Adulting with Autism

What do you do when the dream you built your identity around disappears overnight?
In this episode of Adulting With Autism, host Sia talks with Hacia Atherton—former elite equestrian, trauma survivor, and workplace culture strategist—about rebuilding after a devastating riding accident that left her with broken hips, a shattered pelvis, severe nerve damage, chronic pain, and a long recovery.
Hacia shares how Positive Psychology's PERMA framework helped her rebuild in tiny, realistic increments, how to define success day-by-day when your capacity changes, and what real support looks like (versus "support" that sounds good but misses the mark).
They also unpack psychological safety at work—what it looks like in real rooms, why silence in meetings is a red flag, and how autistic and neurodivergent adults can create pockets of safety even inside imperfect systems. Plus: how to document toxic dynamics, advocate for accommodations, and protect your nervous system when you feel trapped.
Hacia is the founder of Empowered Women in Trades and the author of Billion Dollar Blindspot, a guide to the hidden costs of toxic workplace culture and how leaders can fix it.
In this episode, we cover:
Identity loss after trauma and how to rebuild without abandoning yourself
Chronic pain, invisible struggle, and support that actually helps
PERMA in everyday language (for teens and adults)
Nervous system protection in toxic environments
Psychological safety: what it feels like in a room (and what it looks like)
Neurodivergence at work: communication, advocacy, and accommodations
Why resilience sometimes means resting, pausing, or walking away
Small practices for feeling seen when the world doesn't see you
Connect with Hacia Atherton:
Website: https://haciahatherton.com
Instagram: @hacia.atherton
LinkedIn: Hacia Atherton
Book: Billion Dollar Blindspot (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart.com)

Do you feel like you have to perform to be accepted—at work, in relationships, even in your own self-talk? In this episode of Adulting with Autism, we're joined by Karin Velicka, a certified self-love and mindset coach, former professional athlete, and author of the upcoming book Dear Me Letters.
Karin shares her journey from a high-achieving finance path to coaching and emotional healing, and offers practical tools for autistic and ADHD adults who are navigating self-doubt, people-pleasing, burnout cycles, and major career transitions. We talk about why "quick fixes" rarely stick, how to build self-trust through small consistent steps, and how to make self-compassion feel real (not forced or fake).
In this episode, we cover:
Signs you may need deeper inner work (overachieving, people-pleasing, weak boundaries)
How to break limiting beliefs like "I'm not enough" and untangle generational patterns
Why letter-writing can be more powerful than traditional journaling
Self-love for neurodivergent adults: improving the inner dialogue without toxic positivity
A gentle entry point to breathwork for trauma, overwhelm, or sensory discomfort (eyes open is okay)
How autistic professionals can reduce overwork guilt with boundaries and "schedule a date with yourself"
Career transition clarity: radical honesty, courage, and walking with fear instead of letting it stop you
Why slow progress is real progress—and how to celebrate it
Guest: Karin Velicka
Instagram: velicka.karin
Website / Book updates: VelickaKarin.com (upcoming: Dear Me Letters)
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What happens when you're diagnosed with ADHD at 56—after a lifetime of dyslexia, chaos, big wins, big losses, and school trauma that taught you you'd never be "enough"?
In this episode of Adulting With Autism, we talk with John O'Shea, author of NeuroSpicy, about late diagnosis, anger and shame, the nervous system cost of being punished for learning differently, and how ADHD isn't a deficit of attention—it can be an overload of thoughts "like a V8 with no brakes."
John shares how the end of his 32-year marriage pushed him into rock bottom—and why writing became a lifeline. He also explains why ADHD and dyslexia can be both a superpower and kryptonite, and what it takes to build resilience without staying trapped in failure as a "comfort blanket."
In this episode, we cover:
What it feels like to get an ADHD diagnosis later in life (and why it mattered more to others than to John)
School trauma, humiliation, and why criticism can trigger rage in ADHD/dyslexic adults
Anger as armor: shame, rejection sensitivity, and emotional overflow
The "fast brain" experience: overload vs "attention deficit"
Why ADHD people can be scattered and intensely focused (hyperfocus)
The Hawaii customs story: literacy shame, humiliation, and consequences
Reframing neurodivergence: "we don't need fixing—we need understanding and tools"
What the education system should change (and John's plan for an ADHD/dyslexia empowerment course)
Imposter syndrome and "fake it till you make it" as a practical survival tool
Tools John uses to regulate: meditation, gym, sauna, grounding, and presence practices
Where to find the book and John's work
Connect with John O'Shea:
Website / book: https://neurospicy.life
Discount code: ABC25

Adulting can feel like chaos: bills, work pressure, relationships, identity, and the constant question—"What am I supposed to do with my life?"
In this episode of Adulting With Autism, we talk with Samantha Kane, founder of Roots Wings Wellness and a Certified Holistic Life Coach (Conscious Guide). Samantha helps people build self-mastery by connecting to their higher selves through grounded, practical rituals—nervous system regulation, boundaries, journaling, and alignment practices that actually work in real life.
Samantha shares why the first step for many young adults isn't a perfect plan—it's finding a mentor you trust. We also unpack what "alignment" really means, how to tell the difference between intuition vs anxiety, and what to do when you're stuck—whether you need movement, patience, or both.
In this episode, we cover:
The first step when you feel lost: finding a mentor (without needing money)
What "alignment" is and how to recognize it (jobs, friendships, relationships)
Intuition vs anxiety: practical questions to check your "gut"
Outgrowing friends, boundaries, and why you don't get to keep every relationship
Adult priorities: spending vs bills, and choosing consequences on purpose
Purpose pressure in your 20s: why you don't need the "perfect job" immediately
Avoiding work identity burnout: managing energy and keeping life separate from work
Finding your true self after years of labels: journaling as self-observation
Feeling stuck: stagnant energy vs "meantime" waiting (and how to tell the difference)
Tools to regulate: grounding/nature, box breathing 4–4–4–44–4–4–44–4–4–4, creative breath visuals
Connect with Samantha Kane:
Website: https://rootswingswellness.com (free guide + free call available)
Instagram: @rootswingswellness

If you live in fight-or-flight—anxiety, hypervigilance, chronic stress, shutdown, or even chronic pain—your body isn't being "dramatic." It's protecting you. But healing is hard when your nervous system can't access safety.
In this episode of Adulting With Autism, we talk with Ethan Reisboard, CHT, a hypnotherapist who helps clients regulate their nervous systems and create lasting change using evidence-informed hypnotherapy tools.
Ethan shares his own recovery story: in 2021 he developed post-concussion syndrome with debilitating migraines and eye dysfunction. After trying numerous approaches with no results, hypnotherapy helped shift his body out of fight-or-flight so recovery could finally begin. Now he works with clients (mostly over Zoom) to build safety, reduce triggers, and develop skills that last beyond a single session.
In this episode, we cover:
What hypnotherapy is (and what it is not)
Why the hypnotic state supports the parasympathetic nervous system
How fight-or-flight can show up as anxiety and chronic pain
How you know you're "out" of fight-or-flight: when triggers become less relevant/reactive
"I can't be hypnotized" — stage hypnosis vs therapeutic hypnosis
How to find a qualified hypnotherapist (training, supervision, credentials)
Tools Ethan uses with clients: breathwork (including vagus nerve activation), somatic tracking, guided practices
Working with neurodivergent clients: visualization differences, trust, sensory concerns
Nature and travel as nervous system support—without using external "escape" as the only strategy
Consent, safety, and agency: why hypnosis can't make you do what you don't want
How hypnotherapy can complement OT/PT/clinical rehab when progress is stuck
Connect with Ethan Reisboard, CHT:
Website: https://ethanreishypnotherapy.com
Social: Ethan Reis Hypnotherapy
Free consultation scheduling and resources available on his website