The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast

ADHD Burnout & Neurodivergent Mental Health: Navigating the Messy Middle with Lisa Richer

What if burnout wasn’t the end of your story — but the beginning of becoming who you were meant to be? In this episode of The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, host Paul sits down with Lisa Richer, a neurodivergent success partner, consultant, advocate, and former elite gymnast whose work helps people navigate what she calls “the messy middle.” Lisa shares her personal journey through burnout, late diagnosis, parenting neurodivergent children, workplace challenges, and rediscovering her identity after years of survival mode. Together, they explore the emotional realities of neurodivergence, the pressure always to be “the strong one,” and why growth often happens in uncertainty rather than in clarity. The conversation also dives into Lisa’s framework of clarity, confidence, and courage — and how learning to ask for help can become the first step toward transformation. Whether you’re neurodivergent yourself, supporting someone who is, or navigating your own version of the messy middle, this episode offers an honest and deeply human conversation about identity, resilience, and self-trust. MEMORABLE QUOTES “Sometimes the hardest breakdowns in our lives are the beginning of becoming who we were meant to be.” “Growth doesn’t happen in certainty. It happens in the messy middle.” “You don’t have to do it alone — and you don’t have to stay stuck.” “My neurodivergence is my greatest gift.” BOOK: CONFIDENT YOU - THE RAW CONVERSATIONS: REAL STORIES OF COURAGE, HEALING, AND REDEFINING CONFIDENCE https://confidentyoubook.com/ EVENT MENTION If you’re in Vancouver, come visit Paul at the Employ to Empower Summer Make Change Market on May 28, 2026, from 1:00–5:00 PM at the Breezeway at Three Bentall Centre, located at 595 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC. Stop by the booth, say hello, and connect with the community. SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT If you enjoyed this episode of The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share the episode with someone who may need to hear this conversation. Your support helps amplify neurodiverse voices and lived experiences. Follow The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss new conversations about autism, ADHD, and neurodivergent experiences. The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast is currently #6 in the Top 100 Neurodiversity Podcasts All Time among millions of podcasts on the Goodpods platform, ranked by listens, ratings, comments, subscriptions, and shares. Instagram/LinkedIn/YouTube: @neurodiversityvoicespodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal [https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal_links] Website: www.neurodiversityvoices.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Rethinking Neurodiversity: Inclusive Systems, Autism & ADHD Communication, and the Future of Accessibility

We’ve been taught there’s a “right” way to think, communicate, and behave. But what if that assumption is the problem? In this episode of The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, Paul Cruz sits down with Justine Jecker to explore how neurodiversity is reshaping our understanding of communication, systems, and human difference. This conversation goes beyond awareness. It challenges how workplaces operate, how healthcare communicates, and how society defines “normal.” Together, they explore what happens when we move away from fixing individuals—and start redesigning the systems around them. Connect with Justine Jecker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justine-v-jecker/ Learn more about neurodiversity in healthcare and workplace systems If there’s one idea to carry forward from this episode, it’s this: When we stop trying to fix people, We start building systems that actually work for everyone. If this conversation resonated with you, follow The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast for more conversations on neurodiversity, systems, and lived experience. Follow The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss new conversations about autism, ADHD, and neurodivergent experiences. The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast is currently #6 in the Top 100 Neurodiversity Podcasts All Time among millions of podcasts on the Goodpods platform, ranked by listens, ratings, comments, subscriptions, and shares. Instagram/LinkedIn/YouTube: @neurodiversityvoicespodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal [https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal_links] Website: www.neurodiversityvoices.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Autism, Not Attitude: Why Workplaces Misunderstand Neurodivergent Employees with Felicia Davis

In this episode, Felicia M. L. Davis breaks down how autism and ADHD show up in everyday conversations, workplaces, and relationships—and why so many neurodivergent people are misunderstood. From literal thinking and missed social cues to masking, burnout, and workplace bias, this conversation reveals the hidden cost of not understanding how different brains work. We also explore what leaders and organizations can do differently—right now—to create more inclusive, productive environments. If you’re a manager, partner, or someone who’s ever felt misunderstood, this episode will change how you see communication. ABOUT FELICIA M. L. DAVIS Felicia M. L. Davis is an advocate, speaker, and business leader who brings lived experience and practical insight to conversations about autism, ADHD, leadership, and inclusion. In this episode, she shares her personal journey toward diagnosis and the lessons she has learned navigating work, communication, relationships, and systems that often misunderstand neurodivergent minds. She is also the co-author of the upcoming book: Autism, Not Attitude: Neurodivergence at Work and in Relationships (https://feliciamldavis.com/book [https://feliciamldavis.com/book]) Eunoia Thinking: www.eunoiathinking.com [http://www.eunoiathinking.com/] This episode is especially valuable for: * Neurodivergent adults * Managers and team leaders * HR and DEI professionals * Spouses and family members * Educators and support professionals * Anyone who wants to better understand communication differences and build more inclusive environments WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERS Too many neurodivergent people spend years being misunderstood before they are ever supported. This episode brings language, clarity, and compassion to experiences that are often dismissed or misread. Felicia reminds us that understanding neurodivergence is not about lowering expectations. It is about creating the conditions for people to thrive. SHARE THIS EPISODE If this conversation resonated with you, share it with: * a manager * an HR leader * an educator * a spouse or family member * someone beginning to explore whether they may be neurodivergent Because understanding changes everything. Follow The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss new conversations about autism, ADHD, and neurodivergent experiences. The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast is currently #6 in the Top 100 Neurodiversity Podcasts All Time among millions of podcasts on the Goodpods platform, ranked by listens, ratings, comments, subscriptions, and shares. Instagram/LinkedIn/YouTube: @neurodiversityvoicespodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal [https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal_links] Website: www.neurodiversityvoices.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Beyond Productivity: Rethinking Human Worth, Neurodiversity & the Future of Work

What happens when a society decides your value is measured solely by what you produce? In this thought-provoking conversation, Helena St. George explores the chilling premise behind her novel Shattered but Not Silenced—a dystopian world where productivity determines survival. Drawing from her lived experience as a parent of neurodivergent children, Helena unpacks the emotional, political, and human stakes behind systems that prioritize output over humanity. This episode dives deep into autonomy, advocacy, quiet resistance, and what it truly means to be valued as a person—not a function. POWERFUL MOMENTS * “My art is my voice. Maybe one day they’ll listen.” * “I didn’t want to make her likable—I wanted to make her relatable.” * “The tragedy isn’t her autism. It’s the system.” * “If you can lick a stamp, you’re employable… except stamps are self-stick now.” WHO THIS EPISODE IS FOR * Listeners interested in neurodiversity & advocacy * Fans of dystopian fiction with real-world parallels * Parents navigating education systems and support services * Anyone questioning how society defines value and success FINAL REFLECTION This episode challenges a deeply ingrained belief: that our worth is tied to what we produce. Instead, it offers a more human truth— That value comes from perspective, presence, and individuality. RESOURCES & LINKS * Helena St. George’s website: helenastgeorge.com * Shattered but Not Silenced - https://helenastgeorge.com/shattered-not-silenced CLOSING THOUGHT If a system only values productivity… Then resistance begins the moment you decide your humanity is enough. If this episode resonates, follow the show and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Follow The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss new conversations about autism, ADHD, and neurodivergent experiences. The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast is currently #6 in the Top 100 Neurodiversity Podcasts All Time among millions of podcasts on the Goodpods platform, ranked by listens, ratings, comments, subscriptions, and shares. Instagram/LinkedIn/YouTube: @neurodiversityvoicespodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal [https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal_links] Website: www.neurodiversityvoices.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Late-Diagnosed Autism in Women: Motherhood, Identity & Radical Acceptance

What happens when you spend years advocating for your autistic child… only to discover that you’re autistic too? In this special April episode of The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast, Paul Cruz sits down with Julie Green to explore late autism diagnosis, motherhood, masking, and identity. This episode is also a milestone. * It marks the first anniversary of the podcast * And coincides with World Autism Awareness Day Together, these moments create space not just for awareness—but for reflection, nuance, and deeper understanding. Julie shares how her understanding of autism evolved—from early stereotypes shaped by media to a deeply personal realization that reframed her entire life. This conversation is about more than diagnosis. It’s about moving from self-blame → self-understanding, and learning to extend that same compassion to the next generation. As we recognize World Autism Awareness Day this April, this conversation invites us to move beyond awareness toward: * understanding * acceptance * and systems-level change It also marks one year of The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast—a year of centering lived experience, nuance, and meaningful conversations. RESOURCES & LINKS Learn more about Julie Green: https://juliemgreen.ca/ [https://juliemgreen.ca/] Explore her memoir Motherness: https://juliemgreen.ca/books-1 [https://juliemgreen.ca/books-1] Follow The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast on Apple Podcasts so you never miss new conversations about autism, ADHD, and neurodivergent experiences. The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast is currently #6 in the Top 100 Neurodiversity Podcasts All Time among millions of podcasts on the Goodpods platform, ranked by listens, ratings, comments, subscriptions, and shares. Instagram/LinkedIn/YouTube: @neurodiversityvoicespodcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal [https://www.patreon.com/14218572/join#no_universal_links] Website: www.neurodiversityvoices.com ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.