📍 Navigating Life with Neurodiversity – with Matt

What if autism wasn’t a mystery to solve — but a language to understand?

In this landmark episode, Matt — an ambulance worker, writer, and autistic person — strips away the clinical jargon, tired stereotypes, and shallow awareness slogans to deliver an unfiltered, emotionally honest exploration of life on the spectrum.

From the internal chaos of shutdowns and the quiet ache of masking, to the invisible years before diagnosis and the radical clarity it brings, this episode is not just about what autism is — it’s about how it feels. With powerful storytelling, raw vulnerability, and clinical insight, Matt dismantles myths like “you don’t look autistic” and “we’re all a little on the spectrum,” challenging society’s narratives while reclaiming his own.

Whether you’re autistic, questioning, or simply want to understand autism in a deeper, truer way — this episode will speak to you.

🔹 Topics include:

• The sensory universe of the autistic mind
• Meltdowns, shutdowns, and the myth of "functioning"
• Masking, burnout, and the cost of appearing “fine”
• Late diagnosis, gender bias, and reclaiming identity
• How to support (not fix) autistic people in your life
• And a heartfelt message to those hiding in plain sight

This isn’t just education — it’s reclamation.

💬 “Autism isn’t something I study. It’s something I live — in every interaction, every silence, every overstimulated moment behind the scenes.” – Matt

🔊 Listen now to discover what it means to be autistic — not in theory, but in truth.

In this powerful episode of Navigating Life with Neurodiversity, we dive into the fundamentals of ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) — what it really is, how it shows up across the lifespan, and why it’s so often misunderstood.

Forget the stereotypes. ADHD isn’t about laziness, bad parenting, or “just needing to focus.” It’s a legitimate neurodevelopmental condition that impacts executive function, emotional regulation, time perception, and more — with very real, very measurable effects on the brain.

We’ll break down:

• What ADHD actually looks like (and why the name is misleading)
• The three types of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined
• What’s really going on in the ADHD brain (hello, dopamine!)
• Time blindness, emotional dysregulation, and why “just try harder” doesn’t work
• How ADHD presents in adults, especially those undiagnosed for decades
• Common coexisting conditions like anxiety, depression, ASD, and RSD
• Evidence-based treatment approaches, from medication to CBT and lifestyle scaffolding
• The strengths ADHD can bring — creativity, resilience, hyperfocus, and innovation

Whether you're newly diagnosed, exploring your neurodivergent identity, or supporting a loved one with ADHD, this episode offers clarity, validation, and practical insight. Because once you understand your brain’s blueprint, you can stop blaming the structure — and start building with it.

🎙 Hosted by Matt – a neurodivergent paramedic navigating life, trauma, and identity with honesty, hope, and a lot of lived experience.

Description:

What if the version of someone you know — the one who always fits in, says the right thing, and reads the room perfectly — is actually a mask?

In this powerful episode of Navigating Life with Neurodiversity, we unpack the misunderstood phenomenon of mirroring in autistic individuals. Far from being just mimicry or a social quirk, mirroring is a deep-rooted survival mechanism shaped by trauma, rejection sensitivity, and the relentless demand to conform in a neurotypical world.

We’ll explore:

• 🧠 The neurological and psychological science behind mirroring
• 🧩 How it relates to masking, identity loss, and burnout
• 💔 The emotional toll of people-pleasing and fawning responses
• 🪞 Why mirroring makes autistic individuals vulnerable to manipulation and abuse
• 🌱 How to reclaim authenticity, build safer relationships, and foster neurodivergent-affirming spaces

Whether you’re autistic, love someone who is, or work in a space that supports neurodivergent people, this episode will shift your perspective — and maybe even help someone finally feel seen.

🔍 Keywords: autism mirroring, masking in autism, rejection sensitivity, neurodivergent relationships, autistic identity, social camouflage, trauma-informed neurodiversity, people-pleasing in autism, fawning response, autistic masking burnout

🎧 Tune in now — because real belonging begins where the mask ends.