ADHD Essentials

Latest Episodes:

ADHD, Flexible Thinking, and Living Constitutionally with AJ Jacobs Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode, we talk to friend-of-the-pod, and New York Times Best-Selling author AJ Jacobs. AJ is an editor at large for Esquire, as well as a journalist, author, and lecturer best known for writing about his lifestyle experiments. He’s also a fellow ADHDer.

AJ talks to us about his latest book, The Year of Living Constitutionally. We discuss:

How his year of living like a colonial American affected AJ’s mental health (mostly in good ways)
Why flexible thinking matters and how to support it
Lifestyle lessons from Benjamin Franklin
And election cakes

Guest Links:

Learn more about AJ Jacobs and his work here:

https://ajjacobs.com/

Learn More about Brendan and his work at:

Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
Join the ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
Check out the ADHD Essentials Website
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com

Men’s ADHD Support Group Links:

Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group
Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community

Your Outlaw Brain with Alan Brown Recorded Live at ADHD Con 2023 May 30, 2024

Show notes

Today’s episode features Alan Brown, the ADD Crusher! And it's a little different from the norm because it was recorded live at the 2023 ADHD Con during my Lunchtime Q&As with ADHD experts and dignitaries.

Alan and I discuss his principles for success with ADHD.

Managing our outlaw brain
Doing what we didn’t want to do
Not relying on motivation
The importance of baby systems
Learning vs. Execution

The episode was produced by Stephen Tonti and Benj Welmond of Attention Different.

Guest Links:

Learn more about Alan and his work here:

Learn More about Brendan and his work at:

Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
Check out the ADHD Essentials Website
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com

Men’s ADHD Support Group Links:

Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group
Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community

Overwhelm & Needing a Team with Dr Carolyn Lentzch-Parcells May 22, 2024

Show notes

Today, Dr. Carolyn, the ADHD MD returns to the show! We discuss:

Overwhelm
Work/Life Balance
The risks of tasks that help us activate, but aren’t what we need to do
Being a person on the internet
The importance of having a team

The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
REGISTRATION CLOSES FRIDAY!

Learn More about Brendan and his work at:

Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
- Brendan Goes "Live" every Friday at 11am EST.
Check out the ADHD Essentials Website
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com

Find Dr. Carolyn at:

Men’s ADHD Support Group Links:

Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group
Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community

ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka May 10, 2024

Show notes

Content Warning - brief mention of suicide.
Today, I’m joined by Tracey Otsuka author of ADHD for Smart Ass Women.

In this episode Tracy talks to us about ADHD and women. We discuss:

Gender norms and ADHD
The lack of formal research on women with ADHD
The connection between estrogen and dopamine
Women and trauma
Imposter Syndrome
Procastivity
ADHD & Perimenopause

Learn more about Tracy and her work here:

https://www.tracyotsuka.com/

Learn More about Brendan and his work at:

Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
Check out the ADHD Essentials Website
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com

Men’s ADHD Support Group Links:

Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group
Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community

Is ADHD an Interest Based Nervous System? with Dr William Dodson May 03, 2024

Show notes

Today, I’m joined by Dr. William Dodson.

Now semi-retired, Dr. Dodson is a Board-Certified adult psychiatrist and was one of the first clinicians to specialize in adults with ADHD over 25 years ago. He has been on the faculties of Georgetown University and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He was the recipient of the national Maxwell Schleifer Award for Distinguished Service to Persons with Disabilities in 2006, and was named a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association in recognition of his clinical contributions to the field of ADHD in 2012. He has written more than 120 articles and book chapters designed to help a lay audience better understand ADHD and its treatment.

In this episode Dr Dodson shares his “Interest-Based Nervous System” approach to ADHD. We discuss:

The changes he’s seen in ADHD treatment over the course of his career
How the ADHD nervous system differs from the neurotypical one, and how that causes confusion and challenges when it comes to motivation.
Key Questions to ask about ADHD
The 5 general areas that support ADHD engagement
The dangers of creating urgency & catastrophe in order to activate

Guest Links:

Learn more about Dr Dodson here:

https://www.dodsonadhdtreatment.com/

Learn More about Brendan and his work at:

Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
Check out the ADHD Essentials Website
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com
Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group

Neurodiversity and Leadership with Talli Dolge and Amanda Morin Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Today Talli Dolge and Amanda Morin join the pod.

Talli is a national mental health strategic advisor and executive consultant, and the Founder and CEO of Mindful Workplace LLC.

Amanda is a neurodivergent neurodiversity activist, award-winning author, certified educator, and nationally-known speaker.

Tallia and Amanda have recently launched the Empathic Edge Podcast, where they have intimate conversations with inspiring leaders with the aim of shattering preconceived ideas and providing actionable items to help listeners understand and work with different personalities and new ideas in the ever-changing work environment.

In this episode Talli, Amanda, and I talk about leadership. We discuss

The difference between bosses and leaders
Leadership as more art than science
The interplay between leadership and professionalism
The importance of trust in the workplace
How the workplace is changing

Check Out the ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups Here!!!

Guest Links:

Learn more about Talli Dole, Amanda Morin, and their new podcast "The Empathic Edge" at:

https://theempatheticedge.com/

Learn More about Brendan and his work at:

Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
Check out the ADHD Essentials Website
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com

Find Dr. Carolyn at:

http://drcarolynparcells.com/

https://www.instagram.com/the.adhd.md/

Men’s ADHD Support Group Links:

Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group
Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community

ADHD Medication Part 1 with Dr Carolyn Lentzsch Parcells Apr 19, 2024

Show notes

Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parcells joins us again!

That’s right, it’s a rock-block of Dr. Carolyn! Carolyn is a pediatrician with ADHD who can talk about the disorder from any number of directions! You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as the ADHD MD.

In an episode that is long overdue, Dr. Carolyn talks about ADHD medication - primarily stimulants. We’ll cover non-stimulants in a future episode. Carolyn discusses the role of medication as part of a gold-standard treatment plan, meds as a protective factor for both kids and adults, medication and substance use, and the importance of factoring a risk/benefit ratio when deciding whether or not to take medication.

The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups

Learn more about Dr. Carolyn and her work here:

Learn More about Brendan and his work at:

Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
Check out the ADHD Essentials Website
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com

Men’s ADHD Support Group Links:

Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group
Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community

ADHD in Our Daily Lives with Dr Carolyn the ADHD MD Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

Today’s episode is a bit of a departure from the norm. In it, I’m joined by my friend Dr. Carolyn Lentzsch-Parcells, the ADHD MD! Carolyn is a pediatrician with ADHD who can talk about the disorder from any number of directions! She’s been on the show a few times, and will be joining me periodically to explore ADHD, and related topics.

In a more personal conversation, Carolyn and I talk about how ADHD affects our lives, the importance of just getting started, and how being busy can cause an ADHD cascade.

ADHD Essentials Links:

Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
Check out the ADHD Essentials Website
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com

Men’s ADHD Support Group Links:

Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group
Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community

Peter Shankman and The Boy with the Faster Brain Apr 03, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode we talk to Peter Shankman.

Peter is an entrepreneur, a keynote speaker, the best-selling author of six books, founder of the neurodiversity consultancy firm Mental Capital, and he’s a dad.

Peter talks to us about parenting, the power of getting out of your own element to get work done, and his recent children’s book, “The Boy with the Faster Brain”, and why ADHDers have to learn how to use the faster brain that they have, rather than the neurotypical brain that they don’t have.

Also, his dog might have the best timing in the whole world. But you’ll have to listen to find out why.

Guest Links:

Learn more about Peter and his work here: https://www.shankman.com/
Buy “The Boy with the Faster Brain” here.

ADHD Essentials Links:

Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
Check out the ADHD Essentials Website
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com

Men’s ADHD Support Group Links:

Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group
Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community

ADHD, Loss, and the Sandwich Generation with Anita Robertson LCSW Mar 06, 2024

Show notes

In today’s episode we talk to Anita Robertson, LCSW.

Anita is an ADHD and relationship therapist. Her goal is to help individuals and couples understand ADHD and find the right systems that work for them.

Anita talks to us about navigating the challenges of being in the sandwich generation while having ADHD. We discuss the challenges of caring for neurodiverse children and ailing parents - the impact it takes on our executive function, how it affects our relationships, and the toll it can take on our well-being. As well as the need for social supports and understanding for adults in this uniquely challenging period. Of course, we also talk about tools and strategies for navigating this time in our lives!

Guest Links: