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551 | Queer and Neurodivergent Pride - Panel Discussion 2025

ADHD reWired

Release Date: 06/14/2025

Coaching Groups: Final Registration Events This Week (A Short Song) show art Coaching Groups: Final Registration Events This Week (A Short Song)

ADHD reWired

Pre-registration for the ADHD reWired Coaching Groups is due Thursday. Registration events are happening Thursday and Friday. The next group starts next week. 👉 For exact dates, times, and next steps, go to: This episode includes a short, experimental song made with Suno Ai explaining the coaching groups. If you’re listening after the registration window closes, future groups will be announced on the website.

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Doing It the Way Your Brain Actually Works (561) show art Doing It the Way Your Brain Actually Works (561)

ADHD reWired

What if the reason you haven’t finished the thing you keep thinking about isn’t motivation, discipline, or follow-through — but fit? In this episode, Eric is joined by Katherine Mutti Driscoll, PhD, an AuDHD coach, educator, and author, for a conversation that starts with writing a book and quickly becomes something much bigger: how neurodivergent adults actually get meaningful work done. They explore why so many ADHD and AuDHD adults carry “someday projects” for years, how structure (not willpower) turns intention into action, and why unmasking isn’t just about identity — it’s...

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560 How to Finish Anything with Paulette Perhach show art 560 How to Finish Anything with Paulette Perhach

ADHD reWired

If you’ve ever had a week where your intentions were solid… and your follow-through vanished into the void, you’re not alone. In this episode, Eric is joined by writer, teacher, and ADHD coach Paulette Perhach, who shares the FINISH framework: a simple, ADHD-friendly approach to actually completing projects, building consistency, and getting unstuck. Paulette’s take is refreshingly honest: ADHD can feel like the superpower and the kryptonite at the same time. She talks about getting diagnosed at 38, learning to ask for accommodations without shame, and building systems that support...

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559 ADHD & AuDHD Burnout:  Why Community & Accountability Still Matter Personal Updates & Listener Questions show art 559 ADHD & AuDHD Burnout: Why Community & Accountability Still Matter Personal Updates & Listener Questions

ADHD reWired

In the final Q&A of 2025, Eric is joined by ADHD reWired coach Brian for a candid, intimate conversation about ADHD, AuDHD, burnout recovery, unmasking, grief, and what it looks like to rebuild momentum without torching your nervous system in the process. They answer listener questions ranging from “what I wish I knew before my autism diagnosis” to “what burnout actually looks like,” and they zoom out to something simple but powerful: community and accountability aren’t “nice extras,” they’re often the difference between knowing what helps and actually doing it. Also: a...

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When “Fine” Keeps Us Stuck: A Reflection on My Dad, Masking, and Adapting ep 558 show art When “Fine” Keeps Us Stuck: A Reflection on My Dad, Masking, and Adapting ep 558

ADHD reWired

“I’m Fine”: What My Dad Taught Me About Resisting Help On August 14th, my dad passed away. In the weeks since, I’ve been reflecting on his life, his humor, his resilience — and his signature phrase: “I’m fine.” He said it when he was hooked up to machines in the hospital. He said it when he was on the roof cleaning gutters, even though his balance was shot. And most of the time, he wasn’t fine at all. In this episode, I share some of the lessons I learned from my dad about adapting — and about the cost of resisting it. From the adult trike he never would have bought for...

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Building Systems that work for you (and not the other way around) with Stephanie Blake - Ep 557 show art Building Systems that work for you (and not the other way around) with Stephanie Blake - Ep 557

ADHD reWired

🧠 Episode Summary: Are you building a business (or a life) that supports your life—or one that runs you into the ground? In this episode of ADHD reWired, Eric Tivers is joined by business systems coach and automation strategist Stephanie Blake. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Stephanie shares how simplifying her business, embracing structure, and getting honest about burnout helped her reclaim her energy and build a business that works for her, not the other way around. They talk about the unique ways ADHD brains thrive with streamlined systems, why too many tools can be a trap, and...

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Hustle, Flow or Let it Go? Lessons from Burnout and Grief - with Dr. Portia Preston - Ep 556 show art Hustle, Flow or Let it Go? Lessons from Burnout and Grief - with Dr. Portia Preston - Ep 556

ADHD reWired

What does it really mean to know when to push, when to pause, and when to let go? In this heartfelt conversation, Dr. Portia Preston returns to ADHD reWired to share insights from her book Hustle, Flow, or Let It Go? We talk about burnout, shame-free wellness, and the small practices that can help us create a more sustainable rhythm in life. This episode weaves together stories of resilience and grief, the reality of living with ADHD and autism, and Portia’s SANE model (Slow down, Acknowledge, Navigate, Evaluate)—a simple framework to help you reset when overwhelm takes over. We also talk...

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People Pleasing & ADHD: When People Pleasing & ADHD: When "Yes" is a Nervous-System Response and How to Stop with Anita Sandoval, LPC - EP 555

ADHD reWired

People-pleasing isn’t a personality flaw—often it’s a nervous-system strategy. Licensed Professional Counselor and ADHD-CCSP Anita Sandoval joins Eric to unpack how the fawn response shows up with ADHD, trauma, and RSD; how it differs from masking and conflict avoidance; and what real change looks like. We cover Anita’s “Empower → Resilient → Authentic” model, ADHD-friendly EMDR adaptations, and the messy-but-worth-it work of boundaries (including with narcissistic family dynamics). Resources, Anita’s links, and a quick survey about a potential evening coaching group are in...

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554 | OCD with ADHD: Could your anxiety be OCD? with Natalia AĂ­za show art 554 | OCD with ADHD: Could your anxiety be OCD? with Natalia AĂ­za

ADHD reWired

What is OCD, really? It’s far more than the stereotypes of handwashing, tapping, or lining up your pens just right. On today’s episode, Eric is joined by Natalia AĂ­za — a therapist, parent, writer, and co-founder of Kairos Wellness Collective — who specializes in supporting individuals and families navigating OCD and anxiety. Together, they explore how OCD can show up in less obvious ways, especially for those with ADHD. You’ll hear: âś… Why OCD is often missed or misdiagnosed in ADHD brains âś… How intense nostalgia, perfectionism, and social media checking can all be forms of...

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The ADHD Productivity Manual with Ari Tuckman, PSY.D, MBA show art The ADHD Productivity Manual with Ari Tuckman, PSY.D, MBA

ADHD reWired

Support Comes from ADHD reWIred's Coaching and Accountability Groups. Summer Sessions are July 24 - Sept 18. Join us at our next registration event on July 10th. Learn more by going to  Episode Overview: In this episode, Eric is joined by Ari Tuckman, PSY.D, MBA, psychologist, international presenter, and author of the new "ADHD Productivity Manual." Together, they dive deep into the realities of productivity for people with ADHD, exploring motivation, activation, self-compassion, and practical strategies for getting things done. Key Topics Discussed: The difference between...

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🎧 Episode Overview

Join host Eric Tivers and three incredible panelists—Nathan James, Meg Zirger, and Christal Wang—for the second-annual Neurodivergent Queer Pride panel, organized by Shimmer. In this landmark conversation, we explore:

  • Masking vs. Unmasking: Why hiding feels safe and how reclaiming your authentic self fuels resilience.

  • Intersectional Identities: How ADHD, autism, and LGBTQ+ pride intersect—and why that intersection is a source of strength.

  • Political Climate & Pride: Strategies for holding onto joy and courage when the world feels heavy.

  • Power of Community: From isolation to solidarity—why peer support is essential for lasting change.

Whether you’re neurodivergent, queer, an ally, or simply curious, this panel offers actionable insights, heartfelt stories, and affirmations to help you thrive.


🎯 Key Takeaways

  1. Masking Is Exhausting

    • Childhood “survival mode” often becomes adult burnout.

    • Unmasking is an ongoing, courageous process of self-discovery.

  2. ADHD + Queer = Unique Superpower

    • Both identities challenge “scripts” society hands us.

    • Embracing difference unlocks creativity, empathy, and authenticity.

  3. Pride Under Pressure

    • Celebrate safely: balance vigilance with joy.

    • Collective conversation and advocacy build courage.

  4. Community as Catalyst

    • Small cohorts and online groups reduce shame and spark accountability.

    • Shared experiences create “me-too” moments that heal and empower.


⏱️ Timestamps

  • 00:00 Welcome & Episode Intro

  • 01:04 What Is Neurodivergent Queer Pride?

  • 03:07 Panelist Introductions & Backgrounds

  • 09:30 Personal Identity Journeys: “Scripts” & Masking

  • 17:36 Societal Expectations: Fitting In vs. Standing Out

  • 29:18 Deep Dive on Masking & Self-Acceptance

  • 38:59 Holding Pride in a Difficult Political Climate

  • 48:12 The Role of Community in Connection & Healing

  • 54:48 Final Affirmations & Advice

  • 57:41 Closing Thoughts & Next Steps


đź”— Resources & Links

  • Join ADHD reWired Coaching & Accountability Groups (Season 41)
    ▸ Live kickoff: Wed, June 18 • 2 PM CT
    ▸ Pre-registration due: Tue, June 17 • 2 PM CT
    ▸ 👉 https://www.coachingrewired.com

  • Shimmer (Episode organizer; online ADHD coaching platform)
    â–¸ Co-founder & panel host: Christal Wang
    👉 https://www.shimmerplatform.com

  • Adult Study Hall (24/7 ADHD-friendly coworking)
    👉 https://www.adultstudyhall.com


đź’ˇ Next Steps

  1. Subscribe to ADHD reWired so you never miss an episode.

  2. Share this episode with friends who identify as neurodivergent, queer, or allies.

  3. Explore our summer Coaching & Accountability Groups to turn these insights into real-world growth.


Your whole self belongs. Let’s celebrate, connect, and thrive—together.