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LATE BLOOMERS
LATE BLOOMERS
Author: Rich & Rox Pink
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Introducing “LATE BLOOMERS”, the podcast where Rich and Rox Pink—self-proclaimed experts in how to mess up your life—share their raw and unfiltered journey from barely surviving to thriving.
Between them, they’ve
• Drowned in debt
• Battled addictions
• Survived multiple divorces
• Quit countless jobs
• Faced severe mental health struggles
Now, with over 5 million followers and two Sunday Times bestselling books, they’re here to prove that no matter how messy life gets, it’s never too late to turn it around.
Tune in for candid conversations and hard-earned lessons. This is your no bullsh*t guide to personal growth.
Between them, they’ve
• Drowned in debt
• Battled addictions
• Survived multiple divorces
• Quit countless jobs
• Faced severe mental health struggles
Now, with over 5 million followers and two Sunday Times bestselling books, they’re here to prove that no matter how messy life gets, it’s never too late to turn it around.
Tune in for candid conversations and hard-earned lessons. This is your no bullsh*t guide to personal growth.
62 Episodes
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Does the world ever feel too loud, too bright, or just… too much? In this episode, we’re diving into sensory overload from both the ADHD and autistic perspective. From squeaky pens and big lights to food textures, shouty music, and sweaty feet (yes, really), we share the everyday things that send our nervous systems into meltdown.We also talk about masking, diagnosis, and what happens when you finally give yourself permission to stop forcing your way through discomfort. Why do certain sounds or textures feel physically painful? Why does everything suddenly feel more intense after diagnosis? And how do these sensory struggles impact your work, relationships, and mental health?Most importantly, we explore how understanding your sensory needs can change your life — and your relationships. Because once you know what overwhelms you, you can start building a calmer, safer, more neurodivergent-friendly world around you. 💛
In this episode, we’re breaking down the 5 neurodivergent love languages — and no, they’re not about flowers or candlelit dinners. For ADHD and autistic brains, real romance often looks like doing the dishes, booking appointments, or taking the hard stuff off your partner’s plate. We talk about handling life admin, decoding confusing social situations, supporting each other’s special interests, and why creating calm (yes, including a clean kitchen) can be more powerful than chemistry. It’s practical, honest, and surprisingly life-changing.We also share our favourite: building a “weird world” together. A relationship where you don’t have to mask, pretend, or fit in — just feel safe, understood, and loved exactly as you are. 💛20% OFF LOOP: https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/lp-adhdlove
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox take on people pleasing head-on and introduce 10 real-life challenges designed to interrupt the habits that keep you putting everyone else first. They talk honestly about how people pleasing shows up day to day — over-explaining, apologising unnecessarily, saying yes when you mean no, and managing other people’s emotions at your own expense.They walk through the discomfort that comes with breaking these patterns, including the guilt, anxiety, and fear of being seen as rude, selfish, or difficult. Rich and Rox share personal examples of how deeply ingrained these behaviours are, where they came from, and why “being nice” often costs far more than we realise.This episode isn’t about becoming cold or uncaring — it’s about learning to tolerate discomfort, stop abandoning yourself, and practice choosing your needs without justification. If you’re exhausted from overgiving, overthinking, and constantly putting yourself last, this is your rehab.20% OFF LOOP EARPLUGS: https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/lp-adhdlove
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox talk about what it really means to unlearn normal after growing up ADHD and autistic in a world built around rules that were never designed for their brains. They reflect on the expectations they were taught to follow — around discipline, behaviour, productivity, emotional control, and “trying harder” — and how those rules quietly shaped their sense of self.They break down the rules they internalised growing up: being told to sit still, cope quietly, make eye contact, push through discomfort, and behave “appropriately.” Rules that were framed as character-building, but instead led to masking, shame, burnout, and the belief that something was fundamentally wrong with them.This episode is about recognising those rules for what they were, questioning whether they ever deserved authority in the first place, and beginning the process of letting them go. Not to become someone new — but to finally stop forcing themselves to be someone they were never meant to be.20% off Loop Earplugs: https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/lp-adhdlove
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rox talks openly about going into burnout for the second time — and how this one crept up after things were finally going well. After launching the podcast, releasing her debut album, touring, writing a children’s book, running ADHD Love, and stacking her diary with self-imposed deadlines, she explains how momentum turned into pressure and rest slowly disappeared.Rox and Rich unpack the warning signs she ignored along the way: telling herself she was “just tired,” flooding the bathroom twice by leaving the tap on, and pushing through weeks with no gaps at all. When they finally stopped and went on holiday, the burnout fully hit. Rox describes crying every day, feeling overwhelming shame, and experiencing burnout as a deadening of the spirit — where the world no longer looks blue, just grey.Things intensify when Rox has to go on tour alone, terrified she won’t be able to do her job. She shares how she survived by switching into performance mode, crashing afterwards, and slowly realising that burnout didn’t come from failure — it came from pushing too hard for too long. This episode is an honest look at ADHD burnout, self-imposed pressure, and the real cost of always pushing through.
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox talk honestly about what actually happens after you’re diagnosed autistic or ADHD. The relief. The grief. The anger. The validation. The spiral. The moments where your entire past suddenly makes sense — and the moments where that realisation hurts like hell.They walk through the five emotional stages many people experience after a late diagnosis, from the initial shock of finding out, to replaying your childhood with new eyes, to questioning your identity, relationships, and every label you’ve ever been given. This is about the unmasking that follows, the confusion of not knowing who you are without survival mode, and the slow process of learning to meet yourself with compassion instead of shame.This episode is for anyone who thought a diagnosis would bring instant peace — and instead found themselves grieving, reprocessing, and rebuilding. If you’re somewhere in the aftershock, this conversation will help you feel less alone and a little more grounded in what comes next.
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox open up about what it really takes to become a content creator when you’re starting from nothing. No shortcuts. No overnight success. Just the uncomfortable, unglamorous truth they learned by doing it the hard way.They talk about posting into the void, embracing cringe, being seen by friends and family, consistency when no one is watching, and why most people quit long before anything works. Rich and Rox share how they built momentum by showing up repeatedly, learning in public, and focusing on connection rather than perfection.This episode breaks down what actually matters when starting online, why your first content will probably be bad (and why that’s normal), how to think long-term instead of chasing quick wins, and how to keep going when growth feels painfully slow.If you want to become a content creator but feel stuck, embarrassed, or overwhelmed by where to begin, this episode gives you a realistic starting point and the confidence to press post anyway.
This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox finally talk about the moment everything shifted. Rich has been diagnosed autistic as an adult.For the first time, they break down what the diagnosis unlocked. All the years Rich was called rude, blunt, quiet or detached. All the childhood rituals and intense interests that made perfect sense in hindsight. All the internal emotions he felt but never showed on his face. All the moments Rox misread him, thinking he was miserable, uninterested or distant. And the strange relief of finally having language for traits that were there the whole time, hiding in plain sight.From masking to overwhelm to years of being misunderstood, this is an honest, funny and emotional look at what adult autism really feels like when you finally get the answers you’ve been missing.
New year energy hits different when you have a neurodivergent brain. In this first LATE BLOOMERS episode of 2026, Rich and Rox pull apart everything that makes traditional New Year’s resolutions confusing, overwhelming or downright impossible for ADHD and neurodivergent people.
From sensory based habits to special interest powered routines to making goals that won’t burn you out by February, this is the alternative guide to building a life that actually works for your brain.
Packed with honesty, humour and practical tools, this episode will help you understand why you have struggled in past years and give you realistic strategies to make this one feel different.
If you want a gentler happier more sustainable approach to the new year, this one is for you.
In this deeply personal Christmas episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich sits down with Rox—aka “the Grinch”—to unpack the real story behind her decades-long struggle with Christmas. What starts as a festive chat quickly becomes an honest, emotional journey through grief, trauma, family estrangement, alcoholism, shock, and the impossible pressure to feel joyful when your whole world has collapsed.
Rox opens up about losing her mum and grandad within days of each other, navigating her dad’s long-term affair, spending Christmases alone in a basement flat with cider and a microwave dinner, the years of numbing, running, self-injury, and trying—and failing—to hold it all together. She also shares the complicated love of still wanting your dad, the devastation of being blocked, and the strange relief that comes when a door finally closes.
But this isn’t just darkness. Rich and Rox trace the long road back: therapy breakthroughs, sobriety, chosen family, stepchildren, new traditions (including the legendary New Year’s Eve Fairy), and the slow, unexpected return of seasonal joy.
If you find Christmas overwhelming, lonely, painful, or loaded with memories you can’t hold by yourself, this episode is for you.
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox dive into the biggest flops, failures, and f*ck-ups of their lives — the ones that embarrassed them, humbled them, shaped them, and ultimately set them on the path they’re on today.
Rich talks about giving up a near-pro golf trajectory at 15, two divorces by 32, and the gambling addiction that wiped out everything he had — and the gratitude and perspective that came on the other side of it. Rox shares the pain of taking down her first single after it “flopped,” the unopened post, the money chaos, and the shame stories she carried for years before learning to ask for help.
Together they explore how these moments cracked them open, forced accountability, and led to therapy, sobriety, self-awareness, and the life they’re living now.
It’s honest, hilarious, and painfully relatable — a reminder that everyone’s got failures, but it’s what you do with them that turns your life around.
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox open up the vault on the beliefs we were 100% convinced were true… and turned out to be absolute delusion. From teenage confidence that made no sense, to “I can definitely handle this” addiction logic, to dating fantasies, career myths, people-pleasing lies, and the stories we told ourselves just to survive — we unpack the wild, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking things we genuinely believed.
It’s raw, it’s ridiculous, it’s shockingly relatable — and it’s a reminder that being wrong about your life doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you human. And very often, it makes you free.
If you’ve ever looked back at an old version of yourself and thought, “Oh God… I really believed that?” — this one is for you.
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox dive into the ten ridiculous, chaotic, painfully relatable ways neurodivergent brains wreck an entire night — often before we’ve even made it to bed.
From doomscrolling and anxious overthinking to sofa naps, Netflix loops, gaming, temperature drama, rumination spirals, and that dreaded “big day tomorrow” insomnia, they break down why bedtime always feels like a boss level we can’t beat.
It’s funny, honest, and deeply familiar to anyone whose brain refuses to shut up at night. A comfort episode for every neurodivergent night owl who is trying their best — and still ends up wide awake at 2:47am wondering how the hell this keeps happening.
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox dive into the weirdly specific joys that light up neurodivergent brains. From the thrill of a forgotten parcel delivery to the bliss of a fresh pair of socks, they explore the tiny, random, wonderful things that hit like pure dopamine.
They cover everything from candle aisles, bookshop wandering, escape rooms, snack obsessions, and “main character” music-video walks, to productivity highs, cosy rituals, and the deep comfort of doing things with your people.
Along the way, they unpack the differences between Rox’s ADHD dopamine-chasing chaos and Rich’s autistic joy in structure, ritual, and sensory delight. It’s a warm, funny, deeply relatable tour through the little moments that make neurodivergent life feel magical, meaningful, and sometimes absolutely unhinged — in the best way.
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox finally talk about unmasking — pretending to be someone you’re not, pretending to be neurotypical, pretending you’re fine, and pretending you don’t have needs. Rich shares how his old mask looked like being the “life and soul of the party,” hyper-masculine and always social, while Rox talks about hiding chaos, messy flats, people-pleasing, fawning, and lying about things like lateness out of shame.
They explore why neurodivergent people mask — to fit in, avoid rejection, and feel acceptable — and the cost of it: exhaustion, anxiety, overwhelm, and relationships where the real you is never seen. Rich and Rox share personal moments of overstimulation, needing quiet rooms, crying, mouldy cups, chaotic homes, and acting through fear of being “caught out.”
They also talk about how unmasking takes time, feels awkward, and starts with small truths shared with the safest person. And even though it’s scary, they show why it leads to more connection, more honesty, and finally being known for who you really are.
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What happens when life starts going right… and your brain still whispers, “You don’t deserve this”?
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox talk honestly about imposter syndrome — especially when you’re a late bloomer who never expected life to look like this. From waiting to be “found out,” to secretly believing success is luck, not earned, they break down the sneaky ways self-doubt shows up even when you're thriving.
They explore how childhood experiences wire us to minimise ourselves, why confidence doesn't automatically grow with achievements, and how shame can hitch a ride on success just as easily as failure. And most importantly — they share gentle, practical ways to catch those thoughts, build self-trust, and learn to stand in what you've built without cringing, apologising, or shrinking.
Tender, honest, and funny in the very human way only these two do it — this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to feel like you belong to actually belong. You earned this. Now let’s learn to believe it.
Birthdays are meant to be joyful… right? So why do they so often come with pressure, comparison, anxiety, and that quiet feeling of I should be happier than this?
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox talk honestly about the emotional hangover that can hit around birthdays — especially when you’re feeling behind, overwhelmed by expectations, or carrying grief into another year. From childhood memories and milestone shame to the fear of ageing, loneliness, and the desire to feel seen, they unpack why birthdays can sting even when life is good.
They also explore how to turn birthdays into something gentler: a chance to celebrate growth, honour who you are now, and find gratitude without forcing joy or pretending everything’s perfect.
Tender, relatable, and funny in all the right places — this episode is a reminder that getting older isn’t something to fear. It’s something to live through, learn from, and sometimes cry about… then eat cake anyway. 🎂
Let’s talk about the spark. The one that doesn’t come from lingerie, role-play, or awkward “date nights with expectations.”
In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox get real about the non sex sex stuff — the everyday things that quietly build (or kill) intimacy in long-term relationships. From body confidence and anger repression to sensory pleasure, deep chats, and clean sheets, they unpack ten surprisingly simple ways to feel close again without costumes or pressure.
Expect laughter (Chewbacca costumes included), awkward confessions, and some genuinely life-changing insights about connection, confidence, and the psychology of desire. Whether you’re in a dry spell or just craving more closeness, this is your permission slip to rebuild intimacy one small step at a time.
If you could travel back in time, what would you tell your 18, 25, and 35-year-old self? In this episode, Rich and Rox climb into the metaphorical time machine to revisit the versions of themselves who were lost, reckless, hopeful, and still figuring it all out.
From first heartbreaks to career chaos, from finding purpose to learning how to love — they explore what they’d do differently, what they’d do exactly the same, and what every version of them most needed to hear.
This is a conversation about perspective, forgiveness, and the surprising beauty of hindsight.
From the thermostat wars to the dishwasher showdown, Rich and Rox are going head to head in THE GREAT DEBATE. In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, they settle (or at least try to) the 10 ridiculous fights every neurodivergent couple has had. Expect passionate arguments, zero logic, and a lot of love underneath the chaos. Whether it’s about time blindness, cleaning styles, or who left the light on again, this one’s for every ADHD and autism duo just trying to survive domestic life without a referee.
Because underneath the bickering is something universal: the way neurodivergent love can be messy, funny, frustrating, and full of misunderstanding, yet still completely magical. This episode will make you laugh, cringe, and probably text your partner to say, “We’ve had that fight too.”
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AuDHD with RSD chiming in. For me, : "It's OK if you can't make it. Don't feel pressured, " would lead me to conclude: "I am inviting you against my better judgment, and I would prefer if you didn't show up. The people pleaser in me feels your need to offer a way out but the RSDer would be too confused about the intent of the invitation and default to avoidance <3
Currently shut in my dad’s caravan trying to give up vaping for the gazillionth time (my partner still vapes so I have to remove myself from the house for the initial detox period). Totally resonate with the whole solution to a problem cycle thing. I get bad health anxiety, so I smoke/vape to deal with that, but the smoking is what’s making me worried about my health in the first place. Glad I stumbled on this, this evening, food for thought ❤️
Most valuable episode yet! You illustrate 'One day at a time' brilliantly. I finally grasp the concept & process.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Rox, you were my light bulb moment, the reason I figured out what the hell was 'wrong' with me. I'm just starting to put my life back together with the power of knowing I'm neurodivergent. It's so empowering. hopefully one day I'll find my Rich. love you guys xx #adhdlove