Learn to Thrive with ADHD Podcast

Today we're talking about Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns — the book that changed my life in my 20s, and one I've gifted over 100 times. It's not just for depression and anxiety; the concepts in it are now central to how I coach people with ADHD. ADHD doesn't just affect what we do — it affects how we feel about what we do, and the stories we tell ourselves when we forget somet...

Starting goals isn't the problem for ADHD brains — sustaining them is. The excitement fades, life gets busy, and suddenly we're asking ourselves why we can never stay consistent. Sound familiar? In this episode of the executive function series, Coach Mande John breaks down the real reason goals fade for ADHD adults — and how to build systems that actually last. This isn't about beco...

There are six words and phrases that ADHDers use every single day — and they're quietly making your ADHD worse. Not because they're bad words, but because every time you say them, you're reinforcing shame, overwhelm, and limitation without even realizing it. In this episode, Coach Mande John shares the exact words she's worked hard to remove from her own vocabulary and what she...

Does your brain have a story it loves to prove? "I'm behind." "I never finish anything." "I can't stay consistent." "I'm not disciplined." For ADHD brains, these thoughts don't just show up - they collect evidence. Your brain scans for proof, finds it fast, and builds a case so convincing that the story starts to feel like fact. In this s...

Have you ever been incredibly busy - cleaning, answering emails, reorganizing your to-do list - and still somehow avoided the one thing that mattered most? That's not laziness. That's procrastination wearing a productivity costume. In this episode, Coach Mande John breaks down Paul Graham's essay "Good and Bad Procrastination" and applies it directly to the ADHD brain - he...

Are your feelings so raw lately that even small things feel like the weight of the world? Do you spiral from "this is hard" to "I can't handle my life" in about three seconds? What if the problem isn't that you have too many feelings - it's that you don't know what to do with them once they show up? In this episode of Learn to Thrive with ADHD, Coach Mande J...

Are you exhausted from trying to build habits that never stick? Do you know exactly what you should be doing but still struggle to follow through consistently? What if the problem isn't that you lack discipline - it's that traditional habit-building advice doesn't account for how ADHD brains actually work? In this episode of Learn to Thrive with ADHD, Coach Mande John breaks down At...

Are you exhausted from the cycle of setting a standard, missing it once, and labeling yourself a failure? Do you push harder in unsustainable ways or quit completely when shame shows up? What if the problem isn't that you lack discipline - it's that your ADHD brain turns every standard into an all-or-nothing trap? In this episode of Learn to Thrive with ADHD, Coach Mande John breaks down...

Are you exhausted from trying to keep everything going - even when you have nothing left? Do you push through until you crash, or shut down completely when overwhelmed? What if there's a better way to navigate ADHD productivity when you're running on empty? In this episode of Learn to Thrive with ADHD, Coach Mande shares her personal experience from the past month - a fall, a black eye,...

In this eye-opening episode of our executive function series, I reveal the truth about impulse control - and why hitting snooze, interrupting people, or buying things you didn't plan to isn't about willpower or character flaws. Your brain just moves faster than your awareness can catch it. 📌 Key Topics: Why impulse control struggles happen so fast you don't catch them until AFTER H...

Have you been putting your life on hold — waiting until things calm down, waiting until you're caught up, waiting until you finally "have it together"? What if the wait is the problem? In this episode, Coach Mande breaks down the most powerful ideas from Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman — and shows you exactly why they hit different for ADHD brains. This isn't about a...

Are you exhausted from negotiating with yourself all day long—about getting out of bed, doing the task, starting the project, or eating the thing? Do you wish motivation felt less like pressure and more like support? In this solo episode, Coach Mande shares one simple question that transforms how ADHD brains navigate daily motivation: "What would make me most proud in this moment?" In th...

Are you struggling with emotional reactions that surprise even you? Do certain people or situations consistently set you off, and you wish they didn't? In this solo episode, Coach Mande dives deep into one of the most overlooked aspects of ADHD success: emotional maturity - and why it's a set of learnable skills that can transform your life. In this episode, we discuss: What emotional ma...

Are you stuck believing that ADHD is a limitation rather than a superpower? John A. Brink, an 85-year-old entrepreneur, author, and competitive bodybuilder, joins us to share how discovering ADHD at 57 completely transformed his understanding of himself - and his life. In this episode, we discuss: How undiagnosed ADHD became the hidden ingredient to business success (and why 75% of highly successf...

Learn the Stop, Drop & Plan system - Mande's proven ADHD time management method for managing overwhelm, prioritizing tasks, and reducing the "pinball effect" of bouncing between work. The ADHD Overwhelm Problem When you have ADHD, managing multiple responsibilities creates the "pinball effect" - bouncing from task to task without completion. You start on one thing, not...

The 5-Minute ADHD Unfreeze Guide: Stop Staring and Start Moving Ever find yourself frozen—knowing exactly what to do, but unable to start? That’s ADHD paralysis. It’s not laziness or lack of willpower—it’s your brain protecting you from overload. In this episode, Coach Mande John breaks down why it happens and gives you the tools to break free fast. You’ll learn the 4 hidden triggers behind ADHD p...

The E.A.S.Y. ADHD Self-Coaching Framework: Your 4-Step Path from Stuck to Unstuck Feeling stuck in the same ADHD patterns? Tired of spinning your wheels? In this game-changing episode, Coach Mande John reveals the exact ADHD self-coaching framework she uses with her private clients - now available to you for FREE. This simple yet powerful E.A.S.Y. framework helps you: • Stop guessing and start mov...

Send us a voice message at speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd Are you struggling with 3pm crashes, brain fog, or ADHD symptoms that seem worse at certain times of the month? Catherine McClory, a Registered Nutritional Therapist diagnosed with ADHD at 35, joins us to share game-changing nutrition strategies that transformed her life and those of her clients. In this episode, we discuss: Why 25-30g...

Send us a voice message at speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd Stop beating yourself up for being "inconsistent." Your ADHD brain wasn't built for it-and that's okay. Consistency is the most oversold advice out there, and it's crushing people with ADHD. In this episode, we're replacing impossible standards with strategies that actually work for your brain. In This Epi...

Send us a voice message at speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd 🛑 If you're waiting until everything is done before you rest, you'll never rest. And that's why so many ADHD adults run on empty. This episode is about why self-care, balance, and rest are not luxuries—they're the foundation that lets everything else work. IN THIS EPISODE: ✨ Why rest isn't a reward—it's...

Send us a voice message at speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd Do you constantly feel like you're not measuring up? Like no matter how hard you try, it's never enough? If you have ADHD, chances are you've felt the sting of low self-esteem – that persistent sense that you're somehow broken or flawed. But here's the truth: low self-esteem isn't part of your personality....

Send us a voice message at speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd The Slight Edge: Small Steps, Big Wins for ADHD Brains Ever feel like you're working incredibly hard but nothing's changing? That frustration hits different when you have ADHD. In this episode, we explore "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson and why this book is perfect for rewiring how we think about success. Why This B...

Send us a voice message at speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd That nagging voice telling you "you're not good enough" or "they'll find out you're a fraud"? It's not just you. ADHD and imposter syndrome feed off each other, creating a perfect storm of self-doubt. But here's the thing - recognizing this pattern is the first step to breaking free. Researc...

Send us a voice message at speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd Burnout with ADHD doesn't build up slowly. It comes from living in extremes. One day you're hyperfocused and working nonstop, the next you're scrolling Netflix and can't get off the couch. That cycle is exhausting - and it's not your fault. Research shows that up to 70-80% of ADHD adults report frequent burnout...

Send us a voice message at speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd In this game-changing episode, I reveal the hidden reason why most ADHD adults stay trapped in endless cycles of productivity frustration—and share the three-stage framework that will finally set you free from guesswork and burnout. 📌 Key Topics: Why trying every productivity hack online keeps you feeling broken (spoiler: you're...