Jo Randerson: ADHD, autism and the creative mind

Jo Randerson was diagnosed with ADHD at 46, then autism this year - diagnoses that finally explained the parts of their life that never quite made sense. The theatre-maker and author talks honestly about how neurodiversity shapes both their creative work and their parenting.Jo wears a lot of hats. Their book  "Secret Art Powers" makes the case that creative thinking isn't just for professional artists - we all need it, especially when the world keeps telling us to play it safe. That same philosophy runs through their show "Speed is Emotional", which digs into ADHD and parenting, featuring their son who also has ADHD.This chat also challenges the "superpower" talk around ADHD - those same things that fuel creativity can also make getting through the day just exhausting. Jo's take: yes, it's hard, but look at what you've got and be grateful for it.We'd love to hear from you. Send us a text or a voicemail by clicking here. If you need support, here are helpful links, phone numbers and resources: https://ember.org.nz/resources/in-a-crisis/