Jemima Willcox is the co-founder of The Willcox Collective, The NeuroSpicy Entrepreneur, and XW3D Makes. In this podcast we learn from Jemima about: ·      What the Willcox Collective is and how it came about ·      What the heck ‘Neurospicy’ is ·      XW3D and their tactile, sensory objects that Suzi really, really wants! ·      Jemima’s own journey of neurodiversity discovers, but also from the perspective of a partner supporting their spouse through an adult diagnosis ·      How exercise has been key in being more productive ·      Jemima’s superpower of Super-Connectivity ·      Cellfies (yes, that is how you spell it!)    The Willcox Collective are adventurers on a quest to deliver authentic, personality-driven visual content for businesses like yours. Eye-catching, scroll-stopping, tongue-wagging, like-tapping, link-clicking, comment-leaving, crowd-pleasing content with feeling. They have other brands in the Collective family: The NeuroSpicy Entrepreneur champions neurodivergent entrepreneurs by sharing their stories through our community, NSEC. XW3D - we 3D print things you didn't know you needed, we create tactile, eye-catching, and sustainably made sensory objects.   https://uk.linkedin.com/in/jemima-willcox https://www.instagram.com/jemimawillcox/ https://www.instagram.com/xw3dmakes/ https://www.instagram.com/neurospicyentclub/ https://www.instagram.com/thewillcoxcollective/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/thewillcoxcollective https://www.linkedin.com/company/xw3dmakes https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-neurospicy-entrepreneur/ https://thewillcoxcollective.com/ https://xw3d.co.uk/

Jenn Hodge is the CEO of Rama Life, a not-for-profit Alternative Education Provision, founded in January 2020. Her bold vision is to have a government funded, Rama Life provision within a 20 minute drive from every school in the country. Rama Life aim to revolutionise access to affordable alternative education for young people who are neurodivergent or who fall in the “needs gap” between mainstream and specialist schools.  They do this by providing small group learning, with skilled facilitators, and with an underlying aim to build confidence, self-esteem, resilience and wellbeing. In this episode Jenn chats to Suzi about: Her own diagnosis journeyThe 'ADHD Tax'The challenge of setting up a new business in CovidWhat she has learned about her own brain and how she has learned to copeWhy mainstream school isn't suitable for many neurodiverse young people and how Rama Life's approach is different Suzi Payton is a neurodiverse coach, trainer and comedian. You can find out more and book a call at her website: ⁠https://www.suzipayton.com/⁠

Ebony Newton is the founder of Dotty Black, an online gift shop which spreads positive kindness, celebrating and empowering the wonder of you, through bright and bold, gifts, cards and prints. Ebony is proudly neurodivergent, and lives in a neurodiverse family. Her autistic son lead her to discover her ADHD after years of misunderstanding what it really was.  She believes we should all live unapologetically in the most authentic way we need to be, dropping the mask and what society expects from us…  stepping into who we really are! She believes our differences are only deficits when they are viewed through a certain lens, but celebrates everything her unique brain and creative intellect brings to the world!  Suzi Payton is a neurodiverse coach, trainer and comedian. You can find out more and book a call at her website: https://www.suzipayton.com/

Sara Kedge (she/her) works with corporate leaders to create inclusive, healthy and more productive workplaces that work for everyone. In this episode we discuss: ·      Sara’s journey to finding out she was neurodiverse and how that has developed her as an entrepreneur  ·      Being authentic and not covering up our lovely ADHD ways  ·      How Sara has removed tiny frictions to make life less complicated and overwhelming, such as having no keys at all in her life and putting all her household shopping on subscriptions ·      Some of Sara’s strengths as a result of her neurodivergence ·      Some top tips for anyone who has just found out they are neurodivergent ·      Sara’s new book, which comes out in March. Sara is a renowned DEI Design Thinking Strategist, Coach and Trainer, she blends curiosity and playfulness with deep cross-functional knowledge. She prides herself on helping teams move out of stressful dysfunction to create human-focused workplace cultures where critical thinking – and people – are encouraged and valued.  Sara carries the collective experience of the neurodivergent community into the solutions she co-creates with her clients. As the founder and curator of How 2 Entrepreneuro, an online community supporting neurodivergent entrepreneurs, Sara is constantly learning and hearing from the people she supports, most of whom have suffered burnout within the corporate or public sectors.  Sara’s clients vary in reach from global to local, across a range of industries including academia and training institutions, public and third sector, technology, bio-medical and international development.  Sara co-creates bespoke solutions for each new client challenge, drawing on years of change management consultancy and her current role as a lecturer for the Business and Management faculty at Oxford Brookes University.  Sara’s commitment to delivering a playful, human-centred approach to transition and culture development, makes her an outstanding – and refreshingly unusual – asset to her clients. www.sarakedge.comhello@sarakedge.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-kedge-mba-94261822/ https://www.facebook.com/sara.kedge https://www.facebook.com/groups/298987737971570

Esther Nagle discovered a new way to live when she trained to be a yoga teacher, learned new ways to manage stress and view her life, and chose sobriety after 20 years of addiction.  Now with over 9 years of sobriety under her belt, she is a recovery and embodiment coach for midlife misfits who want to have fun and remember it, helping people to find their own inner power, and see the gifts sobriety can bring them. Esther loves to be active and is happiest when hiking or running, rocking out at live music events, or spending time with family and friends. In this very open and honest, yet positive episode we discuss:   ·      The link between drinking, addiction and ADHD.   ·      How Esther used alcohol and drugs to self-medicate her undiagnosed ADHD.   ·      How choosing sobriety enabled her to gain an understanding of her own ADHD traits, which has finally led to a diagnosis.    ·      What brought Esther to the decision to embrace sobriety and what life feels like now.   ·      Some practical tips for anyone thinking about sobriety  Links: Website - https://redshoesrecovery.com  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/redshoesrecovery Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/redshoesrecovery/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/esthernagle/  Email - esther@redshoesrecovery.com

What is it really like to have sensory processing challenges? Have you ever felt shamed because of your response to a noise that is deemed unacceptable by society? Nikki Butler - The Autistic Joyologist and I discuss how certain sounds can be painful, change our emotional state and send us in to fight or flight mode in an instant! What prompted this raw, unedited and uncut discussion was how I felt massively misunderstood when sharing my experiences while delivering an autism training session a while ago. While being vulnerable and sharing my personal experience about how certain noises, in this case babies crying actually hurt my ears and result in fight or flight, a participant suggested that 'of course, mothers are distressed by the sound, that's a natural response to go and comfort the baby'. I was taken back by this response as the point I was making was not about being a mother (I am not one) but to illustrate how physically painful sound can feel! The sound or more so the pitch hurts and sends us into panic mode, full stop. The impact of an assumption has been long lasting and when Nikki suggested we talk about it for an episode of Adventures with ADHD I agreed that it might help me to get it off my chest once and for all. Discussing our experiences helps us and we hope it helps others to know they are not alone and that they are seen. We would like the wider world understand what is going on for us when our senses which are already heightened become too much to cope with. Oh and please take note - if someone whether autistic or not tells you something hurts/bothers them then please listen, accept and believe what they say. Thank you. Please like and share this video to help us spread awareness and more importantly understanding of the autistic experience.

In this episode I chat to the lovely Pam who was diagnosed ADHD and autistic at age 59 and says “it was enlightening because it allowed me to let myself off for so many things I’d beaten myself up for over the years”. Pam is a counsellor/psychotherapist and is also a Registered Mental Nurse with over 30 years’ experience prior to qualifying as a therapist. She has helped people with all degrees of mental health problems, including substance misuse, addictive behaviour, and trauma. In this episode Pam discusses her personal journey and how she helped undiagnosed ND folk in prisons to be assessed/diagnosed which no doubt helped them on their own journeys. Our discussion includes: - The correlation between ADHD and crime - How so many autistic and ADHD folk are caring, compassionate and high levels of empathy - Why ND folk can be vulnerable and taken advantage of - Her book that she is writing to help other late identified adults and to help her children understand her If you would like to get in touch with Pam about counselling/therapy, then do visit her website www.evolve-therapy.org.uk In her own words “by engaging in a therapeutic relationship with me, you are safe in the knowledge that what you say will be respectfully listened to and you will not be judged in any way. I work face-to-face in Lancashire but also online via Zoom, with individuals and couples”. If you would like to be a guest on Adventures with ADHD then please do get in touch with me at www.suzipayton.com

In this episode I meet and chat with the fabulous Luna Rose. Luna is a neurodivergent (AuDHD/PDA) fitness consultant. A qualified personal trainer who teaches yoga, pilates and aerobics. I chat with Luna whilst she is sitting in her own Yoga & PT Studio in her local town, where she feels “happy & warm” We talk about late diagnosis Autism & ADHD and the profound impact it has had on her life, and the reason why she changed her name from Diane! When asked what she does Luna's response was “I do a lot of things I Have ADHD but I don’t teach dance, you have to draw the line somewhere!” Find how Luna went from teaching 25 classes a week at the height of her fitness, to burn out during lockdown “ADHD likes exercise, basically if I don't get sufficient exercise, for example during lockdown, it attacks me, and I can’t function”. Having demand avoidance and dealing with toxic perfectionism during school years it has taken time for Luna to learn to set achievable goals and work with her own brain. We discuss ways of helping Autism & ADHD work together, which is likened to “having a little team meeting!” Luna’s own story of late diagnosed Autism, ADHD, and burnout has enhanced a deeper understanding of healing trauma and has sparked her insight into the connection between the body & the neurodivergent mind. Luna’s tip for getting your ND body moving again is to pick one very easy thing and do that every day, for example one really good squat. “Be mindful of how you move and not how much”. Luna intuitively helps late diagnosed neurodivergent people rediscover their love of movement and feel awesome, without following a boring exercise programme. Many neurodivergent people have fears around movement resulting from a lack of understanding and support for their disability. Luna’s motivation is to teach you the tools to heal yourself and enjoy moving your body again by improving fitness, skeletal and muscular strength, whilst always understanding your needs as a neurodivergent person. Luna helps you to rebuild your relationship with your natural instincts and learn to let go and have fun again! Follow Luna on Facebook @lunarosecoach and remember to book in a consultation so that she can help you get moving on your terms. If you would like to be a guest to share your story please get in touch with me at www.suzipayton.com

Welcome to episode 2, season 3 of Adventures with ADHD where I interview fabulous ADHD/ND folk who share their stories, the challenges and top tips to help others on their journeys. This episode features the fantastic Julia Seymore, a Solution-Focused Hypnotherapist and Coach. Find out how a vivid dream about a tiger prompted Julia to change careers! Julia also talks of how the menopause caused her to lose 'a lot of cognitive function' and how significantly it affected her ADHD. In true ADHD style we covered many topics, including: How knowing she has ADHD she is better at realising the things she struggles with are not because she is 'useless' and that she has 'specific learning needs' which are separate from her character. How asking for and accepting help can improve relationships and how "positive relationships are fundamental to good mental health". How boundaries are essential and are good for us and others. How to prepare for and recover from activities that use up excess precious energy. Julia share strategies that have helped her on her personal development journey of discovering and working with her ADHD so be sure to watch, listen and take on board the bits that resonate with you. Julia uses a combination of neuroscientific understanding about the brain, positive visualisation and deep relaxation to get clients the results they want. She helps strong women who are ready to set down boundaries, live authentically and be more in control of their lives. Find her here: https://www.facebook.com/OxfordFamily...https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-sey... If you would like to be a guest on ADHD Adventures on YouTube and Podcast then do contact me via: www.suzipayton.com

In this episode my guest Michelle Allen & I talk about how Mindset is linked to feelings, thoughts and your physical self. Listen to find out how Michelle went from “analysing being a human , rather than being a human” to embracing her late diagnosed Autism by writing a book , and helping others with Mindset as a Business coach. We discuss how mindset is a step by step journey, and is not as easy as being told to think positive thoughts, It’s about building self trust overtime, with commitment to small changes and habit changes - A subject Michelle is very passionate about. We visit how perfectionist thinking is ingrained in so many ND folk & slowly but surely working with a coach can get you to reframe your mindset. Michelle Allen is proudly autistic and ADHD. She's the Co-founder of Ironclad Creative CIC a creative organisation for writers & theatre-makers and she's also a business coach aka Infinite Upstart. As a coach Michelle works with business owners and service providers to shift into their CEO mindset and apply simple sales and marketing strategies so that they can reach their ideal clients authentically. Michelle's own podcast, Resting Biz Face is available wherever you get your podcasts and her group business coaching programme, The Upstart Club starts on 19th June. Find out more about Michelle here: https://infiniteupstart.com/upstart-club PS Get in touch if you would like to chat about me speaking at your conference, event, or workplace for a humorous, authentic, and inspiring insight into life as an autistic ADHDer. 👉🏽 info@suzipayton.co.uk or head over to www.suzipayton.com to see how I can help.

`Nikki and I discuss how we feel that the recent documentary which exposed a small number of private ADHD clinics as carrying out non-detailed assessments has highly likely have caused psychological harm to the ADHD community. We offer our opinions, insights and discuss our own assessments which we both sought privately. What are your thoughts? Has this documentary and the backlash affected you? Feel free to comment or to get in touch via my website if you are struggling. www.suzipayton.com

In this episode Nikki Butler & I share our thoughts about the BBC documentary with Chris Packham “Inside our Autistic minds” (Episode 1) We both had so much to take away from it , Both of us had so many emotions watching the doc, from pure empathy towards the young people featured in the show, to connecting a few more dots about our own journey growing up as undiagnosed females with Autism. We discuss some shocking statistics like: “Intelligent autistic women are 8 times more likely to attempt suicide!”! https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/... Please see autism.org website for emotional support if needed , link above👆 “I was reminded of all the autistic people I have worked with over the years , it was like I was hearing from all of them” Hear my rant about ITV's This Morning giving out “ Dangerous, flippant advice”! The bad advice that was given around boundaries, we discuss the consequences and effects this kind of media can have on Adhd & Autistic people (find it around 9 mins in) I would love to hear what you think about this particular subject ? Find out about Nikki's “serial killer smile” and what this really means as an Autistic female ... So many questions are raised in this episode for starters: Can we ever fully stop masking after years of ingrained behavior patterns? If the mask comes off what are the consequences? Diagnosis and acceptance. If you would like to be a guest on Adventures with ADHD or would like me to speak at your conference/organisation then do get in touch here: www.suzipayton.com

In this episode I meet with the fabulous multi passionate Abi Lemon. Abi is a Positive Psychology Coach and Business Mentor for Leaders + Entrepreneurs with ADHD, and an advocate and spokesperson for late-diagnosis ADHD women experiencing perimenopause. Find out how whilst re educating during lock-down Abi’s masters degree in psychology and applied science led her to convey these words: “At that point all of the pieces kinda clicked into place” “So much of my past all made sense” Abi found a spark during her own journey & experience of late diagnosis ADHD to really help others in a positive life affirming way. After a massive burnout, misdiagnosis of bipolar2 and all the self deprecating beliefs Abi’s journey has led her to: “ Knowing I’m a unique person in the way I think & feel” And is now: “not afraid to be myself in front of people” We also talk about how ADHD rarely travels alone & Misconceptions over the years in modern psychiatry! Find out more about Abi Lemon and The Brilliance Effect here: https://abilemon.co https://instagram.com/abilemon.co https://linkedin.com/abilemon https://www.linkedin.com/in/abilemon/ Feel free to get in touch for more info: www.suzipayton.com

Nikki and I discuss how shocked we are that high profile celebs on ITV's This Morning encouraged a person to put other's wants before her needs on a 'People pleasing' phone in! Oh the irony! Neurodivergent folk are massively susceptible to being chronic people pleasers and this messaging via the media is so dangerous! If you want to address your people pleasing tendencies and work on creating (and implementing) boundaries then do get in touch at www.suzipayton.com

In this Episode Nikki & I dig deeper into how we came to be two Solopreneurs after years of trying to prove ourselves & fit in in two drastically different, but equally hard industries; corporate law and education. I talk about how I struggled with “trying to fit a square peg into a round hole”. How masking and constantly putting on an act while working twice as hard as neurotypical peers became my normal. Find out what the turning point was, what drove us to make the change and finally take the courage to leave our jobs. Nikki reflects “I remember thinking I could drive my car off the road, and I wouldn’t have to do this anymore”. We discuss how we are now applying our superpowers to help others, but equally to support ourselves to be able to succeed in the areas we have chosen. “Since my diagnosis, I can really look at what I do, I love, and add the most value, and support my needs” (Nikki). We discuss the importance of personal mindset, money mindset & values these are all important growth areas in the world of entrepreneurship. Discover why superpowers (our individual strengths) are significant and why there are so many neurodivergent folk solopreneurs. If you would like to chat about me speaking at your event/organisation/conference on all things ADHD and autism then do get in touch at www.suzipayton.com

Welcome to a slightly different episode where Suzi and Nikki have an open conversation where you are warmly invited to listen in. Nikki reflects on how it has been nearly a year since her ADHD & Autism diagnosis and on the journey since; “has been quite incredible” and how she found that her “whole life started to make sense & fall into place”. Themes discussed include: Masking and the toll it takes on every area of life. How we both used to self-medicate with Alcohol especially in social situations. Low self esteem Low self-worth Fear of rejection and how it can evolve and change as we do How its now time to dig deeper and unravel the past and be vulnerable again & move forward in a positive way. Learning self compassion and kindness has changed everything. Recognising exhaustion & overwhelm - Then feed the soul to help This really is a cracking episode where we share our vulnerabilities. We hope by doing so that we can help others who are feeling a similar way. We also like to see our experiences through a humorous lens and Nikki shares a funny story about a social interaction where she was testing out her new found confidence with small talk and well, watch to see what happened!! It’s hilarious! It’s around 19 minutes in. If there are any topics you would like us to discuss then please let me know - you can get in touch at www.suzipayton.com

Meet Kassy Harris, an AuDHD photographer based in South Shields, Northeast England, who specialises in portraiture - working with ND and LGBTQ+ people - as well as Land/Seascapes. In this episode, Kassy talks openly and honestly about: - how her determination is one of her super strengths! - After being diagnosed with Autism 5 years ago & ADHD more recently , Kassy reflects on how she had this strange idea that her struggles were not bad enough to gain a diagnosis - How “there will always be someone worse off than you, it’s always gonna happen, but you're not living their life, you're living yours. You need to listen to yourself, I wish I had done that so much younger” - The difference knowing she is neurodivergent and how “It’s incredible, I've met so many awesome people” She talks about the difference having a support network in place makes such as: Workplace support Access To Work funding Coaches Mindset Movement Eating habits Find Kassy here: https://www.facebook.com/Iridiandream... https://www.instagram.com/iridiandrea... If you would like to be a guest on Adventures with ADHD or would like me to speak at your conference/organisation then do get in touch here: www.suzipayton.com

OK, hands up! We should have uploaded this last year and have only just been made aware of its absence. Soz! " I was scrolling through Tik Tok and I thought mmm that sounds like me, maybe there is something here, maybe I'm not just quirky, maybe there is something I have struggled with my whole life"? This week features the fabulous Ems Rae Searle, an Ethical Marketing Strategist (also read: Wizard) who has recently been diagnosed with ADHD. Since her diagnosis, Ems is learning to be 'less harsh' with herself and 'more willing to accept help'.   Ems shares so many top tips for managing her ADHD as well as offers hope and inspiration to others who are waiting for assessment, or have recently been diagnosed.   Find out what happened when Ems took medication for the first time - it's not what you might think! Connect with Ems via her social channels: WEBSITE: www.emsraesearle.com INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/emsraesearle FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/emsraesearle YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTt_... LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/emsraesearle.com

In this episode I interview the wonderful Kate Laine- Toner; trainer, writer, speaker, artist, and author. She is autistic and has ADHD, as does her daughter Emily.   When asked ‘what do you do?’ Kate’s reply was “I’m all autism all of the time”.   In this interview Kate talks about her book that help parents navigate raising an autistic child and how it can be scary to navigate when you are told your child is autistic, especially when there are so many myths and outdated stereotypes circulating.    Kate says “autism isn’t scary, it’s the things around autism that are scary, like the support or inability to get help for your child”   Kate talks of the moment she realised she was autistic (5.25mins in).   It was shortly after her daughter’s diagnosis when she came across a brilliant article by Samantha Craft called Females and Autism/Asperger’s: A check list.  (Please note the term Asperger’s is no longer widely used).     She said “When I read the post, I felt like the hairs on the back of my neck going up moment. I felt like this woman was looking into my life and writing about me”!    We also discussed masking and the effects of doing this, gifts of autism valuable tips and advice for those who discover they are autistic/neurodivergent.    Kate delivers corporate training via her company The Autism Training Company https://theautismtrainingcompany.com/ and parent/carer training via https://wdiscourse.com/.   She and Emily also have an online shop called The Eltees which sells their unique, non-binary clothing range at https://eltees.co.uk/.   Kate's book, Where Do I Start? will be out in Spring 2023; it is a gentle guide for parents and carers who are new to autism.   This is such an insightful episode and is not to be missed.   For more info and to book a call with me please visit www.suzipayton.com Please watch, subscribe and share – you never know who might need to see this today 😊

In this episode I get to interview the fabulous Michelle Minnikin for the second time.    In this fascinating episode we discuss how Michelle has utilised her ADHD hyper focus to do deep research is now writing a book.   Her book, 'Good Girl Deprogramming' is in the works. It is a look at how ‘society’ conditions us to ‘behave’ through the use of coercive control and what we can do about it. Look for it in 2023!     Michelle is a Chartered Psychologist and Coach with 20+ years spent in organisational psychology, recruitment, coaching and personal development. As the Culture Captain (AKA Quartermaster) of Work Pirates, she’s on a mission to unf*ck work. For more info you can book a call with me via www.suzipayton.com