What if the way we describe ADHD and neurodivergence as a whole is already out of date?

In this episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Dr Phil Anderton & John Reynolds explore a radical and deeply human reframe: that being “wired differently” isn’t a deficit to be managed, but a vital part of creativity, resilience, and even our survival as a species.

Joined by clinician, trauma specialist, and mindset coach Emmy Brunner, they question the very idea of “normal,” challenge the language of disorder, and unpack why creativity is so often overlooked as a core human need, not just a talent or a hobby.

Drawing on decades of clinical work, Emmy shares insights from working with high-performing artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs, many of whom live with ADHD traits and highly sensitive nervous systems.

This episode explores:

- Why labels can limit more than they help

- How creativity, vulnerability, and intimacy form a powerful internal compass

- The hidden cost of tethering self-worth to external validation

- Why slowing down physically can help fast minds thrive

- How fear, rejection sensitivity, and masking shape ADHD lives

- Why surrender, not control, is often where growth begins

At the heart of the conversation is Emmy’s concept of “vintivity”, the integration of creativity, intimacy, and vulnerability and why reconnecting with these qualities can transform how we relate to ourselves and the world around us.

This is a calm, expansive, and quietly radical conversation about bravery, self-acceptance, and letting go of the idea that you are a problem to be fixed.

Because bravery doesn’t mean being fearless. It means choosing to grow, even when you’re scared.