If you’re a multipassionate ADHD-ish creative who tends to be much better at starting a project than finishing it, wonders if it’s really possible to stand out in a crowded market, and struggles to figure out how to make a living from art and make a difference in the world,  this Client Success Story episode will resonate with you, big time. 

My guest today is one of my favorite people, Jess Malli Mercier, the creative genius behind my podcast and business rebrand. You’re in for a raw and honest conversation about being a creative solopreneur, wife, and mama—and how we worked together to find focus, consistency, and self-acceptance without taming the wild genius of her brain.

Jess opens up about lessons learned, including letting go of perfectionism, honoring brain-based rhythms (hello, hyperfocus sprints and creative rest!), redefining consistency outside of hustle culture, and the life-changing freedom of making her business fit her life, not the other way around.

We get real about the unlearning process, too—wrestling with guilt for stepping away, rethinking “should,” and discovering the value of fully present moments (even if that means building pillow forts with your littles before getting back to work).

Highlights of this episode:

The Magic of Collaborative Branding: 

Jess reveals why the best branding isn’t transactional—it's about deep collaboration that reveals what makes you (and your business) truly unique.

Owning Your Brain—Labels or Not: 

We talk candidly about labels like ADHD, anxiety, and depression, and why the label itself might not matter as much as learning to work with your “big beautiful brain” (as Jess calls hers) 

Making Space for Joy, Mess, and Rest: 

Ultimately, the episode is a reminder not to confuse hustle with success, or routine with progress. The goal is to create a life and a brand that reflects your truest self, even when that looks different from the mainstream. Jess and I both agree: eat the cake, savor the little moments, and let your business be as unique as the brain behind it.

Jess’s superpower: Jess’s approach to branding involves making her clients step into their metaphorical red stilettos— pushing them out of their comfort zone so they can find their x-factor. In her words, “I don’t want small talk. Show me your fucking soul.”

Want to connect with Jess?  Here’s how:

Brand Transformations Private Podcast  -  Instagram  -  Website 

Mentioned in this episode:

Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way 

Want to hear how Jess helped me rebrand my podcast and business? ADHD-ish episode # 226 - The Transformational Power of Rebranding with Jess Malli Mercier 

Thinking about working with me?  I have many more Client Success Stories you can check out for inspiration! 

Click here to explore

© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops  / Outro music by Vladimir /  Bobi Music / All rights reserved. 

If you’ve ever invested time or money into a “sure thing” that fizzled, or found yourself insisting, “this time I’ll stick to my schedule!” (despite plenty of evidence to the contrary), you’re not alone.

We are talking about cognitive biases, those sneaky mental shortcuts that shape our decisions, our stories, and, often, our downfalls.

Cognitive biases aren’t unique to ADHD brains; they’re a universal human feature. They are one of the tools evolution handed us to allow for snap decisions instead of getting overwhelmed by information.

But for those of us with ADHD, these shortcuts don’t always get us where we want to go. Sometimes, they spark innovation, but other times, they lead us straight into frustration or failure.

Drawing inspiration from Vicki Tan’s book “Ask This Book a Question,” we’ll break down why our ADHD brains are uniquely wired to fall into these “mind traps,” from relentless optimism and the sunk cost fallacy, to judging ourselves and others with double standards. 

But it’s not all doom and gloom: you’ll find out how understanding these biases can help you harness them as tools, create better decision-making habits, and transform your relationship with your business and your team.

Let’s unravel the stories we tell ourselves—and learn how to write better ones.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• What cognitive biases are, and which ones our ADHD brains are most prone to 
• The Optimism Bias - why we are grossly unrealistic about how much time and energy things take, and how to calibrate your big dreams.
• The Fundamental Attribution Error—why we give ourselves grace but judge our team, clients, and competitors
• Sunk Cost Fallacy— why we can’t let go of things we’ve worked hard at, even when they are doomed to fail 
• My personal hacks for reality checking, perspective shifting, and accountability building, and my four-step “fresh start” framework.
• Tools to reset your decision-making: decision journals, external accountability, and Post-its that help you keep your eye on those sneaky bias blindspots 

Spoiler alert: Cognitive biases aren’t a bug; they are a feature. These mental shortcuts are part of the brain’s operating manual. The key isn’t to eliminate them, but to learn how to spot them and flip them into tools for smarter (and kinder) entrepreneurship.

🏆 Want to get better at spotting your cognitive biases and make better decisions as a result?

I created a free companion handout with the various patterns discussed in this episode, plus my four-step framework for rewiring your biases. Grab your copy right here. 

Mentioned in this episode:

Vicki Tan’s “Ask This Book a Question” 

Goblin.tools Estimator 

🎙️And be sure you're following/ are subscribed to ADHD-ish on your favorite podcast app, so you don’t miss a single episode. 

© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops  / Outro music by Vladimir /  Bobi Music / All rights reserved. 

Learning to align our drive and ambition with our genuine capacity tends to be one of those lessons that ADHD entrepreneurs learn the hard way - through cycles of shame, regret, and burnout.  

But what if there is a better way, like listening to this conversation between two seasoned ADHD coaches? Meredith and I have both struggled with our own untamed ambition and learned that not all ideas need to be pursued, and how to stretch your capacity without snapping like a rubber band.  

I met speaker, writer, and fellow ADHD coach Meredith Carder at the Neurodiversion 2025 conference in March, although we had known of each other for years.  I knew she’d be the perfect guest to discuss drive, ambition, shame, and self-compassion. 

Like most women, Meredith was diagnosed well into adult life and even wrote a book about it, called “Now Everything Makes Sense.” 

If your ADHD includes hyperactivity and impulsivity, and you’re one of those people who has been coming up with business ideas since you were a kid, this inspiring and vulnerable conversation is for you. 

ADHD Ambition: The difference between having the impulse to chase a goal and the drive to see it through

Dealing with Expectations (Yours & Others): We share the steps to untangling your self-worth from traditional measures of success.

Bandwidth, Burnout & Self-Compassion: Our ideas may be unlimited, but our ability to execute them isn’t.  Adapting to your actual energy (not what “should” be possible) is a game-changer.

How to Decide What Deserves Your Focus: Meredith & I share practical, down-to-earth advice for “vetting” your ambitions, resisting impulsivity, and learning to stretch (not snap!) your capacity.

Shedding Shame & Rewriting Your Story: Hear Meredith’s journey from hiding her pivots to embracing her multi-passionate path—yes, you can experience both radical self-acceptance and constant reinvention.

Fun Fact From the Episode!

Both Meredith and I have been nicknamed “hummingbird” thanks to our tendency to quickly flit from one idea to the next, and both of us live where hummingbirds visit frequently.  

How cool is that? 

Mentioned during our conversation: 

Neurodiversion 2025 - where Meredith and I met 

Want to connect with Meredith Carder?

Website  - Book - Instagram - Membership 

Do you want to help future generations of girls and women get identified and diagnosed sooner?  Join the #FindTheADHDGirls coalition.  Click here for more information. 

© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops  / Outro music by Vladimir /  Bobi Music / All rights reserved. 

I decided to do something special for this episode, because this week is our 5th podcast anniversary (and it's also Mental Health Awareness Month.)

One of the most challenging things about being neurodivergent is learning to accept ourselves in a world where being different often marks you as an outsider. 

Using my obsession with Wicked and exploring four of Stephen Schwartz’s iconic songs  —from the hopeful longing of "The Wizard and I" to the defiant liberation of "Defying Gravity"—my goal in this episode is to connect them to the distinct stages of our ADHD journey in learning to embrace our differentness. 

So, grab your broomstick and let’s go on an adventure to Oz. 

Episode Highlights:

Let's take a trip through four major songs from “Wicked” that map out the ADHD journey to self-acceptance:

• “The Wizard and I”: The bittersweet hope that someone or something outside of us will finally fix what feels broken.
• “Popular”: The pressure to fit into neurotypical molds, no matter how unnatural it feels, and why those “helpful tips” so rarely work.
• “Defying Gravity”: The exhilarating breakthrough of embracing your true self and rejecting systems that were never built for your brain.
• “For Good”: Honoring everyone who contributed to your journey, finding peace with imperfection, and stepping into deeper self-acceptance.

Whether you’re still searching for that magic fix, trying to fit into neurotypical norms, or learning to soar with your own brand of brilliance, this episode is an invitation to recognize the real magic within yourself. 

Join me as I encourage us all to “keep defying gravity together”—and celebrate just how far we’ve come, thanks to a little help from our friends in Oz.

Inspired by this episode?  Click this link to share it with a friend. 

Complete song lyrics for “The Wizard and I”, “Popular,” “Defying Gravity,” and “For Good” can be accessed here for reference.  Used with permission by Scribd. 

All songs from “Wicked” were written by Stephen Schwartz and the clips used in this podcast recording were performed by various artists from The Studio Allstars 

Used with permission from One Media Publishing

Digital distribution label based in Pinewood Studios, UK ©2008 

© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast

Ever wondered why the idea of working for someone else just never quite fit, or why chaos seems to call your name (and you answer with gusto)? If you’re an entrepreneur who’s found yourself drawn to the thrill of building your own path—and maybe even stumbled more than a few times along the way—you are going to love this week’s guest interview. 

I recently sat down with Dr. Michael A. Freeman, an acclaimed psychiatrist, professor, and serial entrepreneur whose groundbreaking research uncovers the fascinating relationship between ADHD, bipolar spectrum conditions, and the entrepreneurial drive. 

In this lively conversation, we get real about what makes entrepreneurs with ADHD different—and what it takes to turn those differences into undeniable strengths instead of exhausting liabilities. 

Here’s what you’ll hear in this episode:

Why do so many entrepreneurs have ADHD tendencies

Dr. Freeman breaks down fascinating research on why we’re more likely to go solo in our careers—and why we struggle in traditional workplaces.

The double-edged sword of the ADHD entrepreneurial brain

We chat about superpowers and vulnerabilities, with a big emphasis on how to recognize your “zone of genius” (and when to call in backup!).

Building your own ADHD-friendly toolkit for sustainable success

From teams and routines, to handling sleep and “offloading the boring stuff,” we talk actionable strategies (yes, including coaching and medication).

The myth vs. reality of the entrepreneurial life

Spoiler: it isn’t all glamor and “get rich quick”—and Dr. Freeman shares why radical self-awareness and resilience are must-haves.

Why fun is non-negotiable for the entrepreneur with ADHD

Turns out, fun isn’t just a bonus—it’s the main event for the ADHD brain, and Dr. Freeman explains how to keep your business (and life) playfully sustainable.

Make it actionable: 

• Take three minutes to reflect: what feels fun, energizing, or “flow-y” in your own work? What support do you need more of?
• Feeling inspired to start, pivot, or quit? Get a “personal board of directors” before you make big decisions or take big risks.

Get to know Michael Freeman, MD 

Michael A. Freeman, MD, is a clinical professor at UCSF School of Medicine, a researcher and mentor at the UCSF Entrepreneurship Center, a psychiatrist and executive coach for entrepreneurs, and an integrated behavioral healthcare systems consultant.  His current research focuses on the identification of emotional overwhelm with early intervention and support. 

Dr. Freeman’s thought leadership on entrepreneurship and mental health has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall St. Journal, Fortune Magazine, Inc., Entrepreneur, CNN Money, Financial Times, and Bloomberg News.



Mentioned in this episode:

UC San Francisco, UC Berkeley, Stanford University,  the Gallup Organization 

Connect with Michael A Freeman, MD

Website - LinkedIn 

🎙️ Fun Fact From the Episode:

Did you know? For most of human history, people with ADHD traits were actually high-status in hunter-gatherer societies! We were the original “economic first responders.” (So if you’ve ever felt out of place, maybe you’re just in the wrong era!)  To learn more: Thom Hartmann’s ADHD: A Hunter in a Farmer’s World or John Dini’s Hunting in a Farmer’s World: Celebrating the Mind of an Entrepreneur. 

Every guest on ADHD is hand-picked and invited personally by you-know-who, so if you enjoyed this interview,  let me know:

Leave a review 

Share the episode 

Thank you! 

© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops  / Outro music by Vladimir /  Bobi Music / All rights reserved. 

Our edge as entrepreneurs comes from spotting trends and launching fresh ideas. The problem? Most of us have a graveyard of half-baked projects, forgotten launches, half-written newsletters, and more orphaned tech tools than we care to admit.  Let’s face it: innovation is our ADHD advantage, but execution moves the needle. 

Shiny Object Syndrome is not a quirky personality trait; our ADHD brains are hardwired for novelty, so creating consistency takes self-awareness and strategy. Lucky for you, this episode is full of candid stories, neuroscience-backed insights, and actionable advice on how to do just that.

Loan me your ear holes for the next 25 minutes for: 

🧠The Neuroscience-Based Truth

Why your ADHD brain is forever thirsty for dopamine—and why trying to force yourself to focus just doesn’t work for us.

🏃‍➡️The Cost of Chasing Novelty

The sneaky ways shiny object syndrome drains your revenue and energy (and how to recognize it hiding in your business).

📋5 Practical Strategies

Including: dopamine scheduling and reframing the “messy middle” to creating shiny object parking lots and setting up accountability that actually works.

🎨How to Enlist (Not Resist) Your Curiosity

Specific ways to channel your creative bursts into profitable execution, instead of abandoned projects.

📇Systems That Make Space for New Ideas (Without Derailing Your Progress)

Learn how a “shiny object fund” can keep your creativity alive while protecting your core business

Fun Fact from the Episode: 

ADHD expert William Dodson, MD, coined the expression “interest-based brain” to explain how we operate differently. Here is an article from ADDitude magazine that explains it ( including a one-minute YouTube video with a “House of Cards” style soundtrack). 

🏆Ready to start creating more consistent business success—and work with your interest-based brain?

To make it extra easy to go from innovation to implementation, I created a free companion handout with all the go-to strategies mentioned in this episode. Grab your copy right here. 

🎙️And be sure you're following/ are subscribed to ADHD-ish on your favorite podcast app, because next week, I’m chatting with Dr. Michael Freeman, a leading psychiatrist, entrepreneur, researcher, and consultant.  Trust me, you’re not going to want to miss it.

© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops  / Outro music by Vladimir /  Bobi Music / All rights reserved. 

If your head is spinning with marketing messages from high-profile coaches insisting you need a team, a course, a 6 or 7 figure business, when what you really want is flexibility and the freedom to do something you love on your own terms, this episode is your permission slip to have a simple, sustainable solo business.

My returning guest, Maggie Patterson, joins me to chat about the significance of intentionally staying small as a solopreneur and why this approach can be especially beneficial for neurodivergent entrepreneurs. 

Together, we challenge the notion that choosing a small business is a sign of playing small or self-sabotage and instead highlight the strengths and preferences that can come with choosing to remain a team of one.

Episode Highlights:

• The Solo Advantage: Maggie explains why being an intentionally small business owner can be the best option for neurodivergent individuals, offering greater flexibility and reducing stress.
• Cultural Conditioning and Entrepreneurship: Maggie & I unravel how the cultural celebration of hyper-successful entrepreneurship models can be misaligned with many neurodivergent experiences.
• Recognizing Personal Capacity: Our conversation explores the importance of understanding one's own sensory and emotional capacities and why it's crucial for sustainable business operations.
• Reality of Business Growth: We discuss the myths around scaling businesses and the reality of what it means for the entrepreneur's role to shift from creator to manager and marketer. 
• Dismissing Magical Thinking: Maggie emphasizes the importance of discerning which ideas to pursue and recognizing that not every new venture has what it takes to succeed.
• Navigating Neurodivergence and Business: With personal anecdotes, the episode highlights the importance of understanding one's unique neurodivergent traits and leveraging them for business success.
• Challenging Toxic Advice:  You’ll find yourself nodding along to our critiques of the flawed business advice often targeted at women and neurodivergent individuals, encouraging you to trust your own judgment.

Maggie Who?

Maggie Patterson is a seasoned entrepreneur, consultant, and small service business owner who is passionate about demystifying societal conditioning around business success and encouraging entrepreneurs to prioritize their well-being.

She is also a blogger, podcaster, and author of the long-awaited new book,  “Staying Solo: Your Guide to Building a Simple, Sustainable Service Business.”  

🎙️ Mic Drop Moment: 

”So often we think about getting support in the context of our business, but what about our friendships, the communities we're in, and the personal supports we're getting?" 

Maggie Patterson 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Ideation StrengthsFinder theme
• Our mutual friend Michelle
• Duped, Maggie’s Podcast with Michelle Mazur

Connect with Maggie Patterson:

Website - Podcast - Instagram - LinkedIn 

Buy the book “Staying Solo: Your Guide to Building a Simple, Sustainable Service Business.”  

Does Maggie sound familiar?  

That’s because she’s a returning guest.  Check out our first conversation on ADHD-ish, Episode # 196 “Why Opting to Stay Small Doesn’t Mean Limited Success.” 

© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops  / Outro music by Vladimir /  Bobi Music / All rights reserved. 

How often do you find yourself agreeing to something and later regretting it? Yeah, me too.  In fact, the majority of adults with ADHD identify as people pleasers, but there’s more to this knee-jerk reflex than meets the eye. 

This solo episode is packed with actionable tips for unlearning the Default Yes, starting with identifying the role of our unique neurological wiring in this dynamic. 

With insights into the "reciprocity myth" and the emotional aftermath of asserting oneself, this episode is packed with valuable tools for anyone seeking to say a purposeful yes to the things that truly matter. Let’s get started!

🔑 Key Takeaways:

• The Default Yes: Why impulsively saying yes is more than just people pleasing and how it ties to ADHD brain wiring.
• Deer in the Headlights Effect: Unexpected requests often leave individuals with ADHD feeling frozen and overwhelmed.
• The Reciprocity Myth: The misconception that saying yes will always lead to reciprocal benefits in a professional setting.
• Setting Boundaries as a Muscle: Strengthen your ability to say no with practice, patience, and a bit of training.
• Practical Techniques: The buffer phrase technique, physical resets, and guilt-free language patterns to help you say no and not feel bad about it.
• Handling Emotional Aftermath: Insight into managing the guilt and anxiety that can follow after setting boundaries.
• Forgiveness and Progress: Shifting away from the default yes with self-compassion and patience.

Mic drop moment: 

 "People who consistently get what they want are often those who clearly communicate boundaries, not those who say yes to everything."

Start here:

Physical Reset Technique: Practice taking a deep breath, pressing your feet into the ground, and rolling your shoulders back when under social pressure to help redirect your focus (and buy a little time before answering.) 

Climb the No Ladder: Start by saying no to small, low-stakes requests, gradually moving to more significant ones as you gain confidence.

What’s next?  

In order to rewire your brain from the default yes to more intentional answers takes practice, so be sure to grab my free worksheet that combines all the strategies shared in this episode, including practice scripts with guilt-free responses. 

Good intentions will not change the situation, but a handy guide that reminds you exactly what to do will. Click here to get your copy. 

© 2024 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops  / Outro music by Vladimir /  Bobi Music / All rights reserved. 

Trying to figure out what you need to do to make your small business more ADHD-friendly? 

In today’s episode, I sit down with ambitious outlier, Evan Sargent to discuss how she built a business that allows her to thrive, stand out from the competition and honor her ADHD attributes and gifts.  

With a background in graphic design and advertising, Evan transitioned from a fast-paced agency environment to the entrepreneurial world.

Her company, Leap_Year Branding creates brand strategy and design for disruptive, service-based businesses, employing hyperfocused sprint days to deliver projects efficiently and collaboratively. 

Her innovative approach has been featured in Forbes, Crunchbase, Pop Sugar and more.  

Episode Highlights:

• Embracing ADHD in Business (00:00:01): Evan and I discuss the initial challenges and realizations that led her to work with an ADHD coach, ultimately embracing her unique brain to improve her business approach.
• Journey from Employee to Entrepreneur (00:00:50): Evan shares her transition from a career in advertising to freelancing, then to starting her own business, and how this shift allowed her flexibility and helped avoid burnout.
• Vision and Strategy with ADHD (00:21:15): Evan explains her innovative business model based on sprint days, eliminating inefficiencies she faced in traditional settings and how this dynamic approach leverages her ADHD traits.
• Overcoming Challenges as an ADHD Entrepreneur (00:11:37): This part of our conversation covers the struggle for structure after leaving traditional employment and the importance of having processes and support systems in place.
• Balancing Personal and Professional Life (00:16:15): Evan candidly discusses working with her husband, managing a household with three kids, and the personal growth she and her partner experienced through therapy and self-awareness.
• Future Endeavors and Adaptation (00:38:40): Evan shares her plans for evolving her business offerings, emphasizing business development as a new avenue, particularly in response to changing economic conditions.

Fun fact about today’s guest:  

Evan Sargent co-authored a book for young people called “We the People: the US Constitution Explored and Explained.”  How timely is THAT? 

Connect with Evan Sargent:

LinkedIn -  Website -  Contact 

Want to be part of the movement to help girls get identified with ADHD in childhood, instead of struggling for years before getting a “late diagnosis?” Join me in a mission to #FindTheADHDGirls by clicking on this link. 

© 2025 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops  / Outro music by Vladimir /  Bobi Music / All rights reserved. 

It’s tax time here in the US, and those of us with ADHD traits are paying extra! Have you heard of the ADHD tax?  I’m referring to those invisible costs that affect entrepreneurs and solopreneurs with ADHD, draining not only finances but also well-being and relationships. 

From late fees and impulse buys to missed deadlines and opportunities, these ADHD-related financial and time-related costs pile up. But it's not just about the money; health and relationship costs make this tax even more significant. 

Hyperfocus, high energy, and boundless creativity are enviable traits for entrepreneurs that those of us with ADHD have in abundance, but the flipside is that we are paying the ADHD tax in multiple different ways, and ignoring them is creating dangerous blind spots in your business. 

This fast-moving solo episode is full of relatable metaphors and analogies so you won’t forget the message, plus easy-to-implement strategies to patch up the "leaks" in our resource bucket. 

We’ll explore time-saving techniques, task initiation rituals, and much more. Whether you want to protect your health, nurture relationships, or stop springing costly resource leaks in your business, I’m love to help you pay less ADHD tax and enjoy life more!

Mic drop moment: 

“Now, for entrepreneurs and small business owners with ADHD, this invisible tax doesn't just drain your bank account. It taxes your well-being, your relationships, and your ability to show up as the business owner you so want to be."

Mentioned in this episode:

• Goblin.tools Magic To Do - free app to break things down into smaller tasks
• ChatGPT - free thinking partner 
• Claude - my favorite thinking partner 
• Ned Hallowell, MD - why connection is essential for adults with ADHD 
• Jessica McHabe water bottles - hydration prevents ADHD brain jerky 
• Neurodiversion 2025 Conference - My first conference in 2025 
• Time Timer - available in digital and analog format 
• Voxer - my favorite app for leaving myself reminders 

Now What?  

Does paying less ADHD tax sound appealing?  Be sure to grab my free worksheet that combines all the strategies shared in this episode. Good intentions won’t move the needle,  but a PDF you can save on your desktop or print out and pin to your corkboard means you actually benefit from these strategies. Click here to get your copy.  

© 2024 ADHD-ish Podcast. Intro music by Ishan Dincer / Melody Loops  / Outro music by Vladimir /  Bobi Music / All rights reserved.