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In part 3 of this Neurodiversity Celebration Week series, Sarah is joined once again by friend and colleague Cassie Footman to explore the real, raw, and often misunderstood experience of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD). They share personal stories, client examples, and professional insight on how RSD shows up—especially in ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent experiences. The conversation highlights how past experiences can shape our emotional responses, how RSD impacts everyday life, and how self-awareness, Human Design, and compassionate communication can help us manage the intensity.

Topics Discussed:

• What is Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD)?
• The emotional and physical experience of RSD
• How RSD links to ADHD, autism, and past trauma
• The impact of RSD on relationships, careers, and self-worth
• Coping mechanisms: from sound boarding to slowing down
• Human Design, self-awareness, and nervous system regulation
• RSD in children and teens: what to watch for and support strategies
• The importance of clean language, communication, and compassion
• Why trauma doesn’t always equal neurodivergence—and vice versa

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro & overview of today’s episode
01:20 – What RSD actually feels like
05:30 – Sarah’s virtual assistant story (and spiral!)
09:45 – Cassie’s experiences in the workplace
13:30 – Chronic fear, overworking & burnout from RSD
16:00 – Taking responsibility before others can reject you
18:00 – Managing RSD in real-time
21:10 – How RSD shows up in kids, classrooms, and careers
24:00 – The link between anxiety, misdiagnosis, and neurodivergence
28:00 – Is ADHD just trauma? A respectful challenge to Gabor Maté
32:00 – How high sensitivity is often a hidden gift
35:00 – RSD and unspoken communication
38:00 – Softening, compassion, and co-creation in relationships
40:00 – Final reflections & invitation to connect

Key Quotes:
“It’s easier for me to reject me than for someone else to do it.”
“I lived in a constant state of fear, waiting to be called out.”
“Rejection sensitivity is a complete dysphoria of reality—it's not real, but it feels very real.”
“Where there’s a gap, our minds will stuff it—and none of it is usually true.”
“My son said, ‘If someone did it, it must’ve been me.’ That breaks my heart.”
“You can’t always rationalise in the moment, but you can slow it down.”
“We are meaning-making machines—especially when we’re sensitive.”

Links & Resources:

• Cassie Footman – LinkedIn
• Neurodiversity Celebration Week Official Site
• Maori Word for Autism

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Website: www.sarahatkinsdesign.com

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Neurodiversity Celebration Week: Identity, Late Diagnosis & Untangling Who You Really Are

Episode Summary:

In this episode of our Neurodiversity Celebration Week mini-series, Sarah and Cassie dive into the complex journey of identity—especially for those who are late-diagnosed as neurodivergent. They explore the grief, self-discovery, and unmasking process that comes with understanding ADHD, Autism, and Rejection Sensitivity later in life.

Together, they discuss the impact of childhood conditioning, workplace challenges, and societal labels, and how unlearning old narratives is key to embracing who you truly are. They also share practical ways to reconnect with your natural state of being—beyond roles, labels, and external expectations.

Topics Discussed:

• The identity shift that comes with late diagnosis
• Grief & lost opportunities – what could have been different?
• The masks we wear to fit into corporate & social expectations
• Workplace struggles & the lack of psychological safety for neurodivergent employees
• How Rejection Sensitivity & Demand Avoidance shape our behaviour
• The fight, flight, freeze, fawn responses in neurodivergent brains
• Why knowing your needs & advocating for yourself is essential
• Moving beyond "what you do" and into "who you be"

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome back & introducing today’s topic
 03:15 - The impact of late diagnosis: “Who am I, really?”
 08:30 - The grief of lost opportunities & unmasking in adulthood
 14:10 - Why the corporate world doesn’t always feel safe for neurodivergent employees
 19:50 - Workplace burnout, masking, & rejection sensitivity
 24:40 - The power of knowing your needs & advocating for adjustments
30:15 - Reframing identity: Beyond labels & job titles
35:00 - How to collect evidence of who you are at your best
40:25 - Closing reflections & what’s coming next

Key Quotes:

"You start questioning who you are. It’s like an untangling—who am I beneath all the labels and expectations?"

"If I had known sooner, if I had realised… I wouldn’t have worn so many layers of masks just to feel accepted."

"In the workplace, I didn’t feel safe enough to ask for help—asking for support made you look like a weak link."

"Neurodivergent brains experience the world differently—our fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses are wired for deeper sensitivity."

"What you do is not who you are. Who you be is what matters."

Links & Resources:

• Cassie Footman – LinkedIn
• Neurodiversity Celebration Week Official Site

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Neurodiversity Celebration Week Mini-Series with Sarah Atkins & Cassie Footman

Episode Summary:

To celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2025 (March 17-23), Sarah Atkins and Cassie Footman bring you this special mini podcast series exploring neurodivergence, workplace inclusion, and the real-life experiences of ADHD and Autism.

Sarah, an ICF-accredited neurodiversity coach, and Cassie, a business/life coach and HR strategist, share their professional expertise and lived experience as neurodivergent women. Together, they discuss the challenges and strengths of neurodivergent minds, the misconceptions around ‘neurodivergence as a superpower,’ and how organisations can create truly inclusive workplaces.

They also introduce alternative cultural perspectives on neurodivergence, including the Maori language’s empowering definitions of Autism and ADHD, which shift the focus from deficits to strengths.

Topics Discussed:

• Why we created this mini-series for Neurodiversity Celebration Week
• Lived experiences of late-diagnosed ADHD & Autism
• The myth of “neurodivergence as a superpower” & why it’s problematic
• Challenges with visibility, identity & self-acceptance
• Workplace misconceptions & corporate ‘tick-box’ inclusion
• Managing burnout, transitions & structure in daily life
• The Maori perspective on Autism & ADHD – a more empowering language

Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome to our Neurodiversity Celebration Week series!
 03:10 - Who we are: Our professional & personal journeys with neurodivergence
 07:45 - Why we struggled to own our expertise in this space
 12:30 - Is neurodivergence really a “superpower”?
 18:20 - The challenges of workplace inclusion & corporate misconceptions
 23:45 - How transitions impact neurodivergent brains (structure vs. freedom)
 34:40 - The Maori perspective on Autism & ADHD – a game-changer
 41:20 - How we can create truly inclusive workplaces & support systems

Key Quotes:

"We don’t buy into the idea that neurodivergence is a ‘superpower’—it can be dismissive of the very real challenges people face."

"Corporate workplaces love a good inclusion ‘tick-box’, but true inclusion means understanding individuals—not forcing people into the same mold."

"The Maori word for Autism, ‘Takiwatanga,’ means ‘in their own time and space’—what a beautiful way to describe neurodivergence."

"I need structure, but I don’t want to follow the process. I need an anchor, but I need the freedom to explore—I realise this sounds like a contradiction, but that’s neurodivergence."

Links & Resources:

• Cassie Footman – LinkedIn
• Neurodiversity Celebration Week Official Site
• Maori Word for Autism

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Website: www.sarahatkinsdesign.com

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Episode 10: Rejection Sensitivity, Visibility & Rediscovering My Voice

Episode Summary:

After a 10-month break, Sarah returns to The Energetics of Being to share her personal journey of navigating rejection sensitivity, burnout, and visibility struggles as a neurodivergent business owner. She opens up about how past events resurfaced in 2024, impacting her ability to show up and engage with her work. Through Human Design, equine therapy, and deep self-reflection, she uncovers how rejection sensitivity affects her confidence, business, and online presence. Sarah also shares insights on ADHD, Autism, and the energetic shifts that shaped her growth, along with her new Human Design journal designed for neurodivergent thinkers.

Topics Discussed:

• Rejection Sensitivity & its impact on visibility
• ADHD, Autism & business challenges
• Human Design insights on self-doubt & confidence
• Burnout, emotional regulation & energy management
• Social media struggles & neurodivergent self-comparison
• Equine therapy & what horses revealed about rejection
• Breaking the cycle of pushing through exhaustion
• Embracing alternative ways to show up in business

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction & why I took a break
 02:30 - The unexpected challenges of 2024
 07:45 - How rejection sensitivity stopped me from showing up
 11:15 - Human Design & self-doubt (Gate 48 & Line 5)
 14:50 - ADHD, Autism & visibility struggles in business
 18:30 - Social media, comparison & energy crashes
 21:40 - What equine therapy taught me about rejection
 27:15 - Shifting my approach to showing up
 30:10 - Introducing my Human Design journal for neurodivergent thinkers

Key Quotes:

"I had massively underestimated how much rejection sensitivity impacts me."

"I placed so much expectation on myself and what the outcome should be that I almost had further to fall."

"I'm better at talking. I'm better on video, and I’m just leaning into that and seeing where it leads me."

"Social media can be a double-edged sword. It triggers ideas, but it also triggers comparison and rejection sensitivity."

"Human Design helped me understand my own patterns—why I struggle with visibility and why I keep pushing until I burn out."

Links & Resources

• Gemma Went - The Lighthouse
• The 2025 Energetics of Being Journal – Available on Amazon
• Red Horse Foundation – Equine Therapy

Connect With Sarah

Website: www.sarahatkinsdesign.com

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Episode 9: Bringing Energetics into the Boardroom with Noona Nafousi

Episode Summary:
In this episode, host Sarah Atkins interviews Noona Nafousi, the CEO of bespoke coaching company Neo Noor. Noona shares her journey from corporate headhunter to transformative coach, focusing on bringing energetics and mindset work into the corporate world. They discuss the impact of a person's energy and beliefs on their career success, Noona's own deconditioning process, and the common themes she sees in both working moms and corporate clients. Noona explains Neo Noor's mission to reform the corporate landscape by empowering leaders and teams to show up with more self-awareness and empathy.

Guest Bio:
Noona Nafousi is the CEO of Neo Noor, a coaching company that delivers one-on-one and group coaching workshops for corporate clients. After a 22-year career as a headhunter, Noona left the corporate world and discovered her passion for coaching. She now helps people in the business world reconnect with themselves, reignite their passion, and transform the way they show up at work.

Topics Discussed:
- Noona's journey from corporate headhunter to transformative coach [2:38 - 5:34]
- The importance of energetics and a person's "energy signature" in the workplace [5:35 - 7:58]
- How energetics and mindset impact career success and advancement [8:03 - 10:03]
- Noona's own deconditioning work to break generational cycles of anger and shame [14:26 - 17:23]
- Common themes in working with moms returning to work vs. corporate clients [23:19 - 27:11]
- The ripple effect of Noona's work with leaders and teams [28:52 - 30:19]
- Neo Noor's mission to reform the corporate world [30:19 - 31:38]

Notable Quotes:
"The way they show up, how they're being and how they're reacting to their boss, how they're taking on extra responsibility, that all affects the energy that they're bringing into the workplace." - Noona Nafousi

"Once you see your blind spot, you can never unsee it. Once the blind spot is there and it's like shown you, it's reared it's big head, that's it. It's always going to be there." - Noona Nafousi

"It's impossible to empower your team if you can't empower yourself. And it's, are you ready to take that deep look at yourself? So that you can guide someone else to have a look at themselves." - Noona Nafousi

Connect with Noona:

Instagram: @noonanafousi
LinkedIn: Noona Nafousi
Website: www.neonoor.com

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Website: www.sarahatkinsdesign.com

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Episode 8 - Navigating Grief Without Guilt with Rhiannon Spurgeon

Episode Summary:
In this deeply insightful episode, Sarah talks with Rhiannon Spurgeon about the complex nature of grief, trauma, and finding peace through self-love and inner work. They explore how societal expectations and childhood environments shape our experiences of loss in adulthood.

Guest Bio:
Rhiannon Spurgeon is a trauma-informed coach, hypnotherapist, and bestselling author of "Grief Without Guilt." She helps people manage grief, trauma, addictions, and unhealthy behaviors by guiding them to look inward and heal their pain.

Topics Discussed:
- Rhiannon's journey after losing her partner Oliver [3:31]
- The myth of the "5 stages of grief" model [29:56]
- How trauma and grief are interconnected [37:54] 
- The lasting impact of childhood environments [44:22]
- Doing the inner work to improve relationships [51:38]

Key Quotes:

"It was like a f***ing pinball machine. And you're experiencing one set of emotions...and the next minute a song comes on and you're completely poleaxed in floods of tears." [33:21]

"If the relationship you have with yourself is happy and nurturing and loving, the relationship you have with everybody and everything else around you will be more positive." [50:44]

"Learning to love yourself, it is the greatest love of all." [53:19]

Timestamps:
[3:31] Rhiannon's story after losing her partner
[29:56] Debunking the 5 stages of grief myth 
[37:54] How grief and trauma interconnect
[44:22] Childhood impacts on adulthood 
[51:38] Doing inner work for better relationships

Connect With Rhiannon:

Book: "Grief Without Guilt" in all major bookstores or get a signed copy here
Website: rhiannonspurgeon.com
LinkedIn: Rhiannon Spurgeon
Instagram: @griefwithoutguilt

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Website: www.sarahatkinsdesign.com

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Episode 7 - A Journey into the Divine Feminine with Katy Murray

Episode Summary:

Sarah catches up with her longtime friend Katy Murray about Katy's transformational journey from corporate life into facilitating sacred feminine reconnection for women through somatic coaching and circle work. They discuss leaving behind conditioning, trusting intuition over systems, and the role of sensitivity in relating to oneself and others. 

Guest Bio:

Katy Murray is a soul guide, somatic coach and women's circle facilitator. After a stressful period that triggered her to seek deeper healing, Katy went through certifications in coaching and somatic work before feeling called to help rewild the divine feminine through community offerings.

Topics Discussed:

Katy's Healing Journey (6:18)
"I started this really from my own healing. Three years ago with lockdown, a lot of things came to a head - my relationship broke down, career changing, health issues. I had to climb out of that hole."

Reconnecting to the Divine Feminine (9:54)
"I want to bring back that healthy archetype, conscious community that will grow, and reconnect women to their roots really and their ancestral lines."

Corporate Conditioning (11:28)
Sarah: "The energy in the fashion industry was very masculine. I got really good at just playing the game, which massively eroded my sense of who I was."

Building Self-Trust (20:48)
"Once I can tune into that voice of wisdom within, everything changes. It's helped me to be in community with other sensitives and discern what's mine vs others' energies."

Parenting as Empaths (25:35)
"Often when there's something going on energetically, the whole family is doing crazy stuff reflecting it back to me."

Letting Go of Systems (30:11)
"I had to let go of the system thinking it had the complete answer...take myself out of spaces and not talk to people because I'd get retriggered into that programming."

Divine Timing (36:47)
"As long as you're open to it and not attached to how you think things should come, they will come."

Discerning Intuition (39:54)
"Reactions come through me quite quick, whereas intuition rises up my body in an opening, warm way."

Key Quotes:

"It's a real rising of women and the old ways, our own knowledge coming through." - Katy

"You don't need to be a thought leader, it's about holding space for others to shine." - Katy

"We all have innate wisdom. When we can unpeel the conditioning, that wisdom is there." - Katy

Connect with Katy:

- Instagram: @katymurraycoaching
- Facebook: Katy Murray Coach

Katy shares about her upcoming women's circles, retreats and offerings around feminine embodiment.

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Episode 6: Procrastination isn't always about avoidance... 

Episode Summary:
In this episode, Sarah discusses procrastination from a neurodivergent lens, exploring how it can stem from overwhelm rather than avoidance. She shares her own experiences with autistic inertia, ADHD tendencies, challenges with task switching and executive function. Sarah provides coping strategies like leveraging accountability partners, external deadlines, doing brain dumps, and using Human Design for self-awareness. The episode gives permission to redefine consistency based on your own patterns and needs.

Topics Discussed:
- Procrastination through neurodivergence (autism, ADHD)
- Autistic inertia and hyperfocus
- ADHD and executive function challenges 
- Procrastination masking overwhelm
- Strategies for overcoming procrastination
- Accountability partners and external deadlines
- Brain dumps and prioritization methods
- Applying Human Design for self-understanding 
- Redefining consistency for your own patterns

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
01:30 - Procrastination and autistic inertia
04:15 - ADHD procrastination and executive function
07:00 - When procrastination masks overwhelm
09:45 - Using accountability partners
12:20 - Leveraging external deadlines
14:40 - Brain dumps and prioritization
17:25 - Applying Human Design strategies
20:15 - Redefining consistency for yourself

Key Quotes:
"Procrastination can be a whole different ballgame when looking through a neurodivergent lens."

"I go inwards. I don't outwardly ask for help."

"Consistency looks different for everybody. When you recognize your patterns, you can create your own consistency."

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Episode 5 : Healing the Ancestral Line & Reclaiming Feminine Power with Natalia Komis

Episode Summary:

In this episode I speak with my conscious business mentor Natalia Komis about her journey into spiritual and energy healing work. We discuss healing past trauma and reconnecting to feminine energy, her Temple Journey goddess energy activation program, ancestral healing, and using modalities as self-exploration tools. Natalia also shares about developing Mind Body Reconnect therapy and her own experience with chronic illness. 

Guest Bio:

Natalia Komis is a modern day oracle who serves as a spiritual business mentor and soul channel for conscious leaders. She's been doing this work since 2012. Natalia is a true multi-passionate - she is an energy healer, mind body reconnect therapist, soul activator, serial social entrepreneur, and artist who channels divine creative light for the ascension of the new earth.

Topics Discussed:

- Natalia’s calling to energy healing and soul purpose work
- Clearing past trauma and reclaiming feminine energy
- Natalia's Temple Journey program for goddess energy activation
- Mother wounds and ancestral healing 
- Using modalities for self-empowerment
- Natalia’s journey with chronic illness and development of Mind Body Reconnect therapy
- Tuning into your own path and intuition

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction 
00:45 - Natalia's journey and soul purpose 
02:30 - Healing past trauma and feminine energy
05:15 - The Temple Journey program
08:00 - Mother wounds and ancestral healing
10:30 - Using modalities as exploration tools
13:00 - Natalia's experience with illness and MBR therapy
16:45 - Following your own path

Key Quotes:

"It evolved into me channeling and doing a lot more, opening myself up even more to this kind of stuff."

"When we start doing that work...it’s like giving yourself permission to actually go there. When you do that, you’re opening the door for the next level."

"Curiosity saves you. Literally saves you, saves you from boredom, which is one of the biggest killers."

Connect with Natalia:

Website: www.nataliakomis.com
Instagram: @nataliakomis

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Episode Summary

In this episode, Sarah dives into the concept of conditioning - the beliefs and patterns we develop in life that shape how we think and act. She explores how conditioning starts from birth and discusses positive vs negative conditioning. 

Sarah also shares a personal story of how not trusting herself earlier in life led to fear of decision-making down the road, and how she worked through this.

Key Topics Covered

- What conditioning is and how it forms from infancy based on culture, upbringing, life experiences
- How conditioning impacts how we show up as adults – as parents, at work, in relationships
- Identifying negative conditioning or limiting beliefs
- Sarah's example of not following her instincts at university and the long-term effects
- The role of the 7 energy type authorities vs the mind/conditioning in decision-making
- Techniques Sarah has used like coaching, RTT, Akashic Record journeying and energy clearing to uncover conditioning
- Sarah's ongoing work to overcome her fear of visibility and being seen as a leader
- Using conditioning as an opportunity for growth and evolving your answers through high-quality questions

Notable Quotes

"We experience things, nobody should take away from your experience. You might have two people going in to watch the same film. But they will receive the messaging in very different ways."  

"I didn't stay true to myself. I trusted that he was the authority. I allowed myself to get talked out of it."

"What I now recognize is that I was swimming against the tide for a whole year." 

"The quality of the answers you receive is directly impacted by the quality of the questions that you ask yourself."

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Website: www.sarahatkinsdesign.com

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