ADHD Freedoms Podcast

Daniel Curtis is a composer, educator and mental health advocate from South Wales who has worked with Paul McCartney, Dame Judi Dench and Stephen Fry on charity campaigns reaching millions worldwide. He has also taken a piano 300 feet underground into a Welsh coal mine to pay tribute to the miners who never came back.

But before any of that, he was a child who didn't fit in, was bullied relentlessly, and was told music wasn't for him.

In this episode we explore:

• What it means to discover who you really are - not by going back to who you were, but by becoming who you could be
• Late ADHD diagnosis and what it reframes about your whole life
• Why labels can list the ingredients but never tell you how something actually tastes
• The energy cost of performing a version of yourself that doesn't fit
• Why ADHD brains can be unstoppable once they find their flow
• The crumbs we leave behind as children - the passions we were quietly talked out of

Daniel's three-step manual reset - mood, mission, action - is one of the most practical takeaways we've had on the show.

Daniel's book Who Were You Before the World Told You Who To Be? is available for pre-order now at danielcurtishq.com

In this episode, counsellor and parenting coach Jami Kirkbride opens up about what she has learned raising seven children, including a neurodivergent child with ADHD and a mood disorder, and how that journey transformed both her parenting and her professional practice as a counsellor and coach.

Jami explores what happens when we stop treating behaviour as the problem and start getting curious about what it is communicating. She talks honestly about after-school restraint collapse, body budget, sensory overwhelm, and why the most challenging moments are often the most important signals a child can send.

At the heart of it all is Jami's belief that every child is uniquely wired and that when parents understand that wiring, parenting stops feeling like a battle and starts feeling like a connection. She also shares something rarely talked about: the guilt and shame parents carry, and why giving yourself grace is not weakness but the foundation everything else is built on.

Join Jami and host Clive Wilson for an honest, warm and genuinely useful conversation about seeing your child clearly, supporting yourself first, and why curiosity might be the single most powerful parenting tool there is.

For Jami's upcoming mums retreat and further resources visit parentingwithpersonality.com

Find Jami's coaching programme at calmconnectionparent.com

ADHD Freedoms is hosted by Clive Wilson. Find more episodes and resources at adhdfreedoms.com

Episode Number 10

Many people with ADHD and autism have been told they are the problem. Too loud, too distracted, too much. But what if the system was the wrong shape for the mind inside it?

In this episode of ADHD Freedoms, Clive speaks with psychologist and author Robert J. Bernstein, whose award-winning book Uniquely Normal - Tapping the Reservoir of Normalcy to Treat Autism has helped thousands of families see their children differently.

Robert shares stories from decades of clinical work - the six year old who invented her own way to stop zooming, the chess sessions that taught a child to think ahead, and the five rings on a spindle that revealed how a bright kid organised his thoughts.

You will learn why problem solving is the number one skill in education, why change can happen in a single realisation rather than incrementally, how to teach ideas rather than just facts, and why one genuine friendship can matter more than an entire year of curriculum.

This conversation is for parents, teachers, therapists and anyone who has ever felt misunderstood by the environment they were placed in.

Listen in and start seeing the reservoir of potential that was there all along.

Guest Website RobertJBernstein.com

Book Uniquely Normal - Robert J. Bernstein (available on Amazon, foreword by Temple Grandin)

Tags ADHD, autism, parenting, education, child psychology, neurodiversity, learning differences, potential, Robert Bernstein

Episode Number 10

Many people with ADHD and autism have been told they are the problem. Too loud, too distracted, too much. But what if the system was the wrong shape for the mind inside it?

In this episode of ADHD Freedoms, Clive speaks with psychologist and author Robert J. Bernstein, whose award-winning book Uniquely Normal - Tapping the Reservoir of Normalcy to Treat Autism has helped thousands of families see their children differently.

Robert shares stories from decades of clinical work - the six year old who invented her own way to stop zooming, the chess sessions that taught a child to think ahead, and the five rings on a spindle that revealed how a bright kid organised his thoughts.

You will learn why problem solving is the number one skill in education, why change can happen in a single realisation rather than incrementally, how to teach ideas rather than just facts, and why one genuine friendship can matter more than an entire year of curriculum.

This conversation is for parents, teachers, therapists and anyone who has ever felt misunderstood by the environment they were placed in.

Listen in and start seeing the reservoir of potential that was there all along.

Guest Website RobertJBernstein.com

Book Uniquely Normal - Robert J. Bernstein (available on Amazon, foreword by Temple Grandin)

Tags ADHD, autism, parenting, education, child psychology, neurodiversity, learning differences, potential, Robert Bernstein

Many people both with and without ADHD live with addictive secrets that no one sees. Skin picking, nail biting, hair pulling, scrolling, bingeing or anything that brings quick relief when the pressure spikes. These habits are not signs of weakness. They are signs of an overwhelmed nervous system doing its best to cope.

In this episode of ADHD Freedoms, Clive speaks with therapist and coach Rafaela Marie (raffaelamarie.com) known for her specialised work with ADHD and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours.

Rafaela breaks down why self soothing patterns appear, why they are so hard to stop, and how small changes in your environment and self talk can shift the entire cycle.

You will learn how emotional thresholds work, why boredom feels painful for ADHD minds, how identity shapes habits and how to build a life that supports and excites you instead of draining you.

This conversation offers understanding, practical insight and real hope for anyone who feels stuck or ashamed of their coping behaviours.

Listen in and start changing the story your brain believes.

Many people both with and without ADHD live with addictive secrets that no one sees. Skin picking, nail biting, hair pulling, scrolling, bingeing or anything that brings quick relief when the pressure spikes. These habits are not signs of weakness. They are signs of an overwhelmed nervous system doing its best to cope.

In this episode of ADHD Freedoms, Clive speaks with therapist and coach Rafaela Marie (raffaelamarie.com) known for her specialised work with ADHD and Body Focused Repetitive Behaviours.

Rafaela breaks down why self soothing patterns appear, why they are so hard to stop, and how small changes in your environment and self talk can shift the entire cycle.

You will learn how emotional thresholds work, why boredom feels painful for ADHD minds, how identity shapes habits and how to build a life that supports and excites you instead of draining you.

This conversation offers understanding, practical insight and real hope for anyone who feels stuck or ashamed of their coping behaviours.

Listen in and start changing the story your brain believes.

In this episode, Laurie Faulkner opens up about living with ADHD and how it shaped her path toward purpose and connection. She reflects on the years she spent undiagnosed, the confusion that came with it, and the shift that happened when she finally understood her mind on her own terms.

Laurie talks honestly about the power of sharing real experiences so others feel less alone. She explores the tools that help her stay steady in a busy brain like breathwork for overwhelm, movement for emotional balance, and simple planning habits that support clarity.

At the heart of it all is Laurie’s belief in curiosity, communication, and community. By learning openly and reaching out, she has grown into someone who not only manages ADHD but uses it as fuel for deeper connection and creativity.

Join Laurie as she embraces the way her mind works, finds her footing, and inspires others to do the same.

Follow Laurie’s journey on Instagram for grounded insight, encouragement and an energised motivation to create positive changes that grow..

Clive speaks with 21-year-old Ava Duel about ADHD and Business, school struggles, sensory overload, burnout, and coping strategies. From failed meds to fidget-friendly hoodies, this conversation explores what it means to work with your brain, not against it. A must-listen for anyone feeling wired, tired and looking for inspiration.

Clive speaks with 21-year-old Ava Duel about ADHD and Business, school struggles, sensory overload, burnout, and coping strategies. From failed meds to fidget-friendly hoodies, this conversation explores what it means to work with your brain, not against it. A must-listen for anyone feeling wired, tired and looking for inspiration.

Are you caught in the painful cycle of ADHD shame? In this episode, we dive deep with expert Rebecca Tolbert to understand the roots of shame spirals and how they impact the ADHD brain. Learn practical, powerful strategies like the 3S Protocol and Semperi Pillars to break free from overwhelm, build confidence, and start living a life of greater ease and freedom. Whether you have an ADHD diagnosis or just resonate with the struggles of focus and organization, this episode is packed with actionable insights for a more empowered life.