PODCAST · society
Embracing Intensity
by Aurora Remember Holtzman
Have you ever felt like you're "too much?" Too intense? Too consumed by whatever life has in store, that you cannot ever feel fulfilled? Aurora Remember Holtzman has news: you are not too much. Perhaps you simply haven't embraced your naturally excitable self? In "Embracing Intensity," Aurora will take everything you think you know about what it means to be intense and excitable, and show you how intensity is not a weakness but a hidden power. Each week, Aurora will interview a strong, creative, and sensitive woman who embodies what it means to embrace intensity in order to show you how to embrace your life in its fullest. Listen to unlock ways to unleash your inner fire— without getting burned!
Episodes
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299: Celebrating 10 Years of Embracing Intensity: What Does Embracing Intensity Mean to You?
Ten years of the Embracing Intensity podcast! When I first started sharing conversations about giftedness, intensity, creativity, and twice-exceptionality, I couldn't have imagined all the people I would connect with along the way. For this special 10th anniversary episode, I decided to revisit a...
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298: Using Your Creative Fire with Angel Ocasio
What can a lifetime in comedy teach us about creativity, connection, and using our intensity? In this episode of Embracing Intensity, I talk with longtime friend, performer, and comedy teacher Angel Ocasio about his more than 40 years in physical comedy and clowning. Angel shares how an early…
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297: Overcoming the Wall of Awful w/ Brendan Mahan
Sometimes knowing exactly what you need to do doesn't make it any easier to actually do it. If you have ADHD, anxiety, or another neurodivergence, you may be familiar with the experience of looking at a task that should be relatively simple and finding yourself completely unable to start. The...
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296: Owning Your Worth with Dr. Kimberly Douglass
What does it really mean to own your worth—especially when you're gifted, neurodivergent, or someone who genuinely wants to make a difference in the world? In this episode of Embracing Intensity, I'm joined once again by the insightful Dr. Kimberly Douglas for a conversation that begins with...
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295: Thriving as a Twice-Exceptional Adult w/ Melanie Hayes
What does it mean to thrive as a twice-exceptional adult in a world that often misunderstands both giftedness and neurodivergence? In this episode of Embracing Intensity, I'm joined by author, therapist, and educator Melanie Hayes for a wide-ranging discussion on the unique challenges and…
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293: Ways to Recharge When You Can't Quit Your Day Job
Not all rest actually restores. Sometimes it just delays the crash. In this solo episode of Embracing Intensity, I talk about what shifted for me when I went back to working full-time in schools, and why having less free time pushed me to get more intentional about how I use my energy. I used to...
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292: Increasing Capacity & Reclaiming the Body with Juliana Allen
In this powerful and deeply embodied conversation, I sit down with Juliana Allen - somatic experiencing practitioner, trauma-informed guide, and founder of Reclaim with Juliana - to explore nervous system regulation, reclaiming your body, and increasing your capacity to live from truth instead of...
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291: Reframing ADHD for Black Women with Inger Shaye Colzie
This week on Embracing Intensity, I'm thrilled to finally sit down with the powerful and passionate Inger Shaye Colzie, a therapist and coach working at the intersection of ADHD, identity, and cultural experience. Inger shares her journey of being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, after decades…
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290: Executive Functioning with Fizzah Zaidi
Episode 290: Executive Functioning with Fizzah Zaidi In this powerful episode of Embracing Intensity, I'm joined by the insightful and compassionate Fizzah Zaidi, a psychotherapist who specializes in working with neurodivergent individuals. We explore the complexities of executive functioning…
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289: Reclaiming Power Through Art w/ Ilima Considine
In this week's episode, Aurora sits down with Portland-based multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker Ilima Considine to explore how neurodivergence, art, music, and personal experience intersect to spark powerful creative expression. Ilima shares her journey through long COVID, chronic illness…
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288: Tasting the Gifted Rainbow w/ Kaitlin Smith
In this deeply insightful guest call, we welcome Kaitlin Smith, a PhD candidate in the history of science at Harvard with a secondary focus in African American Studies. Kaitlin brings a powerful lens to the conversation around giftedness, drawing from her academic research, clinical background…
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287: The Myth of Work-Life Balance
Is work-life balance real—or just another unrealistic expectation? In this solo episode of Embracing Intensity, I unpack the myth of work-life balance and share my journey toward something more meaningful: harmony. Drawing from my personal life, this episode dives deep into how neurodivergent...
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286: Collective Liberation w/ Caroline J. Sumlin
In this powerful episode of Embracing Intensity, we welcome Caroline J. Sumlin—author of We'll All Be Free—for a deep, vulnerable, and inspiring conversation about collective liberation, the impact of white supremacy culture, and how we can begin to reclaim our worth. Caroline shares her...
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285: The Power of Mirroring with Sheldon Gay
In this thought-provoking episode of Embracing Intensity, Aurora sits down with Sheldon Gay, host of the I Must Be BUG'N podcast, which amplifies the stories and voices of Black, unidentified, underrepresented, gifted, and otherwise neurodivergent people. Sheldon is deeply insightful, warm, and...
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284: Breaking Through Burnout w/ Brendan Mahan
This week on the Embracing Intensity podcast, I'm thrilled to welcome back the always thoughtful and illuminating Brendan Mahan, founder of ADHD Essentials and creator of the Wall of Awful. In this free-flowing and deeply relatable conversation, we dive into the realities of ADHD burnout,...
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283: Empowering Neurodivergent Voices w/ Fizzah Zaidi
In this inspiring episode of Embracing Intensity, I'm joined by the vibrant and insightful Fizzah Zaidi, a psychotherapist based in Chicago who works with adults with ADHD, especially those navigating high-pressure environments like tech and finance. We originally connected at an ADHD conference...
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282. Navigating Neurodivergent Burnout
After a bit of a break from long-form content, I'm so excited to be back with a solo episode that's deeply personal and incredibly timely. I've missed connecting with you more intimately through the podcast and am looking forward to bringing you more episodes like this in the coming months.…
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281: Reclaiming Your Worth & Collective Liberation with Caroline J. Sumlin
In this episode of Embracing Intensity, host Aurora Remember sits down with Caroline J. Sumlin, author of We'll All Be Free: How a Culture of White Supremacy Devalues Us and How We Can Reclaim Our True Worth. Together, they explore the intersection of intensity, self-worth, and collective...
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280: Celebrating Neurodivergence and Authenticity with Sheldon Gay
In this episode of Embracing Intensity, I'm thrilled to welcome Sheldon Gay, host of the I Must Be Buggin' podcast. Sheldon brings his insightful perspective on navigating life as a late-identified gifted and neurodivergent individual. His podcast and work are dedicated to amplifying...
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279: The Science of Writing to Heal w/ Nneka Denise
The Science of Writing to Heal with Nneka Denise In this episode of Embracing Intensity, we're excited to share the Q&A portion of our powerful conversation with Nneka Denise, founder of the Write to Heal Project. This discussion offers timely tools and insights as we reflect on letting go of the...
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278: Nonviolent Communication w/ Bob Yamtich
In this highly engaging episode of the Embracing Intensity podcast, host Aurora Remember Holtzman dives deep into the world of Nonviolent Communication (NVC) with Bob Yamtich, a seasoned practitioner with over 20 years of experience. Bob shares how NVC has shaped his approach to relationships,...
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277: Navigating Healthy Relationships w/ Heather Boorman-Morris
This episode of the Embracing Intensity podcast, features a detailed conversation with Heather Borman Morris about understanding narcissistic relationships and how they uniquely affect gifted and neurodivergent individuals. Heather, a clinical social worker, shares her personal experience with...
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276: Neurodivergent Leadership w/ Marc Almodovar
In this enriching episode, Aurora hosts Marc, who shares his profound insights on neurodivergent leadership. Marc introduces himself by recounting his journey with ADHD, from his early school years to receiving his diagnosis at 16. This pivotal moment spurred him to embrace and understand his...
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275: The Healing Power of Music w/ Princess Fortier
This week on the Embracing Intensity podcast, host Aurora discusses the transformative power of music with guest Princess Fortier. Princess shares her personal journey of using singing to alleviate her chronic migraines, which began at the age of 13. Despite initially pursuing neuroscience to…
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274: Restful Rest
In this solo episode, I delve into my personal journey of overcoming a prolonged burnout to explore the concept of truly restful rest. I discuss the five areas of energy balance—physical, emotional, mental, social, and connection—from my 'Balancing Your Time and Energy' workbook. Through my...
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273: Exploring Self-Connection w/ Bob Yamtich
In this episode of the Embracing Intensity podcast, host Aurora Remember Holtzman interviews Bob Yamtich about his journey with intensity, nonviolent communication (NVC), and self-connection. Bob shares his personal experiences with bipolar disorder and hypomania, the importance of shared…
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272. Creativity as Self Care w/ Sharon Burton
This week on Embracing Intensity, we share part of our call with Sharon J. Burton on "Creativity as Self-Care." Sharon delves into a chapter from her upcoming book "Creative Sparks" that explores how embracing creativity can be a powerful form of self-care. Through affirmations, inspiration, and...
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271: The Importance of Play w/ Boontarika Sripom
Join us in a profound exploration of fun, creativity, and self-care in our latest Embracing Intensity Podcast episode with special guest Boontarika Sripom. Dive deep into the significance of play in nurturing personal growth and bringing joy into our lives, especially for the intensely creative…
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270: Intensity & Harmony w/ Princess Fortier
In this engaging conversation, Aurora sits down with the multi-talented Princess Fortier, a beacon of inspiration in the journey of embracing one's intensity. Princess shares her remarkable story, from neuroscientist to singer and model, highlighting how music became her tool for healing and...
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269: Dismantling Patriarchy Through Play w/ Jeff Harry
In this thought-provoking podcast episode, Jeff and Aurora delve deep into the topic of dismantling patriarchy through play. They explore the impact of societal norms on individuals, the role of neurodivergence in challenging the status quo, and the importance of celebrating uniqueness. Through...
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268: Embracing the Power of Emotional Intensity with Christine Fonseca
This week on Embracing Intensity, we share an enlightening conversation with award-winning author and licensed educational psychologist, Christine Fonseca. In this episode of our podcast, our host, Aurora, delves into an enriching conversation with Fonseca, exploring her insights on emotional...
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267: Building Confidence & Resilience w/ CoCo Leary
In this episode of the Embracing Intensity Podcast, we bring you an inspiring conversation with Cosette "Coco" Leary. Coco's gripping story takes us on a journey from her days as a welfare recipient to eventually becoming a celebrated motivational speaker and entrepreneur. Her story is laced with...
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266: Navigating Intensity Through a Cultural Lens w/ Kaitlin Smith
In this episode of the Embracing Intensity Podcast, host Aurora interviews Kaitlin Smith, a scholar, facilitator, and founder of Our Wild Minds. Kaitlin shares her journey as a gifted BIPOC individual, her work in supporting gifted adults, and her research on the history of mind sciences. Join...
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265: Play as a Tool for Decolonizing Neurodivergence w/ Dr. Kimberly Douglass
In this age of rapid and overwhelming information, how does one choose what is important to learn? Opportunities to play are opportunities to learn. Play allows us to imagine ourselves in different realities, in different worlds where the rules are different, where we can be different. In these...
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264: Overcoming Perfectionism: Building Self-Compassion for Gifted and Neurodivergent Adults
Are you a gifted or neurodivergent perfectionist struggling to overcome the damaging effects of perfectionism? In this episode of the Embracing Intensity podcast, host Aurora Remember Holtzman invites special guest Aileen Kelleher, a therapist and life coach, to delve into the topic of overcoming...
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263: Navigating Intimacy and Neurodivergence: A Conversation with Catieosaurus
In this episode of the "Embracing Intensity" podcast, host Aurora brings on a special guest, Cate Osburn, better known on social media as Catieosaurus. As a certified sex educator with an emphasis on neurodivergency and intimacy, Cate sparks much-needed conversations, tackling topics others often...
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262: Burnout Recovery
This week on Embracing Intensity, I share my experience with the physical and emotional exhaustion that comes with severe burnout. In this episode, I share updates on my personal life that have contributed to burnout, dive into my recovery process and discuss how to overcome burnout symptoms. I...
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261: ADHD Productivity w/ Arianna Bradford
This week, we talk with Arianna Bradford, an ADHD productivity coach, about the best ways for adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to boost productivity in their daily lives. We cover a range of topics, from common symptoms of ADHD and organizational strategies to productivity…
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260: Play as Self-Care w/ Rukshana Triem
Never Leave the Playground In this episode, where we delve into the importance of self-care in our daily lives. Whether it's through mindfulness practices, physical exercise, or leisure time activities, taking care of our emotional and physical health is crucial for a better quality of life. From...
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259: Seeing Life Differently w/ Zaakirah Muhammad
Seeing Life Differently In this episode, Zaakirah Muhammad joins us to discuss mindfulness, gratitude and how these practices can help to craft a more meaningful life in her talk on Seeing Life Through a Different Lens: Mindfulness and Gratitude as a Creative. She talks about how one can use...
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258: Overcome Burnout w/ Dr. Zarya Rubin
Overcome Burnout Welcome to From Burnout to Brilliance, a talk that explores the best ways to manage work-related stress and overcome burnout. In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Dr. Zarya Rubin, a Harvard trained MD turned functional medicine health coach, who will be sharing...
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257: Gifted Kid Burnout w/ Catieosaurus
Exploring Gifted Kid Burnout Gifted kid burnout affects many smart kids and former gifted students who were once in gifted programs. As young adults, they often share a common theme of feeling burnt out and struggling with unrealistic expectations. The pressure to always achieve gold star grades...
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256: Finding Neurodivergent Community with Marc Almodovar
The importance of neurodivergent community Neurodivergent individuals are those who think, process information, and experience the world in ways that differ from the neurotypical (i.e., not neurodivergent) population. The neurodiversity movement advocates for the recognition and celebration of...
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255: Tidying Up Your Brain, Marie Condo Style w/ Nadja Carghetti
As neurodivergent creatives, we often find ourselves overwhelmed with too much stuff both in our environment and in our minds. We may be overrun with office supplies, craft supplies, and/or miscellaneous things that support our hyperfixations or latest hyperfocus. The ADHD brain is especially…
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254: Self-Advocacy w/ Dr. Matt Zakreski
Building Self-Advocacy This week on Embracing Intensity, we share our talk with Dr. Matt Zakreski on self-advocacy skills. Self-advocacy is an important skill that can help you take charge of your own life and move toward greater freedom, fulfillment, and happiness. In this episode, we'll explore...
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253: Decolonizing Neurodivergence w/ Dr. Kimberly Douglass
I am so thrilled to get to share Dr. Kimberly Douglass' talk on Decolonizing Neurodivergence! From Violence to Love Do you ever wonder why we get into loops on social media platforms when we talk about neurodivergence? We have convinced ourselves this conversation is just about validating each...
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252: Pause & Plan
Taking a little pause to focus on moving & back end stuff.
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251: Neurodivergence and Queerness with Leela Sinha
Today's episode is a recording of our talk with Leela Sinha on the intersection of neurodivergence and gender. This is definitely not an "inside-the-box" topic. You can find the full discussion in the Embracing Intensity community at [email protected]. Show Highlights: The overlap...
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250: Passive Income and Side Hustles with Sadie Smiley
We all have our "beyond our wildest imagination" dreams that we never realistically hope to achieve. This is not true for today's guest. She truly is living her dream in a place she never thought possible, and she's teaching others to reach for the unimaginable also. Join us to learn more! Sadie...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Have you ever felt like you're "too much?" Too intense? Too consumed by whatever life has in store, that you cannot ever feel fulfilled? Aurora Remember Holtzman has news: you are not too much. Perhaps you simply haven't embraced your naturally excitable self? In "Embracing Intensity," Aurora will take everything you think you know about what it means to be intense and excitable, and show you how intensity is not a weakness but a hidden power. Each week, Aurora will interview a strong, creative, and sensitive woman who embodies what it means to embrace intensity in order to show you how to embrace your life in its fullest. Listen to unlock ways to unleash your inner fire— without getting burned!
HOSTED BY
Aurora Remember Holtzman
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Embracing Intensity have?
Embracing Intensity currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Embracing Intensity about?
Have you ever felt like you're "too much?" Too intense? Too consumed by whatever life has in store, that you cannot ever feel fulfilled? Aurora Remember Holtzman has news: you are not too much. Perhaps you simply haven't embraced your naturally excitable self? In "Embracing Intensity," Aurora will...
How often does Embracing Intensity release new episodes?
Embracing Intensity has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Embracing Intensity?
You can listen to Embracing Intensity on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Embracing Intensity?
Embracing Intensity is created and hosted by Aurora Remember Holtzman.
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