The Unconventionall Podcast Andy Barden

Rebecca Pay was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism in her 40s after years of questioning her own mind and the challenges she faced. Like me, Rebecca decided to opt for a private ASD assessment having established that the NHS route was going to take years. A process that can be very stressful.
Rebecca is a business owner by day, writing cvs for job hunters all over the UK and beyond. It's a career choice she wanted after feeling misunderstood in employment, as so many neurodiverse people are. Join Rebecca and I as we discuss the highs and lows of being neurodiverse, and what to look for if you are questioning your own mind.

On this episode of the Unconventionall Podcast, I sat down with Jamie Shields. Recently diagnosed with Autism and ADHD, Jamie and I discuss our recent neurodiverse diagnosis and how living with it has impacted our lives.
Jamie talks about the stigma attached to the term 'disability' and how society is disabling the neurodiverse community because of a lack of knowledge and understanding. We discuss how our neurodiverse worlds can be both a superpower and an absolute nightmare.
Sometimes on the same day. It's what makes us what we are, but at the same time, hinders our progression. This was a conversation between 2 people living in a very similar world, with a ton of differences at the same time.
It was also the first podcast following my neurodiverse diagnosis, which gave me a sense of strength and authority I'd not felt before.

On this episode of the Unconventionall Podcast, I sit down with Christina Mitchell. She is 'The Schools Coach' and talks about how her childhood trauma helped her to educate others on how better manage their mental health, both at home and in school.
She tells us about the need to truly understand the individual needs of the children, whether they are labelled as neurodiverse or not. We hear about the story of her son, diagnosed with Dyslexia and thriving in further education thanks to the work Christina and others have done.
This was a hugely engaging episode that parents of all ages would relate to.

In episode 4 I talk about exploring ChatGPT and what it means for writers and creators of social media content. I also show you a small snippet of what it's like working with children and an office full of Lego. And then I discuss my attempts (struggles) at launching a successful podcast as a one-man business trying to do it all.
00:00 Exploring ChatGPT and what it means for content creators and copywriters. 06:02 Working with kids when you have an office full of Lego.
06:33 Running a successful podcast and the struggles for consistency.
09:07 Taking time out during a busy schedule to do some much-needed DIY and the importance of setting time boundaries as a business owner.

Losing clients is never good, but sometimes it can't be avoided and it's often outside of your control. In this episode we discuss the following:
00:00 We lost a client and the reasons why.
5:00 My neurodiverse journey and the support I am now seeking to help me navigate it. Am I autistic? Do I have ADHD? Time will tell.
9:45 Time management and how to deal with distractions when you work alone from home.
12:11 Balancing existing client work and marketing your business when you are not where you need to be financially.
15:35 Are Fridays more or less relaxing as a business owner? In my world, the early finish on a Friday thing doesn't exist, but I do have a strategy.

Ben Seal is fast becoming a TikTok superstar thanks to his heartwarming and honest story of his incredible son Reggie. Reggie was born with Down syndrome, and with young twins already dominating the lives of Ben and his wonderful wife because of his son's autism, this was going to be a journey like no other.
Ben tells us about his life of drink and drugs. The teenage years that left him out of control and searching for answers. We hear how he met his wife Leanne, and the challenges they faced together, as Ben continued to live a double life.
This was an extremely honest account of the life of a hugely inspirational husband and father that turned his life around just at the right time.