Different, not broken

Lauren "L2" Howard
  • 4.1 (18)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

You’ve spent your whole life feeling like something’s wrong with you. Here’s a radical thought: what if you’re not broken - just different? Welcome to Different, Not Broken, the no-filter, emotionally intelligent, occasionally sweary podcast that challenges the idea that we all have to fit inside neat little boxes to be acceptable. Hosted by L2 (aka Lauren Howard), founder of LBee Health, this show dives into the real, raw and ridiculous sides of being neurodivergent, introverted, chronically underestimated - and still completely worthy. Expect deeply honest conversations about identity, autism, ADHD, gender, work, grief, anxiety and everything in between. There’ll be tears, dead dad jokes, side quests, and a whole lot of swearing. Whether you're neurodivergent, neurotypical, or just human and tired of pretending to be someone you’re not, this space is for you. Come for the chaos. Stay for the catharsis. Linger for the dead Dad jokes.

  1. The super secret Christmas episode

    11H AGO · BONUS

    The super secret Christmas episode

    Shhhhh! Come in and have a listen to your gift. Don't tell anyone....

    4 min
  2. Are You an Order Muppet or a Chaos Muppet?

    1D AGO

    Are You an Order Muppet or a Chaos Muppet?

    Nobody really explains this part of relationships either. That a lot of the friction isn’t about love, or communication, or effort. It’s about order. And chaos. And which one of you is quietly losing your mind because the other one will not, under any circumstances, make a plan. Hi, I’m Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of Different, Not Broken, I introduce you to the single most accurate relationship framework I’ve ever found. It comes from the greatest relationship philosopher of our time. Jim Henson. I’m talking Order Muppets and Chaos Muppets. Who they are. Why they keep finding each other. And why once you see it, you genuinely can’t unsee it. We get into partners, kids, siblings, colleagues, and the moment when an Order Muppet finally snaps and goes full feral Kermit. We talk about why chaos isn’t a flaw. Why order isn’t control. And why most conflict is really just two nervous systems speaking completely different languages. There’s also a listener question about masking. What it costs. Why it’s exhausting. And how to start noticing who you actually are underneath all the coping. It’s funny. It’s unreasonably accurate. And it will absolutely ruin the way you look at the people in your life, in the best possible way. If you’ve ever thought “why am I the only one holding this together?” Or “why does this person make everything harder?” Congratulations. You’re probably a Muppet. Let’s figure out which kind. Useful stuffStuff that helps you become awesome even if you’re different: https://stan.store/elletwo My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/ Timestamped summary00:00 Are You an Order Muppet or a Chaos Muppet? 02:18 Jim Henson’s accidental relationship genius 05:04 Why opposites don’t just attract, they survive 08:41 Families, kids, and chaos tolerance 11:22 When Order Muppets finally lose their shit 13:09 Listener question: masking and exhaustion 14:05 How to start unmasking without blowing up your life Mentioned in this episode: Build Your Better course Build your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better Brag on yourself Wanna brag on yourself for something you've done which you're proud of? https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail

    16 min
  3. Embracing The Gift of Nothing and Why Modesty Hasn't Helped Your Career!

    DEC 17

    Embracing The Gift of Nothing and Why Modesty Hasn't Helped Your Career!

    Nobody tells you this part about being an adult. That most of your energy gets burned on decisions. Small ones. Constant ones. What to eat. What to say. How to say it nicely. Who not to upset. When to apologise. Again. Hi, I'm Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of "Different, Not Broken" I talk about the real gift overwhelmed people actually want. Not stuff. Not experiences. Not another thing you’re supposed to be grateful for. Just nothing. Relax, there's logic in here if you listen. I also get into something we’ve been quietly taught for years: that staying modest, keeping your head down, and not bragging will somehow pay off. To be honest, it usually hasn’t. And pretending otherwise hasn’t helped anyone. This is a conversation about decision fatigue, invisible labour, and why being good at things isn’t something you should apologise for. It’s funny, sharp, honest, and probably a bit too relatable if you’re the person everyone relies on. If you’re tired, capable, and done pretending you’re not — this one’s for you. Once you've been inspired to brag, here's where you can do it! - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail Useful stuffStuff that helps you become awesome even if you're different: https://stan.store/elletwo My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/ Timestamped summary00:00 "What I Really Want"* 05:46 "Craving Decision-Free Solitude" 06:18 "Adulting is Meal Planning" 10:11 "Garbage Day Struggles" 15:44 Boundaries on Personal Questions 16:25 "Pets as Family" Mentioned in this episode: Wanna learn to write like me? Here's how you can! Writing Course Build Your Better course Build your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

    22 min
  4. Justice for Kevin McCallister!

    DEC 14 · BONUS

    Justice for Kevin McCallister!

    I need to go on the record. The Wet Bandits are NOT the villains in Home Alone. This episode is a full rewatch reckoning. The kind that hits you sideways once you’re an adult and can’t unsee what’s actually happening on screen. And we’re meant to call it festive. This is not a cosy nostalgia episode. It’s time to get a little uncomfortable and understand what's really going on with this movie and why I think it's more of a horror movie than a Christmas film. Merry Christmas, you filthy animals.

    3 min
  5. They Called Me "Difficult". Turns Out... I Was Right!

    DEC 10

    They Called Me "Difficult". Turns Out... I Was Right!

    Team Difficult: Can I Get That on a T-Shirt? Hi, I'm Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of "Different, Not Broken"... You know that word you’ve heard muttered under their breath after a meeting, or the one you’ve seen tossed around as an insult every time you dared to challenge a Not-So-Great Idea™ at work? "Difficult." It’s the golden badge awarded when you stand your ground, ask questions, or refuse to shrink yourself to fit someone else’s comfort zone. Might as well print it on a shirt and wear it as a uniform. (Actually, that’s exactly what happened—and yes, the US trademark is real. Team Difficult is officially in session.) In this episode, I'm sharing my thoughts on the culture of workplace competition, the myth of “just be agreeable and you’ll get ahead,” and how the word “difficult” is actually code for “please be smaller so I can feel bigger.” If you’ve ever felt like you have to play the game—even when being “game” makes you miserable—or you’ve found yourself walking a fine line between champion and challenger, this episode is for you. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much”—too loud, too opinionated, too different—or found yourself shrinking so someone else didn’t feel threatened, “Different, Not Broken” is here to remind you: You are NOT difficult, even when they say you are. You’re Team Difficult—and that’s something to celebrate. Useful stuffStuff that helps you become awesome even if you're different: https://stan.store/elletwo My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/ Timestamped summary00:00 "Team Difficult Origins Explained" 03:24 Gender Bias in Workplace Communication 08:13 "Collaboration Over Competition" 12:07 "Christmas Trees Have Backs" 15:42 Burnout and Starting Over 19:02 "Self-Blame in Tough Situations" 20:42 Unsustainable Burnout Amid Life Challenges 24:10 "This Might Break Him" Mentioned in this episode: Brag on yourself Wanna brag on yourself for something you've done which you're proud of? https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail Build Your Better course Build your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

    26 min
  6. Toxic Work Places: No Job Deserves Your Mental Health

    DEC 3

    Toxic Work Places: No Job Deserves Your Mental Health

    Your emotional energy is not in your job description. There! I said it. Did you feel a little jolt of recognition, a sense of relief—or maybe a stab of rage? Hi, I'm Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of "Different, Not Broken" I'm asking if you’ve ever slogged through unbearable meetings, survived a boss who’d rather watch you squirm than support you, or felt your job siphoning off bits of your sanity day after day… this episode is your permission slip to stop surrendering your mental health on the altar of toxic work culture. If you’ve ever heard “No job is worth your mental health” and nodded vigorously, only to feel that familiar panic rising when rent is due and quitting might mean eviction, you’re in the right place. This episode won’t hand you Instagram-worthy mantras divorced from the realities of bills, healthcare, and responsibility. Instead, I'm calling b******t on the “just quit” narrative, sharing the reality, along with some actionable insights, and the kinds of boundary-setting wisdom you wish someone told you before your workplace broke you—not because you were broken, but because you were different in a system built for sameness. You’ll find out: Why the burn-it-all-down mentality works for trust-fund babies but not so much for the rest of us.How your emotional labor is being quietly exploited—and how to reclaim it without burning bridges (or burning out).The single most important thing to do before leaving a toxic workplace (hint: it's not just quitting).How to spot the difference between jobs that are simply tough, and jobs that are actively toxic.What actually leads to burnout (spoiler: it’s almost never the actual work). Most importantly, you'll hear a deeply personal story of what happens when you reach your breaking point—and what you wish you knew before walking away. No job deserves your mental health. Listen now. Your sanity—and future self—will thank you. Useful stuffStuff that helps you become awesome even if you're different: https://stan.store/elletwo My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/ Timestamped summary00:00 "No Job Over Mental Health" 06:11 "Choosing Your Emotional Boundaries" 08:49 "Leaving to Save My Sanity" 12:49 "Questioning Corporate Processes" 15:11 Corporate Misfit to Happy Entrepreneur 19:46 Weekend Questions I Hate 23:10 "Choosing Between Fun or Rest" 25:27 Navigating Choices and Conversations Mentioned in this episode: Build Your Better course Build your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

    29 min
  7. Thanksgiving is made up. You don't owe ANYONE a turkey!

    NOV 27 · BONUS

    Thanksgiving is made up. You don't owe ANYONE a turkey!

    To be honest, I’ve hit my limit with holiday guilt and the weird pressure to act like everything’s cosy and magical just because the calendar says so. Holidays are made up. They only exist if you get paid time off or you genuinely enjoy them… and most people don’t. In this episode, I’m pulling the curtains back on the whole thing. The family expectations. The traditions no one even likes. The so-called “peacekeeping” that’s really just self-abandonment. This one’s a little ranty, a little chaotic, and probably the most comforting thing you’ll hear all season. Let’s talk about ditching guilt, skipping the b******t, and building holidays that don’t make you want to scream.

    8 min
  8. Different, Not Broken - Vegas Didn’t Kill Me… But It Tried

    NOV 26

    Different, Not Broken - Vegas Didn’t Kill Me… But It Tried

    I survived a healthcare conference in Las Vegas… and honestly, I’m still a little surprised. Hi, I'm Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of "Different, Not Broken" I'm sharing my story of peopling in sin city. Between the cigarette-tinged air, the giant hotel that somehow has no sunlight, the time-zone confusion, and the very real possibility that I could’ve wandered straight into a meetup hosted by people I’m literally in a legal dispute with, this trip shouldn’t have been fun — but weirdly, it was. In this episode, I talk about: • Why Vegas feels like a desert with no actual sun • How I almost RSVP’d myself straight into the lion’s den (yes, that lion) • My team acting like emotional support humans so I didn’t melt into a puddle in the middle of the crowd • The bizarre networking moments where founders, lawyers, and random strangers kept appearing out of nowhere • Why meeting listeners in real life makes me want to slide between the cracks of a sewer grate and disappear forever • And — shockingly — why I’d actually do this whole thing again Also, Alison brings us another listener question in Small Talk all about productivity. Useful stuffStuff that helps you become awesome even if you're different: https://stan.store/elletwo My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/ Timestamped summary00:00 "Time, Smoke, and Healthcare Irony" 05:30 "Almost Entering the Lion's Den" 07:12 "Introvert at the Party" 13:12 "Dateline Rule: No Second Location" 13:49 "Conference Reflections: Fun & Validation" 17:11 "Overcoming Exhaustion and Enjoyment" 20:20 Checklist Productivity vs Mental Effort 23:55 Redefining Daily Productivity Mentioned in this episode: Build Your Better course Build your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

    27 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.1
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

You’ve spent your whole life feeling like something’s wrong with you. Here’s a radical thought: what if you’re not broken - just different? Welcome to Different, Not Broken, the no-filter, emotionally intelligent, occasionally sweary podcast that challenges the idea that we all have to fit inside neat little boxes to be acceptable. Hosted by L2 (aka Lauren Howard), founder of LBee Health, this show dives into the real, raw and ridiculous sides of being neurodivergent, introverted, chronically underestimated - and still completely worthy. Expect deeply honest conversations about identity, autism, ADHD, gender, work, grief, anxiety and everything in between. There’ll be tears, dead dad jokes, side quests, and a whole lot of swearing. Whether you're neurodivergent, neurotypical, or just human and tired of pretending to be someone you’re not, this space is for you. Come for the chaos. Stay for the catharsis. Linger for the dead Dad jokes.

Information

  • Creator
    Lauren "L2" Howard
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Lauren "L2" Howard
  • Show Website
    Different, not broken

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