Best Peter Michael Bauer Podcasts (2025)

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Solar Punk and Rewilding w/ Andrew Sage 1:03:18

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9d ago1:03:18

1:03:18

Rewilding reconnects people to a regenerative relationship with the lands where we dwell. Many people live lives that are dramatically linked to technological modernity. A return to a less technologically dependent life is not possible (for them). Solar Punk offers a potential “transition” type of living that could help soften the blow of a collaps…

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Revisiting: ADHD, loving intensely, and impulsivity (Ange’s story) 31:00

1d ago31:00

31:00

This week we’re revisiting one of our favorite ADHD Aha! episodes. Ange Nolan once suspected she had ADHD but was dismissed by her doctor. Years later, an ADHD “iceberg” graphic that visualized how so many ADHD symptoms live beneath the surface finally made everything click. After her diagnosis, Ange recognized how much ADHD had shaped her romantic…

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Diagnosed with ADHD as a child, but she didn’t find out until college (Atira’s story) 21:55

15d ago21:55

21:55

When Atira Roberson was in first grade, she was evaluated and diagnosed with ADHD, dyscalculia, and a specific learning disability. But she didn’t find out about those diagnoses until college — when she went through all of her old paperwork herself. Growing up, Atira knew she was different and was bullied because of it. Her mother was her biggest a…

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What’s so funny about ADHD? (Comedian Jim Tews’ story) 23:44

29d ago23:44

23:44

Jim Tews is a comedian, Coast Guard veteran, and New York Times bestselling author who’s not shy to talk about ADHD in his stand-up act. Jim shares how he went from doing admin work in the Ohio Coast Guard to community college, where panic attacks finally led to his ADHD diagnosis. Jim shares what it was like trying medication for the first time an…

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A valedictorian with ADHD, autism, and a disciplinary record (Ann Bennett’s story) 33:22

1M ago33:22

33:22

This week, host Laura Key sits down with her co-worker Dr. Ann Bennett, who leads applied research and evaluation at Understood.org. Ann shares her own autism and ADHD diagnosis story — one that didn’t unfold until the end of her PhD program. Ann was valedictorian of her high school. She also had a disciplinary record. She’d get bored and sometimes…

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When one twin has ADHD and gets labeled “the bad one” (Lisa McNeil’s story) 24:52

1M ago24:52

24:52

Lisa McNeil grew up being called the “bad” twin — the one who talked back and couldn’t do well in school. Her sister was the “good” one. It wasn’t until years later, when Lisa joined a Duke University study to earn some extra cash, that she discovered she had ADHD. In this episode of ADHD Aha!, host Laura Key talks with Lisa about how that ADHD dia…

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She treated ADHD for years — then found out she had it, too (Dr. Nerissa Bauer’s story) 28:01

2M ago28:01

28:01

Have you ever felt like a fraud, even in the work you know best? Dr. Nerissa Bauer has. After years as a researcher, teacher, and children’s doctor, burnout led her to step away from academia. Not long after, she found out she had ADHD herself. At first, the diagnosis left her embarrassed and full of questions. How could she have missed it for so l…

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Math anxiety, caffeine, and learning to manage emotions with ADHD (Derek Miller’s story) 24:26

2M ago24:26

24:26

Derek Miller wears many hats: money coach, musician, athlete, performer, cider guide, and more. His ADHD story is just as full of twists. Derek didn’t find out he had ADHD until college. The jump from high school left him struggling to focus — especially while also caring for his wife during her cancer treatment. To get through the stress, he often…

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She broke the silence on ADHD shame in women (Sari Solden’s story) 26:14

3M ago26:14

26:14

Sari Solden is a psychotherapist, author, and a true trailblazer for women with ADHD. In this episode, she talks about discovering her own ADHD while helping shape the growing field of adult ADHD in the 1990s. She shares openly about her struggles with shame, working memory, and the pressure of trying to meet society’s expectations of what a woman …

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An unexpected ADHD diagnosis following her daughter’s traumatic birth (Erica Shoemate’s story) 23:32

3M ago23:32

23:32

When Erica Shoemate gave birth to her daughter Nia, she was told Nia wouldn’t survive. But today, Nia is 7 years old — and that traumatic birth became a turning point in Erica’s life. Erica shares how her postpartum experience led to diagnoses of anxiety and PTSD, and eventually ADHD. A former national security analyst turned maternal health strate…

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How do you make invisible struggles visible? (Kate Hammer’s story) 24:31

4M ago24:31

24:31

It’s one thing to wonder if you have ADHD. It’s another to read how your loved ones see it in you. Host Laura Key talks with writer, director, and performer Kate Hammer, who was born in Canada and now lives in Scotland. Kate shares her experience navigating the U.K.’s ADHD evaluation process, which includes personal letters from family and friends,…

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Ready, fire, aim! ADHD, creativity, and magic tricks (John Michael Hinton’s story) 26:52

4M ago26:52

26:52

Magician and speaker John Michael Hinton grew up full of energy. As a kid, he lived abroad and stood out for his high energy. His parents noticed early on that caffeine seemed to calm him down, a clue that something deeper might be going on. John Michael — who performs a few magic tricks in the episode! — talks with host Laura Key about how things …

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Am I using ADHD as a crutch? (Jiyoung An’s story) 26:40

5M ago26:40

26:40

For most of her life, Jiyoung An believed her struggles came down to laziness or lack of effort. Even after her ADHD diagnosis less than a year ago, she questioned whether she was just making excuses and using ADHD “as a crutch.” In this week’s episode, Jiyoung shares how her perspective has changed. She’s unlearning internalized shame and now sees…

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Am I Rewilder Enough? w/ Sheila Henson 1:05:13

5M ago1:05:13

1:05:13

Am I Rewilder Enough? w/ Sheila Henson Do you feel like a poseur when it comes to rewilding? Do you have guilty pleasures you can’t give up? Are you too overwhelmed to start rewilding? You’re not alone. In this episode I chat with my friend and Rewild Portland board member Sheila Henson about the judgments we face from others and (more often) ourse…

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ADHD and emotions in men (Marc Almodovar’s story) 24:14

5M ago24:14

24:14

Marc Almodovar was diagnosed with ADHD at 16, after he took it upon himself to ask for help. But it wasn’t until a painful breakup in his early 20s that he began to confront the emotional toll of hiding his struggles. In this episode, Marc talks with host Laura Key about the toxic messages men receive around emotions and strength, the myths he’s ha…

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Feeling unsafe with ADHD (Laura Mears-Reynolds’ story) 30:52

6M ago30:52

30:52

Laura Mears-Reynolds had reached a breaking point with anxiety and depression—until she realized something deeper was going on. She didn’t feel safe in her own hands, and she knew she needed help. What she didn’t know? ADHD was at the root of it all. The UK-based host of the ADHD AF podcast joins ADHD Aha! to share how understanding her brain final…

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How an ADHD diagnosis was lost and found again (Nikki Daye’s story) 27:42

6M ago27:42

27:42

Nikki Daye, a school psychologist and ADHD advocate, grew up in the foster care system. She was diagnosed with ADHD as a child, but her medical records were eventually lost. As she got older, her ADHD diagnosis wasn’t considered. Instead, her symptoms were misdiagnosed as anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder. While her ADHD diagnosis was “lost in tr…

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ADHD, autism, and the pressure to be “man enough” (Shane Thrapp’s story) 25:55

7M ago25:55

25:55

Shane Thrapp always felt different. As an adult, he found out he has both ADHD and autism — two parts of his brain that sometimes work against each other. In this episode, Shane shares the weight of masking his symptoms, and how society’s ideas about “real men” can make it even harder to speak up. Today, Shane is helping other men with ADHD as the …

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How Hunter-Gatherers Learn w/ Dr. Gul Deniz Salali 1:15:20

7M ago1:15:20

1:15:20

For millions of years, and in some places still today, hunter-gatherers raise competent and capable children. They do this while navigating challenging environments, with predators, dangerous tools, and most notably: without any school. Contemporary societies have created learning environments that are a mismatch with the expectations of our geneti…

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A breakup, an intense reaction, and the ADHD questions surrounding it all (Danielle Elliot’s story) 30:32

7M ago30:32

30:32

Danielle Elliot was considering breaking up with her partner...and then he broke up with her first. Danielle had a “big, out of character” reaction: By 4am that night she was packed and ready to leave. The whole experience left her feeling unsettled. Why had she reacted that way? That sparked a deep dive into rejection sensitivity and ADHD. Daniell…

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I didn’t want to have ADHD (from the Climbing the Walls podcast) 31:28

7M ago31:28

31:28

In this bonus episode, we’re sharing the first episode of a new Understood.org podcast, Climbing the Walls. Climbing the Walls is an investigative limited-series podcast that explores why women were historically underdiagnosed with ADHD — and how the recent surge in diagnoses is reshaping our understanding of ADHD. In this episode, host Danielle El…

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A mother-son ADHD combo, plus teaching with ADHD (Emilia McGuckin’s story) 25:05

8M ago25:05

25:05

Join health and science journalist Danielle Elliot as she investigates the rise of women recently diagnosed with ADHD. Listen to Climbing the Walls now. Emilia McGuckin was surprised when a teacher suggested her son might have ADHD. As a teacher herself, she thought she would have spotted the signs. But after diving into the research, an even bigge…

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Maintaining Peaceful Societies w/ Douglas Fry 1:35:34

8M ago1:35:34

1:35:34

For millions of years, evidence suggests that humans lived in relatively equal societies, where food acquisition and child raising were shared activities among community members both men and women, together. It is apparent that our environments of evolutionary adaptation, selected for humans with evermore prosocial traits. Domination and competitio…

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My full-circle ADHD experience (Laura’s story, continued) 27:35

8M ago27:35

27:35

On this 100th episode of ADHD Aha!, host Laura Key looks back on the powerful conversations she’s had with guests from all walks of life about their unique ADHD experiences. She also opens up about a deeply personal new chapter: her 9-year-old daughter’s recent ADHD diagnosis. Laura reflects on what this milestone means for her both as a mom and a …

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Love and grief with ADHD (Steve Wesley’s story) 27:59

8M ago27:59

27:59

Steve Wesley makes videos about ADHD to create a legacy for his family. As a single dad with ADHD, he worries he’s not doing enough to support his two sons, who also have ADHD. He hopes the videos will serve as proof one day that he really was trying. Steve’s late wife was “the calendar” of the family. She kept everything on track. When she passed …

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Rekindling Ancestral Lifeways in Ireland w/ Lucy O’Hagan 1:22:45

9M ago1:22:45

1:22:45

Creating ancestral skills communities is central to rewilding. We need people sharing skills together, we need people tending land together. These communities don’t form over night. It takes time to build them. I spoke with Lucy O’Hagan in February of 2020, in one of my first episodes of the Rewilding Podcast. Now it’s February of 2025 and a lot ha…

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Afraid to be the “crazy wife” with ADHD (Sela Carsen’s story) 23:20

9M ago23:20

23:20

Romance author Sela Carsen saw herself in her daughter’s ADHD evaluation 20 years ago. But she didn’t request an evaluation for herself until just 4 years ago. She was afraid that having ADHD would have a negative effect on her husband’s military career — that she’d be the “crazy wife.” Once Sela was finally diagnosed with ADHD, she had a big sense…

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Sensory overload and self-advocacy with ADHD (Margaux Joffe’s story) 29:31

9M ago29:31

29:31

Margaux Joffe’s “aha” moment came during a shopping trip to IKEA with her mom. She had an intense sensory overload experience, which her mom later suggested could be ADHD-related. Margaux, who’d been diagnosed with anxiety and depression as a teenager, had never considered ADHD. She was diagnosed with ADHD at age 29. In the years since, she’s becom…

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Rejection sensitivity and ADHD as an Emmy-winning comedy writer (Dan McCoy’s story) 25:35

10M ago25:35

25:35

Dan McCoy understood better his mood swings, fear of rejection, and hyperfocus when he was diagnosed with ADHD last year. He got an ADHD evaluation after reading an article his brother wrote about being on the autism spectrum. Dan is a comedy writer who’s won two Emmy awards for his work on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He also co-hosts the movi…

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Surviving Multiple Environments w/ Tom McElroy 1:09:50

10M ago1:09:50

1:09:50

One of the key aspects of wildness is adaptation. Being able to change and adapt to different needs, in different environments, is a cornerstone of resilience. While a large part of this involves getting to know the land where you dwell, it helps to know multiple landscapes. It can teach you how to think on your toes and figure out how to do things…

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A deeper dive on ADHD, sex, and consent (Cate Osborn is back!) 36:37

10M ago36:37

36:37

ADHD affects our whole life — even our sex life. Our friend Cate Osborn, who has a background in sex education, is back to chat with host Laura Key about executive function challenges that may pop up in the bedroom. Cate and Laura dive into topics like ADHD and consent, working memory, and rejection sensitivity. Cate hosts another Understood.org po…

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3 generations of ADHD…and masking (Zoe Plotnick’s story) 17:00

11M ago17:00

17:00

At 14, Zoe Plotnick told her mom, “My brain’s broken.” Zoe wanted an ADHD evaluation, but her mom discouraged it, pointing to Zoe’s good grades. Zoe was eventually diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. She also learned that her mom was hiding her own ADHD all along. Now Zoe, who’s a teacher, is unpacking the ADHD stigma that her family has carried for g…

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The Wrong Way to Rewild 1:13:39

11M ago1:13:39

1:13:39

I’m fond of saying, “There’s no one right way to rewild.” A friend once asked me, “Sure, Peter. But is there a wrong way?” I wanted to do something fun for this episode that I haven’t delved into much before in this space, so I invited my friend on to talk about the “wrong” ways to rewild. Don’t be fooled by the candy bar image, I love elements of …

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ADHD or OCD? (Julianna Broadwater’s story) 18:56

11M ago18:56

18:56

For years, Julianna Broadwater’s therapist suggested looking into ADHD. But Julianna resisted. She had a past diagnosis of OCD, so she attributed her challenges to that. Plus she was the primary breadwinner in the family, so how could she have ADHD? Then Julianna tried ADHD medication, and her thinking completely changed. The impulsive, intrusive t…

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The ADHD failure cycle (Jared Robson’s story) 29:07

12M ago29:07

29:07

Growing up, Jared Robson got so sick of failing that he decided, “trying isn’t for me.” Jared got into trouble all the time and bounced around different high schools. He eventually graduated high school but admits that that might not have happened if his family weren’t so well-off. Now, Jared’s a stay-at-home dad and thriving as a college student t…

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Why We Need Wild Foods w/ Monica Wilde 1:08:44

12M ago1:08:44

1:08:44

When some human societies made the shift from wild, procured foods to domesticated, produced foods there is a corresponding decline in the health of those people in the archaeological record. Today, the majority of people eat domesticated staples, and our health has taken a huge decline on a global scale. Wild foods are an important nutritional com…

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AuDHD, sensory meltdowns, and hormones (Sam Hiew’s story) 29:16

1y ago29:16

29:16

After Samantha Hiew had her second child at age 40, hormonal changes shed light on her ADHD symptoms. She was diagnosed with ADHD and, later, autism. Sam talks about her experience with AuDHD, including regulating emotions and sensory meltdowns. Sam also talks about her multicultural experience and the importance of community when you have ADHD. Sa…

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Going on the record with ADHD (Rakia Reynolds’ story) 26:24

1y ago26:24

26:24

In school, a teacher made Rakia Reynolds push her desk all the way to the principal’s office for getting in trouble. Rakia had undiagnosed ADHD. She was energetic, creative, and the class clown. Rakia is now a businesswoman and creative leader with diagnosed ADHD — a diagnosis that she never shared publicly… until now. Hear from Rakia, the founder …

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What’s scary about ADHD? (Ghost hunter Em Schulz’s story) 25:57

1y ago25:57

25:57

Em Schulz thought they were just lazy growing up. Years later, after discovering that not everyone’s TikTok was full of ADHD tips that “weirdly work,” they realized they might have ADHD. Em is a paranormal investigator (aka ghost hunter) and co-host of the And That’s Why We Drink podcast. Em and Laura chat about ghosts and ghosting, as in ghosting …

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When ADHD is mistaken for disobedience (Kayla Sanders’ story) 24:41

1y ago24:41

24:41

If you like this show, consider making a donation this holiday season. 100% of your donation will go towards helping us create more podcasts (like this one!). Click here to make a gift today. Growing up as a Black girl with undiagnosed ADHD, Kayla Sanders learned very early that getting into trouble was not an option. Kayla was imaginative, playful…

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Community as the Primary Survival Skill w/ Luke McLaughlin 1:19:14

1y ago1:19:14

1:19:14

Humans evolved in social, cooperative bands, using this cooperation as an evolutionary advantage. These days, rugged individualism still seems to dominate many outdoor activities from regular camping to bushcraft and even to rewilding. When people think of ancestral skills, they think mostly of the hand crafts like basket weaving, pottery, or arche…

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Emotional regulation — and yelling — as a mom with ADHD (Patricia Sung’s story) 29:42

1y ago29:42

29:42

Patricia Sung was diagnosed with ADHD in her first year of college. It wasn’t until she became a mother, and other people relied on her, that she realized just how much ADHD affected her. Patricia now hosts the Motherhood in ADHD podcast. Join Patricia and host Laura Key as they talk about managing emotions with ADHD. Patricia explains the concept …

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Fear of rejection with ADHD runs deep (Matthew’s story) 24:20

1y ago24:20

24:20

Matthew Raghunauth always felt like he was a little lazy and sluggish — that’s just how he was. Then the time came to return to office after the pandemic, and he really started struggling at work. He questioned why he would put things off so much. He was scared to mess up, and afraid that his colleagues would think he’s a bad employee. Matthew is a…

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“You can’t have ADHD” (Farah Jamil’s story) 31:54

1y ago31:54

31:54

Farah Jamil had to stand up for herself when two health care providers told her she couldn’t have ADHD. The reasons cited? One thought she was too smart, charming, and cared for to have ADHD. The other seemed to question whether ADHD was even real. Fortunately, Farah has strong self-advocacy skills that allowed her to debunk these myths in real tim…

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Jessica McCabe (!!) on motherhood, social anxiety, and ADHD medication 34:31

1+ y ago34:31

34:31

How to ADHD creator Jessica McCabe has been the source of many ADHD “aha” moments — so what were her ADHD “aha” moments? Jessica was diagnosed when she was 12 years old but didn’t start to look into what ADHD meant for her until she was 32. Taking ADHD medication felt like putting on glasses — experiencing the world as everyone else did. But she di…

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ADHD and trauma 32:10

1+ y ago32:10

32:10

Dr. Monica Johnson joins Laura to talk about a topic that comes up a lot on ADHD Aha!: ADHD and trauma. She explains how trauma and ADHD can look alike and whether ADHD can lead to trauma. Dr. J, as she’s known, also talks about misdiagnosis, treatment, and how to support someone who’s struggling. This episode contains discussion about trauma, PTSD…

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ADHD in marriage: How it changed a relationship (Breon and Dan’s story) 26:57

1+ y ago26:57

26:57

Breon and Dan Gummel are a mixed-neurodiversity married couple. After about 5 years of marriage, Breon was diagnosed with ADHD. The conflicts they’d been having as a couple took on a new shape. The more they learned about ADHD, the better they understood each other. Now, they’ve founded an ADHD community called ADHDinner. This is where people with …

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Career tips and starting a business with ADHD. Plus ADHD and PTSD (Phoebe Gavin’s story) 32:28

1+ y ago32:28

32:28

Leadership and career coach Phoebe Gavin was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age. Phoebe’s mom was her number one advocate. She never made Phoebe feel like there was something wrong with her, and that’s followed her to this day. Now, she works with clients to empower them in the same way. Phoebe takes us through serving in the military, to fashion s…

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“ADHD for Smart Ass Women” host Tracy Otsuka! 28:19

1+ y ago28:19

28:19

As women, it can feel like we have to do it all, yet not be “too much.” Add ADHD stigma and shame on top, and it can feel impossible. Good thing we have Tracy Otsuka to remind us that no one has ever made a difference by being “too little.” Tracy is an ADHD coach, the host of the ADHD for Smart Ass Women podcast, and author of the book with the sam…

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Toxic productivity, remembering to remember, and rejection sensitivity (Jesse Anderson’s story) 29:01

1+ y ago29:01

29:01

Jesse Anderson wishes he’d had an ADHD manual when he was first diagnosed as an adult, so he wrote one. Before he was diagnosed, he never considered having ADHD himself. After his wife encouraged him to look into it more, his trouble with remembering to do things, time management, and anger started to take a different shape in his mind. Today, Jess…