The ADHD Skills Lab

<p>Navigate each day in an ADHD-friendly way – with research-backed strategies, real-life experiences and expert advice. Each week, UO founder Skye Waterson chats with expert guests, reviews the latest ADHD research, takes your questions and offers practical support to help you move past whatever may be holding you back. <br /><br />Skye Waterson is a former academic turned coach, podcast host, and founder of an international ADHD support service, Unconventional Organisation. After getting a surprise ADHD diagnosis in the first year of her PhD, Skye turned her struggles into research-based strategies. She researched and wrote over 50 articles with a combined readership of 250,000+ and then began her next phase of disseminating these strategies around the world. <br /><br />After being invited to share her strategies with the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) in 2022, Skye has supported late-diagnosed healthcare professionals, professors, lawyers, reporters, fortune 500 directors, and entrepreneurs. She crafted her vision for Unconventional Organisation after realizing how few personalized ADHD strategies were available for adults following her diagnosis.<br /><br /></p>

ADHD Alchemy: Turning Distraction Into Award-Winning Success

Dr. Jacquelyne Read, a chemistry professor and ADHD trailblazer, joins Skye to reveal how she transformed her postdoc struggles into a tenure-track triumph and a top publication award. Discover the actionable systems like breaking down overwhelming tasks and mastering prioritization that helped her thrive in academia's high-pressure world. Perfect for ADHD executives and founders looking to turn their big ideas into real results. P.S. If you feel like the bottleneck in your business and...

09-22
42:06

Research Recap with William Curb - Why ADHD Is Still Missed in Women: The Swedish Study That Proves It

Why are women still diagnosed with ADHD years later than men? Welcome to the next episode in our Research Recaps series, co-hosted with William Curb from Hacking Your ADHD. In this episode, Skye and Will unpack one of the largest ADHD studies ever conducted, looking at more than 85,000 people in Sweden. The results show women are still being diagnosed almost four years later than men, with serious consequences for mental health and access to support. What we cover: Why Swedish women are diagn...

09-15
20:52

Research Recap with William Curb: ADHD & Hot and Cold Executive Function

Why can you plan your day perfectly, then forget everything the second something stressful happens? Welcome to the next episode in our Research Recaps series, co-hosted with William Curb from Hacking Your ADHD. In this episode, Skye and Will explore the science behind hot and cold executive functions, and what they mean for how ADHD brains make decisions, remember tasks, and stay calm under pressure. We also break down a fascinating (but early-stage) study using brain stimulation to improve e...

09-05
17:08

Precision Systems for ADHD Founders: Chaos, Metrics, and Million-Dollar Growth

In this episode, Skye is joined by Matt Verlaque, SaaS founder, entrepreneur, and author, to unpack how to scale a business when your brain is wired for big ideas and fast starts, but struggles with structure. From leading startups to building founder-focused systems, Matt shares the powerful rhythms, habits, and metrics that have helped hundreds of founders go from feeling overwhelmed to fully in control of their businesses. What we cover: The 5 numbers every ADHD founder actually needs to t...

08-25
48:28

Research Recap with William Curb: ADHD and the Default Mode Network

Ever zone out in a meeting and wonder where your brain went? That might be your default mode network. And for people with ADHD, it doesn't always switch off when it should. Welcome to the first episode in our new Research Recaps series, co-hosted with William Curb from Hacking Your ADHD. In this series, we’re teaming up to break down recent ADHD studies and translate what the research actually means for your life, your work, and your brain. No jargon. No hype. Just real insight you can use. T...

08-15
16:25

The ADHD Guide to Delegating - Why You Can’t Let Go (and How to Fix It)

Think you're just bad at delegating? You’re not. ADHD makes it harder to translate thoughts into steps, hand things off, and feel safe letting go. If you’ve got a team (or want one), this is your ADHD-friendly shortcut to working less and scaling more. Skye takes you inside a real coaching breakdown of her 5-step delegation system—the same one she teaches founders who are too busy, too burned out, or too overwhelmed to explain what needs to be done. What we cover: Why delegation feels emotion...

08-11
15:27

ADHD and the CEO Mindset: Systems, Self-Care, and Letting Go

Most ADHD entrepreneurs build their success on hustle—until the cracks show. In this episode, Skye talks with Dr. John Torrens, professor, founder, and author of Lightning in a Bottle, about how he built (and sold) multiple companies by learning to delegate, prioritize self-care, and manage his ADHD brain. What we cover: Why ADHD founders struggle to let go of control (and how to fix it)The surprising link between hyperactivity and entrepreneurial successHow John avoids burnout while running ...

07-28
34:36

The ADHD Entrepreneur’s Guide to Profit (Without the Spreadsheet Spiral)

ADHD entrepreneurs are smart, capable - and often pricing themselves into burnout. In this episode, Skye interviews Marcel Petitpas, CEO of Parakeeto and the guy behind the numbers for hundreds of agencies. They dig into why most service businesses struggle with profit (it’s not what you think), and how to finally price for sustainability. What we cover: The ADHD-friendly way to figure out what your services should costThe 3 key numbers you need to track (and how to figure them out)How to fut...

07-14
32:48

Why You Always Underestimate Time (Even When You Swear You Won’t)

Think something will take 15 minutes? Bet it takes 45. You’re not lazy - you’ve got ADHD. And you’re probably struggling with time blindness. In this episode, Skye and Sarah dive deep into three new studies on ADHD and time perception, breaking down the science, the symptoms, and the sneaky ways time blindness sabotages even high performers. What we cover: The 3 time-based skills your brain may be missingTime blindness vs. working memory—what’s the real issue?The surprising benefit of visual ...

06-30
33:56

I Walked Away From $48K and a PhD: My ADHD Origin Story

Before Unconventional Organisation, before the coaching, before the 82K followers - there was burnout, academic pivots, and a year spent working in a bakery just to recover. This is the story Skye's never told. In this episode, dating coach, fellow founder, and friend Kavita interviews Skye about what really led to the creation of Unconventional Organisation. From side gigs to business models, academic accolades to real-world impact - this is the story behind the strategy. What we cover: What...

06-16
44:23

Your ADHD Toolkit Is Missing Something: Meet the Vagus Nerve

You’ve got strategies and systems, but you still feel like your brain is always “on.” You might be overlooking your nervous system. This episode introduces a fast-rising body of ADHD research around polyvagal theory and nervous system regulation. We’re breaking down the science, the controversy, and why this might be the next frontier in ADHD support. In this episode: Why breathing wrong could be keeping you stuckWhat the autonomic nervous system has to do with procrastination, burnout, and...

06-02
31:42

Adrenaline Isn’t a Business Strategy: The ADHD Growth System That Lasts

You can scale a business on sheer force... for a while. But eventually, ADHD founders burn out, blow up, or walk away. This episode is your map out of the cycle. Skye shares the behind-the-scenes process she used to stop relying on urgency, reduce decision fatigue, and build a company that doesn’t fall apart the moment she takes a break. What we cover: The ADHD entrepreneur trap no one warns you aboutWhy most productivity advice makes things worseHow to use SOPs (without hating your life)The ...

05-26
16:50

Here’s the ADHD-Friendly Way to Get Seen (and Stay Sane). Let's Talk Personal Brand!

Your personal brand exists—even if you haven’t posted in six months. So the question isn’t “should I build a brand?” It’s: “Are you in control of it?” Amy Landino joins Skye to unpack what branding actually means for ADHD entrepreneurs and professionals and why your fear of being cringe is costing you visibility, leads, and growth. Inside this episode: What to post when you feel like you're only talking to your friends and familyThe difference between building a brand vs. chasing dopamineWh...

05-19
34:57

The 2-Minute Fix for ADHD Overwhelm (That Might Save You $10K)

Click the link to download your own 2-minute Focus Formula https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com/the-adhd-focus-filter You’re not behind because you’re bad at time management. You’re behind because you’re managing the wrong things. Skye here! In this mini solo episode, I walk you through my 2-minute focus formula, the same one I've used to help ADHD founders reclaim hours of their week and thousands in lost revenue. Here’s what you’ll learn: How to break the habit of chasing dopamine in...

05-15
10:41

Is Your Job Burning You Out or Just Built Wrong for ADHD?

Burnout isn’t always a personal failure—it’s often a mismatch between your brain and your work environment. Skye and in-house researcher Taylor break down three eye-opening studies that explain why ADHD brains struggle in traditional workplaces—and what actually works better. Spoiler: the research also found ADHD might be a secret strength for entrepreneurs. This episode covers: The top causes of ADHD-related burnout (backed by science)Practical changes workplaces can make (and how to ask for...

05-05
30:02

From Burnout to Boss: ADHD Strategies to Stop Imploding Your Career Every 2 Years

Ever feel like your brain is the only thing getting in the way of your success? Like you could lead a $200M rebrand if you could just finish that one damn task in front of you? In this episode, Devlin Croal, marketing strategist, systems builder, and Unconventional Organisation client, shares what it’s actually like to scale your career while navigating ADHD. We talk burnout, executive function, AI as an assistant (not a distraction), and how he finally found a system that works. What we co...

04-21
41:51

Why You Snap at 3pm: The ADHD Sensory Overload You Didn’t See Coming

You're not imagining it. The reason you feel like the world is “too much” by the afternoon might have as much for do with your nervous system as your to-do list. In this episode, we break down two original studies showing how ADHD adults process light, sound, and touch differently—and why your brain might not even realize it’s overwhelmed until it’s too late. What we cover: The study that literally zapped people’s arms to test tactile sensitivity (yes, really)Why ADHD brains skip the “heads...

04-07
23:35

ADHD in the Workplace: How to Get Promoted Without Burning Out

If you’ve ever thought, I work so hard—why am I not getting ahead? or How do I actually position myself for a promotion without working myself into the ground?—this episode is for you. Skye sits down with career strategist and late-diagnosed ADHDer Kendall Berg to break down what it really takes to succeed in corporate spaces with ADHD. We’re pulling apart the real research behind career growth, burnout, and how to make your ADHD strengths work for you. What You’ll Learn: Why “just work har...

03-24
57:49

ADHD Executive Functioning Meltdowns: What the Research Really Says

If task-switching under stress wrecks your day, you’re not alone. Researchers have spent 20+ years studying executive functioning in ADHD, and honestly? Their findings are a bit of a mess. In this episode, we break down a new critical review of the research (and trust me, the we have some thoughts). We’re talking hot executive functioning, emotional overload, and why decision-making goes out the window under stress. What you’ll learn: Why your brain freezes in high-pressure situations (and ...

03-10
27:28

The ADHD Entrepreneur’s Guide to Grit: Lessons from a Muay Thai Champion

Ever feel like ADHD makes life a never-ending uphill battle? Meet Sean Shubert—former Muay Thai champion turned resilience coach—who went from juggling chaos to mastering focus. In this episode, we talk about: Sean’s ADHD Journey: From childhood struggles to becoming a Muay Thai champion and resilience coach.Breaking the ADHD Guilt Cycle: How to stop feeling “lazy” and start using your brain’s strengths.Sean shares his #1 strategy for turning ADHD frustration into focused action P.S. If you ...

02-24
38:36

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