Workplace struggles become clearer once we stop focusing on labels and start understanding people.
In this episode, I sit down with James Lovatt, a grounded and insightful voice in the world of neurodivergence at work through his role at Aspen. James supports autistic and ADHD individuals, as well as the organisations they work in, by helping both sides understand the real reasons behind performance struggles and the practical changes that allow everyone to thrive. We talk about why awareness alone is not enough, how misunderstanding creates frustration on all sides, and what happens when teams move toward clarity and collaboration instead. James shares why slow processing is not a flaw, how pattern recognition can be a quiet strength, and why understanding someone’s whole story, rather than just their job title, unlocks trust, creativity, and meaningful performance. We also explore self-advocacy, what managers can actually do to help, and why the future of work might be far more human than we think.
If you are a manager, team member, or someone trying to make sense of how you work best, this conversation offers practical insight and a more compassionate way forward.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Understanding Performance Struggles and Practical Changes
08:23 The Importance of Context and Individual Understanding
15:09 The Role of Managers in Supporting Neurodivergent Individuals
28:43 Equipping Managers to Support Neurodivergent Employees
51:28 The Diversity of Human Cognition
Connect with James Lovatt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-lovatt-6b89a14b/
Resources Mentioned:
Rebel Ideas: The Power of Diverse Thinking
Black Box Thinking: The Surprising Truth About Success
Steve Jobs - The Lost Interview
Connect with Me
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniahulsman/
If this episode spoke to you, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. It would mean the world to me personally, and it really helps others who need to hear these kinds of stories to find the podcast. Until next time, stay messy. Stay magnificent and stay true to your weird, wonderful self!
The shift happens when you stop forcing yourself to be someone you are not and stand in who you are.
In this episode, Asis Patel, an artist and visual storyteller whose work is rooted in deep listening, witnessing, and reflection shares how creativity became a way to understand himself and others, especially as someone who relates to aspects of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and high sensitivity. We talk about what it means to live between structure and freedom, rigidity and flow, and how giving full energy to what matters requires letting go of outcomes. Asis reflects on art as a form of connection, how being truly seen can feel both vulnerable and liberating, and why expressing the fullest version of yourself often begins with slowing down and paying attention to your own rhythm.
If you have ever felt the tension between holding yourself back and wanting to express more of who you are, this conversation is an invitation to soften into curiosity, trust your own pace, and allow space for your inner world to be witnessed without needing to explain or perform.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Exploring Neurodivergence and Creativity
05:21 The Intersection of ADHD, Autism, and Art
10:56 The Power of Witnessing and Deep Connection
20:56 The Journey to Self-Acceptance
24:50 Asis Patel's Artistic Journey
Connect with Asis Patel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/asispatel/
https://www.instagram.com/asispatel/
Connect with Me
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniahulsman/
If this episode spoke to you, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. It would mean the world to me personally, and it really helps others who need to hear these kinds of stories to find the podcast. Until next time, stay messy. Stay magnificent and stay true to your weird, wonderful self!
What happens when a journalist’s “contrarian” brain is finally understood not as a flaw, but as a superpower?
In this episode I had the chance to have a sharp, unfiltered conversation with journalist Izabella Kaminska about the brilliance of neurodivergent minds, nonlinear thinking, and how ND brains quietly reshape the world. We explore why she believes neurodivergent people are the “imagination department of humanity,” how AI can both empower and endanger creative thinkers, and why “touching grass” is actually a survival strategy.
If you’ve ever felt too quirky for the professional world, too sensitive for criticism, or like your brain only works in extremes, this conversation is a powerful reminder: your wiring isn’t broken. It might just be wired for wonder.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Understanding Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria
09:44 The Dynamic Between ADHD and Autism
28:51 The Genius and Dumb Phases of ADHD
39:53 Neurodivergence and Creativity
40:28 The Role of Different Brain Types in Society
53:41 The Impact of AI on ADHD
59:14 Healthy Habits for Neurodivergent Individuals
Connect with Izabella Kaminska
Connect with Me
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniahulsman/
If this episode spoke to you, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. It would mean the world to me personally, and it really helps others who need to hear these kinds of stories to find the podcast. Until next time, stay messy, stay magnificent and stay true to your weird, wonderful self!
What happens when you stop forcing yourself to follow rules that were never made for your brain?
In this episode, I sit down with Evita Lammes, a consultant whose career began to shift the moment she started understanding her own wiring. Evita talks about growing up in environments that did not make sense to her, feeling bored or overwhelmed by repetition, and struggling to keep up with rules that felt unclear or illogical. She shares how exploring giftedness, sensitivity, autism traits, and ADHD traits helped her finally make sense of her patterns. We discuss how she now builds her work around what fits her brain, why honesty has become her way of creating psychological safety, and how understanding her wiring changed the way she leads, communicates, and builds relationships.
If you have ever felt confused by your own reactions or out of place in systems that seem effortless for others, this conversation is a reminder that nothing about your brain is wrong. There is a way of working that can finally work for you.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Neurodivergent Labels and Self-Discovery
06:09 Struggles and Strengths of a Neurodivergent Mind
19:11 Moving Beyond People Pleasing
28:44 Word Finding Difficulties
29:22 Burnout and Overworking
30:17 Working in Sprints
33:31 Psychological Safety and Honest Communication
Connect with Evita Lammes
https://www.instagram.com/wijzijnstudiosamen
https://www.linkedin.com/company/76478608/
Connect with Me
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniahulsman/
https://www.aniahulsman.com
If this episode spoke to you, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. It would mean the world to me personally, and it really helps others who need to hear these kinds of stories to find the podcast. Until next time, stay messy. Stay magnificent and stay true to your weird, wonderful self!
What if stepping into nature is the moment you finally hear what your intuition has been trying to tell you?
In this episode, I sit down with Sam Mirson, founder of Wild Founder Adventures, where he guides entrepreneurs through multi day expeditions in the wild to help them disconnect from the grind and reconnect with who they are beneath the noise. Sam’s journey moves from running a nightclub at seventeen to building high performance teams to realising that the most powerful breakthroughs happen outdoors, under open skies. We talk about how sleeping under the stars, walking in silence, and creating space away from sensory overload can become a catalyst for mental clarity, emotional reset, and genuine transformation. Sam also shares how his ability to read people and bring the right people together has shaped everything he does, from the club scene to the forest, and why community and connection are at the heart of every adventure he leads.
If you have been overwhelmed, overstimulated, or craving space, this conversation is an invitation to step away from the noise and reconnect with yourself. There is so much wisdom in doing less but better.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 From Nightclubs to Nature Retreats
07:32 The Power of Nature for Neurodivergent Minds
17:11 Sam's Superpowers
29:51 The Impact of Nature on Productivity and Wellbeing
35:44 Exploring Masculine and Feminine Energies
Connect with Sam Mirson
https://www.linkedin.com/company/wild-founder-adventures/
https://www.instagram.com/wildfounder/
https://www.wildfounder.com/film
Connect with Me
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniahulsman/
If this episode spoke to you, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. It would mean the world to me personally, and it really helps others who need to hear these kinds of stories to find the podcast. Until next time, stay messy. Stay magnificent and stay true to your weird, wonderful self!
We spend so much of our lives looking outside ourselves for answers, for the right expert, the right fix, the right way to be well. But what if the real work was never about looking outward, but about remembering your own wisdom?
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Carolyn Eddleston, a former GP turned acupuncturist and holistic healer, whose career and life defy every linear path. We talk about what it means to die full, not empty, to heal through self-inquiry, and to trust the body’s innate intelligence. Carolyn shares how her neurodivergent mind led her to question everything she was taught about medicine and how that questioning opened the door to real healing, the kind that happens from the inside out.
Listen in for a conversation that is as unpolished as it is profound, one that reminds us that we do not need permission to heal, we just need to start listening to ourselves again.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 From Medicine to Holistic Healing
11:25 The Power of Internal Healing
18:34 Navigating Neurodivergence
36:53 The Importance of Internal State
41:52 The Wisdom of the Body and Mind
Connect with Dr. Carolyn Eddleston
Connect with Me
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniahulsman/
If this episode spoke to you, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. It would mean the world to me personally, and it really helps others who need to hear these kinds of stories to find the podcast. Until next time, stay messy. Stay magnificent and stay true to your weird, wonderful self!
Anja, who was told as a child she might be dyslexic and shouldn’t be a writer, went on to publish four books with ease, not by doing things the right way but by finding her own way.
In this episode, I sit down with Norwegian author, keynote speaker, and retired professional athlete Anja Hammerseng-Edin, who was told as a child she might be dyslexic and shouldn’t be a writer. She went on to publish four books with ease, not by following the rules, but by trusting her own rhythm.
We talk about resilience, presence, and what Anja calls everyday magic, that quiet unfolding that happens when your heart and mind start working together instead of apart. This conversation is about creativity and courage, but also about the gentle rebellion of living from the inside out.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing life wrong, let this be your reminder: there is real power in doing it your way.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Anja's Journey and Passion
07:55 Overcoming Barriers and Embracing Creativity
18:04 Discovering Magic in Everyday Life
22:48 Aligning with True Self
26:07 Mental World vs. Heart's Calling
34:57 Writing and Spiritual Growth
Connect with Anja Hammerserng-Edin
https://www.anjahammerseng-edin.no/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/anja-hammerseng-edin/
Connect with Me
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniahulsman/
If this episode spoke to you, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. It would mean the world to me personally, and it really helps others who need to hear these kinds of stories to find the podcast. Until next time, stay messy. Stay magnificent and stay true to your weird, wonderful self!
We’ve all been told to toughen up, focus harder, fit the mould. But when your brain doesn’t play by the same rules, pretending gets heavy fast.
In this episode, I sit down with my dear friend and psychotherapist Iain Dawson, who once believed he was “thick.” Spoiler: he wasn’t. Iain’s journey from misunderstood student to advertising strategist to therapist is proof that brilliance doesn’t always look the way we’re taught to recognise it. We talk about dyslexia, sensitivity, burnout, and the moment you stop performing long enough to meet your real self.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re broken or just built differently, this one’s for you. Listen in for a grounded, honest conversation about self-awareness, sensitivity, and the power of understanding how your brain actually works.
Episode Highlights:
00:00 Meet Ian Dawson: From Advertising to Psychotherapy
03:25 Understanding Neurodivergence and Sensitivity
11:38 Embracing Neurodivergent Strengths
26:43 Exploring Neurodiversity and Comfort Zones
30:02 Personal Growth and Professional Balance
36:26 Trust and Guidance for Neurodivergent Youth
Connewith Iain Dawson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/iain-dawson-1555a3b/
Connect with Me
https://www.linkedin.com/in/aniahulsman/
If this episode spoke to you, please consider subscribing and leaving a review. It would mean the world to me personally, and it really helps others who need to hear these kinds of stories to find the podcast. Until next time, stay messy. Stay magnificent and stay true to your weird, wonderful self!