s2e5: why high achievers in college crash in the real world (AuDHD edition)

s2e5: why high achievers in college crash in the real world (AuDHD edition)

you're a couple years out of college, maybe on your third job already, and suddenly you're googling grad school programs at 2am. again. you tell yourself it's about career advancement, but really? you just miss having structure. and a meal plan. and people who actually wanted to hang out. in this episode of the Colorful Futures® Podcast, Liora gets into the post-college crash that hits neurodivergent folks especially hard. they break down why so many ADHDers and AuDHDers consider going back to school around age 24 (spoiler: it's basically a canon event), and what you're actually missing when you romanticize your college years. Liora shares their own experience of thriving in art school's flexible structure, then struggling when the "real world" meant sitting at a desk for 8 hours with nowhere else to go. they talk about how college gave us routines, community, and autonomy within a container—and how losing that structure after graduation can feel like the ground dropped out from under you. you'll also hear why it's so much harder to make friends when you're not in school anymore, why your job can't be everything, and how building a life outside your career actually makes the career stuff easier to navigate. plus, this week's quick tip reframes networking from that cringey transactional thing into something way more useful: community building. because the best connections happen when you're just being a person with other people, not collecting LinkedIn contacts. if you're about to graduate, just graduated, or you're in those weird first few years wondering why everything feels so off—you're not alone. this transition is hard. really hard. and it makes total sense that you're struggling. let's get into it. Have a question or want to share some feedback? We'd love to hear it! Click here to send us a text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393096/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://colorfulfutures.us/tip-jar] ------------------------ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorfulfutures Connect with Liora on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lioranatania/ Check out our blog: https://colorfulfutures.us/blog Check out the Colorful Futures Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or at https://colorfulfutures.us/podcast At Colorful Futures, we’re here to support your unique career journey, whether you’re looking for personalized coaching, flexible self-paced courses, or expert business consulting. Our 1-on-1 coaching programs are tailored to your goals, while our online courses offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace. We also provide valuable resources, including specialized training for ADHD job seekers, a curated list of remote job boards, and practical guides to help you stand out in your career or launch your business. Whatever your needs, we’ve got the tools and expertise to help you succeed.

s2e4: how to figure out your ADHD support needs (career edition)

you know you need help with your career or job search, but figuring out what kind of help feels like another impossible task on your plate. then there's the decision fatigue of comparing options, the worry that you won't follow through even with support, and the fear of committing to something that becomes just one more thing you can't keep up with. in this episode of the Colorful Futures® Podcast, Liora breaks down the paralysis that comes with seeking support when you're already overwhelmed. she shares real client stories—like Katie, who needed just a quick tune-up to get momentum, and April, who needed someone walking the entire path with her through a career pivot and potential business launch. Liora walks through the different support options at Colorful Futures® and how to figure out what actually matches your capacity right now. she also gets into why asking for help doesn't mean you're failing, how therapy and coaching work together for neurodivergent people navigating career stuff, and when coaching might not be the right fit yet. the irony? when you most need support is exactly when it's hardest to seek it out. plus, this week's quick tip is all about creating a "high vibe" music playlist—because your brain's going to have songs stuck in it anyway, so you might as well make them affirmations on repeat. let's get into it. and if you want to read more about our programs, visit https://colorfulfutures.us/career-coaching Have a question or want to share some feedback? We'd love to hear it! Click here to send us a text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393096/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://colorfulfutures.us/tip-jar] ------------------------ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorfulfutures Connect with Liora on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lioranatania/ Check out our blog: https://colorfulfutures.us/blog Check out the Colorful Futures Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or at https://colorfulfutures.us/podcast At Colorful Futures, we’re here to support your unique career journey, whether you’re looking for personalized coaching, flexible self-paced courses, or expert business consulting. Our 1-on-1 coaching programs are tailored to your goals, while our online courses offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace. We also provide valuable resources, including specialized training for ADHD job seekers, a curated list of remote job boards, and practical guides to help you stand out in your career or launch your business. Whatever your needs, we’ve got the tools and expertise to help you succeed.

S2E3: the invisible barrier between you and your work

Liora could see everything in front of them and knew it could be as simple as just starting with an email. but they were absolutely frozen and couldn't get started. in this episode of the Colorful Futures® Podcast, Liora gets real about what executive dysfunction actually feels like—when your brain knows exactly what to do, but your body just won't let you move forward. she breaks down why this isn't about laziness, how shame makes the spiral worse, and what actually helps when you're stuck in that functional freeze. Liora also shares what they've worked through with clients who've spent months looking at jobs they're excited about and still can't hit submit. the invisible labor of constantly thinking about a task can be more exhausting than actually doing it. plus, the quick tip of the week gives you a tiny, practical step to take when you're feeling frozen. let's get into it. Have a question or want to share some feedback? We'd love to hear it! Click here to send us a text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393096/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://colorfulfutures.us/tip-jar] ------------------------ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorfulfutures Connect with Liora on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lioranatania/ Check out our blog: https://colorfulfutures.us/blog Check out the Colorful Futures Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or at https://colorfulfutures.us/podcast At Colorful Futures, we’re here to support your unique career journey, whether you’re looking for personalized coaching, flexible self-paced courses, or expert business consulting. Our 1-on-1 coaching programs are tailored to your goals, while our online courses offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace. We also provide valuable resources, including specialized training for ADHD job seekers, a curated list of remote job boards, and practical guides to help you stand out in your career or launch your business. Whatever your needs, we’ve got the tools and expertise to help you succeed.

S2E2: Why job hunting is harder for neurodivergent people (and what to do about it)

Listen. We’ve all been there... refreshing the job boards, tweaking the resume, sending out application after application and… nothing. Crickets. And somehow that silence feels louder than a rejection. In this episode of the Colorful Futures Podcast™, I get into why the job search process can feel especially brutal for neurodivergent folks. If you're living with ADHD, autism, or the double whammy that is AuDHD, you already know that applying for jobs can become is a serious test for your mental and emotional stamina. The burnout hits harder. The spirals come faster. The shame gets louder. I break down what executive functioning actually includes, why job searching asks for all of it at once, and how our brains aren’t built for systems that weren’t built for us. I also share what I worked through with a client (hey Jay!) to help them reconnect with their strengths and shift out of the burnout spiral. Plus, our Quick Tip of the Week is here to help you zoom out and remind yourself just how much you’ve already done, even when it doesn’t feel like enough. You are not lazy. You are not failing. This shit is just hard. Really hard. And I hope this episode gives you some relief, clarity, or even a little courage to keep going. Let’s get into it. Have a question or want to share some feedback? We'd love to hear it! Click here to send us a text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393096/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://colorfulfutures.us/tip-jar] ------------------------ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorfulfutures Connect with Liora on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lioranatania/ Check out our blog: https://colorfulfutures.us/blog Check out the Colorful Futures Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or at https://colorfulfutures.us/podcast At Colorful Futures, we’re here to support your unique career journey, whether you’re looking for personalized coaching, flexible self-paced courses, or expert business consulting. Our 1-on-1 coaching programs are tailored to your goals, while our online courses offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace. We also provide valuable resources, including specialized training for ADHD job seekers, a curated list of remote job boards, and practical guides to help you stand out in your career or launch your business. Whatever your needs, we’ve got the tools and expertise to help you succeed.

S2E1: How To Show Up When Your Brain Says You Can’t

We’re back, babes. Welcome to Season 2 of the Colorful Futures Podcast. I’m Liora Natania, your host, and in this solo season opener, we’re starting with honesty: I’ve been so freaking burnt out. Like, deeply. And I know I’m not alone. In this episode, I talk about what burnout has looked like for me lately – from executive dysfunction to creative blocks and the super fun shame spiral that comes with it. I also share what’s been helping me get through it all. Plus I share a few tangible practices I lean on when nothing else feels doable. If you’ve been feeling stuck, frozen, exhausted, or like your body and brain are out of sync, then my friend you are in the right place. Also, we’re starting something new this season: our Quick Tip of the Week where we share something practical and accessible you can try to support your neurodivergent brain, your queer heart, or your career goals. I hope you feel seen. Let’s get into it. Have a question or want to share some feedback? We'd love to hear it! Click here to send us a text. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2393096/fan_mail/new] Support the show [https://colorfulfutures.us/tip-jar] ------------------------ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colorfulfutures Connect with Liora on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lioranatania/ Check out our blog: https://colorfulfutures.us/blog Check out the Colorful Futures Podcast wherever you get your podcasts or at https://colorfulfutures.us/podcast At Colorful Futures, we’re here to support your unique career journey, whether you’re looking for personalized coaching, flexible self-paced courses, or expert business consulting. Our 1-on-1 coaching programs are tailored to your goals, while our online courses offer the flexibility to learn at your own pace. We also provide valuable resources, including specialized training for ADHD job seekers, a curated list of remote job boards, and practical guides to help you stand out in your career or launch your business. Whatever your needs, we’ve got the tools and expertise to help you succeed.