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