Pause Purpose Play

Do you ever feel like you're so busy trying to keep up that you can't actually think? When you have ADHD, a busy brain, or you're juggling work, family and everyone's needs, it can feel impossible to find the mental...

Have you ever looked at your child and thought, "They're incredibly bright... so why are they finding school, friendships or everyday life so hard?" If so, this episode is for you. I'm joined by Emma Hetherington...

Parental burnout isn't the same as feeling tired after a difficult day. It's an evidence-based psychological syndrome that can develop when the demands of parenting consistently outweigh the resources available to meet...

When your child is excluded from childcare, after-school club or wraparound care, the practical impact is obvious. But the emotional impact is often hidden. In this episode, I'm talking about the shame, grief and...

Ever felt guilty for using after-school club, holiday club, childcare, or asking for help? In this episode, I'm talking about something many parents carry quietly: the guilt and shame of needing support. Whether you're...

In this episode of Pause, Purpose, Play, we dive deep into the powerful connection between shifting hormones and neurodivergence with Dr Fionnuala Barton, also known as The Menopause Medic. We explore how the natural...

Do you look like you’re coping on the outside… whilst feeling overwhelmed underneath it all? Many high-achieving women with ADHD go undiagnosed for years because they appear successful, capable and “high functioning”...

In this episode, I’m sharing a more personal reflection on what it’s actually like to move through grief when your brain is already wired for intensity, sensitivity, and self-questioning. Because one of the things I’ve...

I explain that “time optimist” isn’t my term but a gentler Swedish alternative to “time blindness,” reframing chronic lateness and overcommitting as optimism about what fits into limited time rather than moral failure...

In this episode, Michaela explores the difference between trying to fit in and truly belonging, especially for ADHD and neurodivergent women who’ve been labeled “too much”—too sensitive, intense, chatty, or emotional...

In this episode, Michaela Thomas talks about the common feeling of not fitting in—especially for late-identified ADHD women—and how it can create a constant background self-monitoring of how we come across. She shares a...

If you feel constantly “on” - ticking off tasks, replying to messages, holding everything together - this episode is your reminder that your best thinking doesn’t happen in the busy… it happens in the pause. In this...

When neurodivergence isn’t properly understood at work, even highly capable people can end up struggling without the right support. In this episode, Michaela Thomas is joined by employment lawyer Jodie Hill, founder of...

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela welcomes clinical psychologist and knitting enthusiast Dr. Mia Hobbs. The conversation explores the therapeutic benefits of knitting, especially for those...

Many ADHD leaders are brilliant in a crisis. Quick thinking. Pattern spotting. Calm under pressure. But what if the same brain that thrives in urgency is also quietly creating it? In this episode, Michaela explores: Why...