🎧 Welcome to Episode #104 of the Focus and Chill Podcast! In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mike Knapp to explore the intersection of burnout, late autism diagnosis, and what it means to thrive as a neurodivergent professional in tech. 👤 About the Guest: Mike Knapp is a serial entrepreneur, tech innovator, and former Google product lead. From co-founding the custom shoe company Shoes of Prey to building AI tools and launching Google’s Task Mate, Mike’s career is a masterclass in innovation. After facing debilitating burnout and being diagnosed with autism at 43, Mike now speaks openly about neurodivergence, self-awareness, and building sustainable success. 💡 In This Episode, We Cover: - What burnout really looked like (and why it was misdiagnosed for years) - How discovering autism in adulthood reshaped Mike’s life - Challenges of masking and working in fast-paced tech environments - Morning & evening routines that actually work for neurodivergent brains - Balancing fatherhood, mental health, and meaningful work - Why compassion—for yourself and others—is essential for neurodivergent wellbeing 00:00:00 – Intro + Guest Bio 00:02:58 – Burnout Before Diagnosis 00:03:30 – Realizing He’s Autistic at 43 00:05:00 – Physical + Emotional Cost of Masking 00:08:30 – Autistic Work Styles vs. Norms 00:09:59 – Recovery & Shifting Expectations 00:11:11 – Rejoining the Workforce (Differently) 00:13:00 – New AI Job + Purpose-Driven Work 00:16:03 – Tinkering with Tools, LLMs, and Side Projects 00:18:00 – Teamwork, Improv & Learning from Burnout 00:21:30 – Rewriting Internal Narratives & Delegation 00:27:31 – Routines with a Toddler + Parenthood 00:30:00 – Cooking Hacks, ADHD Evenings & Sleep Challenges 00:33:00 – CPAP, Sleep Apnea & Neurodivergent Sleep 00:33:47 – Final Thoughts: Compassion for All Brains Connect with Mike Knapp: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpknapp Website: mikeknapp.xyz/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_F-0WWGvJ188KI6CXiVKWw Email:
[email protected] Connect with Jeremy: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy Email:
[email protected] Connect with Joey: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeycorea/ Newsletter: https://thepluckyjester.com/newsletter/ More from Focus Bear: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1
