In this episode of NeuroSpice & Life, late-diagnosed neurodivergent hosts Freya Corboy and Hanna Hosking move from reflection into reframing, exploring how autistic and ADHD people can reclaim bluntness as clarity rather than rudeness.

This episode blends practical tools, reframes, and humour, offering an empowering and light-hearted conversation alongside discussions of masking, people-pleasing, and communication boundaries.

Freya and Hanna discuss modern communication styles — including texting, voice notes, gifs, and video — and how neurodivergent people can advocate for their preferred ways of communicating in relationships, therapy, and everyday life. They explore why “honesty is the best policy” often works for neurotypical people with an unspoken social rulebook, but can backfire for neurodivergent people who are labelled “brutally” or “ruthlessly” honest for communicating directly.

The episode also challenges the belief that we’re responsible for managing other people’s emotional reactions. You can communicate clearly, respectfully, and honestly without taking responsibility for how someone else chooses to interpret your words.

Practical tools are shared for giving feedback, reducing unnecessary softening, and removing reflexive apologies such as “just” or apologising for things that aren’t your fault. Together, Freya and Hanna explore what it means to reclaim bluntness after years of masking, over-explaining, and self-silencing.

Topics include: Neurodivergent communication, ADHD, autism, bluntness, honesty, masking, people-pleasing, communication boundaries, feedback tools, self-advocacy, emotional labour.

Connect with NeuroSpice & Life: Website: neurospiceandlife.com.au YouTube: @NeuroSpiceandLife Freya (Mumshine): mumshine.com.au Hanna (The Sensologist): thesensologist.com.au

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or mental-health advice. It is not a substitute for diagnosis, therapy, or professional care. Please seek support from a qualified healthcare or mental-health professional if needed.

In this episode of NeuroSpice & Life, late-diagnosed neurodivergent hosts Freya Corboy and Hanna Hosking explore what it really means to be labelled “blunt” — and why honesty, direct communication, and social rules can be so confusing for ADHD, autistic, and AuADHD people.

This episode balances deep reflection with humour and laughter, making it one of our more comedic, light-hearted conversations, even while discussing anxiety, masking, and people-pleasing.

Freya reflects on how being called blunt is often interpreted as rude or “too honest,” while Hanna shares how honesty in childhood led to chronic people-pleasing and softening her language to feel safe. Together, they unpack neurodivergent communication styles, and ways to process people’s actions when they don’t always say what they mean, and the concept of prosocial lying — and why it can be deeply dysregulating for neurodivergent minds.

The episode also explores anxiety, reassurance-seeking, and trust in language, especially when words don’t match tone or intent, and the role of the prefrontal cortex and amygdala in why neurodivergent people get called “blunt” along with the mental effort it takes for people with ADHD to regulate impulsivity and filter speech in order not to be perceived as blunt.

This conversation challenges the idea that directness is a flaw and highlights the emotional cost of masking, self-monitoring, and prioritising politeness over clarity.

Topics include: Neurodivergent communication, ADHD, autism, bluntness, honesty, masking, people-pleasing, prosocial lying, anxiety, emotional regulation, impulsivity, nervous system awareness.

Warning: This episode includes swearing.

Connect with NeuroSpice & Life: neurospiceandlife.com.au YouTube: @NeuroSpiceandLife Freya (Mumshine): mumshine.com.au Hanna (The Sensologist): thesensologist.com.au

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or mental-health advice. It is not a substitute for diagnosis, therapy, or professional care. Please seek support from a qualified healthcare or mental-health professional if needed.

In this episode of NeuroSpice & Life, late-diagnosed neurodivergent hosts Freya Corboy (alexithymic counsellor) and Hanna Hosking (sexologist) explore sensitivity through a neurodivergent, ADHD-informed lens. We discuss how humans are not innately taught emotional regulation — and how suppressing emotional and sensory needs can create anxiety, burnout, and cumulative emotional and physical strain, particularly for neurodivergent people.

This episode offers an authentic example of two ADHDers communicating through shared ideas. The conversation is non-linear, reflective, and associative — a communication style common in ADHD — where ideas circle, connect, and ultimately return to insight and meaning.

Freya reflects on sensory sensitivity, including food, clothing, and environmental needs, and how attuning to her body and nervous system has supported emotional regulation and reduced overwhelm. Hanna shares her experiences of emotional sensitivity, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), and relational patterns, highlighting how minimising emotional needs for others can take a significant toll over time.

Together, we reframe sensitivity as information rather than weakness, and explore why honouring neurodivergent sensory and emotional needs is essential for mental health, self-trust, and long-term wellbeing.

This episode invites listeners to move away from “Why am I so sensitive?” and toward a more compassionate and empowering question: “What is my sensitivity trying to tell me?”

In this episode, we explore: • Neurodivergent emotional and sensory sensitivity • ADHD communication styles and non-linear thinking • Nervous system regulation and emotional awareness • Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) • Emotional regulation and unmet needs • Anxiety, burnout, and chronic overwhelm • Boundaries, self-advocacy, and self-trust

Key concepts & searchable topics: Neurodivergence, ADHD, autism, AuDHD, emotional sensitivity, sensory processing differences, nervous system awareness, RSD, emotional regulation skills, neurodivergent burnout, high masking, late diagnosis, trauma-informed care, mental health and wellbeing.

Who this episode is for: Neurodivergent adults (ADHD, autistic, AuDHD), highly sensitive people, late-identified or high-masking individuals, and anyone learning to honour emotional and sensory needs without minimising themselves for others.

Website: neurospiceandlife.com.au YouTube: @NeuroSpiceandLife Freya (Mumshine): mumshine.com.au Hanna (The Sensologist): thesensologist.com.au

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or mental-health advice. It is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, abusive relationships, emotional abuse, and relational trauma. Please listen with care and prioritise your safety and wellbeing.

What if being sensitive isn’t a weakness — but a form of intelligence?

In this reflective episode of NeuroSpice & Life, late-diagnosed neurodivergent hosts Freya Corboy (alexithymic counsellor) and Hanna Hosking (sexologist) explore sensitivity through a neurodivergent and trauma-informed lens.

Freya reflects on her sensory sensitivity — including food, clothing, and environmental needs — and how learning to honour her nervous system has reduced anxiety and overwhelm. Hanna shares her experience of emotional sensitivity, Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), and her history with limerence, rejection, and abusive relationship dynamics.

Together, this episode reframes sensitivity as a source of resilience, emotional insight, boundaries, and healing, especially for autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, and highly sensitive people who have been taught to mask, minimise, or disconnect from their needs.

Rather than hardening or “toughening up,” we explore how tuning into emotions and bodily signals builds strength, self-trust, and nervous-system safety.

• Neurodivergent sensory sensitivity and regulation • Emotional sensitivity and RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria) • Limerence, attachment, and rejection wounds • Domestic violence and emotionally abusive relationships • Anxiety, vulnerability, and resilience • Why sensitivity is not weakness • Learning to listen to your nervous system

Neurodivergent adults (autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, OCD), highly sensitive people, late-identified or high-masking individuals, trauma survivors, and anyone learning to honour their emotions without shame.

Neurodivergence • Sensory processing • Emotional regulation • RSD • Limerence • Trauma-informed healing • Vulnerability • Resilience

Website: neurospiceandlife.com.au YouTube: @NeuroSpiceandLife

Freya (Mumshine): mumshine.com.au Hanna (The Sensologist): thesensologist.com.au

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or mental-health advice. It is not a substitute for diagnosis, therapy, or professional care.

Is your “weird” something you tried to hide, or still do? What if it’s actually something to honour?

In this reflective episode of NeuroSpice & Life, late-diagnosed neurodivergent hosts Freya Corboy (alexithymic counsellor) and Hanna Hosking (sexologist) revisit the theme of weird and reframe it as something meaningful, connective, and powerful.

This episode explores why weird is wonderful, why normal is a myth, and how embracing neurodivergent difference creates space for authenticity, inclusion, and belonging. We reflect on how growing visibility of neurodivergent people in the celebrity and public sphere helps normalise diversity — not by flattening difference, but by showing that there has never been just one way to be human.

For autistic, ADHD, OCD, and AuDHD people, being labelled “weird” often meant masking, shrinking, or self-abandonment to survive social systems not built for neurodivergent nervous systems. In this episode, we invite a different approach: radical self-expression, radical self-acceptance, and curiosity instead of judgment.

We unpack why no two people experience the world the same way, why conformity harms both individuals and communities, and why you don’t need to yuck someone else’s yum. Normal isn’t real — it’s a spectrum.

• Reframing weird as difference, not defect or deficit • Neurodivergence and identity beyond masking • Why “normal” doesn’t exist • Celebrity visibility and cultural normalisation of diversity • Radical self-expression and self-acceptance • Letting others exist without judgment

Neurodivergent adults (autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, OCD), late-identified or high-masking individuals, creatives, advocates, parents, and anyone exploring identity, authenticity, belonging, and inclusion.

Connect with NeuroSpice & Life: Website: neurospiceandlife.com.au YouTube: @NeuroSpiceandLife Freya (Mumshine): mumshine.com.au Hanna (The Sensologist): thesensologist.com.au

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical, psychological, or mental-health care. Please seek support from a qualified professional if needed.

What does it really mean to be called “weird” — and why are neurodivergent people so often given that label?

In this episode of NeuroSpice & Life, neurodivergent hosts Freya Corboy (alexithymic counsellor) and Hanna Hosking (sexologist) reflect on the lived experience of being labelled weird as autistic, ADHD, and AuDHD people — and how that label has shown up as ostracisation, isolation, loneliness, and being treated as other.

For many neurodivergent children and adults, being “weird” isn’t just a word — it’s a social experience shaped by exclusion, misunderstanding, and pressure to mask, camouflage, and chameleon in order to survive. This episode explores how long-term neurodivergent masking and self-abandonment can erode self-trust, create identity confusion, and leave people disconnected from who they really are later in life.

We also unpack confirmation bias and social psychology, examining how humans naturally gravitate toward people who think, communicate, and behave like themselves — and how this unconscious pattern reinforces exclusion in families, friendships, workplaces, and communities. We discuss why intentional inclusion of difference is essential for creativity, innovation, safety, and genuine belonging.

This episode is a compassionate, grounded reflection on reclaiming “weird” — not by bypassing the pain, but by recognising difference as a source of insight, connection, and collective growth.

• What “weird” means in autistic, ADHD & neurodivergent lives • Ostracisation, isolation, loneliness & being labelled as other • Neurodivergent masking, camouflaging & people-pleasing as survival • Identity loss, self-trust, and late-identified neurodivergence • Confirmation bias, inclusion, and social psychology • Why difference drives innovation, creativity & change

Autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, and neurodivergent adults — especially those who are late-identified, highly masked, or struggling with belonging and identity. This episode is also for parents, partners, educators, and professionals seeking to better understand neurodivergent experiences and inclusive practice.

NeuroSpice & Life is a neurodivergent-led podcast exploring autism, ADHD, AuDHD, nervous system regulation, identity, relationships, burnout, and neurodiversity-affirming living — without shame, pathologising, or toxic positivity.

Website: neurospiceandlife.com.au YouTube: @NeuroSpiceandLife Freya (Mumshine): mumshine.com.au Hanna (The Sensologist): thesensologist.com.au

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, psychological, or mental-health advice. It does not replace diagnosis, therapy, or professional support. Please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare or mental-health professional.

Welcome back to Episode 4 of NeuroSpice & Life.

In this episode, we continue the conversation around the harmful label of “lazy” and reframe what is really happening beneath the surface for neurodivergent people. What is often misread as procrastination or lack of motivation is far more commonly overwhelm, neurodivergent burnout, sensory overload, or perfection paralysis.

Join alexithymic counsellor Freya Corboy and sexologist Hanna Hosking as we unpack why burnout in ADHD, autism, and AuDHD can feel so pervasive and difficult to recover from, how unmet sensory needs quietly contribute to exhaustion and shutdown, and why many common coping strategies stop working over time.

This episode supports listeners to understand their nervous system responses, reassess survival-based coping mechanisms, and begin creating sustainable, neurodiversity-affirming change.

✨ This episode introduces the next round of our Spice Jar Tools—practical tools designed for ADHD, autistic, and neurodivergent nervous systems. ✨ Listeners who sign up to our newsletter via our website receive the Spice Jar tips for free, and can also access our Quirkbook through our initial launch offer to continue the work beyond the episode.

In this episode, we discuss:

✨ Why “lazy” is a mislabel for ADHD, autistic, and neurodivergent burnout ✨ The difference between overwhelm, shutdown, burnout, and perfection paralysis ✨ How sensory processing and sensory overload contribute to chronic exhaustion ✨ When coping strategies no longer serve neurodivergent adults ✨ Why “done is better than perfect” when you live with executive dysfunction

Who this episode is for:

Adults navigating ADHD, autism, AuDHD, neurodivergent burnout, sensory overwhelm, executive dysfunction, perfectionism, or chronic stress—and anyone supporting a neurodivergent partner, child, colleague, or client. This episode is ideal for listeners seeking practical, compassionate, neurodiversity-affirming support.

Connect with us:

Website/Quirkbook: neurospiceandlife.com.au YouTube: @NeuroSpiceandLife Freya (Mumshine): mumshine.com.au Hanna (The Sensologist): thesensologist.com.au

References & Further Learning:

• Emily & Amelia Nagoski - Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle • Feminist Survival Podcast — Emily & Amelia Nagoski • Brene Brown — “Paint Done” concept (from Daring Greatly and Rising Strong)

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical, therapeutic, or mental-health advice. It does not replace diagnosis, therapy, or professional support. Please consult a qualified healthcare or mental-health professional for personalised guidance.

Welcome back to Episode 3 of NeuroSpice & Life.

In this episode, we explore one of the most painful and common labels placed on neurodivergent people: “lazy.” For many of us who are ADHD, autistic, AuDHD, dyslexic, anxious, or otherwise neurodivergent, this label shows up when we are actually overwhelmed, burnt out, frozen, masking, or simply misunderstood.

Join alexithymic counsellor Freya Corboy and sexologist Hanna Hosking — two neurodivergent humans who have lived this label — as we unpack why “lazy” is rarely accurate, how it intersects with executive functioning, and what’s happening beneath the surface when motivation disappears.

This episode invites you to gently examine your own relationship with the word lazy, challenge internalised shame, and build a more compassionate understanding of your beautifully wired brain.

✨ Why “lazy” is a mislabel for neurodivergent brains ✨ How shutdowns, freeze, inertia and overwhelm are mistaken for lack of effort ✨ What executive dysfunction actually looks like day to day ✨ How repeated negative labels create internalised shame

Anyone navigating adult ADHD, autism, AuDHD, dyslexia, executive dysfunction, RSD, burnout, or supporting a neurodivergent friend, partner, child, or colleague. This space is for learning, compassion, and real-life neurodiversity-affirming tools.

Website: neurospiceandlife.com.au YouTube: @NeuroSpiceandLife Freya (Mumshine): mumshine.com.au Hanna (The Sensologist): thesensologist.com.au

This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not medical, therapeutic, or mental-health advice. It does not replace therapy, diagnosis, or professional support. Please seek guidance from a qualified healthcare or mental-health professional for individual support.