The Neurodivergent Creative Podcast

Caitlin Fisher
  • 4.8 (33)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED DAILY

The podcast for creatives of all types (and neurotypes) to celebrate passion and creativity, stop hiding your unique brilliance, and embrace what makes your mind and spirit come alive! Previously known as Run Like Hell Toward Happy, this show is hosted by Caitlin Fisher, a writing and creative coach who helps neurodivergent, chronically ill, and/or queer folks connect with their most passionate lives.

  1. 6D AGO

    I Will Gladly “Waste Time”: Burnout, Rest & Being Human Again | #199

    In this episode of The Neurodivergent Creative, Caitlin shares a real-time update from her burnout recovery journey—what happened when she took January completely off from her business, why she’s extending that break, and what she’s learning about rest, usefulness, creativity, and nervous system repair. Caitlin talks about stepping away from selling and marketing, rediscovering hobbies (hello knitting and romance writing), navigating rejection sensitivity as a neurodivergent business owner, and realizing how much praise and external validation matter when you’ve been running solo for years.💬" I will gladly waste time if it means that time is spent existing in my human body doing human things." - Caitlin Liz FisherThis is not a productivity episode. This is an anti-hustle, pro-human, “seven loads of laundry counts as a win” episode. So, if you’ve ever felt like your value is tied to output… this one’s for you.What We Explore in This Episode: Why burnout recovery takes longer than a week offThe nervous system shift that happens when you stop hustlingRejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and marketing as a neurodivergent entrepreneurWhy praise hits differently when you’re not self-employedThe difference between being useful and being worthyRedefining “wasted time”Small wins as survival strategy during hard seasons

    22 min

  2. JAN 30

    How Childhood Play Shapes Adult Confidence | #198

    In this episode, Caitlin continues the psychology mini-series on Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. The focus is on Stage 3: Initiative vs Guilt—the developmental era where kids try things, make up games, ask why a thousand times, and learn whether their creativity is safe or shameful.We talk about how discouragement and criticism can create guilt, how neurodivergent kids get punished for being inventive, and the way early guilt can become adult executive dysfunction, perfectionism, and discomfort with doing anything “just for you.” 💬"Just because it's not how you would play with the toys doesn't mean that they're weird. It just means that they're playing different. If you like to make a circle of cans and that's your fun, creative initiative, you're allowed to make a little stack of cans." - Caitlin Liz Fisher What We Explore in This Episode How Initiative vs. Guilt (ages 3–5) shapes creativity, confidence, and self-trustWhy “playing wrong” is not a thing and how autism gets misunderstood hereThe connection between childhood criticism and adult self-doubt + executive dysfunctionHow to reparent your inner child through play, permission, and curiosity

    32 min

  3. JAN 23

    Autonomy vs Shame: The Childhood Stage That Shapes Confidence | #197

    In this episode of The Neurodivergent Creative, Caitlin goes full “spicy brains, unpacking all the shame” and dives into why childhood development has its own pace, and why trying to rush it creates more stress for everyone. Using Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stages (Trust vs. Mistrust + Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt), Caitlin connects toddler “purple cup chaos,” risky play, and messy learning to the adult realities of people-pleasing, shame spirals, and inner child repair. We also get a Caitlin-style tour through special interests (biology, evolution, brains), a candid story about changing majors, and a big, tender reminder: kids learn through experience—and so do we. 💬" We have seriously lost the plot on allowing kids to experience things and learn. We just are like, 'No, I know better. So do it this way!' When like making a f*****g mess is part of the process." - Caitlin Liz Fisher If this episode resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who’s healing their relationship with trust, autonomy, or creativity. And remember:Making a mess is part of learning.Making mistakes is part of becoming.Your inner child is allowed to take up space here. What We Explore in This Episode Why parenting requires slowing down to the pace of child developmentErik Erikson’s Stage 1: Trust vs. Mistrust (and what it teaches us about safety)Erik Erikson’s Stage 2: Autonomy vs. Shame & DoubtRisky play, natural consequences, and why “making a mess” is part of learningHow childhood shame shows up later as overdependence, anxiety, and people-pleasingUsing Erikson’s stages for inner child work (especially for autistic/ADHD brains)

    37 min

  4. JAN 16

    Oscar the Grouch, Eeyore, and the Radical Power of Feeling Your Feelings | #196

    In this episode, Caitlin makes a heartfelt case for grumpiness, sadness, anger, and all the emotions we were taught to rush past or hide. Starting with a surprising realization about the purpose of Oscar the Grouch, Caitlin unpacks why children’s media gets emotional regulation right in ways adults often forget—and why we desperately need permission to have our “Oscar,” “Eeyore,” and anger moments as grown humans. 💬“We have to talk about stuff that upsets us, and we have to normalize our Oscar the Grouch moments, our Eeyore moments, and our anger moments—because they’re part of us, and they’re part of the messy human experience of being alive.” - Caitlin Liz Fisher We go over reflections on Sesame Street, Winnie-the-Pooh, Inside Out, Disney movies, family estrangement, healing relationships, and the courage it takes to say, “Hey, that hurt me.” If you’ve ever felt ashamed of your grumpiness, afraid of your anger, or worried that being honest about your feelings might cost you love or safety, this episode is for you. What We Explore In This Episode: Why Oscar the Grouch exists, how he teaches kids that it’s okay to be grumpy, have boundaries, and like things other people don’tThe difference between processing emotions (Oscar) and bypassing them with forced positivityEeyore energy: what it looks like to love and include people who are sad without trying to “fix” themHow children’s media models emotional regulation, community care, and non-performative belongingWhy avoiding difficult emotions doesn’t make life easier, it just makes it smallerLetting your inner child heal by allowing the full spectrum of feelings, not just the “nice” onesPS - You don’t have to be cheerful to be worthy. You don’t have to be easy to be loved. Go make some weird art. Have the audacity. Stay hydrated.💜

    29 min

  5. JAN 9

    Welcome to 2026: Burnout, Whimsy, and Being Who You Are | #195

    Welcome to 2026, neurodivergent creatives! In this first episode of the year, Caitlin offers a gentle but powerful reset: you are not your productivity, your output, or your job title. You are who you are, and that matters more than anything you do. 💬"I need to reconnect with the stuff that makes me who I am, not the stuff that is just what I do. So if you also need that in 2026, there's a free resolution for you. Be who you are. Do not try to be what you do. Different, different." - CaitlinThis episode is an honest, whimsical reflection on burnout, identity, ADHD time, and the quiet realization that “rest and recover” isn’t enough anymore. Caitlin shares why they are taking a break from marketing and sales, what burnout has been teaching them (over and over again), and how redefining success might be the most radical thing we do this year. So, if you’re tired, tender, disillusioned with hustle culture, or longing to reconnect with the parts of yourself that feel alive and joyful... come sit, let's talk about it! What We Explore In This Episode Burnout as a systems problem, not a personal failureADHD time distortion and why “wide open schedules” can actually make things harderThe oxygen mask metaphor (yes, that one) and why asking for help is not selfishLetting go of hyper-independence and learning to be held by communityRadical whimsy natural state and what happens when you give it to everyone but yourself🎟️ Join The Creatives Rebellion on Patreon for bonus content, unfiltered rambles, exclusive merch, and the best little weird creative family on the internet: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/caitlinlizfisher⁠⁠⁠Join our Neurodivergent Creative Pod!🌞 Want to support heartfelt conversations about mental health, creativity, and neurodivergence?Join the Neurodivergent Creative Pod community: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.askfishfisher.com/pod⁠⁠⁠📩Subscribe to Cait’s newsletter and grab your copy of the Audacity Bill of Rights—a weekly dose of "you’re not broken, you’re brilliant": ⁠⁠⁠https://www.askfishfisher.com/audacity⁠⁠⁠🎧 Leave a comment, send a DM @caitlinlizfisher, or scream into the void (and tag us!)We love hearing what hit home for you!

    23 min

  6. 12/26/2025

    Why "Small Talk" Actually Matters | #194

    In this episode of The Neurodivergent Creative, Caitlin—an avowed autistic anti-subtexter—unexpectedly makes the case for small talk. What starts as a ranty love-hate relationship with “talking about the weather” turns into a surprising reflection on community, nervous system safety, and how micro-connections (yes, even elevator weather chat) are part of how we build a village that can actually hold us when things go sideways. 💬 “There are ways to be safe that don’t completely isolate you.  And I think like that's what I'm going for here is, we do need to rely on each other a little bit. We need to wave to our neighbors a little bit, you know? Because if we don't do that, if we don't build the village, then we don't have the village when we need it.“— Caitlin Liz Fisher So if small talk makes you cringe, social rules confuse you, or you’ve been feeling the cold creep of hyper-individualism… buckle up. Caitlin’s about to reframe the whole thing! What We Explore In This Episode Why small talk exists and how it functions as “I’m a person / you’re a person” connection (not meaningless filler)When “noise” is actually communication your nervous system can learn to decodeHow micro-social rituals help create community safety without forcing intimacy or oversharingPractical safety frameworks that aren’t pure isolation (e.g., “tricky people,” finding a parent with kids, and context clues that help in real life)

    27 min

  7. 12/19/2025

    Reframing The Stigma of Personal Failure | #193

    Mistakes are an integral part of the human experience. They help us learn, grow, and ultimately become better versions of ourselves. The systemic failure loop here is that we've been programmed to equate our self-worth with our successes and dread being labeled as failures. In this episode, Caitlin challenges the concept of failure and calls for a ban on the word 'failure' in 2026. They emphasize the importance of self-compassion, adjusting goals, and reframing negative thoughts. 💬 " Let's not consider anything a personal failure, unless you did something like morally and ethically heinous." - Caitlin Liz Fisher 💬 " There's no more failure. No more personal failures. Only huge systemic failures. Don't compare yourself to huge systemic failures... You're a person doing person things, and as long as you are a person doing person things, it's not failure—it's learning." - Caitlin Liz Fisher As far as Caitlin is concerned, unless your actions cross a moral or ethical line, a misstep is not a personal failing—it's an opportunity to learn. 💜 What We Explore In This Episode- Why it's important to reconsider what we define as failure- How to reshape our understanding of personal failure- Recognizing the distinction between genuine mistakes and unethical behavior 🎟️ Join The Creatives Rebellion on Patreon for bonus content, unfiltered rambles, exclusive merch, and the best little weird creative family on the internet: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/caitlinlizfisher⁠⁠⁠Join our Neurodivergent Creative Pod!🌞 Want to support heartfelt conversations about mental health, creativity, and neurodivergence?Join the Neurodivergent Creative Pod community: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.askfishfisher.com/pod⁠⁠⁠ 📩Subscribe to Cait’s newsletter and grab your copy of the Audacity Bill of Rights—a weekly dose of "you’re not broken, you’re brilliant": ⁠⁠⁠https://www.askfishfisher.com/audacity⁠⁠⁠ 🎧 Leave a comment, send a DM @caitlinlizfisher, or scream into the void (and tag us!)We love hearing what hit home for you!

    27 min

  8. 12/12/2025

    You’re Allowed to Believe in a Better Future | #192

    In this episode of The Neurodivergent Creative, Caitlin sits down without a set agenda and gently spirals through morning pages, phone addiction, creative habits, spirituality, and the quiet grief of living in a world shaped by capitalism and rising fascism. What begins as a reflection on journaling becomes a compassionate exploration of why we need personal rituals, spiritual hope, and tiny acts of care—not to optimize ourselves, but to survive and stay human. 💬“Do something that is just for you. Do something that makes you feel hope for a future that you cannot logically know is there, but spiritually you will allow yourself to believe in it—so that there’s a reason to get up in the morning.” - Caitlin Liz Fisher If you’re tired, cynical, overstimulated, or struggling to imagine a future that feels safe or possible, this episode offers permission to slow down and choose gentleness anyway.💜 What We Explore in This Episode: Morning pages as a practice of mental and emotional clearing, not productivityDoomscrolling, phone dependency, and protecting your nervous system from constant bad newsWhy capitalism, shame, and moral perfectionism make rest and creativity feel “undeserved”Spirituality, creativity, and imagination as survival tools🎟️ Join The Creatives Rebellion on Patreon for bonus content, unfiltered rambles, exclusive merch, and the best little weird creative family on the internet: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/caitlinlizfisher⁠⁠⁠Join our Neurodivergent Creative Pod!🌞 Want to support heartfelt conversations about mental health, creativity, and neurodivergence?Join the Neurodivergent Creative Pod community: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.askfishfisher.com/pod⁠⁠⁠📩Subscribe to Cait’s newsletter and grab your copy of the Audacity Bill of Rights—a weekly dose of "you’re not broken, you’re brilliant": ⁠⁠⁠https://www.askfishfisher.com/audacity⁠⁠⁠🎧 Leave a comment, send a DM @caitlinlizfisher, or scream into the void (and tag us!)We love hearing what hit home for you!

    30 min
See All (202)

Trailers

4.8
out of 5
33 Ratings

About

The podcast for creatives of all types (and neurotypes) to celebrate passion and creativity, stop hiding your unique brilliance, and embrace what makes your mind and spirit come alive! Previously known as Run Like Hell Toward Happy, this show is hosted by Caitlin Fisher, a writing and creative coach who helps neurodivergent, chronically ill, and/or queer folks connect with their most passionate lives.

Information

You Might Also Like