What does it actually take for neurodivergent adults to feel safe, supported and happier at work? In this episode, Duena sits down with Aoife O’Brien — autistic/ADHD founder, workplace culture expert and host of Happier at Work — to explore the emotional reality behind ND wellbeing in modern organisations.

Together, they unpack the difference between autistic burnout and general burnout, masking and identity collapse, ADHD impulsivity, impression management, and why ND people are so often misunderstood at work. They look at belonging vs inclusion, corporate trauma, the cost of “performing professionalism,” and what it really means for ND people to build workplaces that don’t demand self-erasure.

A reflective, validating and deeply practical conversation for autistic and ADHD adults, HR leaders, DEI practitioners, founders, and anyone trying to create ND-friendly work.

Topics Covered
• Autistic vs general burnout
• Masking, suppression & identity loss
• ADHD impulsivity & emotional regulation
• Corporate trauma & the cost of neutrality
• Belonging vs inclusion
• Impression management & authenticity
• ND-friendly wellbeing
• Psychological safety for ND teams
• Why ND happiness looks different
• How workplaces can actually adapt

More
Full podcast series: https://neurospicyatwork.com

Self-Assessment: https://amineurospicy.com

Duena’s work: https://www.duenablomstrom.com

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NeuroSpicy @ Work — Episode with Aoife O’Brien, autistic/ADHD founder and workplace culture advocate. Core themes: autistic burnout vs general burnout, masking, identity collapse, ADHD impulsivity, impression management, belonging vs inclusion, psychological safety, workplace trauma, Human Debt, ND wellbeing, emotional regulation. Host: Duena Blomstrom — autistic/ADHD author, Human Debt theorist, psychological safety researcher. Audience: neurodivergent adults, HR/DEI leaders, managers, educators, founders.
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