Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered

Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered

By Alisha Burns & Rhiannon HendersonSociety & CultureHealth & FitnessMental HealthParentingKids & Family
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Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered episodes

  • Espisode 6: A Unicorn in a world made for horses
    In Hindsight: The ADHD Signs We Missed Growing Up

    Looking back now… it all makes so much more sense.

    In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha and Rhiannon reflect on the signs of ADHD and neurodivergence that were completely missed growing up — especially as girls.

    From constantly rearranging bedrooms and hyperfixating on new ideas, to being labelled “chatty,” daydreaming in class, and leaving everything until the last minute… this episode is a deep dive into the patterns that were always there — just never recognised for what they were.

    They talk about the reality of growing up neurodivergent in a time where ADHD was only really associated with “naughty little boys,” and how so many women were overlooked, misunderstood, or forced to mask just to fit in.

    This episode is part reflection, part validation — especially if you’ve ever looked back at your childhood and thought:

    “How did no one pick this up?”

    What We Talk About in This Episode
    • The ADHD traits that were missed in girls
    • Why so many women are diagnosed later in life
    • Constantly rearranging rooms and needing change
    • Hyperfixation, impulse buying and dopamine chasing
    • Having a million hobbies (and unfinished projects)
    • Procrastination and last-minute productivity
    • Being “chatty” vs being disruptive
    • Daydreaming, doodling and struggling with traditional learning
    • Creativity vs the pressure to follow a “proper path”
    • Perfectionism and fear of not being good enough
    • Masking, people pleasing and trying to fit in
    • Identity struggles and not knowing “who you are”
    • Rejection sensitivity and fear of feedback
    • Emotional intensity and empathy
    • Losing things, forgetting things, and mental overload
    • Parenting neurodivergent children (and reparenting yourself)
      • Key Takeaways
      • ADHD in girls often presents very differently — and is easily missed.
      • Many women grow up masking, people pleasing, and trying to fit into expectations that don’t suit them.
      • Hyperfixation, impulsive decisions, and constant change are often driven by dopamine needs.
      • Procrastination isn’t laziness — it’s often how the brain creates urgency to function.
      • Rejection sensitivity can impact friendships, work, and confidence deeply.
      • Many of the things you were criticised for growing up… were actually traits of how your brain works.
      • Understanding this now allows you to show yourself (and your child) more compassion.
        • Who This Episode Is For

        This episode is for:

        • Women questioning if they might have ADHD
        • Late-diagnosed ADHD women
        • Neurodivergent mums
        • Women reflecting on their childhood experiences
        • Anyone who felt “different” growing up but couldn’t explain why
        • Parents noticing similar traits in their children
          • A Message From This Episode

          You weren’t lazy.

          You weren’t too much.
          You weren’t disorganised, dramatic, or difficult.

          You were navigating a world that didn’t understand your brain.

          And now?

          You get to understand it for yourself. ✨

          Follow & Connect

          Follow the podcast on Instagram for more relatable content, clips and conversations:

          @motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered

          Subscribe & Follow the Podcast

          Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on:

          • ADHD in women
          • Autism in women
          • Late diagnosis
          • Neurodivergent motherhood
          • Emotional regulation
          • Masking and burnout
          • Identity, confidence and self-trust

            • New episodes released every Thursday.

            1 hr 7 min
          • Episode 5: I just thought I was dramatic
            ADHD, Autism & Overstimulation: Why Everything Feels Like Too Much

            Why do some days feel completely manageable… and others feel like everything is just too much?

            In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha and Rhiannon go deeper into what it actually feels like to live with a neurodivergent brain — from emotional intensity and sensory overwhelm, to decision fatigue, task paralysis, and the invisible load of trying to function in a world that doesn’t quite fit.

            They unpack the reality of ADHD and autism in women, including the constant mental noise, the need for clear direction, and why even simple tasks can feel impossible without structure. From needing step-by-step instructions to struggling with transitions, this episode highlights the parts of neurodivergence that often go unseen.

            This episode also explores sensory overwhelm and overstimulation, and how things like noise, temperature, clothing, interruptions, and emotional demands can build up to the point where everything feels unbearable — often leading to irritability, shutdown, or feeling like you’re “not yourself.”

            You’ll also hear the contrast that so many neurodivergent women experience — being highly capable, organised, and thoughtful in some areas, while struggling with everyday tasks like emails, bills, and follow-through in others.

            This is a real, honest conversation about what it feels like to live inside a brain that is constantly processing, analysing, feeling, and juggling… and why that can be both a strength and a challenge.

            What We Talk About in This Episode
            • Emotional intensity and deep empathy
            • Pattern recognition and being highly observant
            • ADHD and autism traits in everyday life
            • Sensory overwhelm and overstimulation
            • Irritability and emotional dysregulation
            • Why simple tasks feel overwhelming
            • Needing clear instructions and structure
            • Task initiation and executive dysfunction
            • Decision fatigue and “too many steps”
            • Being both highly organised and highly chaotic
            • Emails, admin and avoidance
            • Transitions and in-between time struggles
            • Why interruptions feel so hard
            • Parenting while neurodivergent
            • Managing your own needs while supporting your child
              • Key Takeaways
              • Many neurodivergent women experience deep empathy and emotional intensity, which can be both a strength and a challenge.
              • Sensory overwhelm isn’t “being dramatic” — it’s your brain processing too much input at once.
              • Executive dysfunction means even simple tasks can feel impossible without clear steps or structure.
              • You can be highly organised in some areas of life and completely overwhelmed in others — both can exist at the same time.
              • Avoidance (like ignoring emails or tasks) is often a response to overwhelm, not laziness.
              • Understanding how your brain works helps you create systems that actually support you — instead of constantly feeling like you’re failing.
                • Who This Episode Is For

                This episode is for:

                • Women with ADHD
                • Women who think they might be neurodivergent
                • Late diagnosed ADHD or autistic women
                • Neurodivergent mums
                • Women who feel overwhelmed by everyday life
                • Women who struggle with executive dysfunction or task initiation
                • Women who feel like they are constantly juggling everything
                • Mothers navigating their own needs alongside their child’s needs
                  • A Message From This Episode

                  If you’ve ever felt like everything is “just too much” — even when nothing looks that big on the outside — you’re not imagining it.

                  Your brain is processing more.

                  Feeling more.
                  Holding more.

                  And that doesn’t make you weak.

                  It makes you neuro-sparkly. ✨

                  Follow & Connect

                  Follow the podcast on Instagram for clips, relatable content and conversations about:

                  ADHD in women, autism in women, late diagnosis and neurodivergent motherhood

                  Instagram: @motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered

                  Subscribe & Follow the Podcast

                  Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on:

                  • ADHD in women
                  • Autism in women
                  • AuDHD
                  • Late diagnosis
                  • Neurodivergent motherhood
                  • Executive dysfunction
                  • Emotional regulation
                  • Sensory overwhelm
                  • Masking and burnout

                    • New episodes released every Thursday.

                    40 min
                  • Episode 4: There's nothing wrong with Rhiannon
                    ADHD, Autism & Late Diagnosis: When One Diagnosis Leads to Another

                    What happens when an ADHD diagnosis isn’t the full picture?

                    In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Rhiannon shares what happened after being diagnosed with ADHD — when medication, self-awareness, and deeper reflection started to reveal something more: autism.

                    This is an honest conversation about what it’s like to navigate multiple neurodivergent diagnoses as an adult, including the confusion, the validation, and the emotional impact of realising that your brain works differently in more ways than you first thought.

                    Rhiannon takes us through her autism diagnosis process, what the assessment actually involves, and the moment she received confirmation — despite already “knowing.” She also shares how years of being dismissed, misdiagnosed, or gaslit made that moment both validating and overwhelming.

                    This episode also explores the overlap between ADHD and autism (AuDHD), including shared traits like sensory sensitivities, executive dysfunction, emotional regulation challenges, and hyperfocus — and why it can be so hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

                    If you’ve ever wondered whether your ADHD diagnosis explains everything — or if there might be more to your experience — this episode will resonate.

                    What We Talk About in This Episode
                    • What happens after an ADHD diagnosis
                    • Realising there may be more than just ADHD
                    • The process of getting an autism diagnosis as an adult
                    • Differences between psychiatrists and psychologists in diagnosis
                    • Masking and why autism is often missed in women
                    • Being dismissed or gaslit by professionals and others
                    • Sensory sensitivities (sleep, touch, environment)
                    • Stimming and self-soothing behaviours
                    • The emotional impact of receiving a second diagnosis
                    • Grief vs validation in late diagnosis
                    • ADHD vs autism vs AuDHD
                    • Hyperfocus vs special interests
                    • How neurodivergent brains show love, care and support differently
                      • Key Takeaways
                      • Many women receive an ADHD diagnosis first, only to later realise they may also be autistic (AuDHD).
                      • Autism in women often looks very different from stereotypes, which is why it is frequently missed or dismissed.
                      • Diagnosis can be both validating and confronting — bringing clarity, but also grief for years spent struggling without answers.
                      • Sensory needs, stimming, and routines are not “quirks” — they are important ways neurodivergent individuals regulate themselves.
                      • There is significant overlap between ADHD and autism, and many people experience both (AuDHD).
                      • Understanding your brain allows you to support yourself better and build a life that works for you.
                        • Who This Episode Is For

                        This episode is for:

                        • Women with ADHD
                        • Women who think they might also be autistic
                        • Late diagnosed ADHD or autistic women
                        • Neurodivergent mums
                        • Women exploring AuDHD (ADHD + autism)
                        • Women who feel like ADHD doesn’t fully explain their experience
                        • Women who have been dismissed, misunderstood or misdiagnosed
                        • Women wanting to better understand their brain
                          • A Message From This Episode

                          If something in this episode resonates, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you.

                          It might just mean you’re starting to understand yourself.

                          You are not “too much.”

                          You are not “too sensitive.”
                          You are not broken.

                          You might just be neuro-sparkly — in more ways than you realised.

                          Follow & Connect

                          Follow the podcast on Instagram for clips, relatable content and conversations about:

                          ADHD in women, autism in women, late diagnosis and neurodivergent motherhood

                          Instagram: @motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered

                          Subscribe & Follow the Podcast

                          Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on:

                          • ADHD in women
                          • Autism in women
                          • AuDHD (ADHD + autism)
                          • Late diagnosis
                          • Neurodivergent motherhood
                          • Executive dysfunction
                          • Emotional regulation
                          • Sensory overwhelm
                          • Masking and burnout

                            • New episodes released every Thursday.

                            38 min
                          • Episode 3: Fuck off Bruno
                            ADHD in Women: Alisha's Diagnosis Story, Late Diagnosis & Why Everything Finally Made Sense

                            What happens when you start to realise that the way your brain works might not be the way everyone else’s does?

                            In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha shares her ADHD diagnosis story — how she first started recognising the signs, what made her look into it, and why so many ADHD traits in women are missed for years.

                            For a long time, ADHD was seen as something that affected “naughty boys,” which meant many women grew up thinking they were disorganised, emotional, messy, overwhelmed, or just not very good at life — instead of realising their brain simply worked differently.

                            This episode explores what ADHD can actually look like in girls and women, why so many women are diagnosed later in life, and how getting a diagnosis can be confronting — but also incredibly freeing.

                            Because once you understand your brain, you can start to build a life that works for you instead of constantly trying to force yourself into a life that doesn’t.

                            What We Talk About in This Episode
                            • Alisha’s ADHD diagnosis story
                            • ADHD in girls vs ADHD in boys
                            • Why ADHD is often missed in women
                            • Masking and coping strategies
                            • The corporate world and why it didn’t fit
                            • Feeling like you’re failing at things other people find easy
                            • The relief and grief that can come with diagnosis
                            • Letting go of things you think you “should” be good at
                            • Learning to work with your brain instead of against it
                            • Showing yourself more compassion once you understand your brain
                              • Key Takeaways
                              • Many women grow up thinking something is wrong with them, when actually their brain just works differently.
                              • ADHD in women often looks like overwhelm, emotional sensitivity, disorganisation, masking, and burnout — not the stereotype people expect.
                              • A diagnosis can be confronting, but it can also help you understand yourself and be kinder to yourself.
                              • Once you understand how your brain works, you can start to “life hack” your brain and improve your quality of life.
                              • You don’t have to do things the way everyone else does — you can find ways that work for you and your life.
                                • Who This Episode Is For

                                This episode is for:

                                • Women who think they might have ADHD
                                • Women who were diagnosed with ADHD later in life
                                • Women who feel overwhelmed by everyday life
                                • Women who feel like they are “failing” at things that seem easy for everyone else
                                • Neurodivergent mums
                                • Women who feel like the corporate world or traditional work environments didn’t fit them
                                • Women who are trying to understand their brain and how to make life easier
                                  • A Message From This Episode

                                  If something you hear in this episode resonates with you, it might just mean you’ve found your people.

                                  You’re not broken.

                                  You’re not lazy.
                                  You’re not failing.

                                  You might just have a different kind of brain — and once you understand it, everything can start to make a lot more sense.

                                  Follow & Connect

                                  Follow the podcast on Instagram for clips, relatable content and discussions about:

                                  ADHD in women, autism in women, late diagnosis and neurodivergent motherhood

                                  Instagram: @motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered

                                  Subscribe & Follow the Podcast

                                  Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on:

                                  • ADHD in women
                                  • Autism in women
                                  • Late diagnosis
                                  • Neurodivergent motherhood
                                  • Executive dysfunction
                                  • Emotional regulation
                                  • Sensory overwhelm
                                  • Masking and burnout

                                    • New episodes released weekly.

                                    50 min
                                  • Episode 2: More side quests than Snoop Dog at the Olympics
                                    More Side Quests Than Snoop Dogg at the Olympics | ADHD, Autism & Late Diagnosis in Women

                                    What happens when you finally get an ADHD diagnosis as an adult… and then realise that might not be the whole story?

                                    In this episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, Alisha and Rhiannon talk about what happened after Rhiannon was diagnosed with ADHD, started medication, and began to understand her brain for the first time — and how that led to a second diagnosis: autism.

                                    They talk about the things they thought were personality flaws — being messy, over-explaining, struggling to start tasks, hyper-focusing on the wrong things, sensory sensitivities — and how many of these were actually signs of neurodivergence, not personal failure.

                                    This episode explores what it feels like to be late diagnosed with ADHD, how medication can change how your brain works, and why understanding your brain can allow you to be kinder to yourself and build a life that actually works for you instead of constantly trying to fit into what you think you “should” be doing.

                                    You’ll also hear why ADHD medication without a plan can send you on “side quests” — where you become extremely productive, just not on the thing you were meant to be doing.

                                    This is an honest conversation about ADHD in women, autism in women, sensory issues, executive dysfunction, hyperfocus, masking, and learning to work with your brain instead of against it.

                                    What We Talk About in This Episode
                                    • Late diagnosis of ADHD in women
                                    • Starting ADHD medication and what changed
                                    • Why medication can make autism traits more noticeable
                                    • ADHD masking and autism masking
                                    • Sensory sensitivities (sleep, clothing, hair, environment)
                                    • Executive dysfunction and task paralysis
                                    • Hyperfocus and productivity (on the wrong things)
                                    • Over-explaining and communication habits
                                    • Forgetting basic needs like eating or going to the toilet
                                    • Learning to “life hack” your brain
                                    • Being kinder to yourself after diagnosis
                                    • Letting go of things you think you “should” be doing
                                    • Redefining what being a “good mum” actually means
                                      • Key Takeaways
                                      • Many women grow up thinking they are lazy, messy, dramatic, disorganised or “too much” — when they are actually neurodivergent.
                                      • ADHD medication can help focus, but you still need a plan or you’ll go on productivity side quests.
                                      • Sensory issues are not “being difficult” — they are real neurological needs.
                                      • Executive dysfunction is not laziness — it’s difficulty starting tasks even when you want to do them.
                                      • Understanding your brain allows you to build systems and life hacks that improve your quality of life.
                                      • You don’t have to do things the way everyone else does — you can find ways that work for your brain and your life.
                                        • Who This Episode Is For

                                        This episode is for:

                                        • Women with ADHD
                                        • Women who think they might have ADHD
                                        • Late diagnosed ADHD women
                                        • Women with AuDHD (ADHD and autism)
                                        • Neurodivergent mums
                                        • Women who struggle with executive dysfunction
                                        • Women who feel overwhelmed by the mental load of motherhood
                                        • Women who feel like they are always busy but never finishing the right things
                                          • Follow & Connect

                                          Follow the podcast on Instagram for clips, relatable content and discussions about ADHD in women and neurodivergent motherhood:

                                          Instagram: @motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered

                                          Subscribe & Follow the Podcast

                                          Follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss upcoming episodes on:

                                          • ADHD in women
                                          • Autism in women
                                          • Late diagnosis
                                          • Neurodivergent motherhood
                                          • Executive dysfunction
                                          • Emotional regulation
                                          • Sensory overwhelm
                                          • Masking and burnout

                                            • New episodes released weekly.

                                            38 min
                                          • Episode 1: Brave enough, dumb enough

                                            Episode 1: Welcome to the Chaos — ADHD, Late Diagnosis & Neurodivergent Motherhood

                                             

                                            Why do so many women only discover they have ADHD after becoming mothers?

                                             

                                            In the first episode of Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered, hosts Rhiannon (Sydney) and Alisha (Melbourne) introduce themselves and share why they started this podcast for neurodivergent mums.

                                             

                                            Both women were late diagnosed with ADHD, and like many women, motherhood was the moment everything changed. The coping strategies, masking, and systems that once helped them function suddenly stopped working under the pressure of parenting, emotional labour, and the invisible mental load that comes with raising children.

                                             

                                            This podcast was created for mothers who feel like their brains never switch off, who struggle with overwhelm, emotional intensity, time blindness, and the constant feeling that everyone else seems to be coping better.

                                             

                                            In this episode, Rhiannon and Alisha open the conversation about what it really feels like to parent with a neurodivergent brain. Expect humour, honesty, relatable stories, and the reassurance that if your brain feels different, you are far from alone.

                                             

                                            If you are a mum with ADHD, think you might be neurodivergent, or simply feel like your mind is constantly juggling twelve tabs at once, this podcast is for you.

                                             

                                            What We Talk About in This Episode

                                            • Why ADHD in women is often missed until adulthood

                                            • Why so many women discover they are neurodivergent after becoming mothers

                                            • Masking, coping strategies and the pressure to appear “together”

                                            • The invisible mental load of motherhood

                                            • Emotional intensity, overwhelm and executive dysfunction

                                            • What it means to be a late diagnosed ADHD mum

                                            • Why conversations about neurodivergent motherhood matter

                                             

                                            Who This Podcast Is For

                                             

                                            This podcast is for:

                                            • Mothers with ADHD
                                            • Women who suspect they may be neurodivergent
                                            • Late diagnosed ADHD women
                                            • Mums struggling with the mental load of parenting
                                            • Women navigating overwhelm, emotional regulation and executive dysfunction
                                            • Anyone who has ever wondered why motherhood feels harder than expected

                                              •  

                                              About the Hosts

                                              Rhiannon is based in Sydney and Alisha in Melbourne. Both are mums who discovered later in life that their brains work differently.

                                               

                                              Together they created Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered to talk openly about ADHD, neurodivergence, parenting, and the messy reality of motherhood — without pretending everything is perfectly under control.

                                               

                                              This podcast is honest, funny, relatable, and created for mothers who have spent years feeling like they are the only ones struggling.

                                               

                                              Follow & Connect

                                              Follow the podcast on Instagram for clips, discussions and upcoming episodes.

                                               

                                              Instagram - @motherhoodunmaskedunfiltered

                                               

                                              Subscribe - If this episode resonated with you, make sure to follow Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered so you don’t miss future conversations about:

                                              • ADHD in women
                                              • Neurodivergent motherhood
                                              • Mental load
                                              • Emotional regulation
                                              • Late diagnosis
                                              • Parenting with ADHD.

                                                •  

                                                New episodes released weekly.

                                                 

                                                24 min

                                              About Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered

                                              From the publisher's feed

                                              Motherhood: Unmasked & Unfiltered is the podcast for neurodivergent Australian mums who are tired of pretending they've got it all figured out.