Episodes
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Full disclosure - Ellie is super sick this week and because we self-produce this, we needed an accessible, low-effort topic, that would still be interesting to you - so we opened up your questions!
Did we used to fight as kids? What are we watching at the moment? Our go-to meals? What is our fave part of being AuDHD? And more!
Join our Reddit to participate in future conversations with us.
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We have both struggled with clothing for our entire life - it's a double-prong of sensory icks and societal expectations that really drive us up the wall. For many neurodivergent people, clothes can be a daily sensory battle, so in this episode, we chat about our favourite "safe clothes", why certain fabrics make us want to crawl out of our skin, the emotional side of getting dressed, the societal expectations of gender-based dressing and general social decorum, and why comfort should always win over fashion!
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast
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Missing episodes?
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CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode contains discussions about sex, intimacy, masking, consent, and unwanted sexual experiences. Please listen with caution. It also contains some EXPLICIT language, so be mindful of younger ears.
This week we're discussing a topic that many people experience but rarely talk about: masking during sex and intimacy.
After receiving a vulnerable email from a listener who described feeling like they were performing through every sexual experience, we wanted to explore the complicated relationship between masking, people-pleasing, sensory experiences, expectations, and intimacy.
We talk about our own experiences growing up as women, the messages we received about sex and relationships, and how being neurodivergent can sometimes make it difficult to identify, communicate, and prioritise our own needs. We also discuss the difference between wanting something and feeling like you should want it, as well as the exhaustion that can come from constantly performing for others.
As always, we're sharing personal experiences and listener stories rather than diagnostic criteria, and we recognise that everyone's relationship with sex and intimacy is different.
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Before we were diagnosed, Paige and Ellie dismissed the possibility that we could be autistic because we didn't match the stereotypes we'd been exposed to. Even though Paige suspected she was autistic at 15, the environmental voices were so loud she gave up.
In this episode, we're unpacking some of the reasons we didn't think we could be autistic and the experiences we later realised were showing up differently than we expected.
As always, we're sharing our personal stories and experiences, not providing diagnostic advice. These traits don't automatically mean someone is autistic, but they may help explain why so many late-diagnosed and AuDHD people overlooked autism in themselves for years.
Sign up to be a founding journal holder https://wtfjournals.com/signup
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Before we jump into this week's episode - we have a new Reddit! The other one will be going to the graveyard, so join our new one here: https://www.reddit.com/r/wtfisaudhd
In this episode we chat about the hobbies, journals, activities we swore we'd stick to... only to abandon then a few weeks later.
From the feelings of "this is it!" "this is my new thing" to the shame and embarrassment that comes after you've forgotten it even exists. We explore why ADHD brains become so intensely focused on new interests, why that motivation can disappear seemingly overnight, and the guilt, shame and financial "ADHD tax" that often follows. We also discuss your contributions around hobbies and dusty journals from the new Reddit community.
Plus, we received a message from our local psychologist Mike Cochrane about scam diagnoses and how to keep an eye out for illiegitimate 'experts'.
And speaking of things we've abandoned in the past... Paige brings her latest journal updates - and how she's trying her best to ensure this is a journal that stays with you forever! More info at wtfjournals.com/signup
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Modern life can sometimes feel like actual torture for an ADHD brain - and it really can be!
In this episode, we chat about dopamine, procrastination, novelty-seeking, and why so many apps, algorithms, and endless notifications are designed to hijack everyone's brains. Then when you add in the ADHD, we become the perfect target.
We look at the ways modern life may be making life harder for ADHDers, and we share some personal examples minor tasks we've avoided, even though it would help us in the long run. If you're struggling in this modern day, overstimulating world - you are not alone.
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast
ellieonthetelly.com
wtfjournals.com/signup
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Why do so many autistic, ADHD and AuDHD people experience a constant feeling that something is âwrongâ or about to go wrong?
In this episode of WTF is AuDHD?, we explore our experiences with the feeling of impending doom. We theorise why it might be experienced more in our community - from anxiety and sensory overload to nervous system activation, interoception, uncertainty intolerance and emotional dysregulation.
We also share a few funny stories from the week that was, that include a lost cellphone and a tea kettle #adhdthings
SOCIAL @wtfisaudpodcast
https://wtfjournals.com/signup
https://ellieonthetelly.com
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In this episode, Ellie and Paige reflect on Ellie's recent overseas trip and why Amsterdam in particular was kind to her neurodivergent mind. We go on a few side quests along the way, chatting about Ellie's recent engagement, Paige tells a story about having Tourette's in public and we accidentally end up analysing marriage. In the second half of the episode, we chat all about movies and why we both find it hard to commit to them. Ellie brings some research on why some autistic/ADHD people struggle with movies and we bring our own lived experience. We're curious to know - do you also struggle to commit to movies?
Sign up for WTF Journal presales - wtfjournals.com/signup
Chat with Ellie - ellieonthetelly.com
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Why does being seen feel so uncomfortable⊠even when nothingâs actually wrong?
In this episode, we unpack the fear of being perceived - something that shows up in many people from the neurodivergent community. From overthinking how weâre coming across, to feeling exposed just existing in public (and private!), to avoiding being watched altogether (lockdown was an interesting time) - we share what this experience feels like for us.
Maybe you'll recognise this in yourself too? We talk about masking, perfectionism, shame, and the weird contradiction of wanting to be understood but not wanting to be perceived.
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals
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What completely dysregulates you that might seem a bit unusual to someone else? This episode is basically a collection of âwhy does THIS send me over the edge?â moments.
Weâre sharing the things that dysregulate us as AuDHDers - from noises, to sounds, to textures, to general demands - we share our own experiences plus read out the ones you sent us on Instagram.
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals
Book a mentoring session with Ellie ellieonthetelly.com
Sign up for early access to our journals - wtfjournals.com/signup
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Content note: This episode discusses cannabis use and self-medication. Weâre sharing personal experiences, not medical advice. If medicinal cannabis is legal in your country/state, please see a healthcare professional to discuss your prescription options.
In this episode, we explore why cannabis use seems to be relatively common among ADHD and autistic people - and what weâve personally noticed. Even though we're sisters, we've both had different relationships with it.
We talk about how it affects our brains and bodies, the ways it can help (and sometimes not help), and the very loose science behind why this might be the case. We chat about the endocannabinoid system and how that system might work differently in autistic people and discuss whether this might be why it helps some of us feel "normal".
Again, this isn't medical advice, it's just a casual chat about something that isnât talked about enough.
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals
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In this episode, weâre talking about Hyperventilation Syndrome and how easy it is to get stuck in an anxiety-breathing feedback loop without even realising.
If you often feel dizzy, tight-chested, or like you can't catch a literal breath - you might relate to our personal experiences with chronic hyperventilation throughout our lives.
We also touch on Ellie's lived experience with âW sittingâ (if you know, you know). We chat about why so many neurodivergent people do it, why itâs not ideal for development, and how itâs impacted Ellie's body long-term.
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals
Sign up to early access for our journals - wtfjournals.com/signup
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Trigger warning: this episode discusses Ellie and Paige's experiences with manipulation, sexual harm and harrassment. Listen with care.
In this episode, weâre talking about some of the harder experiences weâve had - including manipulation, bullying, and situations where consent and safety werenât always clear at the time. Our aim with this chat is to help you recognise harm and vaildate similar experiences you may have had.
We explore this through an AuDHD lens, unpacking things like missing red flags, people-pleasing, delayed processing, and the moments where we only realised later that something wasnât okay.
This isnât a graphic episode - itâs a reflective one. Weâre focusing on patterns, understanding, and what we wish weâd known earlier.
Please take care while listening: pause, skip, or come back to this when you feel ready.
If you or someone you know needs help, visit: https://www.wannatalkaboutit.com/
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals
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Trigger warning: this episode contains light conversations surrounding eating and disordered eating.
In this episode, weâre joined by Erin - an ADHDer and dietician (Balance and Bite) - to unpack what neuroaffirming nutrition actually looks like and why traditional advice around food so often doesnât work for neurodivergent people.
Erin talks to us about the real reasons the neurodivergent population struggle with food - from executive dysfunction and dopamine-seeking, to sensory needs, decision fatigue, and burnout. We explore why advice like âjust eat when youâre hungryâ or âjust use willpowerâ can fall apart, and how these challenges are often misunderstood as personal failure rather than differences in how our brains work.
We also dive into binge eating, emotional eating, and the role food can play in regulation - reframing these behaviours with compassion instead of shame.
Erin shares practical, ADHD-friendly strategies to make eating feel easier, support energy and focus, and reduce overwhelm without aiming for perfection. We hope you walk away from this episode feeling validated and carrying less shame around food.
Book a mentoring session with Ellie www.ellieonthetelly.com
Sign up for early access to our journals www.wtfjournals.com/signup
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Join the waitlist for our journals! https://wtfjournals.com/signup
In this episode, we share our personal journeys of improving our gut health - and why itâs become something weâre paying a lot more attention to.
This isnât a dieting episode, we just feel passionate about sharing our personal experiences when it comes to gut health. We explore the gut-brain connection, why gut health plays such a big role in mood, energy, and regulation, and why it can be especially important for AuDHD brains.
We talk about the small, realistic changes weâve made, how adding (not restricting) foods has shifted our mindset, and why we started thinking about our microbiome in a completely different way - even personifying it to help us take better care of it.
If youâve ever struggled with consistency, motivation, or knowing where to start when it comes to looking after your body, you're not alone and we hope this episode will be a gentle, non-judgemental place to begin.
Next week, weâre joined by a neurodivergent dietician to dive even deeper into nutrition for neurodivergent people, and why traditional approaches don't work for us.
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Connection and loneliness are two of the most common experiences in the neurodivergent community. So in this episode, we chat to 27-year-old Holly Fowler - founder and CEO of Wable, an app designed to help neurodivergent people connect through friendship, dating, and work. This is not sponsored, it's just a genuine chat between three neurodivergent who want the world to be a better place for everyone.
Holly shares how a spontaneous DM to Michael Theo after watching Love on the Spectrum led to a four-year journey of building Wable from the ground up - despite having no prior startup experience, navigating ADHD and OCD, and facing intense stress along the way.
We talk about how her neurodivergence shows up in both challenging and powerful ways - from paralysing OCD rituals to the hyperfocus and determination that helped bring Wable to life. Holly opens up about her experiences with ADHD and OCD, burnout, hospitalisations, and the reality of building something meaningful while managing her mental health.
We also dive into how Wable works, how she's made it inclusive and accessible, and why neurodivergent people often struggle to find connection in traditional spaces.
Paige also introduces the project she's been working on for YEARS - and we need your help with it! Follow @wtf.journals on Instagram for more info.
Search 'Wable' on the App Store or Google Play.
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In this episode, we unpack the concept of internalised ableism - and how it can shape the way neurodivergent people see themselves.
Growing up in a world designed for neurotypical brains often means receiving constant messages that weâre lazy, disorganised, too sensitive, or not trying hard enough. Over time, those messages can become internalised, turning into our own inner voice.
We talk about what ableism actually is, why AuDHD people are vulnerable to internalising it, and the ways it has shown up in our own lives - from pushing through burnout to holding ourselves to impossible standards.
This episode explores the shame many neurodivergent people carry, and how recognising internalised ableism can be the first step toward self-compassion and understanding.
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast
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Content warning: this episode touches on assault, trauma and manipulation. Listen with care.
Disclaimer: this was recorded before Britney Spears' arrest on March 5th.
In this episode of WTF is AuDHD?, Ellie and Paige dive into a candid conversation about how the world - and the systems around us - often fail neurodivergent people.
Observing the experiences of celebrities like Britney Spears, Billie Eilish, Lewis Capaldi, and Demi Lovato, we lightly explore how fame can amplify the challenges of living with ADHD, autism, or AuDHD - especially when diagnosis comes late or is misunderstood.
From public âmeltdownsâ to media scrutiny, the conversation looks at what might actually be happening beneath the surface: rejection sensitivity, burnout, trauma, and the pressure of living in a world not built for neurodivergent brains. And how the systems fail us entirely, leading to isolation and reckless behaviour.
Ellie shares her longâstanding fascination with famous child stars and why so many of them seem to struggle, plus she shares her own experiences of being in the spotlight as an undiagnosed AuDHDer. Paige shares her experiences of feeling used, abused and discarded once she expressed what she needed - and the ongoing trauma that comes with that.
This episode explores:
Why so many famous people appear to be neurodivergentThe link between creativity, success, and ADHD/autismHow fame can intensify rejection sensitivity and burnoutWhy women are so often misdiagnosedAnd why empathy matters when we see someone struggling in the public eyeAs always, this conversation is honest, curious, and unfiltered - and based on our personal opinions and analysis.
Linktree
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Book a session with Ellie ellieonthetelly.com
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This weekâs episode is a raw, unfiltered check-in where Ellie and Paige sit down (slightly lower in energy than usual), to talk honestly about how they're feeling - burnout, survival mode, and what can happen when your nervous system has been holding it together for too long. We talk financial stress under capitalism, sensory overload, relief instead of achievement and why the world feels especially heavy right now for neurodivergent people.
We also discuss a listener post from our Reddit (and no, the Reddit isn't fixed sorry), about whether AuDHD is a good name for the neurotype of meeting criteria for both autism and ADHD.
Note: Ellie's audio goes funny around 27 mins due to an accidental mute... woops! We have cut a segment out regarding medication that we will re-record for a future episode.
Book a chat with Ellie ellieonthetelly.com
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast
Linktree
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In this episode, we kick things off with a real-life catch-up - burnout, taking back your power, and why stories like figure skater Alysa Liu (Olympic Gold Medalist) matter so much when it comes to ADHD and redefining success. We also get into another cracking poll about how you eat your meals - riveting content, we know! Plus Ellie shares something sheâs been grappling with this week and what she wishes sheâd known earlier.
In the second half, weâre joined by ADHD coach Marium to unpack what ADHD coaching actually looks like in practice. We talk about common goals ADHDers bring to coaching, why execution is often harder than knowing what to do, and how mindset and systems work together. Marium shares powerful strategies for task initiation, increasing interest levels, and getting unstuck without shame.
We also cover what to look for in a qualified ADHD coach, how often coaching is most effective, and why you donât have to do this alone.
Contact Marium adhd-empowered.com
Book a session with Ellie ellieonthetelly.com
SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast
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