ADHDifference

Julie Legg sits down with psychiatric nurse practitioner and mental health advocate Carolyn Mallon, whose journey from high school dropout to doctorate-level clinician is both inspiring and deeply relatable for late-diagnosed ADHDers. Carolyn shares how understanding her neurodivergence in adulthood radically shifted her ability to study, self-advocate, and succeed both academically and emotionall...

Julie Legg chats with ADHD coach and advocate Leah Carroll, whose own diagnosis at 28 catalyzed a deep journey of self-understanding and transformation. Leah shares how her early attempts to "fix" her ADHD through medication alone fell short and how travel, radical honesty, and coaching led her to discover the personalized systems that now support her neurodivergent brain. Leah unpacks t...

Julie Legg speaks with Kayla Oughton — a Napier-based AuDHD coach and neurodivergent advocate with an eclectic background in construction project management, health coaching, suicide prevention, and digital marketing. Kayla shares her journey from burnout in a male-dominated construction industry to becoming a voice for ADHDers and autistic women navigating late diagnosis, shame, and self-trust. S...

Julie Legg sits down with Dr. Eugene Manley, a bioengineer-turned-cancer scientist, nonprofit founder, and passionate advocate for equity in science and healthcare. Diagnosed with ADHD during graduate school, Eugene shares how his neurodivergent wiring shaped his path from misunderstood childhood behaviours and micromanagement clashes to his deep sense of justice, pattern recognition, and innovati...

Julie Legg is joined by Dr. Jack Hinman — clinical psychologist and Executive Director of Engage Young Adult Transitions. Drawing from over two decades of experience working with young adults in hospitals, residential treatment, and community mental health, Jack shares what he sees at the root of today’s growing anxiety epidemic: a crisis of focus, a crisis of connection, and a culture of avoidanc...

Julie Legg is joined by clinical psychologist and tech entrepreneur Dr. Jay Spence, co-founder of Evro AI, an innovative software platform purpose-built to support neurodivergent professionals. Drawing on years of research and clinical insight, Jay shares how Evro is reshaping workplace communication by translating meetings, externalising tasks, reducing overwhelm, and acting as a cognitive co-pil...

Julie Legg speaks with Ryan DeLena - a professional mountaineer, author, and mental health advocate. Ryan shares the harrowing realities of his childhood, growing up in therapeutic institutions where physical restraint was a regular response to neurodivergent behaviour. Misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and traumatised, it was ultimately the mountains, and the freedom they offered, that helped him find...

Julie Legg sits down with Hilary Momberger Powers — actress, inspirational speaker, trauma-informed guide, author, and the original voice of Sally Brown from the Peanuts cartoons. Hilary shares her extraordinary story of early fame, childhood trauma, addiction, and four decades of recovery — and how her ADHD diagnosis in adulthood reframed much of her past. With humour and insight, Hilary discusse...

Julie Legg speaks with Russell Van Brocklen — dyslexia researcher, educator, keynote speaker. Known as The Dyslexic Professor , Russell shares his extraordinary journey from being a severely dyslexic student with ADHD to a New York State Senate-funded researcher reshaping literacy education. Through lived experience, practical strategies, and powerful case studies, Russell reveals how identifying...

Julie Legg speaks with writer, advocate, mother of six, and trauma survivor Julie Barth, whose powerful story of caregiving, survival, and personal evolution is nothing short of extraordinary. Julie opens up about life before and after her ADHD diagnosis, the generational ripple effects of misunderstood neurodivergence, and rebuilding her life after emotional and financial abuse. This episode expl...

Julie Legg speaks with clinical psychologist and ADHD specialist Bryan Gastelle. With both professional expertise and lived experience of ADHD, Bryan unpacks how neurodivergence impacts romantic relationships, communication patterns, emotional regulation, and household dynamics. This conversation explores what healthy conflict really looks like, how couples can better support one another without f...

Julie Legg speaks with Hufsa Ahmad (a licensed clinical social worker, scientist, and mental health advocate) about her journey navigating ADHD, bipolar disorder, addiction, and repeated misdiagnoses. Hufsa shares how being a high-achieving, internally motivated student meant her ADHD often went unnoticed, and how co-occurring conditions like bipolar disorder complicated her diagnosis and treatmen...

Julie Legg welcomes author, educator, and improv-driven motivator Ron Shuali, known for his unique blend of martial arts, humour, and unorthodox teaching. Diagnosed with ADHD in early childhood, Ron defied expectations and built a life around passion, curiosity, and non-conformity. From creating Yogarate to launching “Unprofessional Development” workshops, Ron’s journey is a masterclass in trustin...

Julie Legg speaks with Erica Glessing - a writer, publisher, happiness coach, and mother of three neurodivergent children. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Erica brings positivity to everything she touches.  From founding Happy Publishing to producing over 5,000 articles and a plethora of books, Erica has built a life that works with her brain’s natural rhythms. Together, they explore how embrac...

Julie Legg sits down with therapist, sex addiction specialist, and former pastry chef Mordy Gottlieb, who brings a refreshing perspective on ADHD, shame, and self-worth. Mordy shares his own lived experience with undiagnosed ADHD, his journey through perfectionism. He discusses why traditional talk therapy isn’t always enough and how experiential and action-based approaches can help rewire the bra...

Julie Legg chats with Jessica Lewis, a voice-over artist, photographer, podcast host, and mum of three ADHD kids, about her journey of self-discovery and late ADHD diagnosis. Jessica reflects on how parenting led to recognising her own neurodivergent traits, the emotional rollercoaster of raising differently wired children, and how small, simple strategies have helped her create calm amidst the ch...

Julie Legg chats with Marnie Wills — AI strategist, former international athlete, educator, and multi-passionate entrepreneur. Marnie opens up about her late-discovered ADHD and how understanding her fast-moving brain has shaped the way she works, creates, and lives. By amplifying her innate multitasking drive and insatiable curiosity, Marnie shares the tools and strategies that help her channel h...

Julie Legg speaks with radio host, advocate, and mum of two neurodivergent children, Meredith Jones. Through supporting her children, Meredith began recognising familiar patterns in herself, leading to a journey of curiosity and self-awareness around ADHD. While currently undiagnosed and on the ADHD assessment wait-list, she is on a journey of understanding how her brain works, allowing herself to...

Julie Legg chats with 19-year-old neurodiversity advocate Lily Doolan, recently elected CEO of the Young Neurodiversity Champions of New Zealand. Diagnosed with ADHD at 17, Lily shares her journey from being misunderstood at school to finding clarity, purpose, and passion as a youth leader and university student.  Lily opens up about the impact of diagnosis, burnout, education reform, and the impo...

Julie Legg speaks with Bex O’Malley  —  a neurodiversity consultant, ADHD coach, and former corporate high-performer. Diagnosed later in life, Bex shares the toll of masking, the realities of ADHD burnout, and the strategies that helped her rebuild on her own terms. From emotional dysregulation to workplace misalignment, from self-awareness to role crafting, Bex invites us into a conversation abou...

Julie Legg chats with Carol Siege, certified professional coach, keynote speaker, and mother of four neurodiverse sons. Carol brings practical insight drawn from decades of lived experience navigating ADHD, autism, learning differences, anxiety, and more within her own family. Carol shares how parenting her “alphabet soup” family led to her passion for supporting other parents through her coaching...

Julie Legg speaks with Sian Flynn-Coleman, an ADHD life coach, mother, and passionate advocate of the ADHD Inquiry New Zealand. Together, they unpack the ADHD Inquiry petition calling for a public investigation into the systemic gaps that impact ADHDers across health, education, justice, and employment sectors in Aotearoa.  It’s calling for a national cross-sector ADHD strategy and an annual fundi...

Julie Legg speaks with Kathy Buskett, a professional caricature artist and solo entrepreneur who discovered her own ADHD while navigating her son’s diagnosis. Kathy shares how her ADHD traits, once dismissed as being "scatterbrained", have become her greatest strengths in both life and art. From rebuilding her life after personal tragedy to becoming one of the fastest caricature artists...

Julie Legg welcomes Chris Loper, a Habit Coach and educator, to explore how lasting change starts with brain health, not just willpower. Chris shares his own late-ADHD diagnosis journey and the pivotal realisations that followed, including how lifestyle foundations like sleep, nutrition, and movement support focus, emotional regulation, and motivation. From designing a brain-friendly morning routi...

Julie Legg chats with Kiwi screenwriter, actor, and pro wrestling commentator Steve McCleary, best known for his work on Power Rangers.  Steve reflects on his late ADHD diagnosis, tracing the thread from misunderstood childhood behaviours to the clarity that came in adulthood. He shares his pure joy for plot dynamics, his love of the creative process, how he’s redefined success, and how understand...