Between Places: ADHD, Identity, and the Beauty of Being a Generalist with Nathan Stafford-King

Guest: Nathan Stafford-King. Paul sits down with Nathan, a storyteller, photographer, and theatre director whose life has unfolded across the UK, Germany, Denmark, India, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, and now Canada. Together, they explore how ADHD can be misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and masked, especially when moving through different systems and cultures.

Nathan opens up about early signs in childhood, the impact of a later misdiagnosis, and the moment he finally sought an ADHD assessment after realizing that even “doing everything right” (sleep, routines, food, exercise) couldn’t reliably stabilize focus. He describes the daily push-and-pull of time, unfinished projects, distraction, and the constant practice of patience and flexibility.

The conversation also highlights the gifts: deep hyperfocus (including marathon video-editing sessions), creative spark, humour, and the ability to turn chaos into story. Nathan shares a wildly unforgettable travel moment from a night bus in India — a perfect example of how impulsivity and problem-solving collide in real life.

They close with a powerful message for listeners who feel scattered or “too multi-passionate,” including a recommendation for the book Range and a reminder that accumulated experiences can add up in meaningful ways — even when the path looks non-linear.

Memorable Moments / Quotes (pull quotes)

• “Some days I did everything right… and I still couldn’t focus. It felt unfair.”
• “Task initiation is sometimes really hard… but with video editing, I could just go.”
• “Identity is the one thing about us that isn’t ours — it’s given by others.”
• “If you can step into someone else’s perspective, you double your knowledge.”

Where to find Nathan

• Instagram: @NathSK
• Link to his play: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8CJ1yXZMBY

Purchase the books mentioned in this episode through Amazon
 
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Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World (Book recommendation)
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Amazon Canada Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3XTKdWT

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