Todd Ellis joins me on this episode of the podcast.  Todd is 43, is a grandfather of one and works for Microsoft Corporation outside of Seattle for the past 18 years. He was diagnosed at age eight. He recalls being a “spark plug” for his parents. As the youngest of three and the only boy, his parents didn’t understand his behavior.  His parents moved around quite often because of his parent’s work, so he was often the “new kid” at school. He found school boring and dull, except for science classes. He skipped most of high school,

In the last few years, Todd has “discovered an inner joy in helping people realize and reach their potential. Through this crazy tenure I have found space to reflect and what I have discovered has shaken my core.” His fulfillment is expressed in more “humanistic ways” with CrossFit, cookies, mindfulness and service to others. His personal mission is “To inspire and cultivate within everyone I meet, the reality that we all can stretch and reach milestones which lay far beyond what we comprehend as our current limit.”

Todd has learned through trial and error that he doesn’t have to be pegged into a socially “normal” role. He gravitates towards others who will also “go deep” to solve a problem, find out more information as these are the people who will connect you to others in life.

Your Resources

• The Gift of Adult ADHD: How to Transform Your Child’s Problems into Strengths  | Lara Honos-Webb PhD
• The Red Green Show - Adult ADHD, ADD Blog   | Totally ADD
• The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results  | Gary Keller
• Todd Ellis on LinkedI
• Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone

You’ll Learn:

• [02:02] Todd’s introduction and background.
• [07:50] Todd learns that he doesn’t have to be the way everyone else wants him to be and gets off his medication.
• [08:30] Todd chats about leaving high school before graduating and chasing his new girlfriend to Florida.
• [10:12] Rebuilding after his relationship fails and moving back in with his parents.
• [12:10] His current wife and others in his family who held him accountable for his actions.
• [19:23] Todd’s family, including his four children and his wife’s family.
• [20:50] Moving to Minnesota, his new job and the beginnings of his new family.
• [23:37] Todd’s 21 jobs he had at 21 years of age.
• [25:00] Todd falls in love with personal computing and his brother getting him into tech field.
• [31:28] Todd’s typical day, driving 50 miles each way to work.
• [38:40] What is going on now at Microsoft Corporation and the work culture.
• [42:17] His engineering team switch and how that gave him a different perspective.
• [44:35] The book “Hit Refresh” The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft's Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone.
• [47:25] Workplaces and why they should make accommodations for their employees
• [51:04] How does Todd “wear” his ADHD label in his work environment.

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group

Early registration for ADHD reWired’s Spring season of our online, video-based coaching and accountability group has ended, and the groups are full. Our next registration signups begin May 10th.  To sign up on the email list, which allows you to register on May 7th, visit http://coachingrewired.com.

ADHD Women’s Palooza

Encore packages of this amazing conference are available for only $97!  That includes audio and video downloads, as well as abridged transcripts. Learn more at http://adhdrewired.com/palooza

Support the podcast on Patreon

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group:

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

Want to be a guest?

Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

Paul Phenix joins me on this episode of the podcast.  Paul, at the age of 75, has an extraordinary story of his journey with ADHD and is the oldest (and most wise) guest on my show to date. Paul has struggled with ADHD throughout his life, especially when attending medical school to be a veterinarian. Since his retirement, Paul has learned to enjoy life, leisurely activities and how to say, “Thank You.”  

Since his childhood, Paul has loved animals of all species: from the 500 frogs he brought into his mom’s parlor to the python he put under his new bride’s bed, he has been active with animal research and welfare since the age of 5. When he found out as a child he could take care of animals for a living, Paul knew what he wanted to do as an adult.

Paul has learned through research since being diagnosed at age 50 how to be a good problem solver, alternative therapies which work for lessening his anxiety and how to use different strategies to get through his day.

Your Resources

The Gift of Adult ADHD: How to Transform Your Child’s Problems into Strengths  | Lara Honos-Webb PhD

The Red Green Show - Adult ADHD, ADD Blog   | Totally ADD

The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results  | Gary Keller

You’ll Learn:

• [02:46] How Paul found out he had ADHD.
• [05:00] When Paul learned he could be a veterinarian and the social negativity he experienced when he was young.
• [07:50] Wild animals Paul brought into his home as a child.
• [09:45] The size of the python Paul’s new bride found next to their bed!
• [15:21] How Paul’s life changed after being diagnosed and treated with medication.
• [17:35] Rejection sensitivity and other issues that changed when Paul started to manage his ADHD.
• [19:19] Wellbutrin’s benefits for those with ADHD.
• [21:07] Two times for those with ADHD: now and not now and hyperfocus.
• [25:57] What Paul can do for enjoyment at this period in his life without feeling guilty for having fun.
• [28:10] What advice Paul would give to his past self and learning how to say “Thank You”.
• [35:49] Tapping your body meridians to relieve anxiety.
• [38:20] Hypnosis and the benefits for those with ADHD.
• [44:30] Paul was the first person in New Hampshire to bring a dog into a nursing home and the therapeutic power of dogs.
• [50:35] How a golden retriever saved a family’s life.
• [53:30] Releasing anxiety around daily activities.
• [57:01] The more information we can get to kids, the better off they will be.

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group

Early registration for ADHD reWired’s Spring season of our online, video-based coaching and accountability group has ended, and the groups are full. Our next registration signups begin May 10th.  To sign up on the email list, which allows you to register on May 7th, visit http://coachingrewired.com.

ADHD Women’s Palooza

Encore packages of this amazing conference are available for only $97!  That includes audio and video downloads, as well as abridged transcripts. Learn more at http://adhdrewired.com/palooza

Support the podcast on Patreon

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group:

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

Want to be a guest?

Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

Adeola Sogbein joins me on this episode of the podcast.  Adeola is a listener of the podcast, and he has an inspiring story to share with us.  Over the last four years, he has lost the weight equivalent of two adults (330 lbs) and was diagnosed with ADHD at the same time.  He comes on the podcast to talk about the importance of having people on your side and not giving up.

In a way, Adeola’s journey started when he fell asleep in a job interview.  That led to a sleep apnea diagnosis, and once he was able to treat that, many things in his life started falling into place.  That diagnosis allowed him to lose an incredible amount of weight. Shortly after that, he was diagnosed with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyscalculia.  In this conversation, he shares how he embraced education, and that allowed him to manage these things.

Connect with Adeola Sogbein:

Email - sogbeina@gmail.com

Your Resources

• The Gift of Adult ADHD: How to Transform Your Child’s Problems into Strengths - Lara Honos-Webb PhD
• The Red Green Show - Adult ADHD, ADD Blog - Totally ADD
• The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results - Gary Keller

You’ll Learn:

• [03:49] - Adeola explains his history with OCD and how he has worked to overcome some of those challenges.
• [06:43] - Adeola describes what was going on in his life when he was diagnosed with ADHD.  Things started with a sleep apnea diagnosis.
• [09:14] - A book on Adult ADHD changed Adeola’s life.
• [11:07] - Three women came into Adeola's life and helped him through this period in his life.  He also shares some of the resources he accessed.
• [13:24] - Adeola talks about receiving his ADHD diagnosis and describes his emotions following that diagnosis.  
• [19:00] - I explain the idea of the domino effect.  Adeola identifies sleep apnea as that first domino.
• [22:46] - Adeola shares how he started this journey through education.
• [24:44] - We talk about how important it is for children with IEP’s to know what is on their IEP and why they receive certain accommodations.
• [27:10] - Adeola was just recently diagnosed with dyslexia and dyscalculia.  He expresses that he finds it difficult to explain this to neurotypical individuals.
• [30:23] - Finding a proper support group has played a huge role in Adeola's success. This leads to him describing some of his exercise routines.
• [33:44] - Adeola explained how moving to the right apartment for him helped him with his ADHD symptoms.  
• [36:48] - As he worked through his ADHD symptoms, Adeola re-engineered his life.  He shares what he means by “re-engineering life” and explains how he did it.
• [44:45] - Adeola has gone back to school and talks about his experience with online classes.
• [48:11] - Adeola shares how he views himself now that he has lost a significant amount of weight.  
• [51:40] - Adeola says that once his sleep apnea was under control, everything fell into place.  He also talks about the importance of drinking the right amount of water.
• [56:28] - Adeola talks about the book he wrote on his journey.  

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group

Early registration for ADHD reWired’s Spring season of our online, video-based coaching and accountability group has ended, and the groups are full. Our next registration signups begin May 10th.  To sign up on the email list, which allows you to register on May 7th, visit http://coachingrewired.com.

ADHD Women’s Palooza

Encore packages of this amazing conference are available for only $97!  That includes audio and video downloads, as well as abridged transcripts. Learn more at http://adhdrewired.com/palooza

Support the podcast on Patreon

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group:

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

Want to be a guest?

Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

This episode is the recording of March’s live Q&A.  The questions answered in this episode were submitted by listeners of this podcast, both ahead of time and live.  Brendan Mahan once again joins me on this Q&A.

We cover a variety of topics on this episode.  We talk about anxiety, impulsivity, consistency, resiliency, accommodations, and much more.  In this conversation, Brendan has many opportunities to point you to episodes of his podcast.  

You can listen to our live Q&A sessions on the second Tuesday of every month at 1:30 pm Eastern.  Join Brendan Mahan and me as we answer your questions live. You can register at http://ADHDreWired.com/events.  

Connect with Brendan Mahan

ADHD Essentials Podcast

Your Resources

ADHD Essentials Podcast

How to ADHD YouTube Channel

You’ll Learn:

• [03:29] - Deborah asks what accommodations would be appropriate for someone who works a desk job.   We share several accommodations and tips on the timing of requesting accommodations.
• [10:19] - Chelsea asks how to be more consistent.  She is having trouble keeping pace with her goals. I suggest focusing on resiliency instead of consistency.
• [20:38] - Susan would like to find a good ADHD coach.  Because coaching is not covered by her insurance, she’d like to find good coaching that fits in her budget.
• [26:24] - Meghan shares that she is impulsive with the things she says.  She asks how to slow her response to avoid saying hurtful things to her husband.  Brendan and I provide some strategies to try.
• [35:56] - We answer a question from Facebook.  This person wants to know how ADHD medications impact Autism Spectrum Disorder.  
• [39:28] - Theresa asks for events like this Q&A for youth.  Brendan points out that he does a podcast on/for this population.
• [45:14] - Brendan talks about navigating anxiety and getting that in check before looking at the ADHD.  I talk about doing food experiments with a family. Certain foods impact how we feel.
• [49:13] - Kate asks how to identify what is ADHD and what is anxiety.  Brendan shares some tips on this identification process. I take a more clinical approach to the topic.  
• [53:43] - Rosa would like to know how to get a day back on a track after experiencing anxiety. I can relate to this, and I share how physical exercise helps me. Brendan also suggests social interaction.
• [58:10] - Brendan goes through some important and useful episodes of his podcast.  

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group

Early registration for ADHD reWired’s Spring season of our online, video-based coaching and accountability group has ended, and the groups are full. Our next registration signups begin May 10th.  To sign up on the email list, which allows you to register on May 7th, visit http://coachingrewired.com.

ADHD Women’s Palooza

Encore packages of this amazing conference are available for only $97!  That includes audio and video downloads, as well as abridged transcripts. Learn more at http://adhdrewired.com/palooza

Support the podcast on Patreon

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group:

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

Want to be a guest?

Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.

My guest this week is Linda Donalds.  Linda was diagnosed with ADHD in her early 40s.  Like so many who were diagnosed later in life, the ADHD diagnosis helped explain so many of her struggles.  Professionally, Linda is a board-certified hypnotist.  She’s been an active member of the Guild of Hypnotists for over 20 years, and in recent years has shifted her focus to using her hypnosis for helping adults and teens struggling with ADHD and sleep-related issues with ADHD. 

Linda is an alumnus of our ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability groups and knows that I am somewhat skeptical of hypnosis.  In this discussion, I am setting aside my judgments, and I will be open and curious. 

Linda explains that hypnosis is a state where your brainwaves slow down, and it’s like being on the edge of sleep without actually falling asleep.  It allows you to harness your busy thoughts by exploring the past, present, and future.  In this episode, you will get the opportunity to participate in a guided hypnotic experience. 

Connect with Linda Donalds:

Website: http://newhorizonsinhypnosis.com

Bonus Gift from Linda: https://newhorizonsinhypnosis.com/adhdrewired/

Phone: 508-246-2721

You’ll Learn:

• [03:56] - Linda talks about working in two spaces that have a lot of skepticism, hypnosis and ADHD. She shares some specific concerns
• [07:22] - Linda says there is a fine line between using ADHD as an explanation and an excuse.
• [09:28] - Linda gives a thorough an explanation of what hypnosis is. As a hypnotist who specializes in sleep, she puts things into context by comparing it to sleep stages.
• [13:11] - Hypnosis has three characteristics, and when these characteristics exist together, you have a hypnotic state.
• [23:17] - Linda lays the groundwork as she prepares to lead us through a hypnotic experience. This includes some safety disclaimers and suggestions.
• [26:47] - Linda walks us through a guided hypnotic experience.
• [37:08] - Linda brings us out of this hypnotic experience. She agrees with me that there are a lot of similarities between hypnosis and meditation.
• [39:47] - I share my experience with meditation and explain that having a voice guiding me helps me significantly. Linda explains that hypnosis allows you to harness the busy thoughts.  We also discuss the role of memories.
• [51:23] - Linda shares how hypnosis can help with sleep issues.
• [57:10] - We end this discussion by talking about the evidence for hypnosis, and the lack of evidence of hypnosis as a treatment for ADHD.

Use my Audible.com affiliate link for your favorite titles:

http://www.audibletrial.com/ADHDreWired

ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Group

Early registration for ADHD reWired’s Spring season of our online, video-based coaching and accountability group has ended, and the groups are full.  If you aren’t interested in joining the wait-list, visit http://coachingrewired.com.

ADHD Women’s Palooza

Encore packages of this amazing conference are available for only $97!  That includes audio and video downloads, as well as abridged transcripts. Learn more at http://adhdrewired.com/palooza

Support the podcast on Patreon

Patreon allows listeners like you to support content creators like me.  With a monthly contribution, you can get access to different levels of perks.  One perk example is our Patreon-only Adult Study Hall. Learn more at http://patreon.com/adhdrewired

ADHD reWired Facebook Group:

If you would like to join the ADHD reWired secret Facebook group, go to EricTivers.com/community and fill out an application.

Productivity Q&A

Get your ADHD questions answered live!  These Q&A sessions take place on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 12:30 pm.  Go to http://erictivers.com/events.

Want to be a guest?

Hey, What about you?  Do you have a story? Are you a Coach?  Are you an ADHD Clinician? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions and you’d like to be a guest, schedule a pre-interview call here.