Brendan Mahan has ADHD — and the drive to help others navigate their own ADHD landscapes. From a young age, Brendan knew he wanted to help people. When his college major options left little room to do that, he forged his own path. Now, he’s an ADHD coach and podcast host. From parenting to marriage to the workplace, Brendan’s got you covered. And he’s there to remind you that it’s OK to have ADHD. On this week’s episode of “How’d You Get THAT Job?!,” Brendan talks about how to stack...

Growing up with ADHD and dyslexia, Jacquelyn Spathies didn’t picture herself one day working on a doctorate in biomedical studies. Teachers told her she wasn’t trying hard enough and discouraged her from dreaming big. Kids bullied her about her school supports. Like lots of kids with dyslexia, she felt like an outsider, and she found acceptance in a rebellious crowd. Then Jacquelyn went to community college, where she found encouragement from the right teacher. She discovered her love for...

Ryan Walter Wagner needs a schedule, yet daily variety, to work with his ADHD. Ryan has lived multiple lives, from touring in his punk band, to owning his own record store, to working in a portrait studio. Now, he thinks he’s finally found his home in freelance photography. Being his own boss fits his need for freedom and doing things in his own way. After being diagnosed in his 40s, so much of Ryan’s past started to make sense: His brain just works differently. He documents this, and...

Ship captain Dave Gugliotti has ADHD — and a love for the ocean. Full of energy, yet calm under pressure, Dave’s strengths help him flourish on open water. As the seasons change, so does his work. Every day is different, with varied activities and constant repairs to keep Dave’s bouncing mind happily engaged. Dave's never been one to sit still, and he works best with his hands. He tried to sit at a desk for an office job, but he left after a week and never looked back. In this week’s...

When you have ADHD and dyscalculia, you need lots of tricks for keeping up while running a business. Taking advantage of her smartphone is just one of the tricks Lindsay Miguelez uses. Like so many of us, when Lindsay was growing up, she was told that she wouldn’t always have a calculator in her pocket to help with math. Thank goodness that was wrong! It took seven years of struggling in college for Lindsay to decide to focus on wedding photography. Today, she’s in demand for her whimsical,...

When Eric Tabach, a YouTube host and producer for the channel Yes Theory, went to Ukraine, he didn’t just want to create a video. He wanted to make a difference in the war. Eric grew up with ADHD in a Ukrainian family in Russia. As a child, his endless energy and racing mind led him into theater and into making YouTube videos at home. Eventually, his family moved to the United States, where he acted in movies. He started college but then dropped out. Social media was calling. He became the...

Alex Bilowitz put in the elbow grease to create a thriving career as a record producer, songwriter, and composer — and he did it all with ADHD. He was part of the team that wrote the lyrics with BTS for the hit song “Butter.” In this episode, Alex talks about what led him to his career, and what it takes to break into the music world. Though he was diagnosed in the third grade, ADHD sat in the background for Alex until college. Being super organized and on time, Alex didn’t think of himself...

What if you loved coffee so much that you made it your career? That’s exactly what David Rubinstein is doing — and it’s working for his ADHD and dyslexia. In this episode, David shares how his unique combination of interests and learning differences led him on a career path with stops along the way as an electrician and as a champion cyclist. Today, as a coffee professional, he packs four jobs into one: barista, espresso machine technician, roaster, and teacher of all things coffee. All...

Alonna Nicole Williams calls herself an “Energizer Bunny” with ADHD. She says she’s been bouncing off the walls since she was a little girl, all the way into the modern workplace. Mini breaks, flexible scheduling, and work accommodations have helped her create a work life that matches her ADHD needs. But it hasn’t been easy. In this episode, Alonna opens up about crying at work and being anxious about rigid in-person offices. She explains why working remotely in cyber fraud insurance fits...

Albert Kim first got interested in digital accessibility because of his ADHD, dyslexia, and invisible disabilities. He wanted to make websites and apps usable for everyone, including himself. After all, he uses a screen reader and text-to-speech to read text online. However, when Albert started to explore a career in digital accessibility, some of his friends discouraged him. They said it wasn’t a good career path. Albert decided to try anyway. Within a few years, demand for his expertise...

From the first moment Paul Starr saw the Japanese anime series “Robotech” (aka “Macross”), he was hooked. But did it have something to do with his ADHD? He’d never been motivated about anything before, but now he threw himself into learning Japanese so he could read comics. One thing led to another, and eventually Paul started to work as a translator for Japanese manga and novels. But it took an embarrassing event at work — falling asleep at his desk — to make him realize that to follow his...

Whitney Valentine-Wafer has ADHD and never finished college. Yet she’s served as chief financial officer for several organizations and built a career as a nonprofit finance professional. Her journey includes employers like Creative Commons and the San Francisco Ballet. Whitney shares how she was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult — and how she found her way despite being fired from several jobs in her 20s. She says the key to her path was reflecting on what worked and what didn’t work for her...

By the time Raquel Fleetwood was diagnosed with a learning disability at age 8, she had already discovered her passion: cooking. By 16, inspired by her Black Latino roots, she was selling cheese flans in NYC — and building confidence with each gig that followed. Now, Raquel is the owner and chef of a catering company that delivers 75,000 meals in an average year. Listen to hear how Raquel turned her love of food into a career. Learn her secret for managing challenges with math, spoken...

Julia Schifini, who has ADHD, left her day job and embraced the opportunity to turn weekly chats with her best friend into a podcasting career. As creator of the popular “Spirits” mythology podcast, she’s found her niche in topics like Greek mythology, Dungeons & Dragons, and more. Along the way, she also taught herself sound engineering. Listen to how Julia navigates ADHD within the demands of her podcasting work. Find out how her many and varied interests have helped her thrive. And...

After getting a fashion degree from a college with a learning disabilities program, Stevie Ondra decided to follow her childhood dream: TV and film. She started as a production assistant on an indie film, and worked her way up in the costume and wardrobe department. Today, she works on hit television shows like “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “Gossip Girl,” “The Report,” and “Raising Kanan.” At work, she's open about her learning differences and what she needs to thrive in her job. Listen in for...

As a child with dyslexia, Frank Imperiale always had to think 10 steps ahead to account for his reading challenges and anxiety. Today, thinking ahead is a skill that’s served him well in his career as a production manager for live events. His impressive list of credits includes the NYC Marathon, comedy shows, concerts, and more. Get Frank’s advice on how to turn your learning and thinking differences into strengths. And hear what Whoopi Goldberg, who also has dyslexia, once shared with Frank...

Not many people are aware of nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD). Fewer still know the challenges of finding a job when you have NVLD. Michaela Hearst, who has NVLD, shares her career journey — and how she decided to be a school counselor so she could be there for students with learning differences. She also talks about how a social work degree can lead you to different career paths. Hear her story. Understood is a nonprofit and social impact organization dedicated to shaping a world...

Sometimes, people with ADHD can thrive in jobs that require hyperfocus. That’s true of Jo Shaffer, a self-taught visual effects artist who says working on motion graphics is a perfect fit for how their mind works. Learn how Jo gets paid to come up with fun computer-generated graphics for companies and advertisers. Jo also shares thoughts on the connection between having ADHD and being nonbinary. The answer might surprise you. Understood is a nonprofit and social impact organization...

Heath Howes has built hundreds of custom horse saddles for riders. Growing up, he had trouble with reading and writing, as well as ADHD. But he found his strengths in art and three-dimensional thinking. Listen to his thoughts on how to find a career working with your hands. Understood is a nonprofit and social impact organization dedicated to shaping a world where the 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently can thrive. Learn more about “How’d You Get THAT Job?!” and all our podcasts...

As a female engineer with ADHD and learning differences, Kellie Williams is breaking ground in a male-dominated field. Learn what she’s done to thrive in spite of harassment and ill-fitting equipment made for men. And find out the tools and accommodations she uses at work for her ADHD. Understood is a nonprofit and social impact organization dedicated to shaping a world where the 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently can thrive. Learn more about “How’d You Get THAT Job?!” and all...

"This “absent-minded professor” always wanted to work with kids. So Robert Benjamin focused on strengths like emotional IQ to get a job managing therapy services for foster kids and their families. Hear how he handles job challenges that come with ADHD and executive function issues. Understood is a nonprofit and social impact organization dedicated to shaping a world where the 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently can thrive. Learn more about How’d You Get THAT Job?! and all our...

Zo V says sometimes she just can’t pay attention. But when she has the chance to be creative, this nice girl from Brooklyn gets hyperfocused as a seamstress in the fashion industry. Find out how Zo found a job that fits her differences. Understood is a nonprofit and social impact organization dedicated to shaping a world where the 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently can thrive. Learn more about “How’d You Get THAT Job?!” and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts. Copyright © 2021...

Steve Dean once put a sign up in a NYC park offering “free dating advice.” Learn how this ADHD super connector became a dating coach who helps people find love. And get his surprising advice on how to find your own unique career path. Understood is dedicated to shaping a world where millions of people who learn and think differently can thrive at home, at school, and at work. Learn more about “How’d You Get THAT Job?!” at u.org/podcast. Copyright © 2021 Understood for All, Inc. All rights...

Gracen Gantt sold her first house as a real estate agent in college. But it was almost by accident. Because of her learning differences and ADHD, she couldn’t meet college math and foreign language requirements, so she switched her major to retail management. Understood is a nonprofit and social impact organization dedicated to shaping a world where the 1 in 5 people who learn and think differently can thrive. Learn more about “How’d You Get THAT Job?!” and all our podcasts at...

“Did Ben Franklin die of syphilis from a lady of the night?” As a kid with ADHD, Chris Ivan hated school, but he found his calling as a history teacher by bringing comedy into the classroom. Hear why Chris thinks teaching is an awesome career for people who learn and think differently.