Welcome to the final episode of Beyond the Ordinary, the podcast where Mandy Nicholson has guided us through the real, raw, and remarkable stories of creative and neurodivergent women who turned life’s greatest challenges into their biggest strengths. In this special closing chapter, Mandy wraps up the series with a deep dive into the myth of work-life balance, shares her personal reflections, and reminds us why living authentically and embracing your unique rhythmis the ultimate creative act.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

🔹 The Myth of Work-Life Balance – Mandy breaks down why traditional ideas of balance just don’t work for creatives and neurodivergent minds. Work and life are not separate - they’re deeply connected, especially when your work is your passion.

🔹 Creating a Life that Works for You – From passion-led productivity to embracing flow states, Mandy shares how aligning your work with your natural rhythms can lead to both freedom and success. She now runs two six-figure businesses on just 20 hours a week, proving it’s possible to thrive on your own terms.

🔹 Setting Boundaries Without Guilt – When work is fulfilling, it’s easy to blur lines and burn out. Mandy explores the importance of flexibility, structure, and self-care, showing that real balance is something we create, not something we find.

🔹 Authentic Living Is a Superpower – Living as your true self, unapologetically, is the creative act that underpins it all. Whether it’s breaking the rules, showing up messy, or following your own beat - this is where the magic happens.

🔹 Celebrating the Power of Story – As Mandy reflects on the journey through 30 powerful episodes, she reminds us how each woman's story has shown us that our challenges are not our limits - they're the source of our resilience, creativity, and brilliance.

🔹 You Are Not Alone – This series ends with a powerful message: there is a vibrant, growing community of creative and neurodivergent women cheering each other on. You belong here. Your voice matters. And your story is still being written.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode:

🗨️ “Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life.” – Confucius
🗨️ “Balance is not something you find. It’s something you create.” – Jana Kingsford
🗨️ “Our differences aren't obstacles. They’re the secret ingredients to our creative magic.” – Mandy Nicholson

Why You Should Listen:

This final episode is a celebration, a reflection, and a rallying cry. If you’ve ever questioned your worth, your rhythm, or your place in the world - this episode will remind you that your creativity is a gift and your story matters.

✨ Tune in now to honour the journey, and keep creating beyond the ordinary.

📖 Beyond the Ordinary: Discover the Power of Creative and Neurodiverse Women is available now on Amazon.

🔗 For more insights, resources, and updates, visit mandynicholson.co.uk

Episodes were recorded in the authors own homes on various devices.
Podcast produced by "Your Fairy Podmother" of Voice It Podcast Agency
If you want to start your very own podcast go here: https://www.fairypodmother.co.uk

In this episode, Mandy explores why creatives and neurodivergent individuals often thrive outside the traditional nine-to-five, discussing the emotional complexities of holding grudges while learning to let go, and the transformative power of living authentically.

Natalie Dewhurst then shares a powerful, emotional, and deeply inspiring story of motherhood, loss, advocacy, and the creation of The Incredible Life, a community-driven initiative supporting families affected by disability and additional needs.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

🔹 Working to Your Own Rhythm – Mandy explains how neurodivergent and creative minds often work best in bursts of energy, unusual hours, and non-linear patterns. Embracing this way of working, rather than forcing conformity - can lead to greater productivity, balance, and wellbeing.

🔹 The Duality of Holding Grudges & Letting Go – Mandy reflects on how sensitive and empathetic people may hold on to hurt - but also grow stronger when they learn to forgive, release resentment, and stay focused on their own path.

🔹 Authentic Living is the Greatest Act of Courage – Living as your true self-whether it means breaking rules, standing out, or refusing to conform - is a creative superpower. Mandy encourages listeners to own their chaos and celebrate their difference.

🔹 Natalie Dewhurst’s Story: A Journey of Motherhood, Loss & Purpose – Natalie shares her powerful journey of becoming a mother to four boys -three of whom are autistic with additional needs - while navigating pregnancy, grief, and the loss of both parents at a young age.

🔹 From Chaos to Community – What started as a blog documenting her experiences became The Incredible Life, now a CIC (Community Interest Company) that supports families with disabilities through events, workshops, community connections and advocacy.

🔹 Building a Global Vision – Natalie’s dream is to launch an international exhibition in 2025 that brings together carers, professionals, and people with disabilities to create a stronger, more inclusive global community.

🔹 Advocacy Through Lived Experience – Natalie is proof that even when life throws curveballs, it’s possible to turn personal struggle into purpose, supporting others while honouring your own path.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode:

🗨️ “Don’t watch the clock. Do what it does—keep going.” – Sam Levenson

🗨️ “Disability isn’t a choice—but supporting each other is.” – Natalie Dewhurst

🗨️ “I live authentically. I don’t follow the rules—I make my own.” – Mandy Nicholson

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is a must-listen for caregivers, creatives, neurodivergent individuals, and anyone learning to balance their energy, emotions, and purpose in a complex world. Mandy and Natalie’s stories offer a powerful message: your unique rhythm, voice, and experiences are not only valid—they’re needed.

✨ Tune in now for this empowering and heartfelt bonus episode.

Episodes were recorded in the authors own homes on various devices.
Podcast produced by "Your Fairy Podmother" of Voice It Podcast Agency
If you want to start your very own podcast go here: https://www.fairypodmother.co.uk

In this episode, Mandy explores the unique ability of creatives and neurodivergent individuals to find inspiration in the mundane and everyday moments. Often dismissed by others, these ordinary details can become the spark for extraordinary ideas.

Lynsey Beard shares her bold and deeply personal story of self-discovery, burnout, loss, and reinvention - culminating in the creation of a sustainable fashion business that brings together heart, heritage, and individuality.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

🔹 Inspiration Lives in the Everyday – Mandy reflects on how even simple things- like a weathered wall, a breeze across a field, or quiet daily rituals - can offer creative fuel and a sense of grounding.

🔹 Grief and the Mundane Intertwined – After the sudden loss of her husband in 2020, Mandy shares how a trip to Culloden Moor reawakened her connection to nature, art, and finding beauty in overlooked places - a deeply emotional yet creatively inspiring moment.

🔹 Lynsey Beard’s Story: From Fashion Dreams to Burnout to Rebirth – Lynsey’s journey begins with a love of art and fashion but detours through disillusionment in fashion college, years in unfulfilling corporate jobs, and finally, a life-changing realisation after her sister’s battle with breast cancer.

🔹 From Grief to Growth – Linsey shares how the loss of her sister—and later, leaving a toxic job - prompted a radical reassessment of her life and values, leading to a new, more aligned path.

🔹 Creating a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From – After decades of people-pleasing, masking, and being labelled a “weirdo,” Lynsey learned to embrace her creative identity, introversion, and neurodivergent traits with pride.

🔹 Sustainability & Storytelling Through Fashion – Lynsey’s business, ReOutfitted, is rooted in giving new life to old materials - vintage fabrics, discarded curtains, and forgotten textiles - transformed into unique, soulful fashion pieces that tell a story.

🔹 Being Authentically Unapologetically You – Linsey’s words are a powerful call to anyone who’s ever felt like they don’t fit in: it’s not you - it’s the mould that needs breaking.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode:

🗨️ “Creativity is seeing what everybody else has seen and thinking what nobody else has thought.” – Albert Einstein

🗨️ “I’m finally starting to understand myself on a deeper level… and I refuse to be anyone else.” – Lynsey Beard

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is a must-listen for creatives, introverts, empaths, and anyone who has ever been told they were “too much” or “not enough.” Mandy and Linsey’s reflections will inspire you to honour your pace, trust your instincts, and create a life that feels like home—in colour, in fabric, in truth.

✨ Tune in now to be inspired by Lynsey’s powerful reinvention story.

Episodes were recorded in the authors own homes on various devices.
Podcast produced by "Your Fairy Podmother" of Voice It Podcast Agency
If you want to start your very own podcast go here: https://www.fairypodmother.co.uk

In this episode, Mandy reflects on how openness to new experiences is a defining trait of creatives and neurodivergent individuals. This willingness to explore unfamiliar paths is what drives growth, transformation, and innovation - even when it requires navigating discomfort and uncertainty.

Nisha Chadha then shares her deeply moving story of a life shaped by migration, loss, motherhood, grief, and creativity, all woven together by one constant: her art.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

🔹 Being Open to New Experiences – Mandy discusses how embracing new experiences - however uncomfortable - fuels both personal growth and creative evolution. For neurodivergent minds, this openness often means adapting and reshaping environments that don’t always accommodate them.

🔹 Art as Communication & Comfort – When Nisha moved from colourful Kenya to grey, unfamiliar England as a child refugee, art became her language, lifeline, and coping mechanism. Bullied and misunderstood, she found her power in creativity and colour.

🔹 Dyslexia, Grief & the Role of Creativity – Undiagnosed dyslexia made traditional learning difficult, but art helped Nisha not only survive but thrive. Through visual learning, textiles, and colour, she overcame both learning challenges and profound losses - including the deaths of her parents and husband.

🔹 The Power of Storytelling Through Art – From teaching and designing to large-scale textile installations, Nisha uses her work to reflect on issues like identity, feminism, migration, and racism. Her moving piece Rivers of Bloodreimagines personal and political trauma with beauty and impact.

🔹 Finding Joy Among Grief – Even during moments of intense pain - such as losing her mother and getting married in the same week - Nisha turned to storytelling, knitting, art, and writing to make sense of her emotions and reclaim joy.

🔹 Embracing the Next Chapter at 61 – With her children grown and her husband recently passed, Nisha is entering a new era of life with creativity as her compass. She now brings myth, magic, and whimsical animal characters into her art, drawing inspiration from her travels and heritage.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode:

🗨️ “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch

🗨️ “Colour gives a voice to the voiceless.” – Nisha Chadha

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt different, displaced, or discouraged by life’s upheavals. Mandy and Nisha’s reflections are a powerful reminder that creativity doesn’t just help us survive—it helps us thrive, heal, and find purpose at every age and stage.

✨ Tune in now to journey through a life lived in full colour with Nisha Chadha.

Episodes were recorded in the authors own homes on various devices.
Podcast produced by "Your Fairy Podmother" of Voice It Podcast Agency
If you want to start your very own podcast go here: https://www.fairypodmother.co.uk

In this episode, Mandy explores the role of risk-taking in the lives of creatives and neurodivergent individuals. Far from reckless, risk-taking is often an act of bravery and self-trust, fuelling growth, innovation, and self-discovery.

Lucy Waide then shares her extraordinary personal story - an emotional and unflinching journey through illness, loss, reinvention, and recovery, showing what it truly means to take risks and keep rising.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

🔹 Risk as a Creative Force – Mandy reflects on how creatives and neurodivergent individuals often embrace uncertainty and challenge norms, making bold decisions that lead to transformation. Taking risks isn't always glamorous but it’s essential for growth.

🔹 The Courage to Begin Again (and Again) – Lucy’s story is a powerful example of resilience in action. From losing a successful chocolate business to being brought to the edge of despair - twice - she shows how the road to recovery is paved with small, brave choices.

🔹 The Inner Voice That Sabotages Us – Lucy introduces “Dickhead,” her name for that persistent inner critic that fuels self-doubt and shame. Her raw honesty about suicidal thoughts and feeling like a failure will resonate with anyone who has faced darkness behind closed doors.

🔹 Rebuilding After Loss – After enduring career loss, a failed marriage, chronic illness, and financial collapse, Lucy slowly rebuilt her life - first with a part-time care job, then a shop, then art, then finally…herself.

🔹 The Power of Finding Your Tribe – Lucy’s recovery wasn’t just about personal effort. It was about connection -with supportive friends, family, and a business community that saw her worth when she couldn’t.

🔹 Art as Therapy and Identity – In her darkest moments, Lucy found solace in drawing. That creative spark became a lifeline, allowing her to rediscover joy, voice, and purpose - not through business success, but through authentic self-expression.

🔹 You Are Never Too Broken to Begin Again – Whether on the edge of despair or standing in a new chapter, Lucy’s story reminds us: there is always something on the other side of survival.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode:

🗨️ “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” – T.S. Eliot

🗨️ “I’ve found and love my voice. I’ve found and love my art. I’ve found and love my tribe. I’ve found and love me.” – Lucy Waide

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has taken a leap and fallen hard, battled illness or mental health, or felt crushed under the weight of their own expectations. Mandy and Lucy offer a powerful message of hope, honesty, and the healing power of creativity and connection.

✨ Tune in now to be inspired by Lucy’s brave and beautiful comeback.

Episodes were recorded in the authors own homes on various devices.
Podcast produced by "Your Fairy Podmother" of Voice It Podcast Agency
If you want to start your very own podcast go here: https://www.fairypodmother.co.uk

In this episode, Mandy explores what it truly means to be a survivor. She unpacks how creativity, community, and asking for help can turn the darkest moments into defining breakthroughs.

Satty Mann then delivers a powerful, emotional, and unflinchingly honest account of her recovery journey through addiction, trauma, and transformation, highlighting the role of art and fellowship in her healing.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

🔹 Survivors Are Built, Not Born – Mandy opens the episode by reminding listeners that creatives and neurodivergent individuals often develop deep resilience through navigating a world that doesn't always accommodate them. Survival is not just about enduring—it’s about adapting, learning, and growing stronger.

🔹 The Power of Asking for Help – Mandy shares a personal story of rebuilding after loss and how reaching out to others helped her recover. She reminds us that survival is not a solo journey, and asking is one of the most powerful tools we have.

🔹 Satty Mann’s Journey: From Addiction to Advocacy – Satty shares her profound journey from compulsive gambling, alcohol and drug addiction, and suicidal thoughts, to living a life of purpose, creativity, and service. Her recovery began when she found Gamblers Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, and embraced the 12-step programs that changed her life.

🔹 Living the 12 Promises of Recovery – Satty walks us through how each of the 12 promises of recovery became real in her life—from finding happiness and serenity, to discovering her worth and helping others find theirs. Her story is raw, redemptive, and full of hope.

🔹 Creativity as a Lifeline – As an emotional artist and writer, Satty found that creative expression helped her process pain, reconnect with herself, and support others through her work. Art has become a spiritual and emotional outlet, one that grounds her daily.

🔹 Turning Pain into Purpose – Today, Satty is not just surviving—she’s thriving. As a speaker, sponsor, mentor, and mother, she is devoted to helping others move beyond addiction and into lives of self-love and freedom.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode:

🗨️ “Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” – Khalil Gibran

🗨️ “Today, I wake up with love in my heart. That’s a miracle. Every day, I choose life.” – Satty Mann

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has faced trauma, battled addiction, or simply needs a reminder that it’s never too late to rewrite your story. Mandy and Satty’s powerful insights prove that healing is possible, and creativity can be the bridge between pain and purpose.

✨ Tune in now to hear Satty’s extraordinary transformation!

📖 Beyond the Ordinary: Discover the Power of Creative and Neurodiverse Women is available now on Amazon.

Episodes were recorded in the authors own homes on various devices.
Podcast produced by "Your Fairy Podmother" of Voice It Podcast Agency
If you want to start your very own podcast go here: https://www.fairypodmother.co.uk

In this episode, Mandy explores the power of daydreaming—so often misunderstood or dismissed, but deeply valuable for creatives and neurodivergent individuals. Nancy Pinkerton then shares her own story of navigating a dual identity as a Canadian living in Scotland, overcoming dyslexia, and becoming a visual storyteller through powerful fine art photography.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

🔹 Daydreaming as a Superpower – Mandy breaks down how what’s often seen as "zoning out" is actually a vital tool for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional processing. When harnessed correctly, daydreaming can lead to innovative ideas and big-picture thinking—especially for neurodivergent individuals.

🔹 Turning Dreams into Action – While it’s easy to get lost in ideas, Mandy shares how to bridge the gap between imagination and reality. Her anecdote of turning a daydream into a business plan proves that visualising success is the first step to achieving it.

🔹 Nancy Pinkerton’s Story: Living Between Two Worlds – Nancy shares her deeply personal journey of growing up in Canada feeling like an outsider, struggling with undiagnosed dyslexia, and finding refuge in imagination and visual storytelling.

🔹 The Emotional Weight of Dyslexia – Bullied and misunderstood in school, Nancy describes the emotional toll of being called “stupid” when in fact, she was creative, curious, and intuitive. Books were a struggle—but stories lived vibrantly in her imagination.

🔹 Photography as a Language – As a neurodivergent creative, Nancy discovered photography as a visual way to tell the stories she couldn’t always express through words. She’s now a fine art photographer focused on levitation photography and historical storytelling, bringing Scottish history to life through stunning imagery.

🔹 Blending Passion, History & Creativity – From her fascination with maps and postcards as a child to her fine art collection Scotland’s Checkered Throne, Nancy brings history, art, and emotion together—proving that creative expression can transcend words and borders.

🔹 The Power of Feeling at Home – Though Canadian by birth, Nancy found her true sense of belonging in Scotland. Her story is a heartfelt reflection on identity, culture, and building a life that feels like home—even when you’re far from where you started.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode:

🗨️ “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world.” – Albert Einstein

🗨️ “I realised that I was a storyteller—but through images rather than words.” – Nancy Pinkerton

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who’s ever felt out of place, struggled with traditional learning methods, or questioned whether their imagination was “too much.” Nancy and Mandy’s stories are a powerful reminder that daydreaming isn’t a distraction—it’s a direction.

✨ Tune in now to hear Nancy’s beautifully inspiring journey!

Episodes were recorded in the authors own homes on various devices.
Podcast produced by "Your Fairy Podmother" of Voice It Podcast Agency
If you want to start your very own podcast go here: https://www.fairypodmother.co.uk

In this episode, Mandy explores how neurodivergent and creative individuals are natural leaders, driven by vision, innovation, empathy, and resilience—yet often undervalued in traditional spaces.

Ina Jeffrey then shares her honest and compelling journey through grief, reinvention, and finding purpose by building a thriving business that empowers fellow neurodivergent entrepreneurs.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

🔹 You Are a Leader – Mandy outlines the unique leadership strengths found in neurodivergent and creative minds: from big-picture thinking and empathy to adaptability and drive. She shares why embracing these traits is essential to shaping a more inclusive and visionary world.

🔹 Setting Boundaries as a Creative Leader – In her personal anecdote, Mandy describes the challenges of working from home and how learning to set boundaries with her family was a crucial step in owning her leadership role and creative space.

🔹 Ina Jeffrey’s Story: From Breakdown to Breakthrough – Ina takes us on a moving journey that spans continents and life chapters—from losing a child and navigating trauma, to escaping her past and reinventing herself in a new country.

🔹 The Power of Saying ‘Just Watch Me’ – After a string of corporate jobs that crushed her spirit, Ina reached a breaking point. Grief, therapy, and a global pandemic brought clarity—and she found the courage to start again, building a business that aligned with her neurodivergent strengths.

🔹 Growing a Business That Supports Others – Ina shares how she started small as a Virtual Assistant, before recognising her talent for supporting neurodivergent business owners—not just with admin, but also with structure, clarity, and belief. Her mission has since grown into an agency and a supportive community.

🔹 Building a Life Around Your Strengths – Ina's journey is a masterclass in reinvention. She shows how embracing your own story, values, and neurodivergence can lead to not only healing but also building a life and business you truly love.

Memorable Quotes from This Episode:

🗨️ “Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” – Simon Sinek

🗨️ “Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something, especially if you’re neurodivergent. You know what the answer is? Just f**ing watch me.”* – Ina Jeffrey

Why You Should Listen:

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who's ever felt stuck, misunderstood, or like they were made for more. Mandy and Ina’s stories will inspire you to trust your instincts, reclaim your power, and lead with purpose—no matter where you’ve come from.

✨ Tune in now to be inspired by Ina’s courageous transformation!

📖 Beyond the Ordinary: Discover the Power of Creative and Neurodiverse Women is available now on Amazon.

🔗 For more insights, resources, and updates, visit mandynicholson.co.uk

Episodes were recorded in the authors own homes on various devices.
Podcast produced by "Your Fairy Podmother" of Voice It Podcast Agency
If you want to start your very own podcast go here: https://www.fairypodmother.co.uk