Taking Control: The ADHD Podcast

Inbox Zero-ish: A Shame-Free Email Update with Melissa and Pete


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In this bonus drop for all listeners, Pete and Melissa peel back the curtain on their personal email habits—and how ADHD continues to complicate even the simplest message. This is the fifth installment in the ongoing email challenge (the first four were re-released to Patreon earlier this year), and it’s a rich mix of confession, coaching, and curiosity.

We recap where the challenge began in 2018 and what we’ve learned since then:

  • How triage habits evolve (and fail) over time
  • The mental and emotional load of email procrastination
  • The shame spiral of watching your unread count climb into oblivion

Then we shift into what’s new:

  • Melissa’s accidental inbox apocalypse
  • Pete’s haunted January shame project
  • Tools that actually reduce friction: Gmail + Gemini, Superhuman, Spark, and a candid look at Mailbird
  • AI’s promise in cutting through clutter without replacing your brain
  • The challenge of confusing your workbox with your inbox

Melissa is launching a personal email rehab project and will be posting updates in Patreon for Deluxe members and above. Pete’s committing to finally clearing out that January shame stack. And together, they’re setting the stage for a December follow-up episode—because this work isn’t one-and-done, it’s ongoing.

🧠 Key Takeaways:

  • Triage isn’t the problem—action is.
  • Email should be emotion-free (but often isn’t).
  • AI isn’t the enemy—it might just be the assistant we’ve always needed.
  • If you feel bad about your email habits, you’re not alone—and that doesn’t mean you’re broken.

📌 Links Mentioned:

  • Superhuman
  • Spark Email
  • Mailbird
  • Gmail + Gemini
  • (00:00) - The Email 2025 Update!
  • (05:15) - The Season Recap
  • (07:27) - Where are you now?
  • (15:52) - What did we not tackle?
  • (28:39) - The Inbox and The Workbox

  • 🎓 College Coaching for ADHD Students is Now Enrolling!

    Starting college with ADHD? Don’t go it alone. At Take Control ADHD, we offer two personalized coaching options to help students thrive both academically and emotionally. The Roadmap Planning Package includes two pre-semester strategy sessions to build custom calendars, break down big assignments, and create ADHD-friendly systems for success. For ongoing support, our Weekly Coaching Package offers one-on-one accountability throughout the semester to stay focused, flexible, and in control.


    Learn more and find the right fit at https://takecontroladhd.com/college.

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