Podcast
Mad About... with Maddy Alexander-Grout
Hosted by Maddy Alexander-Grout · EN
Welcome to Mad About…
The podcast amplifying neurodivergent voices, messy stories, and the brilliant humans who refuse to fit in boxes.
Hosted by bestselling author and visibility strategist Maddy Alexander-Grout, Mad About… is a space where neurodivergent people get to speak for themselves.
Each episode brings honest conversations about life, money, business, identity, and everything in between. No polished success stories. No pretending everything is perfect.
Just real humans sharing real experiences.
Because neurodivergent people have spent far too long being spoken about instead of being listened to.
This podcast exists to change that.
You’ll hear from entrepreneurs, creatives, parents, leaders, and everyday people who are navigating ADHD, autism, chronic conditions, hidden disabilities, and brains that simply work differently.
Some episodes are funny.
Some are raw.
Some might make you rethink everything you thought you knew about success.
But every single one gives someone a voice and visibility.
Maddy built her business and audience by telling the truth about her own struggles with ADHD, money mistakes, and not fitting into traditional business spaces. Now she uses that platform to help others be seen, heard, and valued too.
It’s about being real, imperfect, neurodivergent AF, and proud of it.
If you've ever been told you’re too much, too loud, too different, or too chaotic…
You’re in the right place.
Welcome to Mad About…
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP109- Vibe Check- When You Struggle To Show Up
Apr 2300:09:54Tap to summarizeMessage Us! In this episode of Mad About, Maddy talks about something so many business owners, especially neurodivergent ones, get wrong: trying to run a business when you are already running on empty.Because let’s be honest, you cannot show up properly in your business if you are burnt out, overwhelmed, under-slept, under-fed, over-committed and ignoring your own needs.Maddy shares her VIBE Method, a simple framework to help you check in with yourself before you dive into work, content, clients, or the never-ending to do list.In this episode, she breaks down:Vitals: are you eating, sleeping, hydrating and taking your meds? Internal state: how are you feeling mentally and emotionally? Boundaries: where are you overgiving, people pleasing or saying yes when you mean no? Energy: what is your actual capacity, not just the time you technically have available? This is your reminder that there is no badge of honour for working through the weekend, pushing through burnout, or pretending you are fine when you are absolutely not.If your business feels harder than it should right now, this episode is your nudge to stop, reset, and check your VIBE first.Maddy also shares why capacity matters more than hustle, why “should” belongs in the fuck it bucket, and why looking after yourself is not a luxury. It is part of building a business that actually works for your brain and your body.If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or like you’re trying to pour from an empty cup, this one is for you.----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
Transcribe →EP108- From Cult To Courage- with Ben Gibbons
Apr 2000:45:13Tap to summarizeMessage Us! This week on Mad About, I’m joined by one of my favourite clients, the lovely Ben Gibbons.Ben is the founder of Nimble Photography, creating a safe and comfortable wedding photography experience for LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent people. But that is only part of his story.In this episode, Ben opens up about growing up as a Jehovah’s Witness, being outed, going through conversion therapy, becoming homeless, and the huge journey of trying to work out who he really was after years of being told not to be himself.We talk about trauma, rejection sensitivity, ADHD, autism, religion, politics, safeguarding, visibility, personal brand, and what happens when you finally stop shrinking and start speaking.This is a really raw, brave and important conversation about identity, survival and finding your voice.We cover: growing up in a strict religious environment being neurodivergent and feeling different from the start the reality and impact of conversion therapy losing family and rebuilding life from the ground up chosen family, healing and love confidence, TikTok and showing up online standing up for your values in public creating change through visibility Trigger warning: this episode contains discussion of conversion therapy, suicidal ideation, homelessness, religious trauma, rejection, mental health, and discrimination.----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
Transcribe →EP107- Autistic, I'll take your word for it....
Apr 1600:11:32Tap to summarizeMessage Us! Why do autistic people take things at face value… and how can that actually put us at risk?In this episode of Mad About, I’m sharing a very real (and slightly painful 😅) story about accidentally ending up in the wrong gym class… and how that spiralled into a much bigger realisation about trust, neurodivergence, and the way we process information.We talk about: Why autistic and ADHD brains often lead with trust, not suspicion How miscommunication happens and why we don’t always question it The link between people-pleasing, RSD, and not speaking up The dangers of taking things at face value in the online business world Why I refuse to promise “six-figure results” (and what I will promise instead) This one gets into the real talk about smoke and mirrors in the business space, how to spot red flags, and why having the right support around you matters more than buying another shiny course.If you’ve ever trusted someone and thought “hang on… was that actually right?” — this episode is for you.Come for the gym fail, stay for the life and business reality check 💥Follow me @maddytalksmoney on Instagram@madaboutmoneyofficial on TikTok----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
Transcribe →EP106- The Overlap Between Trauma and ADHD
Apr 1300:45:13Tap to summarizeMessage Us! This episode is a proper, unfiltered conversation between Maddy and Lucy Power about neurodivergence, trauma, identity, and what it really means to be yourself in a world that constantly tries to put you in a box.From ADHD and autism to trauma responses, masking, queerness, and visibility—this is a deep, honest, sometimes funny, sometimes heavy chat about how our experiences shape who we are… and how we can start reclaiming that.There are big conversations here. Real life. Real stories. And a lot of “oh shit, that makes sense.”🧠 What We Talk About Lucy’s journey into ADHD diagnosis later in life The overlap between trauma and neurodivergence Why so many neurodivergent people carry trauma How trauma gets “stuck” and shows up in everyday life Masking, identity, and feeling like you don’t fit The pressure to conform to societal expectations Queerness, visibility, and living authentically Parenting, identity, and supporting neurodivergent kids The impact of cancel culture and social rejection Nervous system dysregulation and reactive behaviour What it actually means to be radically authentic🔥 Key Takeaways Trauma isn’t just what happened, it’s how your body holds it Neurodivergence and trauma can look very similar You’re not “too much”—you’ve just been unsupported Masking disconnects you from who you really are Identity is often a story we’ve been taught, not the truth Being yourself in a world that doesn’t get you is an act of rebellion You can build a life and business that actually fits who you are 💬 Real Talk Moments Maddy sharing her personal experiences with trauma, grief, and ADHD Lucy opening up about late diagnosis and queerness Honest chat about feeling excluded and self-protection responses The reality of raising neurodivergent kids and navigating identity A raw moment around grief and loss mid-recording 💥 What Lucy is “Mad About”Lucy shares what truly fires her up: The way society treats trans people The impact of capitalism on wellbeing Global injustice and inequality And her deep passion for trauma work and transactional analysis🧩 About LucyLucy is a psychotherapeutic coach specialising in: Trauma Neurodivergence Transactional Analysis Radical authenticity She helps people understand themselves on a deeper level and unlearn the layers that stop them from being who they truly are.🌍 Connect with Lucy Instagram: @IamLucyPower Facebook: Lucy Power LinkedIn: Lucy Power Email: lucy@iamlucypower.com📲 Connect with Maddy Instagram: Maddy Talks Money TikTok: Mad About Money Official Book: Mad About Money----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
Transcribe →EP105- Internalised Ableism, Burnout & Owning Your Soundtrack
Apr 1000:15:23Tap to summarizeMessage Us! Mad About with Maddy Alexander-Grout Episode: Internalised Ableism, Burnout & Owning Your Soundtrack💥 What this episode is aboutThis is a real, honest chat about internalised ableism — what it is, how it shows up, and why so many neurodivergent and disabled people end up pushing themselves to breaking point trying to “keep up.”Maddy shares what this has looked like in her own life, from burnout and overworking to navigating new health challenges, and why learning your limits is actually where your power starts.🧠 In this episode, we cover: What internalised ableism actually means (and how it sneaks in) Why calling yourself “lazy” is complete bullshit The pressure to act “normal” in business and life Burnout, guilt, and the toxic productivity trap Learning your capacity and working with your energy, not against it Why rest is not something you need to earn The importance of boundaries, even in your business How community can help you unlearn ableist thinking The reality of advocating for yourself (and why it’s so hard) Accepting new diagnoses and evolving health challenges 🔥 Key takeaways You are not broken. Your brain just works differently. “Should” belongs in the fuck it bucket Pushing through burnout is not strength, it’s self-abandonment Your worth is not measured by productivity You are allowed to do things in a way that actually works for you Support is not a weakness, it’s a strategy 🎧 Maddy’s real-life moments in this episode Navigating multiple chronic conditions and new diagnoses Coaching clients from bed on low-energy days Using a walking stick for the first time and dealing with the mindset around it Letting her community step in and support her Having honest conversations with her kids about her limits 🌈 Big messageOwning your “soundtrack” means accepting every part of you — your brain, your body, your limits, and your strengths.When you stop trying to fit into a world that wasn’t designed for you, you can finally start building one that is.🧩 Resources & mentionsAccess to Work (UK) – Government support for disabled people in employment The Maddyverse – Free community for neurodivergent and chronically ill humans The Core – Paid membership focused on money, life, business, and support 💬 Final thoughtYou don’t have to prove your worth by burning out.You get to build a life and business that actually fits you.📲 Connect with Maddy Instagram: Maddy Talks Money TikTok: Mad About Money Official More: Maddy Alexander-Grout----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
Transcribe →chantelle | ep 103
Apr 800:57:32Tap to summarizeSend us Fan Mail----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
Transcribe →How to Promote Your Business When You Do All the Things | Ep 102 | BUSINESS
Apr 800:07:12Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThis one’s for my fellow multipotentialites - the humans who do all the things and want to know how to promote them without totally confusing people.I got a great question from one of my Invisible to Influential members who asked: “How do you promote your business when you do multiple things?”As someone who’s a money coach, ADHD business coach, speaker, author, visibility strategist, and more - I get it. And I break it all down for you in this episode.Here’s what I cover:How to clarify your messaging even when you’ve got 5+ job titlesThe 4 content pillars I use to stay consistent without being boxed inWhy your job title isn’t what matters (your story is)How to show up so your audience “gets” you - no matter how many things you doWhen to separate your services, and when to combine themIf you’ve been stressing about how to market yourself as a multi-passionate biz owner, I got you.Spoiler: It’s not about being everything to everyone - it’s about leading with YOU.YT:“Stop changing your job title every day”“Be you, not your offers”“Own your story, own your soundtrack”“It’s not about your job title”“The right people will find you”----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
Transcribe →Beyond Palatable- With Sophie Lee l Episode 104
Apr 800:45:39Tap to summarizeMessage Us! In this episode of Mad About, I’m joined by the brilliant Sophie Jane Lee, coach for voice, visibility and strategy, and author of Beyond Palatable: A Manifesto for Unapologetic Women.We chat about Sophie’s journey from running a successful business on paper while struggling deeply underneath it all, to doing the hard inner work that helped her step into who she really is.We get into:✨ success vs actually feeling successful✨ self-worth, self-sabotage and healing✨ the drama triangle: victim, prosecutor and rescuer✨ people pleasing, boundaries and nervous system responses✨ neurodivergence, relationships and being misunderstood✨ finding the right rooms, the right people and the right way to show up✨ pregnancy, business and why “hard” doesn’t have to define everythingThis is a really honest, funny, powerful conversation about accountability, self-expression, healing, and what it means to stop abandoning yourself.Sophie’s book is out now and available from all major bookshops, on Kindle, and soon on audiobook.Follow Sophie:Instagram: @electricpeachstudiosLinkedIn: Sophie Jane LeeBook: beyondpalatable.comFollow me:Instagram: @maddytalksmoneyTikTok: @madaboutmoneyofficialEverywhere else: Maddy Alexander-GroutIf you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe, leave a review, share it with a friend, and let me know in the comments if this conversation resonated with you.#podcast #neurodiversity #boundaries #peoplepleasing #visibility #selfworth #healing #womeninbusiness #adhd #autism #madaboutpodcast----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
Transcribe →What It’s Really Like to Love as a Neurodivergent Woman with Sara-Louise Ackrill | Ep 101
Apr 800:37:04Tap to summarizeMessage Us! This episode got real. I sat down with Sara-Louise Ackrill, founder of Wired Differently and co-author of The ND Lovers Club, to talk about something that's not spoken about enough: what it really means to be neurodivergent when it comes to love, money, and healing from trauma.We covered everything from late autism and ADHD diagnoses (Sara at 38, me at 37), to the impact of coercive control and abusive relationships, and how financial instability often shows up alongside neurodivergence. Sara opens up about going bankrupt at 26, the weight of debt and mental health, and why she refuses to be ashamed of any part of her journey.She also shares the behind-the-scenes of writing a book on ND relationships, the concept of limerence (yep, obsessive love was a big theme for both of us), and how masking, infatuation, and rejection sensitivity show up in romantic dynamics.It’s raw, it’s funny, and it’s brutally honest - from both of us.Resources mentioned: StepChange, Freedom Programme, Own My Life.Connect with Sara-Louise: https://www.sara-louise.co.uk/Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Neurodivergence and Entrepreneurship01:24 Personal Journeys of Neurodivergence04:24 The Impact of Diagnosis on Self-Understanding06:19 Navigating Financial Challenges and Debt14:37 Experiences with Coercive Control and Relationships20:37 Experiencing Coercive Control23:44 The Impact of Neurodivergence on Relationships24:44 The Endy Lovers Club: A Safe Space for Neurodivergent Women28:14 Understanding Limerence and Obsession33:41 Navigating Relationships and Neurodivergence----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
Transcribe →Ep 100- 100 Neurodivergent Voices
Mar 1601:54:35Tap to summarizeSend us Fan Mail100 Neurodivergent VoicesThis episode is different.To celebrate the 100th episode of the Mad About… Podcast, I didn’t want to make it about me.Instead, I wanted to do something bigger.For years, neurodivergent people have been spoken about, researched, analysed, labelled and misunderstood. But far too rarely are we simply given the microphone to speak for ourselves.So for this episode I asked one question:“What are you mad about?”And 100 neurodivergent humans answered.In this episode you will hear 100 different voices, from people with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, dyspraxia, Tourette’s, chronic conditions and other beautifully complex brains.People from different backgrounds. Different ages. Different experiences of the world.Some answers are funny. Some are powerful. Some are heartbreaking. Some will make you nod your head and feel seen in a way you never have before.Because neurodivergent people are not one story.We are not one stereotype. We are not one narrative. We are not a box.This episode is a reminder that behind every diagnosis is a human being with passions, anger, joy, interests, obsessions and things that make them mad about life.100 people. 100 voices. 100 things they are mad about.And every single one of them deserves to be heard.Time Stamp0:00 Intro and the 100 Voices Mission2:15 What Maddy is Mad About4:45 Kindness and Empowerment with Vie7:10 ADHD Myths and Diagnosis Trends9:30 Dogs and Emotional Support11:50 Crafting and Mental Health14:15 Challenging Normality and Boxes16:40 Cult Recovery and Pokémon19:05 Changing Attitudes Toward Death21:30 Systems for Sideways Thinkers23:55 Stationery and Organisation Addiction26:20 Appearances and Snap Judgments28:45 Inclusion and Chronic Pain31:10 Reeducating the Public on Autism33:35 Comedy Improv and Confidence36:00 Sensory and Emotional Needs in Kids38:25 Navigating Access to Work Support40:50 Child Safety and Online Bullying43:15 Late Diagnosis and Allotment Gardening45:40 Role Playing Games and Escapism48:05 Cultural Bias in Spanish Diagnosis50:30 Strategy Games and WWE Sacrifice52:55 Expression and Fulfilment in Tech55:20 Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Explained57:45 Silk Art and Creative Storytelling1:00:10 Reforming the Education System1:02:35 Neuroscience and the Human Body1:05:00 Content Creation and the 1% Tweak1:07:25 Sustainable Jewellery and Cork1:09:50 Perinatal Mental Health Advocacy1:12:15 Energy Management over Time Management1:14:40 Fixing Founder Dependency and Burnout1:17:05 Mental Health Awareness and Car Culture1:19:30 Consumer Rights and Effective Complaining1:21:55 Entrepreneurship and Late Diagnosis1:24:20 The Joy of Airsoft and Inner Children1:26:45 Nature, Spiritual Self, and Obsidian1:29:10 Food, Cooking, and Happy Places1:31:35 Rescue Dogs and Unconditional Love1:34:00 Supporting PDA and Pressure-Sensitive Kids1:36:25 Reconnecting with Self and Reiki1:38:50 Education Advocacy and SEN Support1:41:15 The Magic of Transformation Coaching1:43:40 Holistic Health and Reclaiming Uniqueness1:46:05 Success, Burnout, and Body Signals1:48:30 Primitive Reflexes and Movement Therapy1:50:55 Aphantasia and the Mind's Eye----------------------Visit Maddy's Stan StoreFollow Maddy on Instagram and TikTok
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