sadness, anger, relief, confusion, or grief after discovering you’re neurodivergent, autistic, ADHD, or AuDHD — this episode is for you.

This is an honest conversation about late diagnosis grief, masking, survival mode, neurodivergent burnout, self-acceptance, and learning to see yourself with more compassion.

✨ More support, bonus episodes, and community:

audhdandthensome.com

patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

We talk about:

• What ADHD hyperfocus actually feels like

• The difference between hobbies and hyperfixations

• Falling down research rabbit holes for HOURS

• Hyperfocusing on people, TV shows, true crime, religion, languages and random interests

• Why ADHD brains struggle with boundaries

• The funny side of neurodivergent obsessions

• Burnout, dopamine crashes and losing interest suddenly

• ADHD vs AuDHD hyperfocus differences

• Social media, creativity and content creation

• Childhood obsessions and growing up neurodivergent

This episode is funny, relatable, chaotic, emotional and VERY ADHD.

If you’ve ever opened one tab and ended up researching an actor’s dog at 4am… this one’s for you.

#ADHD #AuDHD #ADHDPodcast #Hyperfocus #Neurodivergent #ADHDAwareness #Autism #MentalHealthPodcast #ADHDWomen #ADHDSymptoms #Neurodiversity

In this episode of AuDHD… And Then Some, Ellie is joined by licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist Becca Gregory to explore rejection sensitivity, emotional dysregulation, people-pleasing, shame, and why so many ADHD and autistic adults struggle to stop taking things personally.

Together they discuss why rejection can feel physically painful, how childhood experiences shape our inner beliefs, why insight alone isn’t always enough to create lasting change, and practical ways to begin recovering from rejection without spiralling.

Whether you’re ADHD, autistic, AuDHD, or simply recognise yourself in perfectionism, overthinking, and people-pleasing, this episode offers compassionate insights and practical hope.

In this episode:

* What rejection sensitivity really is

* Emotional dysregulation in ADHD and autism

* Why neurodivergent people often carry shame

* The link between people-pleasing and fear of rejection

* How to stop taking things so personally

* Practical strategies for recovering from rejection

* Why healing is different from simply coping

Find Becca Gregory and learn more about her work at flowforwardcounseling.com.

#AuDHD #ADHD #Autism #Neurodivergent #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #RSD #EmotionalDysregulation #PeoplePleasing #MentalHealth #LateDiagnosis #ExecutiveFunction #Therapy #SelfCompassion #Neurodiversity #Podcast

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie speaks with registered nurse, CPTSD survivor, trauma-informed coach and author Carrie Davidson about complex PTSD, trauma recovery, self-worth, addiction, survival and learning to rebuild your life after profound trauma.

Carrie shares parts of her extraordinary story, including her experience of human trafficking in Mexico and the impact trauma has had on her life.

We explore how Carrie's career in nursing and her ability to hyperfocus helped carry her through periods of trauma, while also discussing the reality that achievement, knowledge and professional success cannot necessarily allow someone to escape CPTSD.

Carrie talks openly about doing the work on yourself, rebuilding self-worth, understanding trauma responses and learning practical strategies to live alongside CPTSD while continuing to hope for further healing in the future.

This is a powerful and honest conversation about what happens when survival is no longer enough and you begin the difficult process of taking your life back.

Topics include: CPTSD | Complex PTSD | trauma recovery | human trafficking | addiction and trauma | nursing | hyperfocus | self-worth | nervous system | survival responses | healing after trauma | mental health | personal growth

Carrie's memoir, Addicted to Trauma: A Memoir of CPTSD, Addiction, and Taking My Life Back, is available through her website.

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some., I talk honestly about the connection between AuDHD, masking, people pleasing, rejection sensitivity, low self-worth, and ending up in unhealthy or emotionally damaging relationships.

A lot of neurodivergent people grow up learning to:

• ignore their own needs

• over-explain themselves

• avoid conflict

• prioritise other people’s comfort

• and constantly question whether they’re the problem

And over time, that can make it much harder to recognise red flags, trust your instincts, and hold boundaries.

We get into:

• AuDHD and people pleasing

• masking and vulnerability

• emotional manipulation and self-doubt

• why neurodivergent people can struggle with boundaries

• rejection sensitivity and fear of abandonment

• and learning to stop abandoning yourself for other people

If you’ve ever looked back at relationships, friendships, family dynamics, or work situations and realised you were giving far more than you were receiving… this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jI63soCWdWPIW08qWYVIB

✨ Bonus episodes & deeper support:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

If you’ve got ADHD and you’re going through perimenopause, you might feel like your brain has suddenly changed — like everything that was already hard has just become harder.

In this episode, I go a bit deeper into why that might be happening.

We get into:

• how hormones like oestrogen affect dopamine (and why that matters for ADHD)

• why focus, memory and emotional regulation can feel worse

• the impact of sleep, overwhelm, and brain fog

• and why this isn’t you failing — it actually makes sense

If you’ve been feeling like you’re “losing it” or not coping the way you used to…

you’re not imagining it.

There is a reason for this — and understanding it can help you be a bit gentler with yourself.

🎧 Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/show/0jI63soCWdWPIW08qWYVIB

✨ Bonus episodes & deeper support: https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, we talk about why the world can feel especially intense for people with AuDHD, ADHD, and autism — from a strong sense of justice, to emotional overwhelm, to struggling to switch off from everything happening around us.

If you’ve ever felt like everything is “too loud,” like you care too deeply, or like your brain won’t stop processing what’s going on in the world… this episode is for you.

We explore:

– AuDHD overwhelm and emotional intensity

– why ADHD and autistic brains struggle to filter information

– the impact of constant news and global events

– feeling misunderstood or different in how you see things

– how to protect your energy without shutting down

This is a gentle, validating conversation to remind you that you’re not “too much” — you’re just navigating a very loud world with a sensitive, aware mind.

💜 You’re not alone in this.

One minute I’m casually checking my podcast stats…

The next I’m:

✨ refreshing plays every seven minutes

✨ analysing listener retention like a detective

✨ emotionally attaching my self-worth to episode performance

✨ wondering if I’m uploading too much

✨ spiralling because one title got 4 plays instead of 24

This episode is a funny, honest, chaotic reflection on ADHD, dopamine, validation, reassurance-seeking, perfectionism, creative obsession, and the very neurodivergent experience of overanalysing EVERYTHING you care deeply about.

But underneath the humour, I also talk about:

💜 rejection sensitivity

💜 needing reassurance

💜 fear of failure

💜 attaching worth to productivity

💜 creative vulnerability

💜 why neurodivergent people can become obsessed with feedback and progress

Because honestly?

Sometimes it’s not even about the numbers.

Sometimes it’s about finally feeling understood for the first time in your life.

Topics include:

ADHD, AuDHD, dopamine, validation, rejection sensitivity, creator burnout, podcasting, perfectionism, reassurance-seeking, neurodivergent anxiety, self-worth, emotional overwhelm, and obsessive checking behaviours.

Content note: This episode includes discussions of narcissistic abuse, gaslighting, trauma, emotional manipulation, and recovery.

In this episode of AuDHD… And Then Some, I’m joined by Skye Bellarmine for a powerful and deeply honest conversation about surviving narcissistic abuse, learning to recognise the warning signs, and rebuilding your life after years of self-doubt.

Together, we discuss:

💜 What narcissistic abuse can look like in everyday life.

💜 How gaslighting slowly makes you question your own thoughts, memories, and instincts.

💜 Why leaving isn’t always as simple as people think.

💜 Rebuilding trust in yourself after emotional manipulation.

💜 Setting healthy boundaries without guilt.

💜 The long journey of healing and discovering who you are again.

💜 Why taking recovery one small step at a time can be life-changing.

We also talk about Skye’s personal journey through trauma and resilience, and how she found the strength to rebuild a life that felt authentic and hopeful.

Whether you’ve experienced narcissistic abuse yourself, you’re supporting someone who has, or you’re trying to make sense of a relationship that doesn’t feel right, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little less alone.

Thank you, Skye, for sharing your story with such honesty, compassion, and courage.

If this episode resonates with you, please follow the podcast, leave a review if you’d like to support the show, and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

💜 Happy listening.

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie is joined by Danielle Bernock, an author, speaker, trauma-informed self-love coach, relationship repair specialist, childhood trauma survivor and founder of 4F Media.

Danielle, known as “that lady on the internet who loves you,” helps people understand childhood trauma, emotional neglect, shame and the lasting effects unresolved trauma can have on our self-worth, identity, nervous system and relationships.

Together, Ellie and Danielle explore childhood and emotional trauma, trauma recovery, self-love, people-pleasing, shame, feeling unseen or unworthy, repairing your relationship with yourself and moving from survival mode towards genuine healing. Danielle also answers some deeply personal questions Ellie had wanted to ask, offering an incredibly enlightening, refreshing and compassionate perspective.

This is an honest and supportive conversation for trauma survivors, neurodivergent adults and anyone trying to understand their past, develop self-compassion, rebuild their confidence or begin healing their relationship with themselves.

Danielle was an absolute pleasure to have on the podcast. She shared her experience and wisdom so openly and generously, and Ellie would love to welcome her back again.

Find Danielle Bernock:

Website: https://www.daniellebernock.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dbernock/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniellebernock/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellebernock

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DanielleBernockLovesYou

Find Ellie and AuDHD and Then Some:

https://linktr.ee/Ellieaudhd

Topics include: childhood trauma, emotional trauma, emotional neglect, trauma recovery, self-love, self-worth, shame, relationship repair, nervous system healing, people-pleasing, neurodivergence, autism, ADHD, AuDHD, mental health, self-compassion and moving from surviving to thriving.

If you’re AuDHD, ADHD, or autistic, you might experience shutdown — where everything becomes too much and you pull away, go quiet, or completely withdraw.

In this episode, I talk about neurodivergent burnout, shutdown, and why your brain sometimes needs to “switch off” to cope.

We explore:

– what shutdown looks like in ADHD, autism & AuDHD

– the difference between burnout, overwhelm, and shutdown

– why you might disappear from messages, people, or responsibilities

– the link between masking, exhaustion, and nervous system overload

– how to respond to yourself with compassion instead of guilt

This isn’t laziness. It’s not you “failing.”

It’s your nervous system trying to protect you.

If you’ve ever gone quiet and thought

“why can’t I just function like everyone else?”

this episode is for you.

This month, Ellie and Tasha are back together for their monthly AuDHD & Then Some catch-up — and this one is very real, very candid, and recorded while both of us are feeling a little bit frazzled ourselves.

Our theme this month is nervous system regulation, sensory overload and overwhelm in AuDHD, and we're talking openly about what that actually looks like in everyday life.

We chat about our own experiences of feeling close to burnout, recognising when our nervous systems are overloaded, what helps us regulate, and the small things we can do when our brains and bodies are screaming, "ENOUGH."

We cover:

🌈 AuDHD and nervous system regulation
🧠 ADHD, autism and sensory overload
🔥 Recognising neurodivergent burnout
😵‍💫 Overwhelm, exhaustion and feeling frazzled
💚 Ways we can support ourselves when we're dysregulated
🫶 Recovering from periods of burnout
🎧 Sensory needs and understanding your own nervous system
💬 Our own very real experiences this month
✨ Practical tips and ideas that may help
🌱 What we're working on ourselves — because we definitely don't have it all figured out either!

We also talk about what's coming this month inside the AuDHD & Then Some Membership, including our resources around nervous system regulation, sensory overwhelm and understanding your individual needs.

Members can access resources through our website and our Facebook Subscribers Hub, with resources designed to be downloadable, printable and fillable, so you can actually use them in whatever way works best for your brain.

And yes… we were BOTH slightly dreading recording this episode because we're tired, frazzled and feeling the effects of a very busy month.

But we showed up.

And actually? We're bloody glad we did. 💚

This is what our monthly episodes are about — no pretending we've mastered neurodivergence, no perfect morning routines and no telling you to simply "regulate your nervous system."

Just two AuDHD women having an honest conversation about what life looks like when your nervous system has had quite enough, thank you very much.

🎧 AuDHD & Then Some

Explore our membership, downloadable resources, tools, information, merchandise and more at audhdandthensome.com.

Topics: AuDHD, ADHD, autism, neurodivergence, nervous system regulation, sensory overload, sensory overwhelm, autistic burnout, ADHD burnout, AuDHD burnout, emotional regulation, dysregulation, overstimulation, executive dysfunction, neurodivergent women, ADHD women, autistic women, burnout recovery, sensory processing, mental health, self-regulation, neurodivergent support.

This was a REALLY interesting one, and I genuinely want to know what you all think. 👀

Today I'm joined by Justin Smith, founder of Cray, a dating safety app he created following his own experience of an eight-year relationship that he describes as emotionally abusive and incredibly traumatic.

Justin took that experience and turned it into something designed to help other people recognise potential red flags, manipulation and unsafe patterns earlier.

Now, I went into this conversation with QUESTIONS. 😂

Because who actually decides what a red flag is?

Is something that's unhealthy in one relationship necessarily unhealthy in another?

How much does circumstance matter?

And can an app really account for all of that?

I want to make something clear because I think it's important: Justin and I didn't agree on absolutely everything in this conversation.

There were opinions and generalisations I questioned, and you'll hear me offer different perspectives throughout. But that's exactly what I want this podcast to be.

I don't want to only interview people who think exactly like me.

I want to be able to sit across from someone, hear their story, respectfully question things, disagree where appropriate and let YOU make up your own mind.

And I have to give Justin a massive thank you for that. 💜

I threw some pretty challenging questions at him, including questions that could easily have felt like criticism of something he's spent 18 months building, and he took every single one like an absolute trooper. He explained his reasoning, answered openly and never shied away from the conversation.

Thank you, Justin, for trusting me with your story and for being willing to have a genuinely open conversation rather than expecting me to simply nod along.

🎧 Have a listen and then PLEASE come back and tell me what you think.

Can an app really help us identify relationship red flags? And who gets to decide what a red flag actually is?

I'm genuinely interested to see where you lot land on this one. 👀💜

🎧 Spotify link below 👇

Is it trauma? Is it ADHD or autism? Or can neurodivergence and trauma become so intertwined that it’s difficult to know where one ends and the other begins?

In this episode of AuDHD and Then Some, Ellie Capstick is joined by psychotherapist, trauma specialist and neurodivergent professional Elizabeth Ormes for an incredibly insightful conversation about AuDHD, ADHD, autism, trauma, masking and the neurodivergent nervous system.

Elizabeth brings nearly 30 years of experience in mental health — alongside her own lived experience of neurodivergence — and this turned into such a warm, fascinating and genuinely thought-provoking conversation.

We explore the huge overlap between trauma responses and neurodivergent traits, and what happens when a person has spent years masking, adapting, people-pleasing or living in survival mode without understanding why.

We talk about:

🧠 ADHD, autism and AuDHD⚡ Trauma and the neurodivergent nervous system🎭 Masking and losing your sense of identity❤️ People-pleasing and survival responses🫠 Emotional dysregulation, overwhelm and shutdown👩 Why neurodivergent women can be missed for so long🔍 Discovering your neurodivergence later in life🌱 Healing, self-understanding and learning who you are underneath the mask

We also ask an important question:

When you’ve spent your whole life believing something is “wrong” with you, what happens when you finally begin to understand your brain instead?

This episode isn’t about fixing neurodivergent people.

It’s about understanding ourselves — our brains, our bodies, our nervous systems and the experiences that have shaped us.

Whether you’re diagnosed with ADHD, autism or AuDHD, self-identifying, exploring whether you may be neurodivergent, or simply trying to understand yourself a little better, there is so much in this conversation to take away.

And yes… Elizabeth’s cat even makes a little appearance. 🐱❤️

🎙️ AuDHD and Then Some — real, honest conversations about ADHD, autism, AuDHD, late diagnosis, masking, mental health and life inside a neurodivergent brain.

Guest: Elizabeth Ormes — psychotherapist, trauma specialist, neurodivergent professional and founder of Actualizing Your Best Self.

Topics: AuDHD • ADHD in women • autism in women • neurodivergence • trauma • PTSD • complex trauma • nervous system regulation • autistic masking • ADHD masking • people-pleasing • emotional dysregulation • late diagnosed ADHD • late diagnosed autism • neurodivergent women • identity • healing

A spam message folder.

Now, to most people, that probably doesn’t sound like a big deal. But to a recovering people pleaser with AuDHD, discovering messages from people who thought I’d ignored them has sent my brain into overdrive.

The reality is that I never imagined so many people would reach out to me.

Every day I receive messages about ADHD, autism, AuDHD, diagnosis journeys, parenting, relationships, mental health, burnout, masking and life in general. I am incredibly grateful that people trust me enough to share their stories, but if I’m honest, it also comes with a level of pressure that I wasn’t prepared for.

In this episode, I talk openly about the guilt of unread messages, the impossible standards we place on ourselves, people pleasing, rejection sensitivity and what happens when your desire to help everyone collides with the reality that you’re only one human being.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for not replying, struggled to keep up with messages, or felt responsible for everyone else’s feelings, this conversation is for you.

And a quick disclaimer…

If you ever need to speak with me directly and it’s something important, please don’t rely on social media messages alone. The best way to guarantee dedicated time with me is through my website.

You can book:

✨ Discovery Calls

✨ Podcast Features

✨ Brainstorm Sessions

✨ Body Doubling Sessions

✨ Mentoring & Support Appointments

That way, I know you have a dedicated space in my diary and can give you my full attention.

Maybe some of you are reading this thinking, “Why on earth would I want to talk to her?”

Honestly… I still don’t fully understand that either. 😂

But if you do, the option is there.

🌈 Book here:

www.ellieaudhd.com

#AuDHD #ADHDPodcast #AutismPodcast #PeoplePleasing #ADHDWomen #Neurodivergent #ExecutiveDysfunction #RejectionSensitiveDysphoria #AuDHDLife #MentalHealthPodcast #BodyDoubling #ADHDSupport #AutismSupport #Neurodiversity

This week inside AuDHD And Then Some, we’re talking all about something so many neurodivergent people experience without even realising…

Masking.

The smiling when you’re exhausted.

The rehearsing conversations before they happen.

The hiding your excitement because someone once told you that you were “too much.”

The pretending you’re okay when your nervous system is screaming.

For so many ADHD, autistic and AuDHD people — especially those of us who were diagnosed later in life — masking wasn’t a choice.

It was survival.

But what happens when you’ve been adapting yourself for so long that you’re not even sure who you are underneath anymore?

In this episode I talk about:

💜 why neurodivergent people mask

💜 the exhaustion of constantly trying to fit in

💜 late diagnosis and identity

💜 unlearning shame

💜 finding yourself underneath the mask

✨ This month’s community topic is MASKING ✨

Inside our paid community, Tasha has created a beautiful 56-page Masking Toolbox & Guide.

A printable workbook designed to help you gently explore your own masking, understand where it came from, reconnect with yourself, and start recognising the parts of you that have been hidden for too long.

You can:

🌈 download it

🌈 print it

🌈 write in it

🌈 keep it forever

🌈 share it with somebody who may need it

Our members also get access to:

☁️ our growing resource library

☁️ workbooks & guides

☁️ relaxation audios

☁️ exclusive conversations

☁️ deeper reflections

☁️ our supportive neurodivergent community

You can join our Facebook Subscriber Hub (and receive complimentary Patreon access for the month ✨) @ellieaudhd

OR come straight over and join us on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/AuDHDandThenSome?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

A little corner of the internet where you don’t have to mask 💜

Love,

Ellie & Tasha

From creating entire cinematic universes in our heads to emotionally depending on fictional characters more than real people, this episode explores the humour, grief, creativity, and survival behind neurodivergent escapism.

If you’ve ever felt “too attached” to fictional characters, lived inside your imagination, paced around daydreaming for hours, or used stories as emotional safety — you are absolutely not alone.

“If this episode emotionally destroyed you even slightly, please rate the podcast five stars because apparently healing is expensive.”

#Neurodivergent #ADHD #Autism #AuDHD #MaladaptiveDaydreaming #Hyperfixation #MentalHealthPodcast #LateDiagnosis #Neurodiversity #ADHDTok #AutisticAdult #Podcast #SpotifyPodcast #Escapism #FictionalCharacters