• The difference between equality and equity
• Why clarity around feedback and expectations matters deeply
• How rejection sensitivity can distort workplace communication
• Why ADHD is an explanation, not an excuse
• The shame–overwork–burnout cycle many high achievers fall into
• How psychological safety improves performance for everyone

• What EBSA actually means (and why it’s not about defiance or manipulation)
• The difference between “won’t” and “can’t”
• Early signs to look out for (tummy aches, shutdown, irritability, “fizzing” bodies)
• Why children often seem fine at weekends or in holidays
• Burnout in children — and why “push through” can backfire
• The emotional toll on parents (work pressure, guilt, exhaustion)
• Why making home “less fun” is not the answer
• The tension between attendance targets and emotional safety
• How to respond in the early stages to prevent escalation
• The spectrum of EBSA — from subject-specific avoidance to full shutdown
• Practical ways to seek support (schools, councils, local offers)
• Why education is not one single narrow path

• Why constant optimisation keeps us stuck in performance mode
• The myth that being “regulated” means always being calm
• How overfunctioning gets mistaken for resilience
• When self-care tips into self-absorption
• The difference between assertiveness and aggression when setting boundaries
• Why attacking your inner critic often backfires

What if “eating well for ADHD” isn’t another set of rules - but a way to support your nervous system, mood and focus with more self-trust and less perfectionism?

In this episode, Michaela chats with clinical neuroscientist and nutrition researcher Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas about the gut–brain axis, why food matters for ADHD (without turning it into a restrictive fixation), and how self-care for ADHD is more about regulation than optimisation.

You’ll hear about:

• Why nutrition impacts ADHD (building blocks, blood sugar, hydration, cravings)

• The gut–brain–nervous system link (and why ADHD isn’t “just in the brain”)

• Why perfectionism + restriction can make ADHD symptoms worse, not better

• Practical, ADHD-friendly approaches: good-enough meals, shortcuts, and flavour “dopamine”

• The permission slip: you can be ADHD AF and still feel fabulous

About Dr Miguel

Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas is a clinical neuroscientist, applied microbiologist and nutrition researcher specialising in nutritional psychiatry and the gut–brain axis. He’s the author of the upcoming book ADHD: Brain, Body & Mind.

Want a calmer, steadier nervous system — without forcing yourself into rigid routines? Join the Reset here: www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset

If you’re an ADHD or neurodivergent woman, the pressure to be “acceptable” can feel relentless: capable but not chaotic, confident but not difficult, adaptable but not too much. This episode explores why patriarchy amplifies perfectionism for neurodivergent women - and how real male allyship can help reduce that pressure. One for your partner to listen to!

I’m joined by Lee Chambers, founder of Male Allies UK, to talk about what authentic male allyship actually looks like — beyond performative support or social media statements.

We discuss:

• Why perfectionism becomes a survival strategy for ADHD women

• How patriarchal norms punish difference and reward masking

• The invisible load of caregiving and emotional labour

• How men can be allies without centring themselves or creating more work for women

Patriarchy doesn’t just disadvantage women - it narrows who we’re allowed to be. For neurodivergent women, that narrowing is sharper, harsher, and more exhausting.

If this conversation stirred something, tiredness, recognition, or that familiar “oh… it’s not just me”, you might benefit from Reset, my gentle, science-informed experience for women who are burning out from trying to hold it all together. It’s a chance to pause, soothe your nervous system, and reconnect with yourself - without needing to fix or improve anything first. www.thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset

• Why ADHD is not an excuse, but is an explanation
• Why “trying harder” often leads to more shame and burnout, not change
• What happens when someone with ADHD is stuck in rumination or emotional collapse
• Why logic and reassurance don’t land when the nervous system is dysregulated
• Rejection sensitivity (RSD) and how tone, silence, and facial expressions can be misread
• How past relational wounds can be triggered in the present
• The common “parent–child” dynamic that can develop in ADHD relationships
• How to support your partner without taking over or eroding their agency

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela Thomas welcomes Joseph Pack who discusses strategies for managing ADHD without medication.

Joseph, founder of 'Drug-Free ADHD,' shares his journey of overcoming ADHD by focusing on lifestyle changes instead of medication. The conversation delves into various approaches, including breath work, cold and hot water exposure, diet adjustments, movement, and the critical importance of quality sleep.

Joseph and Michaela emphasise that these methods are not meant to replace medication but to offer alternative solutions for those who cannot or choose not to use medication. The episode concludes by highlighting the need for a nuanced and individualised approach to ADHD management.

Connect with Joseph:

Website: www.drugfreeadhd.org

Instagram: www.instagram.com/josephpackcom/

In this episode of the Pauses Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela Thomas speaks with Matt Buff, founder of the wellbeing and supplement brand Get Dopa. They discuss Matt’s journey through understanding and managing his ADHD, overcoming perfectionism, and the importance of self-compassion. Matt shares his experience of burning out in a high-pressure corporate job, discovering his ADHD, and subsequently creating a brand to support busy minds. The conversation highlights the importance of integrating pauses, purpose, and play into one’s life, maintaining self-awareness, the role of supplements in enhancing daily function, and the significance of building a balanced and fulfilling life. Listeners are encouraged to embrace their strengths and practice self-compassion, creating a life that suits their unique needs.