Autism hacks, sensory stories and The Autistic Adult's Toolbox
Ever find yourself carrying earplugs in every bag and pocket, just in case the world gets a little too… loud? Or maybe you’ve written letters to your doctor, explaining that “no, you don’t look autistic” is not the hot take they think it is? This is the episode for you.I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Natalie Diggins, technologist, deep tech investor, and—most importantly—the author of The Autistic Adults Toolbox. I’m not even exaggerating when I say her book lives permanently on my desk, just waiting to solve another of life’s neurospicy puzzles.I didn’t tell her that before we interviewed, but, okay, surprise Natalie: you’re basically my lifeline on days when the world feels like a construction site inside my brain. I know some of you feel that too.Here’s what you’re going to get from this episode: Natalie doesn’t spend her time pontificating about “overcoming adversity” or “finding your purpose.” No, she gets down to the real stuff: reverse engineering a life that works for your brain, documenting every semi-absurd hack, and making sure sensory survival is always step one. You’ll hear how she wrote a pre-op letter for her surgeon (“Strangers touching me = nope”), only to find the medical world has a lot of catching up to do. A little bit of hope: not all doctors are stuck in the 1990s, but spoiler… plenty of them are.You’ll get the inside scoop on the magic tool-making mindset that yields everything from bespoke sensory plans to New York City restaurant negotiation tactics (earplug, anyone?), and what happens when you decide you can mask or unmask, by choice, not requirement. Natalie even breaks down her “hot meter” for dealing with the “you don’t look autistic” crowd.Why should you listen? Maybe you’re late-diagnosed, or you’re still in the “is it sensory? Is it burnout? Am I just quirky?” phase. Natalie’s journey is a cheat code for ditching shame, building support systems, and treating diagnosis as just another plot point—not the whole story. If you want to hear how anyone can build actual, actionable strategies for living well, even when your brain is extra spicy (and sometimes extra tired, extra loud, or extra meltdown-y), hit play.My helpful offers for other people with neurospicy brains - https://stan.store/elletwo
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Breaking news! My big podcast change...
Something's shifted in my podcast journey while recording "Different, not Broken" for half a year now.I didn't see it coming.Question is, did YOU?
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When All Else Fails: A True Story About Fighting the System and Saving My Dad
When my dad — a doctor — started losing the ability to walk, I thought we’d find answers quickly. Instead, we ran straight into a wall of hospital red tape, conflicting protocols, and doctors too afraid to take a risk.This is a true story about how I fought the healthcare system to save my father’s life. It’s about standing up to bureaucracy, finding the right information when no one else would, and learning how compassion sometimes matters more than protocol.Expect platelets, hallway confrontations, and neurosurgeons who definitely didn’t expect me to show up armed with research from the Cleveland Clinic.Oh, and also, the tooth fairy industry almost suffered a financial blip thanks to my husband...Check out my programs to help you do better in your business and marketing:https://stan.store/elletwoMentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better
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Tylenol, Autism, and RFK's Dangerous Search for Someone to Blame
When a bad headline blames Tylenol for autism, L2’s had enough.This is her blistering, hilarious takedown of pseudo-science, mom-shaming, and the politicians who thrive on both.It starts with keyboards, ends with capitalism, and somehow makes perfect sense in between.Click play, have a listen, and then check out her Stan Store.https://stan.store/elletwoMentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-betterWanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course
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There's one thing I'll never be rational about!
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
You’ve spent your whole life feeling like something’s wrong with you. Here’s a radical thought: what if you’re not broken - just different?
Welcome to Different, Not Broken, the no-filter, emotionally intelligent, occasionally sweary podcast that challenges the idea that we all have to fit inside neat little boxes to be acceptable. Hosted by L2 (aka Lauren Howard), founder of LBee Health, this show dives into the real, raw and ridiculous sides of being neurodivergent, introverted, chronically underestimated - and still completely worthy.
Expect deeply honest conversations about identity, autism, ADHD, gender, work, grief, anxiety and everything in between.
There’ll be tears, dead dad jokes, side quests, and a whole lot of swearing.
Whether you're neurodivergent, neurotypical, or just human and tired of pretending to be someone you’re not, this space is for you.
Come for the chaos.
Stay for the catharsis.
Linger for the dead Dad jokes.
USA