Breathwork for the Busy ADHD Brain
Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD
Release Date: 04/11/2026
Overcoming Distractions-Thriving with ADHD, ADD
Why do high-performing professionals with ADHD so often feel paralyzed by simple or critical tasks, and how can you break through those hidden barriers? In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave welcomes back ADHD coach and author Brendan Mahan to discuss his book Overcoming the Wall of Awful: Why It’s Hard to Get Things Done with ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety (and How to Do Them Anyway) Even top executives, business owners, and driven entrepreneurs struggle with the invisible emotional friction that halts execution. Brendan breaks down how past failures, uncertainty, and fear of...
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What if the biggest productivity problem for adults with ADHD isn't a lack of focus, but not having enough uninterrupted time to focus? For business owners, entrepreneurs, and busy professionals with adult ADHD, constant interruptions, meetings, emails, messages, and competing priorities can make it nearly impossible to reach the level of focus needed for high-quality work. In this episode, Dave explains why large blocks of protected time can be one of the most powerful productivity tools available to the ADHD brain. And he offers ways to create them despite the demands of a busy professional...
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In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave interviews Alex Partridge, founder of UNILAD and LAD Bible and host of the ADHD Chatter podcast, to explore how Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) impacts adults and entrepreneurs with ADHD. The central takeaway from their discussion is that in the absence of context and clarity, the ADHD mind catastrophizes ambiguity, filling in the blanks with the worst-case scenario and severe emotional distress. They unpack the origins of RSD, the role of early childhood criticism, and how these factors drive people-pleasing, imposter syndrome, and...
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The most successful entrepreneurs with ADHD don't rely on willpower, they build systems that support the way their brains naturally work. Running a small business with ADHD comes with unique strengths and equally unique challenges. Creativity, innovation, and big-picture thinking can fuel incredible success, but staying organized, prioritizing the right work, and following through consistently often require intentional systems. In this episode, Dave shares the 10 must-haves that have helped countless entrepreneurs and business owners with ADHD reduce overwhelm, improve focus, and spend more...
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High performance often masks undiagnosed adult ADHD, leading to burnout in systems designed exclusively for neurotypical minds. Dave talks with entrepreneur, author, and speaker Meghan French Dunbar about her journey with late-diagnosed ADHD. Despite founding successful ventures like Conscious Company magazine, Meghan spent years masking her struggles, overcompensating as an overachiever, and eventually burning out. **Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com and book an introductory Zoom chat. Or go directly to Dave’s calendar; They discuss the critical...
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Your week doesn't have to happen to you. You can intentionally design it around what matters most. For many busy professionals, entrepreneurs, executives, and business owners with ADHD, the end of the week can leave you wondering where your time actually went. You were constantly busy, yet your most important priorities may have taken a back seat to interruptions, urgent requests, and other people's agendas. In this episode, Dave explores how asking yourself a few intentional questions each week can help you strengthen your boundaries, protect your time, and regain a greater sense of control....
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True physical recovery begins only when we stop ignoring the brain’s response to chronic pressure and prioritize our own joy. This is a must listen podcast episode for anyone with adult ADHD experiencing physical symptoms and stress! Dave sits down with Dr. David Clarke, author of They Can't Find Anything Wrong and president of the Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms. Together, they explore the profound connection between high-achieving professionals, ADHD-ish tendencies, and "stress illness.” Real, debilitating physical symptoms generated entirely by altered nerve...
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In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave sits down with Mark Steiner, founder of the powerhouse event marketplace GigSalad. After receiving a life-changing ADHD diagnosis at age 57, Mark looked back on his journey from a New Jersey theater actor to a highly successful CEO. They dive deep into the unique mechanics of the ADHD brain in business, exploring how unconventional paths can breed massive professional success. Entrepreneurship and ADHD: The Reality of Late Diagnosis: Mark shares his personal journey of discovering his ADHD later in life after his daughter was diagnosed,...
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Success can make it easy to overlook what’s really happening beneath the surface. In this episode, Dave steps away from productivity hacks, planners, and optimization strategies to focus on something even more important. ADHD awareness. If you're a busy professional, entrepreneur, executive, or high performer with ADHD, these weekly questions will help you uncover patterns, recognize strengths, and better understand what your brain may be trying to communicate. In this episode Dave talks about: Why ADHD can be both a professional advantage and a source of friction at the same time. How to...
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Dave connects with Jenna Free, author of A Simple Guide to ADHD Regulation, to dismantle the misconception that thriving with neurodivergence requires endless lifestyle hacks. Instead, they dive deep into the power of nervous system regulation and why busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and CEOs frequently find themselves trapped in a frantic cycle of high performance followed by complete shutdown. Jenna highlights how prolonged states of fight-or-flight mimic and intensify ADHD symptoms. She offers a sustainable path to step out of survival mode and provides actionable advice on thriving with...
info_outlineHave you ever tried breath work to manage your adult ADHD?
In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave sits down with Kurtis Lee Thomas, a corporate mindfulness trainer and founder of Breathwork Detox.
They explore the critical importance of "hitting the pause button" in a world that demands constant digital engagement.
Kurtis shares his personal journey from suffering a mysterious, debilitating stomach condition to discovering a powerful somatic breathing technique that provided a miracle cure when Western medicine could not.
The conversation dives deep into why high-achieving entrepreneurs and professionals, especially those with ADHD, often struggle with chronic stress and how breathwork can provide immediate relief.
Managing adult ADHD through breath work.
- The Power of the Pause: Why professionals and those with ADHD must incorporate intentional breaks to maintain mental clarity and performance.
- Breathwork vs. Meditation: Understanding the "umbrella term" of breathwork and why active breathing can be more accessible for chaotic minds than traditional silent meditation.
- Stress and the Body: How the body acts as a "living library" for trauma and stress, often manifesting in physical ailments like digestive issues or burnout.
- The Digital Defocus: How smartphone habits act as a form of "de-meditation," training our brains to constantly switch channels and lose focus.
- The Breathwork Detox Method: A look into this somatic, mouth-breathing technique designed to clear the sympathetic nervous system and release built-up emotional baggage.
- Interrupting Rumination: Strategies for breaking the "hamster wheel" of repetitive negative thoughts common in busy leaders.
**Do you want to work with Dave one-on-one? Go to www.overcomingdistractions.com and book an introductory Zoom chat. Or go directly to Dave’s calendar; https://calendly.com/davidgreenwood1/15min