WTF is AuDHD?

Episoder

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  E80 | The gifted kid who burned out every year - Kate Manihera on her late AuDHD diagnosis 17.08.2026 45min

  On today's episode, Ellie and Paige speak with Kate Manihera - a New Zealand-based content creator, DJ, model, and former makeup artist/beauty YouTuber who was diagnosed with ADHD at 26 and autism at 27.Since her late diagnosis, she's brought awareness and education around late-diagnosed ADHD and autism through content creation, alongside her modelling and an emerging DJ career! Kate chats about how she came to diagnosis, misdiagnoses she received, socially struggling (but appearing capable), masking and bullying, and Kate also shares helpful insight into her medication journey.Kate is Māori (an indigenous person of Aotearoa/New Zealand), and therefore brings a perspective the podcast hasn't featured before. We chat about masking, burnout, being "too much" and misunderstood, and learning to unmask and trust her authentic self. Next week, Kate joins us again to chat about relationships, managing her life and career and gives more insight into the Māori definitions of Autism and ADHD.We're so grateful for Kate's time and kōrero (conversation) - if you want to follow Kate, follow her HERE.Also, WTF Journals are now live! Well, the pre-order window anyway. Order now from wtfjournals.com - the pre-order window is open for three weeks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E79 | WTF is going on with Channel 4's upcoming ADHD documentary? 10.08.2026 53min

  In this week's episode, Ellie and Paige answer a listener question about medication and their experience with Fluoxetine, we discuss an upcoming ADHD documentary and Paige highlights one of her fave journal inserts coming out next week.Some more context on the upcoming documentary - a couple of weeks ago Channel 4 announced a new ADHD documentary is in production and our first instincts solely based on the title were... uncomfortable? It's called The Great ADHD Myth?' and we thought it was important to have a nuanced discussion about this, based on what we know so far.The Great ADHD Myth? asks whether ADHD is actually a neurodevelopmental condition - or whether modern life is creating the behaviours we call ADHD. We chat about the questions the NHS Psychiatrist will be investigating in the documentary, whether we think, these will be helpful or harmful and discuss missed opportunities we think the content might be issing.Full disclosure; the documentary isn't out yet, so we're only able to base our chats on what we know from the above article, but we feel that even the article is purposely inflammatory and could be harmful, which is frustrating when we've spent years trying to remove so much stigma.Also, we're one week out from launching our journals - sign up before Tuesday 18th to become a Founding Member if you choose to purchase! https://wtfjournals.com/signupJoin our Reddit community to get involved in our conversations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E78 | An infodump on the history of ADHD 03.08.2026 41min

  Ellie loves an infodump and today she's gone on a deep dive about the history of ADHD. Ever wondered when it was first mentioned in literature? Or why it became a 'disorder' in modern day society? Did ADHD always exist, or has it just become a 'thing' in the last 100 years?ADHD might feel like a modern diagnosis, but the traits we associate with it have been described for centuries - from early descriptions of attention and hyperactivity, to the diagnosis entering the DSM, and the question of what ADHD might have looked like before modern society. We explore theories that some ADHD traits may have been advantageous in certain environments, and discuss that perhaps the manifestation of ADHD is heavily influenced by a mismatch between brains and the world we're living in.Check out Dr. Russell Barkley's YouTube ChannelCitation #1: Dan TA Eisenberg, Benjamin Campbell, Peter B Gray, Michael D Sorenson - An exploration of nutrition indices among nomadic and recently settled Ariaal men of northern KenyaCitation #2: David L. Barack et. al - Attention deficits linked with proclivity to explore while foragingSign up to become a Founding Member for WTF JournalsLINKTREE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E77 | Why can't I just organise my life?! 27.07.2026 52min

  Why is it that we can be incredibly capable, creative and motivated, but somehow struggle to organise our own lives? We've spent our whole lives trying to create routines, stick to planners, build systems and pretty much everytime, we abandon them, forget about them, or decide we've failed the moment we miss a day. This has led to years of shame, low self esteem, burnout - you name it!In this episode, we talk about our experiences with executive dysfunction, and reveal why sometimes we're just lacking the flint to our fire - once the fire is going, we can find momentum, but the systems in today's world aren't kind to our brains. We unpack why traditional systems can be so difficult for AuDHD brains - and why sometimes, we don't need more discipline - w just need the right flint to get the fire started.After years of struggling, we've created our own customisable journal system and we're hoping it helps you too!Sign up to become a WTF Journal Founding Member - (includes $10 off your first order) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E76 | Learning how to listen to physical manifestations of stress 20.07.2026 51min

  Stress affects everyone, but sometimes we don't always become aware of it until it's too late. In this episode, Ellie and Paige talk about their experiences with stress and how they've learnt to look for physical signs early. The body and mind are super connected, but Westernised medicine generally doesn't approach this holistic ideology, leading to a disconnect between your thoughts and feelings, and what your body is trying to say. After Ellie's body recently burnt out, she's trying to learn how to identify it earlier and encourage others to listen to their bodies too. We ask our listeners how stress manifests physically in them, and there are a lot of clear themes that come up. Hopefully this episode will help you identify early signs of stress, be kinder to yourself and not always feel you have to "push through".Join the conversation by joining our Reddit! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E75 | Disclosing your diagnosis to employers and healthcare professionals 13.07.2026 53min

  This week, we've swapped places and now Paige has been sick! So in the spirit of accommodating ourselves, but still providing you with some fun, we're continuing to answer your questions. We chat about light-hearted subjects like our star signs, to giving our opinions on disclosing your diagnosis to healthcare professionals and potential employers. We discuss how we balance our lives to avoid burnout (spoiler alert: we're still workjing on it) we finally reveal "the hill we will die on".Thanks for your patience as we both get back to full health - we'll be back with a proper episode next week!Sign up to h ear more about our journals wtfjournals.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E74 | Ellie and Paige answer your questions 06.07.2026 42min

  Full disclosure - Ellie is super sick this week and because we self-produce this, we needed an accessible, low-effort topic, that would still be interesting to you - so we opened up your questions!Did we used to fight as kids? What are we watching at the moment? Our go-to meals? What is our fave part of being AuDHD? And more! Join our Reddit to participate in future conversations with us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E73 | The sensory struggles of clothing and societal expectations 29.06.2026 44min

  We have both struggled with clothing for our entire life - it's a double-prong of sensory icks and societal expectations that really drive us up the wall. For many neurodivergent people, clothes can be a daily sensory battle, so in this episode, we chat about our favourite "safe clothes", why certain fabrics make us want to crawl out of our skin, the emotional side of getting dressed, the societal expectations of gender-based dressing and general social decorum, and why comfort should always win over fashion!SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E72 | Masking in the bedroom 22.06.2026 58min

  CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode contains discussions about sex, intimacy, masking, consent, and unwanted sexual experiences. Please listen with caution. It also contains some EXPLICIT language, so be mindful of younger ears.This week we're discussing a topic that many people experience but rarely talk about: masking during sex and intimacy.After receiving a vulnerable email from a listener who described feeling like they were performing through every sexual experience, we wanted to explore the complicated relationship between masking, people-pleasing, sensory experiences, expectations, and intimacy.We talk about our own experiences growing up as women, the messages we received about sex and relationships, and how being neurodivergent can sometimes make it difficult to identify, communicate, and prioritise our own needs. We also discuss the difference between wanting something and feeling like you should want it, as well as the exhaustion that can come from constantly performing for others.As always, we're sharing personal experiences and listener stories rather than diagnostic criteria, and we recognise that everyone's relationship with sex and intimacy is different. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E71 | Reasons we didn't think we could be autistic 15.06.2026 41min

  Before we were diagnosed, Paige and Ellie dismissed the possibility that we could be autistic because we didn't match the stereotypes we'd been exposed to. Even though Paige suspected she was autistic at 15, the environmental voices were so loud she gave up.In this episode, we're unpacking some of the reasons we didn't think we could be autistic and the experiences we later realised were showing up differently than we expected. As always, we're sharing our personal stories and experiences, not providing diagnostic advice. These traits don't automatically mean someone is autistic, but they may help explain why so many late-diagnosed and AuDHD people overlooked autism in themselves for years.Sign up to be a founding journal holder https://wtfjournals.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E70 | ADHD tax, hyperfixations and abandoned hobbies 08.06.2026 51min

  Before we jump into this week's episode - we have a new Reddit! The other one will be going to the graveyard, so join our new one here: https://www.reddit.com/r/wtfisaudhdIn this episode we chat about the hobbies, journals, activities we swore we'd stick to... only to abandon then a few weeks later.From the feelings of "this is it!" "this is my new thing" to the shame and embarrassment that comes after you've forgotten it even exists. We explore why ADHD brains become so intensely focused on new interests, why that motivation can disappear seemingly overnight, and the guilt, shame and financial "ADHD tax" that often follows. We also discuss your contributions around hobbies and dusty journals from the new Reddit community. Plus, we received a message from our local psychologist Mike Cochrane about scam diagnoses and how to keep an eye out for illiegitimate 'experts'.And speaking of things we've abandoned in the past... Paige brings her latest journal updates - and how she's trying her best to ensure this is a journal that stays with you forever! More info at wtfjournals.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E69 | Why the modern world is kryptonite for ADHDers 01.06.2026 34min

  Modern life can sometimes feel like actual torture for an ADHD brain - and it really can be! In this episode, we chat about dopamine, procrastination, novelty-seeking, and why so many apps, algorithms, and endless notifications are designed to hijack everyone's brains. Then when you add in the ADHD, we become the perfect target.We look at the ways modern life may be making life harder for ADHDers, and we share some personal examples minor tasks we've avoided, even though it would help us in the long run. If you're struggling in this modern day, overstimulating world - you are not alone.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcastellieonthetelly.comwtfjournals.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E68 | WTF is that feeling of impending doom? 25.05.2026 31min

  Why do so many autistic, ADHD and AuDHD people experience a constant feeling that something is “wrong” or about to go wrong?In this episode of WTF is AuDHD?, we explore our experiences with the feeling of impending doom. We theorise why it might be experienced more in our community - from anxiety and sensory overload to nervous system activation, interoception, uncertainty intolerance and emotional dysregulation. We also share a few funny stories from the week that was, that include a lost cellphone and a tea kettle #adhdthings SOCIAL @wtfisaudpodcasthttps://wtfjournals.com/signuphttps://ellieonthetelly.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E67 | Why movies feel like homework (for some AuDHD brains) 18.05.2026 41min

  In this episode, Ellie and Paige reflect on Ellie's recent overseas trip and why Amsterdam in particular was kind to her neurodivergent mind. We go on a few side quests along the way, chatting about Ellie's recent engagement, Paige tells a story about having Tourette's in public and we accidentally end up analysing marriage. In the second half of the episode, we chat all about movies and why we both find it hard to commit to them. Ellie brings some research on why some autistic/ADHD people struggle with movies and we bring our own lived experience. We're curious to know - do you also struggle to commit to movies?Sign up for WTF Journal presales - wtfjournals.com/signupChat with Ellie - ellieonthetelly.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E66 | Neurodiversity and the fear of being perceived 10.05.2026 33min

  Why does being seen feel so uncomfortable… even when nothing’s actually wrong?In this episode, we unpack the fear of being perceived - something that shows up in many people from the neurodivergent community. From overthinking how we’re coming across, to feeling exposed just existing in public (and private!), to avoiding being watched altogether (lockdown was an interesting time) - we share what this experience feels like for us. Maybe you'll recognise this in yourself too? We talk about masking, perfectionism, shame, and the weird contradiction of wanting to be understood but not wanting to be perceived.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E65 | Things that dysregulate us (feat. you) 03.05.2026 32min

  What completely dysregulates you that might seem a bit unusual to someone else? This episode is basically a collection of “why does THIS send me over the edge?” moments.We’re sharing the things that dysregulate us as AuDHDers - from noises, to sounds, to textures, to general demands - we share our own experiences plus read out the ones you sent us on Instagram.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals Book a mentoring session with Ellie ellieonthetelly.comSign up for early access to our journals - wtfjournals.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E64 | Cannabis and AuDHD - why does it make me feel "normal"? 27.04.2026 46min

  Content note: This episode discusses cannabis use and self-medication. We’re sharing personal experiences, not medical advice. If medicinal cannabis is legal in your country/state, please see a healthcare professional to discuss your prescription options.In this episode, we explore why cannabis use seems to be relatively common among ADHD and autistic people - and what we’ve personally noticed. Even though we're sisters, we've both had different relationships with it. We talk about how it affects our brains and bodies, the ways it can help (and sometimes not help), and the very loose science behind why this might be the case. We chat about the endocannabinoid system and how that system might work differently in autistic people and discuss whether this might be why it helps some of us feel "normal".Again, this isn't medical advice, it's just a casual chat about something that isn’t talked about enough.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E63 | The anxiety loop living in our bodies - Hyperventilation Syndrome 20.04.2026 42min

  In this episode, we’re talking about Hyperventilation Syndrome and how easy it is to get stuck in an anxiety-breathing feedback loop without even realising. If you often feel dizzy, tight-chested, or like you can't catch a literal breath - you might relate to our personal experiences with chronic hyperventilation throughout our lives. We also touch on Ellie's lived experience with “W sitting” (if you know, you know). We chat about why so many neurodivergent people do it, why it’s not ideal for development, and how it’s impacted Ellie's body long-term.SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journalsSign up to early access for our journals - wtfjournals.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E62 | Why autistic & ADHD people are more vulnerable - our experiences with harm 13.04.2026 56min

  Trigger warning: this episode discusses Ellie and Paige's experiences with manipulation, sexual harm and harrassment. Listen with care.In this episode, we’re talking about some of the harder experiences we’ve had - including manipulation, bullying, and situations where consent and safety weren’t always clear at the time. Our aim with this chat is to help you recognise harm and vaildate similar experiences you may have had.We explore this through an AuDHD lens, unpacking things like missing red flags, people-pleasing, delayed processing, and the moments where we only realised later that something wasn’t okay.This isn’t a graphic episode - it’s a reflective one. We’re focusing on patterns, understanding, and what we wish we’d known earlier.Please take care while listening: pause, skip, or come back to this when you feel ready.If you or someone you know needs help, visit: https://www.wannatalkaboutit.com/SOCIAL @wtfisaudhdpodcast @wtf.journals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  E61 | Why AuDHDers are 3x more likely to experience binge eating 06.04.2026 1t 12min

  Trigger warning: this episode contains light conversations surrounding eating and disordered eating. In this episode, we’re joined by Erin - an ADHDer and dietician (Balance and Bite) - to unpack what neuroaffirming nutrition actually looks like and why traditional advice around food so often doesn’t work for neurodivergent people.Erin talks to us about the real reasons the neurodivergent population struggle with food - from executive dysfunction and dopamine-seeking, to sensory needs, decision fatigue, and burnout. We explore why advice like “just eat when you’re hungry” or “just use willpower” can fall apart, and how these challenges are often misunderstood as personal failure rather than differences in how our brains work.We also dive into binge eating, emotional eating, and the role food can play in regulation - reframing these behaviours with compassion instead of shame. Erin shares practical, ADHD-friendly strategies to make eating feel easier, support energy and focus, and reduce overwhelm without aiming for perfection. We hope you walk away from this episode feeling validated and carrying less shame around food. Book a mentoring session with Ellie www.ellieonthetelly.comSign up for early access to our journals www.wtfjournals.com/signup Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.