Hacking Your ADHD

ADHD can be a struggle, but it doesn't always have to be. Every Monday, join William Curb, as he explores ways that you can work with your ADHD brain to do more of the things you want to do. If you have ADHD or someone in your life does and you want to get organized, get focused and get motivated then this podcast is for you.

ADHD-Friendly Mindfulness with Beverly Atkins 09/15/2025

ADHD-Friendly Mindfulness with Beverly Atkins Hey Team! This week I’m chatting with Beverly Atkins, founder of Pauseture, an audio-based mindful movement platform grounded in the Feldenkrais Method. It’s actually kind of funny, despite Feldenkrais not being particularly well known, this isn’t the first time I’ve discussed it on a podcast, although the last time was on my old ultimate frisbee podcast nearly a decade ago. Anyway, in our conversation today, we discuss how Beverly spent decades unknowingly managing her ADHD by overachieving at work and ignoring her body. But we all know this story and how we all eventually hit a breaking point. Fortunately for Beverly, she stumbled her way into the Feldenkrais method. In the podcast, we dive into how these seemingly simple movements helped Beverly calm her nervous system, get better sleep, regulate her sound sensitivity, and develop an entirely new relationship with her attention. We get into how movement can rewire attention, why novelty is so important for ADHD regulation, and how she took her training and built an app that looks to specifically accommodate neurodivergent needs. I loved this episode; there's a lot of wisdom here about self-awareness, regulation, and finding what works for your unique ADHD flavor. If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at YouTube: Patreon: This Episode's Top Tips 1. Novelty can help drive engagement and attention, especially when it comes to something repetitive like a daily practice. It's not about needing something stimulating in the flashy sense, but rather something that’s engaging. Engagement can come in many forms, such as unpredictability, exploration, and just enough challenge to keep us curious. 2. That ability to move your attention on purpose is a skill, one that’s often underdeveloped in ADHD brains. While it’s easy to think of movement-based practices as purely physical, it’s how you’re paying attention during the movements that matters; strengthening your ability to shift and direct your attention. 3. Many mindfulness practices involve some level of stillness that doesn’t always sit right with some ADHD brains. It’s important to listen to what actually works for your body, rather than just what “should” work. If you find the stillness aspect of mindfulness makes you too agitated and restless, try something that has some kind of active aspect to it. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/38172580

Leading with Strengths and ADHD in the Workplace with Rita Ramakrishnan 09/08/2025

Leading with Strengths and ADHD in the Workplace with Rita Ramakrishnan Hey Team! This week, I’m talking with Rita Ramakrishnan, a seasoned strategic executive and leadership coach with over 15 years of experience. Diagnosed with both ADHD and Autism Spectrum during her undergrad years, Rita reframed what could have been limitations into strengths and now looks to uplift other neurodivergent women in leadership roles. Currently, she is pursuing a master's degree in neurodivergent leadership at the University of Pennsylvania, intensifying her expertise in coaching and organizational strategy tailored to neurodivergent individuals. In our conversation, we cover everything from identifying when you’re dysregulated (and what to do about it) to designing teams that play to everyone’s strengths. Rita walks us through practical tools like outsourcing strategically, tracking your energy to uncover strengths, and building a leadership charter so teams can work more effectively together. It’s a conversation about leading authentically, creating systems that work for your brain, and how to advocate for your needs without falling into people-pleasing traps. If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at YouTube: Patreon: This Episode's Top Tips 1. Try creating a Minimum Viable Routine - your baseline routine that consists of the bare minimum you need in place to function. The point of an MVR is to take those non-negotiables and lock them in, either with automation, outsourcing, or simple systems. That way, when ADHD throws a curveball, you still have the essentials covered. 2. Instead of only measuring productivity by what gets checked off a to-do list, try looking at how you feel after activities. Track when you walk away from a meeting or task feeling energized, and when you walk away feeling drained. 3. Rejection sensitivity hits hard for many folks with ADHD. A short email reply, a period at the end of a text, or even a coworker sounding rushed can feel like a personal rejection. Rita’s advice is to deliberately separate yourself from the situation and try to depersonalize feedback. This reframing can help shift from identity-based thinking (like “I’m the problem”) to more situation-based thinking (“this may be tough, but it’s fixable”). /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/38096495

Research Recap with Skye: Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind - Exercise for Kids with ADHD 09/05/2025

Climbing the Walls: ADHD, Women, and the Stories We’ve Missed with Danielle Elliot 09/01/2025

Climbing the Walls: ADHD, Women, and the Stories We’ve Missed with Danielle Elliot Today I’m talking with Danielle Elliot, a health and science journalist, documentarian, and host of Climbing the Walls, an investigative podcast from digging into the surge in ADHD diagnoses among women—especially since the pandemic. If that sounds familiar, it’s cause I did a number of ads for her show a few months back, and I just wanted to make sure that I mention that, since while I’m not getting paid for this episode, I have done work with Understood before and probably will be promoting more of their stuff in the future. Anyway, in our conversation today, we cover a lot of ground, from debunking the idea that no one knew women could have ADHD until recently, to how social media has reshaped the conversation, to why research on hormones and ADHD is still way behind. We also get into the everyday realities of living with ADHD, the default mode network, and why we need far more research into how ADHD shows up in women. It’s a mix of science, lived experience, and the kind of practical reflection that can help you rethink how ADHD fits into your life. If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at YouTube: Patreon: This Episode's Top Tips 1. Instead of guessing when you’ve overbooked yourself, start tracking it like an experiment. For a few weeks, note each day you have social, professional, or mentally demanding activities beyond your baseline, then try and figure out how many consecutive “on” days it takes before you feel fried. 2. Downtime doesn’t magically appear and needs to be scheduled on the calendar, or it often just gets eaten by other people’s needs or whatever’s loudest in the moment. If someone asks you to do something during that block, you can truthfully say you already have something scheduled. Treating self-care time as a legit appointment protects it from getting deprioritized just because it’s “only for you.” 3. A common ADHD trap is overestimating how awful or time-consuming a task will be, which makes it easier to avoid it. Try timing your tasks to give yourself actual data to challenge your brain’s “this will take forever” narrative and can turn a dreaded job into something you knock out in a couple of minutes. 4. Consider hormonal factors when tracking ADHD symptoms, as hormones have a big influence on your ADHD symptoms, yet are often overlooked. Hormonal changes can affect focus, energy, mood, and even how well ADHD medication works. Tracking your symptoms alongside your cycle or other hormonal shifts can help you spot patterns and adjust strategies accordingly. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/38006795

Retraining Your Nervous System with Dr. Ute Liersch 08/25/2025

Retraining Your Nervous System with Dr. Ute Liersch Hey team! My guest this week is Dr. Ute Liersch, a Chartered Counselling and Coaching Psychologist with over a decade of clinical experience and author of A Minimalist’s Guide to Becoming Resilient. Dr. Ute specializes in helping adults navigate anxiety, ADHD, and burnout. Her therapeutic approach is integrative, drawing from modalities such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and mindfulness-based therapies. Beyond her clinical practice, Dr. Ute is an associate lecturer at Birkbeck, University of London, and holds a Fellowship in Higher Education. In our conversation, we explore the nervous system beyond the textbook fight-flight-freeze model, including how our nervous system shapes our mood, motivation, and even the way we see the world. Dr. Ute explains why so many of us with ADHD find that our sympathetic nervous system is permanently on edge and how we can work on rewiring that response. We also talk about perfectionism, attention types, and what resilience looks like in real life, breaking it down into actionable steps that fit into our schedules and ADHD brains. If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at YouTube: Patreon: This Episode's Top Tips 1. Our parasympathetic nervous system can get stuck in a permanent state of “go time.” To help move our PNS back to a relaxed state, Dr. Ute suggests progressive muscle relaxation, where you are tensing and then releasing muscle groups one at a time so you can physically feel the shift from tension to ease. 2. Many of us have internalized the idea that there’s something fundamentally wrong with the way we work, think, or exist. Dr. Ute suggests replacing this assumption of personal defect with curiosity: “If I weren’t wrong, what would I need to feel safe?” This slight shift can open up room to problem-solve and tailor strategies to your actual needs. 3. We often talk about resilience like it’s a fixed trait—you either “have it” or you don’t. But Dr. Ute points out that resilience is about what you do, not what you are. It’s built in small, repeatable actions that teach your nervous system and your mind how to recover from stressors. Resilience isn’t about holding it together forever; it’s about giving yourself enough space and recovery so you can keep going when you need it the most. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/37897795

Research Recap with Skye: Late Diagnosis of Women in Sweden 08/22/2025

Late Diagnosis, Masking, and Making ADHD Work for You with Dr. Jennifer Dall 08/18/2025

Late Diagnosis, Masking, and Making ADHD Work for You with Dr. Jennifer Dall Hey Team! My guest today is Dr. Jennifer Dall, a grief-informed neurodivergence specialist, ADHD coach, and educator with more than 25 years of experience. She’s the founder of ADHD Holistically, and blends her expertise in education, yoga, and grief work to build a focus on the whole person to create personalized, sustainable approaches for neurodivergent brains. In our conversation today, we dig into how societal expectations and outdated research have kept so many women from being recognized as having ADHD. We explore the ways ADHD symptoms often present differently in women, the impact of masking, and the hidden toll of trying to “just keep up.” Dr. Dall also shares quick, real-world strategies for tackling the everyday hurdles that come with ADHD, from taming your to-do list to breaking free of shame around getting help. If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at YouTube: Patreon: This Episode's Top Tips 1. Low-interest tasks like laundry, dishes, or paying bills often aren’t just one thing. They’re a series of micro-steps that might require you to switch gears, remember where you were, and re-engage. Each step is a potential stall point for an ADHD brain, especially if the task is competing with something more engaging. 2. Watch out for overstimulation shutdowns; ADHD brains can have trouble filtering out sensory input and mental noise. If we can learn to recognize when we’re starting to hit sensory or mental overload, it makes it easier for us to take care of ourselves without burning out. 3. Tasks like keeping track of everyone’s schedules, making sure the pantry’s stocked, or managing the emotional climate of a household often go unnoticed, but these tasks are still real work and they’re important. If we can give this work the weight it deserves, it can help us start seeing ourselves (or someone else in our household) as productive even when the results aren’t as visible or tangible as other tasks. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/37825670

The Art of Getting Unstuck with Saman Kesh 08/11/2025

Research Recap with Skye: Hot & Cold Executive Function 08/08/2025

Learn Who You Are and Do It On Purpose with Alex Campbell and Katie Friedman 08/04/2025

Learn Who You Are and Do It On Purpose with Alex Campbell and Katie Friedman Hey team! Today I’m talking with Katie Friedman and Alex Campbell, the brains and heart behind Gold Mind Academy, an ICF-accredited, ADHD-friendly training program, crafted to support ADHDers on their journey to success. And their new book, “ADHD… Now What?”, aims to give you the tools you need to find a coach that is right for you and how to advocate for your needs. And honestly, I love this approach to the book because while there are a lot of ADHD coaches out there, it’s important to find someone who is going to work best with you. So who are these people? Katie is a long time educator turned ICF-accredited ADHD coach and also a TEDx speaker. Alex is also an ICF-accredited ADHD coach, but also a psychotherapist and one of the first children in the UK to be diagnosed with ADHD back in 1990. In our conversation today, we explore what coaching really looks like beyond surface-level goal setting. Alex and Katie break down how understanding your strengths can lead to better self-advocacy and less burnout. We also talk about survival mode, how internalized ableism and societal “shoulds” trip us up, and why connection, with ourselves and with others, is essential for building sustainable strategies. I had a great time with this conversation and it gave me a lot to think about, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Gold Mind Academy: ADHD… Now What?: Katie Friedman Tedx: If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at YouTube: Patreon: This Episode's Top Tips 1. Work on shifting from a deficit lens to a strengths lens. We want to understand not just what we’re good at but what we need in place to express those strengths effectively. 2. It’s important that we integrate identity first and strategy second. For real change to happen, we need to understand and accept who we are before trying to layer on productivity tools. 3. ADHD isn’t easy to manage in isolation. With teamwork and support systems, we can drastically reduce burnout and overwhelm, so it’s incredibly important that we work on building connection and community. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/37612685

Body First Healing: Releasing Stress and Trauma with Britt Piper 07/28/2025

Body First Healing: Releasing Stress and Trauma with Britt Piper Hey Team! This week I’m talking with Britt Piper, a somatic experiencing practitioner, trauma educator, and author of Body First Healing. Britt’s work focuses on understanding how trauma impacts the nervous system and brings both professional expertise and a deeply personal understanding of what it means to heal. In our conversation, we start with Britt's story and then we dive into what somatic therapy actually looks like, how trauma can live in the body long after the mind “knows” we’re safe, and why the nervous system often gets stuck in survival mode. We also get into the science behind stress responses, intergenerational trauma, and practical ways to start listening to your body’s signals instead of fighting against them. Also, just as a quick note before we get into it, today’s episode includes discussion of trauma, including mentions of sexual violence, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts. If these topics are sensitive for you, please take care while listening - feel free to skip ahead or pause when needed. Books Body First Healing by Britt Piper The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk It Didn’t Start With You by Mark Wolynn Therapy & Practitioner Resource Somatic Experiencing International - The Embody Lab - Britt’s Body First Healing Program - If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at - YouTube - Patreon This Episode's Top Tips 1. Somatic practices are body-based approaches to healing that focus on how trauma and stress are held in the nervous system rather than just the mind. They employ gentle techniques, such as tracking body sensations, subtle movements, and breath, to help the body complete its stress response cycles. 2. SI-BAM is a tool from Somatic Experiencing that helps track your internal state when emotions feel vague or difficult to name. It stands for Sensation, Image, Behavior, Affect (emotion), and Meaning. It begins by noticing physical sensations (such as tightness, warmth, or buzzing), and then observing if any mental images arise. It is followed by observing your body’s behavior or impulses (fidgeting, leaning forward) and from there checking for any identifiable emotions, and noticing what meaning or story you attach to the experience. 3. If you feel stuck in the same emotional patterns and if stress, anxiety, or trauma seem to “live” in your body, showing up as chronic tension, pain, or fatigue, somatic therapy could be an option for you. Somatic work can give you tools to gently release that “stuck” survival energy and restore a sense of calm. 4. When dealing with trauma, you don’t have to go it alone, but it is also important to work with a practitioner who understands what they are doing. And understand that somatic therapy is just one of many options that you can use to help you get the help you need. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/37525895

Research Recap with Skye: Default Mode Network 07/25/2025

The Belonging Paradox: Finding Your Place Without Losing Yourself with Dr. Otito Iwuchukwu 07/21/2025

The Belonging Paradox: Finding Your Place Without Losing Yourself with Dr. Otito Iwuchukwu Hey team! Our guest today is Dr. Otito Iwuchukwu, who is here to talk about the emotional and psychological aspects of belonging and how it impacts our day-to-day lives. Dr. Iwuchukwu has a Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology from the College of Psychology and Counseling, a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, with a specialization in Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, from Temple University, and is currently an Associate Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Her scholarly contributions appear in a range of peer-reviewed and indexed publications and have been presented at numerous research meetings and symposia across the world. Additionally, Dr. Iwuchukwu has recently written The Belonging Paradox, a book that presents a new way to understand belonging as an adaptive journey rather than a static destination. In this episode, we talk about why belonging is a dynamic, ongoing process, not a fixed state, and how we can create more inclusive environments for ourselves and others. We’ll also discuss how masking impacts our sense of belonging, the role boundaries play in maintaining our authenticity, and the importance of giving ourselves and others grace. If you’ve ever struggled with finding your place, especially in social settings or work environments, you’ll find practical tools in this conversation for navigating those tough moments. The Belonging Paradox - Dr. Otito Iwuchukwu on LinkedIn - If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at - YouTube - Patreon This Episode's Top Tips 1. Belonging isn’t a fixed state, but an ongoing process that changes with both your internal state and the external environment. Recognizing this can help you manage expectations and frustrations when your sense of belonging fluctuates. 2. Recognize that you don’t have to belong to every group, and not all groups are meant for a deep, personal connection. Don’t force yourself to belong in every situation; if a group or environment doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to step back. 3. You don’t have to be liked by everyone. Instead, it’s important for us to focus on finding spaces where we can truly belong. It’s about finding authentic connections, not chasing superficial acceptance. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/37433700

Beyond Task Management: Exploring ADHD and Emotions w/Valerie McIntyre 07/14/2025

Research Recap with Skye: Emotional Regulation 07/11/2025

Dialing Your Dopamine with Skye Waterson 07/07/2025

Dialing Your Dopamine with Skye Waterson Hey team! This week we’ve got a returning guest - Skye Waterson, founder of Unconventional Organisation and host of the ADHD Skills Lab podcast. Skye’s background includes studies in Psychology, Sociology, and Public Health, and she’s spent over seven years helping late-diagnosed adults create sustainable ADHD strategies. And one of the exciting things that has come from this episode is that Skye and I are going to be doing a spin-off series of the show that focuses exclusively on the research side of ADHD. In these new episodes, we’ll be taking a look at a single research paper and discussing the ins and outs of what the paper says and how it was conducted, as well as trying to give any practical takeaways that will can drum up. Episode lengths are going right back to the origins of this podcast, so we’re aiming for something 15-20 minutes long, but packed with information. Right now, we’re just going with the name Research Recap with Skye, so we’ll see if we come up with anything a bit more clever than that. Now, if that sounds like something you’re interested in, good news, you don’t have to do anything; these episodes are going to be coming out on the Hacking Your ADHD feed, so they’ll come up right along with all your other podcast downloads. These episodes are going to be coming out every other Friday starting this Friday, July 11th - and as a little preview we're gonna be talking about a paper called “Evidence of Emotion Dysregulation as a Core Symptom of Adult ADHD: A systematic review” - I know, it sounds riveting, and actually, I think we do a pretty good job with it. But enough on that, let’s jump into what this episode you’re listening to right now is about. In this episode, we’re talking about dopamine and dopamine transfer deficit theory, and Skye lays out her concept of the dopamine dial. We cover everything from how our brains misfire on rewards to fidget toys, and why doom-scrolling on your third screen might not be giving you the kind of stimulation you think it is. This episode is all about dialing it in instead of shutting it all down. - An ADHD Academic's Answer to the Dopamine Detox by Skye Waterson - Unconventional Organisation Affiliate link If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at - YouTube - Patreon This Episode's Top Tips 1. The dopamine dial is a mental model that helps you modulate your level of stimulation, rather than flipping an on/off switch. Instead of quitting stimulating activities all at once (e.g., trying a dopamine detox), you dial down your stimulation in steps. 2. Doing the hard thing now and waiting for the reward later often doesn’t land. Instead, we often need to feel a reward during the process, not just at the end. We can use the dopamine dial to reward ourselves with just enough stimulation to stay engaged without pushing our brain into full-blown distraction or burnout mode. It’s not about denying ourselves stimulation, it’s about using it intentionally and dialing it to the right level. 3. Try negotiating with your brain when you're feeling emotionally overwhelmed or hyper-focused on a desire, such as feeling like you just need to play a video game right now. Try taking a 10-minute breather to reassess those feelings rather than trying to force or deny that urge outright. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/37287000

Simple Isn’t Easy: ADHD Advice You’ll Actually Use w/ Dr. Ari Tuckman 06/30/2025

Simple Isn’t Easy: ADHD Advice You’ll Actually Use w/ Dr. Ari Tuckman Hey Team! This week, I’m talking with Dr. Ari Tuckman, a psychologist, certified sex therapist, and one of the most well-known voices in adult ADHD. Ari brings over 25 years of clinical experience to the table, along with his new book, The ADHD Productivity Manual, which takes a honest look at the tools we use, and why they sometimes don’t work the way we want them to. It was actually funny, before the call, we were joking about how it's funny that our orbits hadn’t crossed before - well, I do get into one anecdote about attending a talk he gave in 2019, but that’s basically as close as we’d interacted before this. In our conversation, we unpack how shame and comparison can hijack our energy, how to set reminders that actually help instead of hinder, and why simple doesn’t always mean easy. We also touch on what it means to communicate your needs assertively (without over-apologizing) and why trying to do everything perfectly is the fastest route to doing nothing at all. There’s a ton of easy-to-access, actionable advice in this episode. I had a ton of fun with it, and I think you’ll love it too. If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at This Episode's Top Tips 1. Include contextual details in your reminders. Put the address, building name, or even office location in the event title so you don’t show up on time or in the wrong place. 2. Distinguish between “simple” and “easy.” Just because a task is straightforward (like taking out the trash) doesn’t mean it’s easy to do, especially with ADHD. 3. Be strategic with your best focus time. Don’t “spend gold on garbage” - use your high-focus hours for harder tasks, not emails or unloading the dishwasher. Do less, but do it on purpose. Sometimes productivity means pulling back and intentionally choosing what not to do, instead of doing everything poorly. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/37152855

You Might Also Like: Sorry, I Missed This from Understood.org 06/23/2025

Eating With ADHD and Food Sensory Struggles with Jackie Silver 06/16/2025

Eating With ADHD and Food Sensory Struggles with Jackie Silver Hey Team! On today’s episode, we’re breaking down one of the most frustratingly simple yet hard ADHD challenges, eating, because come on, we have to do it every day, but also, we have to do it everyday. We’ve got a returning guest, Jackie Silver, a Registered Dietitian with a Masters of Health Science in Nutrition Communications. She’s built her practice, Accessible Wellness, around making food and nourishment doable, even on the days when executive function is nowhere to be found. In our conversation, we dig into why eating with ADHD can be so difficult, from executive dysfunction to low appetite, forgotten meals, and food aversions. We also explore practical strategies for eating, managing dopamine-seeking snacking, handling picky eating, and finding low-effort meals that still meet at least some of those nutritional requirements. Plus, we talk shame, sensory preferences, and how to stop making mealtimes harder than they need to be. Website: Free Download “Neurodivergent Grab & Go Foods List”: Free 15-minute Discovery Call Bookings: Blog: Meal Prep Made Easy Course: If you'd like to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at 227 This Episode's Top Tips 1. When needed, you can try out mechanical eating, where you are eating on a schedule, regardless of hunger cues, to compensate for poor interoception or appetite suppression from meds. 2. Try creating a grab-and-go food list. Having a list of foods that are easy to prep, safe to eat, and require minimal effort (like string cheese, baby carrots, or pre-cooked rice packs) can help reduce friction when deciding what to eat. 3. Work on acknowledging emotional and sensory triggers for eating. Sometimes we crave specific foods because of their texture, taste, or comfort, rather than hunger. Recognizing the why behind the urge can help you make more aligned choices, and remember it’s okay to fill those other needs as well. 4. Give yourself permission to eat without shame. There’s nothing wrong with sticking with your safe foods when you need them. The idea that adults should eat a certain way can be unhelpful and ableist. Focus on doing what works best for you. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/37002985

Attention Different with Stephen Tonti & Aaron Smith 06/09/2025

Late Diagnosis and Letting Go with H.H. Rune 06/02/2025

Find the ADHD Girls with Cynthia Hammer 05/26/2025

Find the ADHD Girls with Cynthia Hammer This week I’m joined again by Cynthia Hammer, founder of ADD Resources, the Inattentive ADHD Coalition, and more recently, FINDtheADHDgirls. Cynthia’s been a driving force in ADHD advocacy since the 90s and continues to be one of the loudest and clearest voices calling for earlier, more accurate diagnoses—especially for girls. In our chat, we talked about how inattentive ADHD often slips through the cracks, especially in school settings, and how often many of us end up masking so well that even parents and teachers miss the signs. And since inattentive ADHD is predominantly seen in women, this is just another one of those issues that has driven so many women to go undiagnosed. Cynthia walks us through the new ADHD screening checklist she developed, the importance of identifying co-occurring conditions, and how things like sleep, histamine intolerance, and even stretchy joints can intersect with ADHD in ways that aren’t always obvious. Listen to the here! If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at This Episode's Top Tips Not all hyperactivity is easy to spot. When dealing with combined type, many suppress hyperactivity and find subtle, socially acceptable ways to move around (like volunteering to hand out papers or making frequent trips to sharpen pencils) as a form of masked hyperactivity. Masking can often lead to delayed or missed diagnosis, especially for those who are people pleasers or academically high-performing. When a child seems fine at school but crashes emotionally at home, that’s a sign they may be overcompensating or masking symptoms all day. Early intervention helps build long-term executive function. Treating ADHD early isn’t just about managing symptoms in the moment; it's about teaching skills like organization, regulation, and focus while the brain is most plastic and ready to learn. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/36700505

The Creative Path to Finding Your Authentic Self with Jacob Nordby 05/19/2025

Research and Fluctuating Focus with Dr. Maggie Sibley 05/12/2025

Research and Fluctuating Focus with Dr. Maggie Sibley This week I’m talking with Dr. Maggie Sibley, a clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Sibley has spent over two decades studying ADHD, and is author or co-author of over 120 research papers on the topic. And she is the author of Parent-Teen Therapy for Executive Function Deficits and ADHD: Building Skills and Motivation. So recently, when I was working on the newsletter for the show, I came across an article about ADHD titled "Study describes fluctuations, remissions seen with ADHD,” and that felt like it was worth investigating more. While reading through the paper that was linked into the article I got to thinking, “hey, I’d love to ask some more questions about the findings in this paper,” and it occurred to me, hey, I can just reach out to the author of the paper for a conversation on the podcast. And so that’s what today’s show is all about, we dig into that paper, titled “Characteristics and Predictors of Fluctuating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in the Multimodal Treatment of ADHD (MTA) Study” that looks into symptom fluctuation based on the a review of the Multimodal Treatment of ADHD (MTA) Study. We talk about how ADHD symptoms don’t just disappear but actually tend to fluctuate — a lot more than many researchers expected. We also dive into why having more going on in life might actually make your ADHD symptoms less severe (or how that’s just one interpretation of the results), how motivation works for us, and what it means to find your own “sweet spot” of structure. Plus, we get into the upcoming diagnostic guidelines for adult ADHD from the American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders. This is definitely an episode you don’t want to miss if you really enjoy the sciency side of things. Start today! Use code ADHD40 to get them 40% off a Freedom Yearly premium subscription! Listen to the here! If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at This Episode's Top Tips ADHD symptoms don’t always follow a straight decline or improvement. Symptoms can often fluctuate, sometimes improving for years and then intensifying again. Expect waves, not a straight line, and don’t blame yourself when experiencing higher-than-normal symptoms. When you’re in a phase where ADHD feels more manageable, that’s a great time to try and take on more meaningful responsibilities — like work, school, or parenting — that can help create external structure and reinforce good patterns. While having more life demands (like a busy schedule, work responsibilities, or kids) can improve ADHD functioning by creating natural urgency and external motivators, it’s also important to make sure it doesn’t tip into overload. Not all clinicians are trained to recognize ADHD in adults, especially when childhood histories are murky. If your concerns are dismissed, it’s okay — and important — to seek out a more knowledgeable provider. And on that note, look out for updated diagnostic and treatment guidelines for adult ADHD from APSARD (American Professional Society for ADHD and Related Disorders). While these guidelines won’t change any of the diagnostic criteria in the DSM, they will help give clinicians clearer, evidence-based advice on how to apply them when evaluating ADHD in adults. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/36501995

Living Right Side Out with Andy J. Pizza 05/05/2025

Living Right Side Out with Andy J. Pizza Hey Team! This week we’ve got a really fun episode, I’m talking with ANDY J. PIZZA - well that was weird… Let’s try that again - ANDY J. PIZZA - All right, let’s just go with it. Andy is a podcaster, illustrator, and creative thinker who’s built a career by embracing the parts of himself that used to feel like liabilities. Andy’s the host of Creative Pep Talk, and his Right Side Out podcast series dives into what happens when you stop trying to pass for neurotypical and start living a little more like yourself. Andy was diagnosed in his twenties, and his experience navigating masking, creative burnout, and late-in-life self-acceptance forms the core of what we’re talking about today. In our conversation, we talk about the costs of masking, the weird middle ground between accommodation and authenticity, and the realization that sometimes we forget who we are because we’ve been trying so hard to be someone else. We also get into creative practice, novelty, and his favorite ADHD-friendly productivity hacks. And of course, we talk about what it means to live “right side out,” and what it really means to show up authentically. This was definitely one of my favorite episodes I’ve recorded so far this year, so I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Start today! Use code ADHD40 to get them 40% off a Freedom Yearly premium subscription! Listen to the here! If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at This Episode's Top Tips Masking isn’t inherently a bad thing, but it certainly is when we’re doing it all the time and unconsciously. We want to be intentional about when and why we mask, and aim for authenticity when possible. It’s okay to embrace opposing truths. We need structure and flexibility, goals and play. We don’t have to fall into all-or-nothing thinking, and this can help us balance some of these ADHD “contradictions”. Celebrate difference, don’t just tolerate it. Safe spaces are good, but celebration spaces—where your uniqueness is actively valued—are better. Look for relationships or communities where people enjoy your way of being, not just what you can do /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/36416130

Navigating ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria with Jessica Summers 04/28/2025

Navigating ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria with Jessica Summers Hey Team! Today I’m talking with Jessica Summers, a seasoned hypno-psychotherapist and the mind behind Hypnogenics. Jessica brings a unique blend of hypnotherapy and intuitive coaching, specifically tailored for individuals grappling with ADHD, autism, and high sensitivity. With her dual expertise in hypno-psychotherapy and energy coaching, Jessica has become a beacon for those seeking alternative therapeutic approaches. Now, I know the idea of hypnotherapy is not for everyone, and while traditional use of hypnotherapy is not specifically targeted for ADHD, it has been used to manage symptoms associated with ADHD, such as anxiety and stress management. So there's less direct research on hypnotherapy solely for ADHD symptom management, but it may help improve focus, reduce impulsivity, and enhance executive function through relaxation and stress reduction techniques - all stuff we’ll get into during the conversation. I just wanted to make sure I was up front about everything and didn’t want anyone to feel like I was being misleading with where there science currently stands. But really, the episode has a lot of focus on rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD), and while I know there are a lot of people who really resonate with this topic, it is again something that does not have a ton of research behind it yet. In the conversation, we explore this through the lens of the limbic system and how managing this brain region can profoundly impact ADHD symptoms and how we can work on helping deal with those RSD symptoms as well. I got a lot out of this conversation and felt Jessica’s perspective was enlightening, offering actionable advice and novel therapeutic options that could lead to a bit more balance to your ADHD treatment. Start today! Use code ADHD40 to get them 40% off a Freedom Yearly premium subscription! If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at This Episode's Top Tips Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is an intense emotional reaction to perceived or actual rejection, criticism, or failure, often experienced as sudden and overwhelming shame, panic, or sadness. It’s not just discomfort with rejection—it’s a limbic-driven response that can feel physically painful and can lead to avoidance, emotional outbursts, or withdrawal. We can think of the limbic system as the emotional and threat-processing part of the brain — it’s responsible for detecting danger and activating the fight, flight, or freeze response. But for people with ADHD (and especially those experiencing RSD), that system often gets stuck on high alert. When thinking about working on retraining your limbic system understand that it isn’t a quick fix and that it can take dedicated, intense work that isn’t always ADHD friendly. Focus on working using gentle, daily practices to create safety in your body, working on understanding your nervous system, and offering yourself neutral truths instead of judgment (such as “New things can feel uncomfortable sometimes”). The goal isn’t to override the response with willpower — it’s to help your brain feel safe enough to listen. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/36300365

The Optimization Trap with Jaye Lin 04/21/2025

The Optimization Trap with Jaye Lin This week I’m talking with Jaye Lin — ADHD podcaster and community builder — who brings a uniquely grounded perspective on what it actually takes to work with our brains instead of constantly trying to outsmart them. I got to know Jaye at the 2024 ADHD Conference in Anaheim, where we met at a party hosted by the Attention Different crew (that’s an upcoming podcast with them as well). It was great because I had already been introduced to Jaye through her excellent podcast on Tips From an ADHD Coach on the MissUnderstood: ADHD in Women channel. And it turns out she’s been a long-time listener of this show, so some great serendipity with us running into each other. Jaye is a former Google Administrative Business Partner, where she co-founded the ADHD-Women@Google employee resource group and became their first ADHD-trained peer coach. She has recently returned to corporate life but is still coaching, advocating and podcasting on the side In our conversation, Jaye walks us through the concept of the Optimization Trap — a sneaky little loop that many ADHDers fall into where we spend so much time planning and perfecting an idea that we burn out before we ever start. We get into why finishing often matters more than perfecting, the cognitive cost of creative over-planning. We also talk about how optimization shows up in everyday life: at work, in relationships, when packing for a trip, or even when choosing a podcast mic. Start today! Use code ADHD40 to get them 40% off a Freedom Yearly premium subscription! If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at This Episode's Top Tips Optimize for completion, not perfection. Focus on what will get the task done, not the flashiest or most complex version of it. Try setting a timer for the planning phase. If you are having trouble with optimization, try giving yourself a set amount of time, maybe an hour, so you don’t get stuck endlessly researching or brainstorming. Be sure to schedule regular reevaluations of your planning. We don’t want to get stuck with an outdated plan that we’re not really using. Make time by putting it in your calendar to reassess whether your current path is still the one you want to be on. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/36160025

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Late Diagnosis & Self-Compassion, Rethinking your ADHD with Kate Moryoussef 04/07/2025

Late Diagnosis & Self-Compassion, Rethinking your ADHD with Kate Moryoussef Hey Team! Today's episode is all about navigating ADHD as a late-diagnosed adult—especially for women who have spent years pushing through life without realizing why things felt so much harder. I’m talking with Kate Moryoussef, a UK-based ADHD coach who was diagnosed at 40 and has since made it her mission to help women work with their brains, not against them. She hosts The ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast and her upcoming book is The ADHD Women's Wellbeing Toolkit, where she dives deep into strategies for managing ADHD beyond just productivity hacks. In this conversation, we get into the realities of late diagnosis, why ADHD in women is often overlooked, and how hormones can throw an extra curveball into the mix. Kate shares her personal journey of discovering ADHD through her daughter’s assessment, and we talk about how self-compassion, nervous system regulation, and finding the right support can make a huge difference. There’s a lot here about understanding ADHD as a whole-body experience—not just something that affects focus or productivity. This is another one where I had the wrong mic set up, so apologizes for that. If you'd life to follow along on the show notes page you can find that at This Episode's Top Tips Especially for women, work on understanding the role of hormones. ADHD symptoms can intensify during certain phases of the menstrual cycle or perimenopause, and awareness of these fluctuations can help with better self-regulation. And, hey, ADHD men, you also have hormones that can fluctuate. Instead of constantly pushing yourself to meet neurotypical expectations, recognizing that ADHD comes with different needs can be a game-changer. Avoid forcing yourself into rigid productivity schedules, and try to recognize your natural rhythms to make work and life feel easier. Finding ADHD-friendly ways to approach tasks (instead of just trying to "be more disciplined") leads to better long-term success. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life—focusing on little shifts, like setting boundaries or adjusting your expectations, can create lasting improvements. /episode/index/show/893fc914-dadf-442a-8137-9e58c466a56d/id/35996115

Meditation Misconceptions and ADHD Realities with Kelly Smith 03/31/2025

Hacking Your ADHD

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