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On today’s podcast, I welcome Martha Arrington. She is a painter, a certified zentangle instructor, educator, and amazing human. I met Martha on Instagram awhile back and instantly became a fan of her work. It’s truly beautiful and unique, just like Martha. Through our conversations over DMs, I knew that I wanted to learn more about her story and her take on creativity. I hope you enjoy this creative conversation.



Find Martha online:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marthaarringtonart/

Website: https://www.marthaarringtonart.com



Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather



Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

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Photo Credit for Martha’s image: https://www.instagram.com/drakewhite/



#podcast #connectthedots #creativity #creatives #zentangle #martharringtonart

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Masking. When I started to research ADHD, this was a term that came up quite a bit. Masking “involves hiding symptoms or overcompensating for them. When you mask ADHD, you try to act like you do not have the condition” (PsychCentral). I knew that I had some masking tendencies but it’s a journey to start identifying what is and isn’t a mask.



In this episode, I am covering information about what masking is, examples of masking, consequences of masking, and some helpful steps to accept yourself - neurodiversity and all.



Articles:

https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-masking#effects

https://www.additudemag.com/high-iq-and-adhd-high-functioning/

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-adhd-masking-5200863

https://medium.com/invisible-illness/i-was-masking-for-so-long-i-lost-myself-4be35fe2cd35



Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather



Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

NEW Website!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/msheatherbdot



#podcast #connectthedots #masking #adhd #neurodiversity #neurodivergent

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This is part 2 of the “Reversing the Rachel Hollis effect - Deconstructing Toxic Positivity” podcast set. I am sharing a few YouTube videos that help explain the concept more and offer insight on how to overcome it. When it comes to things like this, we have to own the mistakes and wrong doings from our past. This is where we grow. These deep thoughts episodes were a big step in my journey. I hope you have learned and enjoyed them as well.



Here are all the links I mentioned and sourced for today’s episode:



Part 1 of the Series: https://www.podpage.com/connect-the-dots/s3e10

Toxic Positivity: The Reality of Suppressing Emotions - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_6N9pnj5Ek

The Reality of Toxic Positivity, Ella Lombardo, Tedx Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_2dKgXChMc&t=298s

How Toxic Positivity Leads to More Suffering - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EOj2Z7hw5w

The Dark Side of Positive Vibes - https://thepsychologygroup.com/toxic-positivity/



Big Thanks to these YouTubers for their insights and willingness to speak on the subject!

Heather the Lawyer: https://www.youtube.com/c/HeathertheLawyer

Relatable AF Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/c/RelatableAFPodcast

Keya’s World: https://www.youtube.com/c/KeyasWorld

Camelia Cazan: https://www.youtube.com/c/Camelia_Cazan

Cringe-Fluencers: https://www.youtube.com/c/CringeFluencers

Savy Writes Books: https://www.youtube.com/c/SAVYLEISER





Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather



Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

NEW Website!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/msheatherbdot

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepolkadotdesk.substack.com

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Toxic positivity is something that I had not really heard of until the last year or two. But it’s something I am extremely familiar with. For me, Rachel Hollis was the influencer that pulled me into this way of thinking and being. Positivity on it’s own is not a bad emotion and it’s one of my personal favorites. When it starts masking the real emotions and your aren’t able to feel those or feel like they aren’t valid, that is where the problem lies.



This podcast is part 1 of 2. Here I am reviewing my personal past and sharing a video book review I did back in 2018. This will help set us up for part 2 where we go deeper into toxic positivity and how we can overcome it.



Links & References

Podcast on Burnout: https://www.podpage.com/connect-the-dots/badges-we-carry-burnout-perfectionism-workaholism/

Podcast on Bored and Brilliant: https://www.podpage.com/connect-the-dots/day-26-bored-and-brilliant/



Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather



Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

NEW Website!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/msheatherbdot



#podcast #connectthedots #toxicpositivity #rachelhollis #deconstructing #emotions #positivity

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Finding harmony between work and life is hard. This week we are navigating the workplace as we talk about work/life harmony. So what’s that all about. When people talk about work/life balance that brings up this image of the scales of justice. Balancing your time between the two is just not possible, you would be working 84 hours a week. that’s a hard pass for me. But when you can get into a cycle or flow between the two...that’s where you can find harmony.



Links Mentioned

Creative CEO Podcast: https://creativeceo.co/podcast/work-life-harmony

Maryville University Article: https://online.maryville.edu/blog/work-life-balance-vs-harmony/#:~:text=Work%2Dlife%20harmony%20involves%20incorporating,idea%20of%20work%2Dlife%20harmony.

HBR Article: https://hbr.org/2021/01/work-life-balance-is-a-cycle-not-an-achievement



Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather



Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

NEW Website!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/msheatherbdot



#podcast #worklifebalance #worklifeharmony #oceanwaves #hightide #lowtide #connectthedots

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You know those people that you see online and you are drawn into their story because it’s powerful. Maybe it’s a story of change or survival or triumph. That’s what Michael Rix did when I first started following him on Instagram. Through the strings of his banjo and the words of his book, he has been able to share his story of going from cult to country.



I reached out to him a couple months ago and asked if he would come on the podcast to share his story. Thankfully he said yes and today I am sharing our conversation. There is power in telling your story and Michael is a great example of that.



I hope you enjoy this conversation. Let me know your takeways in the comments!



Links Referenced:

app.michaelrix.com

Tiktok.com/@iammichaelrix

http://bit.do/FromCultToCountryBook

https://warriorrounds.com

https://www.map.org/michaelricks

https://www.fromdarknesstosight.com



Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather



Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

NEW Website!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/msheatherbdot





#podcast #connectthedots #season3 #episode8 #interview #michaelrix #culttocountry #tellyourstory #mentalhealthawareness #breakthesigma #countrymusic #banjo

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepolkadotdesk.substack.com

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It’s the second week of the month so we are talking about neurodiversity. Today, I’m going through an update on my neurodiversity journey. I am still at the beginning stages of my journey and there is a lot to learn. I want these types of conversations to be helpful to anyone else who may be going through something similar. It’s important to know that you are not alone in this.



Links Referenced:

• https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-testing-diagnosis-guide/


• https://exceptionalindividuals.com/neurodiversity/what-is-adhd/


• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adult-adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350878


• http://images.pearsonclinical.com/images/assets/basc-3/basc3resources/DSM5_DiagnosticCriteria_ADHD.pdf

Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather



Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

NEW Website!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/msheatherbdot

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/connectthedotspodcast/support

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepolkadotdesk.substack.com

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Recently I watched “The Dropout” docuseries on Hulu, which is about Elizabeth Holmes and Theranos. So many questions came to mind as I watched this story. But the one that kept nagging at me was focused on the impact Elizabeth Holmes had for the women that come after her. On today’s podcast I set out to review this story and analyze the impact she had or has in come cases. Then I wanted to make sure we took away some lessons learned from this situation. I hope you enjoy this deep thoughts episode.



Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather



Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

NEW Website!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/msheatherbdot



Referenced Links:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Holmes

https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/elizabeth-holmes-theranos-documentaries-podcasts-48727502

https://www.cnbc.com/live-tv/american-greed/full-episode/theranos-ceo-on-trial/1992069187839

https://www.verywellhealth.com/freestyle-libre-a-glucose-meter-without-a-finger-prick-4154266

https://to.nutrisense.io/?g_acctid=195-120-5766&g_adgroupid=&g_adid=&g_adtype=none&g_campaign=performance_max_tcpa&g_campaignid=15317145341&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=&g_network=x&utm_adgroup=&utm_adpos=&utm_campaign=&utm_keyword=&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&gclid=CjwKCAjwkMeUBhBuEiwA4hpqEMzNHZdjo5kq7HS80JlpnI0k3SRzUZ4owbK3UPyBAtn2Ih13bgZGFxoC810QAvD_BwE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Gibbons_(biochemist)

https://www.businessinsider.com/stanford-professor-phyllis-gardner-on-theranos-and-elizabeth-holmes-2019-3

https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Blood-Secrets-Silicon-Startup/dp/152473165X

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Today I’m going to dive a little deeper into a topic that was brought up in episode 74 of the 100 days of podcasts. When I talked about burnout and I made the comment that I had turned in that badge. This got me thinking about what other badges we carry in regards to the workplace and which ones we need to turn in. I’m going to talk about 3 badges we need to turn in, burnout, perfectionism, and workaholism.



Burnout Badge

Definition of Burnout: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/burnout-symptoms-signs

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/burnout



Perfectionism Badge

10 Signs: https://www.verywellmind.com/signs-you-may-be-a-perfectionist-3145233

How to manage: https://hbr.org/2019/04/how-to-manage-your-perfectionism



Workaholic Badge

What is a workaholic: https://www.apa.org/science/about/psa/2016/04/workaholism

7 Signs You May be a Workaholic: https://www.forbes.com/sites/amymorin/2014/09/18/7-signs-you-may-be-a-workaholic/?sh=7f8add5470d7

How to Cure your Workaholism: https://www.inc.com/lolly-daskal/how-to-cure-your-workaholic-addiction.html

Workaholics Anonymous: https://workaholics-anonymous.org



Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather



Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

NEW Website!

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/msheatherbdot





#turninyourbadge #burnout #perfectionism #workaholism #season3 #episode5 #podcast #connectthedots

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On today’s episode I’m welcoming one of my dearest friends. Lori and I became friends while working at Apple together. We both left the company last year but get together for coffee or cocktails a couple times a month. One of the things we realized in leaving our last company was that we both had forgotten our worth. We wanted to bring that conversation to you. I hope you enjoy this chat.



Laughter, Love, and Blessings,

Heather

Check out Lori's new venture: https://www.instagram.com/lightforgeemporium/ 

Social Links

@msheatherbdot @connectthedots_podcast

NEW Youtube channel!

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#podcast #connectthedots #knowyourworth #interview #season3 #episode4

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