Why you have to ask the 'stupid' questions. Seriously.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But, L2, I’d rather set my hair on fire than look clueless in front of a room full of people (or, for that matter, one person I secretly—or not-so-secretly—want to impress).”

Hi! I’m Lauren Howard (but you can call me L2—everyone does), and this is Different, Not Broken—the podcast for anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re the only person who can’t quite read between the lines. Spoiler: you’re not alone, and you definitely aren’t broken.

Today, we’re taking on one of the stickiest, sweatiest, most universal social anxieties: the fear of looking 'dumb' by asking questions everyone else must already know the answer to. (You know, the questions you furiously Google at 1am because—let’s be honest—Google is not here for your nuanced, deeply personal, extremely context-specific conversational crisis.)

We’re talking about the actual reason it feels like everyone else in the room knows what’s expected. Except you.

And more importantly, why the people who seem the smartest might actually be as confused as you are.

Come for the reminders that communication isn’t one-size-fits-all; stay for the dead dad jokes, the unfiltered storytelling, and the small but mighty nuggets that might just make life make a little more sense.

Plus—Patreon insiders get access to our text line for real-time social script help. It’s a thing. It’s working. You’re invited.

Here's the link - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/patreon

If you’ve ever second-guessed yourself out of asking for what you need, or just want to feel less alone in a world full of unsaid rules, press play on this episode.

P.S. Oh yeah... if you want to learn how trauma, grief, and novelty work in your brain—and how repetition is the magic ingredient for making even the worst things boring in the end—don’t skip the final ten minutes. For the Freud stuff.

Plus, you might catch a glimpse of the Dungeons & Dragons/DSM-5 crossover you never knew you needed. IYKYK.

Hit play. You have questions. So do we. Turns out, that’s actually the point.

03:13 Just Ask

08:47 Encourage Open Communication

09:48 Embrace Reactions, Clarify Boundaries

15:04 Wartime Child Evacuations in WWII

17:28 Brain Processes Trauma Repetitively

21:40 Dungeons and Dragons? WTF?

Want in on our mailing list so you can keep updated on all the cool stuff we're doing? (I can't promise I won't just email you about Marvel stuff) - https://differentnotbrokenpodcast.com/newsletter

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I added some bullhorn for effect.

Hey, It’s "Different, Not Broken", and I’m Lauren Howard — "L2" if you’re friendly or just prefer to keep things efficient.

And I’m here to shatter one of the workplace’s worst-kept secrets: the idea that a direct deposit into your bank account means you have to swallow abuse, keep quiet, and thank your lucky stars someone’s tolerating you.

Spoiler alert — it doesn’t.

But it’s not all righteous fire and rage-quits around here.

I’ve been there—trapped, anxious, warped by a job that paid my rent but cost me chunks of my mental health. If you’re reading this, odds are, you’ve been there too, or you’re not sure if you have…which, as I’ll tell you, is usually its own answer.

So, what’s in this episode?

If you’re tired of advice that boils down to “just quit!” (as if you can pay your landlord in righteous anger), or if gut-level honesty about workplace dysfunction is your jam, you’re in the right place.

We’ll cover survival tactics for the in-the-trenches folks, whether you’re just trying to outlast management’s latest round of corporate "Hunger Games" or you’re documenting every microaggression just in case you need to lawyer up.

You’ll hear how to find and fortify your safe spaces (even if one is just the friend who knows exactly what your "dunk” is), and why no, actually, you shouldn’t have to choose between sanity and survival.

It’s not just you. You deserve to feel safe at work—like, day-one safe, “where’s the fire exit” safe, not “will HR gaslight me if I bring this up” safe. Because most of us need our jobs, but none of us need to be broken by them.

And because finding one small, practical step of control can be the thing that gets you through another day (or the thing that lights the spark that starts real change).

Oh, and if you needed one more reason? If you’ve ever needed to scream into the void that you really, truly deserve better—or just want to hear me call out corporate bullsh*t with the gusto it deserves—you’re our people.

Hop in. As always, we’ll be loud. We’ll be real. We’ll be here—different, not broken.

And by the end of the episode, you might just believe it a little more.

(PS: If you know where to find a magical “donk” for your phone charger, or a support group of people who just get your weird sound-laden language, don’t keep it to yourself. Some of us are still looking.)

Listen now. Let yourself feel seen. And remember: A paycheck is not a permission slip for abuse. Ever.

04:05 You're Entitled to Safety at Work

07:14 Navigating Job Mobility and Abuse

10:13 Document Your Experiences, Consult Legal Help

15:21 You Deserve Better: Recognize Abuse

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Newsletter

Welcome to "Different, not broken." I’m Lauren Howard—most people call me L2—and I’m here to shake up everything you think you know about 'professionalism'.

In this episode, I’m explaining why professionalism, as it’s sold to us, is pretty much bullshit.

We’re told we have to fit this narrow, stuffy standard to survive in the workplace, but let’s be real: that standard was designed to exclude anyone who isn’t a 45-year-old white guy.

I talk about how, especially in mental health and helping professions, there’s this weird expectation that you should be neutral and never challenge harmful ideologies—even when those beliefs are actively hurting people and keeping them from accessing care.

Spoiler alert: I don’t subscribe to that.

You’ll hear stories from my own life—yes, including plenty more 'dead Dad jokes' around my memories of running my Dad’s practice.

Also, for our little side-quest, I'll talk about why imposter syndrome creeps up on us, and why you’re probably a lot more qualified than you feel.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong, that you’re making it up as you go, or that your path wasn’t 'professional' enough, you’re in good company.

Let’s throw out the old rules together and celebrate exactly who we are—tabs open, messy stories, and all.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Toyota
• Hyundai
• Honda
• Elon Musk

Newsletter

In case the link is broken, you can hop on our newsletter at https://www.lbeehealth.com/ and I really think you should.

Mentioned in this episode:

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