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ADHD Beyond The Label

Author: Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds

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Is ADHD a roadblock to success, or could it be a hidden superpower in business and life?


ADHD is often misunderstood, reduced to stereotypes of inattention and distraction. Yet, some of the world’s most successful business leaders and creatives have been diagnosed with the condition.

In this insightful series, Dr. Phil Anderton and John Reynolds challenge common misconceptions, speaking with high achievers from business and media about their real-life experiences with ADHD.
28 Episodes
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This week on Beyond the Label we’re joined by Paul Hughes - former UK military special operator, forensic consultant, and TV personality who’s turned challenges like ADHD, dyslexia, and a speech impediment into his greatest strengths.Paul mastered Russian, Arabic, and Pashto, served across the Middle East, North Africa, and Afghanistan, and even worked with the United Nations in Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s era. You may also recognise him from Channel 4’s Hunted, where he featured as the “criminal mastermind.”Now a motivational speaker and forensic expert, Paul inspires others with a simple but powerful message for the next generation:“What would you do if you couldn’t fail? What could you achieve?”In this week’s episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Paul joins Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds for an unmissable conversation about resilience, identity, and unlocking human potential.
Are we talking ADHD down - or bigging it up? Our guest this week says: big it up.Before her own diagnosis, Claire - host of All Aboard ADHD - felt alone and "failing". Now she's built a 40k+ parent community and a message that's hard to ignore; support + challenge = resilience, and interest-led learning beats punishment.- Turning loneliness & shame into community- Interest as the ignition key for an ADHD brain- Protecting self-esteem at school (and at home)This conversation dives into parenting ADHD in the UK - practical strategies, why schools must change, and what happens when we meet kids where they are.In this week's episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Claire joins Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds for an honest, empowering chat about raising differently wired kids - and building resilience for the long run.
This week on Beyond the Label we're joined by Darcus Beese OBE - trailblazing music executive, former President of Island Records, and the force behind artists including Amy Winehouse, Jessie J, and The Killers.From growing up in 1970s West London to shaping global music culture, Darcus shares his late ADHD diagnosis, the pivotal role it played in his life, and the lessons he's carrying forward. Together we explore:Why ADHD in the arts is more common than you might thinkHow fight-or-flight instincts shaped his resilience and creativityThe highs and hardships of working with world-famous artistsWhy understanding mental health in the music industry is long overdueIn this week's episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Darcus joins Phil Anderton and John Reynolds for an inspiring, unfiltered conversation about creativity, survival, and redefining success.
In this week's episode content creator, presenter and professional driver Emma Walsh opens up on her recent ADHD diagnosis.Explaining how finally having the confirmation has allowed her to piece together parts of her life that have previously left her feeling as though she was broken, or that there was something wrong with her.Born in Cape Town to famous parents, Emma was always active, whether that be dancing, singing or playing the piano. This helped in her formative years to distract from the symptoms of her ADHD, something she went on to find more difficult in next period of her life.Emma talks about building phenomenal resilience and how when working as part of a pop group, on a stage show or auditioning for a character role, rejection sensitivity played less of a part, but when she transitioned into presenting and content creation, the rejection she faced had a bigger impact on her as it felt personal.Join John Reynolds and Dr Phil Anderton to hear Emma's story in full where she talks about being misdiagnosed with anti-depressants, overthinking, perfectionism, frustration and much more.
This week on Beyond the Label we're joined by Holly Matthews - actress, author, founder of The Happy Me Project, and someone who has turned unimaginable grief into a mission of hope, resilience, and authenticity.From navigating rejection in acting to processing the loss of her husband, Holly shares how creativity, self-development, and a late ADHD diagnosis have shaped her journey. Together we explore:Why creating (not consuming) can be a lifeline in tough timesHow masking shaped her early career - and what unmasking really looked likeThe reality of rejection sensitivity and emotional resilience with ADHDBuilding The Happy Me Project from the depths of grief into a movement helping thousandsIn this week's episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Holly joins Phil Anderton and John Reynolds to share her raw, powerful, and full of positivity story. If you've ever felt "too much," struggled with self-belief, or searched for light in dark times - this conversation is for you.
This week on Beyond the Label, we were joined by none other than Heston Blumenthal OBE - the world-renowned chef, innovator, and pioneer of multi-sensory gastronomy. Known for pushing the boundaries of food at his three Michelin-starred restaurant The Fat Duck, Heston has redefined how we experience flavour, memory, and emotion through food.But behind the culinary genius is also a story of neurodivergence. Diagnosed with ADHD in 2017, Heston opened up to us about how his busy mind, boundless creativity, and ability to "fall down rabbit holes" shaped his career and inspired some of his most daring dishes - from crab ice cream to The Sound of the Sea.We spoke about:The link between ADHD and creativity in the kitchenHis childhood school reports that simply read "can do better”How he translated French cookbooks as a teenager and discovered food science through curiosityWhy the way we perceive food can change the way it tastesHis openness about ADHD and bipolar diagnoses - and the importance of raising awareness to remove shameAs Heston put it, the brain is "a very busy thing" - and learning about ADHD helped him understand not just his challenges, but also the unique strengths that fuelled his career.In this week's episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Heston joins Phil Anderton and John Reynolds to share his journey, from misplaced dustpans in fridges to pioneering dishes that changed the way the world thinks about food.
From an art-school project at 50 to one of the UK's fastest-growing beauty brands, meet Maxine Laceby, CEO and co-founder of Absolute Collagen.This week on ADHD Beyond the Label, Maxine Laceby joins hosts Phil Anderton and John Reynolds to share how a kitchen-table experiment became Absolute Collagen, the award-winning marine collagen brand founded by women, for women.Maxine shares how her ADHD has been both a challenge and a driving force:Impulsivity that pushed her to take bold, game-changing risksHyperfocus that fuelled her relentless drive for growthResilience built through a turbulent childhoodTogether, they unpack the lessons of entrepreneurship, the link between ADHD and creativity, and what it truly takes to embrace being different, in life, in business, and in yourself.
Founder of Killing Kittens. Mother of three. Diagnosed with ADHD 16 years ago.This week on ADHD Beyond the Label, Emma Sayle joins hosts Phil Anderton and John Reynolds for a fearless conversation about what happens when you stop asking for permission and start building the world you want to live in.Emma shares the real story behind her global sex-positive movement. Not built on controversy, but on injustice. She talks about the ADHD traits that have shaped her journey, from impulsivity and emotional intensity to her refusal to sit quietly when something feels wrong.Together they explore the collision of motherhood, perimenopause and executive dysfunction. Emma speaks candidly about burnout, boundary setting, and what it really takes to lead when your mind won't slow down.
In this week's episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, co-host John Reynolds steps into the guest seat to reflect on his own ADHD diagnosis.ADHD360 CEO, Phil Anderton leads the discussion, exploring the disconnect between how ADHD presents externally and how it's experienced day to day. John shares how someone can appear focused, capable, and in control, while privately relying on strategies just to keep things functioning.Together, they unpack the subtle ways ADHD presents in adults who've learned to over-function.
In episode 19 of ADHD Beyond the Label, Sarah Ann Macklin joins Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds for a conversation about self-awareness, masking, and what it means to finally have language for something you've felt your whole life.Sarah shares how ADHD shaped her success in ways she didn't recognise at the time - how perfectionism, burnout, and constant overthinking became normal.She speaks honestly about the years she spent pushing herself hard, while quietly assuming she just needed to try harder or be better.
In this week's episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Ella Fielding shares what it meant to go undiagnosed for most of her life and how understanding her brain reshaped her identity, her creativity, and her story.Known for her appearance on The Woodland Workshop (Discovery+ / Quest), Ella is one of the UK's few professional female chainsaw carvers. Her conversation with Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds explores masking, late diagnosis, and the connection between neurodivergence and creative work.
In this episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Dr Phil Anderton & John Reynolds talk with the founder of well known British fashion brand, AllSaints.
What if you spent your whole life feeling completely alone?That was Kit Birks' reality, until she discovered the truth behind years of struggle, exhaustion, and feeling out of place.After decades of battling internal chaos, feeling isolated, and suppressing her creativity just to "function," Kit received a life-changing ADHD diagnosis.Suddenly, it all made sense.Now she's using her voice and her feet to make sure no one else suffers in silence.Kit is the force behind Stride Beyond Silence, an extraordinary journey to walk the length of Europe, from Nordkapp, Norway, to Gavdos Island, Greece, raising awareness for mental health and giving a voice to those who feel unseen.In Episode 16 of ADHD Beyond the Label, Kit opens up to Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds about the weight of feeling misunderstood, the emotional release that came with diagnosis, and how she's turning years of pain into something meaningful.If you've ever felt unheard, misunderstood, or misjudged, this episode is for you.
Episode 15 of ADHD Beyond the Label features Nicole Grunewald Brydie who many will recognise from Love Is Blind UK. Hosted by ADHD 360 CEO Dr Phil Anderton, alongside co-host John Reynolds, the series continues to share real stories that challenge how ADHD is seen and understood.In this episode, Nicole talks openly about growing up without answers, facing stigma within her own family, and the clarity that came with being diagnosed as an adult. It's a conversation about identity, courage, and what it means to finally feel understood.
This episode of ADHD Beyond the Label features Alex Partridge, founder of UniLad and LADBible, and host of ADHD Chatter, where he speaks with experts, psychiatrists and public figures about the many sides of ADHD.Alex was diagnosed with ADHD at 34. By that point, he had built two of the UK's biggest media brands, but still didn't feel settled in himself.In this conversation, he speaks with ADHD 360 CEO, Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds about the version of success people saw, and the quieter struggles they didn't. About years spent shape-shifting to fit in, chasing validation, and questioning why none of it ever felt quite right.It's not a story of overcoming. It's a story of understanding. And how the right diagnosis can completely reframe the way we see ourselves, both past and present.
Marisa Poster is a Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, GBEA Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and co-founder of PerfectTed.Diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager, she turned to matcha as a replacement for coffee.When she moved to the UK and couldn't find it anywhere, she built the solution herself. Today, PerfectTed is Europe's largest matcha brand and the second biggest importer of matcha globally after Starbucks.In this episode, she joins ADHD 360 CEO Dr Phil Anderton and co-host John Reynolds to talk about what ADHD really looks like in the workplace. From masking to momentum, systems to self-awareness, Marisa shares how her diagnosis became the framework for how she leads.This is not a story about overcoming a challenge. It is a reframing of what ADHD can offer when it is understood, supported and allowed to thrive.
Francesca James is the founder of the Great British Entrepreneurs Award and Ideas fest. She's built a career around championing entrepreneurs and creating space for bold ideas.Just four days after receiving her ADHD diagnosis, she joined Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds in Episode of 12 of ADHD Beyond the Label to explore how long-standing traits behind her success are finally starting to make sense.Hyperfocus. Avoidance. Emotional intensity. The obsession with new ideas... and the GoDaddy graveyard to prove it.Together, they explore why ADHD is so common among entrepreneurs, and what changes when you finally understand your wiring.
"I went from company superstar. Nice house, the car, the girlfriend. My life went from hero to absolute zero."In this episode, Adam Smith - mindset coach and co-founder of A-Game - joins Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds for a conversation about ADHD, identity, and what happens when you lose everything you've built.This isn't a story about fixing everything overnight. It's about learning to take responsibility, rebuilding with honesty, and understanding the impact of ADHD when it goes unseen for too long.
In Episode 10, Nick Hollis shares how ADHD drove him to push harder, perform better, and suffer quietly - all without knowing why. From scaling the Seven Summits to rowing the Atlantic, he masked the chaos in his mind with physical challenge and control.Archie Read opens up about being diagnosed at 16, avoiding A-levels out of fear, and hiding behind high performance while battling low confidence. He talks about workplace pressure, masking, and learning to rebuild self-esteem post-diagnosis.
How do you build a global creative career without ever slowing down - and only later discover you've been living with ADHD all along?In this weeks episode of ADHD Beyond the Label, Dr Phil Anderton and John Reynolds talk to Simon Morris, the founder of LoveFilm, a company he sold to Amazon in 2011 before subsequently being appointed as the first Chief Creative Office of Amazon globally.In this programme Simon opens up about his journey from advertising to Amazon, the addictive patterns that nearly derailed him, and the diagnosis that finally brought it all into focus.For years, what others saw as ambition was actually something ADHD had been driving all along. This week's conversation explores the pressure to perform, the danger of being misunderstood, and the hidden power of a restless mind.
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