ADHD reWired – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of ADHD reWired, Eric Tivers is joined by Mattia Mauree, an award-winning composer, poet, and host of the AUDHD Flourishing Podcast. Mattia shares their insights into the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with ADHD and autism, as they navigate trauma, self-expression, and what they describe as "attention tunnels." Mattia opens up about their personal journey, discussing the impact of complex PTSD, disordered eating, and their late diagnoses of ADHD and autism. They explain how monotropism—having a narrower field of focus—shapes their experience as a neurodivergent person. Through the lens of monotropism, Mattia explores how being stuck in an attention tunnel can make transitioning to different tasks or social situations feel overwhelming and distressing. Eric and Mattia dive deep into the intersections of trauma and neurodivergence, examining how neurodivergent brains may be more easily traumatized, especially in environments that fail to meet their unique needs. They discuss the profound impact of neurodivergent parents raising neurodivergent children and the challenges of navigating systems that don’t support their differences. This conversation also highlights the importance of self-expression in healing and flourishing. Mattia explains how self-expression, rather than achievement, has become central to their definition of success, emphasizing the importance of creating work that resonates emotionally, even if it doesn't fit the traditional metrics of success. Other topics discussed include: The connection between hyperfocus and monotropism in ADHD and autism   How Mattia balances creativity, self-care, and flourishing as a neurodivergent individual   The complexity of navigating trauma in neurodivergent families   The importance of community and support systems for neurodivergent creatives and entrepreneurs This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in understanding the complex interplay of trauma, neurodivergence, and flourishing. Whether you identify as neurodivergent or are simply curious about these experiences, this conversation offers valuable insights into the importance of creating space for self-expression, healing, and growth. Connect with Mattia Mauree: Website:   Podcast: Support ADHD reWired on Patreon: If you’ve enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, consider becoming a patron at . Your support helps keep the podcast going and brings more episodes to listeners like you! Join ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Groups: Our coaching groups return this fall! Learn how to manage your ADHD more effectively in a supportive, community-based program. Visit to get all the details.

Episode Overview: Welcome back to Week 3 of the ADHD reWired Coaches Round Table! This episode dives into the intricacies of to-do lists and how to adapt them for ADHD brains. Eric, Kristen, and Brian explore how traditional productivity tools often fall short for neurodiverse individuals and share strategies to make them more effective. We're kicking off early bird registraton this week for our summer coaching groups. Take Advantage of our Early Bird Special - Join for only $999. Offer ends May 27, 2024. Learn more at Key Topics Discussed: Emotional Connections to ADHD and Productivity: Recap of last week's discussion on writing letters to ADHD. Importance of addressing emotional issues to enhance planning and productivity. Reimagining To-Do Lists for ADHD: Brian explains the common struggle with to-do lists designed for neurotypical people and the need to tailor these tools for ADHD brains. Exploration of different approaches to using to-do lists effectively, including bringing real-life data into coaching sessions. Common Pitfalls and Solutions: Challenges with traditional to-do list items like vague entries (e.g., "doctor") and how they create confusion and resistance. Introduction of "vision verbs" to provide clear, actionable steps. Importance of specificity and context in to-do list items to reduce the mental energy required to activate tasks. Personal Experiences and Group Insights: Kristen shares her group's emotional and vulnerable discussions about old to-do list items and the associated shame. The benefits of having accountability teams and how they integrate with to-do lists. Scaffolding and the 'Why': Eric introduces the concept of including the "why" in to-do list items to connect emotional importance with tasks, boosting motivation and activation. Examples of how understanding the "why" can make it easier to tackle tasks, such as scheduling a vet appointment for a beloved pet. Practical Tips and Next Steps: Encouragement to experiment with new strategies and understand the trade-offs in time and executive function. Teaser for next week's topic on daily and weekly planning, routines, and managing transition times between tasks. Quotes: "Think about how long we sort of wrestle with things that are just sticking around on our to-do list, or even worse, start working on a task we've already done." - Eric Tivers "Tasks often create tasks. It's just called adulting." - Eric Tivers "You can spend time on the front end or the back end, but one of them makes you feel bad." - Kristin Marts Final Thoughts: The episode concludes with a reflection on the importance of re-engineering productivity tools to suit ADHD brains, addressing both the emotional and practical aspects of task management. Stay tuned for next week's discussion on establishing effective routines and planning strategies. Hosts: Eric Tivers Kristin Marts Brian E Join us next week as we delve into the foundations of daily and weekly planning to enhance productivity and reduce the stress of managing tasks. *This summary was generated using Ai.*

In this episode, Eric is joined by Skye Rapson from New Zealand!  Skye is a mom and an academic with over 7 years experience working in adult education.  She has studied in various fields, including psychology, sociology, and public health, and is now a doctoral candidate in population health.   After getting diagnosed with ADHD at the start of her doctorate, she has since dedicated time to researching and disseminating ADHD studies, focusing on supporting others with strength-based neurodiverse-friendly tools and systems.  Skye also founded Unconventional Organization which provides strength-based research-backed online coaching for clients with ADHD.  Learn more at Instagram: Topics/Questions in this Episode: What is the aversion to “structure” when you have ADHD?  What is the most important ingredient in the “recipe” for ADHD management?  How does self-criticism impact our ability to get things done?  What helps us to acknowledge and identify our self-criticism?  How do we adjust our sense of what we’re working on?  Skye runs an organization with neurodiverse people for neurodiverse people.  What is the most fun about it, and what are the challenges?  What are some of the alternative tools (other than email) that can be used to navigate with a neurodiverse team?  “Bring your worst self to coaching” - Why is this important?  What is the difference between motivation and activation?  “Being an adult means you need a lot of dopamine.  Sprinkle dopamine everywhere in your life! It’s not just about the work.” - Skye Rapson What does “dopamine-down” mean?  Mind-ready and brain-ready: What’s the difference?  How can we alleviate self-doubt when setting goals?  Resources & Honorable Mentions: ADHD reWired Episode:   Article:    Tool:   Tool:   Tool: :  Tool: - free website blocker   Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens Registration for the winter season of ADHD reWired's Coaching & Accountability Groups is happening soon!  Go to  to get your name added to the winter interest list! 

In this episode, Laura Key from joins the show!  Laura is a mom of two kids, a long-time editor and content-creator, hosts the , and is the editorial director at Understood.org! Understood.org is a resource for people with learning and thinking differences like ADHD and dyslexia, where Laura also co-leads the !    Join in as Laura and Eric share their stories about keeping up with deadlines, anxiety, mental flexibility, and perfectionism.  You’ll also hear about Laura’s roles with Understood.org, her experience as a mom and the ways her ADHD can shine, and how the ADHD Aha! podcast was born.   Resources & Honorable Mentions: Podcast Episode: ADHD reWired #  Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens

In this episode, Eric is joined by Camille Roney, who is a certified academic life coach, whose work has appeared in the New York Journal, , , and more!  Camille empowers students to start earning high grades while studying less and enjoying the process.  You’ll hear Camille and Eric talk about the importance of curiosity and experimentation, why having different ways of absorbing information can depend on the content we are trying to absorb, the art of being bored, and using our calendars to reflect our values.  Next, Eric and Camille discuss the benefits of allowing our minds to wander, strategies to be attentive to what we are reading, questions to prompt our curiosity, giving ourselves space, the next steps someone can take when they’re ready to self-advocate, and addressing our internal dialogue when we’re questioning our paths.   Finally, you’ll hear what not to do when writing a paper, trauma, burnout, self-appreciation, getting to the “why” behind the paths we choose, how the cost of education has changed, and why it’s ok to pause and enjoy the experience. Connect with Camille:  Website:   Instagram: Other Questions & Topics in this Episode: What prompted Camille to go down the path as an academic life coach?  How does Camille help people to discover how they learn?  What is value-based time-blocking?  What is the value of learning how to be bored?  How can you stay attentive while reading?  How does Camille help someone determine if they’re down the “wrong” educational path or if they need to develop study skills?  What does Camille do to help students with writing? When someone is pursuing a highly competitive field, how does Camille work with them?  Resources & Honorable Mentions: Quote: “There is nothing wrong with changing your mind.” - Camille Roney Quote: “Wait, our self-worth isn’t determined by how much we get done?” - Eric Book: Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens

Join ADHD reWired's award winning, online, video-based Coaching & Accountability Groups at  This is your last chance to join our fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching & Accountability Groups - also known as ARC - beginning on September 29th and 30th, through to December 8th and 9th of 2022.  Our final registration event for our fall season is on Tuesday, September 20th at 12pm Pacific / 3pm Eastern.   Go to  to get your name added to our coaching group interest list and join the coaching community built for adults with ADHD by adults with ADHD! You can do hard things, and you don't have to do them alone! 

Join the ADHD reWired Team every second Tuesday of the month for our monthly Live Q&A!   You’ll hear strategies for communicating the challenges of ADHD to partners and families, ways to discuss invisible disabilities and other mental health challenges with others, resources for folks who don’t have access to healthcare, and three assumptions that can help reframe how we are in our relationships. Then, you’ll hear techniques about learning and retaining information, ways that parents can help an adult child who is transitioning from graduating college to moving out into the world, and the importance of encouragement.  The panelists also talk about imposter syndrome, compassionate ass-kicking, that failure is not terminal, and how to support someone to get started on something tough.  Finally, you will hear the gold standard of diagnoses, comorbidities, and the importance of not getting wrapped up in a diagnosis. Some of the Questions & Topics in this Episode: How do I help my spouse learn about ADHD?  He is skeptical of the condition.  Could ADHD coaching be helpful for couples where one person has ADHD, and the other is neurotypical?  In the scenario where you come from a background where the concept of mental illness or ADHD is not necessarily “accepted”, how do you explain the guardrails or things that may be helpful for a child with ADHD to those who think, “Everyone is a little bit ADHD”?  People I know don’t have access to healthcare, medical support, or therapy.  But, I don’t know what to tell them when they’re struggling and don’t have access to the above.  Do you have any advice?  What can I do to manage my ADHD symptoms when I don’t have access to healthcare?  Do you have any tips, tricks, tools or techniques so I can actually retain information so that I’m learning it? It’s already stuff I know, but I feel like I am just reviewing stuff and I don’t actually get anywhere. As a mother of a recent college graduate who does not want to treat his ADHD, he doesn’t want help from us and is overwhelmed about his future, and it’s hard to sit back and not do anything for him.   I have been treated for ADHD since I found out 20 years ago, but now, neuro health says I have no ADHD and “1000% aspergers.”  I am confused and immobilized.  Resources & Honorable Mentions: Quote: “Everyone is doing the best they can, everyone has good intentions, and everyone wants to do well and please the people around them.” - Podcast: on ADHD Essentials with Brendan Mahan YouTube: with Jessica McCabe   YouTube Playlist:   Website: Website: - Children and Adults with ADHD Website: - Centre for ADHD Awareness, Canada Bonus:  Last month, a listener asked if there were grants available to cover potential business expenses, specifically for ADHD.  Here are some resources they shared (Thank you Lili!)   Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens  

In this episode, Eric is joined by Allison Lieberman, a licensed marriage and family therapist, is certified in postpartum mental health, and is a new-mom coach!  She is the host of Pod and helps new moms find peace and balance in their chaotic lives. You’ll hear Allison share when she was diagnosed with ADHD, how her diagnosis impacted her practice and her life as a mom, how she struggled with postpartum anxiety after having her first child, the dangers of glorifying worrying as a parent, the personal narratives that arise as a parent, and Allison’s mission to bring light to postpartum anxiety.   Then, Eric and Allison dive into the work she does to educate new moms, the things that Allison has been learning with postpartum in the realm of ADHD, her experience with overstimulation and sensory processing, and the effects of stress, and differentiating between trauma and ADHD.  Finally, you’ll hear why Allison started her podcast, medical gaslighting, and how journaling can help through the process.  Connect with Allison:  Instagram: Facebook:   Podcast:   Other Questions & Topics in this Episode: What is the difference between postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety? What about the similarities?  Is postpartum anxiety a part of the DSM?  What is postpartum mental health?  ADHD medication during pregnancy: Yes or no?  What is a reproductive psychiatrist?  If someone is thinking about getting pregnant, what are some of the things they can go to their doctors with when it comes to medication?  How does Allison differentiate between symptoms of trauma vs. ADHD for new moms?  What has Allison found to be most helpful for clients who have ADHD during this phase of life? What kinds of tools or other supports can Allison recommend for new parents?  Resources: Tool: Accessory:   Book: Book:    Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens  

Join ADHD reWired's award winning, online, video-based Coaching & Accountability Groups at Our fall season of ADHD reWired's Coaching & Accountability Groups - also known as ARC - begin on September 29th and 30th, through to December 8th and 9th of 2022.  Go to to get your name added to our coaching group interest list and join the coaching community built for adults with ADHD by adults with ADHD! You can do hard things, and you don't have to do them alone! 

In this episode, Rick Webster returns to the show! Rick has expertise in real-estate, entrepreneurship, and ADHD!  He has managed many domains in the financial and real-estate world, and in the last couple of years, he’s put his focus in helping people with ADHD make better peace and better “cents” of their finances.  As CEO of Rena-Fi, Rick brings perspective, vision, and passion to an area of life he considers foundational: Personal Money Management.  His motto has always been, “It’s not just business; it’s personal.” Eric and Rick share stories about paying the ADHD tax and its larger umbrella, the effects of chronic long-term stress, ways to change self-talk and self-identity to get things done, challenges we may encounter when developing financial habits, the shame we can feel when working on our finances, and forgiving ourselves.  Then, Eric and Rick talk about behavioral finance, why money management isn’t just about willpower, the impact of looking upstream, creating reminders and cues, and saying “no” to improve performance.  Finally, you’ll hear Eric and Rick talk about maintenance costs, other costs of homeownership, planning for upcoming maintenance, and the three primary reasons why the ADHD tax continues to happen. Learn More about Rick Webster at   Other ADHD-tax stories shared on this episode: “I have paid the ADHD tax so many times. I’d love some recommendations on extremely simple/easy budgeting tools.  A lot of budgeting books have too many steps.”  “I always do my taxes at the last possible minute and don’t know if I do them right, and I always owe a lot.”  “Didn’t pay a speeding ticket, license was suspended.  Pulled over again - arrested driving with a suspended license.  Then, I paid much more than the original speeding ticket for a lawyer, speeding tickets, and additional charges for reinstating my license.  “I pay the ADHD tax every day.  Paying late-fees, re-buying things I can’t find, spending impulsively, paying for things I’m not using because I didn’t cancel them or forgot to return them in time, expedited shipping because I didn’t order something on-time, ordering take-out because I wasn’t organized enough to have dinner ready, etc.  How can I be triggered to think things through at an early enough time that I can follow through in a way that lets me avoid the ADHD tax?”  “I’ve paid the ADHD tax on rush-orders. I’ve paid more on expensive repairs to my vehicles/yard equipment/house appliances, instead of the regular preventative maintenance that would’ve prevented the damage in the first place.  I have paid out-of-pocket costs for my meds because my insurance lapsed or I never sent in the reimbursement forms for what would be covered if I do the extra steps.  How do I know what the preventative maintenance tasks are on my big or expensive things (often appliances)? I feel like I “should” do many of them myself.  Would I be paying an ADHD tax by paying people to come do some of these easier tasks for my appliances because they at least know and will at least call me when they are due?” Hear Rick Webster on !  Check out the Other Podcasts on the ADHD reWired Podcast Network: with Brendan Mahan with Will Curb with MJ Siemens