Different, not broken

I recognised him instantly.I’d never met him before.Hi, I’m Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do.In this episode of Different, Not Broken, I tell the story of going to a startup funding event in Miami and unexpectedly sitting down next to someone I knew far too much about… despite never having spoken to him in my life.It turns out reality TV, social conditioning, and a neurodivergent brain make for a very specific kind of social experience.This episode is about what it’s like to hold a straight face while your brain is doing cartwheels, why masking often looks like politeness, and how much effort goes into pretending you don’t know what you know.You’ll hear:Why recognition doesn’t always come from real relationshipsWhat masking actually looks like in everyday social situationsWhy being “polite” is often a survival skillHow neurodivergent brains process people and patterns differentlyWhy explaining yourself gets exhausting fastOnce 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/Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – I recognized him instantly01:12 – Reality TV, hate watching, and accidental expertise04:06 – Going to an event alone (never again)06:48 – Sitting down next to someone I shouldn’t know09:02 – Knowing too much and saying nothing12:31 – Masking as politeness15:18 – Why pretending not to know is exhausting18:44 – Listener brag: feeling hopeful about 202620:02 – A very important question for sleep scientists23:10 – Small Talk Listener Question: communicating needs without feeling difficultMentioned in this episode:Brag on yourselfWanna brag on yourself for something you've done which you're proud of? https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemailJoin QuirkyWanna sponsor this podcasthttp://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsorsSponsor Different Not BrokenBuild Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-better

I have a habit of saying the obvious things most workplaces avoid.Hi, I’m Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do.In this episode of Different, Not Broken, I break down why basic human standards at work get treated like radical ideas, why return to office policies are deeply ableist, and why so much “innovative leadership” is really just common sense wrapped in better language.This episode is about simplifying what’s been overcomplicated for years.You’ll hear:Why psychological safety isn’t a perkHow bad management hides behind complexityThe real reason companies are pushing return to officeWhy clarity often gets mistaken for controversyWhat actually changes when you treat people like humansOnce 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/Chapters / Timestamps00:00 – Why saying the obvious sounds “radical”02:08 – The bare minimum we’ve stopped expecting at work03:47 – Psychological safety isn’t a perk04:38 – Why return to office is deeply ableist06:36 – The real reason companies want people back in offices07:46 – Bad management disguised as productivity09:05 – Treat people like humans and they quit less10:36 – Listener brag: feeling on top of life11:15 – Why I hate “love languages”11:49 – The science and art of a crispy Coke13:49 – Big bubbles, bad Coke, and betrayal15:31 – Freestyle machines are not acceptable17:59 – Small Talk Listener Question: grieving a late neurodivergent diagnosisMentioned in this episode:Join QuirkyBrag on yourselfWanna brag on yourself for something you've done which you're proud of? https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemailWanna sponsor this podcasthttp://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsorsSponsor Different Not Broken

You’re not broken.But a lot of us were taught to believe we were.Hi, I’m Lauren Howard. You can call me L2. Like other people do. And in this episode of Different, Not Broken, I’m talking with Libby Alders, a pastoral chaplain who works at the intersection of faith, trauma, and identity, about what happens when religion stops being a source of comfort and starts quietly doing damage.We get into how harmful theology gets lodged in your nervous system, why so many neurodivergent and LGBTQIA people grow up feeling fundamentally wrong, and how community can heal or harm depending on who’s allowed to show up fully.This isn’t a debate about belief. It’s a conversation about safety. About moral injury. About certainty being weaponised. And about finding ways to make meaning without being told who you’re allowed to be.There’s swearing. There’s honesty. There’s a surprising amount of warmth for a conversation that doesn’t pull its punches.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 “You’re Not Broken. You Were Taught Harmful Theology”04:18 Certainty, faith, and why curiosity matters09:32 Religion, trauma, and moral injury14:41 Neurodivergence, queerness, and conditional belonging20:06 Losing faith without losing yourself26:55 Finding safer community and meaningMentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-betterWanna sponsor this podcasthttp://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsorsSponsor Different Not Broken

Can somebody please explain this timeline to me?Because I have a confession.Last week — not even sure which day, definitely one of the days ending in “y” — something happened.And I have no idea how.

Flying makes me anxious. Not the mild kind. The walls-closing-in, I-need-control kind.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 what it was like flying with someone who supported me without making a thing of it. No fuss. No questions. No spotlight. Just quiet, steady presence.We get into why that kind of support works so well, especially for anxious and neurodivergent people, and why “are you okay?” is often the least helpful thing you can say.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 "Therapist as Emotional Support"05:49 "Calm Support During Turbulence"07:26 "Weird Ears and Airplanes"12:32 Toilet Paper Holder Frustrations16:49 "Outgrowing Expectations and Tolerance"18:46 Sibling Conflict and ResolutionMentioned in this episode:Build Your Better courseBuild your better course - https://stan.store/elletwo/p/build-your-betterWanna sponsor this podcasthttp://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/sponsorsSponsor Different Not BrokenBrag on yourselfWanna brag on yourself for something you've done which you're proud of? https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/voicemail