Callie Elward-Barrett and Jayne Gurton kick off with a very on-brand tech faceplant (“…I hadn’t turned it on”) aka the ADHD tax in real time.

From there, they get into sensory overload, emotional regulation, and what it’s like living in a world that’s basically always a bit too loud.

There’s also a thoughtful (and careful) reflection on Australia Day/January 26, plus why community and creativity can be both a lifeline and a rage-inducing craft project.

If you’re searching for:

• ADHD tax (real-life examples)
• sensory overload and what it feels like
• emotional regulation for AuDHD/ADHD adults
• neurodivergent burnout/overwhelm and coping
• creativity as a regulation tool (and why it can still be frustrating)

Takeaways:

• If you’re neurodivergent, your brain will eventually invoice you for skipped tech checks. (Hello, ADHD tax.)
• Sensory overload isn’t a personality flaw, it’s your nervous system saying “nope, we’re full.”
• Emotional regulation gets harder when your senses are already maxed out
• ADHD tax isn’t just money, it’s re-doing, recovering, over-explaining, and repairing.
• Creativity can be medicine… and also a shortcut to “why is this GLUE ruining my life?”
• Community is regulation. Being with people who get it can drop your stress faster than any hack.
• Personal stories teach what fact sheets can’t, especially when told with care and context.
• Humour isn’t minimising, it’s a survival skill and a bridge into the serious stuff.

Chapters

00:00 - Tech Fail Cold Open: “I Didn’t Turn It On” (ADHD Tax Energy)

02:17 - What F Them Fish Is About: AuDHD for Grownups (No Pretending)

05:25 - Sensory Overload: When Everything Is Loud, Bright, and Too Much

08:56 - Emotional Regulation: Why Overwhelm Escalates Fast

12:13 - Sensory Sensitivity in Real Life (And Why You’re Not ‘Dramatic’)

14:58 - Food Sensitivities, Preferences, and Social Expectations

17:02 - Australia Day / January 26: Cultural Sensitivity Without the Hot Takes

17:10 - ADHD Tax Explained: The Hidden Costs of Daily Life

21:24 - Work + Life + Social Events: The Calendar Spiral

26:50 - Crafting & Creativity: Joy, Frustration, and Nervous System Relief

30:36 - Community & Being Seen: The Stuff That Actually Helps

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