ADHD Aha!

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

  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 fell apart academically in his freshman year of high school, leading to a 1.7 GPA. An ADHD diagnosis helped him get the support he needed. The biggest turning point came thanks to a mentor who encouraged him to stop living in “Ready, FIRE, Aim” mode and start thinking “Ready, AIM, Fire.” Now a husband and father of three (all with ADHD, too), John Michael explains how ADHD fuels his creativity, curiosity, and performance style.Related resourcesJohn Michael’s website, www.johnmichaelhinton.comADHD and creativity ADHD and rejection sensitive dysphoria Timestamps(00:00) Intro(01:01) Growing up undiagnosed while moving around internationally, and being diagnosed in the states as a teenager(06:19) College, rejection sensitivity dysphoria, and creativity(09:01) Magic trick break #1(11:15) ADHD and performing magic on stage(13:15) Being remembered as the “weird kid” and using mentors to mature(16:12) “Ready, aim, fire” instead of “Ready, fire, aim”  (17:50) Magic trick break #2 (19:15) Incorporating ADHD into his magic acts(21:13) Home life with an entire ADHD family(22:42) A message to all the other “spazzes” out there(25:19) Outro and creditsFor a transcript and more resources, visit the “ADHD Aha!” show page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected] or record a message for us here.  Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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• Am I using ADHD as a crutch? (Jiyoung An’s story)

  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 her brain for what it truly is: different, not broken. Related resourcesWhat is growth mindset?What does thriving with ADHD actually look like?Timestamps(00:00) Intro(00:46) What was happening before Jiyoung sought out an ADHD evaluation this year?(03:00) Jiyoung’s 3 different psychiatrists’ opinions(04:24) Falling into hustle culture before diagnosis, and being hard on herself(07:24) Jiyoung’s journey to accepting her ADHD label(11:07) How frustrating it can be to not have solutions to all of her ADHD challenges(13:08) Perfectionism and comparing yourself to others(16:50) Jiyoung’s experience growing up with undiagnosed ADHD(19:25) Noticing ADHD in her little sister(21:22) What ADHD traits Jiyoung struggles with the most(25:08) CreditsWe love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected] or record a message for us here.  Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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• ADHD and emotions in men (Marc Almodovar’s story)

  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 had to unlearn, and the power of unmasking. He also shares how those realizations led him to found the Men’s ADHD Support Group — a space for men to talk openly about mental health, identity, and ADHD without shame.Related resourcesThe Men’s ADHD Support GroupWhat is self-advocacy?Timestamps(01:42) Masculinity and ADHD(08:37) Marc’s ADHD diagnosis at 16(13:03) Fully understanding his ADHD in his early 20s(15:43) How did Marc “marry” his ADHD?(17:03) What are some of the signs of ADHD that men overlook the most?(17:52) Creating the ADHD Men’s support group, and what’s next(19:53) How to reframe a negative self talk cycleFor a transcript and more resources, visit the ADHD Aha! show page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected] or record a message for us here. Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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• Feeling unsafe with ADHD (Laura Mears-Reynolds’ story)

  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 finally helped her shed shame, find self-acceptance, and build a thriving community. Her message is clear: You’re not broken—and you’re definitely not alone.Related resourcesAmerican Foundation for Suicide PreventionLaura’s podcast and community website, adhdasfemales.comADHD and depressionADHD and anxietyTimestamps(02:37) The most ADHD thing that’s happened this week(03:29) Laura’s ADHD diagnosis story, and crisis point(07:20) Identifying as naive and overly trusting(10:18) Laura’s ADHD “aha” moments(13:02) A constant level of chaos, and assuming (what ended up being) ADHD symptoms were from partying a lot(15:18) The “little” ADHD things that add up and cause shame(17:27) Struggling with the “ADHD superpower” narrative(19:50) How would life have been different with an earlier diagnosis?(21:21) How Laura’s life has changed since her diagnosis, and creating the ADHD AF podcastFor a transcript and more resources, visit the ADHD Aha! show page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected] or record a message for us here.  Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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

  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 translation,” Nikki spent a lot of time feeling misunderstood and unsupported. It wasn’t until adulthood that she finally got the clarity she needed. Now, she’s using her experience to advocate for kids with ADHD, including her own daughter.Related resources6 ways ADHD and PTSD can look alikeADHD and traumaTimestamps(01:18) Nikki’s first ADHD diagnosis as a teenager(03:30) Nikki’s experience with echolalia (05:27) ADHD treatment, speculating other diagnoses, and medical records being lost while in foster care(09:11) “Aging out” of her ADHD diagnosis, and coming back to it(15:08) Nikki’s intersectional “aha” moments (20:33) Nikki’s work helping kids like her, and her daughterFor a transcript and more resources, visit the ADHD Aha! show page on Understood.org. We love hearing from our listeners! Email us at [email protected] or record a message for us here.  Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

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