The ADHD Skills Lab

In this episode of The ADHD Skills Lab, Skye and I explore the critical question: is executive functioning even real or is it a poorly defined construct that's been misunderstood for decades?

Curious what's inside?

• What the DSM says about executive function..
• What's the difference between an executive function task vs. executive function measure?
• Some ADHD'ers may not struggle with executive dysfunction at all.
  • CTA: If this is you, let us know! I have follow-up questions!

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell (Podcast Producer)


References:
1. Validity of the Executive Function Theory of ADHD: A Meta-Analytic Review
2. Executive Functioning Rating Scales: Ecologically Valid or Construct Invalid?

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.

Do you ever feel like ADHD is just who you are - part of your personality? Yeah, us too!

In this week’s episode of The ADHD Skills Lab, Skye sits down with Angie Harrington, a Real Housewife of Salt Lake City, to share her journey of growing up undiagnosed to now raising a neurodivergent family.

Curious what’s inside?

• A new story of adult ADHD diagnosis
• Personal and family reflections on neurodivergence
• Discussion of dancing—just listen if you want to know why

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell
Podcast Producer


Looking for Angie?
Instagram: @ angieharrington

Looking for more content or want to get in touch?
We’d love to hear from you!
Substack: https://unconventionalorganization.substack.com/
Instagram: Skye @unconventionalorganisation
YouTube: Unconventional Organisation ADHD

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.

Wanna learn how to set boundaries as an ADHD person? The research says we should, but there’s not really a framework to guide us—so we made one!

This week, Skye and I take you on a journey through the world of boundary-setting with ADHD, just in time for the holidays!

Curious about what's inside:

• Why boundaries are so essential for ADHD'ers
• Stories from our own lives (because we're still growing, too!)
• The Four C's & how to use them

If you’ve ever struggled to say “no,” been overwhelmed by constant interruptions, and found yourself burnt out from going above and beyond, this episode is for you.

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell (Podcast Producer)


References:

1. ADHD and Boundaries: The 4 C's of Boundary Setting
2. The Prioritisation Filter
3. Staying in bounds: A framework for setting workplace boundaries to promote physician wellness
4. Social Relationships of Individuals with ADHD Across the Lifespan

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.

In this episode of The ADHD Skills Lab, we sit down with Tevis Houston, the mind behind Friends Everywhere, a studio that partners with major brands like Levi's and Vans. We dive into the impact of late diagnosis, the power of ADHD strengths in the creative industry, and the importance of building supportive communities.

Since we are so close to the holidays, I have taken some of the core ADHD strategies Tevis discusses and dressed them up for the holidays! You will find this list below!

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell (Podcast Producer)


Here is a list of 3 tips to survive this holiday season with ADHD:

1. Leverage Your Natural Strengths

• The Tip: Tevis mentions her ability to "pivot quickly" is a benefit in her creative work.
• The Action: Over this next month, embrace multitasking in ways that fuel you—like decorating while listening to festive music or brainstorming gift ideas while cooking.

2. Prioritize Breaks to Rest and Reset

• The Tip: Tevis shared how taking breaks is her way to “reset.”
• The Action: Schedule short breaks throughout the day during the holiday rush. Use them to step outside, do a quick breathing exercise, or enjoy a cup of tea.

3. Sleep on Big Decisions

• The Tip: Tevis recommends “sleeping on it”.
• The Action: Apply this to holiday spending or major planning choices!!! Write down ideas and revisit them after a good night’s sleep.

Looking for Tevis?
Friends Everywhere on Instagram
https://www.friendseverywhere.co/

Looking for more content? Want to get in touch?
We would love to hear from you!
Substack
IG: Skye @unconventionalorganisation
YT: Unconventional Organisation ADHD

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.

Can we really support our executive functions using movement? Well actually, turns out you can!

On this episode of The ADHD Skills Lab, Skye and Sarah want to talk to you about what you can actually do to support your executive functioning, according to the latest ADHD research.


Curious about what's inside?

• Explaining how intentional movement boosts cognition.
• What's play got to do with it?
• Some personal reveals from your favorite podcast hosts!

Make sure to head over to IG and DM Skye the word "PLAY" and she will send you a list of 30ish ways to play! Because not everyone has time to brainstorm an entire list...

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell (Podcast Producer)


References:

03:02 Effect of an acute bout of exercise on executive function and sleep in children with ADHD and ASD
14:38 The Effect of a Group-Based Play Therapy on Executive Function,
Working Memory and Self-Efficacy in Children with ADHD


Looking for more content? Want to get in touch?
We would love to hear from you!
IG: Skye @unconventionalorganisation
YT: Unconventional Organisation ADHD

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.

Curious about how ADHD brains learn stuff? Brandon Hendrickson, Founder of Science is Weird is here to chat about this and so much more!

Curious about what's inside?

• Discussion of unconventional learning methods
• How to harness intrinsic motivation to increase engagement
• Wonderful tangents into other scientific disciplines

If you are looking for a fresh take on education and ADHD, you won't want to miss this episode!

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell (Podcast Producer)


INSTEAD OF REFERENCES, I AM SHARING...
Brandon's Book Recommendations:

1. Driven to Distraction by John Ratey and Ned Hallowell – This was Brandon's introduction to ADHD, and it helped him understand his own experience.
2. Getting It Wrong From the Beginning by Kieran Egan – A history of education that challenges conventional views on how children learn, particularly focusing on making learning fascinating.
3. Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks – A guide to telling engaging stories, emphasizing the power of transformation in narrative.

Looking for Brandon?
https://www.scienceisweird.com/
*Code for free digital downloads*
Use code UNCONVENTIONALMINDS
Use code UNCONVENTIONALHYPERFOCUS

Looking for more content? Want to get in touch?
We would love to hear from you!
Substack
IG: Skye @unconventionalorganisation
YT: Unconventional Organisation ADHD

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.

What do you know about the Autonomic Nervous System and its connection to ADHD? In this week’s episode of The ADHD Skills Lab, we welcome resident expert Abbie J. for a bite-sized yet powerful breakdown of how the ANS impacts emotional regulation in ADHD.

Curious about what's inside?

• Discover the different nervous systems at play, explained in a simple, digestible way
• Why "we’re meant to be dysregulated"—and how to shift out of it
• What micro-moments are and how they can change your day
• Learn to be seaweed—a grounding technique that uses the slowest, most subtle movements to reset your nervous system

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell (Podcast Producer)

P.S. Skye here—email me "GROUNDING" at [email protected] or DM me on IG, and I’ll send you my free article on grounding techniques for ADHD!


References

1. Dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system in adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: A systematic review
2. An Individualized, Data-Driven Biological Approach to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Heterogeneity
3. Is autonomic nervous system function atypical in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? A systematic review of the evidence
4. Heart rate variability, prefrontal neural function, and cognitive performance: the neurovisceral integration perspective on self-regulation, adaptation, and health

Looking for more content? Want to get in touch?
We would love to hear from you!
IG: Skye @unconventionalorganisation
YT: Unconventional Organisation ADHD

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.

Is gamification just another shiny ADHD strategy, or can it really help you get stuff done? In this episode, Russ Jones, aka The ADHD Big Brother, breaks down how he turns everyday tasks into fun games in an attempt to boost motivation and tackle the mundane. But the real magic of Russ’s approach lies in the power of community.

Curious about what's inside?

• How Russ uses day streaks and accountability to build consistency
• A fun way to turn household chores into a dopamine-boosting card game
• Why “delegation” can feel impossible for ADHDers, and what to do instead

To catch part 2 of this conversation, be sure to head on over to The ADHD Big Brother Podcast!

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell (Podcast Producer)


ADHD Skills Discussed:

1. Gamification without apps
2. Setting up external accountability
3. The value of flexibility and experimentation

Looking for Russ?
The ADHD Big Brother Podcast
The ADHD Big Brother Community

Looking for more content? Want to get in touch?
We would love to hear from you!
Substack
IG: Skye @unconventionalorganisation
YT: Unconventional Organisation ADHD

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.

Can your ADHD meds increase the risk of heart disease but still lower overall risk of early death? Some data says, "Yes!"

Don't miss this week's Research Recap, featuring Dr. Fred Hooven, Professor of Public Health. We called in an expert for this topic to ensure we could deliver the highest quality of information in the simplest of terms.

Curious about what's inside?

• Many reminders to talk to your personal doctor
• Discussion of study design and why this is important
• Heart risk vs overall mortality risk - lets untangle this

If you want more Research Recaps featuring experts in their field, let us know in the comments!

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell (Podcast Producer)


References:

1. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications and Long-Term Risk of Cardiovascular Diseases
2. Long-Term Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults
3. ADHD Pharmacotherapy and Mortality in Individuals With ADHD

Looking for Fred?
LinkedIn

Looking for more content? Want to get in touch?
We would love to hear from you!
Substack
IG: Skye @unconventionalorganisation
IG: Sarah @theadhdskillslabpodcast
YT: Unconventional Organisation ADHD

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.

On this week’s episode of The ADHD Skills Lab, we’re tackling one of the biggest challenges for ADHDer's: getting organized! With the help of ADHD organizing coach Megs Crawford, we dive into realistic strategies for letting go of perfectionism and creating a space that truly works for your brain.

Curious about what’s inside? We break down:
- Where should I start?
- How is consistency possible?
- Am I trying to organize this space, or just make it look pretty?

Megs shares her compassionate, empowering approach to decluttering and staying consistent, so you can build spaces that feel calm, functional, and ADHD-friendly.

Thanks for being here! Until next time,
Sarah Russell (Podcast Producer)


ADHD Strategies Discussed:

• How to chunk tasks while still noticing progress
• Setting realistic rules for yourself and boundaries for your space
• Mindful transitions: creating routines that stick
• Consistency through imperfect action and why the small wins matter

Looking for Megs?
MindfulMegs LinkTree

Looking for more content? Want to get in touch?
We would love to hear from you!
Substack
IG: Skye @unconventionalorganisation
IG: Sarah @theadhdskillslabpodcast
YT: Unconventional Organisation ADHD

P.S. If you’re a founder who’s tired of the mad scramble of disorganized systems and stressful HR, and you want a business that feels as easy as plugging your headphones into an iPod shuffle, I’ve got something for you.

Want to grow your business? 

My Focused Balanced Growth Program has everything you need to build consistent ADHD-friendly routines and processes to grow. Click here to learn more.

Looking for a coach who's also an operator who'll turn your business into a finely-tuned profit and peace machine designed for your brain? 

I work with one company a month as a fractional consultant and COO, learning about your business and implementing systems that allow both trust & transparency with your team. Click here to book a call and discuss.