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Health & Fitness

That AuDHD Teacher

Emily Sigglekow

Welcome to That AuDHD Teacher, a podcast about making sense of life through the lens of a late AuDHD diagnosis. I'm Emily, an early childhood teacher and someone who spent years wondering why life always seemed a little harder than it looked for everyone else. After being diagnosed with Autism and ADHD as an adult, so many pieces of my life started to make sense. Each episode is an honest conversation about neurodivergence, mental wellbeing, teaching, and the everyday experiences that often go unseen. So lets get comfortable and make sense of this beautifully complicated brain together.

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  • 7 episodes
  • Updated Thursday

Episodes7

Newest first
  • Thursday · 29 min

    Why Simple Things Can Feel So Hard | Understanding Executive Functioning with AuDHD

    Have you ever looked at a simple task and thought, "I know I need to do this... so why can't I just start?" If so, you're not alone. In this episode of That AuDHD Teacher, we're unpacking one of the most misunderstood aspects of ADHD and autism, executive functioning. We'll explore what executive functioning actually is, why it's about so much more than organisation, and how it influences everything from getting started on a task to managing emotions, remembering information, prioritising, and adapting when plans change. I'll explain the different executive functioning skills in everyday language, share how these challenges have shown up in my own life, and talk about some of the strategies that have helped me work with my brain instead of constantly feeling like I'm fighting against it. Whether you're neurodivergent, supporting someone who is, or you're simply curious about why everyday tasks can sometimes feel so much harder than they "should," I hope this episode helps you better understand yourself or someone you love. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love it if you followed That AuDHD Teacher and left a rating or review. It really helps more people discover these conversations. You can also find me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, and YouTube at @thataudhdteacher. Remember, different doesn't mean broken. It simply means different.

  • July 23 · 20 min

    Episode 5: When Coping Stops Working | My Experience with AuDHD Burnout

    What happens when pushing through just isn't enough anymore? For years, I thought I was simply tired. I told myself I needed to be more organised, get more sleep, or just try harder. It wasn't until my AuDHD diagnosis that I began to understand there was something much deeper going on. In this episode of That AuDHD Teacher, I'm sharing my personal experience with AuDHD burnout, what it felt like, the signs I missed, and how understanding burnout completely changed the way I see myself. We'll also explore the difference between stress, workplace burnout, and autistic burnout, and why burnout can look different for autistic and AuDHD individuals. Rather than focusing on quick fixes, this episode is about understanding, self-compassion, and recognising that needing rest isn't a weakness. Whether you're autistic, ADHD, AuDHD, a teacher, a parent, or simply feeling exhausted and wondering why, I hope this episode helps you feel a little less alone. As always, thank you so much for listening. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love it if you followed That AuDHD Teacher and left a rating or review, it really helps more people find these conversations. You can also find me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, and YouTube at @thataudhdteacher. Remember, different doesn't mean broken. It simply means different.

  • July 20 · 23 min

    Episode 4: The Exhausting Art of Looking Like You're Coping | Understanding Masking and AuDHD

    What if the person who looks like they're coping the best is actually working the hardest? In this episode of That AuDHD Teacher, we're talking about masking, the invisible effort many autistic and AuDHD people put into appearing calm, capable, and "normal," even when they're feeling overwhelmed inside. For years, I didn't even realise I was masking. I thought I was simply being professional, polite, and trying to fit in. It wasn't until my late AuDHD diagnosis that I understood just how much energy I had spent monitoring my facial expressions, rehearsing conversations, forcing eye contact, hiding sensory overwhelm, and trying to become the version of myself I thought everyone else expected. Together we'll explore what masking actually is, why so many neurodivergent people do it, what it can cost us over time, and what it means to slowly begin unmasking in safe and supportive environments. This isn't an episode about stopping masking overnight. It's about understanding why it happens, treating ourselves with compassion, and finding places where we can finally let ourselves breathe. Whether you're neurodivergent yourself, questioning your own experiences, supporting someone you love, or you're an educator wanting to better understand the children in your care, I hope this episode reminds you that you're not alone. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love it if you followed That AuDHD Teacher and left a rating or review. It really helps others discover these conversations. You can also connect with me on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at @thataudhdteacher. Remember, different doesn't mean broken. It simply means different.

  • July 17 · 30 min

    Episode 3: The Clues Were There All Along | The Signs I Missed for Nearly 30 Years

    Have you ever looked back on your life and realised the clues were there all along? After receiving my AuDHD diagnosis, I found myself replaying my childhood, school years, university, and teaching career through a completely different lens. Suddenly, so many experiences that I'd always explained away as personality traits started to make sense. In this episode of That AuDHD Teacher, I share the signs I missed for nearly 30 years, from feeling like everyone else had the rulebook for life, to navigating the hidden curriculum at school and university, to the perfectionism, exhaustion, and constant feeling that I was working harder than everyone else just to keep up. We'll also explore the concept of the hidden curriculum, the unwritten social rules that many people seem to learn naturally, but that can be incredibly challenging for neurodivergent people to navigate. This episode isn't about looking back with regret. It's about looking back with compassion and understanding. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to follow That AuDHD Teacher and leave a rating or review. It really helps others find these conversations. You can also connect with me on Instagram and TikTok @thataudhdteacher, where I share more about my AuDHD journey, life as an early childhood teacher, and practical resources for educators and families. Thank you so much for listening. I'll see you in the next episode.

  • July 13 · 24 min

    Episode 2: What Is AuDHD? Understanding Autism and ADHD Together

    When I was first diagnosed, I remember thinking, "How can I possibly have both autism and ADHD? Aren't they complete opposites?" As it turns out, that question has a surprisingly simple answer. In this episode of That AuDHD Teacher, I'm breaking down what AuDHD actually is, explaining how autism and ADHD can exist together, and sharing the experiences that finally helped me understand my own brain. We'll talk about common myths, executive functioning, hyperfocus, sensory differences, time blindness, masking, and why so many adults, especially women, are only discovering they're neurodivergent later in life. Rather than focusing on diagnostic criteria, this episode explores what AuDHD actually feels like through my own lived experience as an early childhood teacher. Whether you're newly diagnosed, questioning, supporting someone you love, or simply curious to learn more, I hope this conversation helps make AuDHD feel a little less confusing and a lot more human. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to follow That AuDHD Teacher and leave a rating or review. It helps more people discover these conversations and join our growing community. You can also connect with me on social media at @thataudhdteacher

  • July 10 · 39 min

    Episode 1: Welcome to That AuDHD Teacher | The Story I Never Knew I Was Living

    For years, I believed there was something wrong with me. I was constantly exhausted, overwhelmed by everyday life, and always wondering why everything seemed to come so much more easily to everyone else. I loved being an early childhood teacher, but behind the scenes I was struggling in ways I couldn't explain. In this first episode, I'm sharing my story, what life looked like before my diagnosis, why I created this podcast, and the questions that eventually changed everything. This isn't just a podcast about Autism and ADHD. It's about understanding ourselves, challenging the stories we've been told, and discovering that maybe we were never too much or not enough after all. If you've ever felt different without knowing why, this episode is for you. In this episode we discuss: Why I started That AuDHD Teacher Growing up feeling different Becoming an early childhood teacher Burnout, overthinking and masking Wondering why life felt harder than it seemed for everyone else The questions that led me to seek answers Thank you so much for listening. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to follow the podcast and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

  • July 10 · 1 min

    That AuDHD Teacher Trailer

    Welcome to That AuDHD Teacher! I'm Emily, an early childhood teacher from New Zealand who was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD as an adult. For years, I thought I was just anxious, overwhelmed, too sensitive, or simply not coping with adulthood as well as everyone else. Receiving an AuDHD diagnosis changed the way I understood my life, and myself. In this podcast, I'll share my own journey alongside honest conversations about Autism, ADHD, late diagnosis, masking, burnout, teaching, mental wellbeing, and the everyday experiences that often go unseen. Whether you're neurodivergent yourself, questioning, supporting someone you love, or you're simply curious to learn more, I'm so glad you're here. Subscribe now so you don't miss Episode 1, where I'll share the story I never knew I was living