Julie Legg welcomes Nicola Knobel, a creative strategist, systems thinker and proudly AuDHD, based in New Zealand. Nicola brings deep personal insight into what it means to navigate life with both ADHD and autism, particularly when diagnosed in adulthood.
From academic success to building creative businesses, Nicola shares how she’s made sense of her brain’s unique wiring, including the tension between ADHD spontaneity and autistic structure. She reflects on grief, identity, and the power of building systems that work with your neurotype, not against it.
Key Points from the Episode:
- Nicola’s late AuDHD diagnosis and how her son’s autism sparked her own discovery
- The emotional processing that followed including grief, self-forgiveness, and clarity
- The interplay between ADHD and autism traits (and how they sometimes conflict)
- How she’s built systems to support energy, creativity, and emotional regulation
- Using external scaffolding (like journaling) to manage cognitive load
- Nicola’s academic journey including six degrees
- Insights into building neuroinclusive workplaces and adapting leadership styles
- Her experiences as a content creator and co-host of two podcasts
- Strategies for managing rejection sensitivity, hyperfocus, and executive function
- A message of encouragement for those still figuring out how to thrive with AuDHD
Links:
WEBSITE: https://nicolaknobel.com/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/in/nicola.knobel/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@NikiKnobel
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/nicolaknobel.blog
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolaknobel/
SAFETEA PODCAST: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2290647
TOXIC WORKPLACE STORIES: https://lets_break_up.buzzsprout.com/
Thanks for listening.
- Visit ADHDifference.nz to find past episodes, videos, links, or to say hello!
- Get social with us on Instagram
- Julie Legg is the author of The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD
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