Welcome to episode #73 We’re thrilled to be joined by Andrew Arboe today.

Andrew Arboe is a self-advocate with a professional work background consisting of public school, private school, nonprofits, and online programs. Andrew is also a public speaker known for talking throughout New England about autism and his personal experiences.

Welcome to the show Andrew!

Questions

1. JN: Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity?
   1. When did you realise that you weren’t neurotypical?
      1. 5-6 y.o.
      2. Temple Grandin on the scene
      3. Into video games/pokemon
      4. Upper elementary school started getting challenging
   2. What challenges did you face?
      1. Processing emotions when the environment is chaotic (raised voices)
      2. Unsure what to do after school - didn’t want to do tech/IT
   3. What strengths are you leaning into now?
      1. Explorer personality - play archetype
2. JC: What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. 1 to 1 work in special education:
      1. Public school
      2. Private school
      3. Helping with social skills
      4. E.g. helping with cooking - organising recipes etc.
      5. Letting go of expectations about NT work/driving abilities
   2. Writing/Public speaking/advocacy in different states - personal experience
   3. “Red mage”
   4. Studying psychology
3. JN: How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Niche games
   2. Exploring different cities/coffee shops
   3. Classic movies: The Red Shoes, It happened one night
   4. Anime movies on big screen
   5. Puppy (9 month old German shepherd)
4. JC: Productivity tips
   1. What do you do to optimise productivity during your working hours?
      1. Coffee
      2. Breaks
         1. Meditation app - breaks
         2. Driving
      3. Get ahead of work (e.g. reading history of psychology)
      4. Study music - anime movie music (peak fire)
   2. What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
      1. Be careful about substance usage (even caffeine)
      2. Policing people about incorrect language usage
5. BREAK
6. JC: What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Get up at 6 - take dog out
   2. Eat bagel
   3. Have coffee at work
7. JC: How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
   1. Video games to wind down
   2. Read book (Stuart Brown - Play book)
   3. Midnight sleep
8. JN: Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-arboe/
   2. Website: https://andrewarboe.weebly.com/
   3. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewarboespeaker5/
9. JC: Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
   1. Don’t police people unnecessarily - be kind
   2. Start with small steps
   3. Think of like leveling up like Goku
   4. Don’t give up

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

Connect with Joey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycorea/

Newsletter: https://thepluckyjester.com/newsletter/

Welcome to episode #72 We’re thrilled to be joined by Will Soward today.

Will works creatively in a diverse field of digital media. He's invested in making online education more accessible for neurodiverse learners and the Web a better place to learn.

Will talks about UX and accessible UI design with communities in the design and education space. He has 7 years as a UX designer under his belt, 12 years as an adult educator, and 20 years designing and coding front-end.

Will is currently the Lead UX/LX Designer for Tait Communications in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Welcome to the show Will!

Questions

1. JN: Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity?
   1. When did you realise that you weren’t neurotypical?
      1. Dyslexia 11
      2. ADHD adult
   2. What challenges did you face?
      1. Masking - asking questions
      2. Academic -
         1. Rote learning
         2. Sit still and listen
      3. Speaking
   3. What changes have come post diagnosis?
      1. Context: why does it matter?
      2. More acceptance - stoicism - out of my control
      3. Environmental changes - clutter, to do lists
   4. What challenges do you still face now?
      1. Rabbitholes during meeting
      2. Interrupting
      3. solutionising
   5. What neuroexceptional strengths are you leaning into now?
      1. Jump ahead to solve problems quickly
      2. Creativity
      3. Hyperfocus
2. JC: What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Tait - accessibility design
   2. Online learning - development + design
      1. Make it better for ND adults
3. JN: How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Renovating house (last 8 yrs)
   2. Martial arts - forced calm and focus - karate -> taekwando -> BJJ -> muay thai
4. JC: Productivity tips
   1. What do you do to optimise productivity during your working hours?
      1. Philosophy: stoicism
      2. Breathing: calming
      3. Flywheel to build up motivation
      4. Lists
         1. Key priorities for the week
         2. Reprioritise
      5. Alarm 30 minutes before need to leave
   2. What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
      1. Eat that frog
5. BREAK
6. JC: What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Reprioritise list
7. JC: How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
   1. Finish in evening at 5pm to make space for relationship - shut laptop
8. JN: Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willsoward/
   2. Website: https://willsoward.com/
9. JC: Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?
   1. Learn more about neurodiversity

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

Connect with Joey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycorea/

Newsletter: https://thepluckyjester.com/newsletter/

Welcome to episode #71 We’re thrilled to be joined by Michelle Ridsdale today.

Michelle is the visionary force behind Kaboose, an innovative app designed to foster a sense of community for autistic individuals and those embracing neurodiversity. Drawing from her own personal journey and lived experiences, Michelle is a dedicated advocate and volunteer within the autistic community. Witnessing her own son grapple with isolation and disconnection, she was inspired to create a platform that addresses these challenges head-on.

Welcome to the show Michelle!

Questions

1. JN: Can you tell us about your experience with neurodiversity?
   1. When did you realise that you weren’t neurotypical?
      1. Son diagnosed
      2. I'm very social
      3. Daughter: ADHD and Autism
      4. Signs
         1. Routines
         2. Mask
         3. Autistic meltdown
   2. What challenges did you face?
      1. Not many friends
      2. Son gravitated to adults no kids
   3. What changes have come post-diagnosis?
      1. Self acceptance
      2. Less verbal
   4. What challenges do you still face now?
      1. ADHD - too many internal convos
      2. Getting upset over small things
   5. What neuro-exceptional strengths are you leaning into now?
      1. Hyperfocus
      2. Learning more about routines and quiet work
2. JC: What "work" projects are you concentrating on?
   1. Friends, mentors, jobs
      1. Tribes
   2. Songs on repeat TikTok
   3. Limit the number of people in group
3. JN: How about the rest of the time? What do you enjoy doing in your off time?
   1. Work = special interest
   2. Reading = mystery/nonfiction
      1. Let It Go by Dame Stephanie - autistic feels
4. JC: Productivity tips
   1. What do you do to optimize productivity during your working hours?
      1. Calendar - colour coded
         1. Kaboose = purple
         2. kids = different colors
         3. social
      2. Lists (notebook, phone)
      3. Tasks in calendar
   2. What is some unhelpful productivity advice that doesn’t work for you?
      1. Mindfulness leads to more stress
5. BREAK
6. JC: What does your morning routine look like and how has it evolved over time?
   1. Dog follows routine too
   2. Walk at 6 am
   3. Shower
   4. Coffee
   5. Start the night before
      1. Clothes and food organized
7. JC: How is your sleep? How do you switch off at night?
   1. Ready yourself the night before
   2. Menu plan
8. JN: Where can people connect with you or find your work?
   1. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleridsdale/
   2. Kaboose on app stores
   3. kaboose.app - https://www.kaboose.app/
   4. kaboose_app - social media
9. JC: Do you have any final words or asks for our audience?

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

Connect with Joey:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycorea/

Newsletter: https://thepluckyjester.com/newsletter/