Finding Peace in a Noisy World: Amy Hourigan on Late Diagnosis, PDA Parenting + Nervous System Healing
✨ In This Episode
This week, Joanne sits down with digital marketing expert and neurodivergent powerhouse Amy Hourigan (@amywhodigital) for a no-holds-barred, deeply human conversation. They cover the messy beauty of late-diagnosed autism, the raw truth of parenting PDA kids, and what it means to reclaim your nervous system after a lifetime of internalised chaos. It’s vulnerable, witty, and refreshingly real.
🧠 What We Talk About
00:03 – Late autism diagnosis at 41 and what sparked the self-discovery
06:40 – Parenting PDA kids, misdiagnosis, and the sideways approach to advocacy
14:05 – Early life trauma and the nervous system's long memory
24:30 – Shame, guilt, and birth stories that shape self-worth
36:15 – Internal meltdowns, masking, and the hidden labour of survival
48:45 – How SEO became a special interest and turned into Amy Who Digital
58:00 – Rewiring the nervous system and the magic of neuro-affirming therapy
💬 Memorable Moments
“I survived it. I didn't cope with it. And now I get to learn how to live, not just exist.”
“Your nervous system doesn’t care where you go—it comes with you. You can’t outrun it, but you can learn to befriend it.”
“I built an empire out of spite. But mostly out of self-belief I didn’t even know I had.”
📚 Resources + Mentions
Amy Who Digital – Amy's website for SEO + digital marketing
@amywhodigital on Instagram
Alison Davies on emotions + nervous system regulation
Nikki Vox (mentioned for rapid processing therapy)
📲 Connect With Us
Instagram: @betterbeingme_bbme
Website: https://betterbeingme.com.au
BBMe Completely: Link Here to Book A Chat
✍️ Share Your Thoughts
💭 What part of Amy’s story felt familiar to you?
👇 DM us or join the conversation on Instagram.
🧡 Support the Show
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