Different at Work

Andrew Sanders and Flo LaBrado
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Careers
  • Updated Weekly

Hosts Andrew and Flo discuss what neurodivergence in the workplace looks like through their real-life examples. They are both high-achieving adults, having served in leadership roles in a Fortune 100 company, driving successful and high performing teams. Andrew suffered through undiagnosed ADHD until he received his diagnosis later in life, while Flo is currently an ICF-accredited leadership coach with many neurodivergent clients. They worked together closely for many years; as friends and colleagues, they started Different at Work so that the next generation of leaders can learn from their often deeply personal examples. Note: Different at Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice.

Episodes

  1. 6d ago

    Rainbows, Skittles & Sidequests

    Andrew spills the beans on one of ADHD’s worst-kept secrets: its superpowers. He and Flo explore how the ADHD brain’s unique wiring can fuel creativity, adaptability, hyperfocus, and connection; how those strengths can flourish at work; and why every superpower has a shadow side. Along the way, we discover Andrew’s surprisingly adventurous streak—despite how excited he gets about code and spreadsheets. Chapters (00:00:00) - Welcome and Topic(00:01:04) - ADHD Strengths Mindset(00:02:13) - Hyperfocus Explained(00:04:12) - Interest Driven Focus(00:07:13) - Impulsivity and Adventure(00:11:01) - Task Switching at Work(00:13:42) - Strengths Research(00:17:46) - Creativity in Boredom(00:23:33) - Reading the Room(00:26:24) - Resilience and Regulation(00:32:07) - Leading ADHD Teams(00:35:04) - Wrap Up and DisclaimerDifferent At Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice. Links to helpful resources and other content can be found on our website at www.differentatwork.com.

  2. Sep 25

    Blind Spots

    In this episode, Andrew and Flo discuss potential blind spots that a neurodivergent leader may experience. These are things that need careful handling or correction, about which you are likely unaware. Flo gives some thoughts about how to check your blindbspots and mitigate impacts to your teams, and Andrew provides personal reflections on how his ADHD impacted his career and the people entrusted to his leadership. Chapters (00:00:01) - Introduction: Turning the Camera to Neurodivergent Leaders(00:02:57) - Blind Spot: Hiring Bias in Interviews(00:03:42) - Blind Spot: Projecting Personal Accommodations as Team Norms(00:04:56) - Power Dynamics and Leader-Set Defaults(00:08:50) - Affinity Bias and Communication Preferences(00:11:33) - Direct Communication Styles and Individual Needs(00:13:08) - Reflecting on Flexing Communication Post-Diagnosis(00:14:44) - Hyper Focus as a Leadership Blind Spot(00:17:06) - Interrupting Hyper Focus and Employee Fairness(00:18:57) - Post-Diagnosis Reckoning: Real Me vs. Workarounds(00:22:27) - Miranda Priestly Example: Learning Through Observed Behavior(00:24:58) - Retail Story: Unspoken Norms and Culture(00:26:39) - Balancing Leader Needs and Team Accommodations(00:29:47) - Strategies: Checking Blind Spots and Feedback(00:30:53) - Professional Development Board of Advisors(00:32:59) - Psychological Safety and Intentional Processes(00:36:06) - Wrap Up and Closing ThoughtsDifferent At Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice. Links to helpful resources and other content can be found on our website at www.differentatwork.com.

  3. Sep 12

    Excluded at Work

    For a lot of neurodivergent people, sensory stuff like smell or noise isn’t a preference. It’s a wall. Andrew and Flo talk about the quiet ways teams leave people out, like the restaurant nobody asked about or the norm nobody explained, and how to build belonging on purpose. (Note: No seafood was harmed in the making of this episode.) Chapters (00:00:01) - Introduction to Different at Work(00:00:30) - Defining Teamwork vs. Groups(00:03:50) - Multiple Teams We Belong To(00:05:45) - Feeling Connected When Neurodivergent(00:07:03) - Being Misread as Disengaged(00:08:30) - In-Group vs. Out-Group Feelings(00:09:26) - Exclusion Through Social Gatherings(00:12:29) - Group Dynamics: Roles, Norms, Cohesion(00:14:48) - Novelty, Structure, and Team Tasks(00:16:34) - A Personal Example of Miscommunication(00:18:24) - Building Intentional Belonging(00:20:07) - Fixing Exclusionary Social Practices(00:22:44) - Making Norms Explicit(00:24:53) - Onboarding and Understanding Individual Needs(00:27:50) - Whose Responsibility Is Belonging?(00:30:27) - Self-Organizing Roles Without a Manager(00:31:59) - Avoiding Forced Inclusion(00:34:26) - Pandemic Camera Example and Sensory Needs(00:37:47) - Planning Team Building Thoughtfully(00:40:59) - Wrap-Up and Key Strategies(00:42:22) - Closing Notes and ResourcesDifferent At Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice. Links to helpful resources and other content can be found on our website at www.differentatwork.com.

  4. Sep 5

    Different For Hire - Part II

    Flo and Andrew continue their discussion about the job search while being wired a little differently. In this conversation, we fast forward beyond the resumes and applications and focus on the interviews and selection process, including different perspectives and the unfathomable consideration to disclose your ADHD diagnosis in the process. Chapters (00:00:01) - Different at Work: Navigating the Job Search Process(00:04:49) - Behavior-based Interview Questions(00:08:09) - Culture Fit and the Job Search(00:13:38) - The role of neurodivergence in the interview(00:16:00) - How to Win an Interview With a Neurodivergent Person(00:19:23) - On Masking and Code Switch(00:21:24) - What to Reveal in the Interview(00:21:43) - The Choice to Disclose Neurodivergence in the Workplace(00:27:25) - Topics of ADHD and neurodivergences(00:29:59) - What Can Companies Do to Attract and Accept Neurodivergent(00:32:59) - The culture of the workplace(00:33:46) - Inclusive Recruitment and Talent Selection Process(00:41:13) - Different at Work: Being NeurodivergentDifferent At Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice. Links to helpful resources and other content can be found on our website at www.differentatwork.com.

  5. Aug 28

    Different For Hire - Job Hunting (Part I)

    Andrew and Flo discuss the unique challenges of searching for a job while being wired a little differently. Comparisons are made between advice given to neurotypical job seekers, and we discuss how that advice might be adjusted for the neurodiverse candidate. Spoiler alert: The job search process really sucks for everyone and, perhaps not surprisingly, it is not helped by ADHD. Chapters (00:00:01) - Different at Work(00:00:29) - How to Choose to Confess Your Neurodivergence in the(00:08:37) - How RSD affects the job search(00:10:06) - Does an Autistic Person Get a Job?(00:18:23) - The New Rules of Networking(00:21:49) - What If You're Neurodivergent and Can't Meet People(00:23:35) - Relationship Building with a Neurodiverse Person(00:30:31) - The Challenges of Applying for Jobs(00:31:58) - Different at Work: The Mental Health PodcastDifferent At Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice. Links to helpful resources and other content can be found on our website at www.differentatwork.com.

  6. Aug 19

    Today's Secret Word is...

    Today’s secret word is “Trust.” Andrew and Flo discuss the potential risks and benefits of disclosing a neurodivergence diagnosis in the workplace, and what signs to look for when weighing that decision. Risks include navigating stigmas and stereotypes, dealing with rejection, and the permanence of discloser. Benefits include an optimized workplace that reduces stress and promotes overall well-being. Trust-building competencies and frameworks and the responsibilities of leaders are also discussed. Resources: The Thin Book of Trust by Charles Feltman (audiobook edition) Chapters (00:00:01) - Intro to Different at Work(00:00:47) - The Dilemma of Disclosing a Diagnosis(00:01:49) - RSD, Stigma, and ADHD Superpowers(00:03:54) - Whose Responsibility Is Disclosure?(00:06:05) - Trust, Oversharing, and Vulnerability(00:09:14) - Sharing Needs vs Sharing Diagnosis(00:11:11) - Power and Leadership's Role in Trust(00:12:26) - Feltman's Four Dimensions of Trust(00:14:54) - Leadership Tone from the Top Down(00:16:31) - The Cost of Not Disclosing(00:18:32) - Story: The Autistic Colleague Who Disclosed(00:20:44) - Missed Signs: The OCD Employee Example(00:23:37) - Noticing the Person, Not Just Output(00:26:24) - Trust as a Piggy Bank Analogy(00:28:09) - Black-and-White Trust and Repair(00:29:24) - Timing and Care After Disclosure(00:35:09) - Managing vs Leading(00:37:19) - Practical Steps: Testing Trust Safely(00:37:46) - Closing Thoughts and ResourcesDifferent At Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice. Links to helpful resources and other content can be found on our website at www.differentatwork.com.

  7. Aug 13

    Wait, That Was Me?

    Andrew and Flo discuss some of the re-processing of past events that happens when someone is officially diagnosed with ADHD later in life. Andrew shares his personal experience and Flo shares her excellent insights. Together, they reminisce about the good ol’ days of MySpace, the Blackberry Pearl, and brick walls.   Resources: https://self-compassion.org/   Chapters (00:00:01) - Intro: Different at Work(00:01:11) - Getting an Adult ADHD Diagnosis(00:02:47) - Masking, Overcompensating, and Novelty-Seeking Brains(00:04:38) - Understanding Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)(00:08:14) - The Physical Experience of RSD(00:10:47) - RSD in Everyday Life and Workplace Evaluations(00:12:32) - RSD, Phone Calls, and Advocacy Struggles(00:16:43) - Career Longevity and Hitting a Brick Wall(00:19:14) - Designing a Career Around Your Brain(00:21:28) - Reprocessing Shared Work Memories(00:26:27) - How Diagnosis Ripples Into Relationships(00:28:43) - Advice: Grace, Self-Compassion, and Closing ThoughtsDifferent At Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice. Links to helpful resources and other content can be found on our website at www.differentatwork.com.

  8. Aug 6

    New dx, Who’s This?

    Meet Andrew and Flo, two seasoned professionals, as they discuss their experiences with neurodivergence in the workplace. The conversation includes real-world examples and their shared lived experience. In the first episode, you’ll hear a little about their personal experience and their motivations for creating a podcast. Chapters (00:00:01) - Welcome to Different at Work(00:00:35) - Hosts' Backgrounds and Corporate Careers(00:02:02) - Andrew's Story: ADHD Diagnosis Journey(00:04:30) - Flo's Upbringing with Neurodivergent Family(00:06:18) - How Andrew and Flo Connected Through Work(00:07:50) - Superpowers, Masking, and Workplace Friction(00:10:32) - Why Media Representation Matters(00:11:23) - Prozac Nation and Seeing Yourself in Stories(00:12:56) - Accountability and Media Representation as a Double-Edged Sword(00:15:03) - Confusing ADHD with Bipolar Disorder(00:17:10) - Pre-Screens, Confusion, and Seeking Professional Help(00:17:44) - MBA Struggles and Finally Getting Diagnosed(00:20:43) - Wrap Up and DisclaimerDifferent At Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice. Links to helpful resources and other content can be found on our website at www.differentatwork.com.

  • 8 Episodes

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Hosts Andrew and Flo discuss what neurodivergence in the workplace looks like through their real-life examples. They are both high-achieving adults, having served in leadership roles in a Fortune 100 company, driving successful and high performing teams. Andrew suffered through undiagnosed ADHD until he received his diagnosis later in life, while Flo is currently an ICF-accredited leadership coach with many neurodivergent clients. They worked together closely for many years; as friends and colleagues, they started Different at Work so that the next generation of leaders can learn from their often deeply personal examples. Note: Different at Work shares lived experience and general information; it is not medical, mental health, legal, or employment advice.

Information

  • Creator
    Andrew Sanders and Flo LaBrado
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 A Sanders LLC
  • Show Website
    Different at Work