In this episode, we open up about our personal journeys with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and other gastrointestinal / autoimmune issues we've experienced, using hindsight to recognise it may have all been linked to our autism and ADHD (stress!). We start exploring the connection between the brain and the gut, including how our stomach microbiome impacts our brain. We dive into emerging research linking neurodivergence with physical health and common correlations. This episode isn’t medical advice, but more a conversation to spark curiosity. We encourage you to do your own research but we just wanted to remind you that you’re not the only one with a gassy gut!

Find the research article we reference HERE.

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Transitions can be some of the hardest moments for people with ADHD, autism, or both - even when we’re looking forward to what’s next. Paige and Ellie have had a few ephiphanies recently about how transitions have affected them throughout their life. In this episode, we explore why shifting from one activity, environment, or phase of life can feel so dysregulating, and how neurodivergent inertia plays into it. We unpack our own personal struggless and offer tips for supporting yourself and your kids through transitions.

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Dr Khurram Sadiq is back for part two where we dig into common misdiagnoses, masking, family dynamics, and how to truly identify AuDHD traits. We also touch on workplace accommodations, co-occurring conditions like OCD and PMDD, and how to manage burnout and executive dysfunction (especially when medication isn’t accessible or effective). Dr Sadiq offers grounded advice and hope to anyone navigating late diagnosis, uncertainty, or feeling "too much" for the world.

Win a signed copy of Dr Khurram Sadiq's new book - Explaining AuDHD! Head over to our Instagram @wtfisaudhdpodcast to enter.

Purchase your own copy here

Key moments:

1:50 – If one sibling is neurodivergent, does that mean the others are too? Genetics, family traits, and environment explained

3:50 – How undiagnosed neurodivergent parents can unknowingly impact their kids - and themselves

5:20 – When a child’s diagnosis leads to the parent’s lightbulb moment

6:34 – The most common misdiagnoses (and what clinicians often miss)

8:50 – Why all clinicians need better training to recognise neurodevelopmental conditions

11:12 – The biggest blind spots in current diagnostic practices - and how they affect adults especially

13:20 – How do you really know if you’re AuDHD - and not “just” ADHD or autistic?

18:34 – The link between OCD and neurodivergence: is it a separate condition or a secondary outcome?

21:06 – Why masking is subconscious - and how to begin unmasking safely

24:45 – Practical ways businesses and workplaces can better accommodate AuDHDers

29:38 – Managing life with AuDHD: realistic tips from lived experience

34:20 – Why content, podcasts, and peer education are critical to self-understanding

35:45 – The latest research on AuDHD that we should be paying attention to

37:50 – What’s the connection between neurodivergence and tic disorders?

39:59 – Dr Sadiq shares new insight into PMDD and neurodivergence

42:32 – How to handle AuDHD burnout - especially when you're trying to do everything

46:26 – What to do when medication isn’t working - or you can’t access it

50:21 – Assimilate or opt out? The hard choices AuDHDers face around work, education, and parenting

54:05 – Final reflections: a message to every neurodivergent person trying their best in a world not built for them

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Dr Khurram Sadiq - renowned psychiatrist and AuDHDer - joins us to help explain AuDHD. In this powerful first half of our conversation, we unpack his own diagnostic journey, what it means to live between ADHD and autism, and why this combination deserves more recognition. We explore how gender, culture, and systemic pressures influence diagnosis, and why many of us are missed or misunderstood for decades. Dr Sadiq also shares his perspective on whether ADHD and autism exist on a shared spectrum - and how we can begin to differentiate between similar traits. Part two of our chat is out next week!

Win a signed copy of Dr Khurram Sadiq's new book - Explaining AuDHD! Head over to our Instagram @wtfisaudhdpodcast to enter.

Purchase your own copy here

Key moments:

4:39 – Dr Sadiq shares his upbringing and the early signs of neurodivergence he experienced, including the emotional toll of trying to conform in a neurotypical world

15:04 – The unexpected journey that led him into mental health

17:20 – How Dr Sadiq came to be diagnosed as AuDHD himself

23:15 – What he now recognises in hindsight from his childhood and adolescence

26:13 – Why he chose to specialise in autism + ADHD - and what he's learned from that path

27:15 – How he believes neurodivergence should be diagnosed - and what’s missing in the current system

30:21 – Dr Sadiq breaks down how he defines ADHD, autism, and how they overlap

34:19 – A compelling story of a woman who denied her diagnosis - and what that says about stigma

36:35 – What really “causes” neurodivergent conditions? Dr Sadiq explains what the research tells us (and what it doesn’t)

37:45 – A fascinating hypothesis about genetics and brain development

41:35 – How gender, culture, and hormones all impact how neurodevelopmental conditions manifest - and why women and AFAB people are often missed

44:41 – How societal expectations around women’s roles can delay diagnosis and support

46:07 – How systemic pressure (not just individual traits) influences how autism and ADHD show up

48:45 – Are autism and ADHD truly separate conditions - or part of a shared spectrum?

50:58 – How to tell the difference between autistic “indifference” and ADHD “inattention"

52:58 – Distraction or sensory overload? Understanding how they can look the same but feel different

55:15 – Why some ADHDers speak without a filter, while autistic people often struggle with social nuance

58:30 – Is it over-talking, or talking with passion?

59:56 – The paradoxes of living with AuDHD - where traits seem to contradict themselves.

1:01:30 – Understanding the spectrum of autism: what's the difference between profound autism and levels 1–3?

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This week, we’re diving into a big one: having children as an AuDHD adult. Neither of us are parents (yet - or possibly ever), so this is not a how-to, but an open conversation about the thoughts, fears, and feelings we have around parenting as neurodivergent people.

We speak honestly about the differences in our perspectives (Paige and Ellie don’t feel the same way!), and share the thoughts and experiences sent in by our community - from those who are already parenting with AuDHD, to those who’ve chosen not to, and everything in between.

One day, we’ll revisit this topic with actual parents and experts - but for now, consider this a first step in holding space for the complicated and very human feelings that come with the idea of having kids when your brain is wired like ours.

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We're diving into what it’s really like navigating work with AuDHD. We chat about our personal job histories - the burnout, the boredom, the passion, and the pivots - and why sticking to one career path can feel impossible. If you’ve ever loved and hated your job at the same time, or blamed yourself for not being “cut out” for work, this one’s for you. You’re not lazy - you’re likely unsupported. We also remind you (and ourselves) to not lose self-compassion - it's so important to not turn on yourself!

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Why is AuDHD so hard to manage and treat? In this episode, we explore lived contradictions of having both ADHD and autism - where one part of your brain craves routine and the other thrives on chaos, often resulting in burnout. We share real-life examples from ourselves and you - our listeners! We unpack why treatments often fall short, and highlight how young the concept of AuDHD really is - including in clinical settings.

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In this episode, we’re excited to be joined by Mike Cochrane (@nzpsychologyclinic), a Clinical Psychologist and fellow AuDHDer who specialises in Autistic, ADHD and AuDHD assessments. We had an insightful and validating chat about life with an AuDHD brain.

Together, we unpack:

• Commonly missed traits in ADHD and autism
• How to get a diagnosis
• Why diagnosis often comes with both relief and grief
• Strategies for navigating executive dysfunction and overwhelm
• How CBT and ACT can support AuDHDers - and when they fall short
• The recent legislation change in NZ allowing GPs to diagnose ADHD
• The importance of self-understanding, unmasking, and neurodivergent-led therapy
• and more!

We thoroughly enjoyed this chat and if you'd like more information about Mike Cochrane and his diagnosis process, head to nzpsychologyclinic.co.nz

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Autism or trauma - or both? In today’s episode, we (very basically) unpack the complex relationship between Complex PTSD (CPTSD) and autism. We explore the ways the two can look similar, why autistic people are more likely to experience trauma, and why it’s so important to approach self-identification with care and curiosity. We reflect on personal experiences, share research insights, and offer guidance for anyone navigating these diagnoses.

With so many of you finding value in our conversations, we thought it was important to touch on this point. This episode only scrapes the top level of this topic so we strongly encourage you to do your own research.

Neurodivergent insights article we reference: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/ptsd-and-autism/

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If you’re constantly exhausted no matter how much you feel like you're resting, it might autistic, ADHD or AuDHD burnout (and yes, it's different from traditional 'burnout'). Our neurodivergent brains are different and therefore the causes and treatment for burnout need to be neurodiversity affirming. We unpack the causes of ADHD, autistic, and AuDHD burnout, what we've experienced, how it can be confused for depression and why traditional therapy may not work for you. Below are some resources we reference in the episode - as always, please continue to do your own research!

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SOURCES:

@vivdawesautistic (Instagram) and WEBSITE with (paid) resources

Handy (paid) Burnout Workbook

Prevention for AuDHD Burnout - article here

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