ADHDifference

Host Julie Legg speaks with ADHD and anxiety coach Dana Baker-Williams about the complexities of parenting neurodivergent children. Dana, who has ADHD herself, shares her personal journey and emphasizes that while traits may manifest differently in each child, there are common struggles with ADHD and parenting.  Parents, she explains, play a crucial role in helping their children navigate these ch...

Host Julie Legg speaks with Tina Hazen, author and professional organiser, about her work helping others—especially those with ADHD—create structured, clutter-free spaces: organising the chaos. Diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety at 38, Tina (founder of Think Inside the Boxx) emphasizes that traditional organizing methods often don’t work for individuals with ADHD, who may struggle with object permane...

Julie and Jel Legg explore dopamine stacking—when multiple sources of dopamine stimulation are layered on top of each other. This can create an intense, pleasurable experience but also lead to a crash afterward, leaving individuals feeling unmotivated, overstimulated, or even emotionally flat. They discuss how ADHD brains crave dopamine, and explore how dopamine stacking manifests in different are...

In this episode Julie Legg interviews Janine VanStee, an ADHD Life Coach and podcast host. Janine was diagnosed with ADHD at 50, after years of misdiagnoses including depression, anxiety, and OCD.  With 30 years of experience in special education, Janine has dedicated her work to helping others navigate their ADHD traits. Janine’s journey highlights the power of self-awareness, structure, and supp...

Julie Legg chats with Stephon Brown, an author and self-described "modern-day muse," to discuss his journey with ADHD. While school posed significant challenges, he discovered his love for improv, which became a powerful outlet for his creativity and quick-thinking mind. Together they explore concepts like mental cartography and performative communication, The Barstool Theories, and the...

Julie Legg welcomes Upton Rand to the ADHDifference podcast. Upton (Ohio, USA) was diagnosed with ADHD at six and shares his journey of embracing his ADHD as a powerful force that drives his curiosity, adventurous spirit, and capacity for innovation.  Through his experiences, Upton has learned to ride the wave of ADHD rather than fight against it and encourages listeners to embrace their differenc...

Julie Legg chats with Dr Jaime Raygoza to explore the challenges and opportunities faced by ADHDers in the workplace and beyond. Diagnosed as an adult, Jaime opens up about his journey of self-discovery, offering valuable insights into managing stress, preventing burnout, and embracing one's authentic self. Together, they discuss strategies to thrive in professional settings, the power of ref...

Julie and Jel Legg discuss the common yet invalidating comment, "You don’t look like you have ADHD," and explore how ADHD traits, such as overthinking and emotional regulation, can create paradoxical behaviours that confuse observers.  The Flipsides of ADHD highlight the contrasting extremes that can coexist within moments—swinging from overthinking to underthinking, oversharing to withh...

Julie Legg chats with Emily Cox, a licensed therapist from North Carolina, USA, exploring the challenges and triumphs of navigating life as a neurodivergent teen or young adult. Drawing on her personal and professional journey, Emily sheds light on the social and emotional hurdles young people often encounter and shares her therapeutic approach, which focuses on empowering clients to harness their...

Julie Legg chats with Dr Nathan Mellor, CEO of Strata Leadership, keynote speaker and author, to uncover his extraordinary journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 30, Nathan's life was profoundly reshaped by this pivotal revelation. Nathan's narrative is not just inspiring—it’s a testament to the power of understanding, self-acceptance, and unwavering...

Julie Legg interviews JM Shaw, a talented fantasy fiction writer from Alberta, Canada, celebrated for her Callum Walker series. Diagnosed with ADHD and autism in adulthood, JM shares her unique journey to understanding her neurodivergence, a process that began after her son’s diagnosis in 2019.  JM opens up about how her dual diagnosis helped her make sense of her lifelong challenges, while also e...

In this special ADHDifference episode, hosts Julie and Jel Legg reflect on the key moments, wins, and lessons of 2024. Rather than focusing on New Year’s resolutions, they highlight the power of reflection — a practice that can provide ADHDers with essential dopamine boosts and a sense of accomplishment.  From personal growth to major ADHD-related changes in New Zealand, this episode is a celebrat...

Julie & Jel Legg discuss the complexities of navigating Christmas with ADHD, focusing on how ADHD-related traits influence experiences of the holiday season. They reflect on how their perspectives on Christmas have shifted throughout their lives—from childhood excitement to the more nuanced, sometimes overwhelming experience of adulthood. They chat about how ADHD tendencies like impulsivity, o...

Julie Legg speaks with Caroline Beresford about the concept of ADHD paralysis, a state of mental "freeze" where decision-making and action become difficult or impossible. Caroline shares her personal journey with ADHD, her experiences as a parent of children with ADHD, and her insights as a certified ADHD coach.  Together they discuss the unique challenges of ADHD paralysis, its triggers...

Julie Legg speaks with Romy Graichen from Therapy Advances; a neurodivergent therapist, trainer, and consultant, about the intersection of ADHD and therapy. Diagnosed later in life with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, Romy shares her unique journey and the challenges she faced navigating a world often shaped by neurotypical norms.  Together, they discuss how therapy can be more inclusive an...

Julie Legg speaks with Sara Thompson, PhD, a theatre professional and public speaking coach, about her journey with a late ADHD diagnosis and how it reshapes her understanding of lifelong challenges.   Together, they explore the impact ADHD and academia, the authenticity and confidence in public speaking, the influence of societal norms on ADHD traits, and the empowering role of creativity in navi...

Julie Legg chats with Angela Raspass, a Sydney-based business coach, mentor, author, and fellow late-diagnosed ADHDer. Angela shares her inspiring journey from corporate career to self-employment, discussing the unique strengths and challenges of being an ADHD business owner.  Angela shares how her diagnosis reshaped her understanding of past experiences and influenced her coaching approach. Toget...

Julie Legg chats with Darrin Bull, spokesperson for ADHD New Zealand, about the changes newly announced by Pharmac that promise to reshape ADHD treatment accessibility in New Zealand.  From December 1, 2024, Pharmac will fund lisdexamfetamine (Vyvanse), a next-generation ADHD medication, and remove the two-year psychiatrist renewal requirement for prescriptions. Darrin highlights the benefits of t...

Julie Legg and Jel Legg chat about ADHD and Anxiety – the ongoing worry, nervousness and a myriad of fearful thoughts that can stem from ADHD traits, or be an anxiety disorder that affects neurotypicals too.        They discuss how anxiety often intertwines with ADHD traits, like forgetfulness and impulsivity, creating unique triggers that can lead to excessive worry and self-doubt. Julie and Jel...

Julie Legg and Jel Legg chat about ADHD and Recharging – the need to re-energize our ADHD energy battery. The method used to recharge batteries really doesn't matter, but the outcome does.         Living with ADHD often involves a constant search for dopamine, which can be exhausting; taking breaks helps prevent burnout and emotional dysregulation. They highlight “planned” and “unplanned” dow...

Julie Legg and Jel Legg chat about ADHD Tax – the extra effort and time people with ADHD put into achieving a task when compared to neurotypicals. It's the ‘price we pay’ due to ADHD traits that can take a toll on time, emotions, and finances.      ADHD Tax is an ongoing cost for those with ADHD, impacting various aspects of life, but self-awareness and tailored strategies can reduce its impa...

Julie Legg chats with Raewyn Heays, national co-ordinator of ADHD New Zealand. They discuss the organisation, how it all began, along with the information, events, and services they co-ordinate and offer the growing ADHD community in New Zealand.    Since 1979, ADHD New Zealand has grown into a vital resource hub, offering screening tools, educational content, active Facebook support groups, and r...

Julie Legg chats with Ashley Cairns, CEO and director of A Change for Better . They discuss the ACFB Fund – the charitable side of the organisation, mental health services, subsidised ADHD online assessments, and how the organisation is expanding to provide a wrap-around service.   By offering asynchronous assessments, the organization reduces wait times and costs, making diagnostic services avail...

Julie Legg and Jel Legg chat about ADHD and Impulsivity – an ADHD trait that is interconnected with many others such as impatience, risk taking, and interrupting.       They delve into the role of impulsivity in ADHD, sharing personal experiences and insights on how it shapes their daily lives. They explore how impulsive actions—often driven by a need for dopamine—can impact finances, relationship...

Julie Legg and Jel Legg chat about ADHD Awareness Month – a worldwide campaign throughout October, and in its 20th year, driving home this year’s theme is ‘Awareness is Key’.  They explore how ADHD is often oversimplified, noting that it manifests differently for each person. Julie and Jel emphasize the value of self-awareness within the ADHD community and the personal choice involved in disclosin...