Attention Different | Adulting with ADHD

[𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: This episode contains a discussion about suicidal ideation and mental health struggles]💭 What happens when you spend decades believing you’re “lazy” or “bad”, 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 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐤 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 “try harder.” 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.✨ Highlights ✨✔️ What a late ADHD diagnosis feels like after decades of self-blame✔️ Why many ADHD adults get labeled “lazy” instead of supported✔️ How ADHD and depression can become deeply intertwined✔️ The emotional impact of finally finding medication that works✔️ Why tabletop RPGs attract so many neurodivergent creatives✔️ ADHD perfectionism, doom piles, hyperfixations, and creative chaos✔️ The importance of language, empathy, and feeling understood“𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑑 𝑘𝑖𝑑. 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡.” – 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐤This 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.Send us Fan MailWe 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.If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!--------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1--------------------------------------------------------------------Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

Candid stories about long, complicated relationships with cannabis and ADHD. Conversations about why ADHD brains gravitate toward state changes and how social context and potency shift use. Reflections on sleep disruption, anxiety, motivation, and when a coping tool becomes a crutch. Honest talk about hitting consequences, attempts at moderation, and stages of change.

💡 Is the substance that “helps you relax” quietly making your ADHD worse? Today’s guest stresses: this isn’t about moralizing the issue, it’s about what the science says.In this episode, hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith welcome back returning guest, clinical psychologist, and Harvard Medical School lecturer Dr. Roberto Olivardia, to unpack one of the most critical topics for today’s ADHDers: cannabis and the ADHD brain.Diving deep into the sobering research, Dr. Olivardia breaks down how modern THC levels and the unique brain chemistry of ADHDers interact in ways most people never consider. From executive function decline to increased addiction risk and even links to psychosis, this episode challenges the all-too-pervasive belief that cannabis is a harmless or helpful tool for managing ADHD. ☀️ If you or someone you know is struggling with cannabis or substance dependency, help is available. The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) offers free, confidential support 24/7 and can connect you with local treatment options. You can also visit FindTreatment.gov to search for licensed providers in your area.✨ Highlights ✨✔️ Why today’s cannabis is not the same as it was decades ago✔️ The difference between self-medication and actual treatment✔️ How THC impacts executive function and brain structure over time✔️ Why ADHD brains are more vulnerable to addiction and dependency✔️ The genetic link that may increase risk for cannabis-related psychosis in ADHDers✔️ The “dimmer switch” effect of cannabis and why it feels helpful in the moment✔️ What’s really happening when cannabis starts shrinking your world🧠 “Self-medication is not the same as treatment, and what feels helpful can still be harmful.” —Dr. Roberto OlivardiaThis episode is for anyone who has ever thought: “Is this actually helping me, or just numbing something deeper?”If you’ve used cannabis to manage stress, anxiety, sleep, or focus, this conversation offers a clearer, science-backed perspective on what’s really happening, and what your brain might truly need instead.Send us Fan MailWe 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.If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!--------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1--------------------------------------------------------------------Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

Tori Throckmorton, former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot turned ADHD coach, shares her late ADHD diagnosis and shift from fear-driven survival to interest-based motivation. She explores burnout from chronic stress. She explains the interest-based nervous system, positive versus negative activation, and practical ways to build sustainable motivation.

💡 You know exactly what you need to do, but you still can’t make yourself do it. Sound familiar? You keep telling yourself “just start”, but your brain won’t cooperate. Why does this happen?In this episode of Attention Different, hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with executive function coach and former special education teacher Sean McCormick to unpack what’s actually behind the daily struggles of ADHD. From missed deadlines to emotional overwhelm, Sean shares how the system often overlooks the skills people need to function in real life, and what to do about it.Sean, founder of Executive Function Specialists, has trained hundreds of coaches worldwide and built his work around helping people organize their thinking, take action, and follow through. Drawing from both his professional experience and his own ADHD journey, he breaks down why ADHD isn’t a character flaw, but a skills gap. ✨ Highlights✨✔️ What executive functioning actually means (and why it matters)✔️ Why ADHD struggles are about execution, not intelligence✔️ How rejection sensitivity (RSD) can derail your life decisions✔️ The “POSITIVE” framework for building real-life skills✔️ A step-by-step system (PEMDAS) to turn overwhelm into action✔️ Your brain is a pattern-recognition supercomputer; use it✔️ You can develop skills to compensate for how your brain works“Oftentimes your greatest skill is your unfair advantage, something you’re so good at, you don’t even notice it.” — Sean McCormickThis episode is for anyone who’s ever thought, “Why can’t I just do the things I know I need to do?” and is ready for a more honest, actionable answer. This will help you understand why and what to do differently for anyone who’s been trying harder but still feeling stuck.Send us Fan MailWe 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.If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!--------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1--------------------------------------------------------------------Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

💡 What if your “anxiety” was never anxiety at all? What if the real story was missed for years?In this episode, Heather DeAngelis, ADHD specialist and Columbia-trained therapist, sits down with hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith to unpack the reality of late-diagnosed ADHD in women. Drawing from both her clinical work and personal experience, Heather shares how high-functioning women are often misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression, and why many spend years trying treatments that never truly work.Together, they explore how ADHD can hide behind perfectionism, emotional intensity, and “doing everything right” on the outside while struggling internally. Heather breaks down the connection between untreated ADHD and secondary conditions like anxiety and depression, and why treating the root cause changes everything.✨Highlights✨✔️ Why ADHD in women is often overlooked or misdiagnosed✔️ How “treatment-resistant depression” may actually be undiagnosed ADHD✔️ Why action comes before motivation for ADHD brains✔️ The difference between talking about feelings and actually feeling them✔️ How to regulate emotional overwhelm instead of avoiding it✔️ Why self-trust is often the biggest missing piece in late diagnosis“If the treatment that you're seeking for depression is not working, you may not be depressed.” —Heather DeAngelisSend us Fan MailWe 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.If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!--------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1--------------------------------------------------------------------Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

🔥 What if ADHD treatment isn’t just about the right medication… but a completely different approach to care?In this episode of the Attention Different podcast, hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with ADHD clinician and pediatrician Scott Keel to unpack what’s broken in traditional ADHD care and what it actually looks like to treat the whole person.Building a practice rooted in lived experience, Scott shares how his own ADHD journey reshaped the way he approaches care. Through his work at Even Keel Health Partners, he’s creating a model that goes beyond quick 15-minute “med checks” and instead focuses on whole-person care, combining lifestyle, sleep, nutrition, emotional health, and practical execution strategies. Because as he explains, it’s not about what you know… it’s about what you can actually follow through on. This conversation goes deep into the realities ADHD adults face daily. Medication challenges, misdiagnosis, burnout, emotional regulation, relationships, and the hidden systems that either support or sabotage your brain.✨Highlights✨✔️ Why ADHD treatment often fails when it focuses only on medication✔️ The real difference between “feeling” medication vs. it actually working✔️ How to find your personal ADHD “set point” and avoid overmedication✔️ Why sleep, nutrition, and movement matter more than most people think✔️ How ADHD brains fall into cycles of self-medication and burnout✔️ The power of lowering the “bar of initiation” to finally get things done✔️ How ADHD impacts relationships, emotional regulation, and connection✔️ What a true “whole health” ADHD approach looks like in practice“It’s not the knowledge… it’s the doing. It’s the execution of what I know.” — Scott Keel𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗨𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺:Scott Keel                                    https://www.instagram.com/doctorkeel/Stephen Tonti                             https://www.instagram.com/adhdtonti/Aaron Smith                                https://www.instagram.com/potentialwithinreach/New Merch - https://www.redbubble.com/people/attndifferent/shopSend us Fan MailWe 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.If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!--------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1--------------------------------------------------------------------Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

Why do ADHD brains feel like they’re running 47 emotional tabs at once?And what happens when empathy, nonstop information, and a chaotic world collide?In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, Stephen and Aaron unpack an important topic that many ADHD adults experience but rarely hear explained clearly: hypersensitivity, trauma, and emotional flooding in a chaotic world.Aaron and Stephen explore how common ADHD traits like strong pattern recognition, emotional intensity, and empathy can make people more sensitive to what’s happening around them. When difficult events and overwhelming information circulate constantly, neurodivergent folks can feel the emotional impact deeply, even when they're not directly involved.But this episode isn’t only about feeling overwhelmed. It’s also about what to do with those experiences: practical ways to channel emotional intensity into something healthier through community, creativity, movement, and connection. ✨Highlights✨🧠 Why ADHD brains often feel hypersensitive to injustice ⚡ How constant news exposure creates vicarious trauma 🔍 Why gaslighting can feel especially triggering for ADHD 🤝 How community and connection help regulate emotions 🎨 Why creativity and movement help process overwhelm 🌎 How ADHD empathy can become a real strength Sometimes the healthiest response isn’t numbing out. It’s finding ways to stay grounded, stay connected, and stay human in the middle of chaos.And always remember: Breathe. You got this.Send us Fan MailWe 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.If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!--------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1--------------------------------------------------------------------Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

Why do so many adults with ADHD grow up believing they’re just lazy or unmotivated?Meredith Carder—ADHD coach, writer, and author of It All Makes Sense Now— joins Late, Not Less host Devin Pitts-Rogers to unpack the moment when ADHD finally clicks into place in adulthood.Meredith shares how recognizing ADHD while evaluating her child felt like “someone turning on the lights in an old house.” Suddenly, years of struggles with motivation, organization, and shame began to make sense. Together, Devin and Meredith explore how late diagnosis reshapes the way ADHD adults understand their past, their relationships, and the way their brains actually work.The conversation dives into the realities of ADHD motivation, dopamine-seeking behaviors, hyperfocus, and why so many ADHD adults feel like they’re constantly trying to “try harder” when the real solution is learning how their brains operate.✨ Highlights ✨✔️ Why ADHD adults often grow up believing they’re “lazy” or “unmotivated”✔️ How masking begins in childhood and follows many people into adulthood✔️ How dopamine drives distractions like social media, shopping, and sugar✔️ Why transitions and stopping points are so difficult for ADHD brains✔️ Simple strategies like walking meetings and environment changes to boost focus✔️ How ADHD impacts relationships, self-confidence, and identityAlong the way, Devin and Meredith also share practical strategies and tools that help ADHD adults manage focus and impulsivity, including using YouTube playlists for background focus, blocking social media with apps like Opal, creating transition routines with phone alarms and reminders, and adding friction to impulsive habits like online shopping by disabling tools like Apple Pay.This episode is a reminder that understanding your brain can change everything. What once looked like character flaws may actually be signs of a brain wired differently. Learning how it works can open the door to a more compassionate and sustainable way of living.🎧 Watch more ADHD conversations and Late, Not Less episodes on the Attention Different YouTube channel.Send us Fan MailWe 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.If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!--------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1--------------------------------------------------------------------Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent  

“Self-care stops being self-care when you’re doing it to prove you’re good enough.”In this episode of the Attention Different podcast, co-founders Aaron Smith and Stephen Tonti explore a surprising question: Can self-care actually become toxic?Drawing from Aaron’s work as a therapist and ADHD coach and Stephen’s storytelling perspective, the conversation unpacks how modern productivity culture has reshaped the idea of rest. What started as a movement toward wellness has, in many cases, become another pressure-filled performance, complete with rigid routines, influencer checklists, and productivity-driven “optimization.”For many ADHD and neurodivergent adults, this creates a confusing paradox: the very tools meant to help you feel better can start to feel like another system you’re failing at.Together, Aaron and Stephen explore the deeper roots of toxic productivity, from childhood conditioning and achievement-based validation to the ways capitalism has commodified wellness itself. Along the way, they offer a reframing of what healthy self-care actually looks like: flexible, compassionate, and aligned with your real emotional needs.✨Highlights✨✔️ The difference between healthy self-care and toxic self-care 🧠✔️ How productivity culture turns rest into another performance metric ⚠️✔️ Why do many adults internalize the belief: “I’m only enough when I’m productive.” 💬✔️ How childhood conditioning can shape burnout patterns later in life 🔄✔️ Practical ways to reconnect self-care with your actual needs and values 🌱“Healthy self-care is done to care for yourself. Toxic self-care is done to manage how you feel about yourself.” –Aaron Smith“Self-care won’t always be fun, but it will always be fulfilling.” – Stephen TontiIf self-care feels exhausting or like something you have to earn, this conversation may help you rethink what it’s really for, and ask yourself whether you’re caring for yourself or just trying to keep up.🎧 Watch more ADHD conversations, tools, and real stories on the Attention Different YouTube channel. : www.youtube.com/@attentiondifferent 🎥Send us Fan MailWe 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.If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!--------------------------------------------------------------------Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1--------------------------------------------------------------------Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent