Recognizing the importance of self-care and body connection is crucial for those with ADHD, which is what makes Caitlin Doherty’s work with Mindful Movement for Misfits so significant. As a therapeutic yoga and movement practitioner, Caitlin not only offers guidance but also embodies the vibrant possibilities of living with ADHD and autism. Her personal journey is one of resilience, navigating the obstacles of a late diagnosis and limited early support to transform her unique traits from...

Get ready to crack up and nod in agreement as the hilarious Ellie Hino, a Minneapolis gem in the stand-up comedy realm, joins me, Tracy Otsuka, for this episode of ADHD for Smart Ass Women. llie's candid recount of her diagnosis following the trials of motherhood, her journey through emotional regulation, and the quest for effective coping strategies isn't just relatable – it's a masterclass in finding humor in the chaos. Her stand-up comedy illuminates the ups and downs of ADHD with a wit...

In a world where ADHD and neurodiversity often complicate the seemingly simple task of eating, Stephanie Sorrentino Mulholland brings a refreshing and enlightening perspective to the table. As a pediatric speech-language pathologist and a neurodivergent individual herself, Stephanie delves deep into the heart of 'picky eating,' transforming it from a common challenge into an inclusive, enriching experience. Our discussion ventures beyond mere coping mechanisms, delving into the personal...

Alyssa Fontaine's life story highlights the crucial need for mental health diagnosis and care accuracy. Misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teenager, she faced the challenges of ADHD and medication mismanagement, which set her on a path to self-advocacy and profound change. This experience fueled her passion to support women entangled in cycles of incarceration and addiction and to lead a transformative cheerleading program in her hometown, demonstrating the power of empathy and proper...

Navigating grief can be a challenging and emotional journey, especially when coupled with the complexities of ADHD. However, it can also be an opportunity for growth and resilience. In this upcoming discussion, we'll hear from a group of remarkable women, including Sandra Centorino, the beacon of positivity, Laurie Peterson, an authority on ADHD and educational assessments, and Anita Robertson, the insightful psychotherapist, as they share their personal experiences of loss and how they have...

In this episode of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, I have the pleasure of chatting with Dulce Vasquez, who's not only making waves in the political arena by running for California State Assembly District 57 but also reshaping the conversation around ADHD and mental health. At 36, Dulce's life took a transformative turn with her ADHD diagnosis, providing her with the clarity she'd been seeking in both her academic pursuits and political endeavors. As a formerly undocumented LGBTQ+ Latina, Dulce...

Brooke Schnittman worked closely with ADHDers for years providing disability supports, not realizing she had ADHD herself until she moved to virtual coaching and was suddenly unable to focus and stay on top of administrative tasks like she was before.  Getting a diagnosis gave Brooke the tools and understanding to take her services and self-care to the next level. Through her company, Coaching with Brooke, she and her eight coaches help ADHDers transform their chaos and frustration into...

The term “self-care” has become synonymous with bubble baths and meditation classes, but for ADHDers who are already overwhelmed by endless to-do lists, the last thing we need is to pile more “shoulds” onto our plates. Taylor Elyse Morrison always felt overwhelmed by the idea of self-care until she realized that, in her words, “self-care is listening within and responding in the most loving way possible,” and it completely changed her perspective on what it looks like to care for herself.   ...

Priscilla Tollin was born with neurofibromatosis (NF), a neurological disorder that causes tumors to form on nerve tissue and can impact mobility. Priscilla’s physical limitations meant that any hyperactivity she experienced growing up was turned inwards, and her ADHD flew under the radar until finally getting a diagnosis at 32.    Once Priscilla understood her ADHD brain, so many pieces of the puzzle fell into place. She was able to address her RSD, to shift her mindset to one of optimism...

Many people know I'm a gusher, meaning that when I find something I really believe in, I want the whole world to know about it. I truly believe that the bottom-line goal with ADHD is to master our nervous systems, which is why I'm so delighted to sit down with clinical social worker and coach, Gabrielle Juliano-Villani.   Gabrielle began her career in child protective and victim’s services and eventually started her own private practice working with older adults, folks with chronic pain and...

Katy McFee spent the bulk of her career undiagnosed, and struggled for years until she learned how to work with her ADHD and not against it. After 18 years in the corporate world she founded her company, Insights to Action, which is on a mission to help close the gender gap in senior leadership.    Katy discovered through her entrepreneurship journey and ADHD diagnosis that we can all thrive as our authentic selves once we are ready to accept ourselves for who we are. She is passionate about...

After being diagnosed with ADHD at age twelve, Jessica McCabe struggled with a brain she didn’t understand. Determined to understand her challenges, Jessica reached out to experts, read articles, and decided to share her findings with others. This determination and curiosity set her on the incredible path she’s on today.    Jessica is now the founder and host of the award-winning YouTube channel, How to ADHD, where she has built a community of millions who follow along as she uses up-to-date...

Dr. Ashley Portmann had always dreamed of becoming a veterinarian ever since she was a little girl, but like with many fast-paced careers in the medical field she soon found herself hitting burnout from the chaos of general practice. Ashley attended a conference on home hospice care and realized that maybe she wouldn’t have to leave the profession she loved so much after all, maybe she could pivot in a new direction that would work for her ADHD brain and allow her to dig her way out of...

Melinda Shepherdson’s sense of adventure has led her up mountains, down rivers, and across the world. Her long list of travel destinations is impressive, but what Melinda cares about most on these adventures is her connection with nature. The outdoors provides her with regulation, energy, positivity, and helps to calm her ADHD mind–all benefits she knew she had to share with others when starting a business.    In the last few years, Melinda discovered the Adventure Bush Therapy space and...

Last episode, I had the pleasure of introducing you to five brilliant women who were all in different stages of their own ADHD journey, and what I discovered is they found reflection and resonance within our book. All of these women shared their personal stories that showcase the unique paths they've walked, and they discuss the impact that our book had on them.   In this episode, we’ll hear from four more incredible women who share their warmth, wisdom, and community in their stories and...

For this episode of ADHD for Smart Ass Women and the next episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with 9 real women who are in different stages of their ADHD journey and have also found reflection and resonance within our book. You’re going to meet 5 of them and then in our next episode you’ll meet 4 more of these wonderful women. They've generously shared their personal stories, that showcase the unique paths they've walked, and they'll share with us the impact our 📖 has had on them. You'll...

This is going to be a very different episode than anything we've ever done here. I have invited my good friend, Dr. Christine Lee, to the podcast to interview me about my new book, ADHD for SMART ASS WOMEN. Christine is a procrastination coach, a seasoned clinical psychologist, and was the first ever guest on my podcast, which makes her the perfect person to help me reflect back on how far we’ve come and what I’m hoping for this book.   Christine and I discuss my relationship with control and...

Doing this kind of work, I often feel like I’m going up against an industry that sees ADHD only as a weakness. But not only is there science and research to refute these negative misconceptions, there's also you, the thousands of ADHD women that I've had the privilege of meeting. And I just know after meeting all of you that they're getting it wrong.    Everywhere I go, there's another kick-ass entrepreneur who tells me that they have ADHD too. So the way I see it, I had to write this book...

We’ve known for quite some time that ADHD doesn’t just “go away” with age, yet only about 4% of boomers have a diagnosis. So why the huge discrepancy, what are the impacts, and most importantly, what can we do about it?   Dr. Kathleen Nadeau has been working to answer these questions for the last few decades. Along with many other accomplishments, she’s the author of Still Distracted After All These Years, the only book focusing on the needs of older adults with ADHD.    During my...

Show Notes–Ep. 256: Cults, Child Marriage and ADHD Optimism with Dr. Tamara MC   Dr. Tamara MC is a cult, child marriage, and human trafficking Lived Experience Expert who advocates for girls and women to live free from gender-based violence worldwide. Married off at 12, Tamara has firsthand experience with fundamentalist cults, giving her valuable insight into how these organizations operate. She now uses her experience combined with her PhD in applied linguistics to research and educate...

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought the topic of ADHD and gratitude couldn’t be more perfect. Gratitude is so important for every single human to feel good, but for those of us with ADHD, it's crucial. With our dopamine deficiency, we can't get anything if we’re not in positive emotion!    Positive emotion has been shown to increase dopamine, which drives our memory, our behavior, our focus, and our motivation. When we're in positive emotion, we get stuff done, we're happier, and we're...

When Dr. Nanci Smith realized her neurodiverse childrens’ needs weren’t going to be met by the public school system, she knew she had to try a different approach to education. Luckily, Nanci has a background in psychobiology and is motivated by a challenge, so the transition to homeschooling was a no-brainer.    Nanci learned how to support her childrens’ sensory, socio-emotional, and executive functioning needs, and along the way she learned how to support her own unique brain as well. She...

For years, Kalin Johnson was operating with a dysregulated nervous system and putting her body through unnecessary stress, and it was only once she started listening to her body’s needs that she realized how much easier things could be. Kalin now combines her personal experience with her professional training as a healthcare provider to help others bridge the gap between mental and physical health. Through her work, she shows high-achieving, neurodivergent, and hypermobile individuals how to...