Spicy Brain

Spicy Brain Season Two kicks off with Anna Archer! Host Lara Sullivan sits down with vlogger, business owner, investor and running community favourite Anna Archer, who spent 24 years not knowing she was autistic and ADHD.From the outside, Anna's life looked sorted. The vlogs, the running community, the friendships, the business. Underneath it was a very different story. Anna opens up about growing up online, rewatching her old videos for signs she missed, and what it's been like looking back at her whole life through a completely new lens.The episode explores: 🌶️ Growing up online, work-life balance and female friendships 🌶️ Getting diagnosed with both autism and ADHD 🌶️ Social stigma, telling friends and going quiet on social media 🌶️ Being vulnerable with an online audience and showing up as yourself 🌶️ The push and pull of being AuDHD 🌶️ ADHD medication, the hormonal cycle and lifestyle regulation 🌶️ Skill regression, unmasking and taking steps before you feel readyThis conversation is an honest look at post-diagnosis self-doubt, what's still hard, and why not having it all figured out is a normal part of the process.Tune in for a real conversation about late diagnosis, identity, and what life actually looks like after finding out you're AuDHD.Timestamps00:00:00 How Lara and Anna Met00:06:07 Rewatching Old Videos for Signs of Autism and ADHD00:09:45 Growing Up Online, Work-Life Balance and Female Friendships00:24:42 Getting Diagnosed with ADHD and Autism00:37:34 Autism Stigma, Telling Friends and Going Quiet on Social Media00:46:05 Vulnerability Online and Being More Yourself00:56:28 The Opposites of Being AuDHD01:03:01 ADHD Medication, Hormonal Cycles and Regulation01:14:24 Regression, Unmasking and Starting Before You Feel Ready01:24:42 Spicy Fire RoundContact Spicy Brain: Email: [email protected] us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/spicybrain.podcast/Follow Lara: Website: linktr.ee/Sullivanlara  Instagram: www.instagram.com/sullivanlara/Follow Anna: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaarcher/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnnaArcherFitness

Spicy Brain Season Two Teaser | Behind the Scenes with Producer VickeySpicy Brain is back! In this Season Two teaser, host Lara Sullivan is joined by Spicy Brain producer Vickey from Voices & Visuals for a behind-the-scenes chat about how the podcast came together, how they met, what Season One taught them both, and what listeners can expect from the brand-new season.From the very first nervous studio session to a growing community of autistic people, ADHDers and neurodivergent listeners who finally feel seen, Lara talks about the importance of building a neurodiverse team and what's on the horizon for Spicy Brain. In this trailer:🌶️ Growing a neurodivergent team🌶️ What it's like making a neurodivergent podcast from behind the mic🌶️ How Lara and Vickey met 🌶️ How the Spicy Brain community has grown🌶️ A first look at what's coming in Season TwoNew episodes land very soon. Hit follow so you don't miss the first one.Contact Spicy Brain:Email: [email protected] us on social media:Instagram: www.instagram.com/spicybrain.podcast/Follow Lara:Website: linktr.ee/SullivanlaraInstagram: www.instagram.com/sullivanlara/

In this special season one finale of Spicy Brain, host Lara Sullivan reflects on the journey of creating the podcast, from overcoming her own fear of being in the studio to building a community where neurodivergent people can share their experiences openly and without judgement.Lara revisits the conversations and key lessons from guests exploring everything from workplace accommodations and late diagnosis to relationships, nutrition, OCD, ADHD, autism and the realities of living as a neurodivergent person.In this season finale, Lara explores:🌶️ What she learned from each guest throughout Season One🌶️ Why workplace accommodations should be based on individual needs🌶️ The different realities and support needs within the autistic community🌶️ ADHD, hormones, OCD and other co-occurring experiences🌶️ Why lived experience matters when understanding neurodivergence🌶️ How the Spicy Brain community has grown beyond the podcast🌶️ Why neurodivergent people should be at the centre of conversations about neurodivergence🌶️ What’s coming next!Tune in for a heartfelt look back at season one, the lessons Lara has taken from her guests, and the community that has made Spicy Brain what it is.Contact Spicy BrainThanks for tuning in to Spicy Brain, the podcast Lara Sullivan created after her own late autism diagnosis. Each week, Lara sits down with guests from across the neurodivergent community to challenge stereotypes, celebrate differences, and laugh through the shared realities of life. For more content visit our website or follow us on your favourite social platform to stay connected.Find out more:Email: [email protected]   Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spicybrain.podcast/Follow Lara:Website: https://www.linktr.ee/SullivanlaraInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullivanlara/

Why are safe foods so often beige, and what does that tell us about neurodivergence?In this episode of The Spicy Brain Podcast, host Lara Sullivan sits down with ADHD nutrition coach Amber Macintosh to explore the complex relationship between neurodivergence, food and nutrition. As an autistic and ADHD woman herself, Amber shares her journey to diagnosis and how understanding her own sensory needs shaped the way she now supports other neurodivergent people.Together, they explore why safe foods are so often carb-based, how sensory sensitivities and dopamine-seeking behaviours can influence what we eat, and why nutrition advice needs to be practical and tailored to each person's individual needs. They also discuss blood sugar, the gut-brain connection, the importance of protein and key nutrients, and how to approach food during periods of autistic burnout.This episode explores: 🌶️ Why food and nutrition can be particularly complicated for neurodivergent people 🌶️ The connection between ADHD, autism and sensory sensitivities around food 🌶️ Why safe foods are often carb-based 🌶️ How dopamine and blood sugar interact with food cravings 🌶️ The importance of protein and key nutrients for neurodivergent brains 🌶️ The gut-brain connection and supporting gut health 🌶️ How to navigate selective eating and texture sensitivities 🌶️ Making food more accessible during autistic burnout 🌶️ The relationship between neurodivergence, disordered eating and eating disorders 🌶️ Why ‘fed is better than not fed’ when capacity is lowTune in for a compassionate conversation about nutrition and neurodivergence, and how small, realistic changes can help us better support our brains and bodies without getting lost in the nutrition rabbit hole.Contact Spicy BrainThanks for tuning in to Spicy Brain, the podcast Lara Sullivan created after her own late autism diagnosis. Each week, Lara sits down with guests from across the neurodivergent community to challenge stereotypes, celebrate differences, and laugh through the shared realities of life. For more content visit our website or follow us on your favourite social platform to stay connected.Find out more:Email: [email protected] Follow us on social media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spicybrain.podcast/Follow Lara:Website: linktr.ee/SullivanlaraInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sullivanlara/Follow Amber:Website: https://www.ambermacintosh.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amberscoaching

Can you still be autistic if you're the funniest person in the room?In this episode of The Spicy Brain Podcast, host Lara Sullivan sits down with award-winning comedian, writer, neuroscientist and late-diagnosed autistic woman Ria Lina for an honest and hilarious conversation about what autism really looks like beyond the stereotypes. Together, they explore why comedy can be the perfect home for neurodivergent minds, and how learning you're autistic can completely reshape the way you understand yourself.This episode explores: 🌶️ Why autistic women are often missed or misunderstood 🌶️ How comedy and dark humour can be a natural fit for autistic minds 🌶️ The hidden dynamics of female friendships and relational bullying 🌶️ Why autistic women often appear socially confident while struggling internally 🌶️ The identity shift that comes with a late autism diagnosis 🌶️ Why self-understanding matters more than the diagnosis itself 🌶️ Parenting, relationships, and challenging society's expectations as an autistic womanTune in for a funny, heartfelt, and validating conversation that challenges outdated ideas about autism and celebrates the individuality and humour of autistic women.Contact Spicy BrainThanks for tuning in to Spicy Brain, the podcast Lara Sullivan created after her own late autism diagnosis. Each week, Lara sits down with guests from across the neurodivergent community to challenge stereotypes, celebrate differences, and laugh through the shared realities of life. For more content visit our website or follow us on your favourite social platform to stay connected.Find out more:Email: [email protected] Follow us on social media:Instagram: www.instagram.com/spicybrain.podcast/Follow Lara:Website: linktr.ee/SullivanlaraInstagram: www.instagram.com/sullivanlara/Follow Ria Lina:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rialina_Website: https://rialina.com