The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

How Rhythm Can Calm the Nervous System and Support Neurodivergent BrainsWhat if something as simple as rhythm could help with stress, focus, and regulation in ways many people never expect?In this episode, I sit down with Dori to talk about how drumming became more than music. What started as a childhood love of tapping on everything grew into a science-based wellness tool she now uses with neurodivergent kids, teens, and adults. Along the way, we talk about the moments that almost pulled her away from music, the surprising reason she came back to it at 47, and what she began noticing in both her own brain and the people she supported.You’ll hear how rhythm can help calm the body, support attention, and create space for connection. We also get into a bigger conversation about misunderstood neurodivergent learners, hidden strengths, and why so many kids are judged by what they struggle with instead of what they can do.If you’ve ever felt scattered, overwhelmed, or unsure how to support a neurodivergent person in your life, I think this conversation will stay with you.About the GuestDori Staley is the founder of Next Stage Drumming. She works with children, teens, and adults using drumming-based wellness programs that support focus, stress relief, confidence, and emotional regulation.Key Timestamps0:01 - I welcome Dori and we start with her early love of rhythm0:31 - How childhood tapping turned into a lifelong pull toward music7:14 - What rhythm felt like to Dori and why it helped her settle13:04 - Why she auditioned for a band at 47 with no formal drumming background15:53 - When she realized rhythm was helping neurodivergent brains20:56 - What drumming can support: focus, stress, regulation, and more27:53 - What drumming does to the nervous system47:58 - A simple way to use rhythm even if you don’t have a drum58:04 - Where to learn more about Dori and her workDori's Resource'sNext Stage Drumming - Dori’s main website for her drum therapy and wellness work. It was mentioned as the best place to learn about her programs, sign up for her newsletter, and access a free video. https://nextstagedrumming.comListen in if you want a fresh way to think about neurodiversity, regulation, and the power of meeting people where they are.#Neurodiversity #ADHD #AutismSupport #EmotionalRegulation #DrummingTherapyHosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.comHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What Happens to Home, Identity, and Grief When You Build a Life Abroad?What if starting over in a new country doesn’t just change your address, but brings you face to face with who you really are?In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Parks to talk about living abroad, coming home, and the quiet emotional weight that can come with both. We explore what happens when the life you once wanted turns out to be harder than expected, especially for autistic and neurodivergent people trying to make sense of belonging, masking, grief, and identity.Melissa shares how travel, culture, language, and big life transitions shaped the person she became, and why returning home can feel just as disorienting as leaving. Along the way, I also open up about my own experiences studying overseas, traveling alone, and trying to find comfort in unfamiliar places.You’ll hear us unpack the difference between being unhappy and being uprooted, why grief is so often mistaken for failure, and what “home” really means when your heart lives in more than one place.About the GuestMelissa Parks is a writer, coach, and author of A Compassionate Mess. She works with people navigating life across borders, languages, and cultures, with a thoughtful focus on identity, belonging, and emotional well-being.Key Timestamps0:02 - I welcome Melissa Parks and we begin with her early picture of adulthood1:06 - We talk about what “home” meant before life abroad14:44 - Melissa shares when living abroad became real, not temporary16:21 - We compare traveling to actually building a life in another country19:27 - We explore whether living abroad changes us or reveals who we already are27:13 - Melissa explains why people feel guilt when a chosen life feels hard29:40 - We discuss how grief often gets mistaken for failure35:36 - Melissa shares what people misunderstand about coming home49:37 - We talk about her memoir, A Compassionate Mess, and the inner battles behind it53:04 - We end with what “home” means todayMelissa's Resources:Melissaparks.comFind her on all social platforms except TictokIf you’ve ever felt split between places, identities, or versions of yourself, this conversation will stay with you. Listen now, and if it speaks to you, share it with someone who needs the reminder that they’re not alone.#NeurodivergentConnection #AutismAwareness #LivingAbroad #IdentityAndBelonging #NeurodivergentHosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.comHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When Life Stops You Cold: Andrea’s 101 Days in the Hospital and What Came AfterOne ordinary season turned into a fight for life, and in this conversation, I sit with Andrea as she shares what changed when her body could no longer keep going.I wanted to tell this story with care because it speaks to something many of us carry quietly: the pressure to keep pushing, even when something feels deeply wrong. Andrea opens up about the medical crisis that led to sepsis, a coma, emergency surgery, and 101 days in the hospital. Yet this isn’t only about survival. It’s also about what happens to your mind, your identity, and your view of life when everything familiar falls away.As we talk, you’ll hear how she moved through fear, confusion, grief, and the slow work of recovery. I also explore the quiet shifts that changed how she sees gratitude, vulnerability, and the way she wants to live now. There’s one moment involving sunlight and fresh air that says more than any long speech could.About the GuestAndrea is a life coach and workshop leader who helps people build a life with more meaning, appreciation, and purpose after hard seasons.Timestamps0:03 - I welcome Andrea and we go back to life before the medical emergency4:03 - The moment she knew something was seriously wrong7:52 - How she finally got answers after collapsing far from home9:50 - What 101 days in the hospital did to her mentally and emotionally15:07 - Waking up two weeks later from a coma18:29 - The surprising moment that brought comfort in the ICU22:27 - What helped her keep fighting on the hardest days28:41 - How her relationship with her body changed32:14 - What she had to let go of after surviving40:45 - The message she hopes listeners carry into daily lifeAndres Resources: Website: Life Coaching by AndreaSocial: Life Changing by AndreaIf this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who needs hope, perspective, or a reminder to slow down and pay attention.#SepsisSurvivor #HospitalRecovery #MentalHealth #LifeAfterTrauma #TheCuriousStorytellerHosted by Reid Miles.Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.comHosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.