Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

The connection between work satisfaction and ADHD is pretty clear if you’re living through the frustration. There are all kinds of reasons to leave a job, but taking the actual step of resigning is one best approached with a clear head. This week on the show, Nikki and Pete share a set of questions that can help you frame your own perspective at work and help find clarity in your desire to leave, or stick it out and work for change. Nikki’s list of probing questions:What’s causing you to even think about this question? How much do you complain about your job? What do you complain most about? How would you describe your relationship with your boss? What about co-workers? If you were still doing this job 2 years from now, would be happy or mad? Are you holding on to your current job because you are afraid of change?Are there more things you like about your job than not like?Can you live with what you don’t like? Is it possible to change some of the things you don’t like? Do you feel supported at your job, do you see opportunities for growth?How does your job affect your physical and mental health? Can you afford to quit your job before finding a new one? Do you feel like you have a good work and life balance? (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (01:02) - Support the Show (02:48) - Listener Question: Bringing up ADHD with people who don't know they have it (09:00) - Is it time to look for a new job? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

There are signs in certain kinds of organizations that document the last time staff their experienced an incident. Any sort of incident that leads to work stopping counts, and as soon as it happens, the sign gets reset and everyone starts over at Day Zero. “This facility has worked [0] Days without incident,” the sign says. If there’s anything in our lives that can cause work to stop unpredictably, uncontrollably, sometimes even unconsciously, it’s ADHD. What do we do so that we can reset our own sign to Day Zero? This week on the show, Pete and Nikki take an incident response approach to ADHD with a focus on mindfully controlling what you can control, not lying to yourself, and moving forward. Every bad day has a day zero right around the corner. (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (03:16) - Sponsor: You. The ADHD Patrons (05:55) - Day Zero. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The idea that individual ADHD symptoms exacerbate one another isn’t new to those of us living with the diagnosis. But what happens when symptoms collude to create cycles of behavior and responses? The results can be vastly more damaging than any individual symptom on its own. That’s the question that comes from a listener today: how do you navigate the procrastination-anxiety loop that emerges when hyperfocus and disinterest collide head on? This week on the show, Nikki shares background on the conditions that allow this sort of hyperfocus and procrastination to occur, and tools to shape a response before it happens again. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Understanding ADHD Hyperfocus — ADDitude Magazine ADHD, Anxiety, and Depression: The Diagnosis Puzzle of Related Conditions — ADDitude Magazine Decoding the ADHD Mind — ADDitude Magazine # (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (01:19) - Sponsor: YOU! (03:05) - The Procrastination-Anxiety Loop ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Brett Terpstra is a software developer, author, and podcaster and his work has been the subject of Pete’s technology fever dreams for years now. Brett is also unusually candid about his experience living with ADHD and bipolar disorder and after years of processing in public, he’s managed to figure some things out… others, a mystery. This week on the show, Brett joins us to talk about his experience living and working with ADHD. He shares his experience in learning how to live with his shadow, and how to forgive when the shadow takes control. This is a show about the voices that we listen to, and those that we learn to avoid as we wake up and get moving with ADHD. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! BrettTerpstra.com Brett’s Projects Marked 2 nvUltra • Searchable, Portable, MultiMarkdown Notes (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (01:10) - Listener Question Time! What did I do this weekend...? (04:57) - What are our favorite books? (08:25) - Sponsor: Audible (09:13) - Introducing Brett Terpstra (15:42) - The Diagnosis (18:59) - The ADHD Circle of Grief (21:00) - Listening to the Voices (23:42) - Candor and the life of a D-List Celebrity (26:20) - Life partner, communication, and "the blurts" (28:06) - Physical health, drug addiction, and ADHD (35:32) - Brett's Work (36:54) - Brett lives Markdown **hard** (39:23) - nvUltra — Coming Soon (42:08) - Finding Brett Terpstra ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It’s one of the most important routines you can manage. Getting it right means you’re impacting every area of your life in some way. You’ll feel better, you’ll think more clearly, you might even be better looking. OK, we can’t guarantee that last one, but you’ll feel better looking!What is this magic routine? It’s meal planning. Figuring out how to best strategize the food you bring into your home and creating smart habits around eating it is both challenging, and deceptively simple at once. But it turns out that if you’re working to build good living systems for your ADHD, you likely already have the skills you need to make meal-planning successful for yourself and your family!Links & NotesPaprika Recipe App for iOS, macOS, Android, WindowsInstantPot on AmazonNom Nom PaleoSoylentBlue Apron (00:00) - The ADHD Podcast — Meal-Planning (01:30) - Sponsored by YOU at Patreon.com/TheADHDPodcast (02:57) - Meal-planning and ADHD (04:54) - Soylent... when you've given up on food all together (06:46) - The Routine of Meal-Planning (09:14) - Pete's Family Whiteboard (11:43) - Nom Nom Paleo (13:52) - Nikki's Routine (14:39) - Paprika the App (19:44) - Family Planning and Simplicity (26:12) - Delivery Services (32:42) - Pre-prep (33:46) - Instant Pot ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Sure, we’re in the middle of our back-to-school series. But whether you’re heading back to school or just getting ready for the seasons to change, there’s never a better time to review your routines. From daily hygiene to writing that next report, this week on the show Nikki Kinzer and Pete Wright take on the components of a great routine, and the mindset you’ll need to cultivate to make it stick. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Sponsor: Audible — sign up for a new account and get a free book on us! This month’s recommendation: The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande. (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (01:26) - Sponsor: Audible (03:28) - Setting Up New Routines (07:36) - Begin with the end in mind (19:36) - Consistency (24:02) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

If you’ve ever tried to engage in a discussion of your ADHD with a busy professor and run into frustration, you’re not alone. This week, we asked a group of instructors what they would like to hear when working with ADHD students and the results were puzzling, frustrating, dare we say disappointing? But there’s room for hope thanks to some enterprising student services folks and a general spirit of educators that really do want the best for their students. This is an episode about confronting lack of experience in a slow-moving educational system and an effort to get what you need out of your educational career. Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! (00:00) - Welcome to the ADHD Podcast (01:43) - Find the Show (02:02) - Opening Question: How do you handle online courses with ADHD (08:20) - Sponsor: You! At Patreon.com/theadhdpodcast (09:47) - The Faculty Perspective (14:42) - Three Lessons (18:54) - A dose of optimism (21:33) - The Research (25:06) - Recommendations from Student Services: How you can help yourself (30:41) - Painful reality: the social and communication skills paradox (34:13) - On notes (36:20) - Universal Course Design ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Asking for help is hard, sure. But have you ever stopped to ask why it’s hard for you? See, asking others for support is hard for each of us in a different way. Maybe we live with the anxiety that others will judge us for not being competent in some are or another. Maybe we believe they’ll think we’re not as smart as they are, or as they thought we were. Maybe we struggle with the logistics of asking for — and taking advantage of — help from another. Until you figure that out, you’re going to have a tough time marching into your office of disability services to ask for the support you deserve as you make your way through school with ADHD. This week on the show, Nikki and Pete take on the myths and misunderstandings about ADHD accommodations in college, starting with the old saw, “accommodations make for an unfair advantage.” But that’s not all! You’ll end with a guide to the sort of language you can use to reach out to your instructors and professors to explain your needs, advocate for yourself, and set yourself up for success. (00:00) - The ADHD Podcast for 2019-08-13 (04:42) - The Stigma Around Asking for Help (22:50) - Your First Day of School (26:43) - Expect the 5-Year Plan ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Grace Friedman was diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at twelve years old, wrote her first book about it at 15, and now she’s an advocate for young people with ADHD and founder of the ADDYTeen.com community. Dr. Sarah Cheyette is a pediatric neurologist and expert in working with kids with ADHD. Together, they have written Winning with ADHD: A Playbook for Teens and Young Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and they’re here to talk with us about their journey on the show this week. Links & Notes ADDYTeen.com SarahCheyette.com Winning With ADHD: A Playbook for Teens and Young Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder — Amazon.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It's the last episode of our trip through time and what better way to wrap up our July break than with a message from social skills expert Caroline Maguire in her first appearance on the show: never forget the art of the "Polite Pretend" people... it'll save your bacon! Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Do social situations exhaust you? Do you feel like your brain is working in overdrive to keep up with your environment? According to our guest this week, that’s a common refrain for those living with ADHD. Caroline Maguire is a coach, author, teacher, and speaker with a special focus in social skills supporting kids and parents of kids with ADHD. She’s here today to talk with us all about reading between the lines and the challenges that ADHDers face when it comes to understanding the unspoken complexities of social interaction. It’s time to master the “Polite Pretend!” Links & Notes Caroline Maguire ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Dr. Doug has been on our list to get back on the show seemingly since he first joined us. We're thrilled to say he's on the way! But that won't be until a little later in the fall. Until then, take a trip back in time to his last appearance and hear what he has to say on ADHD Inattentive Type! Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast Doug Herr is back with us all the way from Nashville to talk about ADHD Inattentive Type. ADHD inattentive represents one of our most frequent subjects for questions and one we haven’t covered specifically. Dr. Doug takes on questions on treatment, motivation, talking with schools and special ed teams, writing, reward systems and so much more. Links & Notes Find Dr. Doug Herr Register for ADHD Accountability Coaching before April 17! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Every day is a great day to check in on your relationship with your partner, and with ADHD, sometimes you can use a pretty clear reminder to do so. That's why today is ALSO a great day to check back in on this episode with our relationship guru Melissa Orlov from 2017! Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! — https://patreon.com/theadhdpodcast In this year’s Take Control ADHD survey, we received questions on managing your love life while managing ADHD by the bucket. Whether you’re in a new relationship, dating, or in a well-seasoned marriage, there is always room to improve that emotional connection and no matter your ADHD status, if you want it, you should have a thriving love life too! This week on the show we’re deeply honored to welcome the fantastic Melissa Orlov. She’s a marriage consultant and leading expert in how ADHD affects relationships. On top of that, she’s an award-winning author of books including, The ADHD Effect on Marriage, and The Couple's Guide to Thriving with ADHD. She’s founder of ADHD & Marriage where she writes regularly alongside a cast of incredible contributors and hosts a large community of adults learning about ADHD in their relationships. Links & Notes Three-Legged Approach to ADHD Treatment — Free Ebook ADHD & Marriage ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

James Ochoa has been on the show four times in the last few years, but all his appearances point back to this episode from 2017 in which he outlined his "Emotional Distress Syndrome" for ADHD. It was transformational for us in how we approach conversations of ADHD and we hope this refresher is equally useful for you this fine July! When we first read his book, Focused Forward: Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD, we became fast fans of James Ochoa. He writes candidly about his experience living with ADHD, struggling with ADHD, overcoming the hurdles of ADHD. But beyond that, he’s a counselor himself, working with the complex tapestries that are adults with ADHD. Today, we’re thrilled to be able to welcome James to the show to share a little bit about his own journey and to introduce us to one of the central themes in his work: the ADHD Emotional Distress Syndrome. We’re sure you’ll want to find out more about James and encourage you to pick up his book — easy and truly eye-opening reading! Links & Notes JamesOchoa.com Focused Forward: Navigating the Storms of Adult ADHD by James Ochoa ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're starting our July break, is that a reason to skip the podcast? Of course not! Jane gave us some great tools to deal with the stories we tell ourselves and we thought this would be the perfect way to time travel through podcast history while we're away! Does the internal chatter of ADHD really sound all that different than that of those who don’t live with it? Our guest today has been working among other leaders in the field to help find those Gremlins in our heads and quiet them down, making room for the benefits that come with the positive voices and stories we write about our own contributions to the world around us. Jane Massengill has been coaching adults with ADHD for the past 20 years, helping them learn to put the brakes on their internal chatter long enough so that they can begin to experience their bright spots instead of focusing on their dark spots. She is the Director of The Gremlin-Taming Institute, and speaks to audiences of all kinds on the benefits of learning how to listen to yourself. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! https://www.janemassengill.com The Gremlin-Taming Institute Taming Your Gremlin: A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way — by Rick Carlson (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (01:53) - Introducing Jane Massengill of the Gremlin-Taming Institute (07:02) - Why do some people struggle when others don't? (14:26) - About the Book and Jane's History (18:20) - The ADHD Internal Dialog (22:48) - Word-Watching (30:38) - Word-Watching Exercise ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It’s our last episode before the annual July break, and what a wonderful person we have to introduce you to this week to talk about shame, our relationships, and the daily practice of getting back up on the horse with ADHD. Dr. Michelle Frank is a clinical psychologist specializing in providing diagnostic and treatment services to individuals with ADHD. We love her work because of her focus on strengths-based approaches in helping clients learn how to live successfully with ADHD. She has extensive experience working with college students, adults, and families and she has a book hitting shelves July 1, 2019 which she co-authored with Sari Solden — A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers — and she’ll tell you all about it today. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Follow Michelle on Instagram “A Radical Guide For Women with ADHD” — The ADHD Blog for Women A Radical Guide for Women with ADHD: Embrace Neurodiversity, Live Boldly, and Break Through Barriers by Michelle Frank and Sari Solden — Amazon.com About Dr. Michelle Frank (00:00) - The ADHD Podcast — 2019-06-25 (01:32) - Enrollment for Summer Group Coaching Closes July 1! (02:16) - Changes to The ADHD Newsletter (04:42) - Introducing Dr. Michelle Frank (37:05) - About the Book ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Are you a runner? Or are you a person who runs? Are you a gardener? Or are you a person who mows the lawn? Figuring out the difference between what we do and who we are is tricky business for all of us as we move through life. With ADHD, the idea of presenting a cogent identity to the world flies out the window. It’s dependent on so many factors — context, focus, weather, anything that can set off our attentional sails in new directions — that all to often the person we see in the mirror is less a function of who we see staring back at us than it is what that person happens to be doing or thinking about at that moment. This week on the show, we take on this question of identity and offer a way to frame how you want to be seen in the world thanks to the writing of a billionaire. Plus, we take on a question from the community about how to approach online education with ADHD. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Read the transcript for this episode Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson Principles: Life and Work by Ray Dalio (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (01:11) - Summer Group Coaching Enrolling Now! (02:36) - Question: Online cohort education with ADHD? (14:17) - Become an ADHD Patron! (15:37) - The ADHD Identity Crisis ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Do you ever find yourself stuck in research mode? Are you overwhelmed with options? Do you resent regret? If you’ve ever found yourself living in fear of making decisions, you’re not alone. It can be a debilitating cycle knowing that you’re facing the same questions over and over again either because you can’t make a decision, or you can’t live with the decisions you’ve made. This week on the show, Nikki puts on the coaching hat to walk us through some of the questions that can help you walk out of decision paralysis and conquer your fear! Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Fear — PsychologyToday.com Episode Transcript (00:00) - The ADHD Podcast (00:30) - Announcements: July Break, Summer Coaching, and more! (02:30) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! (05:28) - Overcoming the Fear of Making Decisions ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The ADHD diagnosis can be as confusing as it is illuminating, unlocking doors in yourself you never knew to be closed. Just as it is a journey for you as you learn to live with these new words that suddenly describe you, it is as much a journey for those who love you. Parents, siblings, and others who care about you will experience a range of emotions as they, too, learn about your diagnosis. This week on the show, inspired by a listener request, Nikki and Pete are taking on how to talk to your loved ones after you receive your ADHD diagnosis and give you some tools you can use to frame the conversation to work toward shared understanding and growth. Links & Notes Episode Transcript (00:00) - The ADHD Podcast (01:44) - Listener Letter! (05:12) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon (06:36) - Talking to loved ones after diagnosis (11:55) - The nature of 'fault' (13:28) - Truth and Fact, Education ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

ADHD Coach Caroline Maguire is back! She’s a coach, author, teacher, and speaker with a special focus in social skills supporting kids — and parents of kids — with ADHD. She’s just about to celebrate the release of her new book, Why Will No One Play with Me?: The Play Better Plan to Help Children of All Ages Make Friends and Thrive and we’re thrilled she came back to share the story of the book, and why social skills are so critical for kids and adults alike in healthy development. Her book is scheduled for launch in September, but follow the links below to be notified of availability or pre-order now. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Episode Transcript Why Will No One Play with Me?: The Play Better Plan to Help Children of All Ages Make Friends and Thrive by Caroline Maguire Pre-order Now Learn more about Caroline Maguire Caroline Maguire on Facebook (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (01:22) - Support The ADHD Podcast (02:59) - Introducing Caroline Maguire (04:48) - "Why will no one play with me?" (08:37) - Teaching parents how to coach their kids (20:20) - Making friends as an adult (27:36) - What about the meds? (31:07) - College (37:26) - Writing with ADHD (42:17) - Get on the list ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Adult diagnosis of ADHD is, by all our evidence on this show, an enormously liberating thing. We learn so much about ourselves, put a clear and cogent frame around our experience, that we can truly change the way we relate to the world around us. There's baggage that comes to this experience late in life, however: many of us live in a culture that puts outsized value on achievement and success in the young. There's a brewing conversation on the value of late bloomers, particularly but not exclusively in the US, and it's time to talk about the values that come along with blooming late — and what other late bloomers can learn from those who've been blooming late with ADHD all along. Welcome to the club, late bloomers. Glad to have you. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Rich Karlgaard on WAMC Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement by Rich Karlgaard Why Late Bloomers are Undervalued — TEDxFargo Dr. Elkhonon Goldberg (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (03:15) - A Note of Congratulations to Listener Dave (05:22) - Late Blooming, also Pete Uses "Jam" Too Much (09:28) - 'Late Bloomers: The Power of Patience in a World Obsessed with Early Achievement' by Rich Karlgaard (13:08) - Filtering for Stand-Out Achievers (19:12) - Brains bake longer than we thought (23:18) - The 6 Core Values of the Late Bloomer... and ADHD Pals (27:29) - Repotting (31:56) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

For many of us, our relationship with Dr. Edward Hallowell, M.D., Ed.D., started with his best-selling 1994 book, Driven to Distraction. He's the author of 20 books on various psychological topics and is a highly recognized international speaker on ADHD, focus, productivity, and beyond. He’s the founder of The Hallowell Centers, and has been featured as a guest expert across the media landscape, not to mention he’s a terrific host of his own podcast, DISTRACTION, which focuses on, you guessed it, the struggles and distractions of this amped up world. Dr. Hallowell joins us today to talk about self-esteem. It’s a subject that creeps in and out of our community regularly with questions that angle on our perception of self, our sometimes flagging love and appreciation of ourselves, and who better to help us assess self-esteem and the ADHD role in our self-perception than one of the premier leaders in our field and the ADHD experience. Links & Notes Because I Came from a Crazy Family: The Making of a Psychiatrist by Ned Hallowell Driven to Distraction by Ned Hallowell DrHallowell.com Subscribe to Distraction Podcast with Dr. Ned Hallowell (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (01:34) - Introducing Dr. Ned Hallowell (04:53) - How does self-esteem impact ADHD? Ferrari Brain, Bicycle Brakes (09:57) - Climbing Mount Shame to see more clearly (14:56) - How can you get beyond shame to ask for help? (21:46) - Is social media a solution for connection? (26:32) - Listener Questions ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week on the show, Nikki takes to the mic to interview Pete and Tommy Metz III about their podcast, ‘What’s That Smell?’ Over the last three seasons of WTS, Pete and Tommy have learned a lot about sharing their anxieties with the world through the podcast, and about helping others to laugh in the face of their own fears. Today on the show, we’re going to hear what that journey has done for them in dealing with their own anxieties, and how Pete’s ADHD journey parallels his anxieties on the way. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Learn more about the show and find links to subscribe in your favorite podcast app at WhatsThatSmell.net (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (00:32) - Become a Patron Supporter! (01:06) - A Very Special Podcast Podcast: What's That Smell? (36:52) - What's That Smell? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Optimism is about more than just parading around happily all the time. It’s a worldview that has direct and powerful connections to your social group, your productivity, and your very own health! This week on the show, we’re talking all about optimism. You’ll understand the kind of language you might be using that becomes the pessimism trap, you’ll learn about recent research connecting your worldview to your cardiovascular health, and you’ll discover how you can incorporate a daily optimism practice into your routine with ease! Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Join The ADHD Podcast Public Discord Server (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast: The Choice to be Optimistic! (01:32) - Support the ADHD Podcast on Patreon (02:58) - Optimism ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

By the age of 12, children with ADHD hear 20,000 more negative messages than their peers. Those messages are teaching lessons about self-esteem, courage, confidence, initiative, and decision-making that become deeply rooted in their identity. That's kids, but what happens to those kids as they grow up? 20,000 negative messages grows exponentially as we move into college, or our first jobs, our careers. And what about those of us diagnosed later in life? Those of us who heard all those same negative messages, but had nothing to attribute them to? This week on the show we’re talking all about resilience, that state of being that allows us to rebound from short-term setbacks, and adapt to long-term change, without letting our ADHD get in the way. Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (03:40) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon (07:12) - Resilience (17:21) - Assessments of Friction ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Language is an important factor in how we integrate ourselves with the world around us. It determines our worldview and can go a long way toward determining how well we succeed in what we’re trying to accomplish toward our goals but simply giving us the intrinsic motivation to keep moving forward. To set yourself up for success, you might want to explore whether you’ve adopted a growth mindset, or if you’ve adopted the inner language of fixed resistance. This week on the show, we’re exploring the Growth Mindset. Thanks to some innovative work in how we approach our challenges, we have all the tools we need to improve our confidence and avoid getting mired in the resistance. Sponsor: Our research for today’s show is anchored in the work of Dr. Carol Dweck and her book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. If you’re interested in the book, you can get it today for free by visiting audibletrial.com/theadhdpodcast and signing up for a new account. Browse the catalog, search for Mindset, and download it today. If you love it, keep the account and get new audiobooks every single month! If you don’t, no problem… cancel your account but the book is yours for keeps! Links & Notes Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck, Ph.D — Kindle MindSetWorks.com (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (01:08) - Submit your questions! [email protected] (02:11) - The Growth Mindset (05:01) - Sponsor: AudibleTrial.com/TheADHDPodcast and get 'Mindset' Free (06:22) - MindsetWorks.com (07:06) - The Fixed Mindset (13:34) - The Growth Mindset (19:49) - How do you shift to Growth? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

A mind map can be a truly transformational personal tool for integrating new information into your system — and your memory! With a little exploration and practice, you can learn how to develop a mind map that presents information the way your brain actually interprets it, through concepts, images and ideas. What is it that makes mind maps such a unique tool, and what do you need to learn to make mind maps that allow you to capture quickly without overwhelm? Join us this week to find out! Links & Notes Coggle Mindly iMindMap MindMeister Mind Node (00:02) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (03:54) - Question: Advice on the PRAXIS for Teachers? (06:52) - Question: SQ3R? (09:34) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon (11:28) - Mind Mapping ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

That little voice in your head? The one telling you that you have no business doing what you're doing? That's the resistance. And you can tell it to shove off. This week on the show, Nikki and Pete review some of the reasons you might be feeling the resistance. Sure, you might be accustomed to calling it procrastination, but is there more to it than that? Have you reflected on the underlying conditions that might be getting in the way of accomplishing your goals, from planning thoroughly, from trying something new? It's up to you do do some healthy resistance house cleaning... and we're starting now! Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (01:15) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon — Join the Community! (02:00) - Can we talk about resistance? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Our community is full of learners — students of all stripes. But the act of learning is different for those living with ADHD. It puts new pressures on different parts of the brain. Sitting and digesting new information is a challenge over long periods, and building a map to structure your own learning path in an environment of uncertainty can cause deep anxiety. Whether you're pursuing a degree or testing for a new certification, this week we offer tools and strategies to help you be a smarter and more effective student with your ADHD! Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Learn more about College Coaching for ADHD with Nikki (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (01:51) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon — Join the Community! (03:32) - Strategies for Students with ADHD! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

You're busy enough as it is. But what happens when you're offered a new project, grand opportunity, great chance to show off? How do you know if you can afford to say... yes? Today on the show, Nikki breaks down the process you can use to shed the stress of saying yes, and build strong and confident boundaries that help you decline with love. From crafting smart priorities so you better understand the time you have available, to determining if you’re ready to make the emotional commitment to a new project. Jump in! (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (01:13) - Spring ADHD Coaching is now open for registration! (02:15) - Become a Patron — Join The ADHD Podcast Community (03:39) - How do I know when to start new things? ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Living with ADHD is a mystery. Sometimes, we’re completely present and aware of our symptoms, sure. But most of the time, we aren’t completely aware of what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, or the impact our symptoms are having on others… until we’re thrown in a laboratory. Today on the show, Pete shares his experience in just such an environment. A perfectly benign social engagement offers the opportunity to see just how ADHD symptoms are triggered and resolved over minutes thanks to some clever puzzles… and the urge to escape. Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (01:24) - Spring ADHD Coaching is now open for registration! (02:31) - The Complex is back! (kind of...) (06:27) - Become a Patron — Join The ADHD Podcast Community (07:51) - The ADHD Escape (Room) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

It’s paper day! Dealing with your paper piles requires a unique approach that is more of a cousin to the four steps we’ve been practicing thus far. First thing to note: paper organizing has no end! Once you wrap your head around that, we can get started in building a system to efficiently categorize and stay up-to-date on the paper without becoming overrun by piles! Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Take Control ADHD Course: The Paper Solution Luke Barnett’s Author Life chat with Pete Tools They Use Podcast from Keep Productive chat with Pete (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (03:00) - The Opening Question: Letting Someone Down (09:34) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon (11:58) - Oranizing Paper ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

You’ve done the hard work. You’ve purged and sorted, and you’ve found a way to effectively assign spaces to your things, things to your spaces. But how do you keep those spaces and systems functioning? You turn to maintenance. Maintenance does not mean that you’re in a constant state of organizing. That would be exhausting! This week on the show, we’re talking about what maintenance is and how to set up smart systems to support your new organized self. Plus, we answer a bonus listener question about managing passwords in the age of epic breaches. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Wikipedia — Have I Been Pwnd? Wikipedia — Troy Hunt (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (01:42) - Follow-up: Have I Been Pwnd? (07:41) - Support The ADHD Podcast (09:34) - Organizing Step 4: Maintenance ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We’ve made it! For those who have been listening to our organizing series and wondering where all the organizing is, this week is all for you! But remember, each step in the organizing process is critical — especially for those living with ADHD! — so just as you’re taking the organizing step seriously, that can only come thanks to your efforts in sorting and purging before it. This week, we’re talking about effective use of your space, how you think about space, and how you approach turning your space into a home for your things! We are proud to be guests in Linda Roggli’s 4th Annual ADHD Women’s Palooza! For a whole week, 30 top ADHD experts gather online to present about ADHD as it specifically relates to women. Registration is open now, presentations begin on February 25th! Oh, and did we mention it’s free to attend? That’s right, as long as you can make time to watch the sessions during the Palooza, it’s free. But you can get all kinds of great bonuses with a paid ticket so check it out! Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! 4th Annual ADHD Women’s Palooza (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast (01:11) - 2019 ADHD Women's Palooza! (03:16) - The Opening Question! How do I make decisions with less emotion? (09:12) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon (10:57) - Organizing! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In part 2 of our organizing series we're taking on sorting and purging. How do you handle making the tough decisions that will ultimately lead you to reclaiming your space? You build some new muscles... starting today! First, we’ve got a listener question that takes us deep into the avoidance spiral hole, and a reminder that if you haven’t invested in a password vault to keep your usernames and passwords secure, 2.2 billion reasons just hit the open network. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! “Security firm identifies hacker behind Collection 1 leak, as Collection 2-5 become public” by Catalin Cimpanu Download 1Password (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (01:08) - Safety Update: Make sure you have a password vault! (03:16) - HaveIBeenPwned.com (04:32) - Opening Question: How do I break the Avoidance Spiral Hole! (11:24) - Support the Show (12:54) - Follow-up: Kondo and ADHD (15:04) - Organizing Step 2: Sorting and Purging (40:40) - Homework! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

If you haven’t noticed, there is a lot of energy around getting organized in the air right now. Spurred on by the new Marie Kondo show on Netflix, we’re getting more and more questions about the so-called magic of tidying up and, most importantly, is this an ADHD-friendly way to handle your stuff? As you can imagine, we have opinions! This week on the show we’re digging into our roots to talk about organizing with ADHD, kick-starting a five-week mini-series on the organizing process, and how to get organized in a way that is kind to your ADHD. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Organizing Your Space Your Way with Nikki Kinzer Tidying Up with Marie Kondo (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (02:00) - Question: Is Marie Kondo ADHD-Friendly? (10:47) - Support The ADHD Podcast! (12:55) - Orgainzing with ADHD (18:22) - The Four Steps of Organizing Your Space (19:33) - Step One: Planning, and the Definition of Organization (25:16) - Is tidying up really a special event for ADHDers? (29:26) - Estimating Time to Organize, rewards, and sprints (33:36) - Chosing the Starting Point (35:12) - Is your zone causing you stress? (37:28) - The Zig-Zag and the Yo-Yo (43:04) - Coming attractions ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Some call hyperfocus the hidden superpower of ADHD. It’s characterized as this amazing reserve of focus that you can turn on to accomplish great things, health and wellness be damned! If you’re living with ADHD, you know what a misunderstanding this can be. Sure, hyperfocus can be a massive reserve of energy, akin to firing a glass cannon into the open ocean — it’s a reserve that too often destroys itself with no ultimate reward. Today we’re talking about what goes into hyperfocus with an eye on creating a more productive, targeted experience for ADHD that the experts have dubbed flow. Is it possible to build a model of understanding our hyperfocus states such that we can train our brains to get better at it? Join us and share your experience, too! Along the way, we wrapped up four questions you can ask of yourself to determine whether you're likely to find a state of flow in a project. Consider: Do you have the tools required to meet the project expectations? Do you have the skill required to meet the project expectations? Do you have the interest required to meet the project expectations? Do you have the time required to meet the project expectations? Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Join the conversation on Discord (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (02:00) - Listener Question (14:24) - Sponsor: Support The ADHD Podcast at Patreon.com/TheADHDPodcast (15:08) - Finding Flow with ADHD (20:34) - What is a Flow State? (24:44) - Marie Kondo Dance Break (25:10) - Meanwhile, the Paradox of ADHD (30:08) - The conditions of Flow (32:26) - The Flow Matrix (42:30) - A note on medication (43:15) - Happy Tuesday! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Does the internal chatter of ADHD really sound all that different than that of those who don’t live with it? Our guest today has been working among other leaders in the field to help find those Gremlins in our heads and quiet them down, making room for the benefits that come with the positive voices and stories we write about our own contributions to the world around us. Jane Massengill has been coaching adults with ADHD for the past 20 years, helping them learn to put the brakes on their internal chatter long enough so that they can begin to experience their bright spots instead of focusing on their dark spots. She is the Director of The Gremlin-Taming Institute, and speaks to audiences of all kinds on the benefits of learning how to listen to yourself. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! https://www.janemassengill.com The Gremlin-Taming Institute Taming Your Gremlin: A Surprisingly Simple Method for Getting Out of Your Own Way — by Rick Carlson (00:00) - Welcome to The ADHD Podcast! (01:53) - Introducing Jane Massengill of the Gremlin-Taming Institute (07:02) - Why do some people struggle when others don't? (14:26) - About the Book and Jane's History (18:20) - The ADHD Internal Dialog (22:48) - Word-Watching (30:38) - Word-Watching Exercise ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Happy New Year! We love the turnover of the calendar around these parts because it gives us a time to slow down and reflect. We're not so much resolution people, but we do use the time to think more deeply than usual about how we motivate ourselves to change, the challenges we put in our own way, and how we can use our own efforts to fuel us to stick to the change we want to see in our lives. This week on the show, we're ringing in the new year with a conversation about making life design choices that focus on the good you do for yourself and your communities in the new year. (00:00) - Happy New Year from The ADHD Podcast! (02:20) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon (04:00) - No More Voicemail (04:59) - Listener Question: Coping with Constant Change (08:38) - Designing Your Life (24:42) - Focus Feedback from Facebook ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We called for questions and you delivered! Thank you to everyone who wrote in — We hope we did your questions justice! Here’s the list, and if you use a podcast app that supports them, you’ll find you can jump around to the chapter markers in the episode to hear just the questions you’re looking for. Have there been any studies on marijuana use and teens with ADHD? I struggle with weight... I need strategies to get out of the vicious cycle of loss of motivation. Does boredom lead to depression in ADHD? I have a significant commute. Do you have strategies for coping? Is an official ADHD diagnosis important as an adult? How can I balance my obsession with organizational tools with doing the work? Was "time & attention" intentional? How has your process for capturing content changed at conferences? Have you ever recorded a podcast and then decided not to air it? Any advice for our past selves? Where's the blooper reel? We wish you a happy holiday season and we'll be back in 2019! Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! (00:00) - The ADHD Podcast Annual Q&A Extravaganza! (01:52) - Group Coaching Reminder — Registration Open Now! (03:56) - Support The ADHD Podcast on Patreon — Thank You! (06:20) - Have there been any studies on marijuana use and teens with ADHD? (13:20) - I struggle with weight... I need strategies to get out of the vicious cycle of loss of motivation. (20:36) - Does boredom lead to depression in ADHD? (24:45) - I have a significant commute. Do you have strategies for coping? (29:56) - Is an official ADHD diagnosis important as an adult? (34:32) - How can I balance my obsession with organizational tools with doing the work? (38:30) - Welcome Monica! (40:04) - For Monica: How do you like working for ADHD Nation? (40:44) - For Monica: Do you have personal experience with ADHD? (42:44) - For Monica: Is working with Nikki a ray of sunshine and positivity? (44:55) - Was "time & attention" intentional? (45:56) - How has your process for capturing content changed at conferences? (48:30) - Have you ever recorded a podcast and then decided not to air it? (50:42) - Any advice for our past selves? (55:55) - Where's the blooper reel? (57:39) - In closing... ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We received an email from just about the best boss in the world. Why? Because she asked a question that everyone living quietly with ADHD would like to hear their boss asking. In short: How can I help? Of course, working with — and supervising — someone with ADHD is more complicated after you ask that question. Today on the show, we have tools and strategies for helping to orient your staff, your team, and maybe even your organization to working with ADHD in the office. Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Group Coaching Winter 2019 Registration Open Now! Listen to Pete on the Day One Podcast (00:00) - Welcome to Taking Control! (01:54) - Pete on the Day One Podcast (03:22) - About Show Notes (07:31) - Support the show on Patreon! (09:45) - ADHD Group Accountability Coaching — Registration is Open Now! (11:04) - Working with ADHDers in the Workplace (30:33) - Thank you... and don't forget!... ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Do social situations exhaust you? Do you feel like your brain is working in overdrive to keep up with your environment? According to our guest this week, that’s a common refrain for those living with ADHD. Caroline Maguire is a coach, author, teacher, and speaker with a special focus in social skills supporting kids and parents of kids with ADHD. She’s here today to talk with us all about reading between the lines and the challenges that ADHDers face when it comes to understanding the unspoken complexities of social interaction. It’s time to master the “Polite Pretend!” Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Caroline Maguire ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Ever wondered what happens at a national ADHD conference? OK… that’s a leading question. This week on the show, Nikki has returned from CHADD/ADDA/ACO in St. Louis and she’s got lessons to share! If you’ve ever struggled with cementing a growth mindset for yourself, shame, existing with ADHD at work, or you just want to know who’s hot right now in ADHD (that sounds weirder than it was intended), then you should listen in! Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! 2018 Annual International Conference on ADHD ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

What is the brain dump? Generally, when we’re talking about a brain dump, we’re referring to the big discharge of all the things on your mind that are keeping you from being able to move forward. We know that there is a limit to what we as human organisms can keep in our working memory so we get it all out on paper and can then start doing the work, right? Probably not. This week on the show, Pete and Nikki are talking about the perils of the one-off brain dump and how you can work a regular brain purge into your own system reliably! Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

There is no shame in starting small. That’s the truth, but that’s not often the message we tell ourselves. We’re naturally focused on the sadness that comes from not accomplishing more, from not achieving some sort of greatness that comes when we complete our massive lists. When we tell ourselves that it’s OK to do one thing well, we close the door on any appreciation of modesty and let the shame in, that we’re not doing enough, fast enough, to fit in. This week on the show we’re talking all about letting go: letting go of the fear of starting small, letting go of the lists that plague us getting in the way of what we need to do today, letting go of a mistaken appreciation of quantity in favor of quality. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

That first rush of relief that you feel when you’re handed the diagnoses of ADHD is exhilarating. You finally have words to describe what you’ve been feeling and experiencing, and a brand new way to relate to the world around you! And that feeling lasts for about three-and-a-half seconds, right up to the moment you ask yourself, what now? Accepting your ADHD diagnosis might be your first experience of an ADHD storm, a term coined by our guest today. He’s the author of Focused Forward: Navigating the storms of Adult ADHD, he’s host of The Complex: Shiny Shorts podcast, and he’s released a new video education series ADHD — From Answers to Action. We’re thrilled to have our friend James Ochoa back on the show to help us unravel the complexities of accepting your ADHD diagnosis. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

You’ve sat through all the seminars. You’ve read all the books. You’ve watched all the videos. Your brain is a cup overflowing with new goodies to try… and now you’re overwhelmed, discouraged, and disappointed that you’re not able to just get to it. You’re not alone. And if you’re living with ADHD, you’ve likely squirreled away worksheets and notebooks and PDFs galore that will supposedly support you in changing your life for the better. Today on the show we’re talking all about the practice that comes with making change, and how you can turn that library of notes and resources into something you can manage — one new skill at a time. Download the ADHD Strategy Worksheet on the website! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This week’s show comes thanks to a listener with a time challenge. School, work, family … they all compound the challenges that come with a life with ADHD. How do you approach the world when you feel like you’re too acclimated to timers and alarms? You can’t trust your own calendar? You feel like you’ve run out of ideas to cope and you’re awash in hopelessness? You try something new. And maybe… just maybe… that new thing is seeking help from your friendly neighborhood ADHD podcast. This week on the show, we start with the premise that ADHD time is different that time for many people… and that’s perfectly OK by us! Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We spend a lot of time building gates and systems to protect ourselves from distraction of ADHD. But, what might we be losing at the expense of saying No? This week on the show, Pete talks about control and ADHD. Spinning off of the concept of Margin as discussed by Shawn Blanc and Richard Swenson before him, what does it mean for ADHD when our systems and processes that we use to protect ourselves and our focus cause us to run out of margin in our lives and run headlong into a broader world that doesn’t understand us? Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! Giving up Control at Work — Shawn Blanc Margin from The Focus Course — Shawn Blanc Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives_ by Richard Swenson ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We had so many fantastic submissions for our "What do you want the world to know about ADHD" poll that we had to do TWO episodes! From judgment to raising kids with ADHD, this week you brought even more incredible insights to share with the rest of us. This is one of our very favorite pairs of episodes and is highlighted by your collective vulnerability and generosity. Thank you. Links & Notes CBS Sunday Morning — Hiring Autistic Workers ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

There are so many signals coming at us; judgments, criticisms, guidance, and support. But so often, these messages come from those with limited experience with ADHD. This week on the show, asked you a simple question: What is it that you want the world to know about your life with ADHD? You told us how you experience relationships. You told us how your memory impacts your day. You shared your challenges with intimacy. You talked about how hard it is to respond to well-meaning strangers who know a thing or two about gluten. You came at us with glorious gusto. So please join us today for part one of what has become a two-parter and hear how your peers would like to share their ADHD experience with the world. Thank you for listening, and even greater thanks for sharing! Links & Notes Thank you for supporting The ADHD Podcast on Patreon! The Pre- & Post-Diagnosis Journey with ADD Crusher Alan Brown — The ADHD Podcast Episode 270 Lessons in Love & ADHD with Melissa Orlov — The ADHD Podcast Episode 311 Ear Hustle — Ear Hustle brings you the stories of life inside prison, shared and produced by those living it. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★