101: Finding Neurodivergent Joy After Autistic Burnout
Austen Marie spent years as a TK teacher trying to create trauma-informed, neuro-inclusive classrooms - until autistic burnout forced her body to stop. In this conversation, we talk about what it's like to grow up undiagnosed as a first-generation American, how masking as a woman in special education nearly destroyed her, and what it looks like to choose a slower, simpler life in order to heal.

We cover:

    •    The cost of being late-diagnosed and high-masking

    •    How neurodivergent traits were used against her in a narcissistic relationship

    •    What it means to parent neurodivergent kids while healing your own nervous system

    •    Why creating regulation-first environments for children is revolutionary

    •    The moment TikTok helped her finally recognize herself

    •    Choosing a "nervous system life" over financial security

    •    Finding joy in using your voice to change how the world sees autistic kids

Guest: Austen Marie is a former TK teacher, mother of neurodivergent children, and host of The NeuroSpicy Mom Pod, a podcast for late-diagnosed adults navigating parenthood and reparenting themselves.

Find Austen Marie:

    •    Podcast: The NeuroSpicy Mom Pod (Patreon & YouTube)

    •    Instagram: @_neurospicymama

    •    YouTube: @neurospicymompod

Mentioned in this episode:

    •    NeuroSpicy Tea Time (Patreon community conversations)

    •    Unmasking Retreats with Kory Andreas

Resources:

    •    Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Instagram @neurokoryous

    •    Unmasking Retreats: koryandreas.com

    •    YouTube: @ThatsMePod

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