The holiday season is supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year”… but if you’re an adult with ADHD, it can also be one of the most overwhelming. Between the extra social events, the pressure to buy gifts, the spending, the sensory overwhelm, the family dynamics, and the time-crunch at work - your ADHD symptoms might feel louder than ever. In this episode, we’re talking about how to survive (and maybe even enjoy) the holidays without burning out, going broke or abandoning y...
Today we’re shining a big bright neon light on the strengths, advantages & downright magical things ADHDers bring to the table. Inside this episode, we get into the real-life ways ADHD brains excel, including: ✨ Crisis Brilliance - why we become geniuses the moment things go sideways (wait until you hear my first-day-as-manager story 🙃) ✨ Instant Encyclopaedia Mode - how we can go from “never heard of it” to “expert in 48 hours” (Madagascar, submarines… you’ll see) ✨ Pattern Recog...
If you’ve ever bought a new planner, downloaded a productivity app, colour-coded a calendar, or told yourself “THIS time I’ll get my sh*t together”… only to burn out, fall off, or forget it exists. Then this episode is for you! Because the truth is this: You don’t need a perfect system.You don’t need more willpower.You don’t need to become a different person.You just need to understand how to work with your ADHD brain, not against it. In today’s episode, I’m sharing something I normally o...
Have you ever looked at someone wildly successful & thought “There’s no way they have ADHD”? Well my friend, buckle up… because in this episode we’re celebrating 14 big achievers who all have ADHD (some with a little extra neuro-spice too!). Their success isn’t in spite of ADHD - it’s often because of it. From world-class athletes like Simone Biles and Michael Phelps, to powerhouse entrepreneurs like Mel Robbins, Steven Bartlett, Gary Vee &Richard Branson, to creatives and change-...
What would workplaces look like if being different wasn’t something to hide - but something to harness? In this energising and honest conversation, I’m joined by Callum McKirdy, speaker, author, and workplace culture expert, to explore how ADHD and neurodiversity can drive innovation, creativity & connection - when we make it safe for people to show up as themselves. Together, we unpack: What it looks like to harness ADHD in the workplaceHow curiosity & kindness transform conversa...
Do you ever wake up tired, even after a full night’s sleep? In this episode we’re unpacking the 7 types of rest your brain & body actually need and why lying on the couch or binging Netflix never feels truly recharging. You’ll learn: The 7 different types of rest Why ADHD brains resist rest (and what to do about it)The difference between numbing vs restoringHow to sprinkle micro-rests into your day - especially when you’re busy This one’s a gentle permission slip to rest in ways...
Ever felt like you’re pedalling through life twice as hard just to keep up? In this episode, Xena dives into the hormonal storm that is perimenopause and how it collides with ADHD to make everything feel harder. From brain fog and mood swings to meds suddenly feeling “meh,” she breaks down what’s actually happening in your brain and body. You’ll learn: Why your ADHD symptoms might feel worse - and why you’re not failing at life How hormone fluctuations turn emotional wave...
ADHD at work can feel like running a race from 50 metres behind. In this practical, validating convo, I’m joined by employment law specialist & licensed workplace investigator Jaime Rose Peacock. We dig into what you can ask for, when to disclose, & what employers are required to consider - with a New Zealand law lens that’s helpful anywhere. We cover: Reasonable accommodations that actually help How accommodations are about unlocking productivity, not lower standards.When to d...
Ever stared at a task so overwhelming you’d rather clean the oven or pull weeds than even look at it? In this episode, I’m sharing how I used ChatGPT to go from frozen in overwhelm to finally taking action and how you can use AI tools to make ADHD life easier too. We’ll talk about why AI is such a powerful support for ADHD brains (hello executive function struggles!), how it can help reduce cognitive overload and the simple ways it can lighten your daily mental load. You’ll also l...
Ever yelled at your kids, slammed a door, or bought something you regretted… and then thought, “Why do I keep doing this?” Today we’re tackling one of the most common questions I get asked: “How do I stop myself from reacting to my emotions?” In this episode we’ll talk about: Why stopping reactions altogether isn’t realistic (because hi, you’re human)The sneaky layer that makes emotional reactions feel so much worseWhy we need to take the morality right out of itHow to learn from the “smo...
This is the “fly-on-the-wall” chat Matt & I had after we wrapped up Episode 133. We’d just finished recording but the conversation kept flowing - so we hit record again! In this bonus episode you’ll hear an unfiltered, behind-the-scenes look at how Matt gamifies fitness & builds “practices”. We also riff on ADHD, dopamine, chin-ups, Demi Moore in GI Jane and why life feels better when you treat it like a game. If you loved Episode #133, this is the deeper, more candid follow-up ...
What happens when a lifetime of struggle suddenly makes sense at age 40? In this episode, I sit down with Matt - the first male ADHDer on the podcast - to talk about his late ADHD diagnosis and the powerful ways he’s turned it into "his edge". From international indoor cricket to gamifying everyday life, Matt shares openly about the highs and lows of navigating ADHD. We dive into: How sport both masked and supported his ADHD for decadesThe moment of diagnosis that connected all the ...
Do you ever feel like money brings up nothing but shame, stress, or avoidance? You’re not alone! Grab your free download from this episode so you can start applying this right away. This is the third part of my ADHD & Money series, and today we’re diving into the juicy stuff - money mindset. Because no matter what systems or strategies we set up, if shame is running the show, we’ll keep hiding from our finances. In this episode, I share the mindset shifts that helped me pay off thou...
*Grab your free download with every step from today’s episode* Do you ever wish you could make more money, keep more of it and actually feel good about it - without forcing yourself into boring spreadsheets or restrictive budgets that never last? You’re in the right place, my friend. In part 1 of this series, we talked about why money is harder for ADHDers - impulse spending, dopamine-driven purchases and the shame spiral that often follows. Today in part 2, we’re flipping the script and fo...
If you’ve ever felt guilty, ashamed, or overwhelmed about money - you are not alone, my friend. In fact, you’re in very good company. Research shows that adults with ADHD are far more likely to struggle with finances: we impulse buy, overspend, miss bills, carry debt, and feel constant money-related anxiety. But here’s the thing - none of this is about laziness or being “bad with money.” In this episode, I’m sharing openly about my own messy history with money - the guilt, the debt,...
I’m still riding the dopamine high from the 2025 New Zealand ADHD Conference in Auckland - and in this episode, I’m bringing you along with me. From funny ADHD moments (hello, jumpsuit tag & oversharing in the bathroom line) to powerful speaker insights, I’m sharing the best takeaways, stories and reminders that every ADHDer needs to hear. Inside this episode: Why small talk sucks (and why oversharing connects us)The fascinating ADHD strength of sublimation and how we turn big emotion...
ADHD meds aren’t just about focus - new research shows they may actually save lives. In this episode, I’m breaking down two powerful 2025 studies: one from Sweden showing that ADHD medication lowers the risks of suicide, accidents, substance misuse, and even criminal convictions… and another from the UK revealing that adults with ADHD are living 7–9 years less than their peers. We’ll talk about: What the Swedish study found (in plain English!)How this connects to ADHD’s life expectancy ga...
Ever feel like your emotions are stuck on full blast… and the remote’s gone missing? Yeah, me too! In this episode of Navigating Adult ADHD, I’m diving into six ways emotional dysregulation can show up in adult life, from going from 0–100 in seconds to struggling to calm down long after the moment has passed. We’ll explore: What emotional regulation actually is (and how it’s like having a remote control for your feelings)Why emotional dysregulation is such a core ADHD challengeReal-life e...
Earlier this week whilst in another country, I was 100% convinced I was about to die in a tsunami. My ADHD brain had already planned the escape route, packed the bags, and decided it was all over. That’s the sneaky power of all-or-nothing thinking - one of ADHD’s favourite mental habits. In this episode, we’ll cover: Why ADHD brains default to extremes and struggle to see the middle groundReal-life examples of how black-and-white thinking shows up in daily lifeThe link between your though...
Did you know iron levels play a HUGE role in dopamine & serotonin production (2 things ADHD brains already have less of)? And that low iron can mimic or worsen your ADHD symptoms? And studies show that people with ADHD are more likely to have lower iron levels!!! In today’s episode, we’re diving into a topic I wish more ADHDers knew about: Iron & ADHD. Here’s what we’re covering: Why iron is essential for ADHD brainsWhat low iron presents like & how it overlaps ADHD sy...