We got Kelly McLaughlin (one half of the legendary Dungeon Dudes) to sit down and talk ADHD, masking, and why neurodivergent brains and TTRPGs might just be a perfect match. Spoiler for those that know us: Kelly agrees that it's not just about the dice—it's about taking off the real-world mask while putting on a character's, having actual agency in a world you can change, and exploring parts of yourself you didn't know needed exploring.

Kelly opens up about his adult ADHD diagnosis, growing up hiding his love of Powerpuff Girls and the color purple in a small town that wasn't kind to nerds, and what tools give him the executive function to build systems that work. We dig into why D&D lets you "grab a sword and change the world" when real life feels overwhelming and uncontrollable, why every character we create is secretly about us (even when we don't realize it), and how the Dungeons of Drakkenheim team designs adventures with ADHD brains in mind.

Also: K-pop Demon Hunters cosplay goals, Tales from Wood Creek (the escape room/reality TV/D&D fever dream with Deborah Ann Woll), cottagecore as resistance, and why Expedition 33 will make you cry. A lot.

Check out the Dungeon Dudes at https://www.youtube.com/@DungeonDudes and grab Dungeons of Drakkenheim on D&D Beyond!

💬 Join our safe party at The Pocket Dimension Discord: https://bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord
🌀 Support the pod (and play games with us!): https://www.patreon.com/enterthepocketdimension
🎹 Theme music by Michael Bellar, https://www.michaelbellar.com/

#ADHD #DungeonsAndDragons #TTRPG #DungeonDudes #Drakkenheim #Neurodivergent

Reminder: progress doesn’t have to look like exhaustion.

After Gen Con, AK and Matt reflect on what “push mode” looks like in ADHD brains—from hyperfocus to emotional overwhelm. Pushing ourselves too hard, pushing through burnout, pushing people away—or feeling pushed around. A conversation about momentum, friction, friendship, and learning when stopping might be the smarter move.

💬 Join our safe party at The Pocket Dimension Discord: https://bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord
🌀 Help us keep making this podcast with your support: https://www.patreon.com/enterthepocketdimension 
🎹 Theme music by Michael Bellar: https://www.michaelbellar.com/

We’ve been quoting his book Extra Focus for years—so getting to sit down with author Jesse J. Anderson (aka ADHD Jesse) feels like a major level-up for ADHd20. We dig into adult diagnosis, ADHD myths that refuse to die, and why “just try harder” is absolutely not a viable strategy for the neurodivergent. Jesse walks us through his 4 Cs of motivation, and we all compare notes on system-hopping, shame spirals, and trying to invoice your way through executive dysfunction.

Also: fidget envy, secret middle initials, and TTRPG metaphors galore. We laughed a lot. You will too. 

Check out adhdjesse.com and don't forget to pick up a copy of Extra Focus at extrafocusbook.com or wherever you buy books. 

Special shout out from all of us to Dani Donovan, www.youtube.com/@Dani_Donovan and The Anti-Planner, adhddd.com/anti-planner

💬 Let's chat about our interest-based nervous systems in Discord: bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord

Let’s talk about overstimulation. From cons to code, gameplay to group hugs, we’re digging into what it means to hit your sensory limit in a world that keeps turning up the volume. Inspired by a stunning moment on Worlds Beyond Number and a viral Survivor clip, this episode explores how TTRPGs offer structure, emotional safety, and surprisingly powerful tools for regulation—both in game and in life.

Also: shoutouts to the Queen of Wands, the Mars Cheese Castle, and the real MVPs—our fellow overstimulated weirdos doing their best to feel it all and still show up.

💬 Join our safe party at The Pocket Dimension Discord: https://bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord

🌀 Help us keep making this podcast with your support: https://www.patreon.com/enterthepocketdimension

🎉 We made it to Episode 50, and you're invited on our stroll down Working Memory Lane—complete with surprise guests and distractions galore! Join us as we reflect on four seasons of masking, hyperfixations, catastrophizing, and all the strange, sparkly ways we’ve found meaning in the madness.

Thank you for being here—whether this is your first episode or your 50th. We love you. We see you. We’ll probably overshare with you!

💬 Come cry-laugh with us in Discord: https://bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord 
🌀 Help us make it to 100 episodes (and maybe get matching tattoos): https://www.patreon.com/enterthepocketdimension 

In this magically chaotic episode, Matt and AK pull a tarot card, misidentify it, and somehow still use it to unlock a whole conversation about context switching. From the dark arts of time-blocking to the ADHD curse of attention residue, they explore why switching gears is so hard for neurodivergent brains—and what TTRPGs can teach us about emotional regulation, better structure, and giving ourselves a damn break. Plus: Fiestaware, puppets, and why lunch might save your life.

💬 Come hang out with other awesome nerds in our Discord: 

https://bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord

 🌀 Support the podcast and keep the shenanigans rolling: 

https://www.patreon.com/enterthepocketdimension

In the Season 4 premiere, Matt and AK throw caution (and possibly common sense) to the wind by diving into the mystical, mysterious world of Tarot. But this isn't just a gimmick—Tarot has been an especially helpful ADHD tool for AK, aiding with focus and perspective. So, what happens when they bring that energy into ADHd20? Will the cards unlock new insights, or will Matt just keep pulling Death? Let’s find out together.

🔮 Get woo-woo with us in Discord: https://bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord

🌀 Support the show on Patreon and get first access to future episodes: https://www.patreon.com/enterthepocketdimension

In our Season 3 finale, Matt and AK reflect on the highlights of 2024 and all the growth and gaming goodness the year brought us. From top-notch guests like @The ADHDM, @Seth of All Trades, and @ADDLiberator to action plans for curbing futzing and doomscrolling, we’re hopeful we eked out just enough XP to hit Level 4.

But this episode isn’t just about looking back. We’re also paving the way for 2025 with a brand-new theme that will shape our journey forward. What is it, you ask? You’ll have to tune in to find out!

💬 Reflect with us and share your favorite moments in Discord: https://bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord

🌀 Help us roll into 2025 in style: https://www.patreon.com/enterthepocketdimension

Grief is a tricky beast—messy, unpredictable, and somehow still managing to make us laugh at the worst possible moments. And does your ADHD type shape how you grieve? AK has a theory, and this week, she and Matt explore how inattentive and impulsive ADHD brains might handle collective grief differently—whether it’s by doomscrolling until 2 a.m., rage-cleaning the kitchen, or existing catatonically on the couch. (No judgment, we’ve been there too.)

Expect spicy takes, big feelings, and a few tangents that somehow still make perfect sense.

💬 Let us be your favorite distraction in our Discord: https://bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord

🌀 Support our neurospicy explorations (or, come to dissociate and just play games with us): https://www.patreon.com/enterthepocketdimension

It’s time for an intervention, folks! In this episode, Matt stages a surprise wisdom check for AK, calling her out on her, ahem, dedication to her phone and social media. Are our screens slowly turning us into digital zombies? Probably. Join us as we dive into the perils of doomscrolling and determine whether or not a sleight of hand could actually swipe AK's bad habits away for good.

💬 Bring your neurospicy opinions into our Discord and tell us what you’re addicted to: https://bit.ly/thepocketdimensiondiscord
🌀 Support our TTRPG escapades and help us fund our social media rehab: https://www.patreon.com/enterthepocketdimension