In this powerful episode of Embracing Intensity, we welcome Caroline J. Sumlin—author of We’ll All Be Free—for a deep, vulnerable, and inspiring conversation about collective liberation, the impact of white supremacy culture, and how we can begin to reclaim our worth. Caroline shares her perspective as a neurodivergent mother, speaker, and educator, and we explore the intersection of self-worth, systemic oppression, and sustainable social justice work.

Caroline is an author, speaker, and homeschool parent living in the Washington D.C. area. Her work centers on liberation from white supremacy culture, with a focus on how systemic oppression impacts self-worth. Her book, We’ll All Be Free, is a guide to deprogramming the internalized messages of white supremacy and reclaiming your true self. Caroline’s mission is to help others recognize the worth that oppressive systems have tried to erase.

• The importance of understanding how white supremacy culture harms everyone—not just the most marginalized.

• Why urgency, productivity, and perfectionism are tools of white supremacy—and how to break free.

• Navigating motivation and urgency as a neurodivergent person.

• Creating a life of joy and balance while staying engaged in liberation work.

• The importance of connecting with our shared humanity in social justice conversations.

• Understanding collective harm and our responsibility in collective healing.

• Caroline's perspective on using privilege for good and deconditioning colonial thinking.

• Caroline J. Sumlin’s Website

• We’ll All Be Free – Caroline’s Book

• Follow Caroline on Instagram

• Join the Embracing Intensity Community

In this thought-provoking episode of Embracing Intensity, Aurora sits down with Sheldon Gay, host of the I Must Be BUG'N podcast, which amplifies the stories and voices of Black, unidentified, underrepresented, gifted, and otherwise neurodivergent people. Sheldon is deeply insightful, warm, and grounded in his advocacy to humanize the neurodivergent experience. Together, they dive into the power of mirroring—that magical moment when we see ourselves reflected in others—and how it plays a crucial role in identity, belonging, and connection.

Sheldon shares his personal journey discovering his giftedness later in life and how joining neurodivergent spaces offered a profound sense of home and validation. He speaks candidly about emotional giftedness, navigating systems that often don’t recognize or affirm difference, and the importance of compassion, boundaries, and self-trust.

✨ In this episode:

• What mirroring means and why it’s vital for neurodivergent people

• How Sheldon discovered his giftedness and launched I Must Be BUG'N

• Why IQ tests don’t tell the whole story of intelligence or giftedness

• Emotional giftedness, self-doubt, and how we process emotions

• Compassion and boundaries in spaces where we feel misunderstood

• Recognizing our gifts even when others don’t

• The power of community connection and storytelling

• Insights into upcoming collaborative projects with Sheldon, including neurodivergent-friendly apps

• Reflections on Aurora’s recent blog post on neurodivergent relationships

🔗 Resources & Links:

• I Must Be BUG'N Podcast

• Embracing Intensity Community

• Aurora’s Blog Post on Neurodivergent Relationships

• Intuitive Flow Podcast Episode

Whether you’re just beginning your journey or deep into exploring your neurodivergent identity, this conversation is a reminder that you are not alone—and that your experiences, brilliance, and emotions are valid and worthy of being seen.

🎧 Listen now and feel seen.

This week on the Embracing Intensity podcast, I’m thrilled to welcome back the always thoughtful and illuminating Brendan Mahan, founder of ADHD Essentials and creator of the Wall of Awful. In this free-flowing and deeply relatable conversation, we dive into the realities of ADHD burnout, navigating screen time, and what it really means to rest. Brendan and I both share personally about our own experiences with burnout and recovery, and how we’re learning to work with our neurodivergent brains instead of against them.

Brendan Mahan is a speaker, coach, and host of the ADHD Essentials Podcast. He specializes in helping families, educators, and individuals better understand ADHD through metaphor, structure, and compassion. Brendan is known for his "Wall of Awful" model—a powerful visual metaphor that helps people identify and move through the emotional blocks that make motivation so hard for those with ADHD. He’s currently working on a book titled Overcoming the Wall of Awful, expected to release in 2026.

• The difference between hard fascination and soft fascination, and why the latter is key for real rest

• What the Default Mode Network is and how it affects neurodivergent minds

• How screen time mimics rest but often leads to hard fascination and further mental exhaustion

• The origins of the Wall of Awful and how it helps people understand motivation challenges

• Tools Brendan uses to access soft fascination, from walks in the woods to weighted pressure

• The idea of contaminated time and how it sabotages meaningful rest

• Navigating professional transitions and creative burnout

• Letting go of transactional relationships and leaning into transformational connection

• Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to intentionally rebuild from burnout

• How embracing your values and regulating sensory input can be powerful tools for recovery

• Reframing burnout as a “season” and holding onto hope that things can and do change

🎧 Tune in to hear a heartfelt, relatable conversation on burnout, ADHD, and the power of slowing down with intention. Whether you're deep in burnout or on the road to recovery, this episode offers compassionate insights and practical tools to help you find your way back to balance.

• Brendan Mahan – ADHD Essentials

• The Wall of Awful on How to ADHD (YouTube)

• Embracing Intensity Community