Attention Different | Adulting with ADHD
By: Attention Different LLC
Language: en
Categories: Health, Fitness, Mental, Education, Self Improvement
Attention Different is an ADHD podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiversity. We aim to de-stigmatize the condition and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. As a group of storytellers, filmmakers, and ADHD coaching professionals, we are invested in promoting diverse voices in our community and creating resources for adult ADHDers.
Episodes
Make 2026 the Year of *Process* — not Goals
Jan 08, 2026Why do New Year’s resolutions fall apart so fast for ADHD brains?
What if the problem isn’t motivation, but how we define success?
In this Attention Different roundtable, Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith, and Devin Pitts-Rogers get honest about goals, follow-through, and why “trying harder” rarely works for neurodivergent adults.
This wide-ranging, candid conversation digs underneath surface-level habits and into what actually drives consistency: values, identity-based goals, energy management, and focusing on process over outcomes. From abandoned language apps and inconsistent gym routines to bass lessons, injuries, and unrealistic expectations, the group explores...
Duration: 01:19:02Resolutions, Routines & Relapse Part 2 | Firesides Ep. 10
Dec 30, 2025🧠 This is the part where habits get real.
Part Two of the Winter Park Fireside Chats goes beyond setting intentions and dives into the hardest ADHD question of all:
What actually has to change for this to stick?
Around the fire, we talk openly about:
Habits that quietly turned self-destructiveRelapse and why it doesn’t mean failureSobriety, substances, and self-compassionWhy consistency is hard… and persistence matters moreHow boundaries (with phones, people, and ourselves) protect energyLetting go of shame without letting go of accountabilityThis episode is all about resetting without spiraling, noticin...
Duration: 01:18:40Resolutions, Routines & Relapse Part 1 | Firesides Ep. 09
Dec 23, 2025🔥 New Year. Old Patterns. Real ADHD Conversations.
Part 1 of the Winter Park Fireside Chats brings everyday ADHD adults together, in the mountains and without scripts or shame, to talk about what actually happens after the New Year starts.
We dig into:
Why resolutions fall apartHow burnout sneaks inThe difference between outcome goals and process goalsWhy accountability matters more than motivationAnd how ADHD brains need energy management, not just time managementThis isn’t a “New Year, New You” pep talk, it’s a grounded, honest conversation about resetting without self-punishment, building routines that recharge yo...
Duration: 01:01:58Work Through Your List, Don’t Just Make One with Llama Life’s Marie Ng
Dec 18, 2025💡 What happens when you build a tool for yourself… and suddenly thousands of ADHDers want it too?
In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, we sit down with Marie Ng — founder of Llama Life, the task management app designed specifically for ADHD brains — to explore her journey from corporate burnout to self-taught developer to accidental entrepreneur.
Marie shares how she taught herself to code by watching YouTube videos during the 2020 Melbourne lockdown, originally just trying to build something to help herself manage ADHD time blindness, executive dysfunction, and the never-ending cycle of making lists she could...
Duration: 01:15:54Breaking the Most Toxic Pattern in ADHD Relationships w/ Dr. Melissa Orlov
Dec 05, 2025💡 What really happens inside an ADHD relationship, and how do couples break the cycle?
In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, we sit down with Melissa Orlov — leading expert on ADHD-impacted relationships and author of The ADHD Effect on Marriage — to unpack the hidden patterns that shape communication, emotional safety, conflict, and partnership when ADHD is in the mix.
Melissa breaks down the core ADHD relationship cycle: how inconsistent executive functioning, forgetfulness, time blindness, and overwhelm collide with a non-ADHD partner’s anxiety, hyper-responsibility, or fear — creating a painful parent–child dynamic that neither partner wants...
Duration: 01:26:33"Hold On Tightly, Let Go Lightly" w/ Lindsay Quinn Pitre | Firesides Ep. 08
Nov 26, 2025💡 Hold on tightly, let go lightly.
Sometimes the hardest part of ADHD adulting is figuring out which habits help us, and which ones quietly harm us.
In this Fireside Chat, we sit down with Lindsay Pitre—director, producer, twin, and lifelong ADHDer—to explore the New Year tension between resolutions, routines, relapse, and real-life coping. Diagnosed in her teens and now navigating her 30s, Lindsay reflects on the habits she clings to for comfort (like her beloved Diet Coke), the ones she’s learning to release, and the decades-long journey of building real coping mechanisms after yea...
Duration: 00:12:30Late, Not Less: Gamify Your ADHD Life w/ Casey Henderson
Nov 24, 2025💡 Sometimes the most effective way to stay consistent with ADHD is to gamify your routines so progress feels rewarding, not punishing.
In this episode of Late, Not Less, host Devin Pitts-Rogers sits down with Casey Henderson—humanist, autodidact, disabled veteran, and proud ADHD enthusiast—to explore how adults with ADHD can create structure through external systems, gamification, and intentional strategy rather than willpower or shame.
Casey shares how rediscovering his ADHD diagnosis in adulthood reframed everything, from financial planning and energy management to how he sets goals, stays consistent, and navigates chronic pain. Together, they break d...
Duration: 00:58:52"I Have a Habit of Lying to Myself": Self-Care vs. Avoidance w/Sam Pitts-Rogers | Firesides Ep. 07
Nov 14, 2025💡 "I have a habit of lying to myself and telling myself it's self-care."
What if the comfort zone you've built is actually keeping you from the life you want?
In this Fireside Chat, we sit down with Sam—an HR professional at a Big Four consulting firm who was diagnosed with ADHD at 38. She opens up about flying under the radar as a "daydreamer type," the unique ways ADHD shows up in women, and her journey to building the connected, authentic life she's been searching for as she approaches 40.
🌲 Filmed in the Rocky Mountain...
Hate It Less: a Realistic ADHD Productivity Guide with Ari Tuckman
Nov 05, 2025ADHD isn't just about converting intentions into actions—it's about learning to make the conversion easier, more honest, and a whole lot less painful.
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ari Tuckman—psychologist, author of five books (including the brand new ADHD Productivity Manual), international presenter, and longtime friend and colleague. Ari has been a profound thought leader in our ADHD community for over a decade, and this conversation is packed with his trademark wisdom, humor, and actionable strategies.
From managing shame spirals and pre-deciding your way out of temptation, to understanding why "by t...
Duration: 00:51:33ADHD Folks Are Struggling 10x Right Now
Oct 17, 2025💡 Why are so many adults suddenly getting diagnosed with ADHD, and what does it mean for our future?
Today, hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith dive into one of the biggest mental health shifts of our time: the massive rise in adult ADHD diagnoses since the pandemic.
From telehealth loosening restrictions to TikTok stories going viral, from parents realizing their kids’ struggles mirrored their own to women reporting symptoms at historic rates—the numbers are staggering. New adult ADHD diagnoses rose 53.8% between 2019 and 2021, with women seeing an 84% increase, and adults aged 30-45 experiencing a jaw-dropping 91% rise.<...
Duration: 01:01:08Treat the ADHD First! — Co-Occurring Conditions w/ Dr. Roberto Olivardia
Oct 09, 2025💡Is ADHD ultimately good, ultimately bad, or ultimately neither good nor bad, but still largely misunderstood?
In this episode, we are thrilled to visit with Dr. Roberto Olivardia—a clinical psychologist, lecturer at Harvard Medical School, expert on ADHD, dyslexia, and co-occurring conditions, and a dear friend and colleague of ours.
From the challenges of executive dysfunction and procrastination, to the hidden strengths of creativity, imagination, empathy, and hyperfocus, Dr. Olivardia unpacks what it really means to live (and thrive) with ADHD. Always taking education and advocacy that “extra mile,” Olivardia also discusses ADHD as it “cooccur...
Duration: 01:29:1890-Hour Workweeks, Losing $100k & Finding Balance w/Eric Tivers
Sep 30, 2025💡 From Hustle to Burnout and Back Again
What happens when the drive to “do more” collides with ADHD? In this episode, Aaron and Stephen sit down with Eric Tivers, licensed clinical social worker, founder of ADHD Rewired, and host of one of the most successful ADHD podcasts with 500+ episodes.
Eric shares his raw journey from 90-hour work weeks, scaling too fast, and losing $100K in a year, to confronting burnout, exploring his identity, and rediscovering what it means to live with sustainable energy.
🎙️ Together we explore:
RFK Jr. Is Targeting Every Neurodivergent Person in America
Sep 22, 2025💡 What happens when misinformation about ADHD and autism comes straight from the top?
When public officials spread conspiracy theories and dismiss neurodivergent lives as “less than,” the impact isn’t just political—it’s deeply personal and dangerous.
In this roundtable episode, Stephen Tonti, Devin Pitts-Rogers, and Aaron Smith unpack the rhetoric and policies of RFK Jr. as US Secretary of Health and Human Services, exploring how vaccine conspiracies, wellness farm proposals, and anti-medication agendas fuel fear, stigma, and real-world harm.
From historical parallels with eugenics to the lived pain of hearing children devalued on national t...
Duration: 00:48:57Embrace ADHD with Humor w/ Ron Capalbo
Sep 12, 2025💡 What if laughing at yourself was the key to radical self-acceptance?
For years, Ron Capalbo masked his ADHD, relied on urgency to get things done, and pushed himself until panic attacks forced him to stop. What followed was a complete reframe of how he approached ADHD through humor, creativity, and compassion.
In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, we sit down with Ron Capalbo—ADHD coach, content creator, and founder of the nonprofit The Monoceros Initiative. Ron shares how his middle school diagnosis was buried under stigma, how urgency and “try harder” became his only syst...
ADHD Hates Structure, Loves Routine w/Xai Yang (@xaidy_nyc) | Firesides Ep. 06
Sep 09, 2025💡 Radical acceptance starts with self-love.
What would change if you stopped fighting your ADHD and began accepting it as part of who you are?
In this Fireside Chat, we sit down with Xai Yang, a licensed social worker, advocate, and late-diagnosed ADHDer, who shares his journey from shame and stigma to building a life rooted in radical acceptance. From growing up in a Hmong American community where mental health carried heavy taboos, to finally receiving a diagnosis in 2018, Sai opens up about the long road toward self-acceptance, healing, and advocacy.
🌲This conversation explores the Ne...
Duration: 00:13:16Diagnosed with ADHD … as an ADHD Coach! w/ Brooke Schnittman
Sep 05, 2025💡 ADHD isn’t about striving for perfection. It’s about learning how to activate your potential.
What if you could build a toolbox that helps you manage the chaos, stay consistent, and grow your confidence week after week?
In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, we sit down with Brooke Schnittman, an award-winning ADHD and executive function coach, host of the Successful with ADHD podcast, and founder of Coaching with Brooke. Brooke shares her late-diagnosis ADHD story, how years of teaching and administration shaped her perspective, and the journey that led her to create her sign...
Duration: 01:01:45You Are What You Choose to Remember w/Alexis Schwartz | Firesides Ep. 05
Sep 02, 2025💡Gratitude is a practice. What you choose to remember shapes your experiences and how you feel about your life 🙏♥️.
What would shift if you trained your brain to hold on to the good moments instead of the painful or difficult ones?
In this Fireside Chat, we sit down with Alexis Schwartz, environmental organizer, planner, and fellow ADHDer. Alexis shares her journey of navigating ADHD from diagnosis in childhood through her adult routines, setbacks, and strength-finding. From externalizing reminders to gratitude journaling, she opens up about what it takes to build sustainable habits and self-acceptance while living wit...
Duration: 00:14:59Media Overwhelm & ADHD
Aug 30, 2025💡 How do we stay informed without drowning in stress?
When the world feels chaotic, the political climate is relentless, and the news never stops, it’s easy for ADHD brains to spiral into overconsumption and burnout.
In this Roundtable episode, Aaron Smith, Stephen Tonti, Devin Pitts-Rogers, and David Grabowski gather to unpack the weight of political anxiety, media overload, and what it means to care for your mental health in uncertain times. Through raw stories and honest reflection, the hosts explore how ADHD intensifies emotional flooding—and how res...
Duration: 01:04:15“Failure Is The Goal” w/Tom Franchi | Firesides Ep. 04
Aug 26, 2025💡When failure becomes a checkpoint instead of a dead end, it reveals itself as progress in disguise.
❓What would change in your life if you embraced failure as a checkpoint of progress instead of a sign to stop?
In this Fireside Chat, we sit down with Tom Franchi—ADHD adult, storyteller, and creative spirit—who shares his journey of burnout, resilience, and finding peace with his ADHD. From reframing failure as growth to exploring radical self-acceptance, Tom opens up about what it means to build a life that celebrates spontaneity, creativity, and the fire of passion t...
Duration: 00:14:02Pregnancy, Childbirth & ADHD w/ Dusty Chipura and Alixandra Bacon
Aug 23, 2025💡For the ADHDers out there who will or plan to give birth, you deserve support that sees the whole person—your challenges and your strengths.
❓How do you fix a healthcare system that was never designed with ADHD birthers in mind?
In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, we sit down with Alix Bacon (registered midwife, past president of the Midwives Association of British Columbia, and vice president of the Canadian Association of Midwives) and Dusty Chipura (ADHD coach, educator, and community builder). Together, they unpack their groundbreaking work creating new ADHD care guidelines designe...
Duration: 00:58:26Creatively ADHD w/Hannah Skewes (@hkskewes) | Firesides Ep. 03
Aug 19, 2025💡Curiosity without judgment. This is the way.
What would shift in your life if you started observing yourself with compassion instead of criticism?
In this Fireside Chat, we sit down with Hannah Skewes—writer, photographer, and creative storyteller—who shares her journey of living with ADHD, receiving a late diagnosis, and the challenges of navigating self-doubt and shame. From finding mindfulness in self-observation to reframing perfectionism, Hannah opens up about how compassion, curiosity, and creativity fuel her growth.
🌲 Filmed in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, this conversation dives into what it means to hold on tig...
Duration: 00:14:24ADHD & The Four C’s with Jesse J. Anderson
Aug 15, 2025💡 Let go lightly and quit trying to force yourself into productivity systems that weren’t even built for your brain to start with.
In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, we sit down with Jesse J. Anderson—author of Extra Focus: The Quick Start Guide to Adult ADHD, writer, speaker, and advocate for over 60,000 newsletter subscribers.
From getting a diagnosis as late as 36yrs old to quickly becoming one of the most recognizable thought-leaders on being an Adult with ADHD, Jesse shares his journey from decades of misunderstanding and shame to finding clarity, strategies, and self...
Duration: 01:09:54ADHDer Self-Care Toolkits w/Devin Pitts-Rogers (@p0weredbyd0nuts) | Firesides Ep. 02
Aug 12, 2025🔥 What does it really take to move from ADHD burnout to radical self-acceptance?
In this Fireside Chat, we sit down with Devin Pitts-Rogers—ADHD advocate, creative powerhouse, and our very own podcast host—to explore the tangled web of resolutions, routines, and relapse. From the Rocky Mountains in Tabernash, CO, Devin shares his journey from late ADHD diagnosis to building a toolkit for thriving—inside and outside of work.
From bass guitar lessons after a decade away to using FocusMate for accountability, Devin opens up about the push-and-pull between burnout, self-care, and the ever-present need for visua...
Duration: 00:14:41Rewiring Through Breath with Eben Oroz
Aug 05, 2025💡 If stillness feels impossible, start with the breath–slow it down, more patience follows.
In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, we sit down with Eben Oroz—world-traveler, yoga teacher, breathwork facilitator, and counseling psychologist—to talk about ADHD, executive functioning, and the healing power of yoga.
With over 12 years of experience guiding breathwork and meditation across the globe, Eben offers our favorite brand of research-backed brain & body science mixed with yogic practices and philosophical teachings.
🌬️ Here’s what you’ll learn:
How breathwork helps our ADHD Brains with Energy Management and Emotional Regu... Duration: 01:15:26ADHD & Burnout w/Trina Haynes (@myladyadhd) | Firesides Ep. 01
Jul 31, 2025🔥 What happens when ‘ADHD Burnout’ is normalized and becomes your baseline?
In this Fireside Chat, we sit down with Trina Haynes—founder of @MyLadyADHD and co-host of the Brain Waves podcast. Trina brings us an unfiltered conversation about what it means to live in constant overdrive.
From late diagnosis to ‘mom guilt,’ from masking to mental exhaustion, Trina opens up about how years of undiagnosed ADHD dramatically shaped her identity—and what it ultimately takes to grow out of those negative, core beliefs in order to forge a new path towards radical acceptance.
✨ Highlights ✨
...
Late, Not Less: ADHD&D w/ Dr. Elizabeth Kilmer
Jul 18, 2025Just because your emotional alarm goes off doesn’t mean there’s a five-alarm fire. Sometimes… it’s something as simple as burnt toast. 🥲
❓What if emotional regulation wasn’t about control—but about curiosity?
In this all-new episode, Devin Pitts-Rogers sits down with Dr. Elizabeth Kilmer—clinical psychologist, researcher, and neurodivergent mental health advocate—to talk about how ADHD impacts our emotional world and why learning to pause before reacting can be a game-changer. 💡🎤
From the “smoke detector” analogy to using tabletop roleplaying as a safe space to explore your feelings, this conversation gets real about how intense emo...
After Diagnosis with Devin Pitts-Rogers
Jul 10, 2025What if the breakthrough you’ve been waiting for didn’t happen until your ADHD diagnosis?
In this all-new episode, we sit down with Devin Pitts-Rogers—ADHD advocate, creative powerhouse, and our newest host on the podcast—to talk about misdiagnosis, rediscovering identity, and learning how to live in alignment with your brain. 💡🎤
From misunderstood school days to finding purpose in storytelling, Devin’s journey is bold, emotional, and deeply relatable. 🎢 🧠
Join Devin, Stephen, and Aaron as they explore:
🧠 How late-diagnosed ADHD impacts identity and self-worth
🎭 The toll of constant masking a...
Living with ADHD: Identity, Self-Acceptance, and Connection
Jul 03, 2025Join us for an engaging and heartfelt conversation in the Los Angeles installment of our Attention Different Fireside Chats series. This episode brings together a group of ADHDers to explore the nuances of living with ADHD in adulthood, unpacking personal stories, challenges, and triumphs.
✍️ - Creators ➡ Stephen Tonti, Benj Welmond, & Aaron Smith
🎥 - Director & Cinematographer ➡ Benj Welmond
🎞️ - Editor ➡ Maggie "Maggs" Thibideaux
🏠 - Studio Location ➡ Big Time Studio LA
✨ Highlights ✨
"I Have vs. I Am ADHD" – A thought-provoking discussion featuring Adam and Daniel as they explore how ADHD shapes identity. Adam reflects on self-acceptan...
ADHD, Identity & Starting Over at 30 with Kelly Baumgartner
Jun 19, 2025What if your real career path didn’t start until after your ADHD diagnosis?
In this all-new episode, we sit down with Kelly Baumgartner—ADHD Coach, content creator, and former school librarian—to talk about diagnosis at 30, trusting your instincts, and building a career that fits your brain. 🌱📚
From "just pushing through" to actually understanding her needs, Kelly’s journey is filled with insight, laughter, and some seriously relatable ADHD moments. 🎢🧠
Join Kelly, Stephen, and Aaron as they explore:
🧩 What it means to “follow the breadcrumbs” of your energy and joy
🧠 How ADHD shows up in high-functio...
Unlearning Survival Mode with William Curb
Jun 10, 2025Today, we sit down with Will Curb, host of Hacking Your ADHD, to talk about dismantling shame, redefining ‘Effort,’ and building strategies that actually work for ADHD brains.From late diagnoses to using stress as a survival tool, the ADHD experience is full of patterns that really start to make sense once you begin to understand your own brain.
Join Will & Aaron & Stephen as they explore:
Grace Over Guilt: An Interview with Steev Hodgson
May 30, 2025Ever feel like you're constantly hitting invisible walls? From job after job where you perform brilliantly until something goes sideways, to lying awake at night unable to turn your brain off, living with undiagnosed ADHD can be intense. Add parenthood to the mix and that "popcorn machine" in your head can finally overflow.
In this deeply personal and practical episode, we sit down with Steev Hodgson, ADHD Life Coach and founder of Damn Healthy Dose, who didn't get his diagnosis until his late 40s during the pandemic. From his breakthrough moment reading ADHD 2.0 to developing...
Duration: 00:53:55From Shame to Radical Acceptance with Ryan Mayer
May 15, 2025ADHD and self-worth? It’s messy—and deeply personal. From repeated workplace struggles to a constant feeling of falling short, living with ADHD can often make us question our value and capabilities. The world isn’t designed for neurodivergent thinkers, and when you're forced to play by rules that don’t work for your brain, it’s easy to internalize the blame. But what if the issue isn’t you—it’s the system that was never built with your wiring in mind?
In this powerful and validating episode, we sit down with Ryan Mayer, a Certified ADHD Coach and N...
ADHD Myth-busting: Strengths and NOT my thing | Attention Different Fireside Chats
Apr 24, 2025In this powerful roundtable episode of Attention Different, host Stephen Tonti brings together eight ADHD adults from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences, challenge common misconceptions, and celebrate what makes their neurodivergent brains unique. From late diagnoses to childhood realizations, these candid conversations reveal the complex reality of living with ADHD and the journey toward self-acceptance. As Stephen puts it: "ADHD is not a disorder—we are a group of ADHD adults determined to address the ways in which our unique brain wiring makes our lives more complicated but also to celebrate the traits that make us some of th...
Duration: 00:44:16Trina Haynes on Women, ADHD, and Breaking the Burnout Cycle
Apr 17, 2025Trina Haynes, founder of My Lady ADHD and co-host of the Brain Waves podcast, joins Stephen and Aaron to discuss her personal journey with burnout and ADHD. As someone who manages multiple businesses, a podcast, social media accounts, and homeschools one of her three daughters, Trina knows firsthand the challenges of balancing an entrepreneurial spirit with the realities of ADHD. In this vulnerable and insightful conversation, she shares how she discovered the concept of burnout and her ongoing strategies for prevention and recovery.
This episode dives deep into the unique challenges faced by late-diagnosed women with ADHD...
Duration: 00:55:01Why Rest Is Non-Negotiable
Apr 05, 2025ADHD and sleep? It’s complicated. From racing thoughts at night to groggy mornings, getting quality rest can feel impossible. In this episode, we break down why sleep matters and how to make it work for you.
Join us as we dive into:
😴 Why ADHD brains struggle with sleep regulation
🧠 How sleep deprivation impacts focus, mood, and executive function
🌙 Practical strategies for building better sleep habits
⚖️ The link between sleep, medication, and overall ADHD management
If you’ve ever wondered, "Why I am always exhausted?", "Is my ADHD making my sleep worse?", or "How can I...
Fail Forward: Embracing Mistakes & Learning with ADHD
Feb 27, 2025🚀 What if failure wasn’t the end, but the beginning? In this episode of Adulting with ADHD, we dive into the concept of failing forward—turning mistakes into momentum and learning how to navigate setbacks with an ADHD brain.
🧠 What You’ll Learn:
✅ Why ADHDers often struggle with perfectionism & fear of failure
✅ How reframing mistakes can help build resilience & confidence
✅ Personal stories of failure, growth, and unexpected wins
✅ Practical strategies to bounce back when things don’t go as planned
💡 Whether you’ve missed deadlines, forgotten important dates, or struggled with self-doubt, this conversati...
What Is ADHD?
Feb 13, 2025In this foundational episode of Adulting with ADHD, we break down the basics of ADHD. What is it really? Hint: It's not just about being hyperactive or unfocused. 💡 Discover how ADHD functions as a difference in brain chemistry, not a disorder, and learn how it shows up uniquely in adults. We bust common myths, explore its impact on daily life, and share insights into navigating creativity, productivity, and challenges with radical acceptance.
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith, this episode is perfect for anyone newly exploring ADHD or looking for a fresh perspective. Whether you have ADHD, lo...
Temptation Bundling | Lab
Feb 03, 2025Struggling to get through tasks that feel boring, overwhelming, or unappealing? Enter temptation bundling—a clever motivational tool that pairs something you love with something you’d rather avoid. In this lab, Stephen, Aaron, and Marlena explore how ADHD brains respond to rewards and why combining dopamine-boosting activities with must-dos can make all the difference.
From working out while bingeing your favorite shows to turning errands into mini-gym sessions, they share real-world strategies and personal experiences that make hard tasks more approachable (and even enjoyable!). Learn how to tailor temptation bundling to your unique needs and set your...
ADHD & Exercise with Marlena Pavich-Bellande
Jan 13, 2025Staying active with ADHD can feel like an uphill climb, but it doesn’t have to be! In this episode of Adulting with ADHD, Stephen, Aaron, and Marlena share their personal experiences, laugh-out-loud moments, and creative hacks to make exercise work for ADHD brains.
🔍 Topics include:
💪Stephen’s take on perfectionism and self-judgment in fitness
💪Marlena’s smoothie accountability strategy 🥤
💪Aaron’s hilarious portable gym ideas (weighted phone checks, anyone? 📱💪)
💪How ADHDers can push through resistance and find joy in movement
Whether you’re a gym rat, a casual walker, or someone just starting out, this...
ADHD Adult Symptoms | Lab
Nov 25, 2024Attention Different Labs are short form episodes centered around important adulting with ADHD topics. Stephen dives into specific research mixed with tangible coaching strategies and advice, delivered with a side of relatability and humor.
In this lab, we discuss and educate on Adult ADHD Symptoms.
Our mission is to reclaim the label, not reinvent it, in order to understand our condition in more accurate and self-affirming ways. Labels can be stigmatizing, leading to shame, guilt, and despair. We believe that “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" (ADHD), while a very real condition, has a tired and overly nega...
Radical Acceptance | Lab
Nov 25, 2024Welcome to the Radical Acceptance Lab, a unique series created by Attention Different for those navigating ADHD and looking to transform shame into self-compassion. 💡
In this lab, we dive deep into the concept of radical acceptance—a powerful tool for recognizing our unique strengths and moving beyond the cycle of self-criticism. Through honest discussions, personal stories, and insights from ADHD advocates, we explore what it means to embrace our brains as they are, without needing to “fix” or change ourselves to meet unrealistic expectations. Radical acceptance helps us see that ADHD is not separate from us; it’s part of o...
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis as an Adult
Oct 01, 2024In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast Co-founders of Attention Different Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith talk with Marlena Pavich about her journey of being diagnosed with ADHD later in life and accepting her diagnosis.
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We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. A...
Duration: 00:33:46Reacting to our TEDx Talk about ADHD
Aug 21, 2024In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast Co-founders of Attention Different Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith react to an old TEDx talk (ADHD As A Difference In Cognition, Not A Disorder: Stephen Tonti at TEDxCMU) that Stephen gave many years ago that was the inspiration for the launch of a new company.
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We 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...
Duration: 00:43:56Reacting to our TEDx Talk about ADHD
Aug 16, 2024In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast Co-founders of Attention Different Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith react to an old TEDx talk (ADHD As A Difference In Cognition, Not A Disorder: Stephen Tonti at TEDxCMU) that Stephen gave many years ago that was the inspiration for the launch of a new company.
We 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...
Duration: 00:44:58Should I tell my boss I have ADHD?
Aug 20, 2020In this episode, we discuss when, how, and if you should disclose your ADHD status to your employer. We talk about some critical considerations surrounding ADHD and workplace stigma, asking for support, and accessing needed accommodations, among other topics.
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We 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...
Duration: 00:55:25Relationship Problems between ADHD and Non-ADHD Partners
Sep 26, 2019Send us a Text Message.
We discuss the common problems that arise in relationships between ADHD and Non-ADHD partners and what to do about these dynamics.We 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!
Relationship problems between ADHD and non-ADHD partners
Sep 09, 2019We discuss the common problems that arise in relationships between ADHD and Non-ADHD partners and what to do about these dynamics.
Show notes:
Dani Donovan – check out her awesome ADHD webcomic
@DaniDonovan. Facebook @DaniDonovanArt
https://www.bbc.com/news/health-48146166
Send us a text
We 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...
Duration: 00:55:54ADHD: A Legacy of Our Hunter-Gatherer Ancestors?
Aug 01, 2019In this episode of "Attention Different," the hosts discuss the hunter-gatherer hypothesis and its connection to ADHD. They explore how ADHD traits may have evolved as adaptive features beneficial in early human societies, challenging the view that ADHD is purely a negative, maladaptive condition. The conversation delves into the genetics of ADHD, the impact of environmental stressors on its expression, and the role of neuroplasticity and epigenetics in shaping behavior. The episode emphasizes that ADHD should be seen as a feature of human evolution, offering unique strengths, rather than as a disorder to be "fixed."
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Duration: 01:23:59Reacting to the Take Your Pills documentary with guest Susan Burroughs
Apr 27, 2018We respond to the backlash from Take Your Pills, the new documentary on Netflix that addressing issues of stimulant use and abuse, as well as performance-enhancing drugs. The film has created quite a stir in the ADHD community. Very soon we will be doing a deeper dive into the film, but for now, we would like to offer some tips about how we can react in an intentional way to films like this. For many of us, the film is/was triggering, creating unpleasant feelings. How we choose to respond can make all the difference. Either stimulating (pun intended...
Duration: 00:46:18How ADHD impacts non-ADHD siblings with guest Dr. Sharon Saline
Apr 12, 2018Today we interview Dr. Sharon Saline and discuss what it’s like for siblings in families where one sibling has ADHD and the other does not. Often times the focus is placed on what is going on for the ADHD sibling but what about the Non-ADHD sibling? Dr. Saline has experience in this area growing up in a family where her brother has ADHD. She highlights some of the dynamics that arise for families and how to get through the rough patches.
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Thriving with ADHD with guest Diann Wingert
Feb 27, 2018In this follow-up episode on getting diagnosed later in life. Diann Wingert, an ADHD coach for entrepreneurs offers some insight into what it’s like to not only live with ADHD but to thrive! She has done some amazing things in her life and does not shy away from seeing her ADHD as the superpower it is. That doesn’t mean things have always been smooth sailing, in fact, she opens up about some of the hard stuff as well. There are plenty of valuable nuggets of wisdom in this interview style episode.
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Duration: 00:51:55Late ADHD diagnosis with guest Diann Wingert
Feb 20, 2018Not everyone gets diagnosed with ADHD as a child. Increasingly, more and more adults and mothers are getting diagnosed later in life. Diann is a mother, has children with ADHD, and is an experienced therapist with over 20 years in the field, yet, she just recently learned she too has ADHD. Like many people, Diann knew she was different, but she blamed herself for relationship difficulties and tendencies that made life challenging at times. At age 60, Diann finally received an ADHD diagnosis. In this episode, Aaron interviews Diann about her experience about what it was like getting diagnosed later in...
Duration: 00:53:49Surviving ADHD in Relationships: Why Your Partner Forgets Everything!
Jan 01, 2018This podcast episode delves into the complexities of ADHD within relationships, particularly focusing on how ADHD traits can impact romantic dynamics. The hosts discuss challenges such as inattentiveness, poor organizational skills, and impulsivity, which often lead to misunderstandings and frustrations between partners. They also explore how these challenges manifest differently depending on whether one or both partners have ADHD, highlighting the unique communication and connection that can arise in ADHD-ADHD partnerships. The conversation is supported by insights from "The Couple's Guide to Thriving with ADHD" by Melissa Orlov.
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Duration: 00:50:31Why ADHD adults should manage their energy NOT their time
Nov 30, 2017We all have heard about Time Management, but have you heard of Energy Management? In this episode, we go deeper than just time management and explain how you can optimize your energy output in four specific dimensions of your life through provocative questions. These energy buckets are 1) The Body -Physical Energy, 2) The Emotions: Quality of Energy, 3) The Mind: Focus of Energy, 4) The Human Spirit: Energy of Meaning and Purpose. Ready to recharge and refocus your energy? Let’s go!!
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The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to...
Duration: 00:58:14ADHD people pleasing and overcommitment
Oct 19, 2017Do you have a hard time saying NO to things? Do you find yourself making big promises and then not following through? Welcome to our world. We ADHDers often finding ourselves overcommitted to projects and activities and struggle to be realistic about how long things REALLY take to complete or how much energy we WILL have. Let’s end this cycle once and for all. Learn what to do about it in this important episode.
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Duration: 01:05:01How to Fail Forward with ADHD
Sep 26, 2017To succeed we must first learn how to fail. Anyone of significance, from famous people to business moguls, has strung together a long string of failures. In this episode, we talk about how we have transformed our relationship with failure and no longer treat it like a bad thing. We understand that failure is an inevitable part of the journey of life and those of us with ADHD know this very well. Our society encourages us to avoid stuff that is unpleasant. This is ultimately detrimental because we need to embrace hardship and failure. Please take risks. Reach big...
Duration: 01:01:18ADHD meditation and mindFULLness
Sep 13, 2017In this episode, we dig into the topic of Mindfulness. Our minds are constantly flooded with thoughts and we discuss some helpful tools and tactics we use to calm the mind. Practicing mindfulness may sound like an oxymoron for those of us with ADHD, but we assure you it’s NOT. With practice and sheer force of will, you can become skilled at a variety of mindfulness and meditation practices by adopting them for ADHD. We discuss our favorite apps, gadgets, and much more.
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Duration: 01:17:32Getting organized and managing your time with ADHD
Jul 22, 2017In this episode, we continue the discussion regarding time management. Ironically, we needed more time to talk about this topic ;). We get into our favorite time-saving devices and present both high tech and low tech solutions. So, don't delay. Watch this episode and find a system to help manage your time.
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We 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"...
Duration: 00:38:45What's up with ADHD and time blindness?
Jun 30, 2017Well, it happens to the best of us... we mess up, we are late, we forget. This happened to us recently. We get real about time management struggles and what we are doing to help (sometimes successfully and other times less successfully). If you have a difficult time with time management then this episode might give you to additional tips, strategies, and insights that you may find useful. Check it out now. Don’t procrastinate!
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Duration: 00:28:53Find your flow and leveraging ADHD hyperfocus
Jun 01, 2017This episode gets into the topic of hyperfocus, a trait that some have characterized as a superpower and others have indicated it's rather destructive nature. We go into how those of us with ADHD can make hyperfocus work for us and against us in different contexts. We look at it from personal experiences and explore how it is that some people seem to be able to harness their hyperfocus and reach new heights (i.e. flow states), while others spin their wheels incessantly.
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Duration: 00:32:19ADHD is a reason not an excuse
May 25, 2017In this episode, we dive into whether it's ever alright to use your ADHD as an excuse. We talk about the ways in which ADHDers commonly brush off things as part of their ADHD and not within their control. As two ADHDers, we get it! We’ve used ADHD as an excuse more times than we would like to admit.
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We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize an...
Duration: 00:38:25Should I take pills for ADHD? To medicate or not
May 13, 2017In this episode we debate the upsides and downsides to medicating ADHD from the perspective of our own lives. We both have been on medication and had to figure out for ourselves whether stimulant meds (like Ritalin or Adderall) are beneficial, necessary, and/or worth it. We open up about our experiences on and off medications.
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We 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...
Duration: 00:43:50Overlooked: Women & ADHD
May 06, 2017Women & ADHD In this episode we the reasons why women are often overlooked and not diagnosed at the same rates as males. We dive into the difference between the sexes and how ADHD presents in girls vs. boys, as well as how ADHD changes as women enter into their 20's and 30's.
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We 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 "...
Duration: 00:42:09Why is ADHD perfectionism horrible?
May 01, 2017In this episode we discuss the tendency for ADHDers to be perfectionistic and how this can be counterproductive at times. We debate whether the concept of "perfect" exists and explain difference between perfecting your process vs. waiting for the perfect conditions to arrive just to get started.
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We 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 m...
Duration: 00:45:28Can you inherit ADHD?
Apr 16, 2017In this episode we interview Stephen's Mom and discover that the hereditary nature of ADHD is in full effect. Stephen's Mom recounts raising Stephen and discusses her own insights into raising an ADHD child, as well as seeing some of these traits in herself.
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We 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 p...
Duration: 01:01:44"Isn't everyone just a little ADHD" nowadays?
Apr 15, 2017In this episode, we talk about the addictive use of technology, from cell phones, to gaming, to computers. We ADHDers are particularly at risk for impulsive and addictive behaviors especially concerning electronic devices. We also address the concept of pseudo-ADHD within our technology-riddled culture. We answer the question – Isn’t everyone a little ADHD these days?
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We 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 l...
Duration: 00:44:09Why we choose to say "I am" NOT "I have" ADHD
Apr 08, 2017How we identify as having ADHD or being ADHD. This show discusses using "I AM" vs "I HAVE" and the implications for how the label impacts our sense of self-confidence and self-esteem.
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We 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.