Attention Different | Adulting with ADHD

What does recovery from cannabis use actually look like for someone with ADHD?

In the final installment of this three-part series, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚 returns to move beyond the science of ADHD and THC and focus on one of the biggest questions listeners have been asking: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿?

Together with Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith, 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚 explores why treatment for ADHD-related substance use has to go deeper than simply quitting. They unpack Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), the importance of identifying personal values, why traditional "just use more willpower" advice often falls apart for ADHD brains, and how building a life filled with healthy dopamine sources can reduce the risk of relapse.

The conversation also tackles one of the most misunderstood topics in ADHD treatment: stimulant medication. Dr. Olivardia explains what decades of research actually say about ADHD medication and substance use recovery, why properly treating ADHD can lower the risk of relapse, and why so many adults spend years believing their struggles were a character flaw rather than an undiagnosed neurological condition.

✨Highlights✨

✔️ Why recovery requires more than simply stopping cannabis
✔️ How ACT helps people reconnect with their core values
✔️ Why ADHD brains need meaningful reasons, not just rules
✔️ The role of healthy dopamine in long-term recovery
✔️ Why community and support groups matter
✔️ Common misconceptions about ADHD stimulant medication
✔️ What the research says about medication and relapse prevention
✔️ How untreated ADHD can fuel addiction cycles
✔️ Helping parents have better conversations about cannabis and ADHD
✔️ Rebuilding identity after substance use

"𝐼𝑡'𝑠 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓... 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑡ℎ 𝑖𝑡."  — 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚

💬What has helped you find healthier sources of dopamine when trying to change a habit or coping mechanism? Share your experience in the comments. 👇

Whether you're navigating your own relationship with cannabis, supporting someone you love, or wondering how to talk to your child or teenager about substance use, this episode offers practical guidance grounded in compassion, science, and real clinical experience.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:

• Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
• Producer: David Grabowski
• Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
• Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

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Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

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Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

Ever feel like you're working hard but getting nowhere? Maybe the problem isn't your effort. Maybe it's where your brain is starting from. 

In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with therapist, ADHD advocate, and author 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 to explore why nervous system regulation may be the missing piece in ADHD management. Drawing from her book 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘈𝘋𝘏𝘋 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, Jenna explains how living in chronic fight-or-flight can fuel overwhelm, burnout, procrastination, and shame, even when you've tried every planner, app, and productivity hack. 

Together, they unpack why so many ADHD adults feel trapped in an exhausting cycle of urgency and crashes, how dysregulation shapes the way we think about ourselves, and why learning to regulate your nervous system can make everyday life feel far more manageable. Jenna also shares her practical three-layer framework for regulation, helping listeners move away from constant survival mode and toward a more sustainable way of living. 

✨Highlights✨

✔️ Why ADHD strategies often fail without nervous system regulation

✔️ The connection between chronic overwhelm and fight-or-flight

✔️ How shame, urgency, and guilt keep ADHD brains stuck

✔️ Jenna's three-layer framework for ADHD regulation

✔️ Why "potential" can become an unhelpful trap

✔️ How to recognize dysregulation in everyday life

✔️ Practical ways to interrupt overwhelm before it takes over

✔️ Why regulating your nervous system isn't about becoming more productive, but about building a life that feels calmer and more sustainable

‘𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑛𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑙. 𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑏𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦.’ — 𝐉𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞

💬 What's one small step you can take today to move from "potential" to reality? Let us know below in the comment section. 👇 

If you've ever wondered why you know what to do but still struggle to do it, this conversation offers a compassionate and practical perspective that goes beyond productivity tips.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:

• Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
• Producer: David Grabowski
• Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
• Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 Jenna Free:

• Website: adhdwithjennafree.com/
• LinkedIn: Search Jenna Free
• Instagram: adhdwithjennafree/

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

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Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

What happens when ADHD, hormones, and identity collide? Imagine blaming your ADHD... when your hormones have been causing all the chaos.

In this episode of 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴, Devin Pitts-Rogers sits down with 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐨 — author, educator, musician and ADHD advocate, to explore the often-overlooked intersection of ADHD, perimenopause, menopause, and neurodivergence. Sarah shares her own late ADHD diagnosis, the experiences that led her to write 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘭 𝘛𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘵, and why so many neurodivergent people spend years wondering why life suddenly feels harder.

Together, they discuss how changing hormone levels can affect ADHD symptoms, why women and other people with ovaries have historically been overlooked in research, and how accessible, evidence-based information can help people better understand what's happening in their bodies and minds. Sarah also opens up about her background as a musician, professor, researcher, and advocate, offering a refreshing mix of honesty, humor, and compassion throughout the conversation. Throughout the episode, she reminds us that understanding your brain isn't about finding what's "wrong" with you. It's about finally having the language to understand yourself.

✨Highlights✨

✔️ Why ADHD symptoms can intensify during perimenopause and menopause

✔️ The connection between estrogen, dopamine, and executive functioning

✔️ Why late ADHD diagnoses often come with grief, relief, and self-discovery

✔️ How hormone changes can affect ADHD medication and mood

✔️ The difference between not knowing and being dismissed by healthcare providers

✔️ How to advocate for yourself and have better conversations with your doctor

✔️ Why neurodivergence rarely exists on its own and what that means for diagnosis

✔️ Why inclusive healthcare and accessible, evidence-based education matter

“𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛. 𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑜𝑟 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑜𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑. 𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡.” — 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐨

💬 If you received an ADHD diagnosis later in life, what changed for you after finally having an answer? Share your thoughts in the comments below. 👇

Whether you're navigating hormonal changes yourself, supporting someone who is, or simply want to better understand the experiences of neurodivergent adults, this episode offers practical insights and plenty of validation.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:

• Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
• Producer: David Grabowski
• Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
• Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 Sarah Glasco:

• Website: sarcrassticselfcare.com/
• LinkedIn: Search Sarah Glasco
• Instagram: sarcrasstic.self.care/ 

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

Did you know mindfulness isn't always about clearing your mind? You've probably been thinking about mindfulness all wrong, especially if you have ADHD.

𝐃𝐫. 𝐋𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐙𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐤𝐚, psychiatrist, researcher, and one of the pioneers of mindfulness for ADHD, joins Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith to challenge one of the biggest misconceptions about mindfulness. Instead of trying to stop your thoughts, mindfulness helps strengthen the skills that matter most for ADHD, including attention, emotional regulation, self-awareness, and self-compassion.

Together, they explore the science behind mindfulness, how it differs from meditation, and why approaching yourself with curiosity instead of self-criticism can be so powerful. Dr. Zylowska also shares the story behind her groundbreaking research, practical mindfulness exercises for everyday life, and how developing a kinder inner voice can transform the way people with ADHD navigate challenges.

✨Highlights✨
✔️What mindfulness really is and how it's different from meditation

✔️Why ADHD brains can benefit from mindfulness practice

✔️The surprising research that changed how clinicians view mindfulness for ADHD

✔️Simple mindfulness techniques you can use while driving, doing dishes, walking, or working

✔️How to replace self-criticism with mindful self-coaching

✔️Why self-compassion is a powerful tool for improving emotional regulation

✔️Practical ways to build mindfulness into daily life without sitting in meditation for long periods

“𝐵𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠, 𝑖𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒, '𝐻𝑒𝑦, 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑑𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠. 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠.” — 𝐃𝐫. 𝐋𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐙𝐲𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐤𝐚

💬 When your mind starts judging you, what helps you come back with curiosity instead? Let us know in the comments 👇

If you've ever felt like your ADHD brain is "too busy" for mindfulness, this episode will change the way you think about it. Whether you're living with ADHD, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for healthier ways to manage stress and emotions, you'll come away with practical tools, compassionate insights, and simple mindfulness strategies you can start using today.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:

• Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
• Producer: David Grabowski
• Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
• Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 Dr. Lidia Zylowska:

• Website: lidiazylowska.com/
• LinkedIn: Search Lidia Zylowska

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

What if the biggest thing standing between you and getting started isn't laziness, but an emotional barrier?

In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with ADHD coach, speaker, and author 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧 to unpack one of the most relatable ADHD concepts ever created: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘄𝗳𝘂𝗹. Brendan explains why starting tasks can feel impossible, how repeated setbacks build emotional resistance, and what you can actually do to move forward without relying on shame, guilt, or panic.

The conversation also explores Brendan's late ADHD diagnosis, the emotional impact of repeated failure, anxiety, self-compassion, emotional regulation, and why validating emotions is often the first step toward real change. If you've struggled with procrastination, overwhelm, or feeling stuck, this episode offers practical insights that can help you understand your ADHD brain with more compassion and confidence. 

✨Highlights✨

✔️What the "Wall of Awful" really is and why it affects ADHD brains

✔️How emotions create invisible barriers to getting started

✔️The difference between procrastination and emotional work

✔️5 ways people try to overcome the Wall of Awful (and which ones actually work)

✔️Why self-compassion is more effective than self-criticism

✔️How validating emotions helps regulate the brain

✔️Practical strategies for moving through overwhelm and building momentum

“𝐼 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑤𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑤𝑒𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒.” —𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐧

If you're living with ADHD, supporting someone who is, or simply trying to better understand why getting started can feel so difficult, this episode gives you practical tools, compassionate insights, and powerful mindset shifts that can help you move forward.

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:

• Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
• Producer: David Grabowski
• Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
• Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 Brendan Mahan:

• Website: brendanmahan.com/
• LinkedIn: Search Brendan Mahan
• Instagram: adhdessentials/

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

What happens when a parent knows something is different about their child, but no one seems to listen?

In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫, neurodiversity consultant, special education advocate, and founder of Journey to Bloom, to discuss what it really takes to support neurodivergent children beyond a diagnosis. Drawing from her own experience raising two neurodivergent sons, Lisa shares how trusting her instincts, navigating early intervention, and learning to advocate within the education system transformed not only her children's lives but her own.

Together, they explore why early intervention matters, how parents can build the right support team, what schools often get wrong about IEPs and 504 plans, and why neurodiversity should be understood through a strengths-based lens rather than a deficit model. The conversation also dives into masking, burnout, radical acceptance, and how creating environments where children can authentically be themselves leads to better outcomes for everyone.

✨Highlights✨

✔️ Why trusting your parental instincts can make all the difference.

✔️ What early intervention really is and how families can access it.

✔️ The differences between IEPs and 504 plans.

✔️ How to advocate effectively during school meetings.

✔️ Why "fixing" neurodivergent children is the wrong goal.

✔️ What radical acceptance looks like in parenting and education.

✔️ How masking develops and why authentic self-expression matters.

✔️ Practical strategies for building a support team around your child.

“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑔𝑖𝑓𝑡 𝐼'𝑣𝑒 𝑔𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑘𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠, 𝑛𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡.” —𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫

Whether you're a parent, educator, clinician, or neurodivergent adult, this conversation offers practical guidance, validation, and hope for creating environments where every child has the opportunity to thrive.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:

• Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
• Producer: David Grabowski
• Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
• Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 Lisa Richer:

• Website: journey2bloom.com/
• LinkedIn: Search Lisa Richer

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

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Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

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Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

Have you ever wondered why friendship can feel so much harder than it seems for some people? 

In this episode, Aaron Smith and Stephen Tonti lead a thoughtful conversation with Caroline Maguire, an ADHD coach and author of Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults, about how neurodivergence shapes the way we build, maintain, and navigate friendships. Here, she shares practical frameworks and compassionate advice to help listeners understand social dynamics in a way that feels more authentic and sustainable.

Caroline breaks down the everyday challenges many neurodivergent adults face, including rejection sensitivity, masking, post-event overthinking, and the pressure to fit into traditional friendship expectations. She explains how social skills can be learned and practiced over time, and why understanding different “levels” of friendship can make relationships feel less confusing and more manageable.

Throughout the conversation, Caroline offers tools for creating deeper connection through transparency, shared interests, and clear boundaries. She also reminds listeners that friendship does not have to look one specific way. Rather, it can evolve across seasons of life, with different people meeting different needs at different times.

✨ Highlights ✨

✔️ Why friendship has been overlooked as one of the biggest ADHD challenges

✔️ The hidden cost of masking and why authenticity builds stronger relationships

✔️ What "anxious overcorrection" is and how it can unintentionally push people away

✔️ Why rejection isn't always about you and how our brains often create stories that aren't true

✔️ The different levels of friendship and why one person can't meet every social need

✔️ How shared interests make it easier to build genuine connections

✔️ Why proximity and repeated interactions matter more than instant chemistry

✔️ Practical ways to stop overthinking every social interaction and build friendships with more confidence

"Friendship is practice and experimentation — it’s about figuring out who you are and who your people are."  —Caroline Maguire

💬 Where in your life have you experienced your own version of the "permission exhale" — a moment when you finally stopped performing and got to just exist?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:

• Hosts: Stephen Tonti & Aaron Smith
• Producer: David Grabowski
• Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
• Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 Caroline Maguire:

• Website: carolinemaguireauthor.com
• LinkedIn: Search Caroline Maguire M. Ed.

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

What if behaviors like hyperfocus, pacing, and going blank weren't signs that something is wrong, but clear data about how you work best?

Rita Ramakrishnan is a neurodivergent executive coach, former Chief People Officer, and founder of Iksana Consulting. Diagnosed with ADHD in university and autism at 35, she spent nearly two decades navigating corporate environments at Accenture, PwC, and EY before building a coaching practice explicitly designed for neurodivergent executives. 

In this episode, Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with Rita for a wide-ranging conversation about what it actually means to stop apologizing for how your brain works and start building around it.

In this candid, insight-dense episode, Rita, Stephen, and Aaron go deep on the hidden costs of masking, the mechanics of real coaching presence, and the systemic changes companies can make right now.

✨ Highlights ✨

✔️ How Rita’s diagnosis journey required a “backwards pass” through her entire life narrative

✔️ What masking and mirroring actually look like in practice

✔️ Coaching as a "container" — not just holding space, but metabolizing what clients bring

✔️ The difference between resilience and "bouncing forward"

✔️ Tools for individuals and leadership to build shared language around cognitive profiles

✔️ How companies can better structurally serve neurodivergent and neurotypical employees

✔️ Why the "ADHD as a superpower" framing can feel activating rather than affirming

✔️ Why neurodivergent founders make up an estimated 30–50% of the startup ecosystem

"Your brain is a wild and beautiful thing. It was designed that way for a reason." 

—Rita Ramakrishnan

💬 Where in your life have you experienced your own version of the "permission exhale" — a moment when you finally stopped performing and got to just exist?

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:

• Hosts: Stephen Tonti & Aaron Smith
• Producer: David Grabowski
• Editor: Ian Lopez
• Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski

𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗥𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗥𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗻𝗮𝗻:

• Website: www.iksana.com
• LinkedIn: Search Rita Ramakrishnan

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

What if the reason you hold yourself back isn't a personal flaw, but a survival mechanism your brain built to protect you?

In this episode of Late Not Less, host Devin Pitts-Rogers sits down with Alice Draper, founder of podcast guesting agency Hustling Writers and host of the award-winning podcast My Rejection Story. Together, they embark on a candid, deeply personal conversation about rejection-sensitive dysphoria (RSD), people-pleasing, ADHD tax, and what it takes to build resilience against rejection. Alice brings her experience as a late-diagnosed ADHDer, a writer who got rejected hundreds of times, and a researcher obsessed with understanding why rejection hits some of us so much harder than others.

In this honest and wide-ranging episode, Devin and Alice explore the complicated web of RSD, self-sacrifice, and identity that so many ADHD adults navigate, and help listeners understand what they can do about it.

✨ Highlights ✨

✔️ What rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) actually is and why it's not in the DSM

✔️ A shocking theory about what causes ADHD brains to rewire in childhood

✔️ “ADHD tax” and how it can cost you serious money in ways you don't see coming

✔️ The link between RSD, people-pleasing, and self-sacrifice

✔️ What happens when you stop performing the version of yourself everyone expects

✔️ How exposure therapy works neurologically

✔️ How to build rejection resilience through “micro-rejections”

✔️ Practical advice for caregivers of kids with ADHD

"Sometimes the things that served us well in childhood are the very things that hold us back in adulthood." — Alice Draper

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

🧠 What if the story you're telling yourself is the very thing keeping you stuck? 

More importantly, what if changing it is more achievable than you think?

Ryan Mayer is back on the show, and in part 2, hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith go deeper into the internal landscape of ADHD: the narratives we run on repeat, the science behind visualization and mental rehearsal, and why asking for help isn't a weakness (it's a strategy). Ryan also unveils his brand-new PAL Program, a practical and affordable accountability model built for ADHDers who already know what they need to do but can't seem to make themselves do it.

Learn what it really takes to rewrite your self-concept, prime your brain for success, and build the support systems that make follow-through possible. This isn’t toxic positivity or “manifesting.” It's about the proven, repeatable practices that elite performers have always used, and how ADHDers can use them too.

✨ Highlights ✨

✔️ How the book Psycho-Cybernetics reframes self-image as both a floor and a ceiling

✔️ Why surface-level affirmations don't work, and what actually shifts the internal narrative

✔️ The difference between manifesting and what Olympians, fighter pilots, and pro athletes use

✔️ Why your brain can't fully distinguish between imagining something and actually doing it

✔️ Ryan's "specific is terrific" framework for setting targets you can actually hit

✔️ What good ADHD coaching is actually about

✔️ How to create a powerful three-part intervention for ADHD task initiation

"If you're not thinking about what you want your day to look like, how can you be upset if you're missing targets when you don't know what your targets are?" — Ryan Mayer

Send us Fan Mail

We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent