Pause Purpose Play

Have you ever found yourself relentlessly pushing for perfection and performance, only to end up exhausted, sick, or feeling disconnected from what actually matters?

When we are ambitious and driven, it’s easy to fall into the trap of "push culture" — mistaking scattered busyness for meaningful success. Many women, especially those balancing career, family, and high expectations, try to hold it all together until their bodies give them an unmistakable signal to stop.

In this episode, I’m joined by Bianca Best — award-winning keynote speaker, therapist, coach, founder of the Human Connection Company, and bestselling author of Big Impact Without Burnout. Together, we unpack how to move away from performative productivity and step into grounded, intentional choices that allow you to achieve big impact without sacrificing your well-being.

In this episode, we cover:

Recognizing the hidden physical, emotional, and mental costs of "push culture" and relentless driving

Bianca's personal journey through chronic burnout, immune collapse, and unlearning the drive for external approval

The difference between scattered switch-tasking and graceful, grounded productivity

Radical acceptance and making conscious choices: letting go of the juggle to be fully present in motherhood or work

Paying attention to bodily signals (interoception) and stress responses like flushing or inflammation

Simple daily practices for energy management, self-connection, and setting boundaries

Overcoming the fear of stepping back and creating a "conscious calendar" aligned with your true values

Key reminder

Life is not meant to be a struggle — it is meant to be full of joy. You don't have to sacrifice yourself or your health to make a big impact in the world.

About Bianca Best

Best Bianca Best is an award-winning keynote speaker, broadcaster, therapist, coach, and bestselling author with over 25 years of experience in leadership and energy management. Formerly a senior global advertising executive, she is the author of Big Impact Without Burnout and founder of the Human Connection Company, dedicated to helping high achievers cultivate success through energy, self-trust, and human connection.

Connect with Bianca

Website: www.biancabest.com

Book: Big Impact Without Burnout

Connect with Bianca on Instagram: biancabest_

Resources & Links

✨ The November Hot-Tub Reset in Leighton Buzzard: An afternoon to step out of the noise, reconnect with yourself and make space for whatever needs your attention next: https://thethomasconnection.thrivecart.com/november-hot-tub/

✨ Golden Event (London, December 4th): An intimate day for nine women to pause, restore capacity, and build purpose without burnout: https://thethomasconnection.thrivecart.com/golden-december-2026/

Have you ever wondered if your increasing brain fog, emotional swings, or memory struggles are down to ADHD, perimenopause, or both?

When sex hormones fluctuate in midlife, the impact on neurodivergent brains can feel like a sudden, overwhelming loss of control. Yet, because of a lack of female-focused research and short appointment times, women are frequently passed between specialists without anyone connecting the dots between their brain health, hormones, and mental well-being.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Helen Wall — NHS GP partner, BMS-registered menopause specialist, BBC Breakfast resident doctor, and bestselling author of Menopause and ADHD. Together, we unpack the neurobiology behind estrogen and brain chemical messengers, how to advocate for yourself at the GP, and why treating midlife neurodivergence requires a compassionate, personalized approach.

In this episode, we cover:

Key reminder:

 Listen to your gut — it’s not you, it’s the system. You know your own body and mind, and you deserve to advocate for yourself without feeling like you are an inconvenience or imagining your symptoms.

About Dr Helen Wall: 

Dr Helen Wall is a GP partner, BMS registered menopause specialist, resident doctor for BBC Breakfast, TV broadcaster, and author of Menopause and ADHD. She specializes in the intersection between female hormones and brain health, helping women navigate hormonal changes, neurodiversity, and midlife health with practical, evidence-based guidance.

Connect with Dr Helen Wall:

Resources & Links: 

✨ Join my free Nervous System Reset to help you move from overwhelm to calm (without having to sit still!): www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset

✨ Burn Bright Group Coaching: A semi-private, 6-space group coaching program starting in January for ambitious ADHD women looking to build sustainable habits without burnout: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/burn-bright

If this episode resonated, please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with a woman in midlife who needs to know she isn't alone.

What happens when the version of motherhood you thought you’d be brilliant at… completely breaks you?

In this episode of Pause Purpose Play, I’m joined by Cat Sims – aka Not So Smug Now on Instagram – for a very honest conversation about ADHD, motherhood struggles, perfectionism, postnatal depression, addiction and sobriety – and the power of knowing you’re not the only one. 

Cat shares how becoming a mother collided with a lifetime of achievement and perfectionist expectations. When motherhood didn’t look or feel the way she thought it would, she was left feeling like she was failing at the one thing women are so often told should come naturally to them.

We talk about what recovery has taught Cat about shame, vulnerability and connection – and why sharing the messy parts of our stories can help other women realise they’re not alone.

We also get into ADHD, rejection sensitivity (RSD), perimenopause and the exhausting pressure to hold everything together. Cat shares how criticism can feel intensely painful, why isolation can become a way of protecting ourselves from rejection, and what she’s learned about doing the opposite: reaching out, being rigorously honest and asking for help even when every part of you wants to hide.

We explore:

ADHD, rejection sensitivity and the fear of criticism

perfectionism and the pressure to be a “good” mother

postnatal depression, addiction, alcoholism and sobriety

hyper-independence and why asking for help can feel so difficult

the mental load, resentment and communication in relationships

the difference between guilt and shame

making amends to yourself and learning to own mistakes without becoming them

ADHD, hormones and perimenopause

overstimulation and being honest with our children about our capacity

why vulnerability online can create connection – and when it tips into trauma dumping

slowing down and giving yourself permission to stop before you hit burnout

This is a conversation about getting things wrong, taking responsibility without drowning in shame, and letting go of the idea that we need to do everything perfectly.

Because whether you’re struggling with ADHD, motherhood, sobriety, perfectionism – or simply the relentless pressure of trying to be a functioning adult – you’re not the only one.

About Cat Sims

Cat Sims is a content creator, podcaster, author and the woman behind Not So Smug Now on Instagram. Through humour, honesty and sharing the realities most of us would rather hide, her mission is to help women feel seen – and remind them that they are never, ever the only one.

Want support with perfectionism and burnout?

If you recognise yourself in the pressure to keep achieving, over-functioning and pushing through until you crash, Burn Bright is my six-month group coaching programme for high-striving women who want to build self-compassion, healthier habits and a more sustainable way of working and living.

Do you ever find yourself putting off the dentist—or feeling secretly ashamed about how hard it can be to stick to basic dental care?

When you have ADHD, a busy brain, or you're navigating life stress, grief, or burnout, keeping up with personal hygiene and self-care routines like brushing or flossing can feel almost impossible. The executive functioning load of booking appointments, remembering routines, and facing the fear of being "told off" creates a huge barrier to looking after our teeth.

In this solo episode, I get vulnerable about my own recent struggles with dental hygiene following a period of personal grief, sharing practical ways to reduce friction, eliminate shame, and prioritize your health without judgment.

In this episode we explore:

If you’ve been avoiding a checkup, struggling to floss, or beating yourself up for forgetting to brush your teeth, this episode is your reminder that it is not a moral failure—it's an executive function challenge.

Resources & Links

✨ Join the free Nervous System Reset If you're feeling overwhelmed, constantly "on", or like your nervous system never gets a chance to switch off, I've created a free guided Nervous System Reset to help you pause, regulate, and reconnect with yourself. Join it here: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset

✨ Golden Event (London, October 9th): An intimate day for nine women to pause, restore capacity, and build purpose without burnout: https://thethomasconnection.thrivecart.com/golden-in-person-event-oct-2026/

🎧 Enjoyed this episode?

Please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with a friend. It helps more people discover Pause, Purpose, Play and supports the podcast to reach those who need it most.

When two ADHD experts get together to talk about neurodivergence, we can skip the basics and go so much deeper.

In this episode, I'm joined by Kate Moryoussef — ADHD coach, EFT practitioner, author of The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, and host of the ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast — to explore what it really takes to navigate life as a late-identified neurodivergent woman.

We dive into the complex reality of managing your capacity, navigating perimenopause alongside ADHD, unlearning lifelong perfectionism, and why true well-being goes far beyond quick social media hacks. Kate shares openly about her own lived experience, the reality of post-event energy crashes, and how she builds a supportive ecosystem to burn bright without burning out.

In this episode, we cover:

Key reminder 

You don't need to tick every box, fix everything, or prove your worth by pushing past your limits. Whatever you have done today is enough, and you are worthy of rest.

About Kate Moryoussef 

Kate is a Women's ADHD Lifestyle and Wellbeing Coach, EFT practitioner, author, and podcast host. Diagnosed at 40, she combines lived experience with professional expertise to help women understand themselves with clarity, compassion, and realistic, sustainable strategies.

Connect with Kate

Resources & Links

✨ Join my free Nervous System Reset to help you move from overwhelm to calm (without having to sit still!): www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset

✨ Golden Event (London, October 9th): An intimate day for nine women to pause, restore capacity, and build purpose without burnout: https://thethomasconnection.thrivecart.com/golden-in-person-event-oct-2026/

Enjoyed this episode?

Please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who is navigating a new diagnosis or trying to find the words to speak to the doubters. It helps more people discover Pause, Purpose, Play and supports the podcast to reach those who need it most.

Have you recently received an ADHD diagnosis and immediately thought, "Who do I tell - and how?"

Please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with someone who is navigating a new diagnosis or trying to find the words to speak to the doubters. It helps more people discover Pause, Purpose, Play and supports the podcast to reach those who need it most.

Do you ever feel like you're so busy trying to keep up that you can't actually think?

When you have ADHD, a busy brain, or you're juggling work, family and everyone's needs, it can feel impossible to find the mental space to make decisions. Ironically, the harder you push for clarity, the harder it becomes to find it.

In this solo episode, I share why slowing down isn't the opposite of productivity - it's often the fastest route to clear thinking, creativity and problem-solving.

Using the story of hosting my very first Summer Reset in my garden (complete with an impulsively purchased hot tub!), I explore what happened when I stopped rushing, trusted the process and allowed my nervous system enough space to think differently.

In this episode we explore:

Why your brain struggles to solve problems when you're stuck in threat mode

The psychology behind slowing down to gain clarity

ADHD, creativity and why spaciousness matters

How regulating your nervous system improves decision-making

Why "having a go" often works better than waiting until you feel ready

Practical ways to create moments of mental space in everyday life

The surprising power of walking, showers and quiet reflection for unlocking new ideas

How perfectionism keeps us stuck - and what to do instead

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, mentally blocked or like you're constantly reacting rather than creating, this episode is your reminder that sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause.

✨ Join the September Summer Reset in Leighton Buzzard (limited to just eight women): 

https://thethomasconnection.thrivecart.com/hot-tub-reset/

🎧 Enjoyed this episode?

Please follow the podcast, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who could use permission to slow down today. It helps more people discover Pause Purpose Play and supports the podcast to reach those who need it most.

Have you ever looked at your child and thought, "They're incredibly bright... so why are they finding school, friendships or everyday life so hard?"

If so, this episode is for you.

I'm joined by Emma Hetherington, founder of Kind of Extraordinary, to unpack what it really means to be Twice Exceptional (2e) – when a child is both gifted and neurodivergent, such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia or another learning difference.

We talk about why these children are so often misunderstood, why their strengths can hide their struggles (and vice versa), and why so many bright neurodivergent children fall through the cracks.

As both clinicians and parents of twice exceptional children ourselves, this conversation is packed with practical examples, personal stories and plenty of reassurance that you're not imagining things.

Whether you're parenting a gifted ADHD child, wondering if your autistic child is also highly able, or recognising parts of yourself in this conversation, I hope this episode helps you feel seen.

✨ Join my free Nervous System Reset to help you move from overwhelm to calm (without having to sit still!): www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset .

💛 If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review and share it with another parent who needs to hear this conversation.