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How many times have you left a GP appointment thinking...

"I forgot to say the important bit."

Or felt like you weren't being listened to?

In this episode of Mad About..., I'm joined by pharmacist, nutritional therapist and self-proclaimed Godmother of Pharmacology, Debbie Grayson.

We have a completely honest conversation about what it's really like trying to navigate healthcare when you're neurodivergent, dealing with ADHD, PMDD, perimenopause, thyroid problems, medication and everything else life throws at you.

We also chat about my own health journey, including starting sertraline after losing my dad, my recent experience with HRT, histamine reactions, and why advocating for yourself can sometimes be the hardest part of getting the right support.

In this episode we cover:

• Why antidepressants often make you feel worse before they make you feel better

• How ADHD medication actually works in the brain

• My experience of starting sertraline and why I'm so glad I stuck with it

• PMDD, hormones and why they can completely change how your ADHD feels

• The connection between ADHD, perimenopause and emotional regulation

• Why so many women are dismissed when talking about hormonal symptoms

• Histamine, hives, urticaria and why hormones can trigger allergic-type reactions

• The surprising link between oestrogen and histamine

• Why gut health isn't just about what you eat

• Simple changes that can genuinely improve digestion

• ADHD medication, appetite suppression and blood sugar crashes

• Coffee, caffeine and stimulant medication

• Practical ways to improve your energy without trying to become a wellness influencer overnight

• How to advocate for yourself at GP appointments

• What to do if you feel your doctor isn't listening

• Why taking someone with you to appointments can make a huge difference

Debbie's top advice

Sometimes the biggest changes aren't the dramatic ones.

Drink more water.

Eat before your ADHD medication kicks in.

Slow down when you eat.

Be present with your food.

Ask for a double GP appointment if you need one.

Write your symptoms down before you go.

And remember...

You know your body better than anyone else.

Follow Debbie Grayson

YouTube: The Godmother of Pharmacology

Debbie shares simple, evidence-based advice on medication, supplements, digestion, hormones and nutrition in a way that's actually easy to understand.

If this episode helped...

Please leave a review, subscribe to the podcast and share it with someone who's currently trying to fight to be heard by the healthcare system.

The more conversations we have about hidden disabilities, hormones, ADHD and advocating for ourselves, the better.

Because nobody should have to fight this hard just to be listened to.

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In this episode of Mad About, Maddy sits down with entrepreneur and marketing expert Laurie Burrows for a raw and honest conversation about grief, resilience, business, motherhood and finding the courage to start again.

Laurie shares her extraordinary journey from launching a business in January 2020, discovering she was unexpectedly pregnant just weeks later, navigating lockdown, and growing a successful seven-figure company while dealing with the devastating loss of her dad and other family members.

Together, Maddy and Laurie explore:

• Starting a business while preparing to become a mum
• Growing a company during the Covid lockdowns
• Coping with grief while running a successful business
• The impact of losing a parent and how grief changes over time
• Neurodivergence, identity and emotional processing
• Why success doesn't always equal happiness
• Outgrowing a business you've worked hard to build
• The courage it takes to pivot when something no longer lights you up
• The rise of AI and how it's changing the business landscape
• Building a new software company from scratch
• Laurie's mission to give back and support families facing financial hardship

This is a powerful conversation about trusting yourself, embracing change, and remembering that you're allowed to evolve.

If you've ever felt stuck, lost your passion for something you once loved, or wondered whether it's too late to start over, this episode is for you.

Find Laurie:
Instagram: @_laurieburrows

Find Maddy:
Instagram: @maddytalksmoney
TikTok: @madaboutmoneyofficial

Join The Maddyverse – Maddy's free community for people with hidden disabilities, chronic illness, invisible conditions and hidden struggles.

If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who needs to hear it.

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What do women’s pockets, ADHD, personal branding and billionaires have in common?

Quite a lot, as it turns out.

In this thought-provoking episode, Maddy sits down with style consultant and author Samantha Harman to explore why clothing is about so much more than fashion. Together they dive into authenticity, self-expression, neurodiversity, personal branding, consumerism, gender expectations and the hidden politics behind what we wear.

From colourful hair and leopard print to school uniforms, corporate dress codes and the pressures of conformity, this conversation challenges the idea that professionalism has to look a certain way.

They also discuss:

• Why authenticity is becoming rarer online
• How clothing acts as a powerful form of non-verbal communication
• ADHD, comfort, sensory needs and getting dressed
• The role style plays in personal branding
• Why women’s clothing is often designed differently from men’s
• School uniforms, class, privilege and self-expression
• The connection between clothing, identity and confidence
• Consumerism, fast fashion and the psychology behind spending
• How retailers use marketing tactics to encourage impulse buying
• Klarna, Clearpay and the rise of buy-now-pay-later culture
• Why Samantha wrote her new book, Just Get Dressed
• The importance of questioning societal expectations and creating a life that feels authentic to you.

This is a conversation about much more than clothes. It's about identity, freedom, self-expression and having the confidence to show up as yourself in a world that often encourages conformity.

About Samantha Harman

Samantha Harman is a style consultant and author of Just Get Dressed: Why You Have Nothing To Wear and What To Do About It. Her work explores style through the lenses of identity, beliefs, politics, gender, class and neurodiversity, helping people create wardrobes that feel authentic, comfortable and empowering.

Connect

Find Samantha on Instagram and LinkedIn: The Style Editor.

Find Maddy:

• Instagram: @maddytalksmoney
• TikTok: @madaboutmoneyofficial

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Visit Maddy's ⁠⁠⁠Stan Store⁠⁠⁠

Follow Maddy on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠