Navigating Adult ADHD

Ever noticed that the more you “treat yourself” with Netflix, snacks, scrolling or online shopping… the more anxious, restless or flat you feel afterwards? You’re not imagining it, my friend. In this episode we’re talking about dopamine layering – stacking multiple feel-good hits at once & how that cocktail can quietly crank up anxiety & numbness, especially in ADHD brains. We’ll unpack wh...

Do you struggle to stay in one job for long? Are you looking for the perfect ADHD career fit?  Do you find tasks that are a 'no-brainer' for your colleagues take you 5x as long to complete?  If so, you’re not broken - you’re responding to how our ADHD brains are wired… and this episode is for you! We’re unpacking why careers can feel so hard for ADHDers, why so many of us change jobs or...

If you’ve ever set the same goal over & over again… then quietly stopped trying… then used that as “proof” that you never follow through, this episode is for you. We’re talking about shame-based goals : the goals you set because you believe there’s something wrong with you that needs fixing. “I have to lose weight because I’m disgusting.”  “I need to stop yelling at my kids because I’m a terri...

If your ADHD brain loves to tell you “I didn’t do enough this year” or “I should be further along by now,” this episode is for you my friend! I walk you through the 6 questions I ask myself at the end of every year to help my ADHD brain see the full picture, not just the blooper reel.  We talk about the idea of living in “the gap” (only seeing how far you are from where you think you should be) vs...

“Telling neurodivergent people to try harder is like telling someone with Type 1 diabetes to just make insulin.” That line stopped me in my tracks… and it was only one of the powerful moments from the ADHD Conference I just MC’d here in NZ. If you ever get the chance to attend an ADHD conference… do it. The energy, the learning, the ‘OMG same’ moments - truly amazing! In this episode, I’m sharing...

If you’re an ADHDer trying to juggle relationships, parenting, big emotions, money decisions, executive dysfunction… and ya know, life - this episode is going to feel like a giant exhale. Today I’m joined by Logan Donnelly - the face behind KiwiDad & creator of The Social AI . You may know him from his viral parenting and relationship tips… or from his work teaching people how to use AI to mak...

The holiday season is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year”…  but if you’re an adult with ADHD, it can also be one of the most overwhelming . Between the extra social events, the pressure to buy gifts, the spending, the sensory overwhelm, the family dynamics, and the time-crunch at work - your ADHD symptoms might feel louder than ever. In this episode, we’re talking about how to sur...

Today we’re shining a big bright neon light on the strengths , advantages & downright magical things ADHDers bring to the table.  Inside this episode, we get into the real-life ways ADHD brains excel, including: ✨ Crisis Brilliance - why we become geniuses the moment things go sideways (wait until you hear my first-day-as-manager story 🙃) ✨ Instant Encyclopaedia Mode - how we can go from “n...

If you’ve ever bought a new planner, downloaded a productivity app, colour-coded a calendar, or told yourself “THIS time I’ll get my sh*t together”… only to burn out, fall off, or forget it exists. Then this episode is for you! Because the truth is this: You don’t need a perfect system. You don’t need more willpower. You don’t need to become a different person. You just need to understand how to w...

Have you ever looked at someone wildly successful & thought “There’s no way they have ADHD” ? Well my friend, buckle up… because in this episode we’re celebrating 14 big achievers who all have ADHD (some with a little extra neuro-spice too!). Their success isn’t in spite of ADHD - it’s often because of it. From world-class athletes like Simone Biles and Michael Phelps , to powerhouse entrepren...

What would workplaces look like if being different wasn’t something to hide - but something to harness? In this energising and honest conversation, I’m joined by Callum McKirdy , speaker, author, and workplace culture expert, to explore how ADHD and neurodiversity can drive innovation, creativity & connection - when we make it safe for people to show up as themselves. Together, we unpack: What...

Do you ever wake up tired, even after a full night’s sleep? In this episode we’re unpacking the 7 types of rest your brain & body actually need and why lying on the couch or binging Netflix never feels truly recharging. You’ll learn: The 7 different types of rest  Why ADHD brains resist rest (and what to do about it) The difference between numbing vs restoring How to sprinkle micro-rests into...

Ever felt like you’re pedalling through life twice as hard just to keep up?  In this episode, Xena dives into the hormonal storm that is perimenopause   and how it collides with ADHD to make everything feel harder. From brain fog and mood swings to meds suddenly feeling “meh,” she breaks down what’s actually happening in your brain and body. You’ll learn: Why your ADHD symptoms might feel worse -...

ADHD at work can feel like running a race from 50 metres behind. In this practical, validating convo, I’m joined by employment law specialist & licensed workplace investigator Jaime Rose Peacock . We dig into what you can ask for, when to disclose, & what employers are required to consider - with a New Zealand law lens that’s helpful anywhere. We cover: Reasonable accommodations that actua...

Ever stared at a task so overwhelming you’d rather clean the oven or pull weeds than even look at it?  In this episode, I’m sharing how I used ChatGPT to go from frozen in overwhelm to finally taking action and how you can use AI tools to make ADHD life easier too. We’ll talk about why AI is such a powerful support for ADHD brains (hello executive function struggles!), how it can help reduce cogni...

Ever yelled at your kids, slammed a door, or bought something you regretted… and then thought, “Why do I keep doing this?” Today we’re tackling one of the most common questions I get asked: “How do I stop myself from reacting to my emotions?” In this episode we’ll talk about: Why stopping reactions altogether isn’t realistic (because hi, you’re human) The sneaky layer that makes emotional reaction...

This is the “fly-on-the-wall” chat Matt & I had after we wrapped up Episode 133. We’d just finished recording but the conversation kept flowing - so we hit record again! In this bonus episode you’ll hear an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at how Matt gamifies fitness & builds “practices”. We also riff on ADHD, dopamine, chin-ups, Demi Moore in GI Jane and why life feels better when you...

What happens when a lifetime of struggle suddenly makes sense at age 40? In this episode, I sit down with Matt - the first male ADHDer on the podcast - to talk about his late ADHD diagnosis and the powerful ways he’s turned it into "his edge".  From international indoor cricket to gamifying everyday life, Matt shares openly about the highs and lows of navigating ADHD. We dive into: How s...

Do you ever feel like money brings up nothing but shame, stress, or avoidance? You’re not alone! Grab your free download from this episode so you can start applying this right away. This is the third part of my ADHD & Money series, and today we’re diving into the juicy stuff - money mindset. Because no matter what systems or strategies we set up, if shame is running the show, we’ll keep hiding...

*Grab your free download with every step from today’s episode* Do you ever wish you could make more money, keep more of it and actually feel good about it - without forcing yourself into boring spreadsheets or restrictive budgets that never last? You’re in the right place, my friend. In part 1 of this series, we talked about why money is harder for ADHDers - impulse spending, dopamine-driven purch...

If you’ve ever felt guilty, ashamed, or overwhelmed about money - you are not alone, my friend. In fact, you’re in very good company. Research shows that adults with ADHD are far more likely to struggle with finances: we impulse buy, overspend, miss bills, carry debt, and feel constant money-related anxiety. But here’s the thing - none of this is about laziness or being “bad with money.”  In this...

I’m still riding the dopamine high from the 2025 New Zealand ADHD Conference in Auckland - and in this episode, I’m bringing you along with me. From funny ADHD moments (hello, jumpsuit tag & oversharing in the bathroom line) to powerful speaker insights, I’m sharing the best takeaways, stories and reminders that every ADHDer needs to hear. Inside this episode: Why small talk sucks (and why ove...

ADHD meds aren’t just about focus - new research shows they may actually save lives. In this episode, I’m breaking down two powerful 2025 studies: one from Sweden showing that ADHD medication lowers the risks of suicide, accidents, substance misuse, and even criminal convictions… and another from the UK revealing that adults with ADHD are living 7–9 years less than their peers. We’ll talk about: W...

Ever feel like your emotions are stuck on full blast… and the remote’s gone missing? Yeah, me too! In this episode of Navigating Adult ADHD , I’m diving into six ways emotional dysregulation can show up in adult life, from going from 0–100 in seconds to struggling to calm down long after the moment has passed. We’ll explore: What emotional regulation actually is (and how it’s like having a remote...

Earlier this week whilst in another country, I was 100% convinced I was about to die in a tsunami. My ADHD brain had already planned the escape route, packed the bags, and decided it was all over. That’s the sneaky power of all-or-nothing thinking - one of ADHD’s favourite mental habits. In this episode, we’ll cover: Why ADHD brains default to extremes and struggle to see the middle ground Real-li...