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