Different, not broken

My Brain Short-Circuits for ThisI have a confession.For someone who claims to be a relatively smart, responsible human and someone who can calculate numbers, analyze situations, run a business, and (at least sometimes) do 'The Adult Things', I have one irredeemable weakness.We’re talking a 'lose the thread of reality, babble in vowel sounds, and forget my own name because, oh my gooood' kind of weakness. Why am I telling you this? Because in this episode of Different, Not Broken, I pull back the curtain on my not-so-secret life as a highly functional adult who simply cannot function when this one piece of (adorable) Kryptonite is present in my life. But this episode is more than just confessions of the thing that makes me gooey. It's an honest exploration of what it means to embrace what makes our brains different.Press play. Your pack is waiting.Have you visited the Stan Store yet? - https://stan.store/elletwoMentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

What if everything you think you know about occupational therapy (OT) is… not quite right?Here’s a confession: until recently, I thought OT was just glorified PT for your arms. Someone stands you up, hands you a toothbrush, checks a box, and off you go back to life, hopefully less miserable.Turns out, that’s not even close.In this episode of Different, not Broken, I, Lauren Howard (aka L2), sit down with the very person responsible for blowing up everything I thought I knew: Jayna Niblock. She leads our OT efforts and, frankly, if there’s ever a Hall of Fame for affirming neurodivergent care, her (sensory-friendly, weighted) cape deserves to be on display.Let’s hit pause on everything you’ve heard about adult autism care. Because what actually happens after an adult diagnosis? Not much, honestly. There’s a chasm—no bridge, barely a ladder—between finally knowing you’re not “broken” and actually figuring out how to live as yourself in a world designed for, well, not you.Spoiler: the aftercare programs that support adults who’ve lived decades masking, muddling through social scripts, wondering why life feels like pushing a boulder up Mount Neurotypical, do not exist. (Except now, they kind of do, and Jayna’s at the center of it.)But what is OT for adults, especially for neurodivergent adults? It’s not about workplace “occupations,” and it’s definitely not just “PT from the waist up.” We talk about what “affirming” OT truly means—because trust us, not all therapy is created equal. We break down how “meaningful engagement” is radically more important (and therapeutic) than any checklist. Cookies, margaritas, grandkid snuggles—sometimes the route to healing starts with the things people actually care about, not the ones prescribed by someone who just met you.Jayna gets real about why so much of the OT world hasn’t caught up to neurodivergent realities, and what an education (not treatment) program can unlock for adults desperate for answers after a lifetime of feeling “othered.” Plus: why most information out there (hello, TikTok) is validating but not always actually, you know, evidence-based.And then there’s the stuff NO ONE TELLS YOU about sensory processing as an adult. Like why your eyes work in mysterious ways even after every eye doctor swears you’re “fine.” Or why “touch” isn’t just about what fabric you like, and brushing your teeth means something different for everyone.We also get into the messy, beautiful, lifeline-level importance of consent, motivation, and adapting “therapy” to what matters for real people, not just what looks good on an insurance form. (Hint: if getting up in the morning for yoga is torture, you’re allowed to say no. Here, consent isn’t optional, it’s foundational.)Maybe you’re wondering: why should YOU listen?Listen if you were ever told you’re “normal now”—but it sure doesn’t feel like it. Listen if you believe neurodivergent adults deserve more than DIY diagnosis and crowdsourced therapy from social media. Listen if you want to know what care could actually be when it’s crafted for us, by us, with us. Listen if you want to hear two humans occasionally tearing up because, yeah, dignity in healthcare shouldn’t be this rare.You’ll walk away with a radically new understanding of OT, equipped with ideas, hope, and probably a newfound appreciation for doing things your way—whether that’s baking cookies, mixing a margarita, or advocating for yourself in a doctor’s office full of “experts” who still haven’t figured it out.No spoilers, but don’t miss Jayna’s answer to “if you could snap your fingers and create the OT system every neurodivergent adult should have…” (We’re not crying, you’re crying.)Different, not Broken is for everyone who’s spent a lifetime feeling like the system wasn’t built for them—because, newsflash, it wasn’t. And we’re here to change that.Come...

Infertility isn’t just a medical diagnosis — it’s a daily ache that reshapes how you see yourself, your relationships, and even good news from people you love. In this raw, unfiltered episode, I'm opening the hell up about four years of unexplained infertility, pregnancy loss, the jealousy nobody admits out loud, and why asking “When are you having kids?” can quietly devastate someone.If you’ve been there, you’ll feel seen. If you haven’t, you’ll understand why silence, empathy, and better questions matter.Have a listen. It might just make you feel better about all... that *gestures wildly at everything* Oh, and check out all the other ways in which I can support you, here. https://stan.store/elletwoMentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

Boomers love secrets!I said it. Maybe you flinched reading that—maybe you’re nodding along, feeling it deep in your bones, the way “don’t tell anyone” was as common in your house as “finish your peas.” This episode is for every person who grew up in a family where “put on a smile” was mandatory, pain was packed neatly away, and no news—good or bad—ever left the front door until it was passé.I’m Lauren Howard (L2). Here’s the deal: I was raised by a Greatest Generation dad and a very boomer mom. Our home? “Curated” was not an Instagram aesthetic, it was a lifestyle. Major life events? Hush-hush. Fights? Don’t you dare let the neighbors know. Moving across the country? Tell no one—not even the kids, until a for-sale sign is basically in your face.Fast forward to adulthood, and I’m the one who “shouldn’t tell,” but thirty seconds later I’m blasting my life out to the internet. It’s a push-pull dance between inherited silence and radical honesty—a lifelong project of untangling which secrets keep us safe and which just keep us isolated.WHY LISTEN?If you're part of the cycle of "boomer secrets" and want to break the shame around pain and joy.If generational expectations shape your willingness to be open about your struggles, and you want to over come them.If embracing your whole self, not just the curated parts would improve your life.Click play. Let’s un-curate, together.

Breakups Aren’t Just for Lovers: Why Losing Neurodivergent Friends Hurts So Damn MuchWe don’t talk enough about the heartbreak of losing neurodivergent friends. For many of us, those friendships feel deeper than family. And when they end, the grief can be worse than any romantic breakup. This Different Not Broken episode dives into the messy, under-discussed reality of neurodivergent friendships: why they click so intensely, why they sometimes vanish without warning, and why the grief lingers for years.I'm doin' it. I'm getting real and raw, sharing my own story of losing a best friend—the late-night phone calls that suddenly stopped, the milestones missed, the ache that outlasted every past relationship breakup. Why listen?If you’ve ever lost a neurodivergent friend and felt like no one understood how deep it cut.If you’ve wondered why friendship grief can feel sharper than heartbreak.If you’re tired of being told to “get over it.”Or if you just want to feel seen.Because friendship breakups aren’t just side notes—they’re real grief. And for neurodivergent friends, that loss can shake your world.Hit play for a necessary, validating reminder: you’re not broken for hurting this bad.Mentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

Nine years.That’s how long it’s been since my dad died. Nine years of breathing around a space that never refills. Nine years of being a parent without my favorite example of maternal energy. Nine years of mothering, leading, starting a business, and still, on some days, needing to remind myself that “different” is just that—different, not broken.Welcome to an episode that will mess with your pause button. It’s about love, loss, empathy, and the complicated math of moving forward when someone who powered your entire operating system just isn’t here anymore. (Spoiler alert: Siri has nothing on my dad’s emotional support iPhone.)This is the story I didn’t know if I’d ever share with a mic. I’ve written about this. I’ve skirted around it in essays, offered tiny slices in speeches, and let it simmer in my private thoughts. But speaking it out loud? That’s a whole other layer of irreverence and vulnerability.Qualities my dad basically trademarked.Mentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

I've never been able to tell left from right.There! I said it. I’ll probably say it again at least fourteen times before breakfast tomorrow. My brain has never clocked the absolute 'well, obviously' of which direction is which. But... plot twist... that’s not a problem. It’s just different. And that difference taught me a hell of a lot more about myself, my family, and resilience than any workbook, life hack, or well-meaning suggestion of a trick to try and solve it.If you’ve ever felt that friction of being handed a supposedly 'easy' trick (“just write it on your hands, Lauren!”) only to realize it helps exactly zero, or if you have a kid whose way of being in the world defies every sharp-edged box marked “normal,” you’ll want to tune in.This week on Different, not Broken, I'm unpacking how difference (not “defect”) steered my entire trajectory: in school, on the playground, behind the wheel (left? right? Eh…), even into how I parent my own kids. This episode has it all - weird brains, unlabeled hands, toppling off monkey bars, and the rest: welcome to the soft, shameless, science-y, supportive corner of the internet. Listen in, bring your questions, and, if you figure out which way is left, DM me. Or don’t. Because my brain still won't see it.Hit play. Let's celebrate our 'different'.

One pill a day. That’s all it takes, apparently, to give the world its color back. You’d think adding a little routine to your morning... a pill, a glass of water... wouldn’t be the hill your mental health dies on, but here we are. In this week’s episode of Different, Not Broken, I'm letting you in on the strange, subtle shape that anxiety and depression can take. And why you don’t need a five-alarm fire in your life to justify asking for help.This episode peels back the curtain on what 'not broken' really means, especially when you’ve been high-functioning, hyper-responsible, and the go-to for getting stuff done. I'm talking candidly about the quiet ways depression and anxiety can erode joy from your life without ever stopping you from making payroll or packing school lunches. Timestamps00:00 "Unexpected Gray Days Cure"03:50 Pandemic Stress and Anxiety Diagnosis06:22 Realizing Deeper Issues Beyond Anxiety12:33 Seeking Support Without Crisis14:26 Avoiding Direct Support for AuthorMentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

Here's why we all need to marry a Pinterest mom!This is your cue to send a bouquet of apology flowers to every postal worker you’ve ever rolled your eyes at. In this week’s episode, I, Lauren Howard (aka L2, thanks for asking), spiral into the surprisingly convoluted topics of marriage, US mailing discounts and business-unit-only windows that might or might not be open. Turns out, love isn’t always roses and chocolate.If you’re one of those people who’s ever panicked because the 'simple' task on your list involves fifteen sub-tasks, or you’ve ever desperately wished someone would just handle it when executive function leaves you high and dry, then this episode is for you. Thinking of skipping this one? Don’t. If you’ve ever felt steamrolled by a 'basic' task or exhausted by the endless loop of family birthdays, this is your safe space. If you’re looking for tactical life hacks, zero judgment, and a side of dead dad jokes, you’ll want to hit play and stay awhile.Different is not broken, and you’re not alone in the chaos.Subscribe/follow, listen, and prepare to eye those Four-for-$5 glitter globes at Five Below with brand new appreciation. Loveyameanit.Mentioned in this episode:Wanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course

Who told you you weren’t good enough?No really, who actually said it? Because I checked, and 9 times out of 10, it’s just you playing that broken record in your head.I show up to urgent care in pajamas, basically grunting in pain, and still get asked for telehealth advice. That’s right. People think I know what I’m doing. Meanwhile, I am absolutely carrying a full set of imposter syndrome luggage.Four businesses. Programs built from scratch. Surrounded by credentialed pros. And yet my inner monologue is: “Am I allowed to be here? Is someone going to figure out I have no idea what I’m doing?”Listen to this episode, because it features a neat trick you can do next time your brain starts farting out its “You Have Zero Business Here” speech.

What is “normal,” and why does everyone want it so damn bad?No, really. When did we start treating “normal” like the holy grail instead of the steaming pile of… well, I’ll let you fill in the blank. On this episode of Different, Not Broken, I—Lauren Howard, your host, also known as L2—am pulling normal out of its gilded cage, shaking it around, and tossing it straight into the trash where it belongs.If you’ve ever felt like you missed the memo on how to be “normal”… if you’re tired of feeling broken just because your flavors of weird don’t match up with someone else’s, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed. I’m laying down the law (and maybe some four-letter words) about why chasing normal is a one-way ticket to nowhere—and why different isn’t just okay, it’s inevitable.We’ll dig into the origin story of “normal” as a concept, how it creeps into our vocabularies starting in childhood, and why it’s a constant refrain for people going through autism and ADHD assessments. (Plot twist: not fitting the mold isn’t a sign that you’re broken—it’s evidence that the mold is, frankly, garbage.)But here’s where it gets interesting: even medicine doesn’t actually believe in a single flavor of normal! And we'll get into that...If that’s not a reason to click “play,” I don’t know what is.Love you, mean it. –L2Useful linksJoin our Patreon community - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreonSign up for our updates - http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/newsletterTimestamped summary00:00 "What is Normal?"03:09 Redefining 'Normal' in Childhood06:37 Interpreting Lab Reference Ranges10:32 "Comfy Sandals and Dog Dilemma"15:55 "Embrace Your Own Normal"17:29 Tense Meal and Nonsense Talk20:27 "Questioning Nike Collection Value"Mentioned in this episode:Wanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course

The Black Neurodivergent ExperiencePeople say things like "just be yourself" with the expectation that you’ll just snap your fingers and turn the volume down on generations of pressure to fit in.But what does that even mean when your existence as 'yourself' stops conversations cold? When walking into every room means holding your breath, trying to shrink for comfort, or shapeshifting for someone else’s peace of mind? When you’re told your needs... your honest-to-goodness, human, biological and psychological needs... are either too much or entirely invisible?This week, we’re going in. All the way in.I sat down with Dr Carl Frizell, a phenomenal clinician, with his lived expertise in internal medicine, oncology, mental health and, yes, the absolute truth about thriving as a Black neurodivergent professional. Carl joined me for a conversation about what it means to fight for belonging, to crave quality over quantity, to be different—and not broken—in every aspect of his life.Want to talk intersectionality? Carl brings the receipts. Want to explore why so many Black and BIPOC kids are mis-labeled as “difficult” (or worse) instead of autistic? Or what happens when advocacy is weaponized against you? Want to hear the story of a patient—"The Difficult One"—who was never the problem, but simply demanded her humanity be respected?We’re covering all of it. (And, yes, Carl really did become a better clinician because he lived every single word he now tells his patients.)If you’ve ever questioned whether there’s space for your whole self, especially in systems built for someone else’s definition of acceptable—this is your episode.Love you. Mean it.Dr Carl Frizell's links:Insta: https://www.instagram.com/cafrizell_pac/Timestamped summary00:00 Embracing Autism: My Turning Point03:10 Neurodivergent Advocacy and Speaking Journey08:01 Seeking Acceptance by Mimicry12:55 Redefining "Normal" for Health15:04 Clinical Judgment in Autism Diagnostics19:20 Patient-Centered Caregiver Approach23:10 Advocacy in Healthcare Matters27:00 Supportive Parents Foster Success29:30 Misdiagnosis Due to Cultural Bias33:51 Humanizing Lived Experiences Validates Life34:56 Embracing Whole Identity Acceptance39:16 Embrace Self-Compassion and Growth41:17 "Transparent Living on Instagram"Have you joined our Patreon yet?https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreonWant to learn to write like me?https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/courseMentioned in this episode:Wanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course

Nobody Knows What They’re DoingHave you ever found yourself glancing around a room (or a Zoom meeting, or a group chat, or the chaos of your living room) and wondered, “Who put me in charge—don’t they know I still feel sixteen most days?” Yeah, me too. In this episode of “Different, Not Broken,” I, Lauren Howard—L2 for the cool kids —am letting you in on the messiest, most liberating secret of adulthood: nobody, and I mean nobody, actually knows what they’re doing.This isn’t some polished, performative encouragement to “fake it ‘til you make it.” I am talking about pulling back the curtain on why even the experts you look up to are mostly winging it. I share my real experiences from the trenches—whether that’s running a telehealth company (where people call me for the right answer and I’m hunting for the adult in the room just like you), navigating ultra-complex compliance laws (with the help of attorneys who actually give me more “choose your own adventure” than clear answers), or trying to make sense of parenting a tiny human who bites (and I mean literally bites—this is not a metaphor).So why should you listen? Because if you’ve ever felt the crushing weight of thinking you’re the only one improvising—newsflash, you aren’t. I talk through the reality that none of us are actually the “adultier adult” we’re desperately searching for. So, if you want to hear the truth about life behind the curtain—about what really happens when everyone is supposedly “adulting”—come hang out with me. We’ll laugh, we might cry, but we’ll definitely call B.S. on the myth of the perfectly composed grown-up.And if you somehow find that mythical actual adult who has it all figured out, send them my way. Until then, I’ll be right here, fumbling forward, and inviting you to do the same.Love you, mean it.Timestamped summary00:00 Unfiltered Expertise and Telehealth Insight05:11 Imposter Syndrome Amid Experienced Peers08:12 Indecision in Legal Consultations12:40 Embracing Uncertainty and Growth16:00 "Vacation with Kids: Not Restful"16:46 "No Obligation to Perform"Mentioned in this episode:Wanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course

Well done, you've decided to escape MAGA. Here's the learning moment.Your trauma is not an excuse to create more trauma It finally happened. Someone said it out loud. Someone from the inside. Not in a viral Twitter thread or anonymous Reddit post, but right here, in full view and full voice.Most of us have our ideas — the way we imagine 'the MAGA community'. We picture the caricature: all bluster and bravado, insulated in an impenetrable echo chamber, barking at the world. But do we ever ask, “How does someone end up there?” Or what it feels like from the inside, when you aren’t just reading headlines, but living — or surviving — through them?On this episode of Different, Not Broken, we break open the familiar narratives to let the real, messy, complicated humanity step into the light. Hi, I'm Lauren "L2" Howard, and in this episode I spend time with Beckie Eckhart — a member of our quirky, unhinged community online — who, in passing, mentioned something I never expected: she came from the MAGA world. Like, really from it. And she got out.This conversation isn’t a confessional. It isn’t an indictment. It’s somewhere in between — the untangling of shame, the naming of trauma, and a determination not to let that pain become an inheritance for others.Beckie tells us what it means to be groomed by the people and systems you’re supposed to trust. She shares what it feels like when religiosity wraps up with white supremacy and fear, and how the hooks get in so deep you can’t even see the cage around you. She opens up about living in a state of crisis, the steep price of breaking away, and what healing really looks like when you’re holding a hundred kinds of regret in one hand and picking up hammers to build something better with the other.If you want to know why MAGA is both a cult and a symptom — and why sometimes compassion is harder than criticism — Beckie’s story will stop you in your tracks. If you’re looking for hope that people can wake up, change radically, and fight for something better… well, she’s proof, stubborn and scrappy and full-hearted.If you’ve ever wanted to understand — really understand — why so many Americans are still stuck, how indoctrination works on the brain (and heart), and what it takes to walk out of the fire, this is one episode you don’t want to skip. We’re not promising easy answers. But we are opening a door.Thanks for being here and being open to the hard things. We’ll keep shoving the door wider, together.Join our Patreon - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreonSign up for our newsletter - http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/newsletter

Have you ever caught yourself rehearsing your 'acceptable' self before walking into a room full of strangers? You know — slapping on that thin, artificial smile, smoothing out every quirk for the comfort of everyone else, and realizing you’re running a (very professional) version of a one-person Broadway show called, “Make Me Palatable”?Hi, I’m Lauren Howard (People call me "L2"), and this week on "Different, Not Broken", we’re pressing record on a conversation most of us never have out loud: Do you find yourself needing to wear a mask?In this episode, I admit something that surprised even me: I almost never have to mask anymore. Freedom, right? But — plot twist — it turns out that’s not because I’m some brave authenticity unicorn. So, what happens when a self-declared, professional non-masker lands in the exact kind of 'grown-up' cocktail hour her younger self would’ve run from? Let’s just say it involves neurodivergent pre-planning, existential dread, and exactly zero interest in “introducing myself to some stranger just because that’s what adults do.” If you’ve ever felt like the real you is just a bit too much (or not enough) for the room, this one’s for you.(P.S. If you find a secret trick for ordering drinks like a normal adult at a work party, please message me. For science.)Useful linksJoin our Patreon community - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreonSign up for our updates - http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/newsletterTimestamped summary00:00 Selective Social Engagement05:04 "Fashionably Late Party Entrance"09:24 First Impressions Evolve Quickly10:57 "Obligations and Friendship Dynamics"15:16 Ending Calls Unconventionally17:06 "Ending Conversations Simply"Mentioned in this episode:Wanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course

Yep, I'm back, caffeinated and undeterred, ready to take on the swirling mess of “autism registries,” junk science, and that perennial fixture of Twitter meltdowns: RFK Jr. himself. This week’s episode - “Autism Registry - RFK can suck a lawnmower.” It's not for the faint of heart—or for anyone who thinks the federal government has a “big red medical record button” (newsflash: it doesn’t).Are you exhausted by the flood of misinformation around autism and tired of policymakers who couldn’t diagnose a runny nose, let alone understand complex neurodiversity? I've got your back. I've been running national mental and behavioral health organizations, helping autistic folks get real, accessible diagnoses, and pushing for patient-first, clinician-also-first, accessible-always care. And I'm not here for the fantasy that “good autistics” and “bad autistics” are some kind of moral spectrum, or to let anyone label people as “burdens” because a guy with a microphone doesn’t understand science.This episode pulls back the curtain on why the proposed national “autism registry” isn’t just misguided, but fundamentally impossible. Listen as I call out the shadow incentives behind these political crusades—why it’s less about public health than…well, padding the pockets of a few very persistent anti-vaxxers. It’s market research, not science, dressed up like a crusade. And it comes directly at the expense of real autistic people who are already fighting for space, resources, and dignity.If you’re wondering how these hot takes at the top reach deep into everyday community life—shaping infighting, stoking fear, and making the realities of being autistic even harder—you'll be wanting to listen. And, as always, we'll answer a question from our community in our "Small Talk" segment.Ready? Press play. Spark some hope. And get the real story.Ready to join our Patreon community? - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreonSigned up to our newsletter yet? - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/newsletterTimestamped summary02:00 Eugenics Rhetoric - Ugh!05:17 Autism Registry Data Mismanagement07:36 Inaccessible Universal Medical Data13:11 Flawed Data Sharing Assumptions Exposed15:33 Debunking Autism-Vaccine Myth17:40 RFK's Vaccine Injury Profit Motive21:41 Handling Unwanted Job Discussions25:23 "Truck Driver's Evasive Answer"

I’m obsessed with my own podcast stats.There! I said it. If the first step is admitting you have a problem, then…well, consider this episode my very public confession.But here’s the real kicker: I never saw this coming. I didn’t realize hitting 'refresh' on the analytics page of my podcast hosting dashboard would become my new form of adrenaline. Or that watching the listener count go up (or, terrifyingly, down) would trigger a rollercoaster of feelings straight out of a neurotic coming-of-age movie starring a main character who really needs to learn to enjoy the ride.If you’ve been following along on Threads or ever found yourself spiraling because you suddenly cared way too much about something you didn’t even know you could care about? This episode is about stats, ego, validation, self-doubt, and, yes, generational trauma—all tangled up with the anxious humor only someone with a dedicated “kinahura” detector can provide.I talk about what it’s like to watch the numbers climb (and sometimes fall), and how ego, imposter syndrome, and a hefty sense of “why are you all here again?” combine to create the weirdest kind of nervous excitement imaginable. Thanks for being here, friends (repeat listeners, you’re my favorite kind of statistical anomaly).Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to refresh the analytics—again.Love you, mean it.

Why is behavioral health so impossibly hard to access, navigate, and survive—especially if you’re wired a bit differently? Maybe you’ve asked yourself that before. We have too. Heck, we’ve made a whole business (and apparently, a whole podcast) out of asking exactly that: Why does it have to be so hard?Welcome to “Different, Not Broken”—the podcast where bureaucratic tangles, soul-draining waitlists, and “bring your own magic decoder ring” healthcare red tape get ripped apart, re-examined, and (when possible) outsmarted. I’m Lauren "L2" Howard and I can promise you this: In this episode, I peel back the curtain and share how a simple (if stubbornly repeated) question—"Why does this have to be so difficult?"—became the engine for everything I do. Clinical dead-ends? Check. Six-month waits and insurance mazes for autism and ADHD care? Rechecked. People winding up in the ER instead of finding someone who could actually help, before the crisis boiled over? Double-checked and regrettably, deeply familiar.But what if you didn’t have to run that gauntlet? What if someone just built a bridge? When my team and I ran face-first into the “that’s impossible” wall, we started looking for secret doors. Sometimes, all it took was radical honesty and a burning refusal to accept the status quo. PLUS: In this week’s small talk, the community asks, “How do I answer, ‘Tell me about yourself?’ without feeling like I’m humble-bragging my way to nowhere?” Hit that follow button, share with your friends, or drop us a note about your own impossible-seeming battle with the system. Every listen helps us make it just a little less hard for the next person.And if you need daily reminders that you’re good enough, weird enough, and human enough—even without a signed diagnosis? You know where to find us.Let’s make behavioral health make sense… for all of us.I'll talk to you as soon as you click play...Timestamped summary00:00 Access Barriers in Mental Health04:32 Simplifying Crisis Care Access07:19 Streamlining Adult Autism Testing10:23 Streamlining Healthcare Processes14:44 "Rethinking Autism Diagnosis Necessity"17:11 "You Deserve Softness and Light"20:17 "Championing Self-Accomplishment Over Stereotypes"Links to all our goodies:Patreon - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreonNewsletter - http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/newsletterMentioned in this episode:Sign Up For Our NewsletterStay updated on all the things! Get added to our newsletter mailing list.NewsletterWanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course

Why you have to ask the 'stupid' questions. Seriously.And, Freud's boring. Not opinion. Actual science.Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But, L2, I’d rather set my hair on fire than look clueless in front of a room full of people (or, for that matter, one person I secretly—or not-so-secretly—want to impress).”  Hi! I’m Lauren Howard (but you can call me L2—everyone does), and this is Different, Not Broken—the podcast for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re the only person who can’t quite read between the lines. Spoiler: you’re not alone, and you definitely aren’t broken.Today, we’re taking on one of the stickiest, sweatiest, most universal social anxieties: the fear of looking 'dumb' by asking questions everyone else must already know the answer to. (You know, the questions you furiously Google at 1am because—let’s be honest—Google is not here for your nuanced, deeply personal, extremely context-specific conversational crisis.)We’re talking about the actual reason it feels like everyone else in the room knows what’s expected. Except you. And more importantly, why the people who seem the smartest might actually be as confused as you are.Come for the reminders that communication isn’t one-size-fits-all; stay for the dead dad jokes, the unfiltered storytelling, and the small but mighty nuggets that might just make life make a little more sense. Plus—Patreon insiders get access to our text line for real-time social script help. It’s a thing. It’s working. You’re invited.Here's the link - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreonIf you’ve ever second-guessed yourself out of asking for what you need, or just want to feel less alone in a world full of unsaid rules, press play on this episode. P.S. Oh yeah... if you want to learn how trauma, grief, and novelty work in your brain—and how repetition is the magic ingredient for making even the worst things boring in the end—don’t skip the final ten minutes. For the Freud stuff. Plus, you might catch a glimpse of the Dungeons & Dragons/DSM-5 crossover you never knew you needed. IYKYK.Hit play. You have questions. So do we. Turns out, that’s actually the point.Timestamped summary03:13 Just Ask08:47 Encourage Open Communication09:48 Embrace Reactions, Clarify Boundaries15:04 Wartime Child Evacuations in WWII17:28 Brain Processes Trauma Repetitively21:40 Dungeons and Dragons? WTF?Want in on our mailing list so you can keep updated on all the cool stuff we're doing? (I can't promise I won't just email you about Marvel stuff) - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/newsletterMentioned in this episode:Wanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course

I'm saying it out loud - a paycheck is not a permission slip for abuse.I added some bullhorn for effect.Hey, It’s "Different, Not Broken", and I’m Lauren Howard — "L2" if you’re friendly or just prefer to keep things efficient. And I’m here to shatter one of the workplace’s worst-kept secrets: the idea that a direct deposit into your bank account means you have to swallow abuse, keep quiet, and thank your lucky stars someone’s tolerating you. Spoiler alert — it doesn’t.But it’s not all righteous fire and rage-quits around here. I’ve been there—trapped, anxious, warped by a job that paid my rent but cost me chunks of my mental health. If you’re reading this, odds are, you’ve been there too, or you’re not sure if you have…which, as I’ll tell you, is usually its own answer.So, what’s in this episode? If you’re tired of advice that boils down to “just quit!” (as if you can pay your landlord in righteous anger), or if gut-level honesty about workplace dysfunction is your jam, you’re in the right place. We’ll cover survival tactics for the in-the-trenches folks, whether you’re just trying to outlast management’s latest round of corporate "Hunger Games" or you’re documenting every microaggression just in case you need to lawyer up. You’ll hear how to find and fortify your safe spaces (even if one is just the friend who knows exactly what your "dunk” is), and why no, actually, you shouldn’t have to choose between sanity and survival.It’s not just you. You deserve to feel safe at work—like, day-one safe, “where’s the fire exit” safe, not “will HR gaslight me if I bring this up” safe. Because most of us need our jobs, but none of us need to be broken by them. And because finding one small, practical step of control can be the thing that gets you through another day (or the thing that lights the spark that starts real change).Oh, and if you needed one more reason? If you’ve ever needed to scream into the void that you really, truly deserve better—or just want to hear me call out corporate bullsh*t with the gusto it deserves—you’re our people.Hop in. As always, we’ll be loud. We’ll be real. We’ll be here—different, not broken. And by the end of the episode, you might just believe it a little more.(PS: If you know where to find a magical “donk” for your phone charger, or a support group of people who just get your weird sound-laden language, don’t keep it to yourself. Some of us are still looking.)Listen now. Let yourself feel seen. And remember: A paycheck is not a permission slip for abuse. Ever.Timestamps:04:05 You're Entitled to Safety at Work07:14 Navigating Job Mobility and Abuse10:13 Document Your Experiences, Consult Legal Help15:21 You Deserve Better: Recognize AbuseMentioned in this episode:Wanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course