ADHD Essentials

EXCITING NEWS: On September 1st, Overcoming the Wall of Awful releases in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats wherever great books are sold! Even better, you can preorder it right now at TheWallofAwful.com !   Today’s episode is just me.  I’ll be discussing Dr. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences - what it is, and why it’s useful. We discuss: Why this theory isn't quite a theory...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Caroline Maguire, M.Ed., ACCG, PCC.  Caroline is an internationally recognized expert in social-emotional learning, ADHD coaching, and relationship development. She is the author of the award-winning book, "Why Will No One Play with Me?" and the forthcoming "Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults" (Balance Books, April 14, 2026), and hosts "The ADHD Social Pl...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Cate Osborne (aka Catieosaurus) & Erik Gude.  Cate and Erik co-hosts the podcast Cate and Erik’s Infinite Quest: An ADHD Adventure, and are co-authors of the The ADHD Field Guide for Adults.    They’re here to talk about that very book!  We discuss: How they made the most ADHD friendly book I’ve ever read. The endeavor of reading a book Analog Doom-Scrolling H...

Today's episode is a little different.  My buddies Shane Thrapp and Braden Young have started the DadDHD Podcast, and I'm helping them with their launch!  So rather than an episode of ADHD Essentials, I'm featuring episode 5 of their show where they interviewed me about fatherhood and ADHD.  I hope you enjoy it.   Register for the ADHD Essentials Parenting Groups Here   Guest Links: Find the DadDH...

In today’s episode, I talk to ADHD coach Bradley Smith II . Bradley joins the pod to talk about about how restrictions help ADHD and creativity thrive.  We discuss the nature of creativity, the ways that ADHD can lead to small scale mourning, how limitations can be useful, and how to set those limitations.    Learn more about Bradley and his work at: https://www.mindsmithcoaching.com/   Learn More...

It’s January 10th.  By now, odds are you’ve already fallen down on some of your resolutions.  To that end, I want to talk about two of my goals that I can almost guarantee were more delayed than yours are, and the takeaways I have from them. When my boys were born, I set a goal to earn my black belt and write a book by the time they turned five.  They’re sixteen now, almost seventeen, and I finall...

In this episode, I resume the tradition of dragging a bunch of people into my room to reflect on the day's events of the ADHD Conference.  This is the second day of the general conference - Saturday, November 15, 2025.   My guests include: The ADHD MD, Dr. Carolyn Letzsch-Parcells Author Caroline Maguire ADHD Coach Kate Barrett from Coaching Cville Dr. Zach Gershon, facilitator of ADDA's Young Adu...

In this episode, I resume the tradition of dragging a bunch of people into my room to reflect on the day's events of the ADHD Conference.  This is the first day of the general conference - Friday, November 14, 2025.   My guests include: Jessica McCabe of How to ADHD Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions Shane Thrapp of Creating Order from Chaos  Inger Shay of the ADHD Black Professionals Alliance...

In today’s episode, I talk to a genuine trailblazer - Dr. Larry Jones. Dr. Jones is a retired pediatrician who won CHADD’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2022. He is the founder of the 501(c)3 nonprofit Enable Tables, and the co-author of “Falling Through the Ceiling: Our ADHD Family Memoir", both with his wife Audrey.   Dr. Jones shares his road to becoming a doctor as a black man in the 1970s.  W...

In today’s episode, I talk to my friend Dr. Ari Tuckman about ADHD and Productivity.  Ari has been working in the field of ADHD for over 25 years. He’s part of the leadership team for the International Conference on ADHD, speaks all over the world, and is the author of five books on ADHD, including his latest, The ADHD Productivity Manual. Ari and I talk about the essential challenges of ADHD and...

What’s Up Team?! It’s your humble host, Brendan Mahan, back at it again.  The podcast has been on hiatus for a while, but I am finally in a position to resume posting.  So please tell your friends that I have returned.   The plan is to continue with the interview format that established ADHD Essentials as one of the top ADHD podcasts in the field, and to add in the occasional episode of me explori...

In today’s episode, I talk to my friend Tamara Rosier.  Tamara runs the ADHD Center of West Michigan, she is also the author of two books - “Your Brain’s Not Broken” , and her new book, “You, Me, and Our ADHD Family” , as well as the workbooks that accompany both.  Tarama and I discuss her new book, and explore how ADHD affects family communication patterns, over-functioning and under-functioning,...

It’s the end of 2024, so Dr. Carolyn and I are talking about goal-setting and how we view New Year’s Resolutions.  Along the way, we dabble in the importance of working with our brains rather than against them, the power of feeling seen, and why staying true to our values is important.   Register for the ADHD Essentials Parenting Groups Here   Learn More about Brendan and his work at:   Learn abou...

Today, we’re joined by executive function and leadership coach Frankie Berkoben.  She shares why our executive function capacity can be so variable and the importance of being able to accept that variance, as well as the seven types of bandwidth, and why executive function coaching is helpful for leaders. Guest Links: Learn more about Frankie and her work here: https://www.franklyquiteadhd.com/ Le...

Today, we’re joined by Dr. Patrick LaCount, the research officer for the “How to ADHD” YouTube channel. Patrick talks to us about ADHD in young adulthood. We discuss the importance of taking a long view for both parents and young adults, tips for making friends, and the value of mindfulness.     Guest Links: Learn more about Dr. LaCount and his work here: https://practicalpsychservices.com/   Lear...

Our friend Dr. Caroyn, the ADHD MD is back! We talk about the importance of community to ADHD, how those communities allow us to embrace different parts of ourselves, and why the ADHD Conference is so meaningful to so many.     Register for the ADHD Essentials Parenting Groups Here   Learn More about Brendan and his work at:   Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Co...

In today's episode, we're joined by Julie Kliers.  Going undiagnosed until age 46 and not wanting to see her sons repeat her own struggles, Julie embarked on a crusade to learn all she could about ADHD, and became the person she needed.  Now, she helps adults and students with ADHD embrace their unique and unlock their full potential! Julie talks to us about the power of diagnosis, overwhelm, and...

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Kyrus Keenan Westcott of The Vibe with Ky . Ky talks about behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances, the power of the stories we tell ourselves, masking, being an introvert, and the growth he’s gained from doing The Vibe with Ky.   Register for the ADHD Essentials Parenting Groups Here   Guest Links: Learn more about Ky and his work here:  https://thevi...

Dr. Carolyn is back!  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 today's episode, Dr Carolyn Lenszch-Parcells shares some good news, and we finish up our conversation about ADHD meds.  This time, we discuss non-stimulants, and a bit about the med shortage.     The ADHD Ess...

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 Ame...

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. Ex...

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 B...

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    Register for the ADHD Esse...

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...

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 co...