Different, Not Broken

Lauren "L2" Howard
  • 4.0 (20)
  • 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. I Hate The New England Patriots. But Al Michaels?...

    16H AGO · BONUS

    I Hate The New England Patriots. But Al Michaels?...

    Happy Superbowl... to everyone but the New England Patriots because f**K them guys.

    4 min
  2. ICE Raids, Queer Faith and Why Injustice Feels So Personal

    2D AGO

    ICE Raids, Queer Faith and Why Injustice Feels So Personal

    I didn’t want to have this rant. I’m tired of needing to have this rant. Hi, I’m Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. In this episode of Different, Not Broken, I talk about ICE raids, fear, and what it feels like when people are genuinely afraid to exist in their own communities. I tell a personal story about someone I rely on every day being too scared to drive six minutes across her own neighbourhood — despite being a citizen — because ICE was crawling the area. And I unpack why “just comply” is a lie that doesn’t protect people when power isn’t being exercised responsibly. This episode is about fear that makes sense, exhaustion that isn’t a personal failure, and why mental health can’t be separated from the political reality we’re living inside. Later in the episode, I’m joined by Myah Knight for a deeper conversation about queer faith, religious trauma, and the kind of community people need when institutions become unsafe. You’ll hear: Why fear is a rational response to what’s happening right now Why “just comply” doesn’t actually keep people safe How power shifts the goalposts until you’re always in the wrong What allostatic load is and why you’re exhausted even when you’re not doing much How queer faith and community can exist alongside religious trauma Why needing support doesn’t mean you’re broken Once you’ve been inspired to brag, here’s where you can do it! https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail Useful stuff Stuff that helps you become awesome even if you’re different: https://stan.store/elletwo My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/ Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Why I’m talking about ICE and fear 01:06 – Being too scared to drive six minutes 03:20 – Why “just comply” doesn’t protect you 06:37 – What federal overreach actually looks like 10:00 – Fear, abuse dynamics, and moving goalposts 15:45 – Why you’re exhausted even when you’re doing nothing 19:50 – Why I wanted Myah in this conversation 20:30 – Queer faith, religious trauma, and healing 37:25 – Small Talk listener question: dissociation or burnout? 40:15 – What I want you to hear before you go Mentioned in this episode: Wanna sponsor this podcast http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsors Sponsor Different Not Broken 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 Join Quirky

    44 min
  3. I recognized him instantly. (My Reality TV → Real Life Nightmare)

    JAN 28

    I recognized him instantly. (My Reality TV → Real Life Nightmare)

    I recognised him instantly. I’d never met him before. Hi, I’m Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. In this episode of Different, Not Broken, I tell the story of going to a startup funding event in Miami and unexpectedly sitting down next to someone I knew far too much about… despite never having spoken to him in my life. It turns out reality TV, social conditioning, and a neurodivergent brain make for a very specific kind of social experience. This episode is about what it’s like to hold a straight face while your brain is doing cartwheels, why masking often looks like politeness, and how much effort goes into pretending you don’t know what you know. You’ll hear: Why recognition doesn’t always come from real relationships What masking actually looks like in everyday social situations Why being “polite” is often a survival skill How neurodivergent brains process people and patterns differently Why explaining yourself gets exhausting fast Once you’ve been inspired to brag, here’s where you can do it! https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail Useful stuff Stuff that helps you become awesome even if you’re different: https://stan.store/elletwo My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/ Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – I recognized him instantly 01:12 – Reality TV, hate watching, and accidental expertise 04:06 – Going to an event alone (never again) 06:48 – Sitting down next to someone I shouldn’t know 09:02 – Knowing too much and saying nothing 12:31 – Masking as politeness 15:18 – Why pretending not to know is exhausting 18:44 – Listener brag: feeling hopeful about 2026 20:02 – A very important question for sleep scientists 23:10 – Small Talk Listener Question: communicating needs without feeling difficult 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 Join Quirky Wanna sponsor this podcast http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsors Sponsor Different Not Broken Build Your Better course Build your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

    22 min
  4. Simplify My Soda: A Crispy Coke RTO Love Story

    JAN 21

    Simplify My Soda: A Crispy Coke RTO Love Story

    I have a habit of saying the obvious things most workplaces avoid. Hi, I’m Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. In this episode of Different, Not Broken, I break down why basic human standards at work get treated like radical ideas, why return to office policies are deeply ableist, and why so much “innovative leadership” is really just common sense wrapped in better language. This episode is about simplifying what’s been overcomplicated for years. You’ll hear: Why psychological safety isn’t a perkHow bad management hides behind complexityThe real reason companies are pushing return to officeWhy clarity often gets mistaken for controversyWhat actually changes when you treat people like humans Once you’ve been inspired to brag, here’s where you can do it! https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail Useful stuff Stuff that helps you become awesome even if you’re different: https://stan.store/elletwo My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/ Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Why saying the obvious sounds “radical” 02:08 – The bare minimum we’ve stopped expecting at work 03:47 – Psychological safety isn’t a perk 04:38 – Why return to office is deeply ableist 06:36 – The real reason companies want people back in offices 07:46 – Bad management disguised as productivity 09:05 – Treat people like humans and they quit less 10:36 – Listener brag: feeling on top of life 11:15 – Why I hate “love languages” 11:49 – The science and art of a crispy Coke 13:49 – Big bubbles, bad Coke, and betrayal 15:31 – Freestyle machines are not acceptable 17:59 – Small Talk Listener Question: grieving a late neurodivergent diagnosis Mentioned in this episode: Join Quirky Brag on yourself Wanna brag on yourself for something you've done which you're proud of? https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail Wanna sponsor this podcast http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsors Sponsor Different Not Broken

    26 min
  5. You're Not Broken. You Were Taught Harmful Theology!

    JAN 14

    You're Not Broken. You Were Taught Harmful Theology!

    You’re not broken. But a lot of us were taught to believe we were. Hi, I’m Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of Different, Not Broken, I’m talking with Libby Alders, a pastoral chaplain who works at the intersection of faith, trauma, and identity, about what happens when religion stops being a source of comfort and starts quietly doing damage. We get into how harmful theology gets lodged in your nervous system, why so many neurodivergent and LGBTQIA people grow up feeling fundamentally wrong, and how community can heal or harm depending on who’s allowed to show up fully. This isn’t a debate about belief. It’s a conversation about safety. About moral injury. About certainty being weaponised. And about finding ways to make meaning without being told who you’re allowed to be. There’s swearing. There’s honesty. There’s a surprising amount of warmth for a conversation that doesn’t pull its punches. Once you’ve been inspired to brag, here’s where you can do it! https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail Useful stuff Stuff that helps you become awesome even if you’re different: https://stan.store/elletwo My grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/ Timestamped summary 00:00 “You’re Not Broken. You Were Taught Harmful Theology” 04:18 Certainty, faith, and why curiosity matters 09:32 Religion, trauma, and moral injury 14:41 Neurodivergence, queerness, and conditional belonging 20:06 Losing faith without losing yourself 26:55 Finding safer community and meaning Mentioned in this episode: Build Your Better course Build your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better Wanna sponsor this podcast http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsors Sponsor Different Not Broken

    41 min
  6. Can somebody please explain this timeline to me?

    JAN 9 · BONUS

    Can somebody please explain this timeline to me?

    Can somebody please explain this timeline to me? Because I have a confession. Last week — not even sure which day, definitely one of the days ending in “y” — something happened. And I have no idea how.

    3 min
  7. I Survived the Flight and Still Won’t Load the Toilet Roll

    JAN 7

    I Survived the Flight and Still Won’t Load the Toilet Roll

    Flying makes me anxious. Not the mild kind. The walls-closing-in, I-need-control kind. 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 what it was like flying with someone who supported me without making a thing of it. No fuss. No questions. No spotlight. Just quiet, steady presence. We get into why that kind of support works so well, especially for anxious and neurodivergent people, and why “are you okay?” is often the least helpful thing you can say. 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 "Therapist as Emotional Support" 05:49 "Calm Support During Turbulence" 07:26 "Weird Ears and Airplanes" 12:32 Toilet Paper Holder Frustrations 16:49 "Outgrowing Expectations and Tolerance" 18:46 Sibling Conflict and Resolution Mentioned in this episode: Build Your Better course Build your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better Wanna sponsor this podcast http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsors Sponsor Different Not Broken Brag on yourself Wanna brag on yourself for something you've done which you're proud of? https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail

    24 min
  8. What If This Is It?

    12/31/2025

    What If This Is It?

    Nobody tells you this part about being a parent. That every boundary you set comes with a quiet, gnawing guilt. Needing space. Wanting quiet. Asking not to be touched for five minutes. And immediately wondering if you’ll regret it forever. 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 constant tug-of-war between your needs as a human and your guilt as a parent. Because even when your kids are healthy, safe, loved, and thriving, it can still feel like you’re failing someone all the time. Usually yourself. Sometimes them. Often both. I get into overstimulation, sensory overload, and why tiny, almost invisible things can feel completely unbearable when your fuse is already short. And I talk about that thought parents torture themselves with over and over again. What if this is the last time? This is a conversation for parents who love their kids deeply and still sometimes need room to breathe. 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 The chaos nobody prepares you for 01:00 When your fuse feels dangerously short 03:03 Overstimulation and sensory overload 06:20 The tiny thing that breaks you 10:45 “What if this is the last time?” 14:50 The moment I knew I’d done something right 27:30 Recording while being a parent Mentioned in this episode: Wanna sponsor this podcast http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsors Sponsor Different Not Broken

    27 min
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Trailer

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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
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Lauren "L2" Howard
  • Show Website
    Different, Not Broken

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