Episode 109 (Season 2): The Power of Play: Holding the Heavy with Laughter and Connection

Finding joy and playfulness can feel complicated when the world feels heavy and overwhelming. For neurodivergent people, accessing moments of laughter and lightness—especially while navigating guilt or social pressure to be productive—becomes an essential, yet nuanced, form of self-preservation and resistance.

In this episode, Patrick Casale and Dr. Megan Anna Neff, two AuDHD mental health professionals, discuss the vital importance of play, laughter, and connection for neurodivergent well-being. They candidly discuss their personal struggles and breakthroughs with accessing joy, examine the intersection of play with heavy emotions, and share how dark humor, rituals, and community banter can help neurodivergent people process pain, release shame, and hold complexity. From the guilt often tied to playfulness during difficult times to the healing power of connection and humor, Patrick and Megan Anna offer both real talk and creative strategies for bringing more lightness into your everyday life.

Top 3 reasons to listen to the entire episode:

1. Discover accessible ways to bring more laughter and play into your day, even if you struggle with traditional hobbies or feel weighed down by the world’s pain.
2. Gain insight into the intersection of play, cultural resistance, and advocacy, with reflections on how joy can be both a survival tool and a form of empowerment for marginalized communities.
3. Hear honest, relatable stories from Patrick and Megan Anna about dealing with shame, executive dysfunction, and neurodivergent awkwardness—and learn how humor can be a bridge for connection and healing.

If you’ve ever felt guilty about seeking joy or struggled to figure out how to let playfulness back in, this episode will encourage you to embrace laughter and lightness as essential parts of the neurodivergent experience. Explore what it means to hold the heavy while still making room for play.

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