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If you feel constantly “on” - ticking off tasks, replying to messages, holding everything together - this episode is your reminder that your best thinking doesn’t happen in the busy… it happens in the pause.

In this solo episode, Michaela explores the power of deeper reflection - and why creating space (not more productivity) is often the missing piece for ADHD brains.

From a simple walk through London to imagining a retreat in Sweden, this episode invites you to rethink what rest, creativity, and problem-solving really look like.

• Why constant busyness blocks creativity and insight
• The role of the default mode network (DMN) in ADHD — and why mind-wandering is not a flaw
• How “being away with the fairies” might actually be where your best ideas live
• The hidden cost of executive functioning overload (yes, even by 9am…)
• Why rest doesn’t have to mean being still or silent
• How movement (walking, swimming, singing) can unlock reflection and emotional processing
• The power of unstructured space vs over-planned routines
• A reframe on retreats — from “doing” to being, connecting, and allowing Events mentioned in this episode:
  • Sweden ADHD Women’s Retreat (11–14 June) A small, curated space (only 5 spots) for rest, reflection, and connection https://thethomasconnection.thrivecart.com/shine-retreat-2026/
  • Golden – London (15 May) A brunch-style in-person event to pause, reflect, and connect with like-minded women https://thethomasconnection.thrivecart.com/golden-in-person-event-may-2026/

When neurodivergence isn’t properly understood at work, even highly capable people can end up struggling without the right support.

In this episode, Michaela Thomas is joined by employment lawyer Jodie Hill, founder of Thrive Law, to explore reasonable adjustments, psychological safety, and how employers can better support neurodivergent staff to thrive.

Drawing on both legal and psychological perspectives — from Jodie Hill’s work in employment law and Michaela's work delivering neurodivergence training and compassionate leadership development — they explore what happens when capacity is mistaken for capability, and how to build compassionate, psychologically safe and neuroinclusive workplaces where people don’t just cope, but truly flourish.

In this episode, they cover: * the difference between capability and capacity * what reasonable adjustments really mean in practice * why unsupported neurodivergence can look like underperformance * the role of psychological safety in disclosure and support * common mistakes employers make * when a role may be the wrong fit and how to handle that with compassion and lawfulness

A powerful conversation for both employees and employers, especially during Neurodiversity Celebration Week.

If your organisation is looking to better support neurodivergent staff, Michaela delivers psychological neurodiversity training, leadership development, and culture change programmes through all-staff training and executive coaching. Read more on www.thethomasconnection.co.uk

To work with Jodie and her team at Thrive Law, head to www.thrivelaw.co.uk

If this episode resonates, do share it with someone navigating neurodiversity at work.

In this episode of the Pause Purpose Play podcast, host Michaela welcomes clinical psychologist and knitting enthusiast Dr. Mia Hobbs.

The conversation explores the therapeutic benefits of knitting, especially for those dealing with perfectionism, mindfulness challenges, and ADHD.

Dr Hobbs, co-founder of Creative Restoration and host of the Why I Knit podcast, shares her insights on how knitting can be used as a tool for self-care and mental well-being.

The episode delves into the common traps knitters face, such as perfectionism, and emphasises the importance of engaging with creative activities. It also touches on the social and psychological benefits of knitting, making it a metaphor for life and a means of active rest and relaxation.

Connect with Mia Hobbs:

creativerestoration.org

I explore a common ADHD paradox I see in myself and the high-performing leaders I support: we’re great at solving problems, partly because we create so many of them. I share a story about dropping a glass bottle of popcorn kernels, and how my 4-year-old’s immediate “that’s your fault” became a teachable moment about checking if someone is okay rather than blaming. I unpack how rushing, dysregulation, clumsiness, poor spatial awareness, and unconsciously creating urgency can lead to daily “micro-crises,” and how shame and self-attack create a loop that increases mistakes. I emphasize the difference between responsibility and self-blame, and how pausing and nervous system regulation reduce chaos without losing our crisis brilliance. I also announce my first small residential ADHD women’s retreat in Sweden, June 12–14, limited to six people.

• The difference between equality and equity
• Why clarity around feedback and expectations matters deeply
• How rejection sensitivity can distort workplace communication
• Why ADHD is an explanation, not an excuse
• The shame–overwork–burnout cycle many high achievers fall into
• How psychological safety improves performance for everyone

• What EBSA actually means (and why it’s not about defiance or manipulation)
• The difference between “won’t” and “can’t”
• Early signs to look out for (tummy aches, shutdown, irritability, “fizzing” bodies)
• Why children often seem fine at weekends or in holidays
• Burnout in children — and why “push through” can backfire
• The emotional toll on parents (work pressure, guilt, exhaustion)
• Why making home “less fun” is not the answer
• The tension between attendance targets and emotional safety
• How to respond in the early stages to prevent escalation
• The spectrum of EBSA — from subject-specific avoidance to full shutdown
• Practical ways to seek support (schools, councils, local offers)
• Why education is not one single narrow path

• Why constant optimisation keeps us stuck in performance mode
• The myth that being “regulated” means always being calm
• How overfunctioning gets mistaken for resilience
• When self-care tips into self-absorption
• The difference between assertiveness and aggression when setting boundaries
• Why attacking your inner critic often backfires