ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse

Ruth and Rachael
  • 5.0 (7)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse is a weekly podcast hosted by Leonie "Ruth" Acland and Rachael Massey. This podcast developed out of a desire for us to find support for ourselves and offer it to other women who recognised they have ADD or ADHD after childhood. To create a trusted place to share our stories. Where we can feel seen, heard, and accepted for the whole of who we are. We discuss ADHD and ADD facts and observations. Share tools and skills to manage some of the quirks. And we interview women, like you, who share their experience with adult attention deficit disorder.

  1. 10/21/2025 · BONUS

    ADHD-ers Standing Up for Your Mental Health in the Workplace

    Quick mini episode about how Rachael used her neurodiversity and creative problem solving to figure out how to be true to herself and also standing up for her values.

    21 min

  2. 10/09/2025 · BONUS

    Did you know…it’s ADHD awareness month?!?

    Just a quick hello and reminder 🥰

    10 min

  3. 09/14/2025

    Spoon Theory, But Make It Abundant: ADHD Energy Mindset

    ADHD energy management, abundance mindset, spoon theory reframe, self-compassion, practical strategies, and thriving with ADHD. In this episode, we dive into what it means to approach our energy with an abundance mindset. 💫 Instead of living in constant fear of “running out of spoons,” we explore how reframing our relationship with energy can bring us more ease, self-trust, and joy. We share personal stories about burnout, guilt, and overcommitment—and how we’re learning to see energy as something we can nurture and grow, not just spend. We also unpack how to work with our ADHD brains, rather than against them, by noticing the rhythms of our energy and finding practical ways to honor our limits without feeling defeated. If you’ve ever felt like your energy defines your worth, this conversation is your invitation to see yourself with more compassion and hope. 🌞 ✨ Key Discussion Points: Spoon Theory, Reframed: We talk about why traditional spoon theory can feel limiting—and how to shift toward a mindset of abundance without ignoring our real needs. Noticing Energy Rhythms: How tracking your natural highs and lows can lead to a more balanced and guilt-free life. ADHD & Burnout Patterns: We share personal experiences of burnout and the patterns we’ve spotted in how ADHD brains push themselves too far. Practical Energy Boosters: Small, actionable steps we’re using to gently increase our energy reserves over time. Self-Compassion as a Tool: The emotional weight of fatigue is real. We discuss why self-kindness isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s essential. Whether you’re feeling completely drained or just curious about how to better care for your energy, this episode will help you rethink what’s possible and feel more at home in your own body and brain. 💛 Helpful Links: ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse on Instagram Learn more about Spoon Theory ✨ Love what you hear? Don’t forget to subscribe and rate our podcast to help more ADHD women connect and thrive in the Neuroverse!

    39 min

  4. 08/31/2025

    Bendy Brains & Bodies: ADHD Meets Hypermobility

    understanding yourself with ADHD, energy depletion, integrating new self-understanding, personal growth, ADHD and self-discovery, neurodivergent self-awareness, ADHD burnout recovery, mental exhaustion and ADHD, emotional burnout ADHD.  Ever wondered if there’s a connection between being “bendy” and living with ADHD? In this episode, I open up about my own experience with hypermobility and how it overlaps with ADHD in ways that often go unseen. From brain fog and fatigue to those “is it me or my body?” questions—we’re diving into the real, lived experience behind the research. 🌱 What you’ll hear in this episode: The surprising overlap between ADHD and hypermobility How both conditions can affect energy, focus, and daily life Why validation and self-compassion matter more than “fixing” yourself Small, practical ways to listen to your body and protect your energy This is not about labels or limitations—it’s about understanding ourselves better. For me, learning about the ADHD + hypermobility connection has been empowering. It gave language to things I thought were “just me being bad at life” and turned them into something I could meet with compassion and strategies that actually work. 💛 If you’ve ever felt exhausted, clumsy, or misunderstood in your body—while also navigating ADHD—this episode is for you. You’re not alone, and you’re not broken. Our bendy brains and bodies just work a little differently. 🎧 Helpful links Move Your DNA podcast⁠ by Katy Bowman – Ep. 177 Hypermobility, Proprioception, and Building Up a Bendy Body⁠⁠ 👉 Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for support and community, or reach out if you’d like to share your ADHD journey! 📬 Interested in being a guest or working with us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ directly—we’d love to hear from you!

    46 min

  5. 07/31/2025

    It Was Working…Until It Wasn’t: ADHD, Fatigue & New Foundations

    Topics: Understanding yourself with ADHD, energy depletion, integrating new self-understanding, personal growth, ADHD and self-discovery, neurodivergent self-awareness, ADHD burnout recovery, mental exhaustion and ADHD, emotional burnout ADHD.  In this episode, Ruth and I get real about what happens when your old ways of coping no longer work—whether it’s because of ADHD fatigue, big life changes, or just the need to build new foundations. We talk vulnerability, honest communication, and the power of showing up as your true self. ✨ What You’ll Hear: Shifting dynamics through vulnerability: I share how opening up about my anxiety changed the way a coworker saw me—and how that kind of honest communication can transform relationships. Finding your own rhythm: We explore how tuning into your internal signals (interoception) and your connection with others (exteroception) helps you adjust and thrive. Power hours and productivity: I admit my power hour didn’t go as planned—but journaling and carving out gentle routines feel like the next right steps. Nourishing your nervous system: Ruth talks about the soothing power of human voices and how simple things—like the resonance of a viola or the right audiobook—can support your wellbeing. Fatigue, nutrition, and small moves: We discuss hypermobility’s role in fatigue, the value of rainbow-colored plates, and why tiny, consistent habits add up to big shifts. Movement that fits your life: From stretching during work to playful PE moments, we celebrate movement that feels good without pressure or overwhelm. Designing your life: Ruth invites us to think like designers, consciously creating systems that fit our values and evolving them with kindness and flexibility. Intuitive learning and knitting: We share how going at your own pace—and embracing intuitive learning—can be a game changer, whether you’re knitting, learning languages, or managing ADHD. 💬 I hope this conversation encourages you to embrace your unique path, create new structures when old ones fade, and find joy in small, authentic moments. ✨ Helpful links: ⁠Random Acts of Crochet Kindness Facebook group 👉 Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for support and community, or reach out if you’d like to share your ADHD journey! 📬 Interested in being a guest or working with us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ directly—we’d love to hear from you!

    58 min

  6. 05/29/2025 · BONUS

    Quick ADHD life update

    We will return next week with a new full episode, and we should be back on track. Thanks for hanging in there with us!! ✨ Helpful Links: ⁠ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse Blog⁠⁠5 Minute Guided Breathing Meditation⁠⁠Blueberry Noise Frequency⁠👉 Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for support and community, or reach out if you’d like to share your ADHD journey! 📬 Interested in being a guest or working with us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ directly—we’d love to hear from you! 📚 Do you feel like you're floundering? Ruth helps women move from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Functioning to Flourishing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Focus on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Getting Sh*t Done⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Rachael.

    13 min

  7. 05/01/2025

    Managing Task Paralysis and Low Energy Days with ADHD

    Topics: ADHD and emotional burnout, task paralysis, life changes overwhelm, decision fatigue, workplace sensory overload, guilt and shame, prioritizing self care In this episode, we explore the challenges of navigating major life changes while living with ADHD—and how these moments can intensify symptoms like task paralysis, overwhelm, decision fatigue, and energy crashes. Whether it's a move, a job shift, family transitions, or starting something new… ADHD brains can struggle to keep up with the demands, the emotions, and the sheer unpredictability of it all. ✨Key Discussion Points 🐝ADHD Brain Overload We explore what happens when we feel like everything is too much, and our brain just says, “nope.” You know that moment when even the smallest task (like replying to an email or unpacking a box) feels monumental?  🐝Executive Functioning + Energy Rhythm Rachael shares how her executive functioning recently ground to a halt mid-transition, and what helped her start again… slowly. 🐌 Ruth brings in a beautiful lens on honouring energy rhythms, embracing the pause, and recognising when your nervous system needs some loving care—not more to-dos. 🐝ADHD-related Fatigue We talk about how task paralysis is not laziness, and how ADHD-related fatigue can sneak up on us—especially when we’re trying to hold it all together. There’s a little bit of neuroscience, a lot of honesty, and our usual dose of gentle humour. 🐝Navigating Major Life Changes with ADHD This episode is especially for anyone navigating transitions, feeling exhausted, or wondering why “simple” things suddenly feel impossible. We reflect on the internal and external chaos that often comes with transitions—moving house, shifting jobs, health changes, emotional upheaval—and how ADHD brains can find these moments extra intense and hard to manage.  💡Whether you’re moving, shifting jobs, family transitions, or starting something new, this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone. We understand ADHD brains can struggle to keep up with the demands, the emotions, and the sheer unpredictability of it all—but these experiences are part of your ADHD journey. As always, we’re here bumbling along beside you in the Neuroverse 🐝💛 ✨ Helpful Links: ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse BlogMove Your DNA Podcast-Ep 177: Hypermobility, Proprioception And Building Up A Bendy Body5 Minute Guided Breathing MeditationBlueberry Noise Frequency👉 Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for support and community, or reach out if you’d like to share your ADHD journey! 📬 Interested in being a guest or working with us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ directly—we’d love to hear from you! 📚 Do you feel like you're floundering? Ruth helps women move from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Functioning to Flourishing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Focus on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Getting Sh*t Done⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Rachael.

    32 min

  8. 04/15/2025

    Hello Again: Navigating Big Life Changes with ADHD

    Topics: ADHD burnout, guilt and shame cycles, navigating life transitions, mental health overwhelm, audio perfectionism, ADHD pivoting, self-compassion, emotional regulation, and tiny acts of self-care. We’re back!! 🎉 After a big pause, Ruth and I sat down to talk honestly about what’s been going on behind the scenes and why Season 3 took a little longer to launch. This episode is a heart-to-heart about what it’s like trying to show up for your creative projects, relationships, and responsibilities when your ADHD brain is in full-blown survival mode. We talk about how our lives took some unexpected turns (hi, life chaos 🙃), how we both got stuck in shame spirals about “not doing enough,” and the wild ride of trying to keep your commitments when your capacity is at rock bottom. ✨ Key Discussion Points: Big ADHD Emotions + Bigger Life Shifts: We both open up about how ADHD and major life transitions (like moving, job changes, family stuff, etc.) have collided to create overwhelm and inertia—and how common it is to feel like we’re “failing” even when we’re doing our best. Audio Guilt + Perfection Paralysis: I share the real reason we paused the pod: we had incredible interviews recorded, but poor sound quality sent me spiraling. We talk about the pressure to “do it right,” how hard it can be to delegate, and why we’re finally getting support to move forward. The ADHD Pivot in Action: Let’s be real—neurodivergent folks are professional pivoters. We talk about what it means to change plans, redefine success, and give ourselves permission to do things differently… especially when we’ve hit a wall. Tiny Joys + Dopamine Reboots: Even when life feels heavy, those little moments of pleasure and care can keep us going. I share my love for the “blueberry frequency” (don’t knock it till you try it 😄) and how one-minute resets have helped me start climbing out of the fog. Emotional Growth + ADHD Anger Responses: I open up about how my emotional regulation has evolved—especially around anger—and how I’m learning to pause, reflect, and choose compassion (for myself and others). It’s messy, but it’s worth it. 🎙 Whether you're navigating your own ADHD-related pause, in the middle of a life upheaval, or just feeling overwhelmed by what you “should” be doing… this episode is your reminder that you’re not alone. We’re still here, still figuring it out, and still showing up—one messy, honest moment at a time. 👉 Join the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for support and community, or reach out if you’d like to share your ADHD journey! 📬 Interested in being a guest or working with us? Email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ruth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rachael⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ directly—we’d love to hear from you! 📚 Do you feel like you're floundering? Ruth helps women move from ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Functioning to Flourishing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Focus on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Getting Sh*t Done⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ with Rachael.

    47 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

ADHD: Women Exploring the Neuroverse is a weekly podcast hosted by Leonie "Ruth" Acland and Rachael Massey. This podcast developed out of a desire for us to find support for ourselves and offer it to other women who recognised they have ADD or ADHD after childhood. To create a trusted place to share our stories. Where we can feel seen, heard, and accepted for the whole of who we are. We discuss ADHD and ADD facts and observations. Share tools and skills to manage some of the quirks. And we interview women, like you, who share their experience with adult attention deficit disorder.

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