We delve into the fascinating journey of Nicole Christian, a high-performance coach who has a unique and deeply empathetic approach to helping others.

In this episode, we explore Nicole's path from a childhood marked by strict religious control to becoming a powerful advocate for personal freedom and authenticity.

We uncover how she navigated a restrictive upbringing where self-expression was seen as "threatening," and how she developed unique coping mechanisms to keep her true self safe.

This is not your typical "life coach" story; Nicole's journey is one of resilience, self-discovery and growth. We unpack her early life in a very religious evangelical Christian household with a controlling father, including a strong "purity culture", which meant any form of self-expression was often seen as "threatening and very bad".

We discuss how this led to a lot of "walking on eggshells," and performing as the "perfect Christian girl". This is where she developed her "secret cookie" metaphor, a concept that represents small, hidden joys and acts of self-preservation, which she now uses to understand her client's motivations.

A key part of Nicole's journey is her more recent understanding of her neurodivergence. Initially, she felt her traits might point to ADHD, but she now identifies more with autism. This autistic awakening has helped her understand her unique gifts, including her musical ability, her echolalia, her mirroring of others, and her direct communication style.

She explains that finding out that "her gifts were just autism" has been truly insightful. We explore how her ability to repeat back what someone says, and mirror their actions, made her a natural musician and dancer. We also discuss her direct way of communicating which she has had since a very young age.

Discover how Nicole's experience of masking and adapting to fit in during childhood, a common trait for autistic people, has given her a profound understanding of how to help others. Learn how she uses her personal journey to inform her professional practice, emphasizing mindfulness, self-compassion, and taking actionable steps to create a more fulfilling life for her clients.

This episode delves into:

* Nicole's background in classical music and how it informs her coaching.

* The impact of purity culture on her teenage years and the development of her "secret cookie" coping mechanism.

* How she moved from a potential ADHD misdiagnosis, to embracing her autistic identity and her unique gifts.

* Her experiences of masking, and the importance of authenticity in her life and coaching.

* Her approach to coaching, which focuses on helping others thrive, find their own "cookie", and make decisions under pressure.

This is a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of embracing one's true self. Join us to be inspired by Nicole's wisdom and learn how you too can create a life that is truly your own.

This description is designed to highlight Nicole's personal journey, her unique approach to coaching, and her understanding of her neurodivergence, always with the inclusion of the key words "ADHD" and "autistic", as requested.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode, join us as we view the extraordinary life of Dave Farrow, a man who defied the odds to become a Guinness World Record holder despite being diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and labelled a "slow learner" in his childhood.

Dave's journey is a testament to the power of resilience, innovative thinking, and the ability to turn perceived weaknesses into strengths.

This isn't just another story of success; it's a deep dive into the strategies Dave developed to hack his own brain, overcoming the daily challenges of ADHD and learning difficulties. You'll discover how he gamified studying, developed unique focus techniques, and harnessed the power of hyperfocus to not only learn but to excel. You'll also hear about his unique approach to learning and memory, including the development of five different memory techniques, one of which has been tested in a double-blind neuroscience study and shown to produce three times the results.

Dave shares how he went from the bottom of his classes to achieving a Guinness World Record for memorizing 59 decks of cards with only one mistake, which still stands to this day.

He also delves into the challenges he faced while working towards this amazing achievement, as well as family members betting that he would fail.

More than just memory, this is a story of personal growth and the "Kaizen" approach of continuous daily improvement. Dave emphasises the importance of comparing yourself to your past self, not to others and he discusses how he found the gift of optimism that allowed him to stay motivated.

He emphasizes the value of courage, vulnerability and intellectual humility, sharing that he was ashamed of his ADHD at first, until he discovered that being vulnerable about it actually helped people connect with him.

You will gain valuable insights into:

* Practical memory and focus techniques that can be applied to everyday life and learning.

* How to turn the challenges of ADHD into an advantage by harnessing hyperfocus and creating personalised systems.

* The importance of perseverance and continuous improvement in the face of setbacks.

* The power of courage, optimism, and self-belief in achieving extraordinary goals.

* How early childhood experiences with illness and pain contributed to his drive to succeed.

This podcast is a must-listen for anyone struggling with learning difficulties, seeking to improve their focus and memory, or simply looking for an inspiring story of how to overcome any challenges to achieve greatness.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.