Beyond the Mind

What happens when you spend your entire life trying harder… but still feel like you’re falling behind? In this episode of the Beyond the Mind podcast, I sit down with Tahir Finley, founder of ADHD Game Plan and creator of the ADHD support app Anchor, for an honest conversation about late-diagnosed ADHD, burnout, nervous system overwhelm, and the invisible emotional labor of trying to function in s...

In this insightful episode, AnneMarie Anderson, founder of an education consultancy, discusses her mission to match families and students with needed resources, offering school advocacy and tutoring. AnneMarie shares her personal experiences growing up, her challenges with social interactions, and her path to corporate success despite the difficulties presented by small talk and networking. Reflec...

"What happens when you spend your whole life sensing you’re “different” — but no one gives you the language for why? In this episode, Marcus shares his journey of being late-identified as high-functioning autistic and ADHD — and the  reality of finding out his family “always knew,” but chose not to tell him. We talk about the quiet ways neurodivergence can show up when you’re not framed as “a...

In this conversation, ADHD coach David Wake breaks down what many people miss: ADHD isn’t just about focus. It’s about emotion, transitions, shame, sleep, and the invisible effort it takes to do “simple” things — especially when you’ve spent years blaming yourself. We talk about: The emotional side of ADHD (including excitement, urgency, and intensity) Why mornings and sleep are such common pain p...

When Kalista became a mother, the patterns she’d been managing since childhood became impossible to outrun. From early academic acceleration to cycles of burnout and “starting over,” her story reflects a common but rarely discussed experience: high-capability women whose undiagnosed ADHD only becomes visible when life demands more than their coping systems can sustain. In this episode, we explore:...

Kalista’s story didn’t start with motherhood. It started years earlier — with testing out of high school at 13, cycling through bursts of brilliance and burnout, and quietly wondering why consistency always felt just out of reach. From the outside, she looked capable. Gifted. Independent. But underneath, there was a persistent pattern: overwhelm, exhaustion, and the feeling of “I should be able to...

In this episode, we explore something most leadership conversations miss. Not just strategy. Not just performance. But the human dynamics underneath it all. I’m joined by Brian Schwartz—coach, mediator, and leadership consultant—as we unpack what actually happens when high-performing individuals step into leadership roles… and why so many struggle in ways they didn’t expect. We talk about: The dif...

In this episode, I sit down with Nima Yani, founder of m yMentalPal , to explore the connection between mental health, discipline, and performance—and how learning to work with your mind can completely shift how you move through life. Nima shares his journey from growing up in Iran to moving to the U.S. to pursue basketball, and how that experience led him to discover something many of us overlook...

In this episode, Katie Berryhill, a professor of astronomy, shares her journey of living with undiagnosed ADHD from childhood through adulthood, finally receiving her diagnosis while pursuing her doctorate in Education. She discusses the challenges she faced in high school and college, the support she received, and how these experiences have shaped her career and teaching methods. Katie's sto...

Join us as we dive deep into an enlightening conversation with Annie, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and trauma breath coach. In this episode, we explore the intersection of wellness, mental health, and trauma therapy. Annie shares her expertise on how behavior analysis can help understand and modify behaviors to improve daily life. We discuss the importance of self-awareness, the impac...

Welcome to Beyond the Mind Podcast, where we explore the stories, science, and systems that shape how we heal and grow. In this episode, host SC welcomes Dr. Sam Crandall , an adult-diagnosed neurodivergent woman she met at the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit. Together, they dive deep into Sam’s personal journey of late diagnosis, the power of community for neurodivergent individuals, and the inter...

Welcome to the Beyond the Mind Podcast, where we explore the stories, science, and systems that shape how we heal and grow. In this episode, host SC welcomes Dylan from UC Berkeley’s Disabled Students Program (DSP). Since 2019, Dylan has been converting inaccessible academic materials into accessible formats using tools like OCR, Speechify, and Genio—ensuring students with disabilities have equal...

Late-diagnosed ADHD can feel like a lifetime of burnout, self-doubt, and trying to “fix” yourself with the next perfect solution. In this episode, Beyond the Mind sits down with Steev Hodgson—ADHD coach and founder of DOSE (Daily Organization, Structure & Execution)—to talk about what actually changes the game: self-compassion, emotional maturity, and tools that help you think intentionally in...

Welcome to Beyond the Mind Podcast, where we explore the intersections of science, healing, and human connection. In this episode, host SC sits down with Alison Mahal, a board-certified music therapist, to explore how music therapy supports neurodiverse individuals in expressing, processing, and healing through sound. From her experiences at the Stanford Neurodiversity Summit to her deeply persona...