Almost Grown Up

Ever walk into a room and immediately realize: you’re the only one? The only Black person in a white space. The only woman in a boardroom full of men. The only creative in a room of corporate drones. The only one who didn’t grow up in church. The only single person in a room full of married couples calling each other babe.

That feeling? It hits different.

This week, I’m sitting down with Michael Thomas. A teacher, cheer coach, and a Black man navigating a very white school system in the South. He’s also married to a white woman, he's working on a doctorate, and trying to figure out life while constantly walking into spaces where he’s the only one.

We get into:

• The pressure to “represent” when you never signed up for that job.
• Navigating identity in work, marriage, and life.
• When to speak up, when to blend in, and when to just let people sit in their own awkwardness.
• Why “being the only one” can be both exhausting and powerful.

And, because this is Almost Grown-Up, expect some hard laughs, some real talk, and a few moments that’ll make you go, oh, damn.

Follow Michael on TIkTok - @the_mr.thomas

Remember when you were a kid and adults would ask, “What do you wanna be when you grow up?” Like it was a simple question. Like there was just one answer. Like we’d all just wake up one day and magically know.

Yeah. That didn’t happen.

Instead, we grew up, got jobs, paid bills, had existential crises at 2 AM, and wondered if we somehow missed the memo on how to be a real adult.

In this episode, we’re talking about the big question—the one that haunts every career pivot, quarter-life (or midlife) crisis, and late-night Google search: What if you never figure out what you wanna be?

What if there’s no one thing? What if the idea of a “dream job” is a scam? What if the real question isn’t what you wanna be, but who you wanna be?

Plus, I’m bringing in some expert voices on the subject:

• Short Takes – My 7-year-old daughter, who already has life figured out (spoiler: it involves catching dangerous animals and eating whatever she wants).
• Livin’ & Learnin’ with Pop-Pop – My dad, who went from rockstar to construction boss without ever overthinking a damn thing.

What does it actually look like to live with this uncertainty and not lose your mind in the process?

Let’s talk about it.

You ever stop mid-sentence while parenting and think, Wait… is this gonna mess them up?

Because honestly, there should be a check engine light for parenting.

🚨 DING! "Hey, maybe don’t yell about spilled juice, because, fun fact, they’re a toddler, and that’s just what they do."

Today, we’re asking the question every parent secretly fears: Are we totally screwing up our kids?

We’re talking about:

• Our biggest parenting fails (and the meltdowns we caused by accident)
• The ‘Wild Robot’ theory of parenting—AKA, no one knows what they’re doing
• Gentle parenting vs. old-school discipline—are we better, or just tired?

At the end of the day, if you’re worried about screwing up your kids… you’re probably already doing better than you think.

🎧 Listen now and let’s talk about it.

Why didn’t anyone warn us that adulthood = permanent exhaustion? They hyped up the “freedom” part but left out the nonstop responsibilities, unpaid Uber shifts for our kids, and the fact that rest is basically a myth.

In this episode of Almost Grown-Up, we’re tackling the biggest scam of all: why we’re always so damn tired.

• The nonstop mental tabs running in our heads (Why can’t I remember what I walked into the kitchen for?)
• The chaos of driving kids everywhere like a full-time chauffeur (but with zero pay and constant attitude).
• Why the universe personally ruins every break we try to take (no, you’re not imagining it).
• Plus, I ask my 10-year-old son what he’s most excited about in adulthood… and then completely shatter his expectations with reality.
• 
  

If you’ve ever been too exhausted to function, but still had to function anyway, this episode is for you.

Making friends as an adult is awkward, weird, and somehow harder than dating. So why is it so damn difficult—and how do you fix it?

This week, I’m joined by my friend Jonathan Hammond to break down:

✅Why adult friendships feel impossible (and why nobody warns you)

✅The awkward reality of trying to make new friends after 30

✅How to actually keep friendships alive—even when life gets in the way

✅What to do when you and your friends don’t agree on anything

✅The bare minimum effort you need to keep people from fading out of your life.

If you’ve ever stared at a text from a friend and thought,“Damn, I should probably respond to that”—this episode is for you.

🎧Listen now, text that friend back, and let’s unpack the friendship struggle together.

💬Loved this episode? Share it with a friend who sucks at texting back.

🎧I was diagnosed with ADHD at 34—and suddenly, my entire life made sense.

Like so many late-diagnosed adults, I spent years masking my symptoms without even realizing it. I wasn’t forgetful, I was hyper-organized. I wasn’t inattentive, I was just meticulous. But in reality? I was overcompensating for a brain that was constantly running on overdrive.

In this episode, I break down:

✅The signs of ADHD I missed for years (that might surprise you)

✅How masking ADHD can make you feel like a different person in every situation

✅The emotional rollercoaster of getting diagnosed later in life

✅What I’ve learned about ADHD from my son, who’s navigating neurodivergence at 13

If you’ve ever wondered if your brain is running on a completely different operating system—this episode is for you.

💬Loved this episode? Share it with someone who might be wondering the same thing.

Podcasts on ADHD and Neurodivergence

‘ADHD for Smart Ass Women’ – A podcast by Tracy Otsuka, who focuses on the unique strengths of ADHD brains, especially in women.

‘Hacking Your ADHD’ – Will Curb hosts this one, and it’s all about practical tips and strategies for navigating life with ADHD.

‘ADHD ReWired’ – Eric Tivers hosts a deep dive into ADHD management, featuring interviews with experts and real-life stories.

‘The Neurodivergent Insights Podcast’– A podcast exploring ADHD, autism, and other forms of neurodivergence with a mix of science and personal stories.”

Books on ADHD and Neurodivergence

‘Driven to Distraction’ by Dr. Edward Hallowell and Dr. John Ratey – A classic in the ADHD world. It breaks down the science and offers practical advice.

‘The ADHD Effect on Marriage’ by Melissa Orlov – A must-read if ADHD is affecting your relationships.

‘ADHD 2.0’ by Dr. Edward Hallowell and Dr. John Ratey – A newer book that updates the science and strategies for living with ADHD.

‘You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?!’ by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo – The title alone was enough to hook me, and the content delivers. It’s funny, insightful, and practical.

Social Media Experts and Communities

@the_mini_adhd_coach – Bite-sized, super relatable ADHD content.

@howtoadhd – Jessica McCabe is a wealth of knowledge and has an incredible way of breaking things down.

@neurodivergent_insights – They focus on ADHD, autism, and mental health with great visual explanations.

What happens when the life you built together starts to fall apart?

In this very first episode of Almost Grown-Up, my wife, Janna, joins me to talk about how losing my faith nearly wrecked our marriage—and, somehow, made us stronger in the end.

We’re diving into the messy middle of our story: the early days of being all-in on church and ministry, the fallout of questioning everything we thought we believed, and how we rebuilt a life and a marriage that’s rooted in loving each other for who we really are—not who we thought we had to be.

It’s raw, real, and yes, a little funny, because nothing says “life lessons” like a brunch story that involves unsolicited dick pics.

If you’ve ever questioned everything, felt like the ground beneath you was shifting, or wondered how to hold on when it feels like everything’s falling apart—this one’s for you.

Welcome to ‘Almost Grown-Up,’ the podcast for people who are technically adults but still feel like they’re faking it. Hosted by Nic, this show dives into the messy, hilarious, and real moments of life—faith deconstruction, parenting chaos, career upheavals, and everything in between. In this trailer, Nic shares the wake-up call that changed everything, why he’s questioning everything he once believed, and what’s coming next. If you’re ready to laugh, learn, and feel a little less alone in the chaos, hit subscribe and tune in to Episode 1!