Different, not broken

Nobody tells you this part about being an adult.That most of your energy gets burned on decisions. Small ones. Constant ones. What to eat. What to say. How to say it nicely. Who not to upset. When to apologise. Again.Hi, I'm Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of "Different, Not Broken" I talk about the real gift overwhelmed people actually want. Not stuff. Not experiences. Not another thing you’re supposed to be grateful for. Just nothing. Relax, there's logic in here if you listen.I also get into something we’ve been quietly taught for years: that staying modest, keeping your head down, and not bragging will somehow pay off. To be honest, it usually hasn’t. And pretending otherwise hasn’t helped anyone.This is a conversation about decision fatigue, invisible labour, and why being good at things isn’t something you should apologise for. It’s funny, sharp, honest, and probably a bit too relatable if you’re the person everyone relies on.If you’re tired, capable, and done pretending you’re not — this one’s for you.Once you've been inspired to brag, here's where you can do it! - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemailUseful stuffStuff that helps you become awesome even if you're different: https://stan.store/elletwoMy grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/Timestamped summary00:00 "What I Really Want"*05:46 "Craving Decision-Free Solitude"06:18 "Adulting is Meal Planning"10:11 "Garbage Day Struggles"15:44 Boundaries on Personal Questions16:25 "Pets as Family"Mentioned in this episode:Wanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing CourseBuild Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

I need to go on the record.The Wet Bandits are NOT the villains in Home Alone.This episode is a full rewatch reckoning. The kind that hits you sideways once you’re an adult and can’t unsee what’s actually happening on screen. And we’re meant to call it festive.This is not a cosy nostalgia episode.It’s time to get a little uncomfortable and understand what's really going on with this movie and why I think it's more of a horror movie than a Christmas film.Merry Christmas, you filthy animals.

Team Difficult: Can I Get That on a T-Shirt?Hi, I'm Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of "Different, Not Broken"... You know that word you’ve heard muttered under their breath after a meeting, or the one you’ve seen tossed around as an insult every time you dared to challenge a Not-So-Great Idea™ at work? "Difficult." It’s the golden badge awarded when you stand your ground, ask questions, or refuse to shrink yourself to fit someone else’s comfort zone. Might as well print it on a shirt and wear it as a uniform. (Actually, that’s exactly what happened—and yes, the US trademark is real. Team Difficult is officially in session.)In this episode, I'm sharing my thoughts on the culture of workplace competition, the myth of “just be agreeable and you’ll get ahead,” and how the word “difficult” is actually code for “please be smaller so I can feel bigger.” If you’ve ever felt like you have to play the game—even when being “game” makes you miserable—or you’ve found yourself walking a fine line between champion and challenger, this episode is for you. If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much”—too loud, too opinionated, too different—or found yourself shrinking so someone else didn’t feel threatened, “Different, Not Broken” is here to remind you: You are NOT difficult, even when they say you are. You’re Team Difficult—and that’s something to celebrate.Useful stuffStuff that helps you become awesome even if you're different: https://stan.store/elletwoMy grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/Timestamped summary00:00 "Team Difficult Origins Explained"03:24 Gender Bias in Workplace Communication08:13 "Collaboration Over Competition"12:07 "Christmas Trees Have Backs"15:42 Burnout and Starting Over19:02 "Self-Blame in Tough Situations"20:42 Unsustainable Burnout Amid Life Challenges24:10 "This Might Break Him"Mentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

Your emotional energy is not in your job description.There! I said it. Did you feel a little jolt of recognition, a sense of relief—or maybe a stab of rage?Hi, I'm Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of "Different, Not Broken" I'm asking if you’ve ever slogged through unbearable meetings, survived a boss who’d rather watch you squirm than support you, or felt your job siphoning off bits of your sanity day after day… this episode is your permission slip to stop surrendering your mental health on the altar of toxic work culture.If you’ve ever heard “No job is worth your mental health” and nodded vigorously, only to feel that familiar panic rising when rent is due and quitting might mean eviction, you’re in the right place. This episode won’t hand you Instagram-worthy mantras divorced from the realities of bills, healthcare, and responsibility. Instead, I'm calling bullshit on the “just quit” narrative, sharing the reality, along with some actionable insights, and the kinds of boundary-setting wisdom you wish someone told you before your workplace broke you—not because you were broken, but because you were different in a system built for sameness.You’ll find out:Why the burn-it-all-down mentality works for trust-fund babies but not so much for the rest of us.How your emotional labor is being quietly exploited—and how to reclaim it without burning bridges (or burning out).The single most important thing to do before leaving a toxic workplace (hint: it's not just quitting).How to spot the difference between jobs that are simply tough, and jobs that are actively toxic.What actually leads to burnout (spoiler: it’s almost never the actual work).Most importantly, you'll hear a deeply personal story of what happens when you reach your breaking point—and what you wish you knew before walking away. No job deserves your mental health. Listen now. Your sanity—and future self—will thank you.Useful stuffStuff that helps you become awesome even if you're different: https://stan.store/elletwoMy grown up job: https://lbeehealth.com/Timestamped summary00:00 "No Job Over Mental Health"06:11 "Choosing Your Emotional Boundaries"08:49 "Leaving to Save My Sanity"12:49 "Questioning Corporate Processes"15:11 Corporate Misfit to Happy Entrepreneur19:46 Weekend Questions I Hate23:10 "Choosing Between Fun or Rest"25:27 Navigating Choices and ConversationsMentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

To be honest, I’ve hit my limit with holiday guilt and the weird pressure to act like everything’s cosy and magical just because the calendar says so. Holidays are made up. They only exist if you get paid time off or you genuinely enjoy them… and most people don’t.In this episode, I’m pulling the curtains back on the whole thing. The family expectations. The traditions no one even likes. The so-called “peacekeeping” that’s really just self-abandonment. This one’s a little ranty, a little chaotic, and probably the most comforting thing you’ll hear all season. Let’s talk about ditching guilt, skipping the bullshit, and building holidays that don’t make you want to scream.