Dismantling 'Normal': Why Different is Not Broken

What is “normal,” and why does everyone want it so damn bad?No, really. When did we start treating “normal” like the holy grail instead of the steaming pile of… well, I’ll let you fill in the blank. On this episode of Different, Not Broken, I—Lauren Howard, your host, also known as L2—am pulling normal out of its gilded cage, shaking it around, and tossing it straight into the trash where it belongs.If you’ve ever felt like you missed the memo on how to be “normal”… if you’re tired of feeling broken just because your flavors of weird don’t match up with someone else’s, this is the episode you didn’t know you needed. I’m laying down the law (and maybe some four-letter words) about why chasing normal is a one-way ticket to nowhere—and why different isn’t just okay, it’s inevitable.We’ll dig into the origin story of “normal” as a concept, how it creeps into our vocabularies starting in childhood, and why it’s a constant refrain for people going through autism and ADHD assessments. (Plot twist: not fitting the mold isn’t a sign that you’re broken—it’s evidence that the mold is, frankly, garbage.)But here’s where it gets interesting: even medicine doesn’t actually believe in a single flavor of normal! And we'll get into that...If that’s not a reason to click “play,” I don’t know what is.Love you, mean it. –L2Useful linksJoin our Patreon community - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreonSign up for our updates - http://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/newsletterTimestamped summary00:00 "What is Normal?"03:09 Redefining 'Normal' in Childhood06:37 Interpreting Lab Reference Ranges10:32 "Comfy Sandals and Dog Dilemma"15:55 "Embrace Your Own Normal"17:29 Tense Meal and Nonsense Talk20:27 "Questioning Nike Collection Value"Mentioned in this episode:Wanna learn to write like me?Here's how you can!Writing Course

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You’ve spent your whole life feeling like something’s wrong with you. Here’s a radical thought: what if you’re not broken - just different? Welcome to Different, Not Broken, the no-filter, emotionally intelligent, occasionally sweary podcast that challenges the idea that we all have to fit inside neat little boxes to be acceptable. Hosted by L2 (aka Lauren Howard), founder of LBee Health, this show dives into the real, raw and ridiculous sides of being neurodivergent, introverted, chronically underestimated - and still completely worthy. Expect deeply honest conversations about identity, autism, ADHD, gender, work, grief, anxiety and everything in between. There’ll be tears, dead dad jokes, side quests, and a whole lot of swearing. Whether you're neurodivergent, neurotypical, or just human and tired of pretending to be someone you’re not, this space is for you. Come for the chaos. Stay for the catharsis. Linger for the dead Dad jokes.