The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

Reid
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Semiweekly

Reid Miles Podcasts Two shows. One curiosity-driven mission: telling human stories that matter. Hosted by Reid Miles, this podcast feed is home to two distinct but connected conversations. The Neurodivergent Connection centers neurodivergent voices lived experience, late diagnosis, advocacy, creativity, and the realities of navigating a world not built for autistic minds. These episodes focus on understanding, accessibility, and belonging, grounded in honesty and real conversation rather than clinical distance. The Curious Storyteller began as a celebration of remarkable people and the stories that shaped them. It has since evolved into deeper, reflective conversations about identity, resilience, reinvention, and the quiet moments that change us. Guests include creators, athletes, leaders, and thinkers not to be interviewed, but to be heard. Both shows share the same foundation: unscripted conversations, emotional intelligence, and curiosity over performance. This isn’t about polished success stories or neat conclusions — it’s about connection, reflection, and telling the truth while the story is still being written. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  1. 23h ago

    A Diagnosis Can Bring Relief and Still Become a Box

    Living Past the Label: What a Diagnosis Can Explain Without Defining You A diagnosis can bring relief, but what happens if it starts to become the whole story? In this episode, I sit down with Mike Meyer to talk about what it means to live past the label. We get into the tension so many neurodivergent people face: wanting the clarity that comes with a diagnosis without letting it shrink our identity, our choices, or our future. Mike shares how labels can help us understand ourselves while also becoming a box if we’re not careful. We also talk about why language matters, how masking and self-advocacy can get tangled together, and why so many workplaces still expect people to fit into narrow ideas of “normal.” Along the way, I explore why detail matters to autistic minds, what gets lost when people reduce someone to a diagnosis, and how different thinking can become a real strength in leadership, work, and everyday life. If you’ve ever wondered how to honor a diagnosis without being trapped by it, this conversation will give you a lot to think about. About the Guest Mike Meyer is an author, speaker, and business and technology leader who talks about neurocomplexity, leadership, and living beyond limiting labels. His work focuses on helping people understand themselves, communicate better, and lead with clarity. Timestamps 0:03 - I welcome Mike Meyer and introduce the idea of living past the label 0:53 - Can a diagnosis help us and still hold us back? 5:45 - How do we honor a label without getting trapped inside it? 9:36 - Mike explains neurocomplexity and why he uses that term 17:33 - What gets lost when people reduce us to a diagnosis 23:18 - What comes after diagnosis and how identity can start to rebuild 36:08 - Why leadership matters for neurodivergent people 43:35 - What divergent thinkers bring to uncertain times 55:56 - What organizations need to change if they want different people to lead 65:02 - What I’d say to anyone who thinks leadership is for other people Mikes Links:m31.global Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION If this episode speaks to you, listen through and share it with someone who needs this reminder: you are more than a label. #Neurodivergent #Autism #ADHD #Leadership #Neurodiversity Hosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  2. 2d ago

    The Curious Storyteller: The Phone Call That Changed J D Barkers Life Before Dessert Arrived

    What Success Doesn’t Fix: My Conversation with J.D. Barker on Writing, Doubt, and Staying the Course I sat down with bestselling author J.D. Barker for a conversation that goes far beyond book deals and bestseller lists. In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to keep creating when self-doubt never fully leaves, and why success doesn’t always make the hard parts quieter. J.D. shares how he went from a high-pressure career in finance to betting everything on writing, with one life-changing decision at the kitchen table. Along the way, I asked him about imposter syndrome, knowing when a book is truly done, and what happens when characters seem to take over the story. Some of his answers are reassuring. Others might catch you off guard. We also get into collaboration, including what he learned from working with James Patterson, and the private cost of public success that most people never see coming. About the Guest J.D. Barker is a bestselling thriller author known for gripping fiction, major collaborations, and a career path that didn’t follow the usual script. He has written solo novels and co-authored books with James Patterson, building a wide readership around suspense, dark storytelling, and memorable characters. Key Timestamps 0:10 - How J.D. left finance and bet on writing full-time 2:23 - Why self-doubt never really goes away 4:30 - When characters start making their own choices 6:18 - How to know when a book is finished 10:07 - What success actually felt like once it arrived 12:53 - The part of success nobody warns writers about 17:09 - What writing with James Patterson taught him 20:38 - The personal fears that sneak into fiction 23:37 - What writing gives him when everything else is stripped away J.D's Website: https://jdbarker.com/ Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION If you’ve ever questioned your work, your timing, or whether you’re really ready, I think this episode will stay with you. Listen now, and if it speaks to you, share it with someone else who needs the reminder. #JDBarker #WritingLife #AuthorInterview #Storytelling #CreativeProcess Hosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    The Curious Storyteller: The Phone Call That Changed J D Barkers Life Before Dessert Arrived

  3. 5d ago

    What happens when you stop fixing yourself and start listening instead

    What Self-Acceptance Can Change for Neurodivergent People What happens when I stop fighting who I am and start working with myself instead? In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Scott to talk about the quiet harm of being misunderstood, the weight of masking, and the relief that can come when things finally start to make sense. Together, we explore what it feels like to grow up hearing harsh labels, missing support, and wondering why everyday things seem harder than they should. Amanda shares parts of her own story, from school struggles to the moment she began seeing herself with more clarity and compassion. Along the way, I also reflect on how those same patterns show up for so many of us in neurodivergent life. You’ll hear us talk about self-acceptance, flow, joy, and why so many people feel pressured to be “fixed” before they can feel worthy. We also get into what it really costs to hide parts of yourself—and what can open up when you stop doing that. About the guest: Amanda Scott is a therapist and coach at Manda’s Pathway, where she supports clients in understanding themselves, building self-trust, and finding ways to live that fit who they are. Timestamps 0:02 - I welcome Amanda Scott and we start with her early school experience 6:54 - Hidden struggles, dyslexia, and what people missed 12:25 - What it means to work with yourself instead of against yourself 15:21 - Avoidance, exhaustion, and the friction of forcing yourself through life 23:59 - The mix of relief, validation, and grief after self-understanding 26:51 - Why acceptance can teach what self-improvement alone cannot 31:37 - What “flow” looks like in real life for neurodivergent people 36:13 - Masking, negative feedback, and what it can cost 44:21 - The loss of joy and why that hits so hard 46:38 - Where rewriting the “I’m broken” story begins 51:32 - What Amanda would tell her younger self now 55:46 - What I hope you take away from this conversation Amanda's Links: Website:https://mandaspathway.com Instagram:https://instagram.com/mandaspathway Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION If this conversation speaks to you, listen through to the end and share it with someone who needs a little more understanding and a little less shame. #Neurodivergent #ADHD #AutismAcceptance #SelfAcceptance #MentalHealth Hosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  4. Oct 7

    The Moment He Saw His Son and Finally Understood Himself

    From Refugee Childhood to Neurodivergent Fatherhood with Norbert What happens when raising your children helps you finally understand your own past? In this episode, I sit down with Norbert for a deeply personal conversation about immigration, survival, autism, ADHD, and what it means to break painful family patterns. Norbert shares what it was like to grow up in Cold War Poland, come to the United States as a child refugee, and carry years of misunderstood traits without the language to name them. Then, as he and his wife supported their autistic children, old memories came back into focus in ways he never expected. We talk about grief, identity, sensory experiences, school struggles, and the quiet weight of living in survival mode for years. More than that, I explore how recognition can lead to compassion, and how a parent can choose a very different path than the one they were given. If you’ve ever looked at your child, your student, or yourself and thought, why did no one see this sooner? this conversation will stay with you. About the Guest Norbert is a father of two autistic children whose life spans refugee resettlement, cultural change, and decades of making sense of his own neurodivergent traits through parenting, reflection, and lived experience. Key Timestamps 0:02 - I welcome Norbert and start at the beginning of his story 2:48 - The traits that were missed in childhood 8:44 - Leaving Poland and arriving in America 16:28 - What it felt like to translate himself, not just language 20:49 - Survival mode and the outdoors as refuge 30:32 - Raising autistic children and breaking old cycles 36:01 - How his children’s diagnoses brought buried memories back 42:51 - Recognizing family patterns across generations 55:52 - What still gives him hope Show Affiliate https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION If this episode speaks to you, listen through to the end and share it with someone who needs this reminder: understanding can come later, and it still matters. #NeurodivergentConnection #AutismAwareness #ADHDSupport #ParentingAutisticKids #Neurodiversity Hosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  5. Oct 5

    The Curious Storyteller: A Diagnosis May Name Something But It Does Not Tell the Whole Story

    When a Label Helps, Hurts, or Hides the Person Beneath It What happens when we trust a diagnosis more than we trust the person living it? In this conversation, I sit down with Andre Maurice Davis to explore that question from several angles, and it leads us somewhere deeper than labels alone. We talk about ADHD, autism, identity, trust, and the stories people tell themselves after a diagnosis. But this episode isn’t about easy answers. Instead, I’m opening up a thoughtful conversation about how people think differently, why labels can both help and limit us, and what it means to really see the human experience underneath the words. Andre Maurice Davis is a creator and systems thinker whose work spans music, web applications, educational tools, and data projects. Throughout our conversation, he brings a sharp, reflective lens to questions about community, culture, language, and self-understanding. You’ll hear us wrestle with how society responds to diagnosis, why context matters more than most people realize, and what thriving communities might look like if people listened more carefully to each other. If you’ve ever wondered whether a name brings clarity, confusion, freedom, or all three, this one will stay with you. About the Guest Andre Davis is a multidisciplinary creator focused on music, technology, educational tools, and data systems. He’s deeply interested in communication, culture, human behavior, and the ways people make meaning from their experiences. Key Timestamps 0:02 - I welcome Andre and ask where his fascination with people began5:04 - We get into ADHD, ADD, and what makes diagnosis so complex8:02 - Andre shares why labels can be helpful, but also risky12:22 - We explore whether people trust the label more than the person20:19 - Freedom vs. confusion when there’s no diagnosis25:34 - What healthy self-understanding looks like27:18 - How workplace culture reveals growth or stagnation in a community40:37 - Andre describes what a thriving community could look like45:00 - We talk about his creative work and the thread connecting it all57:20 - The one question he believes everyone should ask themselves If this conversation speaks to you, listen through to the end and share it with someone who’s questioning how we talk about neurodivergence, identity, and belonging. #Neurodiversity #ADHD #AutismAwareness #CommunityCare #MentalHealthConversations Hosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  6. Oct 3 ·  Bonus

    The Other Side: Dating, Loneliness, Rejection and What I’ve Learned About Myself

    What Dating Feels Like for Me as an Autistic, ADHD Adult In this episode, I hand the mic to Kailee Rae and open up about something I don’t usually talk about this personally: dating, rejection, loneliness, and what I hope a future partner understands about me. We talk about what it’s like to date as an autistic, ADHD adult, why being understood matters so much to me, and how past relationships shaped what I want now. I also share the quiet fears that can make dating feel harder than people realize, especially when neurodivergence is often misunderstood. If you’ve ever wondered how to talk about your neurodivergence while dating, how to handle rejection without letting it define you, or what a healthy relationship can look like when your brain works a little differently, this conversation will give you a lot to think about. And while we touch on some hard moments, we also get into hope, connection, and what real understanding can look like. You’ll hear me share what I’m looking for, what I’ve had to learn the hard way, and one dating shift that may change how you see relationships moving forward. About the Guest Kailee Rae is a relationship coach who helps people build healthier, more honest connections. In this conversation, she brings thoughtful questions and practical insight as she interviews me from the other side of the mic. Timestamps 0:04 - I share why this episode is more personal than usual 1:05 - Kaleigh Rae takes over and asks about my dating life 4:34 - What I’m looking for in a partner now 5:36 - What “understanding my neurodivergence” really means to me 7:04 - Why dating apps haven’t felt right for me 12:37 - My idea of a better first date 17:28 - The pain of being rejected because I’m neurodivergent 20:01 - What I hope a future partner knows about me 29:14 - Why I don’t lead with my diagnosis right away 40:01 - What relationships have taught me about moving too fast 44:12 - A dating experience that left me feeling used 46:27 - What a healthy relationship looks like to me 54:11 - My advice for neurodivergent people who are dating 55:16 - What neurotypical partners should understand before dating someone neurodivergent You can learn more about me here: https://aspergersstudio.com/ If this episode speaks to you, listen all the way through and share it with someone who needs this reminder: you’re not too much, and you’re not alone. #NeurodivergentDating #AutismAndADHD #DatingWithAutism #Neurodiversity #Relationships Hosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

  7. Oct 2

    The Curious StoryTeller: How a Brain Injury Changed One Man’s Life and Led Him Back to Purpose

    What a Brain Injury Took, What Purpose Gave Back What happens when the life you built disappears, and you have to figure out who you are from the ground up? In this episode, I sit down with Herb for an honest conversation about traumatic brain injury, depression, identity loss, and the slow work of rebuilding a life that no longer fits the old rules. He shares what changed after a snowboarding accident, why invisible injuries are so hard to explain, and how he found his way back to focus, purpose, and hope. We talk about the kind of struggle people often can’t see from the outside: the fear, the shutdown, the frustration of looking capable while feeling anything but. At the same time, Herb also shares the shift that helped him stop chasing his old life and start building a new one with meaning. If you’ve ever felt like your future got knocked off course, or you support someone living through that kind of loss, I think this conversation will stay with you. You’ll hear the small wins that mattered most, the mindset that kept him moving, and the question many people in pain are quietly carrying. About the Guest Herb is an entrepreneur and brain training coach who helps people recover lost capacity after brain injury, stroke, and other life-altering setbacks. His work is shaped by his own lived experience of rebuilding after traumatic brain injury. Timestamps 0:15 - Herb’s life before the brain injury and the business he was building2:20 - How everything started falling apart after the accident5:14 - The turning point that made him want to be alive again12:17 - When traumatic brain injury became part of the story15:40 - Why depression was harder than the physical pain21:53 - What the early days felt like from the inside30:21 - The first signs that brain training was changing daily life42:41 - Letting go of the idea of “going back”56:11 - What rebuilding really looked like in real life79:52 - Why purpose mattered so much in recovery86:06 - What Herb hopes others hear when their future feels lost Herb's Links Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bringing-education-home/id1651695357Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herbert.heaghavrittWebsite: https://herb-brain-training.vibepreview.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUrd5JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMXp5a2doaGZkTEs5RnJVMVVzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeo69t99Xf--_wUo61TC09egmfKKxi4pYwLoybHg70szFNy3PBGERf8UA_4i4_aem_d7sNLV90HodgTDE0iMEi0g Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION If this episode speaks to you, listen to the full conversation and share it with someone who may need that extra bit of hope today. #BrainInjuryRecovery #TraumaticBrainInjury #MentalHealthAwareness #PurposeAfterPain #InvisibleInjury Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    The Curious StoryTeller: How a Brain Injury Changed One Man’s Life and Led Him Back to Purpose

  8. Sep 30

    When a Diagnosis Feels Heavy: How to Keep a Label From Becoming Your Life.

    When Life Breaks the Old Map: Belonging, Labels, and Finding Yourself Again I sat down with Sabrina D’Amato for a conversation that starts with loss and reinvention, then moves into something even deeper: what happens when the version of you that once made sense no longer fits. In this episode, I explore Sabrina’s path from professional ballet dancer to breathwork coach and hypnotherapist, and how pain, identity shifts, and self-forgiveness changed the way she sees herself and the world. We talk about belonging, being seen as different, and why so many neurodivergent people wrestle with labels that explain something real but can also start to feel too small. You’ll hear us get into the question that followed her for years, the moment she stopped letting old stories define her, and why “fitting in” may not be the goal after all. We also touch on consciousness, healing, and the hidden ways people hold themselves back without even knowing it. If you’ve ever felt out of place, boxed in by a diagnosis, or unsure how to reconnect with who you are beneath everyone else’s expectations, this one will stay with you. About the Guest Sabrina D’Amato is a breathwork coach, hypnotherapist, and mentor who shares conversations around the subconscious, metaphysics, and personal healing. Her work focuses on helping people reconnect with themselves and see value in the parts of life they once wanted to hide. Key Timestamps 0:02 - I welcome Sabrina and ask how her “quest” has changed over the years 1:12 - When her old life stopped working after ballet and injury 5:53 - The question that followed her the longest: “Why am I here?” 10:16 - Feeling different and not fitting in from an early age 15:17 - What breathwork and hypnotherapy have taught her about people 20:35 - Her growing interest in psychic abilities and consciousness 29:39 - Belonging, neurodivergence, and the weight of labels 44:23 - The chapter of life she believes she’s living in now 48:27 - The detours that shaped her most, including injury and motherhood 55:02 - The one question she wants listeners to sit with after this conversation Sabrina's Website: https://sabrinadamatomentor.com/ Show Affiliate: https://shop.adhddd.com/NEURODIVERGENT_CONNECTION Help Bring Fearless Footsteps in the World: https://paypal.me/fullconversation?locale.x=en_US&country.x=US If this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they are more than any label placed on them. #NeurodivergentConnection #Neurodiversity #Belonging #SelfAcceptance #Healing Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

    When a Diagnosis Feels Heavy: How to Keep a Label From Becoming Your Life.
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Reid Miles Podcasts Two shows. One curiosity-driven mission: telling human stories that matter. Hosted by Reid Miles, this podcast feed is home to two distinct but connected conversations. The Neurodivergent Connection centers neurodivergent voices lived experience, late diagnosis, advocacy, creativity, and the realities of navigating a world not built for autistic minds. These episodes focus on understanding, accessibility, and belonging, grounded in honesty and real conversation rather than clinical distance. The Curious Storyteller began as a celebration of remarkable people and the stories that shaped them. It has since evolved into deeper, reflective conversations about identity, resilience, reinvention, and the quiet moments that change us. Guests include creators, athletes, leaders, and thinkers not to be interviewed, but to be heard. Both shows share the same foundation: unscripted conversations, emotional intelligence, and curiosity over performance. This isn’t about polished success stories or neat conclusions — it’s about connection, reflection, and telling the truth while the story is still being written. Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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