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In this episode, we get real about why getting diagnosed as a neurodivergent woman of color can feel like a whole journey, a side quest, and a spiritual test—all at the same time. 🐿️💛

We talk honestly about how ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, trauma, PCOS, autoimmune issues, chronic pain, hormone shifts, and sensory overload all overlap and make diagnosis ridiculously complicated. And because most medical research was built around young white boys, many of us grew up completely missed, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed.

We share our personal stories, the emotional toll, the medical barriers, the cultural pressures, and how so many women of color are living undiagnosed or late-diagnosed simply because the system wasn’t built for us.

We also break down real-life questions you can ask yourself if you’ve been wondering, “Is this neurodivergence… or just life life-ing again?” And we offer encouragement, clarity, and next-step guidance if this episode hits close to home.

This is a safe space. You are not alone. And you deserve answers, support, and community as you figure out your neurodivergent journey in a world that often overlooks women who look like us.

TL;DR

We unpack why diagnosis is so hard for neurodivergent women of color, how overlapping symptoms complicate everything, and why so many of us go undiagnosed for decades. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s ADHD, autism, hormones, trauma, anxiety, or “just life,” this episode brings clarity, community, and real next steps.

TIME STAMPS

00:00 — Welcome back, sister squirrels

01:00 — Sleepy chaos: naps, K-dramas & neurodivergent exhaustion
02:30 — Trigger warning + why this episode is important
04:00 — Why diagnosis is especially hard for women of color
06:30 — Bias in research: “The young white boy standard”
08:00 — The missed generation: girls overlooked for decades
10:00 — Real-life stories: kids who were diagnosed late (or not at all)
12:00 — Medical dismissal: “It’s all in your head” and the impact
14:00 — Hormones, autoimmune issues & perimenopause masking ND symptoms
17:00 — Sensory sensitivities, chronic fatigue & why they get misdiagnosed
20:00 — Masking, burnout, social anxiety & ND exhaustion after COVID
23:00 — Co-occurring conditions: depression, bipolar, OCD, eating patterns
26:00 — Fibromyalgia, RA, PCOS & their surprising ND connections
30:00 — Executive function struggles (organization, time, overwhelm)
34:00 — Emotional regulation & why our reactions aren’t “dramatic”
37:00 — Dyslexia, dyspraxia & “Why am I dropping everything?!”
40:00 — Social cues, sensory overload & ND vs. “normal life stress”
43:00 — Questions to ask yourself if you think you may be ND
46:00 — Why you shouldn’t self-diagnose alone — and why you deserve support
48:00 — Encouragement, next steps & how to reach out to us
49:30 — Closing thoughts

RESOURCES

• ADDitude Magazine
• Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD)
• Autism Speaks

Therapist and Mental Health Resources

• Psychology Today
• National Institute of Mental Health

CONNECT WITH US

Fanlist

Send us a text on Buzzsprout!

In this episode, we finally turn the spotlight on ADHD — what it is, how it shows up for us, and why so many women (especially women of color) don’t get diagnosed until later in life.

We break down the three types of ADHD (inattentive, hyperactive, and combined) in real-life, “this is actually my life” terms — from lost keys and half-finished tasks to talking nonstop, interrupting, procrastinating, and living with a browser full of open tabs in our brains. We also talk about anxiety, depression, perimenopause, chronic illness, and how all of that can overlap, complicate symptoms, and delay diagnosis.

We share how ADHD traits have shown up in our work, relationships, and friendships, the systems we’ve built to function (hello, calendars, alarms, and support squads), and how our neurodivergent community has helped us feel less “broken” and more understood.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this just me… or do I squirrel, too?” this conversation is for you.

TL;DR

We break down ADHD types and symptoms through our own lived experiences, talk about how anxiety, depression, chronic illness, and perimenopause can complicate diagnosis, and share the systems and support that help us function. If you’ve ever felt “too much,” “too forgetful,” or “too scattered,” this episode will help you see yourself with more clarity and a lot more compassion.

TIME STAMPS

00:00 – Welcome Back

01:10 – Picking Up from Autism: Now We’re Talking ADHD
02:40 – “Technically We’re All Neurodivergent” — Every Brain is Different
03:10 – ADHD 101: Inattentive, Hyperactive & Combined Types
04:15 – Inattentive ADHD in Real Life (Details, Follow-Through & Forgetting Everything)
07:10 – Hyperactive ADHD Traits: Fidgeting, Restlessness & Squirrel Moments
12:50 – Combined ADHD: When It’s All Rolled Into One Brain
15:05 – Patterns, Disorganization & How Symptoms Show Up Day-to-Day
19:20 – Messy Desk, Clean Cube: What Our Spaces Say About Our Minds
23:55 – Calendars, Reminders & Why We Need External Systems
27:25 – Anxiety, Quiet vs Noise & Comfort Shows on Repeat
31:35 – “You Talk Too Much”: Family, School & Feeling Misunderstood
37:55 – Interrupting, Brainstorms & Learning How Different Brains Communicate
45:45 – How Clinicians Look at ADHD, Co-Occurring Conditions & Misdiagnosis
50:30 – Perimenopause, Rage & the ADHD/Late Diagnosis Connection
55:40 – Labels, Identity & Finding Our Place in the Neurodivergent Community
58:00 – Building Your Support System & Knowing You’re Not Alone
1:01:50 – Closing Love Note to Our Sister Squirrels 🐿️

RESOURCES

ADDitude Magazine

ADHD Symptoms in Adults (The Cleveland Clinic)

Therapist and Mental Health Resources

• Psychology Today

• National Institute of Mental Health

CONNECT WITH US

Fanlist

IG

Threads

Email

CREDITS

Editor: Payton Cross Productions

Send us a text on Buzzsprout!

In this episode, we open up about our experiences with ADHD and autism — those moments when you realize the things you’ve always done weren’t just quirks; they were clues. We laugh through our shared chaos, talk openly about diagnosis, and unpack what “severity” and “masking” really mean for women of color like us.

We dive into sensory overload, self-regulation, and the difference between surviving and thriving in a neurotypical world. From fidgeting to needing quiet time to learning social skills from TV (yes, really), it’s all here.

This is an honest, funny, and affirming conversation about self-understanding and self-compassion — because being neurodivergent isn’t about fitting in; it’s about finally finding ourselves and celebrating the beauty in our unique brains. 🐿️

TL;DR

We get real about discovering our neurodivergence — from ADHD chaos and sensory overload to learning social cues from TV. Join us as we unpack autism traits, masking, and what it really means to embrace our brains with clarity, humor, and heart. 🐿️

TIME STAMPS

00:05 – Welcome Back to Black Girl, Brown Girl, Squirrel!
00:22 – Our Safe Space: Living Neurodivergent in a Neurotypical World
01:00 – Getting Comfortable Behind the Mic
02:00 – Fidgeting, Awareness, and Sensory Habits
03:10 – ND Fatigue: When Everything Feels Too Loud
06:30 – ADHD Moments & Everyday Chaos
10:00 – Overstimulation and the Week from Chaos
13:00 – Understanding Autism: Core Traits and Spectrum Overview
17:30 – The “Severity” Conversation
22:40 – Support Levels and Diagnosis Insight
27:40 – Signs and Self-Discovery: Reflecting on Personal Traits
33:30 – Echolalia, Imitation, and Connection
37:00 – Learning Social Cues from TV & Comedy
44:30 – Masking Explained Simply
46:30 – Sensory Needs, Quiet Time, and Self-Awareness
51:50 – Masking vs. Self-Regulation
54:10 – Accommodations, Advocacy, and Language Choices
57:00 – Wrap-Up and Squirrel Moments

RESOURCES

ADDitude Magazine

AutismSpeaks.org

Adult Autism Quotient Test

Therapist and Mental Health Resources

• Psychology Today

• National Institute of Mental Health

CONNECT WITH US

Fanlist

IG

Threads

Email

CREDITS

Editor: Payton Cross Productions