Episode 111 (Season 2): Not Your Neurotypical Wellness: Adaptations and Reflections
Navigating wellness advice as a neurodivergent person can often feel invalidating, overwhelming, or just plain inaccessible. So much of what’s recommended—from meal prep to journaling—assumes executive function, sensory profiles, or social fluency that simply aren’t universal. However, the right adaptations not only make wellness more achievable but also help us honor our genuine needs instead of internalizing shame or “shoulds.”In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, ask their audience and discuss the kinds of health and wellness advice that often fall flat for neurodivergent people, then share creative, compassionate alternatives that are more likely to work. Drawing on their clinical expertise and lived experience, they discuss executive functioning challenges, accessible food routines, setting up effective self-care practices, and the emotional impact of receiving (often unsolicited) advice. This collection-finale episode of the worn-down and worthy #NotYourNeurotypicalWellness series is a candid, practical, and validating deep dive into taking care of ourselves in ways that feel right, not just prescribed.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Learn specific, neurodivergent-friendly adaptations for wellness routines—like low-executive-function food prep, sensory-aware shopping tips, and realistic self-care strategies—that move far beyond generic advice.Get honest insights as Patrick and Megan Anna explore the emotional realities of shame, independence, attachment, and accepting help, with stories that will feel familiar and validating to many listeners.Discover actionable ways to create routines, boundaries, and community resources that fit your actual life, whether you’re navigating burnout, chronic illness, or just tired of toxic “positivity” culture.If traditional wellness tips have ever left you feeling worn out or unseen, this episode is a resource for finding new ways to advocate for yourself, honor your needs, and reimagine what well-being looks like on your terms. Listen now for practical adaptations and heartening perspectives tailored for the neurodivergent community.————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————Thanks to Our Sponsor: Jane✨ Jane:Jane is a clinic management software and EMR designed to be an extra set of helping hands in your health and wellness business. Available online and on any device, Jane has branded online booking, scheduling, insurance billing,...
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Episode 110 (Season 2): Neurodivergent Wellness Tips That Backfire and How to Adapt Them
Typical wellness advice is often made to sound simple on the surface, but it can feel alienating, frustrating, or downright unhelpful in real life for many neurodivergent people. For many Autistic and ADHD adults, tips like “just relax,” “try meditation,” or “write in a gratitude journal” can miss the mark, complicating our efforts to find meaningful self-care and regulation.In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, ask their audience to join in on the worn-down and worthy #NotYourNeurotypicalWellness conversation, exploring why so much mainstream wellness advice doesn’t work for many neurodivergent folks. They invite their community’s feedback, break down common “wellness” suggestions that actually cause stress or shame, and offer authentic, adapted strategies that respect neurodivergent needs and differences. You’ll hear personal stories, practical alternatives for things like mindfulness and “positive thinking,” and relatable honesty about everything from sensory baths to the pitfalls of forced gratitude practice.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Discover why classic self-care advice—like meditation, yoga, or gratitude journals—so often backfires for Autistic and ADHD adults, and get expert-backed adaptations that actually make sense for neurodivergent bodies and minds.Learn how to reframe “don’t worry,” “just relax,” and other well-meaning but minimizing messages, with concrete scripts and possibility-focused responses that parents, clinicians, and peers can use right away.Connect with candid, compassionate stories from Patrick and Megan Anna as they share their lived experiences with sensory overload, masking, and shifting toward wellness practices rooted in real agency, accessibility, and joy.If you’re tired of being told to “just be positive” or have struggled to find self-care practices that truly fit, this episode offers honest validation, community-sourced wisdom, and neurodivergent-friendly alternatives you can try today, as well as a refreshing take on what real, sustainable wellness can look like—on your own terms.————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————Thanks to Our Sponsor: Jane✨ Jane:Jane is a clinic management software and EMR designed to be an extra set of helping hands in your health and wellness business. Available online and on any device, Jane has branded online booking, scheduling, insurance billing, customizable documentation templates and...
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Episode 109 (Season 2): The Power of Play: Holding the Heavy with Laughter and Connection
Finding joy and playfulness can feel complicated when the world feels heavy and overwhelming. For neurodivergent people, accessing moments of laughter and lightness—especially while navigating guilt or social pressure to be productive—becomes an essential, yet nuanced, form of self-preservation and resistance.In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the vital importance of play, laughter, and connection for neurodivergent well-being. They candidly discuss their personal struggles and breakthroughs with accessing joy, examine the intersection of play with heavy emotions, and share how dark humor, rituals, and community banter can help neurodivergent people process pain, release shame, and hold complexity. From the guilt often tied to playfulness during difficult times to the healing power of connection and humor, Patrick and Megan Anna offer both real talk and creative strategies for bringing more lightness into your everyday life.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Discover accessible ways to bring more laughter and play into your day, even if you struggle with traditional hobbies or feel weighed down by the world’s pain.Gain insight into the intersection of play, cultural resistance, and advocacy, with reflections on how joy can be both a survival tool and a form of empowerment for marginalized communities.Hear honest, relatable stories from Patrick and Megan Anna about dealing with shame, executive dysfunction, and neurodivergent awkwardness—and learn how humor can be a bridge for connection and healing.If you’ve ever felt guilty about seeking joy or struggled to figure out how to let playfulness back in, this episode will encourage you to embrace laughter and lightness as essential parts of the neurodivergent experience. Explore what it means to hold the heavy while still making room for play.————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————Thanks to Our Sponsor: Jane✨ Jane:Jane is a clinic management software and EMR designed to be an extra set of helping hands in your health and wellness business. Available online and on any device, Jane has branded online booking, scheduling, insurance billing, customizable documentation templates and online forms, integrated payments, telehealth, and more — wrapped up in one beautiful package that even your patients/clients will love. Backed by our unlimited human support available by phone, email, and chat (even on Saturdays!),...
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Episode 108 (Season 2): Using Creativity to Anchor into Aliveness and Humanity
Creativity isn’t just a spark or a talent—it’s a vital tether to our humanness, especially in a world that can feel overwhelming or isolating for neurodivergent people. Whether you feel energized and alive, or stuck in a season of fatigue, the pursuit and practice of creativity can connect us to ourselves, our aliveness, and our communities.In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, diiscuss what creativity truly means as neurodivergent people navigating complex feelings of energy, burnout, connection, and disconnection. They share personal experiences with creative flow, discuss the role of embodiment and play in sparking new ideas, explore how creativity acts as resistance against dehumanizing forces, and reflect on how moments of aliveness are often intertwined with pain and longing. Through honest conversation, they highlight how creativity is not only a coping tool, but a way to metabolize emotion, reclaim joy, and find meaning—even in dark seasons.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Hear thought-provoking discussion on creativity as an act of reclaiming humanness—not just productivity or output—and learn how it can ground us during difficult times.Gain practical, relatable insights into how movement, community, connection, and even music can help reignite creativity and support emotional regulation for neurodivergent listeners.Listen to honest, nuanced reflections about the bittersweet nature of aliveness, the link between creativity and pain, and how to recognize when solitude is helpful versus when it becomes isolating.If you’re longing for creative sparks or seeking permission to honor your energy cycles and emotions, this episode offers validation and gentle encouragement. Join Patrick and Megan Anna as they unpack what creativity means for neurodivergent lives—and find new inspiration to show up for yourself, wherever you are, and reconnect with your own aliveness.————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————Thanks to Our Sponsor: Jane✨ Jane:Jane is a clinic management software and EMR designed to be an extra set of helping hands in your health and wellness business. Available online and on any device, Jane has branded online booking, scheduling, insurance billing, customizable documentation templates and online forms, integrated payments, telehealth, and more — wrapped up in one beautiful package that even your patients/clients...
Finding real connection and community as a neurodivergent person can be both beautiful and complicated. We often long for community that gets us, but knowing where to look or how to show up as ourselves can feel uncertain. Having spaces where we feel seen, supported, and not too much isn’t just affirming — it’s important for our well-being.In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the complexities of finding, building, and sustaining community and connection as neurodivergent people. They candidly share personal experiences of seeking meaningful relationships, discuss the unique benefits and pitfalls of digital communities, explore the emotional nuances of online versus in-person connection, and offer practical ideas and resources for those looking to cultivate neurodivergent-positive spaces.Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:Explore practical ways to find neurodivergent community—whether you're looking for free or paid spaces, online or in-person—and hear ideas for navigating the relational dynamics that help support connection and belonging.Hear honest reflections from Patrick and Megan Anna as they share their own experiences with online engagement, friendship, demand avoidance, and the realities of community burnout. It's a conversation that feels real, relatable, and encouraging.Learn why community matters not just for connection, but for identity, advocacy, and healing. In a world that can be overwhelming and isolating, shared spaces offer protection, meaning, and a way to grow forward together.If you’ve ever felt worn out but still longed for connection with a community that truly gets you, this episode offers both honest reflection and tangible support. We talk about what it means to find—or help create—spaces of real belonging.ResourcesTHE NOOK: neurodivergentinsights.com/membershipAutastic: autastic.com/resources-for-bipoc-communitiesNEUROKINDNESS COMMUNITY Waitlist: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSefQlLquFvaMB7ZY7dkSumrKhtP7WBGQLHAb0Rkfzzy_UN6Gg/viewformDIVERGENT CONVERSATIONS UNDERGROUND: divergentconversations.substack.com————————————————————————————————🎙️Listen to more episodes of the Divergent Conversations Podcast🎙️Spotify🎙️Apple🎙️YouTube Music▶️ YouTube💬 Join Divergent Conversations Underground————————————————————————————————
Dr. Megan Neff and Patrick Casale are two Neurodivergent therapists in a neurotypical world. During this podcast, they’ll talk about their own personal experiences as Autistic-ADHDers. They will reflect on their lived experience as AuDHD mental health professionals, and entrepreneurs, as well as offer clinical guidance, and support. Episodes will be conversational in nature, and they’ll interview other ND Folx to amplify the voices of other neurodivergent advocates and individuals as they share their authentic stories. New episodes will come out weekly, on all major platforms. Megan told Patrick, ”I’ll bring the chaos, You organize it.” This perfectly sums up their working relationship and friendship. Reflections of two neurodivergent clinicians. Raw, Vulnerable, Affirmative As Hell. Follow on instagram.com/divergentconversations
Topics include Autism, ADHD, Sleep struggles, Chronic Illness, RSD, Alexithymia, Autistic burnout, Intersectionality, Neuroqueer, Creativity, OCD, Neurodivergence, Affirming Language, Small business ownership, Unpacking Internalized Ableism, and so much more.
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