Attention Different | Adulting with ADHD Late Not Less Ep. 06 | How ADHD Chaos Led Me Into a Critical Role β w/ Jesse Jerdak
[ππ«π’π π ππ« πππ«π§π’π§π : This episode contains a discussion about suicidal ideation and mental health struggles]
π What happens when you spend decades believing youβre βlazyβ or βbadβ, only to discover your brain was working differently the entire time?
In this episode of Late, Not Less, host Devin Pitts-Rogers sits down with actor, voice actor, tabletop RPG creator, and nonprofit founder πππ¬π¬π πππ«πππ€ for a deeply personal conversation about ADHD, late diagnosis, masking, depression, creativity, and learning to finally understand yourself.
Jesse shares what it was like growing up undiagnosed in the 80s and 90s, struggling through school while constantly being told he simply needed to βtry harder.β Together, Jesse and Devin unpack the emotional toll of feeling different, the shame many ADHD adults carry into adulthood, and how discovering ADHD later in life can completely reshape the way you view your past.
The conversation also dives into creativity, TTRPGs, worldbuilding, hyperfixation, perfectionism, doom piles, music, acting, and why collaborative storytelling can become such a powerful space for neurodivergent people to explore identity, connection, and self-understanding.
β¨ Highlights β¨
βοΈ What a late ADHD diagnosis feels like after decades of self-blame
βοΈ Why many ADHD adults get labeled βlazyβ instead of supported
βοΈ How ADHD and depression can become deeply intertwined
βοΈ The emotional impact of finally finding medication that works
βοΈ Why tabletop RPGs attract so many neurodivergent creatives
βοΈ ADHD perfectionism, doom piles, hyperfixations, and creative chaos
βοΈ The importance of language, empathy, and feeling understood
βπΌ π‘βππ’πβπ‘ πΌ π€ππ π πππ πππ. πΌ π€ππ ππ π‘πππ’πππ πππ π‘βπ π‘πππ, ππ’π‘ πΌ π€ππ π‘ππ¦πππ ππ¦ βπππππ π‘.β β πππ¬π¬π πππ«πππ€
This episode is for anyone who grew up feeling misunderstood, emotionally overwhelmed, or convinced they were failing at life when they were actually navigating an unsupported neurodivergent brain.
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.
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