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✨ In This Episode Hello — this one is for every woman who built a life on being organised and never asked why. Linja Reid worked out she was ADHD in her late 30s, after her son's diagnosis, a misdiagnosis maze, and one question from her psychologist that undid the whole story: but why are you organised? We talk about what changes when you finally have the answer — at home, in her bookkeeping business, and in how she talks to her kids about their brains. 🧠 What We Talk About - The parent-teacher interview that started everything — a chaotic desk, five lost lunchboxes in a week, and a son who suddenly made sense (approx. 06:00) - "But why are you organised?" — the screening question that turned Linja's super-competence into recognition (approx. 09:00) - The misdiagnosis maze: long COVID, Hashimoto's, POTS — and the exhaustion that was ADHD burnout all along (approx. 15:00) - Her daughter's assessment being dismissed — "shows zero signs" — and what masking at nine years old actually looks like (approx. 29:00) - Burning down the BAS-agent box: building a bookkeeping practice where clients brain-dump first, regulate second, and do the numbers together — without shame (approx. 32:00) - Melatonin, capacity, and teaching two ten-year-olds to understand their own regulation (approx. 48:00) 💬 Memorable Moments "I'd spent most of my adult life going, why does this seem so hard for me? Everybody else just seems to be able to do this stuff really easily." — Linja "And so I said yes. And she said, but why are you organised?" — Linja "The biggest surprise I had was the compassion. Yeah, life is harder for you. But you've still been able to get where you are." — Linja 📚 Resources + Mentions Linja Reid — After her ADHD diagnosis in her late 30s, Linja started seeing her life — and her business — through a completely different lens. What had felt like personal failure was unmet support. As the founder of The Connected Bookkeeper and a registered BAS Agent, she now helps overwhelmed women in business understand their numbers without shame — built on compassion, nervous-system safety, and systems that work for real brains. Guest Instagram: @theconnectedbookkeeper Guest Website: https://www.theconnectedbookkeeper.com.au Also mentioned: Zones of Regulation (the school curriculum Linja's kids use). 🎧 Listen + Subscribe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-being-me/id1516970986 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RLYE5TA3ZsCtuAF8otRQ0 📲 Connect With Us Instagram: @betterbeingme_bbme Website: https://betterbeingme.com.au BBMe Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FwjxRf5Km/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-being-me/id1516970986 ✍️ Something to Sit With Where in your life are you "organised" — and what would happen if the calendar, the lists, and the systems disappeared for a week? Notice whether your organisation is preference, or scaffolding holding the whole thing up. Linja said the biggest surprise of diagnosis was compassion for herself. If you knew the answer — whatever it turned out to be — what would you stop blaming yourself for? 🧩 Ready to understand how your brain actually works? The ND Life Alignment Quiz takes about 10 minutes and gives you a personalised picture of where you are right now — across the areas that matter most for neurodivergent women. Take the quiz → https://go.betterbeingme.com.au/ndquiz-landing Go forth, be awesome. — Joanne

Making It Make Sense: Building a Neuroaffirming Business from the Inside Out with Claire Britton ✨ In This Episode Hello and what an absolute cracker of a conversation this one is. Claire Britton is the founding director of Neuroinclusion, an OT and a neurodivergent business owner who has built a team of 20-odd therapists on a foundation that most organisations still can't spell — genuine neuroinclusion, not just the poster on the wall. This is a conversation about what happens when you stop waiting for permission and start building the thing you wish had existed. And what that actually looks like from the inside. 🧠 What We Talk About How a contact-napping newborn, COVID lockdowns, and a Perth relocation collided into burnout — and the autism + ADHD diagnosis Claire had somehow missed across seven years of clinical practice (~00:09:00)Why ADHD medication was the turning point that made starting a business possible and the specific moment Claire stopped apologising for the way her brain works (~00:13:00)The colour-coded caseload system Claire pitched to corporate and was told absolutely not and then built herself anyway (~00:13:00–00:15:00)What happened when Claire fitted out a clinic with individual rooms for each staff member (books said neuro people need their own space) and the first thing everyone did (~00:18:00)Why "done is better than perfect" and "when you stuff up, not if" are the actual operating principles of a neurodivergent team and what that means for accountability (~00:25:00)The anger-versus-hope conversation: what's fuelling the neurodiversity movement, what's stalling it, and why Claire thinks unity and multi-disciplinary collaboration are the missing pieces (~00:33:00) 💬 Memorable Moments "Making things make sense for you is more important than making them make sense on a piece of paper." — Claire Britton "We don't talk about if you stuff up. We talk about when you stuff up. Because being neurodivergent, being in a neurodiverse team — let's just cut the rubbish." — Claire Britton "The most people are stuck because they have one person in their little rowboat going upstream. We need to add more people to this rowboat." — Claire Britton 📚 Resources + Mentions ChildKind Conference , where Joanne and Claire first met. Claire was awarded at the conference (and found out she was pregnant the same week, a big week by any measure). Claire Britton Claire is an Occupational Therapist and the founding director of Neuroinclusion — a national OT practice building neuroaffirming support across clinics in Perth and Melbourne, with telehealth available across Australia. She's neurodivergent herself, diagnosed with autism and ADHD after seven years of clinical practice and a postpartum period that finally made everything click. Her whole business is built on the belief that systems should fit people — not the other way around.Guest Instagram: @neuroinclusion.auGuest Website: neuroinclusion.com.au 🎧 Listen + Subscribe Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-being-me/id1516970986 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RLYE5TA3ZsCtuAF8otRQ0 📲 Connect With Us Instagram: @betterbeingme_bbme Website: https://betterbeingme.com.au BBMe Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FwjxRf5Km/ Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-being-me/id1516970986 ✍️ Something to Sit With Where in your life are you waiting for the system to change before you start? And what would it look like to build the thing that makes sense for you, now, with what you have? Is there something you've been apologising for, at work, at home, in how you communicate, that was never actually a problem to begin with? 🧩 Ready to understand how your brain actually works? The ND Life Alignment Quiz takes about 10 minutes and gives you a personalised picture of where you are right now — across the areas that matter most for neurodivergent women. Take the quiz → https://go.betterbeingme.com.au/ndquiz-landing]

🎙️ Episode Title"We Weren't Actually Living": Paige Carter on Burnout, the Grey Area, and Becoming a Badass Advocate ✨ In This EpisodeHello. This week I'm with Paige Carter — the woman who once filled Parliament House with autistic families so their reality landed in front of the decision-makers. We talk about the day her family stopped surviving the pressure cooker, packed life into a caravan, and watched her son come back to himself on the open road. If you've ever held it all together and still not actually lived, this one's for you. 🧠 What We Talk About Why Paige pulled her family out of "the pressure cooker" and onto the road (approx. 05:00–08:30)Her son Oakland regressing in a mainstream school that couldn't meet him — and returning to himself within weeks of leaving (approx. 09:00–13:30)The "grey area" in SA education: kids too able for special ed, too unwell for mainstream — and the fight she's taking to the Premier (approx. 22:30–29:30)Her late ADHD diagnosis landing as validation, and the both/and of grieving a late recognition (approx. 14:30–20:00)Becoming a "badass advocate" without burning down — pacing the fight so it survives (approx. 20:00–22:30, 30:00–33:30)Connection as what makes the hard shareable, and her new podcast When Life is Lifing (approx. 40:00–56:00)💬 Memorable Moments "I constantly felt like we were in a pressure cooker, and we weren't actually living." — Paige"You have to become a badass advocate to get the best for your kids." — Paige"It's okay to be like, I actually can't do that today. And it doesn't mean I fail." — Paige 📚 Resources + Mentions Inclusive Oak (formerly Oak for Autism) — Paige's community for neurodivergent families. Follow the page; no membership needed to be welcomed.SA education advocacy campaign + submission form — on Paige's site. ~10 minutes; every submission is collated as evidence and has gone to the Premier.When Life is Lifing — Paige's new podcast with Leanne. Wildly Grounded Co — Leanne's business. Paige Carter — founder of Inclusive Oak, fierce neurodivergent advocate and mum to a proudly neurodivergent family. Years fighting for autistic kids in SA's education system, now doing it from the road while travelling Australia for a year. One half of When Life is Lifing.Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusiveoak/Guest Website: inclusiveoak.com.au 🎧 Listen + SubscribeApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-being-me/id1516970986Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RLYE5TA3ZsCtuAF8otRQ0 📲 Connect With UsInstagram: @betterbeingme_bbmeWebsite: https://betterbeingme.com.auBBMe Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FwjxRf5Km/ ✍️ Something to Sit With Paige's family didn't get a bigger house — they got fewer demands. When you picture "more space," is it more room, or less pressure?"I can't do that today, and it doesn't mean I fail." Where are you treating a pause as failure, when it's just pacing?🧩 Ready to understand how your brain actually works?The ND Life Alignment Quiz takes about 10 minutes and gives you a personalised picture of where you are right now — across the areas that matter most for neurodivergent women.Take the quiz → HERE Go forth, be awesome. — Joanne

🎙️ EPISODE TITLE She Drew Rainbows Everywhere: AuDHD, Late Diagnosis & Self-Compassion — with Brianna Thomas ✨ IN THIS EPISODE Hello and welcome back to Talking Twaddle. This week Joanne is joined by Brianna Thomas — AuDHD psychologist, Certified Synergetic Play Therapist, and co-director of the Psych Hive in Canberra — for a conversation that somehow goes in every direction and lands exactly where it needs to. Together they unpack what happens when you finally get words for things you've been carrying for years. The things that felt hard but impossible to explain. The patterns you noticed but couldn't name. The parts of yourself that you assumed were personality flaws, overwhelm, laziness, or simply “how life is.” Because diagnosis rarely arrives as one neat moment where everything suddenly makes sense. Sometimes it brings understanding and sadness at exactly the same time. Relief and mourning. Validation and anger. Joy and overwhelm. It can feel like finally seeing yourself clearly while also grieving the years spent trying to fit into spaces that were never designed with you in mind. The conversation also dives into Bri’s PhD research around neurodiversity-affirming autism assessments, imposter syndrome, and one unexpectedly iconic character who appears midway through the episode: Pam. Yes. Pam. Pam emerged during Internal Family Systems (IFS) training and apparently runs the creative director’s office inside Bri’s brain. Depending on who you ask, Pam may also be responsible for multiple projects happening simultaneously, seventeen tabs being open at once, and potentially this entire podcast episode. If you've ever felt like you were doing a lot and couldn’t quite explain why, Pam might be someone you recognise. 🧠 WHAT WE TALK ABOUT • ~00:05:00 — Bri's ADHD diagnosis process: a psychiatrist, a very old form, and the phrase "darling, you definitely have inattentive ADHD" • ~00:11:00 — How the autism realisation followed ADHD medication — and the stims that finally had permission to exist • ~00:13:00 — The emotional rollercoaster after diagnosis: relief, grief, and the part that suddenly realises this is for life • ~00:16:00 — How diagnosis changed Bri's relationship and gave both people language for the mismatches that had always been there • ~00:20:00 — Bri's PhD research into neurodiversity-affirming autism assessments and the imposter syndrome that somehow still appears • ~00:33:00 — Meeting Pam: the IFS part who runs the creative department and possibly several parallel universes 💬 MEMORABLE MOMENTS "I feel like I started living after that. Like before that it's like I was here but I was just struggling in every way." — Brianna Thomas "It's not that we're not easy to love, it's just that sometimes we're hard to live with." — Joanne 📚 RESOURCES + MENTIONS • AuDHD IRL Podcast + Psych Hive: https://thepsychhive.com/ • MAGUS Assessment Tool — neurodiversity-affirming autism assessment for older children and adults • ADOS Assessment — behavioural observation tool used with young children • Internal Family Systems (IFS) — a framework for understanding different parts of how your mind works • BBMe Completely: https://betterbeingme.com.au Guest Instagram: @brianna_thomas_psych https://www.instagram.com/brianna_thomas_psych/ Guest Website: https://thepsychhive.com/ 🎧 LISTEN + SUBSCRIBE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-being-me/id1516970986 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4RLYE5TA3ZsCtuAF8otRQ0 📲 CONNECT WITH US Instagram: @betterbeingme_bbme https://www.instagram.com/betterbeingme_bbme/ Website: https://betterbeingme.com.au BBMe Community: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FwjxRf5Km/ 🧩 READY TO UNDERSTAND HOW YOUR BRAIN ACTUALLY WORKS? Take the ND Life Alignment Quiz → https://go.betterbeingme.com.au/ndquiz-landing

🎙️ Burn It Down, Build It Better: Late ADHD Diagnosis, Accountability & Motherhood with Sandra Senn ✨ In This Episode What happens when you know you’re capable… but your brain won’t cooperate? In this honest, unfiltered conversation, Joanne sits down with Sandra Senn, founder of Business Mums Hub, to unpack late-diagnosed ADHD, dyslexia at 31, shame at 41, and the complicated layers of parenting while healing yourself. This one is equal parts laughter, truth-telling and uncomfortable self-reflection — the kind that cracks something open. Guest Bio Meet Sandra Senn. An Irish powerhouse and the owner of Business Mums Hub. This bubbly ball of energy has worked around the world, running large teams, overseeing sales and marketing, and working in events. However, many of you will also know Sandra as the owner of Hashtag Insta Prints, a business she grew after having 2 gorgeous kids (3 if you count her techy-savvy gamer husband) to give her the freedom and lifestyle she wanted. Facts about Sandra: #1 Business Tip: Learn when to say no. As hard as it seems at the time, saying yes to the wrong things is even harder. Guilty Pleasure: Chips and Gravy. I honestly love it! Cause close to her heart: Helping to raise awareness about Post Natal Depression and encouraging women to seek help early when it comes to mental health issues and normalise the stigma around this 🧠 What We Talk About 00:01 – “TikTok diagnosed me first”: Sandra’s ADHD assessment at 41 and the unexpected shame that followed 00:02 – Recategorising 40 years of memories through a neurodivergent lens 00:05 – Discovering dyslexia at 31 (after years of reading slides out loud) 00:11 – Is ADHD a “superpower”… or is that pressure we don’t need? 00:14 – Why praising hard work over “being smart” matters more than we realise 00:21 – Parenting while healing: repair, accountability, and breaking generational patterns 00:31 – Trying ADHD medication (Vyvanse & Ritalin), burnout, and choosing lifestyle changes instead 00:35 – “Neurodivergence as a normal response to abnormal environments” 00:38 – Accountability as freedom (and why diagnosis isn’t a full stop) 00:46 – Safe and happy kids are loud kids — unlearning public shame 00:48 – Repairing with your children… and repairing with yourself 💬 Memorable Moments “I always knew I wasn’t shit. There was just something shit going on.” “Accountability is the key to freedom.” “It’s not a full stop. You still have to do the work.” “Safe and happy kids are really loud kids.” 📚 Resources + Mentions Scattered Minds by Dr Gabor Maté The Diary of a CEO podcast (episode featuring Dr Daniel Amen) Dr Ash (parenting psychologist referenced in episode) Business Mums Hub Instagram: @businessmumshub 🎧 Listen + Subscribe Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify 📲 Connect With Us Instagram: @betterbeingme_ Website: https://betterbeingme.com.au Explore the BBMe community + programs via the website if you’re ready for deeper support. ✍️ Share Your Thoughts What story about yourself needs recategorising? Where might accountability actually feel like freedom in your life? 🧡 Support the Show If this episode resonated, share it with another woman who’s quietly doing the work behind the scenes. Your share helps normalise these conversations.

🎙️ Episode TitleLate Diagnosis, Loud Identity: Cassie Day on Unmasking, Burnout & Belonging ✨ In This EpisodeThis episode, Joanne sits down with longtime friend and powerhouse human Cassie Day for an unfiltered chat about late-diagnosed neurodivergence, unravelling identity, and rebuilding from burnout. Cassie shares with raw honesty what it felt like to be diagnosed with ADHD (and a “side-serve” of autism) at 47 — and how she's still finding her place in a world that’s only just catching up. 🧠 What We Talk About 00:05 – Cassie’s late-diagnosis story and slipping through the cracks 09:00 – Parenting neurodivergent children while realising your own traits 14:00 – Processing diagnosis shame and the internalised “not enough” 22:00 – Imposter syndrome, self-trust, and deciding not to justify yourself anymore 27:00 – Burnout, business, and rediscovering identity beyond being a carer 35:00 – Neurodivergent communication quirks in relationships (kitchens beware) 42:00 – Cassie’s biggest message to other late-diagnosed women 💬 Memorable Moments “I’m just me. This is how the world works, right? How can I be different when I’ve always just been... me?” “I get to say no. I get to draw the line. I get to choose different.” “Don’t second guess yourself. You already have everything you need — and you’re okay exactly as you are.” 📚 Resources + Mentions Cassie Day’s website: www.cassieday.com Instagram: @days_of_cassie Cassie on LinkedIn Joanne’s programs & offerings: https://betterbeingme.com.au 🎧 Listen + Subscribe Follow the show so you never miss an episode — and share with a fellow late-diagnosed legend who needs to hear it. 📲 Connect With Us Instagram: @betterbeingme_bbme Website: https://betterbeingme.com.au BBMe Completely: https://go.betterbeingme.com.au/bbmecompletely295544 ✍️ Share Your Thoughts💭 What part of Cassie’s story hit home for you?👇 Drop us a DM or comment on Insta — we’d love to know. 🧡 Support the ShowIf this episode sparked something for you, please leave a review or share it with someone who might need it. You can also sign up for updates and deeper reflections at betterbeingme.com.au.

🎹 Episode TitleParenting, Burnout, and Finding Justice: Katie Price on Neurodivergence and the Innocence Project ✨ In This EpisodeThis is one of those episodes that sits in your body long after listening. Joanne chats with the passionate, hilarious, and no-BS Katie Price about late diagnosis, parenting four neurodivergent kids, and shifting from burnout to purpose. They unpack everything from the medical model to the prison system—and why Katie's now helping wrongfully convicted people through the Innocence Project. It's big-hearted, wide-ranging, and full of truth bombs. 🧠 What We Talk About 00:02 – Why Katie resisted a diagnosis and what finally changed her mind 00:14 – Raising four neurodivergent kids in rural Australia 00:30 – Rejection of the medical model and the harm of deficit-based labels 00:42 – The complicated relationship with NDIS and service providers 01:10 – Burnout, breakdown, and why hospital was the turning point 01:28 – How chickens (yes, really) and social justice shaped her career path 01:50 – From social work dropout to criminology and the Innocence Project 02:05 – Miscarriage of justice, systemic bias, and finding your purpose 💬 Memorable Moments “You have to ride your worst day to get help. And even then, they make you prove it.”“We're allowed to be shit at some things. It doesn't mean we're broken. It means we're human.”“I was trying to fill holes in a bucket that was exploding. And then they gave me a sieve.” 📚 Resources + Mentions Katie Price on LinkedIn Edith Cowan University – Criminal Justice Review Project Law Society WA: Interview with John Button Innocence Network Australian Miscarriages of Justice Organisation (NetK) Joanne's Program: Be Me Completely 🎰 Listen + SubscribeFollow the show for more real, raw, and radically validating conversations. 📲 Connect With Us Instagram: @betterbeingme_ Website: https://betterbeingme.com.au BBMe Community Group or Program: BBMe Completely ✍️ Share Your Thoughts💭 What part of Katie's story lit something up in you?👇 Tell us in the comments or DM Joanne on Insta. 🧡 Support the ShowLove this ep? Share it with a friend, leave a review, or subscribe to our newsletter at betterbeingme.com.au

🎙️ Episode TitleADHD, Anger & Authentic Parenting: Danielle Baker on Reclaiming Her Neurodivergence ✨ In This EpisodeWhat happens when the therapist gets diagnosed? In this deeply real and refreshingly honest chat, Joanne sits down with Danielle Baker—play therapist, psychotherapist, mum, and founder of The Nurtured Village. Danielle shares her journey of late ADHD diagnosis, what it’s like to parent while healing, and how perfectionism, nervous system dysregulation, and unmet needs show up in daily life. If you’ve ever felt like you were doing it all and still falling short, this one will land hard—in the best way. 🧠 What We Talk About 04:30 – The ADHD diagnosis that changed everything 08:55 – Why becoming a mum was the unraveling (and the awakening) 15:10 – Heavy lifting, high-pressure jobs, and the need for stimulation 23:45 – Creating a neuro-affirming workplace at The Nurtured Village 30:20 – Parenting while re-parenting yourself 41:40 – Sensory needs, perfectionism, and asking for help 51:00 – The power of play therapy and non-verbal emotional processing 1:10:00 – Literal thinking, self-soothing, and letting go of parenting guilt 💬 Memorable Moments “We parent the way we do with the knowledge and the skills we have at the time. That’s all we can do.” “I created a workplace I wish existed—for neurodivergent mums, by neurodivergent mums.” “Being a therapist didn’t mean I didn’t yell. It meant I had the awareness to apologise.” 📚 Resources + Mentions Danielle’s Website: www.thenurturedvillage.com.au Instagram: @thenurturedvillage Personal IG: @__daniellebaker Circle of Security Parenting BBMe Programs & Resources: https://betterbeingme.com.au 🎧 Listen + SubscribeDon’t forget to hit follow so you never miss an episode. 📲 Connect With Us Instagram: @betterbeingme_ Website: https://betterbeingme.com.au ✍️ Share Your Thoughts💭 Did Danielle’s story mirror parts of your own?👇 Let us know in the comments or DM us on Insta—we’d love to hear from you. 🧡 Support the ShowLove what you’re hearing? Leave a review or share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. Sign up for the newsletter at betterbeingme.com.au for more real, neuro-affirming content.

Finding Peace in a Noisy World: Amy Hourigan on Late Diagnosis, PDA Parenting + Nervous System Healing ✨ In This EpisodeThis week, Joanne sits down with digital marketing expert and neurodivergent powerhouse Amy Hourigan (@amywhodigital) for a no-holds-barred, deeply human conversation. They cover the messy beauty of late-diagnosed autism, the raw truth of parenting PDA kids, and what it means to reclaim your nervous system after a lifetime of internalised chaos. It’s vulnerable, witty, and refreshingly real. 🧠 What We Talk About 00:03 – Late autism diagnosis at 41 and what sparked the self-discovery 06:40 – Parenting PDA kids, misdiagnosis, and the sideways approach to advocacy 14:05 – Early life trauma and the nervous system's long memory 24:30 – Shame, guilt, and birth stories that shape self-worth 36:15 – Internal meltdowns, masking, and the hidden labour of survival 48:45 – How SEO became a special interest and turned into Amy Who Digital 58:00 – Rewiring the nervous system and the magic of neuro-affirming therapy 💬 Memorable Moments “I survived it. I didn't cope with it. And now I get to learn how to live, not just exist.”“Your nervous system doesn’t care where you go—it comes with you. You can’t outrun it, but you can learn to befriend it.”“I built an empire out of spite. But mostly out of self-belief I didn’t even know I had.” 📚 Resources + Mentions Amy Who Digital – Amy's website for SEO + digital marketing @amywhodigital on Instagram Alison Davies on emotions + nervous system regulation Nikki Vox (mentioned for rapid processing therapy) 📲 Connect With Us Instagram: @betterbeingme_bbme Website: https://betterbeingme.com.au BBMe Completely: Link Here to Book A Chat ✍️ Share Your Thoughts💭 What part of Amy’s story felt familiar to you?👇 DM us or join the conversation on Instagram. 🧡 Support the ShowIf you loved this episode, leave a review or share it with a friend who gets it. Sign up for Joanne's newsletter at https://betterbeingme.com.au.

From Burnout to Belonging: Amelia Wright on Late Diagnosis, Self-Acceptance + Neurotopical Therapy ✨ In This Episode Joanne sits down with the beautifully insightful Amelia Wright (@neurotopicaltherapy), a late-identified autistic ADHDer and social worker who's carved a neuro-affirming path through therapy and lived experience. Together, they unpack what it really feels like to go from “something’s wrong with me” to full-blown self-understanding—and how that led to the creation of *Neurotopical Therapy*. If you’ve ever felt like you were faking being human, this one’s for you. --- 🧠 What We Talk About - 00:05 – The COVID-era collapse that led to Amelia’s diagnosis - 12:30 – “What’s actually wrong with me?” – navigating misdiagnoses and the search for clarity - 25:40 – Autism, ADHD and identity: from compartmentalising to integrating - 39:50 – What it’s like to mask while being the “chatty” twin - 46:15 – Starting Neurotopical: building a practice that *feels* right - 01:06:00 – Wisdom for the next gen of neurodivergent folk (spoiler: fight back!) --- 💬 Memorable Moments > “I just felt like I’d been pretending to be human—and the pandemic broke the mask.” > “You’re not a struggling neurotypical. You’re a perfectly fine autistic person.” > “Nothing isn’t autistic. You are autistic—and that’s a good thing.” --- 📚 Resources + Mentions - Amelia’s Practice: [neurotopicaltherapy.com.au](https://www.neurotopicaltherapy.com.au) - Instagram: [@neurotopicaltherapy](https://www.instagram.com/neurotopicaltherapy/) - Joanne’s 8-week program BBMe Completely for late-identifying women: [betterbeingme.com.au](https://betterbeingme.com.au) --- 📲 Connect With Us - Instagram: [@betterbeingme_bbme](https://www.instagram.com/betterbeingme_) - Website: [https://betterbeingme.com.au](https://betterbeingme.com.au) ✍️ Share Your Thoughts 💭 What part of Amelia’s story mirrored yours? 👇 Drop us a DM or tag @betterbeingme_bbme on Insta—we love hearing your reflections. 🧡 Support the Show Feeling seen? Share this episode with a friend or leave a review. It helps us reach more amazing humans. Sign up to Joanne’s newsletter at [betterbeingme.com.au](https://betterbeingme.com.au) to stay in the loop.

Late Diagnosis, Masking & the Motherload with Victoria Hausler This episode is a bit like sitting in on two neurodivergent women unpacking years of “what the actual f**k?” moments—with a side of humour, a splash of parenting honesty, and a big dose of finally feeling seen. I’m joined by the powerhouse that is Victoria Hausler—founder of Dara Disability and Dara Wellness Services. We talk about the moment it all started to click (thanks to her son), the fallout of years of masking, and the unexpected liberation that comes with a late diagnosis. From hypermobility to weighted blankets, eyebrow quirks to literal interpretations of social niceties… this is the conversation that shows you’re not alone—and you’re definitely not weird (or if you are, you’ve got company). Whether you’re fresh to your diagnosis or just starting to question the rules you’ve followed your whole life, there’s something in here for you. And if you’ve ever thought, “am I just making this up?”—this one’s a must. 🧠 What We Talk About 00:00 – Welcome to Talking Twaddle Why we’re sharing these stories—and what they unlock for all of us. 03:12 – Victoria’s late diagnosis & the trigger moment Parenting her son opened the floodgates for her own neurodivergent discovery. 10:30 – Masking, mirroring & the performance of fitting in How childhood habits stuck, and the cost of never showing up fully. 16:40 – Unmasking & what’s been gained (and lost) Letting go of the performance—and what falls apart in the process. 22:15 – Sensory quirks, disordered eating, and the magic of mugs Comfort, regulation, and learning to work with your wiring. 30:45 – Motherhood, marriage & the silent resentment trap What happens when the ‘coping mechanisms’ can’t hold anymore. 42:00 – Literal brains, awkward friendships & social confusion Why “we should catch up” is a dangerous phrase. 52:00 – Building a neuro-affirming business (without knowing it) How Victoria created a safe space for women that reflects her own journey. 59:45 – Final reflections Connection, community, and stepping into your own story—without apology. 💬 Quote of the Episode "Go forth without fear, without judgment of yourself. Step into your power." – Victoria Hausler 🔗 Learn More Guest: Victoria Hausler Founder of Dara Disability & Dara Wellness Services Creating safe, empowering spaces for neurodivergent women. 📸 Instagram: [@victoriahausler_dara] 🌐 Website: [daradisabilityservices.com.au] BBMe Completely : Join Now Better Being Me IG: BetterBeingMe_BBMe 📤 Share the Episode If this episode hit home, send it to someone else who needs to hear it. Tag us on socials and share your favourite quote from the show.

Talking Twaddle with Leonie Dawson: Embracing Neurodivergence, Creativity & Life Without a Filter 🌀 Episode Summary: What happens when two unapologetically neurodivergent women sit down and talk about literally everything? This episode is part joyride, part deep-dive into what it means to live, create, and *feel* as a neurodivergent human in a neurotypical world. Joanne Hatchard is joined by bestselling author, artist, entrepreneur, and neurodivergent legend Leonie Dawson for a beautifully meandering conversation about identity, overthinking, internal monologues, toilet logistics, parenting, and creating a life that honours your energy and your weirdness. This isn’t your standard self-development chat—this is two brains syncing up across a thousand tangents, proving (once again) that you’re not alone, you’re not broken, and your journey is more shared than you think. ✨ What We Talk About: - [00:01:00] The myth of the “unique” ND journey - [00:04:30] ADHD + Autism and the creative entrepreneur brain - [00:08:00] Productivity tips that actually work for neurodivergent folks - [00:11:00] Counting brain channels, friendship hierarchies & emotional regulation - [00:21:00] Self-marriage and becoming your own best friend (seriously!) - [00:32:00] Postpartum, shutdowns & the ADHD crash - [00:39:00] Imposter syndrome vs. doing the damn thing - [00:47:00] Farm girls, fandoms & manifesting weird-ass dreams - [00:54:00] Parenting while ND (and trying not to cry in public) 💬 Quote of the Episode: “There are people out there who are thirsty for what you have to offer. So stop f*****g thinking about yourself and just do the thing.” — Leonie Dawson 🌿 Learn More: 🎓 Join Be Me Completely – the 8-week program for late-identified neurodivergent women who are ready to drop the mask and reconnect with their true selves. 👉 BBMe Completely 📲 Follow Joanne on Instagram for podcast updates, brain bubbles, and support for ND women and families. 👉 BetterBeingMe_BBMe 🎨 Connect with Leonie Dawson – courses, books, art, and delightfully weird things. IG: Leonie Dawson 👉 Leonie Dawson Website 📣 Share the Episode! If this resonated with you, chances are someone in your life needs to hear it too. Screenshot, share, and tag us so we can say thanks! Or better yet—send it to that friend who still doesn’t understand why conferences ruin you for a month. 🧡 Thanks for listening. Your brain is welcome here.

This month Better Being Me host Joanne Hatchard talks to Josephine Moon, author of The Wonderful Thing About Phoenix Rose.  They kick off their conversation with the topic of names, as they share a birth name, and also talk about preferred names and the names others give us.  Josephine delves into the writing process, and the pressure she felt writing the first book in Australia with an autistic female lead.  Joanne reassures her that there is an understanding that not all experiences can be conveyed in one character, and Josephine reveals that she has had a lot of positive feedback for the book. Finding a balance, as a neurodivergent person who is passionate about everything is discussed.  And this somehow leads onto a discussion of Josephine’s desire to have an equine therapy business one day.  The unique nature of horses for use in therapy is discussed, and this leads onto the topic of energy fields and vibrations.  The pair then discuss dogs, and Joanne explains the difference between assistance dogs and therapy dogs. The expense of caring for animals leads into a discussion on spreadsheets. Josephine is not a fan, however Joanne LOVES them for collating and analysing data.  Josephine confesses that she’ll probably need to learn, if she goes ahead with her equine business.  She then reflects on how being an author has changed so much since she started in 1999.  Once she could close herself away and focus on writing, now it’s talks and publicity and making tik tok videos and almost needing to be a performer. Josephine then talks about the shift in her executive function after the birth of her child.  With driving being one of the main things affected.  And describes an incident where she left the car in drive and with no hand brake on a hill.  Which luckily didn’t end as badly as it could have!  Josephine declares that she couldn’t drive overseas, and Joanne confesses that she waited six months before driving in Canada.  And even then, she had someone with her for quite some time.  Josephine quizzes Joanne as to why she was in Canada, and Joanne talks a bit about her love story with her Canadian partner Brad. The topic of making big decisions comes up, and Josephine declares that she really has an issue with “making the call.”  Joanne talks about moments where big things have changed the trajectory of her life, where she probably would have kept doing what she was doing otherwise.  This then leads in to discussion of black and white thinking, dreams and sleep, sensitivity and then memory. Josephine talks about when her characters take on lives of their own, and describes it as a “writer’s high.”  And that sometimes she feels like she’s writing to keep up with them.  The intelligence of animals beyond what we give them credit for is discussed; including dogs, bees and birds.  How they innately know how to do the things they do.  And how research is wasted on proving that animals are intelligent. Josephine and Joanne come back to the topic of assistance/therapy dogs, and discuss the pros and cons of retrievers v’s border collies.  And Joanne talks about her dog Gilly, who is a maremma/retriever cross.  Josephine then talks about visiting a camel dairy near her, and that merammas are used to guard the babies.  But that they also have guard donkeys, who can be quite deadly around people.  Josephine closes off with some funny stories about a book tour, one involving almost causing the evacuation of her hotel.  Yay executive dysfuntion! Connect with Josephine Moon IG: https://www.instagram.com/josephine_moon/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/JosephineMoonAuthor Website: https://josephinemoon.com Connect with Joanne Hatchard IG: https://www.instagram.com/betterbeingme_bbme/ FB: https://www.facebook.com/Betterbeingme/ Website: betterbeingme.com.au

On this episode of Talking Twaddle, your host Joanne Hatchard from Better Being Me talks to social worker Jasmine Deakin from Sunny Spectrum Supports. They talk about employment for autistic people, their own work as social workers and the insight that has brought them.  The differences between social work and psychology, unpacking past trauma and the validation of diagnosis are touched on. The grief a diagnosis can bring leads to a discussion about reframing, and the old stereotypes are discussed.  Then how affirming being around other neurodivergent people can be, although there are still differences. The gap in university education compared to how many autistic people there are, gives rise to a conversation about training in autism.  And that it’s not “one and done”, it’s an ongoing process. Masking and finding community are talked about, and Jasmine expresses that autistic people can thrive rather than just survive.  Training is touched on again, imposter syndrome, being a therapist, and what really makes an autism “expert”. Back to employment, the fact that autistic people have to know what accommodations they need, and are underutilised in the workforce are discussed.  The SA Autism Strategy in touched on, and how it looks good on the surface but maybe not so great in reality. The difference of an affirming neurodivergent household leads into a discussion about the hope for the future and how things are improving.  Closing with the dedication to “make the world less shit!”   https://www.instagram.com/sunnyspectrum/ https://www.sunnyspectrum.com.au https://www.instagram.com/betterbeingme_bbme/ https://betterbeingme.com.au

In the April episode of Better Being Me’s podcast Talking Twaddle, host Joanne Hatchard talks to neurodivergent children’s author Beck Newell about their books, studies, parenting, gender, more books, emotions, mental health issues, threat of homelessness, catastrophizing and future thinking, and more books! Joanne opens the conversation with Beck, pointing out their list of books that they have published in the past eighteen months.  Beck thanks hyper-focus, and points out that finishing things hasn’t always been their strong point. This leads to a conversation about studies - completing and not completing, the reasons we study what we study, what it looks like when you don’t realise you’re autistic, how studying compares to the “real world” of the workforce, and studying while being a parent. The pair then move on to talking about parenting autistic kids when it isn’t recognised by professionals, and the impact this has.  Beck shares stories about when they realised their third child is autistic, and about their grandchildren as well. The topic of gender is covered, and Beck talks about their youngest child.  Who was born Morgan, but now identifies as Pete.  They talk about where there has been support with this transition, and who struggled with it the most.  They also briefly touch on their own journey of identifying as non-binary. Body positivity is discussed, highlighting Beck’s book EVERYbody is Incredible.  And they also discuss My Friend the Tiger, which Beck dedicated to Joanne AFTER realising that her little stuffed lovey George is in fact a tiger.  They talk about the complexity of friendships. They cover the concept of whether when we’re seeing autism if it’s borrowed traits from those around us or if the autism is within ourselves.  Beck talks about her daughter being convinced that the former was true for her, for a long time before she accepted her diagnosis. Emotions are then touched on, and Beck talks about how deeply they feel emotions, and about being called a “drama queen” throughout their life.  Catastrophizing and future thinking are also covered, in relation to Beck recently almost becoming homeless.  And finding a middle ground between preparing for the worse and not worrying at all! The interplay between mental health issues and autism closes out the discussion. Find Beck’s books at the links below or email [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/becknewellcreative https://www.instagram.com/becknewell_creative/