Adulting with Autism

In this episode of Adulting With Autism, we talk with E.A. Johnson, motivational speaker and pharmaceutical sales rep, about rebuilding your life after trauma, bullying, anxiety, insomnia, and addiction.
E.A shares his rock-bottom moment—writing down everything he was taking and realizing that if someone he loved saw it, they'd think he was trying to kill himself. That realization became the turning point that pushed him toward change.
We break down E.A's Success VIBE System, where success is a VIBE:
Vision, Intention, Belief, Execution—and how to use it to create momentum when you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or trapped in survival mode.
This is a conversation about mindset and practical steps: micro-wins, discipline, community support, morning routines, reframing "failure," and building self-worth without tying it to achievements.
In this episode, we cover:
E.A's rock-bottom moment and what made him finally change
How trauma and anxiety can drive insomnia and addiction
Why "planning" can become procrastination—and how to take the first step
Micro-wins: using "one more minute" to build momentum
Why belief shapes behavior (and how to build belief through kept promises)
Reframing setbacks: you don't fail unless you stop
Community and relationships as accelerators for healing
Practical routines: mindfulness in nature, affirmations, gratitude journaling
Boundaries, burnout recovery, and staying steady as responsibilities grow
Connect with E.A. Johnson:
Instagram: @EAJohnsonSpeaks
Website: https://EAJohnsonSpeaks.com
Email: [email protected]

Big change can be exciting—and completely destabilizing, especially for autistic and ADHD adults who thrive with clarity, predictability, and nervous-system safety.
In this episode of Adulting With Autism, host April sits down with Jennie Lee, a trusted personal coach to creatives, CEOs, military officers, teachers, therapists, and more. Jennie bridges spiritual self-development with physical self-expression, offering pragmatic tools for inner alignment and conscious, strategic change.
Jennie is the author of Spark Change, a highly practical book built around transformational questions you can use in real time—whether you're stuck in indecision, rebuilding after burnout, unmasking, changing careers, or redefining relationships. She's also the author of True Yoga: Practicing with the Yoga Sutras for Happiness & Spiritual Fulfillment and Breathing Love: Meditation in Action, and she's a multi–award-winning author including the Nautilus Book Award.
In this episode, we explore:
Why the right questions create real change (not just "thinking about it")
Turning insight into action during transitions and identity shifts
Inner alignment: spiritual development that stays grounded in daily life
Using reflection without getting trapped in overthinking
Spark Change: 12 themes, 9 questions each—how to use it as a daily prompt or conversation starter
Moving beyond self-imposed limitations and expanding creative self-expression
About Jennie Lee:
Jennie has been teaching and coaching in the spiritual/personal development space for nearly three decades. She's known for being fun, highly engaging, and spontaneous—while still delivering practical tools that actually help people implement change.

Intimacy isn't just sex—and for a lot of autistic and ADHD adults, dating can feel like a confusing set of unspoken rules that nobody will explain.
In this episode of Adulting With Autism, host April sits down with Mandy Hart, a Certified Sexologist and founder of Hart's Desire—Intimacy and Relationship Coaching, for a candid, compassionate conversation about shame, consent, boundaries, and connection.
Mandy blends behavioral science, public health, and trauma-empowered somatic coaching to help people reconnect with their bodies, build confidence, and create authentic intimacy on their own terms—whether that's with a partner, multiple partners, or solo. We talk about what it means to feel safe in your body, how to communicate needs and boundaries, how to discuss STIs without panic or shame, and how consent can be sexy, clear, and ongoing (not a checklist).
In this episode, we cover:
Intimacy vs. sex: expanding what "connection" can mean
Shame and self-worth: how it shows up in dating and relationships
"Safety in your body" and nervous system regulation
Consent skills: how to ask, how to check in, and how to make it hot (not awkward)
Neurodivergent dating: navigating cues, boundaries, and communication
Asexuality, sensory needs, and relationships without partner sex
STI disclosure and sexual health conversations with compassion
Connect with Mandy Hart:
Website: https://harts-desire.com/ 
Email: [email protected]
Book a free discovery call via the site
Blog: Embodying Hart's Desire

What happens to your children, your home, your photos, and your money if something happens to you—tomorrow?
In this episode of Adulting With Autism, we sit down with Attorney M. Cecilia Amo, founder of AMO LAW Legacy Planning (Costa Mesa, California), to talk about estate planning for real life—not just paperwork that sits in a drawer. Cecilia breaks down the difference between a will and a trust, why probate can be expensive and stressful, and how to build a plan that keeps your loved ones out of court and out of conflict.
We also dig into why estate planning matters for families navigating autism, ADHD, disability, and government benefits, including how an inheritance can accidentally disrupt benefits if planning isn't done correctly—and what tools (like special needs planning) may help protect long-term stability.
Cecilia is also the author of Your After-Credits Scene: A Nerd's Guide to Wills, Trusts & Legacy, where she teaches estate planning using pop culture references (think Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel) to make it actually understandable.
In this episode, we cover:
Estate planning myths: it's not just for the wealthy or elderly
Will vs. trust: what each does (and doesn't do)
Why probate is the government's "default" plan
What happens if you're incapacitated without a power of attorney
Kids protection planning and choosing guardians
Why digital assets (photos, accounts) need planning too
How to find an estate planning attorney who isn't just selling templates
Learn more / Connect:
AMO LAW: https://amo-law.com/
Book info: https://amo-law.com/aftercredits

Are you exhausted from trying to be everything to everyone—and still feeling like it's not enough?
In this episode of Adulting With Autism, host April talks with Ruth Hirshberg, former social worker and creator of Grounding with Ruth, about the real root cause behind chronic burnout and people-pleasing: core beliefs about worth.
Ruth shares how a Crohn's disease diagnosis forced her to face the truth she'd been avoiding—you can't perform your way to peace. Together, we unpack why "just set boundaries" and "just do self-care" often fails, especially for high achievers, perfectionists, and neurodivergent adults who learned early that being useful was the safest way to belong.
Ruth brings an honest, no-fluff approach—calling out toxic positivity and wellness-industry nonsense—and offers practical tools rooted in social work, breathwork, and meditation to build internal safety and sustainable self-worth.
In this episode, we cover:
What people-pleasing actually is (and why it's not just "being nice")
Why boundaries don't stick if you don't believe you're allowed to have needs
The hidden beliefs that keep high-achievers trapped in burnout
Self-worth vs. productivity: separating value from output
Nervous system regulation that doesn't cost money (breathwork you can do anywhere)
Meditation for exhausted or traumatized people (starting small, safely, and realistically)
Toxic positivity and why "good vibes only" makes healing harder
Community as a tool for healing shame and isolation
Connect with Ruth Hirshberg:
Website: https://groundingwithruth.com
Instagram/Facebook: @groundingwithruth
Facebook Group: The Enough Project
Podcast: Inspired Questions (interviews + guided meditations)