The Business Oddcast

Stuart Morrison & Hannah Logan

Weird? Odd? Different? Running a Business? Self-Employed? ND? Join the neurodiverse business owner conversation! Unmask, relax & explore. No small talk… Guaranteed! Hello, welcome to the Business Oddcast! We’re Hannah & Stu, two late-diagnosed, neuro-spicy humans figuring out how to run businesses without pretending to be “normal.” We’re so excited to share stories, insights, & laughs with you as we celebrate the business brilliance of the ASD, ADHD, AuDHD and neurodiverse community. This is where we unmask, swap real stories, and dive into the gloriously odd side of entrepreneurship without any corporate “small talk” and forced networking smiles, just honest, weird, and wonderfully creative conversations. Sign-up for notifications & join the Odd Squad, and be notified when each new episode drops… because we know your executive function might not remind you!

  1. MAY 6

    Pricing When You Don’t Trust Your Sense of Value - S01E32

    Episode 32: Pricing When You Don’t Trust Your Sense of Value Eps 32 - Pricing When You Don’t Trust Your Sense of Value Pricing should be simple, shouldn’t it? Work out the time, add the costs, decide the margin, send the quote, float away looking financially competent. Lovely. Except for many neurodivergent business owners, pricing is rarely just maths. It gets tangled up with self-worth, rejection sensitivity, time blindness, imposter syndrome, financial instability, and the quiet horror of someone saying, “Is that your best price?” In this episode, we unpack why pricing can feel so emotionally loaded when your internal sense of value is a bit… wobbly. We talk about undercharging, overexplaining, defensive pricing, “just jobs”, comparison spirals, and why your price is not a referendum on your worth as a human being. We also get into the very real cost of giving away time you didn’t mean to give away, especially when every “quick favour” comes with admin, context switching, recovery time, and a small existential wobble. This is about building pricing that is grounded in reality, not panic. Tracking your time, reviewing your rates, adding buffers, practising pricing conversations, and learning to sit in the silence after you’ve said the number. Because you are not charging for approval. You are charging for skill, experience, capacity, and the life force required to do the work properly. Please share with anyone you think this topic might resonate with. Send any questions or suggestions to or contact us here: hosts@businessoddcast.com Don't forget to like and subscribe or follow along on the socials, see below timeline for details. Together we can build a healthier, happier way to work! ------------------------------------- TIMELINE 00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction 00:00:31 - Introducing May's Theme - Money, Worth and Neurodivergent Business Confidence  00:00:55 - Topic of the Week - Pricing When You Don’t Trust Your Sense of Value 00:01:11 - Topic introduction - Pricing is more than just maths, there's self worth, rejection 00:02:40 - Pricing Is Emotional, Not Logical - Pricing is a  popularity contest 00:04:54 - Stu's views on small business pricing, service offering and market place fit 00:07:05 - Under-appreciating your own value, experience, age and soft skills matter 00:09:45 - Time-blindness and value distortion, with hyperfocus and giving away hours 00:11:41 - The value distortion of "Just Jobs" and making sure your time is valued 00:13:45 - Monotropism and hyperfocus impact on time efficiency  00:14:33 - Comparison spiral and how it distorts and reduces your sense of value  00:15:40 - The perception distortion lens, a story about being a lookalike and a lesson in pricing  00:19:50 - BUT... what happens when IMPOSTER'S SYNDROME rides in... How do beat I.S? 00:21:30 - With... the "Hair Treatment"...  00:23:00 - Shout out to Charlie Ruttle! and the antidote to Imposter's Syndrome 00:24:39 - Capacity, anxiety and defensive pricing 00:27:01 - One price doesn't fit all and capacity is variable 00:29:00 - RSD, pricing, billing, fiscal fear and over-justifying your pricing 00:32:00 - The answer... that Stu uses... FIRST THE DISCLAIMER 00:36:40 - Self confidence is required at some point as is a purpose 00:38:15 - The grateful to be paid pattern, employment, debt and financial attitudes 00:40:50 - The power of the silence after you state your price... 00:45:45 - Ideas for designing pricing with nervous system safety in mind   00:46:10 - Hannah's takeaways 00:49:30 - Stu's top tips 00:56:45 - Final words - like, share and subscribe.  00:57:55 - Next Week's content 00:59:47 - LENGTH ------------------------------------- OUR WEBSITE & CONTACT Resources: https://businessoddcast.com/help Contact us: hosts@businessoddcast.com  OUR SOCIALS youtube.com/BusinessOddcast facebook.com/BusinessOddcast instagram.com/BusinessOddcast

    1 hr
  2. APR 22

    Executive Dysfunction Diaries: What it Actually Feels Like - S01E31

    Episode 31: Executive Dysfunction Diaries   Please share with anyone you think this topic might resonate with. Send any questions or suggestions to or contact us here: hosts@businessoddcast.com Don't forget to like and subscribe or follow along on the socials, see below timeline for details. Together we can build a healthier, happier way to work! ------------------------------------- TIMELINE 00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction 00:00:52 - Topic of the Week - Executive Dysfunction Diaries: What it Actually Feels Like. 00:01:05 - Topic introduction - deep dive into how executive function failed us in our lives & businesses 00:03:20 - Model of overwhelmed brain executive function brain nopery and raw dogging it on caffeine 00:04:30 - The intention/action gap... how we fail to start and how i t erodes your confidence  00:07:35 - Tips on how to get started, eventually, because we expect our brain to nope 00:10:18 - Accepting the reality you face and not fighting it, tickle your brain 00:11:13 - Task initiation paralysis - starting but not being able to begin 00:12:14 - The footbath effect... 00:13:35 - Hannah's lady brain off picking the flowers... 00:14:10 - How do you know if anyone's run a marathon? 00:14:21 - No emotion before motion and the wall of negative reaction to the task  00:16:19 - How do you do that? The voices in Stuart's head 00:18:25 - Hannah's verson of the Sgt Major. 00:18:47 - The overwhelm of everything being important all at once and where to start 00:19:41 - Stu's "roast dinner" approach to tasks analogy 00:21:00 - What comes first? Hannah's triage process and forcing herself to eat the frog 00:22:38 - The devil is in the detail - and details are also a rabbit hole  00:24:31 - Time blindness - Hannah and Stu's nemesis and the word "JUST"! 00:27:38 - When asked about timescale - "What would you say"? and "idiot tax" 00:29:24 - The emotional friction around tasks and the battle with boredom  00:30:30 - The burden of perfectionism, detail and high standards 00:32:00 - Things Stu has learned the hard way of being at the cheap end of the market  00:33:33 - The dangers of "Boredom" and the effects on the ND brain 00:35:50 - Perfection delay - unable to finish as the project may fall short of perfection 00:36:41 - Shame, anger and frustration as your background noise 00:39:27 - The cost of "pushing through" and forcing yourself through executive dysfunction 00:44:10 - The aftermath of completion - mourning the end of a great project 00:46:24 - Hannah's biggest client red flag and how to avoid ALL project red flags 00:48:45 - Roundup - H's takeaways, amd S's hints and tips 00:54:06 - Get in touch, let us know your thoughts 01:00:00 - LENGTH ------------------------------------- RESOURCES https://here2help.uk/further-information/ - Fab resource and amazing organisation raising awareness and support for autistic suicide prevention.  https://bigmoosecharity.co - Emergency mental health support, Big Moose provides fast and effective therapy for people who are struggling. https://businessoddcast.com/help - our range of resources for neurodivergent business owners. ------------------------------------- OUR WEBSITE & CONTACT Resources: https://businessoddcast.com/help Contact us: hosts@businessoddcast.com  OUR SOCIALS youtube.com/BusinessOddcast facebook.com/BusinessOddcast instagram.com/BusinessOddcast

    1 hr
  3. APR 1

    Inbox is Lava - S01E30

    Episode 30: The Inbox Is Lava For something that technically takes a few minutes, the inbox has an impressive ability to feel like a full-blown psychological event. One email becomes ten decisions, three imagined consequences, and a low-level sense that you’re about to be told off… even when it’s just “checking in”. In this episode, we unpack why the inbox feels so overwhelming for neurodivergent brains — from context switching and decision fatigue to RSD, avoidance spirals, and that very specific dread of seeing a new notification and immediately assuming the worst. We talk about the “avoidance snowball”, the shame loop of delayed replies, and why small admin tasks can quietly drain more energy than the actual work. We also get practical: triaging your inbox, switching off notifications, using templates and systems to reduce cognitive load, and setting clear expectations so your day isn’t hijacked by everyone else’s priorities. Because the goal isn’t inbox zero — it’s regulation, containment, and making admin feel manageable again. If your inbox feels less like a tool and more like a threat… this one’s for you.   Please share with anyone you think this topic might resonate with. Send any questions or suggestions to or contact us here: hosts@businessoddcast.com Don't forget to like and subscribe or follow along on the socials, see below timeline for details. Together we can build a healthier, happier way to work! ------------------------------------- TIMELINE 00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction 00:01:01 - Topic of the Week - Inbox is Lava  00:01:30 - Topic introduction - Why the inbox is lava! 00:04:00 - Hannah's inbox process 00:04:30 - Why small tasks feel overwhelming esp. email 00:04:47 - Inbox top tip - snooze email 00:07:30 - Context switching and constent triage 00:08:56 - Taming the emotional chaos of the inbox 00:11:07 - Reducing the anxiety & tyrrany of notifications 00:12:50 - Unable to switch off without responding same-day to ALL emails  00:14:00 - The ND "TO DO" list analogy and H's trauma dump 00:15:30 - The avoidance snowballing shame spiral 00:16:52 - The voices in your head, dread and avoidance 00:18:22 - Noisy unopened emails  00:19:44 - Red Rope around your time, everytime. Who respects your time? 00:21:26 - Unopened emails & waiting on SPECIFIC emails & cognative residue 00:23:01 - Conflicting client masking and overcoming it  00:24:53 - Coping with pending tasks, messages and the call of the inbox 00:27:24 - The stress of unknown unknowns 00:28:25 - Templates, processes and systems for reducing decision fatigue  00:30:36 - Some practical tips on how to quieten a noisy inbox 00:31:36 - Use of out of office to acknowledge receipt and speed of response  00:33:25 - Pre-triage notes on comms to communicate response time 00:34:54 - RSD, response time, over analysing and misinterpreting meaning 00:36:21 - Missing the social cues when in "work mode". 00:37:14 - How do we redefine admin success?  00:38:24 - What your business actually does & you're not your business 00:38:52 - The two succeasful models for small business success 00:40:06 - A barebones business saves energy - Stu's business insights 00:42:20 - The first task for any business owner within their business 00:43:57 - Inbox zero is NOT the goal, OCD be damned!  00:45:37 - Hannah's "Tips n Takeaways" starting with "admin fear"  00:46:35 - Boundaries, containment and templates 00:47:09 - SET FIRE TO PERFECTIONISM! 00:47:40 - Stu's "Tips" - clear communication is key 00:48:20 - Build a routine around email checking at SPECIFIC times 00:50:01 - Templates, processes and systems are your friends 00:51:12 - Archive & label to organise your email is key to happiness 00:52:44 - Stop at "good enough" - perfectionism is a mofo 00:53:37 - H's Tangent Queen in full effect 00:54:41 - Start slowly, and a genuine offer of help 00:55:50 - Final words, like,  share and subscribe 00:58:25 - LENGTH   -------------------------------------  RESOURCES https://here2help.uk/further-information/ - Fab resource and amazing organisation raising awareness and support for autistic suicide prevention.  Information regarding Alexythimia and other helpful autism and autistic related factsheets on the link. https://bigmoosecharity.co - Emergency mental health support, Big Moose provides fast and effective therapy for people who are struggling. https://businessoddcast.com/help - our range of resources for Neurodiverse business owners, helping you thrive, survive and live more fulfilling lives. ------------------------------------- OUR WEBSITE & CONTACT Resources: https://businessoddcast.com/help Contact us: hosts@businessoddcast.com  OUR SOCIALS youtube.com/BusinessOddcast facebook.com/BusinessOddcast instagram.com/BusinessOddcast

    58 min
  4. MAR 25

    Protecting Your Energy When The World Won't Slow Down - S01E29

    Please share with anyone you think this topic might resonate with. Send any questions or suggestions to or contact us here: hosts@businessoddcast.com Don't forget to like and subscribe or follow along on the socials, see below timeline for details. Together we can build a healthier, happier way to work! ------------------------------------- TIMELINE 00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction 00:01:17 - Topic of the Week - Protecting Your Energy When The World Wont Slow Down  00:02:20 - Topic introduction and opening remarks  00:03:32 - The maintenance phase - ensuring your spoons are protected 00:04:13 - Stu's Running Analogy - Eliud Kipchoge vs Usain Bolt 00:05:50 - The world demands consistent output, it doesn't accomodate varying energy 00:07:00 - Brownouts - not quiet black out, the "just-about-functional" twighlight 00:08:20 - 24/7 always available and "chewing the cud" rumination, weight of masking 00:09:47 - Stu's Superman analogy - the ultimate in masked superheros 00:10:53 - The mismatch between fluctuating capacity and cnstant demands.  00:12:24 - The "one-size fits-all" model for small business output & drama magnets 00:14:14 - Being a people pleaser and "throwing yourself on the grenade" 00:17:46 - The guilty pleasure of people pleasing; Adrenaline & Dopamine double-tap 00:18:19 - Energy boundaries vs emotional boundaries - valuing your own boundaries  00:19:00 - Alexithymia and interoception enter the chat... 00:19:50 - No. End of sentence... and all of the feels. 00:21:04 - The consequences of not protecting boundaries and regulating your energy 00:23:28 - "I don't have capacity" is a comple te sentence, protect your energy 00:25:39 - The enthisastic wonder of the world can be draining 00:26:59 - Life is like cricket... 00:29:00 - Some people accept "no", some push back and that's a red flag 00:29:55 - Deciding what isn't worth the cost anymore, letting go of the "shoulds"  00:31:57 - I would help you, but I don't want to. Seeking immediate approval 00:33:24 - The poor returns on people pleasing - defining  the rules of a relationship 00:35:09 - How do we protect our energy? Avoiding life in perpetual brownout 00:37:56 - Planning "firebreaks" in your schedule  00:39:21 - How energy shows up for the neurodivergent and benefits of self employment 00:42:23 - Health can impact energy and enforcing boundaries 00:43:16 - Stu's  "F**k it" formula - Living life without apologising for your boundaries & energy 00:49:50 - This episode's take aways  00:52:08 - Stu's controversial opinion about  Linked In 00:52:37 - Top tips - apply at your own risk 00:52:25 - Like, share and subscribe 00:58:00 - Next Weeks Topic: In Charge But Can’t Start - Executive Dysfunction as a Leader 00:59:04 - LENGTH ------------------------------------- RESOURCES https://here2help.uk/further-information/ - Fab resource and amazing organisation raising awareness and support for autistic suicide prevention.  Information regarding Alexythimia and other helpful autism and autistic related factsheets on the link. https://bigmoosecharity.co - Emergency mental health support, Big Moose provides fast and effective therapy for people who are struggling. https://embrace-autism.com/autism-tests - if this topic responates perhaps you might want to look into the subject a little more. Use these tests to have a clearer understanding of your own neurotype profile. https://businessoddcast.com/help - our range of resources for Neurodiverse business owners, helping you thrive, survive and live more fulfilling lives. ------------------------------------- OUR WEBSITE & CONTACT https://businessoddcast.com/help - Our resources hosts@businessoddcast.com - Email us OUR SOCIALS youtube.com/BusinessOddcast facebook.com/BusinessOddcast instagram.com/BusinessOddcast

    59 min
  5. MAR 18

    The Anti-Hustle Tool Kit: Doing Less Without Falling Apart - S01E28

    Ep30 of the Business Oddcast and we look at the toxic nature of "Hustle Culture" Ever feel like you’re training with Usain Bolt but somehow running in slow motion? In this episode, we declare ourselves refugees from the Gary Vee School of Business to dismantle the toxic "hustle culture" that lives deep inside our nervous systems.  We explore why the planet is convinced rest must be earned like some kind of cosmic achievement. We share our an anti-hustle toolkit for "slow business," inspired by the Italian slow food movement, because life should be a feast, not a protein bar shoved in your face while answering emails! The antidote to everything hustle related, listen and laugh along to our lived experiences and top tips coping in business with a brain spicier than Taco Tuesday. Please share with anyone you think this topic might resonate with. Send any questions or suggestions to or contact us here: hosts@businessoddcast.com Don't forget to like and subscribe or follow along on the socials, see below timeline for details. Together we can build a healthier, happier way to work! ------------------------------------- TIMELINE 00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction.  00:00:16 - Topic of the Week - The Anti-Hustle Tool Kit: Doing Less Without Falling Apart. 00:00:55 - Outline of the topic and themes of this week's show. 00:01:55 - Welcoming the refugees from the Gary V school of hustling. 00:02:30 - Hustle culture is not just external, adrenaline should not be a coping strategy. 00:03:55 - Being busy as a way to cope, work harder, block out the pain. 00:05:50 - The internal pressure of "keeping up", and always falling behind. 00:08:22 - The antidote to fast-food... is slow-food the model for a  slow-business? 00:11:25 - The Harrison Ford deadline drug and PDA. 00:12:40 - Hannah's website part nine-hundred and thirty one. The procrastination diary. 00:14:30 - The fear of falling behind if you slow down. 00:16:42 - Avoiding the "must do it all" and FOMO as a small business owner. 00:17:45 - Small business succcess is being consistent, but on your terms. 00:19:36 - The trap of unrealitic earnings expectations/ 00:21:28 - If what you're doing is NOT working. PIVOT! 00:23:05 - What do you really enjoy doing? Do that... 00:26:53 - Variety is really the neurospice of life. 00:28:41 - Hustle equates safety (sound familar?), and adrenaline, we discuss. 00:32:04 - Being enrgaed at unsolicited advice requiring a time machine to execute. 00:34:20 - Just "pushing through" is just self-harm. 00:35:42 - Time-shifting work to meet your energy, one of the benefits of being self-employed. 00:38:55 - Hannah's switched on "Granny mode". 00:40:16 - When the anti-hustle meets real world conditions, financial pressure vs time . 00:43:21 - Don't fall into the trap of failing to charge enough for your time. 00:45:50 - Self-employed minimum wage, underestimating earning potential, energy overdrafts. 00:48:57 - SiGNAL BiZHUB networking community and the dangers of undercharging. 00:50:50 - Value vs cost in retail - charging enough to make a margin despite inflation. 00:54:24 - Instead of increasing your income, reduce hours and keep the same income. 00:55:00 - How to prevent the insidious nature of hustle. Redefine your work paradigm.  00:57:55 - Celebrate the everyday, keeping plates spinning is a job well done! 00:59:30 - Challenging your unreasonable expectations, perfectionism 01:00:57 - Ignoring the shiny & new and respecting your own red rope around your time 01:01:50 - Stu's gigging story - an insight into the performers day 01:03:37 - Being realistic about the impact and toll of different projects 01:05:08 - Be clear about your own human requirements, and respect them 01:09:25 - Hannah's takeaways - build a sustainable structure and set your own goals 01:12:54 - Stu's top tips - defeat conditioning, resist hustle, respect rhythms 01:16:48 - Round up and parish notices - like, share subscribe 01:18:13 - LENGTH -------------------------------------  RESOURCES https://shineradio.uk - Local Radio Petersfield, Bordon & Whitehill and beyond! https://here2help.uk/further-information/ - Fab resource and amazing organisation raising awareness and support for autistic suicide prevention.  Information regarding Alexythimia and other helpful autism and autistic related factsheets on the link. https://bigmoosecharity.co - Emergency mental health support, Big Moose provides fast and effective therapy for people who are struggling. https://businessoddcast.com/help - our range of resources for Neurodiverse business owners, helping you thrive, survive and live more fulfilling lives. ------------------------------------- CONTACT HTML OUR WEBSITE & CONTACT https://businessoddcast.com/help - Our resources hosts@businessoddcast.com - Email us OUR SOCIALS youtube.com/BusinessOddcast facebook.com/BusinessOddcast instagram.com/BusinessOddcast

    1h 19m
  6. MAR 11

    After Burnout - What Real Recovery Looks Like for NDs - S01E27

    Eps 27 - After Burnout: What Recovery Actually Looks Like for ND People Burnout recovery is often sold as a quick reset: take a break, recharge, come back stronger… and immediately traumatised again. But for neurodivergent people, that story isn’t just wrong — it can be genuinely harmful. Because ND burnout isn’t “a bit tired”. It’s cognitive shutdown, emotional flattening, nervous system overload, and that brutal loss of capacity where even eating, talking, or choosing batteries can feel like advanced-level admin. In this episode, we unpack what recovery actually looks like: slower than anyone expects, wildly non-linear, and misunderstood (even by people who love you). We talk about why you can’t speedrun recovery, why energy comes back lumpy, and why “just rest” is useless advice when rest takes energy you don’t have. We also explore the grief that can come with burnout — because you might not return to the exact version of you that existed before — and how to rebuild in a way that doesn’t recreate the conditions that broke you. Expect practical, ND-realistic support (sausage sandwiches in the cave included): boundaries and the “red rope”, safe words for when you’re non-speaking, protecting recovery like an injury, and redefining success as stability, regulation, and designing a life that actually fits. No hustle. No heroics. Just a kinder way forward. Please share with anyone you think this topic might resonate with. Send any questions or suggestions to or contact us here: hosts@businessoddcast.com Don't forget to like and subscribe or follow along on the socials, see below timeline for details. Together we can build a healthier, happier way to work! ------------------------------------- TIMELINE 00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction to the Show & small win for having put out 6 months of episodes. 00:01:50 - Topic of the Week: After Burnout - What Real Recovery Looks Like for NDs 00:02:35 - What ND burnout is and is not and how it affects the ND 00:04:37 - Burnout is NOT just extreme tiredness 00:06:34 - Zoning Out and failing to focus and other tales from the brownout zone 00:08:55 - The frustrations with the help  - NT baseline is not ND baseline 00:09:47 - What the worst time to plan for a disaster is... Soup is the answer, no spoon shame 00:12:22 - Why does recovery from burnout take longer than you expect? 00:13:45 - Physical injuries are given sympathy, however a burnout... 00:16:00 - The recovery is not linear, even or pretty...  00:18:45 - Healing takes place almost invisibly, usually in a cave 00:19:50 - The pressure to bounceback quickly, and the harm of it 00:21:27 - Hannah's tale of her daughter's burnout and  productivity guilt  00:24:04 - Rushing recovery prolongs the burnout 00:25:40 - The long term health  effects of burnout and dealing with idiots 00:29:08 - PSA: To those who need to hear it. 00:30:34 - Recovery is not linear, properly recover before you ramp work back up 00:31:42 - Stop-start energy has to acknowledged  00:34:10 - Rebuilding capacity without recreating burnout, recognise  the triggers 00:36:25 - Listen to your rhythms, tracking and identifying "lagging indicators" 00:39:30 - What support helps? A sausage sandwich is an act of love... 00:44:07 - DEPLOY the red rope, rainbow rope, electrified rope or barbed wire... 00:46:08 - Final point - redefining "success" after burnout - BE KIND TO YOURSELF 00:52:49 - Why self employment helps and the takeaways 00:53:00 - Do not rush recovery, DO NOT RUSH THE FLUSH  00:54:00 - Recovery takes longer than you think it takes 00:55:00 - A slower life can be a successful life 00:57:06 - Hints and tips - have some "safe" words 00:59:15 - Avoid "catastrophising" small setbacks 00:59:49 - Brain fog is real, be kind to yourself 01:00:07 - Protect your recovery like a physical injury  01:00:25 - Recovery takes the same amount of time (or more) as it took you to burnout 01:03:11 - Life after recovery can be very different to life before, embrace it 01:04:20 - Final comments and wrapping up     01:05:26 - Next Week's Topic: The Anti-Hustle Tool Kit: Doing Less Without Falling Apart 01:07:15 - LENGTH ------------------------------------- RESOURCES ANTI HUSTLE MANIFESTO - COMING SOON https://bigmoosecharity.co - Emergency mental health support, Big Moose provides fast and effective therapy for people who are struggling. https://businessoddcast.com/help - our range of resources for Neurodiverse business owners, helping you thrive, survive and live more fulfilling lives. ------------------------------------- OUR WEBSITE & CONTACT https://businessoddcast.com/help - Our resources hosts@businessoddcast.com - Email us OUR SOCIALS youtube.com/BusinessOddcast facebook.com/BusinessOddcast instagram.com/BusinessOddcast

    1h 7m
  7. MAR 4

    Running on Empty How ND Energy Actually Works - S01E26

    Eps 26 - Running on empty: How ND energy actually works Most advice about energy assumes you wake up with the same capacity every day — the same motivation, resilience, and ability to push through. For neurodivergent people, that assumption just doesn’t hold. In this episode, we unpack what it really means to be “running on empty” as an ND person — why energy is variable by design, not a personal failing, and how pushing through works… right up until it doesn’t. We talk fluctuating capacity, energy debt, adrenaline traps, burnout warning signs, and the hidden cognitive load that drains us long before anyone else can see it. This is about reframing energy as something to manage, not override — pacing instead of consistency, rest as maintenance rather than reward, and learning to listen to the early signals before your system forces a shutdown. If you’ve ever wondered why some days you can do everything and other days sending one email feels impossible, this episode will help you make sense of it — without shame. Please share with anyone you think this topic might resonate with. Send any questions or suggestions to or contact us here: hosts@businessoddcast.com Don't forget to like and subscribe or follow along on the socials, see below timeline for details. Together we can build a healthier, happier way to work! ------------------------------------- TIMELINE 00:00:00 - Welcome & intro 00:00:40 - Topic: Running on Empty – How ND Energy Works 00:01:30 - Overview of challenges & key points 00:04:00 - The energy budget – avoid overdraw 00:04:30 - ND energy is inconsistent (by design) 00:05:55 - Hustle culture & Gary Vaynerchuk 00:10:50 - Energy- vs time-based planning 00:11:25 - HANNAH'S TANGENT 01 – Self-shame & mistakes 00:12:23 - Buffer time & energy debt 00:13:50 - Taxi driver “make hay” strategy 00:16:22 - Self-forgiveness, physiology & baths 00:17:24 - Background processes & cognitive overload 00:20:35 - Hannah’s cognitive overload confession 00:21:54 - Brownouts & overwhelm 00:25:13 - FSB & SiGNAL shout-out; sensory overwhelm example 00:26:40 - Processing delay, forms & decision fatigue 00:28:39 - alt_audhd – Erin Fung 00:29:29 - Stuart’s exam strategy; Yes/No pitfalls 00:33:52 - Burnout warning signs examples 00:34:24 - The adrenaline trap & being “absent” 00:38:56 - The “red rope” time boundary example 00:43:17 - Early burnout signs we ignore 00:43:39 - Sugar & dopamine 00:44:04 - Insomnia 00:44:28 - The task spiral 00:44:56 - Endless to-do list 00:45:15 - Unable to say no 00:45:33 - Constant apologising 00:46:07 - Anxiety hamster 00:47:10 - Forgetfulness 00:47:27 - Drifting off mid-conversation 00:48:04 - Focusing is draining 00:48:24 - Stress tics 00:49:21 - Self-directed anger 00:50:27 - Emotional cobbles 00:51:00 - Irrational panic 00:51:32 - Overreaction to small noises 00:52:23 - Emotional dysregulation 00:54:22 - Guilt loops 00:56:04 - HANNAH'S TANGENT 02 – Frenemies 00:57:00 - Rest is preparation, not reward 00:57:38 - Energy debt & sustainable living 00:59:35 - Burnout is cumulative 01:01:00 - Burnout signs & catastrophe song 01:02:10 - Withdrawal, brain fog & shutdown 01:05:22 - Supportive parents & partners 01:00:00 - Parenting ND children & school trauma 01:08:39 - Redefining balance & pacing 01:11:15 - Know your limits (not Superman) 01:13:20 - Adjust without self-criticism 01:15:05 - Takeaways & final thoughts 01:15:50 - Energy varies by design 01:16:09 - Energy vs time; candles analogy 01:17:23 - “Pushing through” isn’t sustainable 01:18:00 - Rest is maintenance & prep 01:18:29 - Share early burnout signs 01:18:56 - Cancel or postpone when energy is low 01:20:11 - Tips & guidance 01:20:31 - Harder tasks may signal energy leaks 01:20:49 - Adapt to changing conditions 01:21:15 - Rest before work; build reserves 01:22:27 - Don’t feel guilty for resting 01:23:22 - Brain fog or irritability = warning signs 01:24:42 - Low energy: triage priorities 01:25:25 - Acknowledge deficits & recover 01:28:21 - Listen to body, self & loved ones 01:29:20 - Final comments & goodbye 01:31:25 - Length ------------------------------------- RESOURCES   Economics: Follow That Cab! A study of labor incentives may explain why it is hard to find a taxi in the rain https://paw.princeton.edu/article/economics-follow-cab? When to quit: Narrow bracketing and reference dependence in taxi drivers https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167268117302731? alt_audhd - Erin Fung: Fun, interesting and relatable ND Instragammer https://www.instagram.com/alt_audhd https://here2help.uk/further-information/ - Fab resource and amazing organisation raising awareness and support for autistic suicide prevention. https://bigmoosecharity.co - Emergency mental health support, Big Moose provides fast and effective therapy for people who are struggling. https://businessoddcast.com/help - our range of resources for Neurodiverse business owners, helping you thrive, survive and live more fulfilling lives. ------------------------------------- OUR WEBSITE & CONTACT https://businessoddcast.com/help - Our resources hosts@businessoddcast.com - Email us OUR SOCIALS youtube.com/BusinessOddcast facebook.com/BusinessOddcast instagram.com/BusinessOddcast

    1h 31m
  8. FEB 25

    Is Using AI the Ultimate in ND Masking - S01E25

    Please share with anyone you think this topic might resonate with. Send any questions or suggestions to or contact us here: hosts@businessoddcast.com Don't forget to like and subscribe or follow along on the socials, see below timeline for details. Together we can build a healthier, happier way to work! ------------------------------------- TIMELINE 00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction to the Show 00:00:19 - Topic of the Week: Is Using AI the Ultimate in ND Masking? 00:02:00 - Masking and the exhaustion of editing your whole self 00:03:35 - The high cost of masking your magnificent inner zebra 00:07:13 - The gift and relief of finding out you're ND 00:10:05 - Is AI a miracle NT translation tool to support your needs? 00:13:35 - Is using AI to support your work just a new mask? 00:15:34 - Why does society make life so difficult for disabled people? 00:17:05 - Reduce cognitive load with simpler signage, equality isn't equity 00:18:38 - AI/LLMs help you show up as a better version of yourself 00:20:47 - Who are we masking for when we use AI? 00:23:40 - Being rude to AI and the wrong way to use it 00:25:01 - It's not about hiding the truth, like masking, it's a support tool 00:25:52 - AI is an ND/NT translator - the Babel Fish for modern life 00:27:10 - AI for idea iteration, not the finished product saves spoons 00:30:30 - The emotional (and other) risks on being over-reliant on AI 00:34:13 - Is it just a tool, to do a job, saving time and energy? 00:35:40 - Using AI intentionally to lighten the load not replace you 00:39:01 - Delegating to AI and remaining authentic 00:42:08 - Using AI when you don't have the spoons 00:45:00 - Stephen Hawking and other examples of using tech to assist you 00:49:44 - Technology isn't bad, esp. when it makes up for your shortcomings 00:51:54 - Are you using AI? Feedback, comments 00:52:20 - This week's takeaways. 00:53:15 - Tips and insights 00:54:38 - Hannah's TANGENT! 00:58:40 - Equity is not the same as equality 01:00:34 - Next Week's Topic - Running on Empty; How ND Energy Actually Works   01:01:52 - LENGTH -------------------------------------  RESOURCES https://here2help.uk/further-information/ - Fab resource and amazing organisation raising awareness and support for autistic suicide prevention.  Information regarding Alexythimia and other helpful autism and autistic related factsheets on the link. https://bigmoosecharity.co - Emergency mental health support, Big Moose provides fast and effective therapy for people who are struggling. https://businessoddcast.com/help - our range of resources for Neurodiverse business owners, helping you thrive, survive and live more fulfilling lives. -------------------------------------  OUR WEBSITE & CONTACT https://businessoddcast.com/help - Our resources hosts@businessoddcast.com - Email us OUR SOCIALS youtube.com/BusinessOddcast facebook.com/BusinessOddcast instagram.com/BusinessOddcast

    1h 2m

About

Weird? Odd? Different? Running a Business? Self-Employed? ND? Join the neurodiverse business owner conversation! Unmask, relax & explore. No small talk… Guaranteed! Hello, welcome to the Business Oddcast! We’re Hannah & Stu, two late-diagnosed, neuro-spicy humans figuring out how to run businesses without pretending to be “normal.” We’re so excited to share stories, insights, & laughs with you as we celebrate the business brilliance of the ASD, ADHD, AuDHD and neurodiverse community. This is where we unmask, swap real stories, and dive into the gloriously odd side of entrepreneurship without any corporate “small talk” and forced networking smiles, just honest, weird, and wonderfully creative conversations. Sign-up for notifications & join the Odd Squad, and be notified when each new episode drops… because we know your executive function might not remind you!