Welcome back to The ADHDvent Calendar! It's Sam and Katie’s twelve episode Christmas countdown designed to make the season easier for ADHD brains. Every episode opens a new “door” with one practical tip to cut through overwhelm, lower the pressure and bring a bit of calm to the most memory heavy, admin filled month of the year.

Today we're opening door eight... and everyone's getting toffee!!

Christmas is fast approaching... we're on day seven of the ADHDvent Calendar! Sam and Katie’s twelve episode Christmas countdown designed to make the season easier for ADHD brains. Every episode opens a new “door” with one practical tip to cut through overwhelm, lower the pressure and bring a bit of calm to the most memory heavy, admin filled month of the year.

Wondering what's behind this door? Get ready to bah-humbug because Katie's about to strike you off her Christmas list...

Welcome back to The ADHDvent Calendar, Sam and Katie’s twelve episode Christmas countdown designed to make the season easier for ADHD brains. Every episode opens a new “door” with one practical tip to cut through overwhelm, lower the pressure and bring a bit of calm to the most memory heavy, admin filled month of the year.

It's time for door six, and it's the most joyful gift of all... it's the gift of saying NO!

It's time to see what's behind door four of theThe ADHDvent Calendar, Sam and Katie’s twelve episode Christmas countdown designed to make the season easier for ADHD brains! Every episode opens a new “door” with one practical tip to cut through overwhelm, lower the pressure and bring a bit of calm to the most memory heavy, admin filled month of the year.

Behind this door Katie shares her ultimate plan to save ADHD brains and beyond on Christmas day!

Welcome back to The ADHDvent Calendar! Door four of Sam and Katie’s twelve episode Christmas countdown designed to make the season easier for ADHD brains. Every episode opens a new “door” with one practical tip to cut through overwhelm, lower the pressure and bring a bit of calm to the most memory heavy, admin filled month of the year.

This door gives you permission to STOP fixing the Christmas lights and show those tatty and broken Christmas decorations some mercy...

It's door three of the ADHDvent Calendar, Sam and Katie’s twelve episode Christmas countdown designed to make the season easier for ADHD brains. Every episode opens a new “door” with one practical tip to cut through overwhelm, lower the pressure and bring a bit of calm to the most memory heavy, admin filled month of the year.

Today's door takes on the overwhelming task of decorating for Christmas with something our listener likes to call 'festive micro-zones'...

Welcome back to The ADHDvent Calendar, Sam and Katie’s twelve episode Christmas countdown designed to make the season easier for ADHD brains. Every episode opens a new “door” with one practical tip to cut through overwhelm, lower the pressure and bring a bit of calm to the most memory heavy, admin filled month of the year.

It's door number two and we're not putting it off any longer... we're having THAT conversation early.

Welcome to The ADHDvent Calendar! Sam and Katie’s twelve episode Christmas countdown designed to make the season easier for ADHD brains. Every episode opens a new door with one practical tip to cut through overwhelm, lower the pressure and bring a bit of calm to the most memory heavy, admin filled month of the year.

It's door number one and we're kicking off with a doozy... it's the one note that SAVES Christmas.

In this bonus episode, Sam and Katie look back on their conversation with Aoife Hughes about the power of words and why the phrases we use around ADHD land so deeply. They explore how everyday language like should and cannot quietly shapes a sense of shame, why so many ADHDers freeze when they feel directed or judged, and how shifting to gentler wording can open up choice rather than pressure.

Katie reflects on the expectations she absorbed from school reports and family conversations, while Sam talks about the moments he realised his own inner voice had copied the shoulds he heard from others. Together they look at how quickly those old phrases slip into self blame, what it takes to respond with curiosity instead of spiralling, and how returning to the simple question ‘what does my brain need’ can soften the whole experience.

It is an open and encouraging look at how language builds either understanding or overwhelm, and how small adjustments in the words we offer ourselves can make daily life with ADHD feel more spacious and more possible.

New episodes of You're Wrong About ADHD are available every Wednesday and Friday. Got a question or story for the team? Send it to [email protected]

You’re Wrong About ADHD is made in association with APX Content Ventures.

This week Sam and Katie are joined by ADHD coach Aoife Hughes for a deep dive into something deceptively simple but surprisingly powerful- the words we use when we talk about ADHD. Together they explore why phrases like ‘you should’ and ‘why can’t you just’ feel so heavy for ADHD brains, and how shifting just a few words can change motivation, self belief and emotional safety.

Aoife breaks down how years of external messages become the voice in our head, why shoulds trigger perfectionism and shutdown, and how a tiny tweak to could gives us back choice and autonomy. She unpacks the role of the nervous system, how shame shows up in our language, and why declarative communication helps us feel understood rather than pressured.

With practical tools for interrupting unhelpful thoughts, reducing overwhelm and reframing expectations, Aoife shows how changing your language can soften your inner critic, support your executive function and help you approach challenges with curiosity rather than fear.

New episodes of You're Wrong About ADHD are available every Wednesday and Friday. Got a question or story for the team? Send it to [email protected]

You’re Wrong About ADHD is made in association with APX Content Ventures.