SURVIVING DECEMBER: Christmas after loss, trauma and estrangement

In this deeply personal Christmas episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich sits down with Rox—aka “the Grinch”—to unpack the real story behind her decades-long struggle with Christmas. What starts as a festive chat quickly becomes an honest, emotional journey through grief, trauma, family estrangement, alcoholism, shock, and the impossible pressure to feel joyful when your whole world has collapsed. Rox opens up about losing her mum and grandad within days of each other, navigating her dad’s long-term affair, spending Christmases alone in a basement flat with cider and a microwave dinner, the years of numbing, running, self-injury, and trying—and failing—to hold it all together. She also shares the complicated love of still wanting your dad, the devastation of being blocked, and the strange relief that comes when a door finally closes. But this isn’t just darkness. Rich and Rox trace the long road back: therapy breakthroughs, sobriety, chosen family, stepchildren, new traditions (including the legendary New Year’s Eve Fairy), and the slow, unexpected return of seasonal joy. If you find Christmas overwhelming, lonely, painful, or loaded with memories you can’t hold by yourself, this episode is for you.

In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox dive into the biggest flops, failures, and f*ck-ups of their lives — the ones that embarrassed them, humbled them, shaped them, and ultimately set them on the path they’re on today. Rich talks about giving up a near-pro golf trajectory at 15, two divorces by 32, and the gambling addiction that wiped out everything he had — and the gratitude and perspective that came on the other side of it. Rox shares the pain of taking down her first single after it “flopped,” the unopened post, the money chaos, and the shame stories she carried for years before learning to ask for help. Together they explore how these moments cracked them open, forced accountability, and led to therapy, sobriety, self-awareness, and the life they’re living now. It’s honest, hilarious, and painfully relatable — a reminder that everyone’s got failures, but it’s what you do with them that turns your life around.

In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox open up the vault on the beliefs we were 100% convinced were true… and turned out to be absolute delusion. From teenage confidence that made no sense, to “I can definitely handle this” addiction logic, to dating fantasies, career myths, people-pleasing lies, and the stories we told ourselves just to survive — we unpack the wild, hilarious, and sometimes heartbreaking things we genuinely believed. It’s raw, it’s ridiculous, it’s shockingly relatable — and it’s a reminder that being wrong about your life doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you human. And very often, it makes you free. If you’ve ever looked back at an old version of yourself and thought, “Oh God… I really believed that?” — this one is for you.

In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox dive into the ten ridiculous, chaotic, painfully relatable ways neurodivergent brains wreck an entire night — often before we’ve even made it to bed. From doomscrolling and anxious overthinking to sofa naps, Netflix loops, gaming, temperature drama, rumination spirals, and that dreaded “big day tomorrow” insomnia, they break down why bedtime always feels like a boss level we can’t beat. It’s funny, honest, and deeply familiar to anyone whose brain refuses to shut up at night. A comfort episode for every neurodivergent night owl who is trying their best — and still ends up wide awake at 2:47am wondering how the hell this keeps happening.

In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox dive into the weirdly specific joys that light up neurodivergent brains. From the thrill of a forgotten parcel delivery to the bliss of a fresh pair of socks, they explore the tiny, random, wonderful things that hit like pure dopamine. They cover everything from candle aisles, bookshop wandering, escape rooms, snack obsessions, and “main character” music-video walks, to productivity highs, cosy rituals, and the deep comfort of doing things with your people. Along the way, they unpack the differences between Rox’s ADHD dopamine-chasing chaos and Rich’s autistic joy in structure, ritual, and sensory delight. It’s a warm, funny, deeply relatable tour through the little moments that make neurodivergent life feel magical, meaningful, and sometimes absolutely unhinged — in the best way.

In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox finally talk about unmasking — pretending to be someone you’re not, pretending to be neurotypical, pretending you’re fine, and pretending you don’t have needs. Rich shares how his old mask looked like being the “life and soul of the party,” hyper-masculine and always social, while Rox talks about hiding chaos, messy flats, people-pleasing, fawning, and lying about things like lateness out of shame. They explore why neurodivergent people mask — to fit in, avoid rejection, and feel acceptable — and the cost of it: exhaustion, anxiety, overwhelm, and relationships where the real you is never seen. Rich and Rox share personal moments of overstimulation, needing quiet rooms, crying, mouldy cups, chaotic homes, and acting through fear of being “caught out.” They also talk about how unmasking takes time, feels awkward, and starts with small truths shared with the safest person. And even though it’s scary, they show why it leads to more connection, more honesty, and finally being known for who you really are. 20% off Loop Earplugs: https://www.loopearplugs.com/pages/lp-adhdlove

What happens when life starts going right… and your brain still whispers, “You don’t deserve this”? In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox talk honestly about imposter syndrome — especially when you’re a late bloomer who never expected life to look like this. From waiting to be “found out,” to secretly believing success is luck, not earned, they break down the sneaky ways self-doubt shows up even when you're thriving. They explore how childhood experiences wire us to minimise ourselves, why confidence doesn't automatically grow with achievements, and how shame can hitch a ride on success just as easily as failure. And most importantly — they share gentle, practical ways to catch those thoughts, build self-trust, and learn to stand in what you've built without cringing, apologising, or shrinking. Tender, honest, and funny in the very human way only these two do it — this episode is a reminder that you don’t have to feel like you belong to actually belong. You earned this. Now let’s learn to believe it.

Birthdays are meant to be joyful… right? So why do they so often come with pressure, comparison, anxiety, and that quiet feeling of I should be happier than this? In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox talk honestly about the emotional hangover that can hit around birthdays — especially when you’re feeling behind, overwhelmed by expectations, or carrying grief into another year. From childhood memories and milestone shame to the fear of ageing, loneliness, and the desire to feel seen, they unpack why birthdays can sting even when life is good. They also explore how to turn birthdays into something gentler: a chance to celebrate growth, honour who you are now, and find gratitude without forcing joy or pretending everything’s perfect. Tender, relatable, and funny in all the right places — this episode is a reminder that getting older isn’t something to fear. It’s something to live through, learn from, and sometimes cry about… then eat cake anyway. 🎂

Let’s talk about the spark. The one that doesn’t come from lingerie, role-play, or awkward “date nights with expectations.” In this episode of LATE BLOOMERS, Rich and Rox get real about the non sex sex stuff — the everyday things that quietly build (or kill) intimacy in long-term relationships. From body confidence and anger repression to sensory pleasure, deep chats, and clean sheets, they unpack ten surprisingly simple ways to feel close again without costumes or pressure. Expect laughter (Chewbacca costumes included), awkward confessions, and some genuinely life-changing insights about connection, confidence, and the psychology of desire. Whether you’re in a dry spell or just craving more closeness, this is your permission slip to rebuild intimacy one small step at a time.

If you could travel back in time, what would you tell your 18, 25, and 35-year-old self? In this episode, Rich and Rox climb into the metaphorical time machine to revisit the versions of themselves who were lost, reckless, hopeful, and still figuring it all out. From first heartbreaks to career chaos, from finding purpose to learning how to love — they explore what they’d do differently, what they’d do exactly the same, and what every version of them most needed to hear. This is a conversation about perspective, forgiveness, and the surprising beauty of hindsight.