Cassia Tierney Clarke: AUTISTIC BURNOUT & REBUILDING YOUR LIFE | Late Diagnosis, CPTSD & Unmasking

In this episode of Spicy Brain, host Lara Sullivan is joined by Millie Gooch, founder of Sober Girl Society and author of Hangxiety: How Alcohol Messes with Your Mind, for an honest conversation about alcohol and the neurodivergent brain. Millie started drinking at university, where alcohol became the thing that switched off her brain, gave her confidence and helped her feel “normal”. Years of blackouts and days-long hangovers later, she went sober at 26. It took another seven years and a psychiatric assessment for her book to find out she is autistic and ADHD. Looking back, so much of it suddenly made sense. The episode explores: 🌶️ Why alcohol can feel like a shortcut to a neurotypical brain 🌶️ What actually happens in your brain when you drink, and the next day 🌶️ Hangxiety, rumination and why hangovers hit neurodivergent people harder 🌶️ Blackouts, memory and “drunk words are sober thoughts” 🌶️ ADHD, impulsivity and why stopping at two drinks is so hard 🌶️ The “addictive personality” myth and why neurodivergent people are overrepresented in addiction settings 🌶️ The alcohol industry, “drink responsibly” and what other countries do differently 🌶️ Sobriety vs self-optimisation culture 🌶️ Practical first steps if you want to change your relationship with alcohol Whether you’ve already stopped, are thinking about cutting back, or have never understood why alcohol hits you so hard, this is a judgement-free look at how your drinking might be connected to your neurodivergence. Tune in for a conversation full of science, lived experience and a lot of nodding along. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introducing Millie Gooch 00:02:00 Starting to Drink at University 00:03:47 Realising She Didn’t Drink Like Everyone Else 00:09:29 Going Sober at 26: The Final Hangover 00:16:13 Early Sobriety, Panic Attacks and Therapy 00:20:52 What Alcohol Does to Your Brain 00:25:40 Can Your Brain Recover? Addiction on a Spectrum 00:30:52 Hangxiety and Why Hangovers Hit Neurodivergent People Harder 00:37:36 Drunk Words, Sober Thoughts and Lost Memories 00:42:12 Why Nobody Links Alcohol and Mental Health 00:47:52 Getting Diagnosed Autistic and ADHD 00:56:02 How Alcohol Affects the Neurodivergent Brain 00:58:08 The Addictive Personality Myth 01:00:52 ADHD, Impulsivity and Not Being Able to Stop 01:01:52 Addiction Services and Neurodivergence 01:03:47 The Alcohol Industry and “Drink Responsibly” 01:07:35 How Other Countries Restrict Alcohol 01:09:51 What Needs to Change in the UK 01:15:20 Sobriety vs Self-Optimisation 01:20:32 Practical Tips to Drink Less 01:22:19 Spicy Fire Round

Spicy Brain Season Two kicks off with Anna Archer! Host Lara Sullivan sits down with vlogger, business owner, investor and running community favourite Anna Archer, who spent 24 years not knowing she was autistic and ADHD. From the outside, Anna's life looked sorted. The vlogs, the running community, the friendships, the business. Underneath it was a very different story. Anna opens up about growing up online, rewatching her old videos for signs she missed, and what it's been like looking back at her whole life through a completely new lens. The episode explores: 🌶️ Growing up online, work-life balance and female friendships 🌶️ Getting diagnosed with both autism and ADHD 🌶️ Social stigma, telling friends and going quiet on social media 🌶️ Being vulnerable with an online audience and showing up as yourself 🌶️ The push and pull of being AuDHD 🌶️ ADHD medication, the hormonal cycle and lifestyle regulation 🌶️ Skill regression, unmasking and taking steps before you feel ready This conversation is an honest look at post-diagnosis self-doubt, what's still hard, and why not having it all figured out is a normal part of the process. Tune in for a real conversation about late diagnosis, identity, and what life actually looks like after finding out you're AuDHD. Timestamps 00:00:00 How Lara and Anna Met 00:06:07 Rewatching Old Videos for Signs of Autism and ADHD 00:09:45 Growing Up Online, Work-Life Balance and Female Friendships 00:24:42 Getting Diagnosed with ADHD and Autism 00:37:34 Autism Stigma, Telling Friends and Going Quiet on Social Media 00:46:05 Vulnerability Online and Being More Yourself 00:56:28 The Opposites of Being AuDHD 01:03:01 ADHD Medication, Hormonal Cycles and Regulation 01:14:24 Regression, Unmasking and Starting Before You Feel Ready 01:24:42 Spicy Fire Round Contact Spicy Brain: Email: [email protected] Follow us on social media: Instagram: www.instagram.com/spicybrain.podcast/ Follow Lara: Website: linktr.ee/Sullivanlara Instagram: www.instagram.com/sullivanlara/ Follow Anna: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annaarcher/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnnaArcherFitness

Spicy Brain Season Two Teaser | Behind the Scenes with Producer Vickey Spicy Brain is back! In this Season Two teaser, host Lara Sullivan is joined by Spicy Brain producer Vickey from Voices & Visuals for a behind-the-scenes chat about how the podcast came together, how they met, what Season One taught them both, and what listeners can expect from the brand-new season. From the very first nervous studio session to a growing community of autistic people, ADHDers and neurodivergent listeners who finally feel seen, Lara talks about the importance of building a neurodiverse team and what's on the horizon for Spicy Brain.

In this special season one finale of Spicy Brain, host Lara Sullivan reflects on the journey of creating the podcast, from overcoming her own fear of being in the studio to building a community where neurodivergent people can share their experiences openly and without judgement. Lara revisits the conversations and key lessons from guests exploring everything from workplace accommodations and late diagnosis to relationships, nutrition, OCD, ADHD, autism and the realities of living as a neurodivergent person.

Why are safe foods so often beige, and what does that tell us about neurodivergence?