Artist Recovery Podcast Ep. 26 | Mia Torr - Networker on Neurodivergence, Creativity & Resilience

Watch this emotionally raw, inspiring, and deeply human conversation with Mia Torr—a designer, educator, podcaster, and the powerhouse behind Authentic Networker, which scaled to 120 cities in just 3 years!
In this must-watch episode, Rich Wright and Mia peel back the layers of her unconventional journey—from a neurodivergent gifted kid who skipped grades and hid in hollow trees with a book, to a globally recognized community builder who’s helped thousands forge authentic professional relationships.
🌍 Born in Toronto to Swiss and Filipina parents, Mia’s multicultural upbringing, travels through Europe and Asia, and immersion in music shaped her unique worldview. But behind the success lies a mosaic of challenges—undiagnosed ADHD, the pressures of academic expectations, family trauma, bullying, and her sister’s runaway crisis—that nearly broke her.
📌 Key Viral Moments to Watch:
00:04 – Mia’s jaw-dropping bio read-aloud by Rich Wright
03:10 – “I was a free-range kid with a business in the basement”
06:00 – Music school chaos: the funniest origin story of multi-instrument babysitting
13:40 – The Forbes Park slum juxtaposition that changed her worldview forever
24:41 – When “gifted” became a curse: how academic pressure crushed her mental health
36:54 – The school dance ban that left 11-year-old Mia ostracized
44:00 – Her sister’s disappearance and rebellion—and what it did to the family
50:08 – “Validation was performance-based. Love had to be earned.”
59:01 – The surprising way leadership became her emotional escape hatch
1:01:15 – Double major in Math & East Asian Studies: why she pivoted toward inclusion
1:05:34 – Why creative writing became Mia’s lifeline in university
1:10:37 – The introvert’s guide to networking, hosting, and authentic leadership
💬 Quotes That Hit Hard:
“My esteem felt like a constellation—bright spots with blackness in between.”
“I used books the way others use addiction—to numb, to escape, to survive.”
“I wasn't given tools—I was given labels like lazy or broken.”
🎧 Whether you're an entrepreneur, artist, educator, or neurodivergent soul seeking belonging, Mia’s story is a masterclass in self-awareness, healing, and building connection in a disconnected world.

💬 COMMENT below: What moment from Mia’s story hit you hardest?

📤 SHARE this with a fellow creative or sensitive soul who needs to hear this.

📌 SUBSCRIBE for more unfiltered stories of recovery, resilience, and reinvention.

✨ Connect with Mia Torr:
Instagram: @authenticnetworker
Website: https://www.authenticnetworker.com
Wavelength Community: https://wavelength-site.mn.co/

🎧 Artist Recovery Podcast – Where we explore the journeys behind the genius. New episodes weekly.
#MiaTorr #ArtistRecoveryPodcast #Neurodivergence #artistrichwright #richwrightartist #richwrightunltd #AuthenticNetworking #GiftedKidBurnout #CreativeHealing #ADHDAwareness #WomenInLeadership #PodcastInterview #EmotionalIntelligence #SelfDiscovery #CreativeRecovery #TorontoVoices #CommunityBuilder #RealTalkPodcast

Support the show

Always remember, Listen to your Heart and Be Kind to Your Mind! -Rich Wright

Follow us here: https://www.theartistrecovery.com
Join the Community: https://www,artrecroom.com

Listen Weekly at: https://www.artistrecoverypodcast.com

Connect:

Instagram

Facebook

X

TikTok

Linkedin