If we're all travelling our own path in life, then why do they all seem to basically have the same destination? Have we been sold a dream? You'd think that being neurodivergent would provide us with a unique perspective, one free of the typical cognitive dissonance imbedded in the typical among us. But we have been sold a dream– the dream that once we reach the end of the rainbow and finally get some medication, then our ADHD will simply just float away.

In today's episode we follow Cormac's 'hypothetical' journey as he stumbles over a pot, only to find he has inadvertently found himself at the end of that rainbow– with a little medicinal treasure beckoning from within.

So let's gather round the campfire and let Cormac tell his completely, absolutely, totally fictional story of what it has been like to cheat his way to that glorified destination so many of us labour to reach. Is medication really the cure-all we often make it out to be?

.Today's episode explores odd facts & random stuff that we don't typically know about ADHD. Grab a note pad and take score– how many do you know? And don't think that because we haven't focused on one specific topic you'll not find useful information in this episode. Far from it. We were both surprised at how much we didn't know beforehand.

In today's episode we take a look into a therapeutic concept often utilised in Cognitive Behavioural Therapies– Core Beliefs. Our Core Beliefs are the deep seated beliefs we have about ourselves, others, and the world at large. Do we live in a safe world, a fair world? Are people inherently kind or malicious? Are you able, worthy or even loveable? The answer you have is often a reflection of your core beliefs and these beliefs shape not only how we feel, but they also act on how we act. It's fair to say that for the most part, these beliefs are functional and mentally speaking, they usually save us a lot of time– otherwise we have to do a lot more processing. We take things a said, through what we learn from others as well as our experiences throughout life. But sometimes our core beliefs are exactly true. What was once, long ago, may no longer be the case. But often we continue to act as if they are and sometimes to the detriment of ourselves. Follow our conversation as we take a personal look into core beliefs , what they are, how they form, and what we can do about the ones we wish to chance. Welcome to the Emergent Divergent.

Our favourite Christmas tradition is of course Christmas dinner. Yet the food coma experienced this year was unprecedented and with it looking like we would never get up off the lounge again, it was decided to turn off the life support. That's when it happened– a Christmas miracle. We came back to life. And so with our feet now stomping their way into 2025 we are ecstatic to be dropping more episodes of the podcast. So sit back and enjoy.

Join the conversation as we take a layman’s approach to what it means to be living our best life– through the eyes of two neurodivergent, lifelong friends. We know that being neurodivergent is like being a fish out of water but we also know that there’s nothing wrong about being a fish– some of them even have wings! And so we take a net-positive approach to exploring anything and everything that has helped and helps us personally when it comes to dropping our masks and learning to exist successfully in our neurodivergent skin.

Darren is ADHD and diagnosed who, according to some, also has a healthy splash of Autism in the mix. Cormac is Dyslexic as well as ADHD, though he is yet to act on his doctor’s referral to finally go and get the diagnosis– but does he need to? With Darren also being a psychotherapist and ADHD coach, they discuss all manner of helpful therapeutic methods and techniques that facilitate them living their best lives– despite being neurodivergent. And although the conversation is aimed primarily towards neurodivergence, the knowledge and experience is geared to suit everyone.

And so with a carefree approach to sharing their own personal stories to make a point, topped with that stereotypically laid-back Australian attitude towards speaking as they see it, nothing is off the table in this unpretentious and unorganised podcast aimed towards helping them, and you, find ways to get past the masks of neurodivergence so that we can all be free to be our best selves.

In this episode we discuss forgiveness and how it can play a significant role in living a happy and authentic life. Forgiveness is a difficult virtue for many, which few of us give any meaningful consideration of. It can be an even greater difficulty when we add being neurodivergent to the mix. We take a personal dive into this deeply transformative virtue and look at ways we might help us unlock the door to being able to forgive others, and most importantly, ourselves.

Join us on Facebook at Free2be.au

Living with ADHD is dichotomous experience to say the least and if our brain were a planet, rather than typically having only two poles, north and south, it would likely have several, sending any reasonable compass into all sorts of irregular manic swings- which as it turns out is quite an apt metaphor. The term divergent is generally used to refer how we function differently from our neurotypical kin, but perhaps it is also an apt portrayal of our neurological bandwidth.

From moments when our brain is exceedingly well tuned and firing on all cylinders, ADHD can lift us all the higher to levels reminiscent of the intoxicating nights out during our early adulthood, so I have been told. Times where we’re smashing the moment like a boss. And then there’s the polar opposites. From depression, chronic anxiety, and the big one that seems to be somewhat exclusive to those of us with ADHD- rejection sensitivity dysphoria.

And it can be a heart breaking for those of us who unfortunately experience it. Personally speaking, I would say that it would be the most soul crushing aspect of living with ADHD and has been a corrosive factor throughout my life.

And this is the topic for today’s episode. Learning to live with and manage rejection sensitivity is not easy, but it is easier than eliminating it, and in this episode we look into how we might be able to.

We recorded this episode many months ago and though the recording quality could be better, for some reason I felt compelled to air it out. There is a lot going on in the world right now and there are some take-aways in here that feel relevant.

Join us on Facebook at Free2be.au

Society today can seem rather illogical or outright bewildering. By and large everyone has a sense that something is amiss, that perhaps we, as a collective, aren’t exactly living up to our full potential. Then add being neurodivergent into the mix and you’ve set the stage for all manner of stumbling blocks to functioning in life.

It may simply be a generalised feeling of isolation as we scratch our heads trying to fathom how the general population can carry on as if everything was dandy, or perhaps we grapple, shell-shocked or burnt-out after imitating normal but with little long term success because our neurodivergence won’t afford us the luxury of cognitive dissonance, which the rest of the world seems to be drunk with.

It’s not easy and it can really feel like a raw deal. It’s not made any easier knowing that actually forging a life perfect to a T is desperately elusive, like the mythical pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. And in a way, it is. That’s because we often assume that if we can just get it right, the way everybody else does, then maybe it is possible. And even if we did achieve our goals doing it the typical way, how long could we maintain it? And at what cost?

I can’t speak for you but me? I am tired of striving to live the way of my neurotypical kin. Even when I pull it off I rarely feel like I’m being honest with myself. I’m tired, having to sacrifice so much of who I really am. And so I won’t. I’ll find my own ways to live, reach my goals, and be real with who I am. I want to drop the mask.

Today we speak on ways our environment shapes our lives, from school to work. We look into ways we can to advocate for ourselves and some of the things worth considering when doing so. We explore ways we can begin to track the areas of our lives we are working on as we begin to reach our potential whilst sacrificing less of what makes us who we are.

We hope you enjoy the show enough to like & subscribe and join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1166668397727192/

So today’s episode is the final instalment of our three part conversation with Andrea Luzon Coates- Legacy Liberator.

We continue learning of Andrea’s personal journey towards reconnecting with her Legacy as she exemplifies the spirit of self-liberation and empowerment, and all in the positive and nurturing manner which she naturally exudes.

Andrea offers 1 on 1 coaching in a manner that we know is sorely missing in our world today. In kinship with Emergent Divergent and Free2be, Andrea knows that we are not broken people, but rather, disconnected to our full potential. We don’t need to be fixed, but we might need to find ways to live authentically in our own neurodivergent skin, or brain, and definitely our heart.

We had aimed to dig deep into the topic of masculinity in the modern world from the view point of being neurodivergent, but when you put three neurodivergents on a call with some added technical issues, our aim kind of got forgotten. And yet, even though this is a short episode, as we round up our first conversation with Andrea, there is still much to garner from the content within.

So wherever you might be listening, we hope you’ll enjoy the show.

You can find Andrea Luzon Coates Legacy Liberator at:

www.AndreaLuzon.com

https://www.instagram.com/legacyliberationcoaching/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovelegacytribe/

Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1166668397727192/

or email us at [email protected]

Interview with Andrea: pt2

In today’s episode we carry on from our conversation in Episode 8 with the fabulous Andrea Luzon Coates.

Although our conversation with Andrea has aimed at focussing on the issues neurodivergent men face in today’s ill society, what we do explore is still relevant to anybody.

Sometimes in life we hit rock bottom. And for those of us living with neurodivergence, that might be more frequent than just sometimes, but this might not be the worst place to be. For one thing, all the best come-back stories begin at rock bottom.

Finding our true path in life and connecting with our legacy requires a bit of self-reflection periodically and in true Emergent Divergents style, Andrea shares her personal story of how she came to reconnect with her Legacy.

We thoroughly enjoyed our conversation with Andrea Luzon Coates however we did continue to experience some technical issues and so today’s episode is now the second instalment of three. We hope to release the third, and final episode of this particular conversation later in the week so be sure to keep your eyes peeled.

And as always wherever you might be listening, we hope you enjoy the show.

You can find Andrea Luzon Coates Legacy Liberator at:

www.AndreaLuzon.com

https://www.instagram.com/legacyliberationcoaching/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovelegacytribe/

Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1166668397727192/

or email us at [email protected]

We are thrilled to be talking again with Andrea Luzon Coates- Legacy Liberator.

Andrea is the founder of Legacy Liberation Coaching in Missouri, USA, offering private 1 on 1 coaching with an emphasis on ADHD. In addition to this Andrea is also an intuitive energy healer, author, public speaker and an all-round inspiration, especially for those of us who feel we may not be getting the best out of life; or ourselves.

Far too many of us living with neurodivergence have experienced childhood trauma in some form or another, negatively impacting our life for much too long and it is often only in adulthood that we have finally acquired the mettle to begin to honestly address it. How do we remove blocks that keep us from being all we are? How do we dig deep, below the thoughts and beliefs we have about ourselves and release the joy in living? How do we reconnect with our own personal Legacy? Andrea’s lets us in to her world as she recites her own journey and what qualities she rediscovered that had led her to her own Legacy, a place where she has come to help many people reconnect to theirs.

Our conversation, which has been divided into a three part mini-series, is planned to be one of many conversations where we dig deep into many of the issues neurodivergence gives rise to; particularly those faced by men and how our modern culture affects us. Yet, though we might aim to focus on men, we naturally cover many issues and topics that relate to everybody, and the issues facing men today are rarely, if ever, limited to affecting only men. The goal of our conversations with Andrea are guided by the same ethos as all our episodes on Emergent Divergent- to speak openly, honestly and with the intent to build a safe and welcoming community for all of us living with neurodivergence.

We hope you enjoy our conversation and that it goes some way in helping you reconnect to your Legacy and if you would like to get in touch with Andrea, she would love to hear from you. You can find her links below.

https://andrealuzon.com/

https://www.instagram.com/legacyliberationcoaching/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovelegacytribe/

To get in touch with us at Emergent Divergents, you can email [email protected] or find us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1166668397727192/