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Blood, Sweat and Glitter

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Blood, Sweat and Glitter

By: Em Rusciano
Narrated by: Em Rusciano
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About this listen

Hilarious and candid, this is Em Rusciano’s coming-of-middle-age story. Consider yourself warned: she’s neurodivergent and hormonal AF.

Em Rusciano has some stories to tell! In the space of a few short years, she quit breakfast radio, birthed her third child and staged a sold-out tour across the country – all before being hurled headfirst into the existential crisis of lockdowns. She felt everything at full volume: the burnout, the joy, the rage ... and a deeply inconvenient urge to get into craft.
Then came the missing puzzle pieces: ADHD and Autism. Two diagnoses that suddenly made everything – her entire life – click into place.
In this book, Em unpacks what it means to exist in a world that was never built for you, raising three gloriously neurodivergent kids while redefining her own limits. From her landmark National Press Club address to her game-changing role in the 2023 ADHD Senate inquiry, Em isn’t just sharing her story: she’s challenging the status quo and demanding change.

Laugh-out-loud funny and filled with righteous rage, Blood, Sweat and Glitter is a guide to being a neurodivergent, perimenopausal, middle-aged rock star in a world that prefers ‘women of a certain age’ to go off quietly into the sunset. Strap in – it’s a hell of a ride.

©2025 Em Rusciano (P)2025 Audible Australia Pty Ltd Aging & Longevity Attention Deficit Disorders Best of 2025 Entertainment & Celebrities Mental Health Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Women Funny Witty Health
All stars
Most relevant
The rawness of this story made me laugh and cry. Thanks Em for sharing your story, I am so grateful!

Raw

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This is a book that everyone needs to read. It’s funny, so many LOLs. Heartfelt and honest - there’ll be moments where you will cry. Inspirational - Em is one determined woman who digs deep to deliver to her family and her audience. And so very real, the exhaustion, the frustration and pain.

I loved listening to the audio book - Em’s performance was amazing.

Thank you Em for sharing so much of yourself. I’m 44 years old, and I’m neurodivergent. This is a very familiar story for me and you have taught me so much. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Continue to put your gifts into the world - you are amazing.

Funny, heartfelt and so real

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If you have ever been gaslit about suspected unusual symptoms that are slowly destroying your mental and physical well being this is the book for you! It IS a self help book, it IS a how-to guide, it IS actual facts that no one tells you (even though it claims not to be). This book was helpful, meaningful and insightful. I’m so glad I read it.

Thank goodness people are finally talking about perimenopause, menopause, and late in life ADHD and autism diagnosis’s

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This one will forever change you. A must read for all women…and men really

Simply exquisite

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This was a beautiful, chaotic yet clear, hilarious, affirming, next level, and simply perfect walk through Em’s, and somehow my, life and mind. I usually have a fair bit of trouble with auditory processing but I was in this book from start to finish. I didn’t know about Em before yesterday (unforgivable really, I know) but she’s in my heart to stay now.
I hope she knows how much laying herself bare has helped, well, the world. She has made her career doing this in creative ways, but I think this book was different. More raw. It’s profound. Em is not alone. I’m not alone. There are a lot of us, more than we were led to believe, and we don’t look and sound and act like we were told our labels required of us.
I feel empowered and softened. I always knew the world wasn’t made for me. I thought it was just the combo ADHD. I thought it was a personal failing that I couldn’t make myself pretend well enough. Everyone was always quick to agree that I should try harder. Be less. Be more. Be something else. I got to 40 and just couldn’t pretend anymore. I didn’t care if I fit. I was exhausted. The effort to interact and knowing you’re getting something wrong but no one will say what (or how to do it better). Then the realization that it might be autism after watching people on Facebook because no one else is talking about it in people like me. Then having to convince the psychiatrist that a test would be a good idea. On to the psychologists waiting list. The more I look the more obvious it is. How did no one else see it?? Feeling alone. Then finding Em’s book. No longer alone. No longer feeling like I might be imagining it. Empowered. But knowing people weren’t gatekeeping autism maliciously, they don’t know better. Yet. They’re learning. Softened.
You’re pure magic and the world is so very lucky to have you in it Em. From the very depths of my soul: thank you.

I feel seen and understood in a way I didn’t know I needed.

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The raw honesty hits you like a ton of bricks, makes you question all of your self and then gives you permission to pick yourself back up again.

The Rawness

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10/10 no notes !!! loved everything, including the taylor swift references. thank you for a amazing read. I learned so much about perimenopause & what it's like to be neurodivergent

beautiful , entertaining , raw loved the audiobook version and the book version

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Raw, educational, engaging & emotional. Em, you are amazing. I've been on her journey through life with her since the 7pm project metro whip around. Going to shows, listening to her podcasts and absorbing all of her content. This book is a masterpiece in tieing it all together.

Brilliant

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From start to finish this book did not disappoint, in fact it soared (like a phoenix).
It is neither a sentimental self-reflection, nor condescending self-help guide to living spicy; but rather a beautifully told story of life, warts and all.
Em has triumphed with this magnificently raw, honest, and relateable recollection of what it means to be a fish who's asked to climb a tree in an unrecognisable garden, every day.
Her story telling also alludes to (without preaching) self-awareness, self-love, self-reliance, self-trust, challenge-wrangling, and facing up to the all encompassing “pink toll”, every day.
It's her story, although parts will be eerily familiar and relateable to many. Em has an exquisite way of presenting her authentic self with no apologies (anymore), which only serves to grow her army of loyal and appreciative fans.
A community is built around common goals yes; but Em has been responsible for building a kind, accepting, and truth-telling community, built on a foundation of raw honesty and a sense of belonging. Who doesn't want to hang with those who just “get it”? And Em gets it.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Blood, Sweat and Glorious Em Rusciano.

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eleventy hundred out of 10, will make you laugh, will make you cry, hopefully, it might make you understand either yourself or someone in your life a bit better. it shines a light on exactly who Em is and why we, her audience, love her with all the Blood, Sweat & Glitter.

Absolute raw honesty, wrapped in Blood, Sweat & Glitter.

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