In this episode I sat down with the incredible Erica Settino, an author, artist, activist, and a late-diagnosed AuDHDer, just like me. We peeled back the layers on what it actually looks like to build a business when you’re neurodivergent!

We got real about the absolute exhaustion of trying to navigate traditional workspaces while masking our way through the day, and why so many of us eventually decide to burn it all down and build something for ourselves instead.

Why we  don’t fit well in traditional workspaces 

• The constant pressure to socialize and engage in small talk is draining and often feels like an exhausting performance.

• Traditional work environments expect employees to show up at the same level of productivity every day, which ignores the reality of fluctuating health, chronic illness, or varying energy cycles.

• Standard office environments are full of sensory triggers and stressors, such as bright lights or noisy machinery, that can be overwhelming.
  

How to adapt your businesses to fit our Audhd 

• Move away from strict schedules, time-blocking, or themed days that don't account for natural fluctuations in your energy or interest. Instead, honor your natural energy bursts and work when your capacity is highest.

• Shift your mindset to recognize that fluctuating capacity does not equate to a lack of ability. Accept that your energy levels will shift and build in rest periods accordingly. Unless a deadline is strictly necessary, avoid rigid, arbitrary deadlines that trigger anxiety. Only use them when they provide helpful, external structure for a specific goal.

• Use Analog Systems. If digital alerts create unnecessary mental clutter and stress, try using a physical pen and paper to organize tasks. Writing things down can help with retention, and you can simplify this by using color-coding or symbols instead of constantly rewriting lists.

• Adapt Low Urgency communication methods. Adopt asynchronous communication methods like email or text, allowing you to respond when you have the capacity rather than immediately. This helps set boundaries and reduces the stress of "constant availability."

• Or Create "Low-Interaction" Roles: If possible, design your business offerings to include work that doesn't require constant, high-energy social performance, allowing you to focus on the work itself while minimizing the drain of masking.

• Practice Self-Compassion: Acknowledge that the friction you feel is real and valid. Practice giving yourself grace rather than forcing yourself to push through limits, which often harms the quality of your work and your well-being.
  

Get Cozy with Erica Settino

Erica Settino is an author, artist, activist, and witch whose work is rooted in creative expression, interconnection, and collective liberation. A late-diagnosed AuDHDer, Erica’s unique perspective is deeply connected to patterns, kinship, and the "living threads" that bind us to one another, all living beings, and the natural world.

When she’s not writing, teaching, or caring for animal clients, Erica can be found enjoying bonfires, lounging by the sea, or tending to her creative projects, including her forthcoming book, Autistic Arcana: A Neurodivergent Approach to Tarot Magick. 

Connect with Erica:

• Website: erica-settino.com
• Instagram: @erica_settino

In this episode of Cozy Chats, I sat down with Online Business Manager Gabby Camacho from The GC Method to chat about the most important systems that you need to have set up when running a business while navigating chronic illness and neurodivergence.

During this Chat, Gabi shares her top three systems for documentation and staying on track, scheduling and setting boundaries with clients. 

If you’ve ever felt like traditional "hustle culture" business advice doesn't apply to your life, this conversation is for you. Gabby shares her journey from corporate office roles to launching her own business, emphasizing how she learned to lean into her unique strengths and create flexible, sustainable systems.

Key topics include:

• The Importance of Documenting Everything: Create a "safety net" for brain fog days by documenting core workflows—like client onboarding—and using communication templates. Keep a centralized tracker (CRM or spreadsheet) to log interactions, ensuring consistency without relying solely on memory.
• Scheduling for Fluctuating Energy: Swap rigid time-blocking for "structured flexibility." Group your weekly tasks into broad categories (e.g., Admin, Marketing, Networking) and assign them to specific days that align with your typical energy cycles, rather than forcing a 9-to-5 schedule.
• Designing Client Boundaries: Protect your bandwidth by building mandatory buffer times between meetings. Limit high-intensity calls to one per day and configure your scheduling tools to reflect your actual capacity, prioritizing quality over the quantity of meetings.
• Embracing Imperfection: Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. Whether it’s a typo on a business card or a "messy" process document, getting started is the most important step. Remember: an imperfect draft is always better than never launching.

Whether you’re just starting your business or looking to refine your current operations, Gabby offers actionable, realistic advice to help you build a business that works with your body, not against it.

Connect with Gabby Camacho:

Gabby Camacho is the founder of The GC Method and an experienced Online Business Manager (OBM). After navigating a corporate career marked by the challenges of managing endometriosis, POTS, IBS, and chronic migraines, Gabby realized that traditional hustle culture systems weren't built for her. 

Leveraging her background in human services and her personal experience with neurodivergence (ADHD and OCD), she transitioned into entrepreneurship to reclaim her autonomy. Gabby focuses on refining existing workflows and implementing sustainable systems that empower her clients to work with their body's unique energy patterns rather than against them.

Website: yourGCMethod.com

Email: [email protected]

Check out her website for a free audit quiz to assess your current business operations and learn more about her 45-minute consultation services.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Cozy Chats and Guest Background

01:44 Gabby's Journey: From Illness to Online Business Management

06:08 The Impact of Chronic Illness on Career Choices

10:29 Finding Humor in Chronic Illness

15:56 The Importance of Systems in Business Management

22:55 The Role of Documentation in Business Success

27:12 Overcoming Perfectionism in Business

30:11 The Importance of Documentation

36:21 Navigating Scheduling with Fluctuating Symptoms

50:15 Building a Business That Works for You

This episode I talked to fellow dog mom, Kirsten "K" Matthews, a virtual dog trainer known as "The Canine Detective." In this conversation, we discuss all the benefits of having a dog while working from home, and how our pets can help our mental health. We also talk about how to care for pets while managing chronic illness and neurodivergence, breaking down the myths of hustle-culture-style pet ownership and offering realistic, low-spoon strategies for dog care.

• Training your dog online is more effective because it allows you to work in your own home environment, where the dog lives, rather than in a distracting facility. It also shifts the focus to "human training," ensuring owners have the skills to implement lessons daily.
• Having a pet while living with chronic illness or neurodivergence is not irresponsible. With proper planning and strategy, like identifying your dog's specific needs and having mitigation plans for low-energy days, you can successfully care for a pet without guilt.
• For many neurodivergent folk, the needs of a pet provide a vital "anchor" to a routine. This can help you maintain a minimum viable routine even on difficult days.
• When low energy levels make long walks difficult, prioritize mental stimulation over physical exhaustion. Scent games, trick training, and indoor enrichment activities can provide necessary stimulation without requiring high physical output from the owner.
• Caregiver burnout is real for pet owners. If a dog's behavior (such as pacing or whining) is overstimulating, it is okay to take steps to protect your mental health, such as using noise-canceling headphones, creating carpeted zones, or seeking expert advice from a vet or behaviorist.
• Keep dogs on-leash in areas where it is legally required, regardless of how "well-trained" you believe your dog is. This protects your pet, wildlife, and other people who may be fearful of or allergic to dogs.

Kirsten "K" Matthews

Kirsten Matthews, known online as "The Canine Detective," is a solo-practitioner virtual dog trainer. Drawing on her passion for mystery—inspired by favorites like Scooby-Doo and Agatha Christie—she approaches dog training by examining the "clues" within the dog-human relationship to build effective behavior modification plans. As a neurodivergent trainer herself, K specializes in helping clients find training solutions that align with their capacity and unique lifestyles. She is the host of the Dear Dog Fanatic podcast, where she provides advice and expert perspective on dog behavior. 

You can find her online:

https://www.thecaninedetective.com

On Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thecaninedetective/

Listen to her Podcast - Dear dog Fanatic - https://open.spotify.com/show/676C2mjoOaeiwESUivS3XL?si=e9293ff6ba114c93

https://www.caninedetective.com/

In this episode, I am joined by Avery Roberts and Kelly Berger, the hosts of the Wheel Talk podcast. Together, they dive into the vital importance of building community and creating accessible spaces for disabled voices.

Both Avery and Kelly, who live with an ultra-rare neuromuscular condition (congenital muscular dystrophy), share their personal experiences as advocates within the disability community. As podcast hosts themselves, and disability advocates, Kelly and Avery connect with groups from all over, online and  IRL to talk about the importance of creating space and advocating for disability and rare diseases. 

The episode serves as an empowering call to action, reminding listeners that advocating for universal design benefits everyone and that authentic storytelling is essential for normalizing disability in everyday life.

• The discussion emphasizes that accessibility is the bare minimum, while equity, ensuring that spaces and systems are designed for everyone from the start, is the goal.
• The guests explore the nuances of identity, including person-first versus identity-first language, and the importance of respectful, accurate terminology.
• They highlight the positive, albeit slow, shifts toward authentic disability representation in media, such as in Broadway productions and film, stressing that true inclusion involves having disabled individuals in writer's rooms and director's chairs, not just in front of the camera.
• They discuss how technology and social media have been transformative tools for connecting people with rare conditions who are geographically scattered, allowing them to share resources and find mutual understanding.

Kelly is a disability and rare disease advocate based in Ohio. Living with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, she is passionate about using her platform to enact real change for the disability community and putting a face to the rare disease experience. Kelly is dedicated to normalizing disability and fostering equity, ensuring that the community's voice is heard in all spaces.

• Find Kelly: @thekellyberger

Avery is a New York-based professional dancer and disability advocate. Also living with Congenital Muscular Dystrophy, she is deeply focused on the importance of disability representation and authentic inclusion—both in front of the camera and behind the scenes in writer's rooms and director's chairs. Her unique perspective as a performer allows her to bridge the gap between the disability community and the entertainment industry.

• Find Avery: @avery.nicole916 

Kelly and Avery co-host the Wheel Talk podcast, a space created to connect the community, share resources, and discuss the "good, the bad, and the wild" realities of life with a disability. They cover essential topics often ignored by mainstream media, from universal design to the nuances of identity and language.

• Listen to Wheel Talk: Search for "Wheel Talk Podcast" on your favourite streaming platform or follow them on social media at @thewheeltalkpodcast.
  

Website: https://www.ladieslivingrare.com/

In This Episode of Cozy Chats 

In this episode of Cozy Chats, Sarah Householder (The Witty Ladybug) and I tear down the 'hustle culture' myth and get into why you need to channel the 'audacity of a mediocre white man' to override imposter syndrome. 

We talk about the overall struggles of building a business with a chronic illness and neurodivergence and the common necessity of building a business that can pivot when your capacity fluctuates, and why building sustainable, imperfect systems is better than burning yourself out. 

We want to acknowledge and normalize the idea that we aren't doing it wrong; the system is just broken. If you're a business owner struggling to find a sustainable path, stop forcing yourself into a box and start building on your own terms!

• When imposter syndrome hits, adopt the "audacity of a mediocre white man." Stop asking for permission or waiting until you feel fully qualified. If people with less experience and skill can do it, you can too.
• If traditional advice like "hustle culture," "post every day," or rigid business plans doesn't work for your brain or body, it’s not because you’re failing. Stop trying to force a disabled/neurodivergent reality into an able-bodied box.
• You cannot rely on constant, high-energy output. Focus on building systems and automations that keep your business running during flares or when you’re unable to show up, rather than relying on manual labor.
• Your brand should be specific enough to repel people who don’t "get" you. Alienating the wrong audience isn't a failure, it’s an energy-saving strategy that clears the way for the right customers.
• Waiting for perfection is just a way to delay starting. Ship the work, see what happens, and iterate later. Done is better than perfect, especially when your capacity is unpredictable.
• Forget the formal business plans unless you are seeking funding. Create simple, internal roadmaps to keep yourself focused and prevent you from chasing every "shiny new thing" or distraction.
• Entrepreneurship is isolating, but it doesn't have to be. Connecting with other chronically ill and neurodivergent business owners normalizes the reality of fluctuating capacity and helps you realize you aren't the only one struggling.

Sarah Householder is the founder of The Witty Ladybug, a shop built on the premise that you can—and should—navigate chronic illness and late-stage capitalism with a sense of humor. Three years after her own health took a sharp turn, Sarah ditched the traditional "hustle culture" myth to build a business that actually respects the reality of fluctuating capacity.

Instead of conforming to standard business models that demand constant, high-energy output, Sarah prioritizes sustainable systems and dark humor to stay afloat. She is an advocate for dropping perfectionism and building a business that accommodates your needs rather than fighting them.

Find Sarah online:

• Website: thewittyladybug.com
• Socials: @thewittyladybug (Instagram, Facebook, and Threads)

chronic illness, neurodivergence, small business, branding, audacity, pivoting, self-acceptance, entrepreneurship, mental health, community

In this episode, I sit down with Liz Cruz to explore sustainable social media strategies for creators navigating chronic illness, neurodivergence and low-energy seasons. We deconstruct the "hustle" culture of content creation, offering a roadmap for building an authentic community without the burnout. Together, we cover actionable approaches to platform management, effective content pillars, and overcoming the mental barriers to showing up online—helping you find a rhythm that feels uniquely yours and genuinely cozy.

• Sustainable Strategy: Prioritize content creation that fits your capacity, especially when managing chronic illness or neurodivergence.
• Platform Alignment: Choose platforms based on your energy and strengths; Facebook for community, Instagram for connection, and LinkedIn for lower-frequency, high-value posts.
• Faceless Content: Showcase products, processes, or your space using text overlays and personal stories to connect without needing to be on camera.
• Authenticity: Focus on building community through a clear message rather than chasing perfection.
• Energy Management: Ditch outdated rules and "shiny object syndrome." Create content you genuinely enjoy, and batch-capture B-roll to save time.
• Efficient Workflow: Use scheduling apps like Metricool to streamline planning, and focus on repurposing and reusing content to stay consistent without burnout.
• Meaningful Analytics: Ignore vanity metrics. Focus on engagement that drives growth, such as shares, saves, and watch time.
• Sustainable Consistency: Define a posting schedule that works for you, rather than feeling pressured to meet generic growth targets.

Liz Cruz is a Social Media Strategist and the founder of Cruz Social Co. She specializes in helping creators navigate the complexities of social media, particularly those managing chronic illness, neurodivergence, or low-energy seasons. With a focus on sustainable, authentic community building, Liz helps her clients create strategies that feel manageable and genuinely cozy. You can find her online at @cruzsocialco or visit her website at cruzsocial.co.

Thanks For Listening!! 

Work With Me - https://chronicallycozylife.com/work-with-me/

Want to be our Next Guest? Fill out the Application - https://chronicallycozylife.com/cozy-chats-podcast-feature-request/

Join the Cozy Creators Club  - subscribepage.io/jointhecreatorsclub

Discover More Chronically Ill and Neurodivergent Owned Businesses - https://chronicallycozylife.com/business-directory-2-0/

Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/chronicallycozylife/

Threads

https://www.threads.com/@chronicallycozylife

Podcasting software - https://riverside.sjv.io/jeoE7Z (#Af)

I talk to Tiffany Leader to discuss the challenges of burnout, especially for chronically ill and neurodivergent entrepreneurs. 

After commiserating together and sharing our own experiences, tiffany share 

various strategies for managing energy, the importance of self-compassion, and the role of support systems in preventing burnout. 

We explore the ways hustle culture has gotten its hold on us and how the culture is changing, especially with the increase of more chronically ill and neurodivergent entrepreneurs in the workforce. 

Tiffany also shares her experiences with RV life as a means of avoiding burnout and emphasizes the significance of creating micro moments of wellness. 

Tiffany Leader is the CEO and Licensed Clinical Social Worker of See the Wonder, a mental health and wellness company focused on helping chronically ill and neurodivergent entrepreneurs and service providers recover from burnout and compassion fatigue. Her approach emphasizes observing awe and wonder in the world to facilitate healing. Tiffany offers a variety of services, including virtual therapy in Florida and Nevada, specialized coaching, and training for organizations and nonprofits. You can find more of her work at seethewonder.net.

Cozy Chats is a podcast normalizing a cozier way to do business for chronically exhausted entrepreneurs. 

My name is Randi - and I am a Cozy Content Strategist helping Chronically ill and neurodivergent entrepreneurs, grow their business in a way that works with their capacity. 

Work With Me - https://chronicallycozylife.com/work-with-me/

Looking for More Episode - https://chronicallycozylife.com/blogs-cozy-chats-podcast/

Want to be our Next Guest? Fill out the Application - https://chronicallycozylife.com/cozy-chats-podcast-feature-request/

Join the Cozy Creators Club  - subscribepage.io/jointhecreatorsclub

Discover More Chronically Ill and Neurodivergent Owned Businesses - https://chronicallycozylife.com/business-directory-2-0/

I talked to Abigail Alvarez - a podcast manager and content repurposing specialist - and together we explored the world of podcasting, discussing its anti-capitalistic nature, the importance of community, and strategies for content creation and SEO. 

She also shares her personal experiences as a chronically ill entrepreneur, and emphasizes the flexibility and adaptability of podcasting as a medium. 

We covered practical tips for starting a podcast, including hosting options, marketing strategies, and the significance of finding the right guests. Overall, the conversation highlights the empowering aspects of podcasting and the importance of creating a supportive community.

Meet the Cozy Creator

Abigail Alvarez is a podcast manager and content repurposing specialist who advocates for an anti-capitalistic approach to business through community building and sharing expertise. 

As a chronically ill, neurodivergent entrepreneur, she focuses on flexible content strategies that allow creators to reach multiple platforms without burnout. Abigail specializes in helping business owners launch and manage podcasts, turning long-form audio into sustainable marketing assets through SEO and strategic repurposing.

Threads: @abigailralvrez

Email: [email protected]

Schedule a Strategy Session (mention this episode for $30 off!)

Social Media Solutions Etsy Store

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Podcasting and Connection

01:50 Navigating the Freelance World

04:19 The Anti-Capitalistic Nature of Podcasting

07:55 Content Creation and Repurposing Strategies

11:59 Understanding Podcast Hosting and Distribution

16:06 SEO Basics for Podcasters

23:58 Overcoming Marketing Challenges

31:16 Flexibility and Freedom in Podcasting

37:56 Finding Balance with Chronic Illness

44:20 Connecting with Guests and Building Community

Learn More about the Chronically Cozy Creators Community - https://chronicallycozylife.com

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast by leaving a tip - https://buy.stripe.com/aFaeVede58pu9DYe7L9sk04 

Want to be our Next Guest? Fill out the Application - https://chronicallycozylife.com/cozy-chats-podcast-feature-request/

Podcasts are filmed and edited using Riverside.com Podcasting software - https://riverside.sjv.io/jeoE7Z (#Affiliate) 

I talked to Abigail Alvarez - a podcast manager and content repurposing specialist - and together we explored the world of podcasting, discussing its anti-capitalistic nature, the importance of community, and strategies for content creation and SEO. 

She also shares her personal experiences as a chronically ill entrepreneur, and emphasizes the flexibility and adaptability of podcasting as a medium. 

We covered practical tips for starting a podcast, including hosting options, marketing strategies, and the significance of finding the right guests. Overall, the conversation highlights the empowering aspects of podcasting and the importance of creating a supportive community.

Abigail Alvarez is a podcast manager and content repurposing specialist who advocates for an anti-capitalistic approach to business through community building and sharing expertise. 

As a chronically ill, neurodivergent entrepreneur, she focuses on flexible content strategies that allow creators to reach multiple platforms without burnout. Abigail specializes in helping business owners launch and manage podcasts, turning long-form audio into sustainable marketing assets through SEO and strategic repurposing.

Threads: @abigailralvrez

Email: [email protected]

Schedule a Strategy Session (mention this episode for $30 off!)

Social Media Solutions Etsy Store

Takeaways

• Podcasting as an anti-capitalistic platform
• Repurposing content across multiple platforms Podcasting is adaptable to the needs of chronically ill individuals
• Podcasting allows for flexible content creation and scheduling

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Podcasting and Cozy Energy Saving Tips
• 05:59 Monetization and Community Building in Podcasting
• 16:59 Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Podcasting
• 25:20 Organic Learning and Skill Development
• 31:02 The Freedom of Podcasting
• 36:07 Adapting to Chronic Illness in Business
• 43:00 Finding Guests for Your Podcast

Learn More about the Chronically Cozy Creators Community - https://chronicallycozylife.com

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast by leaving a tip - https://buy.stripe.com/aFaeVede58pu9DYe7L9sk04 

Want to be our Next Guest? Fill out the Application - https://chronicallycozylife.com/cozy-chats-podcast-feature-request/

Podcasts are filmed and edited using Riverside.com Podcasting software - https://riverside.sjv.io/jeoE7Z (#Affiliate) 

I spoke with Candice, a mental health therapist and burnout coach, about the challenges and strategies of balancing parenthood, neurodivergence, and running a business. 

We discussed the importance of building a burnout-proof life, and the necessity of aligning values and intentions. Candice shares insights on creating effective systems, the significance of communication in relationships, and how to involve children in work and hobbies. 

Of course we also emphasize the need for self-care, understanding personal limits, and finding creative solutions to manage overwhelm.

Candice Catoire is a mental health therapist, author, and a burnout and balance coach who specializes in supporting freelance creative moms, particularly those who are neurodivergent and chronically ill. 

Her mission is to help clients build a "burnout-proof life" by establishing personalized rhythms and systems that align with their values and intentions. Through her coaching, Candice offers strategies for managing the mental load of motherhood and entrepreneurship, enabling women to find balance and confidence without sacrificing their well-being. 

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

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction and Background

01:45 - Navigating Parenthood and Business

02:10 - Transitioning to Coaching During the Pandemic

04:44 - The Impact of Telehealth on Therapy

05:59 - Building a Burnout-Proof Life

07:49 - Identifying Values and Intentions

10:48 - Systems for Managing Overwhelm

13:59  - Creating Effective Systems

16:58 - Communication and Delegation in Relationships

21:13 - Supporting Those with Limited Resources

32:20 - Involving Kids in Work and Hobbies

Learn More about the Chronically Cozy Creators Community - https://chronicallycozylife.com

If you enjoyed this episode, you can support the podcast by leaving a tip - https://buy.stripe.com/aFaeVede58pu9DYe7L9sk04 

Want to be our Next Guest? Fill out the Application - https://chronicallycozylife.com/cozy-chats-podcast-feature-request/

Podcasts are filmed and edited using Riverside.com Podcasting software - https://riverside.sjv.io/jeoE7Z (#Affiliate)