If reading the news leaves you overwhelmed, angry, or completely checked out—you're not broken. The system is.

In this episode of Adulting with Autism, I'm joined by Kira Shishkin, founder and CEO of informed.now, a platform built for people who want to stay informed without being manipulated, overstimulated, or emotionally drained.

Kira shares how her own struggles with attention, overload, and disability shaped a radically different approach to news—one that prioritizes facts, primary sources, and respect for the reader's time and nervous system.

We talk about:

• Why modern news is designed to hijack attention

• "Structural sensationalism" and how advertising drives outrage

• Why many autistic and neurodivergent people avoid the news entirely

• How to consume information without doom scrolling or shutdown

• What media minimalism and "news mindfulness" actually look like

• Why informed.now delivers fact-based news via simple text messages

This episode is especially for autistic adults, ADHDers, and anyone whose mental health takes a hit from constant media overload—but still wants to understand what's happening in the world.

🔗 Learn more or sign up at informed.now

Living with anxiety spikes, focus fog, or constant sensory overload as an autistic, AuDHD, or ADHD adult—and wondering if music could actually help your brain calm down? This episode of Adulting With Autism explores music therapy for autistic adults with Dr. Barb Minton, a psychologist and neuroscientist who started as a pipe organ major and went on to create the Calm the Storm album with guitarist Peppino D'Agostino.​

Dr. Barb explains how music can entrain brain waves—how tempo, rhythm, and sound textures can gently guide the nervous system toward calmer or more focused states. She shares how specific choices (like slower tempos around 60–80 beats per minute for calm, or slightly faster tempos around 110–120 for focus) may support sleep, pain management, migraines, and attention, and why the body "hears" vibration through mechanoreceptors as well as through your ears.​

You will hear stories of how music has been used to support neurodivergent adults, including those with autism and ADHD, and how to experiment safely: choosing tracks that feel regulating rather than overwhelming, adjusting volume, and noticing your own responses instead of following rigid rules. Dr. Barb also talks about why music is still underused in mainstream care despite promising research and real-world results.​

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Feel overstimulated or shut down and want non-medication tools to try

• Are curious whether specific music choices could help with anxiety, focus, or sleep

• Want a more science-informed understanding of why certain music "works" for your brain

If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on Podbean, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it.

Merch for your calm and focus journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and "Brainwave Harmony"–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop ( Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

Resources mentioned:

• Calm the Storm and more music at musicandhealing.net

• Dr. Barb's work and workshops at drbminton.com

• Caught in "not enough" or "too much" loops as an autistic or AuDHD adult—stuck in old patterns, feeling like your needs are a burden, or burning out trying to keep everyone else okay? This episode of Adulting With Autism dives into self-love for autistic adults with Christina Ketchen, a certified life and relationship coach trained in HeartMath®, Gottman, and the Hoffman Process, who brings both neuroscience and hard-won personal wisdom to healing.​

  Christina talks about trauma loops—those familiar patterns and relationship dynamics that feel terrible but somehow also "normal"—and how they can quietly drain self-worth over time. She shares compassionate tools like heart-focused breathing to support the nervous system, "kind no's" that protect your energy ("This doesn't work for me—thank you"), and gentle self-talk that shifts you from "I am broken" to "I am human and learning."​

  You will hear how patterns often started as protection, how faith/meaning can reframe pain without dismissing it, and why embracing your "messy" humanity is part of building real self-love, not a sign of failure. Christina also offers guidance for neurodivergent adults who feel guilty setting boundaries or fear that saying no will make people leave.​

  This episode is especially helpful if you:

  • Keep ending up in the same painful situations or relationships
  • Struggle to hold boundaries without intense shame, fear, or backlash inside your own mind
  • Are learning what self-love looks like for you as an autistic or AuDHD adult, beyond clichés and quick fixes

  If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it.

  Merch for your self-love journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and "Self-Love Alchemist"–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop ( Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

  Resources mentioned:

  • Coaching and masterclasses with Christina at christinaketchen.com
  • Her podcast The Self Love Shift

Feeling stuck in survival mode as an autistic or AuDHD adult—checking all the boxes on paper but still burned out, unfulfilled, or unsure what you actually want? This episode of Adulting With Autism explores self-love and life direction with Chandra Lynn, a certified transformation coach, former Apple/Mercedes marketing leader, and author of Root to Rise: How to Love Life When It's Messy, When It's Hard.​

Chandra breaks down her Root to Rise framework, which looks at key areas of life—like career, relationships, health, and creativity—and helps you line them up with core emotional needs such as security, variety, growth, connection, and contribution. She shares simple journaling prompts like "What do I want? Why? What am I willing to try?" to help you get out of autopilot and start making choices that actually fit you, not just what others expect.​

You will hear how her own path from high-pressure corporate roles into more aligned, heart-centered work unfolded in zigzags, not straight lines—and why that is normal, especially for neurodivergent adults. Chandra offers practical tools for exploring purpose through experiments and "try-ons," building authentic relationships, and practicing self-love in the middle of messy, imperfect life rather than waiting to "fix everything" first.​

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Feel like you are surviving but not really living

• Are questioning your career, relationships, or direction as a late-diagnosed autistic or AuDHD adult

• Want a grounded framework to check in with your needs and make kinder, more aligned choices

If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it.

Merch for your Root to Rise journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and "Root Your Rise"–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop (Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

Resources mentioned:

• Root to Rise: How to Love Life When It's Messy, When It's Hard

• Chandra's quiz, courses, and coaching at glowliving.com

Growing up with labels like "too emotional," "overreacting," or "ice queen," and now struggling to understand what you actually feel as an autistic or AuDHD adult? This episode of Adulting With Autism dives into emotion regulation for autistic adults with Jenn Veilleux, clinical psychologist, professor, and author of Open to Emotion, who blends her theater background with science to support authentic emotional expression.

Jenn shares her own journey from being called "too emotional" to seeing emotional intensity as a form of being a "super-taster" of feelings. She talks about the difference between awareness and attention—how you can notice emotions without getting completely swept away—and offers metaphors like watching emotions move through like wind instead of something you have to hold onto forever.

You will hear practical tools for:

• Unmasking your emotions after years of pushing them down or performing what others expect

• Using body signals (interoception) as early warning signs so you can regulate sooner

• Sitting with emotions long enough to understand them without drowning in them

• Challenging myths about ADHD and "overreacting" so you can embrace your full range

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Struggle to identify what you feel until you are already overwhelmed

• Have been told your emotions are "too much" or "not enough" your whole life

• Want language and tools to unmask emotionally at a pace that feels safe

If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it.

Merch for your emotional journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and "Emotional Range Journal"–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop (Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

Resources mentioned:

• Open to Emotion by Jenn Veilleux

• Workshops and more at jenncveilleux.com

Stuck in limiting beliefs as an autistic or AuDHD adult—thoughts like "I am not good enough because of autism" or feeling like different "parts" of you are constantly fighting each other? In this episode of Adulting With Autism, Tamara Andreas joins to talk about Core Transformation, a gentle inner-work process she co-developed that has been taught worldwide for over 30 years.​

Tamara explains the idea of "parts" in a grounded way: the part that wants to keep you safe, the part that is scared of change, the part that believes you have to mask. She walks through how to acknowledge these parts with respect, ask what they are trying to do for you, and then guide them toward deeper "core states" such as peace, love, or OK-ness—without forcing yourself to "think positive."​

You will hear a guided example of the process, how Core Transformation grew out of her and Connirae Andreas' work, and why this approach can be especially supportive for autistic and ADHD adults who have been shamed, gaslit, or told to "fix" themselves. We also talk about pacing, safety, and why it is okay to pause or come back to the process as needed.​

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Carry a lot of shame or harsh self-talk tied to autism or being "too sensitive"

• Feel fragmented, like different parts of you are pulling in opposite directions

• Want a structured, yet compassionate way to explore inner peace and self-acceptance

If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it.

Merch for your inner work journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and "Core Self Guide"–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop (Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

Resources mentioned:

• Core Transformation® book and materials

• Free micro-book and videos at andreasnlp.com

• Trainings and more at coretransformation.org

Struggling with routines, self-doubt, or turning your creative passions into a real career as a late-diagnosed autistic or AuDHD adult? This episode of Adulting With Autism features JD Barker, a New York Times bestselling thriller author with 19 books to his name, co-writing credits with James Patterson, and a late autism diagnosis at 22.​

JD shares his journey from finance to full-time writing in his 40s, including ghostwriting multiple NYT bestsellers before building his own career and imprint. He talks about realistic writing routines (like aiming for 2–3K words a day and then shutting down work at a set time), how he structures his days to protect his focus, and how he uses autistic strengths such as pattern-spotting and deep focus to build complex plots.​

You will hear practical details on co-writing (splitting strengths and tasks), creating believable characters (using sketches and “actor” benchmarks to make them feel real), and reframing feedback—seeing reviews and early drafts as part of finding your voice rather than proof you should quit. JD also offers encouragement for autistic and ADHD creatives who worry they are “too late” or “too inconsistent” to ever finish a project.​

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Are a late-diagnosed autistic or AuDHD creator trying to build a sustainable routine
• Dream of writing novels or long-form work but feel stuck or overwhelmed
• Want concrete examples of how an autistic author structures work, rest, and creativity

If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on Podbean, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it.

Merch for your writing journey: Get 20% off journals, notebooks, and “Storyteller’s Edge”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop (Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

Resources mentioned:

• JD Barker’s books and updates at jdbarker.com

Feeling stuck in toxic relationships as an autistic, AuDHD, or ADHD adult—constantly people-pleasing, doubting your reality, or feeling like you are “too much” or “too sensitive”? In this episode of Adulting With Autism, therapist, coach, and author Shannon Petrovich joins to talk about toxic relationships, trauma bonds, and boundaries for neurodivergent adults.​

Shannon, author of Out of the FOG Into the CLEAR and creator of the TherapistTalks channel on YouTube, explains why many autistic and sensitive people are vulnerable to manipulation and gaslighting. She breaks down common red flags—guilt-tripping, blame-flipping, love-bombing, and chronic minimization of your feelings—and how to start trusting your own perception again.​

We explore what trauma bonds are, why leaving can feel almost impossible, and how to use journaling and reality-checking to untangle “love” from harm. Shannon shares practical tools for rebuilding self-worth and setting boundaries in small, doable steps, along with simple nervous system supports like movement, nature, and grounding to help you feel safer as you make changes.​

This episode is especially helpful if you:

• Wonder whether a relationship is “toxic” or if you are just “overreacting”
• Have a history of narcissistic abuse, chronic gaslighting, or intense people-pleasing
• Are learning to set boundaries for the first time as an autistic or AuDHD adult

If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify, and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it. Share the episode with someone you are worried about or a friend who is also unpacking toxic dynamics.

Merch for your healing journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Boundary Boss”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the Adulting With Autism Fourthwall shop (Linktree). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community.

Resources mentioned:

• Out of the FOG Into the CLEAR by Shannon Petrovich
• Shannon’s resources at therapytalks.com

Feeling masked-out, sensory-flooded, or side-eyeing all things “spiritual” as an autistic, AuDHD, or ADHD adult? In this episode of Adulting With Autism, Ashmita Arora—teacher and founder of The Intuitive Practice and Eva & Isla®—shares a grounded take on spiritual awakening for autistic adults that does not bypass mental health, trauma, or lived experience.​

We talk about how health crises and a Kundalini “pop” pushed Ashmita to see energy as another language for understanding patterns, burnout, and shutdowns. She explains why sensitivity is not a flaw but information your nervous system is giving you, and how logic and intuition can work together instead of fighting each other.​

You will hear simple, realistic practices for:

A 1-minute breathing reset to tell your body “I’m safe” during overwhelm.

“Space floating” and gentle movement for peace when everything feels too loud.

Channeling meltdown energy into low-pressure creativity (like doodling, swimming, or writing) to find clarity afterward.​

For ADHD and AuDHD sensory overwhelm, Ashmita normalizes non-linear growth—why your path will never look like a straight line—and offers small daily rituals to support nervous system regulation, unmasking, and self-trust. This is spiritual support for autistic adults that respects boundaries, pacing, and consent.​

If you are craving tools for spiritual awakening as an autistic adult and want help managing energy, intuition, and everyday life, this conversation is for you. Listen now for practical, compassionate ideas you can test and keep—or throw away if they do not fit your brain.

Timestamps:

If this episode helps you:

Subscribe and leave a 5-star review on Podbean / Apple / Spotify so more autistic and AuDHD adults can find it.

Share with a deep-feeling friend and comment your “awakening pop” or small win from the episode.

Merch for your practice:

Resources mentioned:

Ashmita’s offerings & Portal to Self: ashmitaorora.com

Eva & Isla® holistic support: ashmitaarora.com

Struggling with social silence, freezing in conversations, or feeling like an 'observer' as an autistic/AuDHD/ADHD adult? 😶 This episode of Adulting With Autism demystifies selective mutism (SM) and its autism overlap, empowering neurodivergent adults with tools for social communication anxiety and confident connections!

Join Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum (Dr. E, DO), world-renowned SM expert, founder of SMart Center, SMA director, and author (Understanding Katie), inspired by her daughter's SM triumph. Board-certified physician/researcher (PCOM faculty, featured on CNN/Good Morning America), she breaks down SM as social communication anxiety disorder—not refusal—often co-occurring with autism (30-40% cases). For AuDHD/ADHD adults: Differentiate SM (mute in 1+ settings due to anxiety/language; progresses post-comfort) from autism (social puzzle nuances like greetings/reciprocity); strategies include action plans (predict questions: "How's work? Good—excited!"), sandwich chats (hi/goodbye fillers), verbal intermediaries (objects for ordering), and sensory supports (breaks/headphones).

Key insights:

Ready for selective mutism autism adults tools and neurodivergent social anxiety strategies? Listen now—essential for AuDHD communication strategies and ADHD social puzzle wins!

Join the Voice Squad & Engage: Loved this? Subscribe, rate 5 stars, and leave a review on Podbean/Apple/Spotify—your support helps us reach more neurodivergents! Share with a friend navigating silence (comment your social win below). Follow @adulting_autism on IG/@adultingautismBTS TikTok for bonus AuDHD communication tips—join empowered listeners!

Merch for Momentum: Bridge your voice with 20% off journals, tees, and "Communication Bridge" merch (track your chats!) using code PODCAST26 at our Fourthwall shop: https://adulting-with-autism-shop.fourthwall.com (Linktree in bio). Your purchase powers more episodes!

Resources: Understanding Katie on Amazon; selectivemutismcenter.org for quizzes/podcasts; [email protected] for consultations.

#SelectiveMutismAutismAdults #NeurodivergentSocialAnxiety #AuDHDCommunicationStrategies #ADHDsocialPuzzle #AdultingWithAutism #SMTreatmentAutismOverlap #DrEShiponBlum #SocialCommunicationAnxiety #PodMatch #Podcasts #BTSNeurodivergent #MentalHealth #BTSArmy #OTTips