Brendan Mahan's concept of The Wall of Awful has taken on a life of its own. While originally geared toward ADHD, it's also extremely applicable to other neurodivergent folks including autism, AuDHD, OCD, and PDA.

In short, there are a bunch of tough emotions built up over time between you and tasks that are difficult for you (whether or not anyone else believes they are easy). While you may instinctively figure out how to sidestep or smash through the issues, it's not really addressing the deeper problem that still affects you the next time.

Brendan's book, The Wall of Awful, comes out Sep 1 2026, and you can learn an overview of the concepts at the YouTube videos listed under #3 below

1. The Wall of Awful book & resources, and if you're buying on Amazon here's my affiliate link
2. Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults by Caroline Maguire, book, affiliate link
3. 2 short vids explaining the Wall of Awful & strategies for going through & over it by Jessica McCabe of How to ADHD

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Consistency" can feel like a dirty word in neurodivergent land...

• Consistency is a tool, not a final answer.
• It can be a better fit than habits for our brains (see past 3 episodes)
• It can be part of building systems that work for us (including reminders, since forgetting is a big reason for inconsistency)
• Kindness and self-compassion are where consistency REALLY matters, because they build capacity over time

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Builds on last two episodes: Self-Awareness vs. Solutions and Habits are Hard (but also very cool)

Breaking "bad" habits is different (and more difficult) than building new habits.

I also recommend not being too aggressive about it if those coping mechanisms are load bearing psychologically ;)

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's some evidence that ADHD brains in particular may have trouble forming habits as they're traditionally thought of. But that doesn't mean they have no value for us!

This episode is about how to lean into the part of habit formation that may work for us (spoiler alert, you may need WEIRD rewards)

Builds on last week's episode, Self-Awareness vs. Solutions

p.s. hopefully the birdsong in the background isn't too annoying... I recorded with the windows open and didn't realize it would pick up!

p.p.s. by the time you listen to this, we'll be at 1,000,000 downloads 🥳

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You may have been told that you're "so self-aware," yet struggle to actually implement solutions. In the moment, you might be lacking the support, the executive function, the initiation energy, etc.

Introspection and self-awareness are great, but they're not the end of the process.

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the context of learning a musical instrument, it's obvious that there's a period of not being good at it. Whether you call it mediocrity or a skill gap, there's often a gap between where you are and where you want to be.

There are many cases in which we can only improve by doing, trying, and yes, failing. It's uncomfortable and that's normal. You don't have to like it, but it is a step in learning or improving.

I HATE IT. And I also know it's going to happen.

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trying to do all of the things, all of the time is a recipe for being stuck.

Instead, do some of the things, some of the time.

The episode also talks about a couple of imagination techniques that may help with some types of PDA or other demand avoidance.

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week we talked about creative entrepreneurship.

This episode is about my recent & current creative blocks and insecurities that cover some of the difficulties of being a professional creative.

And because people may ask: here's my pre-transition voice, and more-or-less current voice

Related episodes: 

1. 100 Creative Time Limitations
2. 24 Redefining Creative Success with Chris Hale

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jon Hart is building an online space for neurodivergent musicians. And our conversation focused on the entrepreneurship side of things, because occasionally our disability disables us!

Being a creative entrepreneur has its own challenges. One of which is having too many ideas...

• neurodivergentmusicians.com & the research questionnaire
• jonhartmusic.com

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Predictive Processing (or coding) differences are a relatively new proposed idea about an underlying mechanism of autism. Preliminary studies do show differences, but not necessarily "deficits," which I think is promising.

While it may not explain everything, it's a compelling theory that resonates in my anecdotal experience.

• The predictive coding theory of autism, explained (article w audio option)
• Predictive processing as a mechanistic account of Autism (video talk sent to me & I haven't listened yet)
• Understanding Autism through Predictive Processing (blog post)
• How the "Predictive Processing Framework" is Impacting Your Relationship (audio talk by Sarah Bergenfield)
• 2025 paper on predictive processing, available for free as of now

1. Transcript Doc (often a few weeks behind, but we do catch up!)
2. Mattia's Newsletter
3. Like Your Brain community space (Patreon/Discord)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.