Katie spent 6 months in one of the world’s most forgotten countries — the Central African Republic. In this episode, we sit down in person to chat about her experiences there working as a medical doctor with Doctors Without Borders.

This is a story of people who have been ignored for too long — of grief, resilience, and what it means to show up in the darkest places.

Her book, Field Notes from Death’s Door, is available wherever you get your books. It’s excellent, and I genuinely recommend you give it a read if you can.

Today’s paid partner is BetterHelp, to get 10% off your first month of online therapy with a credentialed therapist head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread

A Need To Read is partnered with The Breath Space, a online Breath-work education and practise portal that I have been using for the last couple of months, alongside my course to become a breath-work facilitator. To check out how breathwork can help you, follow the link and use the code ED for 50% off your first 2 months.

https://courses.thebreathspace.co.uk/your-breath-space-online-membership

You can also support my work by heading to www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread

Any feedback is welcome: aneedtoread.podcast@gmail.com

Today’s paid partner is BetterHelp, to get 10% off your first month of online therapy with a credentialed therapist head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread

In this episode, I sit down with Ellie Middleton — author of Unmasked and How To Be You — to talk about the messy, powerful journey of self-discovery through a late diagnosis of autism and ADHD.

From anxiety misdiagnoses and burnout cycles to the pressures of “being normal” and the power of simply understanding yourself, Ellie opens up about it all.

We also dive into reading habits, writing under pressure, self-compassion, and learning to be a big brave girl (in the surf).

What We Talk About

• The cycle of burnout and the misdiagnosis of anxiety and depression

• Ellie’s late diagnosis journey and the “lightbulb” moment in therapy

• Masking and why “being normal” is so damn exhausting

• Reading as a neurodivergent person — fiction, nonfiction, and dropping the book snobbery

• Writing two books in under two years (and nearly breaking herself doing it)

• Neurodivergent time vs. linear time — and why “spinning out in space” matters

• The power of somatic work, surfing, and getting comfortable looking silly

• Gendered differences in how autism and ADHD are recognised

• Internalised ableism and the fear of being your unmasked self

• Self-compassion as a daily practice, not a one-time fix

Links & Resources:

• Follow Ellie: @elliemidds on Instagram / TikTok / LinkedIn

• Follow the podcast on Instagram: @aneedtoread

A Need To Read is partnered with The Breath Space, a online Breath-work education and practise portal that I have been using for the last couple of months, alongside my course to become a breath-work facilitator. To check out how breathwork can help you, follow the link and use the code ED for 50% off your first 2 months.

https://courses.thebreathspace.co.uk/your-breath-space-online-membership

You can also support my work by heading to www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread

Any feedback is welcome: aneedtoread.podcast@gmail.com

Boys read less than girls. That’s what the stats say, and today, writer, Lucas Oakley joins me to chat about why this is and gives some direction for guys looking to get into reading.

Today’s paid partner is betterhelp, for 10% off your first month head to www.betterhelp.com/aneedtoread

books discussed

Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Mothers by Chris Power

All that man is by David Soles

Men without women by Murakami

Reservoir Bitches by Dahlia De La Cerda

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Four Three Two One by Paul Auster

A Little Life by Hanya Yangahara

Skippy Dies by Paul Murray

For info on his new book and book club for boys follow Lucas on Instagram: @LucasOakeley

buy me a coffee if you like, www.buymeacoffee.com/aneedtoread

Feedback/comments welcome: aneedtoread.podcast@gmail.com