Ivy Turner & Autumn Braack - Podcast Details

Shows

The Different-Functional PodcastToo Bright, Too Loud, Too Much: A Neurodivergent Tour of the 5 SensesJoin us for a romp and a rant through the five senses and explore with us all of the various ways we can become overloaded by our sensory experience of the world. If you’ve ever felt sensorily overstimulated into a state of rage, tearfulness, or catatonia you’re not alone. If you’ve ever been treated like a crazy person for feeling overwhelmed by sights, sounds, and textures that other people don’t even seem to notice then this is the episode for you.If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help u...2025-06-182h 00

The Different-Functional PodcastThe Movement Mindset: Choosing Fitness Activities That Fit YouHow often do you hear that “exercise is important”, and that you should “get more active” or “work on your relationship with movement”? If you had a penny for each time you’ve heard those kinds of phrases from social media influencers, magazine covers, doctors, family, or friends you could probably for a year’s worth of gym membership fees up front. I mean, thanks for the super vague advice but what does that really mean? Even if you want to get more physically active, how do you get started? What’s classified as exercise? Do you need to go to the gym? Why...2025-06-042h 01

The Different-Functional PodcastConnected, Not Consumed: 8 Tips for Digital DetoxSpring is here for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, and as the weather starts to warm up it becomes uncomfortably obvious just how extra dependent we were on our digital devices to get us through the cold, winter months. Honestly, regardless of the time of year, most of us are probably on our devices too much; it’s hard not to be when nearly everything we use is now digital, from our forms of entertainment to our work to the many tools we use to keep our daily lives running smoothly. We don’t want to v...2025-05-211h 48

The Different-Functional PodcastPet (& Feral) Theories: AutismThere’s a lot of talk right now about autism. Unfortunately, we’re seeing a resurgence of people pathologizing the autistic experience and reinforcing social stigmas and negative stereotypes. Yes, autism comes with its challenges but to demonize it is complete and utter nonsense; it’s simple fear mongering from people who have clearly never truly known or loved an autistic person. Join us for this episode as we explore some social and experiential theories around autism. As we always say, different does not mean defective. One of us is autistic and the other has known and loved...2025-05-071h 53

The Different-Functional PodcastFutile or Functional: ADHD Life HacksWe’re back again with another installment of Futile or Functional, where we explore the usefulness of the internet’s suggestions for our mental health. This time we’re diving into some ADHD life hacks. Since Autumn isn’t ADHD, we’ve welcomed Jake back for another episode to give his feedback on these suggestions. So join us as Ivy and Jake try to determine whether these hacks are futile or functional, and hear Autumn’s amusing observations as an outsider looking in on some common ADHD conundrums.If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could...2025-04-231h 57

The Different-Functional PodcastThe Serenity Prayer: Acceptance vs ChangeWe’ve all heard some iteration of the serenity prayer, but what does that actually look like? What does it mean to accept the things you can’t change and work toward changing the things you can? How do you even decide what to change and what to accept? Join us as we discuss how living by the serenity prayer can positively impact your life.If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you could help us spread the word by telling your friends, subscribing to the podcast, and leaving a rating or review. If you’d...2025-04-091h 51

The Different-Functional PodcastSounds of Strength: 90s Songs That Helped Us CopeThe times are tumultuous and uncertain and, let’s be honest, it’s not exactly bringing out the best in most people. So, let’s take a stroll down memory lane, get a blast from the past, and live for a brief, blissful moment in the delusion that we’re back in the 90s. The 90s may not have been perfect either (we certainly had more than our fair share of family trauma from our childhood) but when it comes to music or music videos, we’d argue it was quite possibly the best decade of all time. Yes, the...2025-03-261h 34

The Different-Functional PodcastSelf-Care Soundtrack: Modern Melodies for Mental WellnessMusic is such a powerful tool for emotional processing and personal expression; and with how crazy the world seems to have been in recent years, music seems like a more valuable resource than ever. Whether you use it to help you calm down, vent your frustrations, have a good cry, or find hope on the darkest days music is a fundamental part of our self-care regimen. Join us as we examine some of the songs that are keeping us going and explore how we use music as a coping skill. How are you utilizing music to help...2025-03-121h 48

The Different-Functional PodcastADHD Tourist: Post-Concussive Syndrome Taught Me About ADHDHave you ever wondered what it might be like to visit the mind of someone with ADHD? Well, now you can! But we don’t recommend actually doing it because taking a tour of the ADHD brain may involve getting a head injury. We would know because as sisters, we apparently feel the need to do everything together, so we went and got matching brain injuries only a few months apart. While the research on the topic is still in largely in its infancy, there is a notable correlation between the symptoms of ADHD and those of traumatic brain in...2025-02-261h 55

The Different-Functional PodcastThe Game of Love: Rants, Rambles, and Random Thoughts on Valentine's DayHow do you feel about Valentine’s Day? Personally, we don’t love it, but we also don’t hate it. What we do hate is that the current state of the world is kinda lousy and the long, slow trudge through winter is starting to feel like a real Debbie Downer. So with that in mind, we thought the Love holiday might be a perfect excuse to do something fun and fluffy. Join us as we play a little word association game, taking Valentine’s themed vocabulary words and cramming as much unhinged rambling about each one as we can i...2025-02-121h 32

The Different-Functional PodcastUnraveling Fashion: Neurodivergence and the Struggle for Comfort and StyleAre you a fashionista? Us too! Not really. We lied. We’re not even good at faking it, but we’re trying. Is fashion supposed to be so hard? What are the rules? How do you know you’ve committed a fashion faux pas? Is that person staring at you because they like your style or because they think you look vaguely unhinged? How are you supposed to tolerate wearing things that touch you in weird ways, are super scratchy, or make a lot of noise and not lose your mind? Is fashion just part of yet another social script...2025-01-291h 42

The Different-Functional PodcastFocus on Your Feet: Finding Strength to Move ForwardWe’re starting to settle into 2025 but that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ve left the hardships of 2024 behind us (or the previous years for that matter). If you’re anything like us you may find that you’re still a little shell-shocked and unsure of how to move forward. We’re still processing the lessons from the past and the horizon ahead is a little hazy, but we’re here in this moment and there’s power in simply putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply to focus on your fe...2025-01-151h 55

The Different-Functional PodcastWinging It: The Truth About AdultingHere we are, yet again, at the start of another year. If you’re anything like us, 2024 must have put you through the wringer too. We’re ready to put last year behind us, but we’re also giving 2025 that wary, suspicious side-eye until it proves it can play nicer and be more reasonable than its predecessor. So instead of revisiting the usual new year celebratory rituals and plans, we’re sitting down for a humorously serious conversation about how challenging it is sometimes to just…adult. Join us as we discuss how the heck anyone is supposed t...2025-01-011h 50

The Different-Functional PodcastGift Giving 101: Gift Giving Tips for Neurodivergent People'Tis the season for gift-giving, but for many neurodivergent individuals, the holidays can bring more stress than joy. From choosing the right gift to managing limited resources like time, money, and energy, selecting the perfect present can feel like navigating a minefield. The pressure to find something meaningful and the fear of getting it wrong can make holiday shopping overwhelming.In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked challenges of gift-giving and share practical gift-giving tips that reduce stress and help you stay authentic to your spirit of giving. Whether you're buying for a loved one, a coworker...2024-12-041h 26

The Different-Functional PodcastFutile or Functional?: Gratitude Journal PromptsThanksgiving is sneaking up on us again here in the USA, and there’s just so much to be thankful for this time of year! Or is there? That’s the question. Well, maybe not exactly. Are there things to be thankful for? Sure. If you look hard enough you can always find something, but you know what’s often even easier to find? Things you’re not thankful for. When life gets really challenging, we’re not generally overflowing with appreciation for how awful things feel. That’s why gratitude journaling is so often recommended in pop psychology. That’s prett...2024-11-201h 57

The Different-Functional PodcastFall Craft-Along: Using Crafts and Community to Improve Mental WellnessThis time of year is the perfect opportunity for crafting, creativity, and community! Even if you don’t think you’re “that kind of person” you might be surprised by how much fun it can be and what you can learn about yourself and others. With that in mind, we’ve decided to do something we’ve never done before on the podcast: a craft-along! And for those of you who are here for our usual mental health themed programming, you won’t be left out. This is also an opportunity to explore some therapeutic techniques: art as therapy, writing prompt...2024-11-061h 53

The Different-Functional PodcastBefriending the Boogeyman: How Halloween Teaches Us to Embrace Our FearsIt’s spooky season! How are you going to spend your Halloween? Over here, we’ll be having a nice big group hug with the boogeyman and all his friends. Why? Because that’s one of the best parts of spooky season. Join us as we take a look closer at the symbols and icons of the season in order to learn from them and face our greatest fears. You can even do it dressed up as a princess or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and it doesn’t get any better than that. If you’re enjoyin...2024-10-232h 03

The Different-Functional PodcastRising From the Ashes-Part 2: Rebuilding When Everything Has Fallen ApartWhat do you do when it all falls apart? Well, you rise from the ashes like a phoenix, of course. Yes, but how? What does that look like and how do you do it? Join us for this two-part episode on what it actually means to rise from the ashes and rebuild your life. In this episode, we’re exploring what it means to rebuild your life and your sense of self after everything has fallen apart. If you missed our last episode, and rebuilding seems like too daunting of a task right now, then we recommend listening to pa...2024-10-091h 54

The Different-Functional PodcastRising From the Ashes: Transitioning from Surviving to ThrivingWhat do you do when it all falls apart? Well, you rise from the ashes like a phoenix, of course. Yes, but how? What does that look like and how do you do it? Join us for this two-part episode on what it actually means to rise from the ashes and rebuild your life. In this first episode, we’ll be discussing survival mode: what it is, how to know you’re in it, and how to start stepping out of it so that you can thrive rather than just surviving. Tune back in next time as we explore what...2024-09-251h 43

The Different-Functional PodcastThe Horrors Persist: Does Managing Mental Health Ever Get Easier?We would say that things have been rough lately but let’s be honest, for many of us it’s not just been “lately”. If you’re a regular listener of our podcast then chances are good that you’ve been trying to manage your mental health or neurodivergence or that you’ve been trying to heal from a significant trauma; and those overarching themes are always there no matter what happens in the world or in our personal lives on a day-to-day basis. That’s what’s most exhausting. For a lot of us, this difficult time isn’t temporary. This is...2024-09-111h 56

The Different-Functional PodcastPatreon Gold: Exclusive Clips CompilationHeeeey! So the bad news is that we don’t have a new episode because Ivy is moving. The good news is that we still have an episode for you, a compilation of some clips from our Patreon vault. The other good news is that we’re finally going to be able to record again in a few days once Ivy finishes unpacking her studio setup so we’ll have a brand spanking new episode for you next time. Thanks for your patience and thanks for listening!If you’re enjoying the podcast we’d love it if you cou...2024-08-281h 33

The Different-Functional PodcastHard to Love?: Neurodivergent Traits and Long-Term RelationshipsWe’ve got something a little special for you guys this time, since Ivy is still living that couch surfing life for now and won’t have a recording space for another couple of weeks. Autumn’s boyfriend Jake has filled in as a guest host for this episode about neurodivergence in committed relationships. Do you ever feel like you’re hard to love? Well, if you’re any flavor of neurospicy you probably know exactly what it’s like to feel as though you’re either too much or not enough, or maybe even both simultaneously. While some asp...2024-08-141h 42

The Different-Functional PodcastUnseen Influence: Discovering Our Positive ImpactMost of us have wondered at one time or another what impact we have on the lives of other people and what legacy we’ll be leaving behind. All too often we fall into the trap of feeling insignificant, like nothing we say or do matters; and the worst of our intrusive thoughts might even have us believing that our impact is negative, that we do more harm than good, that we’re not enough, and that other people would be better off without us. But the truth is we all touch more lives than we realize, and our infl...2024-07-311h 37

The Different-Functional PodcastNavigating Elimination Diets - Part 2: Meat & GlutenIt seems like over the last several years a lot of us have been experimenting with elimination diets as a way to treat everything from hormone imbalances to autoimmune to diseases, and mental health issues to medical mysteries. While the old adage: “You are what you eat” has been around for a very long time it’s only in recent decades that science has actually been discovering just how extensively our dietary lifestyle impacts our overall health and well-being. This is all well and good, but what does it actually look like to eliminate something from your diet, especially if the...2024-07-171h 38

The Different-Functional PodcastNavigating Elimination Diets: Part 1 - Sugar and DairyIt seems like over the last several years a lot of us have been experimenting with elimination diets as a way to treat everything from hormone imbalances to autoimmune to diseases, and mental health issues to medical mysteries. While the old adage: “You are what you eat” has been around for a very long time it’s only in recent decades that science has actually been discovering just how extensively our dietary lifestyle impacts our overall health and well-being. This is all well and good, but what does it actually look like to eliminate something from your diet, especially if the...2024-07-031h 35

The Different-Functional PodcastReel Inspirations: Using Pop Culture to Embrace ChangeMaybe life is always in flux but it sure feels as though this year has brought with it even more changes than usual. If you feel like your life has been completely upended and you’ve found yourself, willingly or unwillingly, on a transformative journey as a result, you’re not alone. We know what it’s like when the hits keep coming, the universe keeps throwing you one curveball after another, and you’re struggling to even find time to catch your breath. Join us as we explore the ways in which we can take comfort, inspiration, and guidance...2024-06-191h 46

The Different-Functional PodcastBeneath the Mask: 12 Questions for Your Unmasking JourneyTo a certain degree we all go through life wearing a mask, or a series of masks that we change out based on the social situation we find ourselves in, but when you’re neurodivergent this masking process is taken to another level. Most of us learn at a very young age that our social survivability is dependent upon our ability to read the social scripts we’re handed and slip into character; we may even become very successful at playing a variety of characters along the way. The problem arises though when we’ve been in character for so lon...2024-06-051h 34

The Different-Functional PodcastSymptoms of Health: Recognizing Signs of Healing and GrowthWhen we think of our mental health, we tend to immediately start making a list of everything that is wrong; and we fall into that habit so easily because, for many of us, something has been wrong for a long time and we’ve been actively trying to sort it out and work on ourselves. Being on a healing and self-discovery journey is one of the most powerful things we’ll ever do for ourselves and for our loved ones, but sometimes we can get so focused, for so long on correcting what is wrong that we forget to take...2024-05-221h 44

The Different-Functional PodcastRunning on Fumes: Tips and Tricks for Tackling Burnout and Refueling Your TankThe march of time never stops, the demands on our personal time never seem to wane, and there’s always more than enough stress to go around. The truth is, most of us tend to burn the candle at both ends, and that habit has a way of catching up to us in the form of burnout. Yes, sometimes we put ourselves in that position unnecessarily but there are also plenty of times when burning out is unavoidable because there’s simply too much to do and not enough time or energy to get it all done. Either way, we’r...2024-05-081h 23

The Different-Functional PodcastBloopers & Blushes: Neurodiversity in the BedroomS-E-X is almost always a taboo topic of discussion, perhaps especially among neurotypicals and “civilized society”. For those of us who are neurodivergent and already regularly struggle with the subtleties of social scripts, the topic of intimacy can feel more taboo and, at times, even confusing. The lived experience of neurodivergents is often different in surprising, wonderful, and weird little ways; and though we often can’t discuss S-E-X openly we can likely assume that the same rule applies in this arena of life as well. But how do we know for sure if we can’t talk about it? Well...2024-04-241h 51

The Different-Functional PodcastThe Duality of Neurodivergence: Recognizing Our Challenges & Embracing Our StrengthsLike many other things in life, neurodivergence is a bit of a double-edged sword. Some of our neurodivergent traits are so impressive that they almost seem like superpowers, while others impair our ability to function so much that they can feel like a curse. What’s even more interesting is how our own perception of these traits may differ from the perceptions others have of us, especially the perceptions of other neurodivergent people. Join us as we explore the duality of our neurodivergence, discussing our perceptions of both our best traits and our biggest challenges through the lens of au...2024-04-101h 45

The Different-Functional PodcastNeurodivergent Vocabulary: An Exploration of Clinical and Community TerminologyIncreasingly more of us are being diagnosed with some form of neurodivergence and/or are accidentally stumbling upon an unexpected sense of kinship among neurodivergent communities on social media. As our knowledge expands, both clinically and culturally, our vocabulary around neurodivergence is also evolving at a rapid rate. Clinicians have been in the process of changing diagnostic terminology for a while already and now, members of the neurodivergent community have been coming together, often via social media, to create terms and phrases that more accurately describe the full, lived experience of being a neurodivergent person in a neurotypical world...2024-03-272h 00

The Different-Functional PodcastThe Stress Test: Are Popular Coping Mechanisms Helpful for Neurodivergents?How’s everyone feeling out there? Not gonna lie, 2024 has started off as a very stressful year for us. We have our tried-and-true coping mechanisms and skills but let’s face it, sometimes you just need a little something extra to get you through the storm; so we did a little internet search to see if there were any suggestions that maybe we hadn’t thought of before. The conclusion we came to was: No, not really. Pretty much every website we came across gave the exact same basic advice we’ve all heard again and again and again, with bar...2024-03-131h 50

The Different-Functional PodcastMostly Unmasked: A Curiously Candid Conversation CompilationWe’ve been doing the podcast now for a little over two years and if you’ve been listening for awhile you’d probably think you know us pretty well by now. I mean we do share a lot about our personal lives and past experiences, and we always try to be as authentic as possible, but if you’re neurodivergent you’re likely also very familiar with a little thing called “masking”. To coexist somewhat peaceably in a neurotypical world, many neurodivergents learn early on that they have to slip on a persona and play by certain rules, and over time...2024-02-281h 13

The Different-Functional PodcastDating Differently: Exploring the Awkwardness of Neurodivergent DatingHappy Valentine’s Day! Do ya’ll celebrate this holiday? To be honest, we don’t really celebrate it much ourselves. There’s too much pressure to make things extra special and it’s uncomfortable to eat at an overcrowded restaurant. Also, does anyone else think it’s strange to romanticize an internal organ, especially since a “heart” looks nothing like the one in your body and it’s not even the organ responsible for creating all those lovey-dovey feelings anyway? Honestly, that last question might point to one more reason why we don't celebrate Valentine's Day in the typical fashion: N...2024-02-141h 48

The Different-Functional PodcastHurt People, Hurt People: How to Stop Paying Trauma ForwardWe’d like to believe that all trauma and abuse survivors are purely sympathetic characters who would never inflict the kind of pain they’ve been through on another person, but the reality is usually much messier than that. When we hear the phrase “hurt people, hurt people” we often think of it as a way to understand and maybe even develop compassion for bullies, but you don’t have to be a stereotypical bully for this phrase to apply to you. Many of us who have been victims of trauma and abuse end up perpetuating that cycle forward as a resul...2024-01-311h 49

The Different-Functional PodcastIt's Not Me, It's You: How Society Gaslights Neurodivergent PeopleIf you’re a neurodivergent person, chances are you’re used to feeling out of step with the rest of the world. Those of us in the community have learned the importance of masking and adaptation because we’ve often been accused of being weird, lazy, unmotivated, easily distracted, overly sensitive, immature, inappropriate, unempathetic, disrespectful, rude, selfish, uncommunicative, bad listeners, etc… The list goes on and on. But what if we’re not actually the problem? It’s possible that we’ve been gaslit our whole lives into believing things about ourselves that are egregiously untrue or misrepresented and then pressured...2024-01-171h 44

The Different-Functional PodcastNew Year's Resolutions: 10 Tips for Making Lasting ChangesHappy New Year! 2023 was a wild year, and by that we mean it was a feral beast. We may have all walked away from it a little scratched up, bruised, and shell shocked but we made it! Cheers to our survival and to the hope that 2024 will usher in some much-needed relief and happiness; after these last few chaotic and pensive years, we’ve all certainly earned it. Because of everything we’ve been through recently, those New Years resolutions feel even more meaningful than usual. It’s time for some real, lasting and positive changes, but what does that l...2024-01-031h 16

The Different-Functional PodcastAll I Want for Christmas: Offbeat Christmas Media for the Quirky Holiday HaterHow’s everyone doing out there? If the answer is “Not so great” we feel you. The holiday season is a bit of a trudge for us too, and few things are more grating on the nerves than the inescapably repetitive songs and movies that play for weeks on end every single year. How many times can you listen to Jingle Bells without losing your mind? How many Santa themed movies can you watch before you start having nightmares about how exactly he sees you when you’re sleeping? And if you’re struggling with your mental health or your relat...2023-12-201h 18

The Different-Functional PodcastCoping with Holiday Stress: Finding YOUR Reason for the SeasonLove it or hate it, the holiday season can be the most challenging and stressful time of year. Sure, there are lots of pretty sparkly things and good food and magical festivities and great sales BUT there’s also so much traffic, so many crowded stores, tons of familial and social obligations, and a surplus of financial woes. Santa always comes bearing a loaded mixed bag of both good and bad things that can make us feel all sorts of ways about all kinds of things. In the midst of all this, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, switch into...2023-12-061h 29

The Different-Functional PodcastPass the Trauma: Using Dark Humor to Cope with the HolidaysOver the river and through the woods, to our traumatic holiday memories we go. Buckle up folks, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride! We may not be able to pick our families, but we can choose whether we laugh or cry at the madness and chaos they bring to us. We’ve personally cried plenty of tears over the years, and while there may still be one or two of those tears in this episode, we’re mostly sick of crying and think maybe it’s time to bring some dark humor to holiday spirits (double entendre, anyone?). Allow us...2023-11-221h 48

The Different-Functional PodcastMeeting the In-Laws?: Navigating a Functional Family when You Come From DysfunctionIt’s here guys. We’re in the thick of it, and we don’t mean mashed potatoes and gravy. We mean the holiday season. Dun, Dun, Dun! If you grew up with a dysfunctional family, you probably had at least a few traumatic holidays with them and that can make you a little skittish when the turkey and jingle bells start coming out. Family is hard. Holidays are stressful. But if you’re dealing with your own family at least you know what to expect. However, what if you’re not dealing with them? What if you’re meeting your...2023-11-081h 39

The Different-Functional PodcastPatreon Unlocked Bonus: The MothmanIf you enjoyed our most recent episode, we have a surprise for you. We actually held back one extra story to release for Halloween. We hope you all have a terribly wonderful Halloween!2023-10-3122 min

The Different-Functional PodcastHalloween Special Episode: Urban Legends: Converting the Horror AversiveHappy Halloween! Spooky season is upon us and we need your help to settle a dispute! While we both love fall, Ivy has a fondness for the creepy, crawly, scary aspects of the season but Autumn most definitely does not. Now we’re not debating whether horror is good or bad entertainment, or even necessarily whether it’s good or evil. No, we’re at an impasse about whether or not it has any merit at all within society, culture, or the individual human psyche. So please, gather around the campfire with us while we dip our toes into the sp...2023-10-251h 51

The Different-Functional PodcastPumpkin Spice, Flannel, and Halloween: Embracing the Joys of Fall on Your TermsAutumn is here! And we don’t mean the co-host of the podcast either. Are you slipping into your flannel shirts, beanies, and boots yet? Enjoyed any pumpkin spice lattes or apple fritters? Have you been busy decorating, watching horror movies, and picking out a costume for spooky season? We don’t know about you, but this year has been putting us through the wringer, and with so much stress and uncertainty it’s been hard to find the little joys in life. So, in this episode we’re taking a big, deep breath of that crisp fall air, grabbing...2023-10-111h 14

The Different-Functional PodcastInner Child Play: A Timed Challenge to Help You Connect with Your Inner ChildOkay ya’ll, we’re doing something a little bit different this time. Chances are you’ve heard of inner child work, and if you’re listening to this podcast you’ve probably also done some inner child work yourself or are curious about trying it. When we hear the words “inner child work” we often imagine cathartic moments, full of difficult and complex feelings, but that’s not all it is. Connecting with your inner child is also about establishing internal trust and allowing that younger version of yourself to have freedom of expression and to play. Many of us who were t...2023-09-271h 42

The Different-Functional PodcastDon't Speak: 20 Things You Shouldn't Say to a Trauma SurvivorIt seems like everyone has an opinion about everything, whether those opinions are educated and well-informed or not. If you’re a trauma survivor you’ve probably heard them all, everything from victim-blaming to toxic positivity and everything in between. Some of the people who are spouting these opinions are willfully ignorant and abusive while others are well-intentioned but ill-equipped to help. One thing is for sure though, there are some things we all wish we’d never have to hear again. Join us as we discuss some of these hot button phrases and maybe send this episode along to any...2023-09-132h 10

The Different-Functional PodcastPop Culture and the Pre Apocalypse: Staying Sane in a Surreal WorldThere’s a whole lot of crazy going on in the world right now. Maybe there always is but these last few years it has felt worse than usual. The pandemic, social unrest, political corruption, economic downturn, ongoing war, an uptick in natural disasters, and so on and so on. Nearly all of us are feeling the effects of this combined chaos in one way or another, and while it’s not quite the apocalypse there are some days when it sure does feel like it. So, what are we to do? How do we get through the madness of t...2023-08-301h 59

The Different-Functional PodcastWell, This is Awkward: React and ReviewIn our last episode, we may have picked on neurotypicals just a little bit so this time we thought we’d level the playing field and talk about The Great Equalizer. No, not death. Awkwardness. While we, as neurodivergent people, often think of ourselves as being the most painfully, embarrassingly awkward people on the planet the truth is neurotypicals aren’t immune to awkwardness either. We all have moments that make us blush, put our foot in our mouth, embarrass the heck out of us, and make us want to run away. So join us as we take a gand...2023-08-161h 44

The Different-Functional PodcastYou're So Weird!: Flipping the Social ScriptsThose of us in the neurodivergent community have had our fair share of struggles with social situations. By the standards of the neurotypical world, our social skills come up lacking and we’re often seen as awkward, eccentric, odd, clueless, weird, off-putting, crass, rude, etc… If you’re neurodivergent, you know what we mean. You probably have a whole list of not-so-nice words that people have used to describe you and backhanded compliments you’ve been given, and we’re sure you’re all too familiar with “that face” people give you when you’ve broken a social rule that you either did...2023-08-022h 00

The Different-Functional PodcastFeeling Your Feelings: An Intimate Exploration of EmotionsOur experience of emotion is something we generally take for granted. Afterall, feelings just tend to happen. Our hearts beat, our lungs breath, our legs move us forward, and we feel stuff. Unless we’re actively struggling with one those things, we don’t often give them much thought or effort. But maybe we should. Emotions and our relationships with them can actually be really complex, and by exploring them more fully we gain a much richer understanding of ourselves and our experience of the world. If you’d like to support us on Patreon you can find us at www...2023-07-192h 25

The Different-Functional PodcastLife is Good as a Goblin Girl: And Other Alternatives to the #HotGirlSummerWe’re in the sweltering stretch of summer and you know what that means... It’s #hotgirlsummer time. Or is it? Join us as we discuss the concept of the “hot girl summer”: what it’s supposed to be; whether the social media image fits its definition; the pros and cons of pursuing that ideal; and some equally valid alternatives if that particular hashtag doesn’t fit your vibe or aesthetic. There’s plenty enough room for all of us, whether you’re a hot girl, a goblin girl, or something else entirely. As they say: You do you, Boo. If you’d li...2023-07-051h 54

The Different-Functional PodcastFears and Phobias: Maybe It's Not All Just in Your HeadYou’re afraid of something. We know you are. It’s okay, you can admit it. Fear is part of the human condition, and unless you’ve got some rare and interesting anatomy in your brain’s amygdala, chances are good you’ve felt fear many times before. Some of us are bigger scaredy-cats than others (and if you are one such kitty, we meow in solidarity with you) but what if it’s not just all in your head? Join us as we destigmatize some commons fears and phobias and seek to understand why we feel fear; how to determine...2023-06-212h 18

The Different-Functional PodcastRetro '90s Cartoons! The Lessons They Taught Us About Mental Health, Relationships, & LifeBuckle up because we’re going retro! Some of the first important lessons we learn as children come from the kinds of media we’re exposed to and if you’re a Millennial or Gen-Z that probably means your formative years were full of cartoons like Rugrats, Wild Thornberrys, Daria, Hey Arnold, Animaniacs, Magic School Bus, The Simpsons, and more! Join us as we explore some of the life lessons we learned from these iconic 90s cartoons and how our perspectives of them have shifted once we grew up. To see our resources for this and all our other episod...2023-06-071h 58

The Different-Functional PodcastAutism vs ADHD: Being Different, DifferentlyWhat does a day in the life of a neurodivergent person look like? Well, that depends. The definition of neurodivergence and the number of us huddled together under the umbrella of that term is ever expanding. We are a large community with a vast set of eccentricities, challenges, and gifts but even with all this diversity we also share many things in common. Join us as we discuss and compare notes on how autism and ADHD influence our lives, motivations, routines, and relationships. Do you relate to our experiences? What form does your neurodiversity take and how does it...2023-05-242h 00

The Different-Functional PodcastVictim Mentality: The Anti-Hero of Trauma RecoveryVictimhood is loaded with stigmas and complicated, uneasy feelings and so it’s kind of expected that we should jump straight from being traumatized and abused to being a resilient survivor and the hero of our own story. But does slapping a superhero themed bandage on our wounds actually heal them? Join us today as we take a more neutral and destigmatizing look at what victim mentality is, who has it, what purpose it serves, and how to grow beyond it without needing to demonize it. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://ww...2023-05-101h 47

The Different-Functional PodcastAnxiety Coping Skills A-Z: A Real Life Rate and ReviewIf you struggle with anxiety, you’ve probably gone down the internet anxiety rabbit hole more than once, looking for guidance on how to cope with it. And there is an overwhelming amount of information and advice being offered by gurus, mental health experts, and someone’s Aunt Gertrude who swears by this or that natural remedy. Where do you begin and what actually works? The truth is there’s no one path or coping skill that will work for everyone, and even things that seem universal will have to be tailored to fit you just right. Join us as we...2023-04-262h 05

The Different-Functional PodcastSelf-Discovery Playlist: A Musical Guide to Finding Yourself After Childhood Trauma and/or Neurodivergent MaskingOne of the biggest challenges that comes with experiencing childhood trauma or being neurodivergent is that we often don’t get the opportunity to discover our identity until we are adults. Most people get to cultivate their identity during their early developmental years, but for those of us who were expected to mask or who were living in survival mode as children identity development was a luxury we simply couldn’t afford. Once we reach adulthood we often have the freedom, safety, and autonomy to finally find ourselves but doing so is a daunting prospect. Join us as we disc...2023-04-121h 35

The Different-Functional PodcastNeurodivergent Easter Eggs: Exploring the Gifts of Being DifferentHappy Easter everyone! This holiday is a generally fun and uplifting one for most of us regardless of whether we see it in a religious or secular light. The winter is melting away and with spring finally here we feel revived, refreshed, and ready for some goodies and games with our loved ones. Nothing illustrates these ideas better than Easter baskets and Easter egg hunts, and we’d love to have you join us as we take an allegorical journey to discover the wonderful things that come with being neurodivergent. So tell us, what’s in your Easter basket? To s...2023-03-291h 42

The Different-Functional Podcast20 Dick Moves We All DoWe all try to be good people and surely that must mean that our hard work results in us being altruistic angels full of Love and Light all the time, right? Hmmm… Maybe not. The truth is we’re human and that makes us susceptible to feelings of frustration, exhaustion, pettiness, envy, and egocentrism. Our desire to be good makes us want to believe that we can and should become immune to such feelings but that isn’t realistic, and what often happens instead is that we end up racked with guilt and shame and we forget that everyone else f...2023-03-151h 41

The Different-Functional PodcastNeurodivergent RPG: Symptoms or Superpowers?For so long, we were taught that neurodivergence was a glaring flaw in our design and that if we wanted to be successful (or even just normal) we had to mask what made us unique as though hiding symptoms or a horrible disease. Thankfully, the narrative is beginning to change as it becomes increasingly more apparent that we aren’t diseased and that “normal” is a word with almost no meaning. In this episode, we ask the question: What would happen if we stopped masking and instead embraced our neurodivergent traits in everyday interactions? And since life and other people...2023-03-011h 52

The Different-Functional PodcastLet Me Tell You: Communicating Mental Health Needs in Your RelationshipLove is wonderful and all but, let’s face it, relationships can be really hard; and one of the biggest challenges when you’re building a relationship and a life with someone is communication. One minute you feel like you’re on the same wavelength, reading each other’s minds and the next minute you feel like you’re not even speaking the same language. And if you and/or your partner has a trauma history, mental health struggles, or is neurodivergent that can add a whole other complicated layer to the communication equation. Today, we’re exploring how to understan...2023-02-151h 15

The Different-Functional PodcastGreen Flags: A Musical Exploration of Healthy RelationshipsWe often look to music to explore and enhance our own life experiences and, for better or worse, “Love” dominates the airwaves. We are constantly inundated with lyrical messages about what love is, what it looks like, and how it feels. But how many of those messages are healthy, or even true? Love can be wonderful and fulfilling, but many of the catchy songs we find ourselves singing along to set the bar for relationships very low and are often downright toxic. If we absorb the narratives these songs spin, we may be misled into ignoring and potentially glorifying red...2023-02-011h 12

The Different-Functional PodcastGood Grief!: Grappling with Loss and DeathGrief isn't caused solely by death. Grief can be triggered by any important loss we experience: loss of a job, loss of a relationship, or even the losses of innocence, ideals, and potential that so often accompany trauma. What exactly is grief? Why do we experience it? And most importantly, how can we make the experience of grief just a little easier to handle? We explore all these questions and more in this episode. Join us as we take a deep dive into grief and loss. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit www...2023-01-181h 26

The Different-Functional PodcastNew Year, Same YouHappy New Year! Time to get back to work, lose that holiday weight, set new goals, and Change. Your. Life!!! But what if…and hear us out here….what if you didn’t do any of those things at all? In this episode, we’re discussing the social pressures that confront us at the start of each new year and exploring how to: determine if you really want or need to make changes; decide if the timing is even right for change; and create a plan that will help you make desired changes without burning out in the process. And just...2023-01-041h 22

The Different-Functional PodcastWinter Whispers: Finding Hope in the DarknessThroughout history, cultures have ascribed meaning to the natural cycles of the seasons, seeing in them the cyclical nature of our human existence as well. Spring brings new life and new beginnings. Summer brings growth and abundance. Fall is the season of culmination and harvest. But winter…winter is a time of scarcity, of death and grief, of letting go, of forced rest, and of personal reflection. The holiday festivities offer a brief, brilliant flash of distraction from the harsher aspects of the season; but when the winter wonderland fades into a stark landscape of short, cold, dreary days we...2022-12-211h 43

The Different-Functional PodcastBoundary Setting BasicsThe holiday season can be a difficult time for anyone with a dysfunctional family, mental or physical health struggles, neurodivergent traits, or very limited resources; and while boundary setting is always important, that’s especially true this time of year when the pressure is on to play nice, play along, and put our own needs on the back burner. In this episode, we discuss some boundary setting basics to help you break out of people-pleasing tendencies, cope with difficult individuals, push back against the pressure, and say no when you need to. Thanks, as always, for listening and if yo...2022-12-071h 53

The Different-Functional PodcastTurning the Tables on Holiday Traditions: A Holiday Season Survival GuideUh oh. The holidays are already upon us again. 'Tis the season, so they say, and while many people are giddy with excitement, some of us enter the holiday season with feelings of trepidation, anxiety, and grief. Even if you have a festive spirit and love the rituals and traditions of the season, it’s still a stressful time because there are so many more expectations, demands, and disruptions to our daily lives. That stress is made even worse if you struggle with your mental health, have experienced a recent trauma or loss, have an abusive or dysfunctional family, fe...2022-11-231h 35

The Different-Functional PodcastThe Echoes of Childhood Trauma in Our Adult LivesChildhood trauma imprints on us like nothing else can. It lives rent free in our heads and takes a toll on our lives well into adulthood. Our minds and bodies hold onto those memories for decades, expressing them again and again in ways both subliminal and overt. It can resurface when we least expect it, causing us to relive painful memories as though they are happening again in this moment, and often compelling us to repeat patterns of trauma or abuse without us even being aware that we’re doing it. In this episode, we’re talking about all of t...2022-11-091h 57

The Different-Functional PodcastJekyll & Hyde: The Duality of the Social Masks We WearHappy Halloween! It’s that time again, to dress up as ghosts, ghoulies, and whatever else floats our happy little spooky boats. But what about the masks we wear every day, the social personas we slip on each morning when we venture out into the world? Are the masks we wear to convince others, and sometimes even ourselves, that we are the living embodiment of a particular archetype also a little scary? In this episode, we’re talking about the duality of the roles we play and the masks we wear, because if we’re really honest with ourselves, there’...2022-10-262h 17

The Different-Functional PodcastLesser Known Truths About Trauma RecoveryThere’s a lot of information out there about trauma recovery; some is valuable and honestly, some is clichéd and irrelevant nonsense. It can be a challenge to discern the truth from the myths, especially early on in your healing journey. It can also be hard not to judge yourself harshly when you’re basing your progress on what are actually unrealistic expectations and rules around what healing “should” look like. And sometimes you ask important questions and get nothing but silence in return. Today, we’re discussing some of the lesser known and lesser heard truths, both hard and ho...2022-10-121h 45

The Different-Functional PodcastMental Health Support 101: When and How to Provide Support to the People in Your LifeHow can you support someone who is struggling with their mental health, trauma recovery, or neurodivergence? If someone you love has ever experienced these challenges, then you know how painful it is to watch from the sidelines and not know how to help. And if you’ve struggled with these kinds of things yourself, then you know how frustrating it is to be surrounded by well-intentioned but clueless people who want to help, but just don’t understand what you’re going through. Conversations about mental health are awkward and difficult, so let’s tackle it together. This episode is loade...2022-09-271h 27

The Different-Functional PodcastMy Brain Made Me Do It: Everyday Compulsions We All HaveAdmit it. You have compulsions. Do you count floor tiles for no reason? Feel a need to correct a strangers' grammar or speling? Do you jiggle the heck out of the door knob to make sure it's locked, only to come back and double-check anyway? Ever felt the desire to scream in a library or church? Are you unable to resist meowing in response to a cat? Have you ever wanted to throw a potato at a stranger or boop a pigeon in the butt with a loaf of bread?! Okay, maybe those last two are just us. Anywho...2022-09-141h 53

The Different-Functional PodcastDamaged Goods: Trauma's Negative Impact on Self-Esteem and How to Flip the ScriptLet's face it. Trauma is complex. It hits us where it hurts, the wounds are deep, and the scars often leave us feeling flawed. Today, we're discussing some of the ways trauma can negatively impact our self-esteem and sense of identity, but more importantly we'll also be diving deep into how we can change the narrative to take back our power. If the trauma you've experienced has ever made you feel isolated, unworthy, at fault, or fundamentally broken...we've been there, we get it. Let's change it together. Let's write a new story. Let's make it our own. Let's...2022-08-311h 54

The Different-Functional PodcastPatreon Unlocked: Unnecessarily Disastrous: Clothing Concerns & Wardrobe WearinessYes! It's our off week but we wanted to share a little something extra with you. We hope you'll enjoy this special mini-episode from our Patreon vault, a sample of our comedic segment Unnecessarily Disastrous! If you're curious about our other Patreon perks and content you can find us at www.patreon.com/differentfunctional 2022-08-2427 min

The Different-Functional PodcastBody Image Issues: Why We Have Them and How to Shift Our PerspectiveHow do you feel about yourself when you look in the mirror? From our earliest developmental years, we’re fed messages about the connection between beauty, health, popularity, love, and success. Some of these messages are insidiously subliminal while others are painfully overt. Either way, we’ve all felt the pressure to submit to these rules and felt insecure when we’ve found ourselves falling short of the beauty ideal. But where do these messages come from and who, or what, decides what the beauty standards are? In this episode we explore the origins and perpetuation of beauty standards and di...2022-08-171h 31

The Different-Functional Podcast6th Sense or Mental Illness? Exploring the Intersection of Paranormal Experience and Mental HealthIt's so freakin' HOT! Summer has been taking us for a crazy ride on this heat wave for too long and I don't know about you, but we're ready to feel a chill in the air and down our spines. The start of Spooky Season is still weeks away, but we're going to pretend it's right around the corner. So gather around the campfire with us and we'll tell you some of our ghost stories and other paranormal experiences. We'll also talk about the overlap between supernatural experiences, trauma, and mental health. Is what we've experienced real or are...2022-08-031h 59

The Different-Functional PodcastA Neurodivergent Guide to Making Friends When You Suck at SocializingYou ever try making friends? If you're anything like us then it's surprisingly hard. When we're kids we just ask some other random kid at the playground if they want to be our friend, but then we get older and all of a sudden it becomes complicated. The are different rules, processes, and rituals that are involved in friendship as adults. So how do you make friends when your neurodivergent brain has difficulty navigating these complex social scripts? To be honest, we're not entirely sure either but in this episode we're combining our observations with some seemingly basic logic...2022-07-201h 48

The Different-Functional PodcastCoping with DepressionLast time, we discussed what it's like when depression takes up residence in your head, but how can you actually deal with this frustrating, unwanted roommate? Today, we're exploring a variety of coping strategies and treatment options, and not all of them are textbook. We've both lived alongside depression for most of our lives and if we've learned anything it's that each person's relationship with depression is unique; coping strategies are not one-size-fits-all; and humor can go a long way toward healing. To see our resources for this and all our other episodes visit https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources...2022-07-062h 13

The Different-Functional PodcastDepression: An Exploration of Lived ExperienceDepression is one of the most common mental health struggles that people experience. For some, it is a temporary response to a specific trauma or loss. For others, the battle with depression comes in waves, seldom has a triggering event, and will last a lifetime. Today, we're talking about what it's like to live with depression, getting into the gritty details of how it impacts your health, your relationships, and your life. If you've struggled with depression, we hope that hearing our experiences will help you feel less alone. Even if you've never experienced depression yourself the likelihood is...2022-06-221h 37

The Different-Functional PodcastA Walk Down Memory Lanes: Differences in Memory in a Dysfunctional HomeToday, we're talking about the convoluted connection between reality and personal experience. You can expose several people to the exact same event, and yet everyone involved will walk away with unique and often conflicting accounts of their experience. This becomes even more complicated in dysfunctional families where secrecy, isolation, and complex relationship dynamics cast a long shadow over each family member's perception. Beyond just being confusing, these drastic differences in perception complicate our ability to heal from the trauma we endured, to maintain our relationships within the family, or even to trust our version of the events that transpired...2022-06-081h 43

The Different-Functional Podcast10 Things We Hate Hearing as Neurodivergent AdultsLast time we talked about all the things we hated being told while growing up in a dysfunctional family. This time, we hope you'll listen in for a more light-hearted and humorous discussion about what gets under our skin to hear as neurodivergent adults living in a "normative" world. And please, join our chorus of angry laughter and take a jab at society too by telling us what things you hear that annoy the heck out of you as a neurodivergent person. You can vent it out to us here https://www.differentfunctional.com/contact Also, there's...2022-05-251h 24

The Different-Functional Podcast10 Things We Hated Hearing While Growing Up in a Dysfunctional HomeIf you grew up in a dysfunctional family and traumatic home we're guessing there were a few things you really hated being told as a kid. Today, we're discussing some of the frustrating and infuriating messages we heard while growing up, both from within and from outside our family. What phrases did you hear that got under your skin? Click here https://www.differentfunctional.com/contact to vent to us about it to your heart's content. And if you'd like to support us on Patreon you can find us at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true 2022-05-111h 37

The Different-Functional PodcastReduced Functioning (part 2): Making the Most of the F*cks You HaveLast episode, we discussed what it's like to live with reduced functioning, and we covered the many daily challenges that come with just not having enough internal resources. Today, we're talking about how you can begin to budget your f*cks or spoons or pies or whatever you choose to call those limited resources. Laugh with us as we share our own struggles and victories with f*ck budgeting; and gather some shiny, new budgeting tools to add to your own toolbelt too. To see our resources for this episode https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources and if you'd like...2022-04-271h 34

The Different-Functional PodcastReduced Functioning (Part 1): When You Don't Have Enough F*cksThis time we're talking about the difference between "I don't give a f*ck." and "I can't give a f*ck." When you have mental health struggles, a trauma background, or are neurodivergent there is a distinction between the two. In this episode, we're covering a few examples of how ingrained societal pressures and differences in the way our minds work can influence us and challenge out ability to budget our limited number of f*cks. We'd love to hear from you about your own experiences with limited functioning and about what factors influence how you budget your inner...2022-04-131h 32

The Different-Functional PodcastCoping with Social Anxiety: Just Talk About PoopLast time we talked about what it's like to have social anxiety and what drives that anxiety. This time we're sharing some inspiration and strategies for how to cope with, embrace, and work around social anxiety. Maybe you'll take a page from Autumn's book and do a recon mission in advance or shut down small talk with poop. On the other hand, Ivy's bathroom hideout and extrovert-boyfriend summoning skills might be more your style. We've got lots of suggestions and even some last-ditch desperation maneuvers to share with you. Come listen in as we discuss all the rational and...2022-03-301h 55

The Different-Functional PodcastSocial Anxiety, Spy Speaking, & Small TalkDo you ever shake like a chihuahua when a stranger speaks to you? Do you make a mad dash to the bathroom just to avoid people at parties? Does your mind go blank during conversation, or maybe you're compelled to talk about the most inappropriate things you can think of? Does small talk make you feel like people around you are speaking in coded language? Do you seem confident and fun-loving in social situations but you're actually screaming on the inside? Have you ever just felt so different from everyone around you that socializing like a "normal" person feels...2022-03-161h 38

The Different-Functional PodcastAntihero Coping Mechanisms: How to be a Functional Badass Even When You Can't Afford a BatmobileThis time around we're talking about the antiheroes of the psyche. These are the double-edged swords of coping skills and mechanisms that we all use to help us survive. There are some that we abandon along the way, some we aren't yet ready to give up, and still others that we consciously choose to hold onto even when society tells us that we're wrong. Join us as we explore the antihero in us all. ***Trigger Warning*** This episode includes discussion of violence, abuse, sexual assault, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion is advised. If you're enjoying the podcast...2022-03-021h 39

The Different-Functional PodcastCompatibility in Relationships: The Importance of Matching and Complementary BaggageToday we're talking all about baggage! We've all got some! We all bring it into our relationships! That's why it's so important, when we're looking for love, to find someone who has baggage that fits well with our own. What does that look like? Let's figure it out together. Check out our resources for this episode here: https://www.differentfunctional.com/relationship-baggage Check out the our blog episode The Science of Love https://www.differentfunctional.com/blog/the-science-of-love You can also find us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true 2022-02-161h 46

The Different-Functional Podcast*BONUS* The Myth of Happily Ever After: You're More Likely to Find a Partner Peeing in the Woods Than Singing in the WoodsHappy Valentine's Day! Or Not! You'll get no judgement from us either way. We all know this is a commercial holiday so embrace it by grabbing yourself some chocolates, flowers, wine, or whatever else strikes your fancy; and join us as we break down and bust some myths about love and relationships.2022-02-141h 55

The Different-Functional PodcastHow to Perform a Mental Health Check-inWe’ve all heard this term, but what does it actually mean? In this episode, we discuss what a mental health check-in is, from a holistic perspective, and we talk about how to do one for yourself. Hint: It’s not just all in your head. Find our resources for this and all our other episodes at: https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources If you'd like to donate to help us improve the quality of the podcast you can find us on Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true 2022-02-021h 43

The Different-Functional PodcastSelf-Acceptance: It's Not All Rainbows, Unicats, and Kittens Dangling Cutely From TreesIn this episode, Autumn and Ivy talk about the challenges of learning to accept yourself when you're continually influenced by your neurobiology, mental health, past trauma, and social experiences. Sometimes the hardest person to like is yourself but the "hang in there" kitten is cheering you on so don't let them down. To see our resources for this episode visit: https://www.differentfunctional.com/self-acceptance And if you're like to support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true 2022-01-191h 41

The Different-Functional PodcastWhat is Trauma?In our first episode we take a deep dive into the meaning of trauma. We look at the medical definition, the cultural reality, and use our own personal stories to explore what it looks like in real life. To see our resources for this episode visit: https://www.differentfunctional.com/podcast-resources And if you'd like to support us on Patreon, you can find us here: https://www.patreon.com/differentfunctional?fan_landing=true 2022-01-051h 35

The Different-Functional PodcastTrailerTrailer 2021-12-1301 min