Afleveringen
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Ever been handed a clinical worksheet by a therapist and felt an instant wave of ADHD shame and avoidance? You are not alone.
In this episode, we are completely reframing how we look at mental health, therapy, and the traditional 9-to-5 corporate grind with Simone Westcott-Villiers, a CBT specialist and the founder of Founder Therapy.
Simone specializes in working with entrepreneurs, high achievers, and late-diagnosed ADHD women who are tired of wearing a mask to fit into rigid, outdated systems. Together, we unpack why traditional therapy "homework" completely fails neurodivergent brains, the massive corporate exodus of ADHD women building successful portfolio careers, and why ADHD burnout requires chasing dopamine rather than just sitting still. We also dive into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and how to break out of toxic people-pleasing loops to confidently set boundaries.
Connect with Simone:
WebsiteInstagram💖 Love the show? Hit 'Follow' on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend or colleague who needs to hear it!
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🚨 DISCLAIMER & CONTENT WARNING:
While I share my lived experience as an AuDHD individual, and my guests share their professional expertise, this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice or formal diagnostic assessment. Please consult healthcare professionals for official ADHD support.
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In this episode, I sit down with the brilliant Charlotte Forbes, founder of ADHD Club UK, ADHD coach, and former social media manager.
Charlotte candidly shares her own journey of being diagnosed at 32 after "ADHD TikTok" found her, hyper-focusing through six books in a week, and navigating the chaotic, brilliant, and sometimes brutal world of creative advertising agencies. From the secret shame of being fired from three jobs in a row to learning how to confidently advocate for her brain, Charlotte is a wealth of fresh, non-buffy perspective on neurodiversity.
We dive deep into how traditional corporate structures clash with neurodivergent minds, and the practical frameworks that actually change the game for professionals and line managers alike.
🔍 Inside the Episode:
The Creative Industry Paradox: Why creative sectors are a "lucky dip" for ADHDers—offering great output-focused flexibility but hidden bureaucratic traps.
Ask, Don't Tell: Charlotte’s top 4 rules for line managers to support neurodivergent staff using a coaching approach instead of patronizing "have you tried a to-do list?" advice.
Universal Design vs. Reasonable Adjustments: Why workplace policies should inherently support everyone’s communication styles and schedules, removing the stigma of "special treatments."
The "Access to Work" Reality: Unpacking the frustrating bureaucracy of the UK government grant system and why some companies choose to bypass the faff to fund ADHD coaching directly. The Post-Diagnosis Identity Crisis: Navigating the "red chameleon" phase where you think about thinking too much, and why it is perfectly okay to just go touch grass and listen to pop culture instead.🔗 CONNECT WITH CHARLOTTE & ADHD CLUB UK:
Website Find out more about their associate coaches and community support platforms. TikTok & Instagram💖 Love the show? Hit 'Follow' on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend or colleague who needs to hear it!
Follow us on:
Instagram
🚨 DISCLAIMER & CONTENT WARNING:
While I share my lived experience as an AuDHD individual, and my guests share their professional expertise, this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice or formal diagnostic assessment. Please consult healthcare professionals for official ADHD support.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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In this episode, I am completely fangirling as I sit down with two incredible creators from the neurodivergent community: Jon and Erin.
Erin is the host of the AuDHD and Me podcast, and Jon is the host of AuDHD or Just a Bit Weird?. Together, they have been candidly documenting their brilliant online-to-offline best-friendship. From creating meticulous itineraries for their first meeting (that naturally went completely out the window) to learning how to fully unmask around each other, they are the ultimate blueprint for authentic neurodivergent connection.
In this episode, we dive deep into:
Friendship After a Late Diagnosis: How late-discovered autistic and ADHD adults build meaningful connections.
The Confusion of Group Dynamics: Unpacking social hierarchies and the confusing "tiers" of friendship.
Adult Meltdowns & Sensory Overload: Why public swimming pools can be a sensory nightmare, and how safe friends can coach you through a shutdown.
The Titration Purgatory: The frustrating reality of never-ending ADHD medication waitlists and an inaccessible medical system.
This chat is funny, deeply vulnerable, and validating. Grab a drink, get comfortable, and enjoy the episode!
🔗 CONNECT WITH JON & ERIN:
Erin (AuDHD and Me): Listen on all podcast platforms and follow her relatable carousels on Instagram [@alt_udhd]
Jon (AuDHD or Just a Bit Weird?): Listen on all podcast platforms and follow their journey on Instagram [@audhdorjustabitweird]
Jon's Official Merch: Support Jon and grab your t-shirts, tote bags, and jumpers here: [ Link Here]
🚨 DISCLAIMER & CONTENT WARNING:
While I share my lived experience as an AuDHD individual, I am not a medical professional. If you are navigating your own journey of late discovery, autism diagnosis, or ADHD support, please consult a medical professional or official healthcare resources.
Content Warning: This conversation contains candid discussions about adult autistic meltdowns and severe sensory overstimulation. Please protect your peace and take care of yourself while listening.*
💖 Love the show? Hit 'Follow' on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it!
Follow us on
Instagram
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To kick off Season 2, Amber sits down with comedians Joe Wells and Abigoliah Schamaun, co-hosts of the hit podcast Neurodivergent Moments.
With their highly anticipated book Neurodivergent Moments releasing on June 18th 2026, we dive deep into the unfiltered reality of what it actually takes to co-write a book when you have a neurodivergent brain. From managing deadlines with ADHD and autism to handling rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) during the feedback process, Joe and Abigoliah share the raw, funny, and comforting truths behind their creative partnership.
⚠️ A Note Before You Listen: While Amber is an expert by experience of living it, she is not a medical professional or a doctor, and this podcast is not for diagnosis. While we definitely have a laugh on this show, we do dive into some sensitive topics, so please always look after yourself and listen with care. Always reach out to a professional for proper clinical or diagnostic support.
In this episode, we discuss:
The reality of a "regional" book tour that only goes an hour from their houses.
The master spreadsheet Joe built that Abigoliah completely ignored.
Translating physical stand-up comedy routines and timing onto the written page.
The grueling, exhausting, and hilarious process of recording their own audiobooks.
Abigoliah’s secondary show, All British Comedy Explained.
Pre-order the Book & See Tour Dates: Find every single pre-order link and live reading ticket on their official Linktree. (💡 Pro-Tip: Pre-order from the Owl Bookshop link to request a signed copy and a custom drawing from Joe!)
Listen to Their Podcast: Catch up on the Neurodivergent Moments podcast on PodFollow.
Catch Joe Live: Grab tickets for Joe Wells' upcoming UK comedy tour dates on Live Nation.
Abigoliah’s Official Website: Check out her latest projects and live stand-up dates at abigoliah.com.
Listen to Abigoliah’s Other Show: Listen to the All British Comedy Explained podcast here.
Joe’s Instagram: @joewellscomedian
Abigoliah’s Instagram: @abigoliah
Abigoliah’s X (Twitter): @abigoliah
Not Quite Typical
Instagram: Come see us in person and watch behind-the-scenes video clips over on Instagram @notquite_typical
Follow the Show: Make sure to hit follow or subscribe on your favorite platform so new episodes hit your feed every single Tuesday!
Review: If you loved this episode, please leave a five-star rating and a comment to help other neurodivergent minds find our community.
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If you’ve completed the "mainstream levels" of mental health care,from talk therapy to psychiatric labels,and you’re still left wondering why you are struggling, this episode is the "how-to" guide you’ve been waiting for. Joining the podcast is the incredible Josephine Knechtli, a brilliant hypnotherapist who is completely changing the game for the neurodivergent community.
In this deep, humorous, and incredibly cathartic conversation, we bust the old Hollywood myths about hypnosis and mind control to reveal why "Hypnoland" is actually Neurodivergent City. Josephine explains how hypnotherapy completely bypasses the "crunchy, crusty layer" of social masking, coulds, and shoulds to target the raw, emotional protection mechanisms underneath. We dive into why traditional behavior management tools fail us when we are in a primitive fear state, how the psychiatric system often leaves late-discovered women feeling fundamentally broken, and why true unmasking requires building deep internal safety rather than just trying harder.
Connect with Josephine:
Website InstagramListen to Josephine's Podcast💖 Love the show? Hit 'Follow' on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend or colleague who needs to hear it!
Follow us on:
Instagram
🚨 DISCLAIMER & CONTENT WARNING:
While I share my lived experience as an AuDHD individual, and my guests share their professional expertise, this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice or formal diagnostic assessment. Please consult healthcare professionals for official ADHD support.
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Season 2 is coming soon. Follow on Instagram so you don’t miss the announcement!
In the Season 1 finale of Not Quite Typical, Amber is joined by her long-time friend and podcast producer, Jess. They get into what it really feels like to travel as a neurodivergent person, from airport sensory overload and decision paralysis to leaving your passport on the side of a mountain in Vietnam.
They also cover late ADHD and autism diagnosis as women, the penny drop moments that changed everything, why COVID was a turning point for so many neurodivergent people, and why resting is an activity, not a failure.
If you are late diagnosed, undiagnosed, or just starting to understand your neurodivergent brain, this one is for you.
Mentioned in this Ep
• Unmasked by Ellie Middleton — a guide to living as a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD adult. Highly recommended by Amber.
• Sunflower Lanyard Scheme — for invisible disabilities at airports, train stations and travel hubs. Free to pick up at most major UK airports.
• Special assistance when flying — available to request when booking with most airlines including EasyJet. Allows priority boarding and reduced queue time.
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share it with someone who might need to hear it. It means the world and helps more people find the show.
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder: I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!
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Have you ever walked away from a social event feeling lonelier than before you arrived? In this episode, Amber goes deep on one of the most quietly painful parts of the neurodivergent experience — not isolation, but the specific kind of loneliness that comes from being surrounded by people and still not feeling reached by any of them.
She covers why ND brains find genuine connection harder, the different types of loneliness and which ones hit hardest for neurodivergent people, how masking means no one actually meets you, RSD and how it makes us engineer our own loneliness, and the double empathy problem (it’s a mismatch, not a deficit). Plus her own honest account from school to adulthood, and why understanding the mechanics of your loneliness is the first step to doing something about it.
Resources
Mind — loneliness support — https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/tips-for-everyday-living/loneliness/useful-contacts/
Campaign to End Loneliness — https://www.campaigntoendloneliness.org/feeling-lonely/helpful-links/
Bridgette Hamstead — AuDHD & Loneliness (Substack) — https://substack.com/@bridgettehamstead/p-195049729
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder: I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!YyvQMuQa5DgubWUL6T6Y
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Modern dating is hard. Dating when you’re neurodivergent is a different category of hard altogether. In this episode, Amber gets into the very specific ways that being AuDHD shapes romantic experiences: dopamine-seeking behaviour and dating app addiction, monotropism and why neurodivergent people fall into intense fixations, and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and how it amplifies every silence and unanswered text.
She also talks through what post-diagnosis dating can look like — more intentional, more boundaried, and more aligned with how your brain actually works. If you’ve ever wondered whether your relationship patterns make more sense through a neurodivergent lens, this episode is for you.
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder: I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!
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Ever feel crushed by shame when a hobby you love suddenly feels impossible? In this episode of Not Quite Typical, I unpack why PDA (pathological demand avoidance) and ADHD shame spirals hit so hard for me as a late-diagnosed AuDHDer. From my abandoned baking dreams to work guilt and friend-text paralysis, I share it all.
I dive into the roots: RSD (rejection sensitive dysphoria), masking exhaustion, executive dysfunction, and that nervous-system freeze when “just do it” advice backfires. Then I share three tiny shifts that broke my cycle:
* Name the mechanism (like saying “This is PDA, not failure”)
* Reframe interests as “mini pools” - deep skill dives I can revisit, not flaky failures
* Permission to be small - 5-minute starts over perfection pressure
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder: I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!
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Masking: suppressing, adapting, and performing your way through every social situation — is something most late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD people did for years without even realising it. In this episode, Amber traces where her own mask came from, all the way back to childhood, and follows it through school, work, and adult life.
She talks about what unmasking actually looks like in practice (spoiler: it’s a lot more complicated than just “being yourself”), the physical and mental cost of long-term masking, and what it means to start finding spaces where you don’t have to hide. Practical advice on unmasking gradually, safely, and in relationships included.
Further Reading
National Autistic Society — masking guidance — https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/behaviour/masking
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
Get in Touch: [email protected]
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder : I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!
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Late-diagnosed AuDHD adults: does time anxiety keep you stuck in future worries or past regrets? This episode breaks down why we can’t “just exist in the present” and 3 strategies that actually work.
We cover: time blindness in AuDHD, masking exhaustion from constant planning, and practical unmasking tools for neurodivergent time management. enjoyed. You’re not dramatic. Your nervous system is just doing its job.
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
Get in Touch: [email protected]
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder : I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!
Research & links:
Intolerance of uncertainty & anxiety in autistic people
* Frontiers in Psychology — Sensory sensitivity and intolerance of uncertainty influencing anxiety in autistic adults: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.731753/full
* Systematic review & meta-analysis on IU and anxiety in autistic people: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7539603/
* Sensory Sensitivity and Intolerance of Uncertainty Influence Anxiety in Autistic Adults: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8635111/
* Autistic Sensory Traits and Psychological Distress — Mediating Role of Worry and Intolerance of Uncertainty: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39595851/
Time perception in autism
* Time perception and autistic spectrum condition: A systematic review: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6852160/
* How autism influences time perception (accessible overview): https://www.newpatternsaba.com/blog/how-autism-influences-time-perception
Demand avoidance
* Understanding pathological demand avoidance in adults: https://pasadenavilla.com/resources/blog/understanding-pathological-demand-avoidance-in-adults-with-autism/
* Living with PDA — strategies for adults: https://rachellebloksberg.com/living-with-pathological-demand-avoidance-strategies-for-dealing-with-pda-in-adults-for-autism-and
* PDA in adults — how to get unstuck: https://www.thriveautismcoaching.com/post/pathological-demand-avoidance-in-adults-how-to-help-them-get-unstuck
Burnout & IU as a coping mechanism
* IU as a mechanism in autistic anxiety: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5903967/
* Single-case treatment study for IU in autistic adults: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6061029/
Coping & experiments approach
* Towards a Treatment for Intolerance of Uncertainty for Autistic Adults: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6061029/
* Single Case Experimental Design Study (more detail on same programme): https://d-nb.info/1160380759/34
General accessible reading
* Autistica — coping with uncertainty in autism: https://www.autistica.org.uk/our-research/research-projects/coping-with-uncertainty
* Autistica — uncertainty, anxiety and sensory sensitivities: https://www.autistica.org.uk/our-research/research-projects/uncertainty-anxiety-sensory-sensitivities
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I want YOUR input!
What guests would you like me to chat to and what topics would you like me to cover?
To hear more, visit ambernapthine.substack.com -
This episode is Amber’s personal AuDHD diagnosis story. After years of feeling like she was constantly two steps behind everyone else, perpetually exhausted, and never quite fitting in anywhere, Amber shares how she came to seek an assessment, what the process actually looked like, and what happened in the aftermath.
This is the real, unfiltered version not the neat narrative you get to write with hindsight, but the messy, confusing, emotional reality of realising late in life that your brain works fundamentally differently. If you’re on the path to diagnosis, have recently been assessed, or are still waiting, Amber’s story might help you feel a little less alone in it.
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder : I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!
Brett, The AuDHD Boss - https://substack.com/@brettwhitmarshDr Megan Anna Neff -https://substack.com/@neurodivergentinsights
AuDHD Out Loud Substack -https://ambernapthine.substack.com/
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A late autism and ADHD diagnosis doesn’t just give you answers — it asks you a whole new set of questions. Who were you before the label? Which parts of you are actually you, and which parts were you performing? In this episode, Amber digs into the identity shift that comes with late diagnosis.
She talks through the grief for the version of yourself that struggled without knowing why, the relief of finally having language for your experience, and the strange, ongoing work of figuring out who you are on the other side of it. If you’re somewhere in the middle of that process, you’re not alone in it.
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
Get in Touch: [email protected]
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder: I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!
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Job hunting is exhausting for anyone , but when you throw a dopamine-seeking, rejection-sensitive, hyperfocusing neurodivergent brain into the mix, it becomes something else entirely. In this episode, Amber digs into the very specific experience of job hunting when you’re late-diagnosed AuDHD.
From obsessively fixating on roles to the crushing blow of radio silence, she unpacks why the traditional job hunt model works against neurodivergent brains, what limerence (that state of intense fixation) has to do with how we pursue opportunities, and how to approach the search in a way that works with your brain instead of against it.
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder: I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!
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If January hits you like a wall every single year, the pressure, the resolutions, the fresh-start energy that your brain just can't seem to match ,this episode is for you.
In the very first episode of Not Quite Typical, I'm talking about why January is particularly brutal for late-diagnosed AuDHD brains: the dysregulation that comes with routine disruption, the shame spiral of 'everyone else seems to be fine with this,' and why the 'new year new you' narrative was never designed for minds like ours.
In this episode:
• Why AuDHD brains struggle with seasonal transitions and time pressure
• The January shame spiral — and why you're not lazy or broken
• What actually helps when the new year feels impossible
Not Quite Typical is a podcast about navigating life as a late-diagnosed AuDHD adult. I'm Amber ,I was diagnosed as an adult and I'm working it out in real time.
#AuDHD #LateaDiagnosis #Neurodivergent #ADHD #Autism #January #NewYear
Find Not Quite Typical
Instagram: @notquite_typical
Substack: ambernapthine.substack.com
Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts — search Not Quite Typical
Hey friends, just a gentle reminder :I’m sharing from my own lived experience with AuDHD, not a medical textbook! While some of our guests have clinical expertise, every single neurodivergent journey is different. This space is for sharing stories and community, so please always seek professional advice for your own personal health and wellbeing. Thanks for being here!
