Ever felt like your brain is a pinball machine, bouncing from one thing to the next?. Or that you are your own worst enemy, caught in a cycle of self-blame and trying to crack the whip on yourself?

If you have ADHD, you might be all too familiar with these struggles. But what if the key isn't just about forcing focus, but understanding how your unique mind works and rewiring it for goal attainment?

social connections and meaningful rewards can be powerful tools to motivate change

In this podcast with Dr Connor McClenahan, we talk about shifting the understanding of ADHD from a deficit of attention to a challenge in achieving goals. It is not just about paying attention, it's about how good one is at using their entire mind to stay focused on a goal that's meaningful.

* We explore practical tips and techniques to help you leverage your mind, not fight against it.

* You'll discover how social connections and meaningful rewards can be powerful tools to motivate change and create new neural pathways.

* We will help you understand the importance of creating safety in your mind to regulate anxiety, so your attention doesn't dart around the minute you sit down to get something done.

* We will dive into the four key brain areas involved in goal attainment and how to optimise each of them:

* Reticular Formation: Finding your "Goldilocks zone" for optimal stimulation.

* Limbic System: Taming the fight-or-flight response and creating emotional safety.

* Prefrontal Cortex: Activating your behavioural activation and inhibition systems for effective planning.

* Ventral Striatum: Tapping into the power of social rewards and meaningful outcomes.

Finding your "Goldilocks zone" for optimal stimulation.

Whether you're a lawyer, a CPA, or anyone feeling the pressure to be "on" all the time, this podcast offers a down-to-earth and empathetic approach to understanding your ADHD and rewiring your brain for a more fulfilling, goal-directed life, let Dr Connor McClenahan tell you how.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Join us with Theresa Tayler in "ADHD & CPTSD: Overcoming Trauma", as she shares her personal experiences and strategies for navigating the complexities of ADHD and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD).

Theresa, the founder of Start Me Up Public Relations, located in Calgary, Canada, discovered her ADHD diagnosis later in life, prompting a deep dive into understanding her neurodivergence and its impact on her life and business.

Theresa unpacks her holistic approach to ADHD management, revealing how she blends medication with therapy and mindfulness practices.

She recounts her initial scepticism towards medication and the transformative moment she experienced a sense of calm and focus after taking a small dose of Adderall.

Theresa also explores the benefits of EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing) therapy for CPTSD, alongside yoga and meditation, in rewiring the brain and managing trauma.

She highlights the importance of addressing past traumas in order to facilitate healing and self-discovery.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into:

* Understanding the intersection of ADHD and CPTSD and how trauma can impact the expression and experience of ADHD.

* Challenging the stigma associated with labels and embracing the gray areas of neurodiversity.

* Exploring practical strategies for managing ADHD symptoms, including medication, therapy and mindfulness techniques.

* Reframing ADHD as a superpower, recognising unique strengths and partnering with others to address weaknesses.

* The importance of authenticity and human connection in a world increasingly dominated by AI.

Join Theresa as she candidly shares her story, offering hope and practical advice for anyone seeking to thrive with ADHD and CPTSD.

Discover how to turn neurodivergence into a source of strength and creativity, and embrace a life of authenticity, resilience and success.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Join us for a deeply moving conversation with Erica Neubert Campbell, as she shares her unique perspective on navigating the complexities of cancer, both as a patient and as a daughter of a mother who battled the disease.

Erica opens up about her personal journey with breast cancer and the difficult decisions she faced, including undergoing a double mastectomy, while advocating for women to be informed and empowered in their choices.

Erica's story takes a poignant turn as she reflects on her mother's battle with cancer and the impact of her choices on Erica's own journey. Witnessing her mother's experience and ultimate passing instilled in Erica a profound understanding of the importance of accepting individual paths and finding peace amidst adversity.

In this episode, Erica reveals:

* The gift of vulnerability that empowered her to support other women facing similar challenges, especially regarding body image after surgery.

* How facing mortality stripped away materialistic concerns and strengthened family bonds, leading to a greater appreciation for experiences and a renewed commitment to her husband.

* Her transition from the corporate world to leading the Pinky Swear Foundation, where she now provides financial and emotional support to families with children battling cancer.

* Her advocacy for compassion and kindness and the importance of community in helping families feel less alone during challenging times.

* That she wrote a book to share the gift her mother gave her which was saving her life.

This episode challenges conventional notions of fighting cancer and encourages you to consider the possibility of finding unexpected gifts amidst hardship, fostering acceptance, and honouring individual choices.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Ever wondered if ADHD could be more of a creative advantage than a hindrance? In this episode, we sit down with Catherine Hicks, a product designer, design coach, and entrepreneur who's been making waves in the creative industry for nearly three decades.

Catherine shares her personal journey of discovering her ADHD in her mid-40s and how this realisation changed her whole perspective.

Growing up, Catherine often felt like a square peg in a round hole, struggling with focus and feeling like she wasn't living up to her potential. But little did she know, these challenges were actually shaping her into a dynamic force.

* Catherine opens up about her academic struggles.

* The impact on her relationships.

* Ultimately, how she channeled her unique wiring into a successful and fulfilling career.

Catherine often felt like a square peg in a round hole

Discover how Catherine's ADHD has fuelled her creativity, adaptability, and passion for helping others.

From building products for startups to coaching the next generation of designers, she's redefining what success looks like, proving that it's not about fitting into a mould, but embracing your authentic self and finding a path that sparks joy.

If you're a creative, an entrepreneur, or simply someone who's ever felt like they don't quite fit in, this conversation is for you.

ADHD has fuelled her creativity, adaptability, and passion

Join us as Catherine shares her insights, wisdom, and a whole lot of heart, reminding us that sometimes, our biggest challenges can become our greatest superpowers.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Imagine a small child standing in their crib, utterly perplexed by the world around them. That was Lawrence O'Connor. From an early age, he struggled to make sense of his surroundings, a confusion that would later be understood as a symptom of autism.

Lawrence's story is one of self-discovery, resilience, and the transformative power of acceptance.

Defined by his commitment to family, Buddhist community, professional life, and friendships, he embraced a values-based life, always striving to be supportive and present.

In his Buddhist community, he learned to respect others, viewing differences as precious opportunities for personal growth. As an acting teacher, Lawrence aimed to bring authenticity and truthfulness to his work.

But Lawrence's early years were marked by challenges. As a child, the world felt overwhelming and confusing:

* He remembers standing in his crib, struggling to understand time, place, and the narrative of his situation.

* At nursery school, he wouldn't speak, preferring to sit on a tricycle, stare at the wall, and hum to himself.

* School nativities felt "hellish", with no one explaining what was happening.

* In South Africa, he would run away from nursery school to escape the sensory overload.

At 13 and 14, Lawrence began to discover his talents, teaching himself classical guitar and music theory. He found solace in drama, feeling at home in the theatre's controlled environment.

The stage offered a space where he understood the boundaries and could express himself freely.

However, Lawrence's journey wasn't without its setbacks. At 17 and 18, he became arrogant and started "to believe my own publicity". Experimenting with drugs led to a nightmarish experience, where he saw his "mask fall away" and felt utterly lost.

A turning point came when Lawrence's mother introduced him to chanting. This practice brought about a profound transformation, leading to new opportunities, love, and a sense of purpose.

Chanting helped him manage his autism, embrace acceptance, and recognise his neurodivergence as a superpower.

Today, Lawrence is completing an MSc in Creative Arts and Mental Health, driven by a desire to promote well-being in the performing arts. He seeks to understand the psychological impact of acting and create a safe, supportive environment for his students.

With his Buddhist practice, Lawrence learned to manage and accept his autism and recognise his neurodivergence as his superpower.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Anna Przybylski, like many, faced sudden job loss and an unexpected identity crisis.

But for Anna, who lives with ADHD, the crisis was more than just a career change; it was a turning point.

This episode explores how the pandemic intensified Anna's ADHD symptoms, forcing her to confront limitations she’d never had to deal with before.

It felt, as she describes, like a box she’d carefully constructed had shattered, leaving her unable to put the pieces back together.

The podcast dives into how this crisis became a catalyst for self-discovery. Anna realised she could bet on herself and walked away from a 13-year career in event planning.

Now a full-time digital content creator, Anna built a life that works with her ADHD brain, not against it . This includes a daily morning show, a merch business and even a one-woman live comedy show.

Ultimately, Anna's story highlights that your life doesn't have to look like anything you've seen before.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Join us as we delve into the world of parenting with ADHD & Dyslexia, in "Parenting with ADHD, a mother's journey with Kristin Chadwick".

In this episode, we explore the lived experience of Kristin Chadwick, a mother of four, who shares her unique journey of raising neurodivergent children while also navigating her own ADHD.

This podcast offers practical advice, heartfelt stories and real life examples to inspire other parents who are dealing with similar challenges.

This episode offers an intimate look into Kristin’s experiences as she reveals the "colorful" dynamics of her family, which includes a child with dyslexia, two children with ADHD, and her own ADHD diagnosis.

Kristin speaks beautifully about the balancing act of parenting, including the challenges of understanding and meeting the individual needs of her children.

She discusses the importance of recognising that each child is unique in how they respond to discipline, and how she has worked to ensure that this doesn't "crush their spirit".

Kristin shares how she found her own unique voice and embraces her own "quirky" way of being which has enabled her to not only support her children but also to create a successful podcast production business where she helps others to share their unique voices.

You will hear about how she went from being the "behind the scenes girl" to stepping into her own power, and the journey she undertook to use her voice. You will also hear how this transformation was facilitated by mentors who encouraged her to be comfortable with who she was.

This podcast also highlights the importance of "empathy" and connection within the family unit and how creating an environment where each member feels "seen, heard and known" can lead to a deeper sense of love and understanding within the family unit.

Listeners will gain an understanding of the "gifts" that neurodivergence can bring to a family, including humour, creativity and compassion, as Kristin describes the "emerisms" that bring laughter to her family. She also shares the techniques she used to overcome the challenges she faced growing up and in higher education

This episode offers insights, practical strategies, and a heartfelt perspective for anyone navigating the complexities of parenting neurodivergent children. You will come away feeling inspired and empowered to embrace the unique journey of your own family.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

"Dyscalculia & ADHD: A Story Beyond the Numbers with Dr. Sharnael" explores the unique journey of Dr. Sharnael Wolverton Sehon, a naturopathic doctor and energy worker, as she shares her personal experiences with dyscalculia and how it has shaped her life and work.

This episode dives deep into Dr. Sharnael’s challenges with mathematics, spatial perception, and time management due to dyscalculia, a condition she didn't fully understand until her mid-20s. She discusses how this neurodivergent condition impacted her education and self-confidence, particularly in comparison with her academically gifted sister.

Despite these challenges, Dr. Sharnael discovered her strengths in reading, social skills, and leadership. Her journey led her away from conventional medicine to explore natural healing modalities after a cancer diagnosis and the side effects of taking 33 different medications.

She now uses a range of biohacking equipment, energy work, and quantum physics in her practice to help people find their destiny and live their best lives.

This podcast episode also delves into:

* Dr. Sharnael's approach to natural healing, which includes red light therapy, lasers, hyperbaric chambers, infrared, and ozone therapy

* Her unique approach to understanding the body's biofield, including her work with remote biofeedback and conscious language

* Her personal experiences with overcoming a cancer diagnosis, which led her to explore alternative approaches to health

* Her five published books, covering topics from spirituality to the science of miracles and the ketogenic diet

* Her experience of overworking, which she realises may be connected to overcompensating for her challenges with dyscalculia

While the podcast series is focused on ADHD, this episode offers a glimpse into a different kind of neurodivergent experience through Dr. Sharnael’s story, highlighting the themes of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of natural healing.

Listen to learn more about how she has turned her challenges into strengths and now helps others find their own path to wellness.

Diary of a ADHD Strategist | ♉ +📣 =👂🏽 is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.