ADHDifference

Julie Legg speaks with Dominic Carubba, a former U.S. Army officer, sales leader, and ADHD coach who was diagnosed later in life after decades of high performance that masked a quiet erosion of self-trust. Dominic shares how ADHD can drive overcomplication, overthinking, and constant attempts to compensate for perceived shortcomings. Even when life looks successful from the outside, internally many ADHDers feel like they are always catching up, always trying to prove themselves. 
The conversation explores how cycles of abandoned projects, unfinished ideas, and chronic urgency can slowly chip away at confidence. Dominic explains why simplifying systems, building visible wins, and learning to forgive yourself are key to rebuilding self-trust. This episode is a reminder that ADHD isn’t about being broken. Often it’s about learning to design systems that work with your brain rather than constantly trying to fix it. 
Key Points from the Episode: 
Late ADHD diagnosis after decades of high performance 
The hidden cost of overcomplication 
How unfinished projects erode self-trust Imposter syndrome in capable ADHD adults 
Why ADHDers often add more systems instead of simplifying 
Visible wins as a way to rebuild confidence 
The importance of learning to say no Lowering the bar to rebuild momentum 
Designing systems that work with ADHD brains 
Persistence vs consistency 
Self-forgiveness as part of growth 
Why ADHD isn’t something to eliminate, but learn to work with 
Links:
WEBSITE: https://momentum.theadhdleader.com/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/salesandtechnologyconsultants
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_dominicx
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiccarubba/
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🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz
📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast
📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD
ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

Julie Legg speaks with psychotherapist and author Brian DesRoches (Living a Trigger-Free Life), whose work focuses on the neuroscience of emotional learning and a process called memory reconsolidation. Brian explains why so many people struggle with recurring triggers, self-sabotage, and emotional patterns even after years of insight or therapy.
Rather than simply managing reactions or trying to “think positive,” Brian describes how the brain actually stores emotional learning and how those memories can be updated and rewired through a process that allows the brain to recognise when past threats are no longer true.
The conversation explores internal conflict, self-criticism, and the protective mechanisms behind behaviours many ADHDers experience and offers a hopeful perspective: that lasting emotional change isn’t about trying harder, it’s about helping the brain learn something new.
Key Points from the Episode:
Emotional memories vs explicit memories
What memory reconsolidation actually means
Why insight alone rarely changes behaviour
The brain’s constant threat prediction system
Internal conflict: one foot on the gas, one on the brake
Why willpower and discipline often fail
Self-sabotage as a protective mechanism
Updating emotional memories through new experiences
Reframing ADHD self-criticism and identity
Why emotional learning may represent an evolutionary shift
Links:
WEBSITE: https://www.briandesroches.com/
LIVING A TRIGGER-FREE LIFE: https://a.co/d/bDgsLtC
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-desroches-12313731a/ 
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Thanks for listening.
📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.
🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz
📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast
📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD
ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

Julie Legg speaks with Ryan Turner — motocross rider, recruiter, content creator, and founder of Dopamine Hunters. After receiving his ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, Ryan began reflecting on a lifetime of intensity, stimulation-seeking, and relentless energy that had previously felt chaotic and misunderstood.
Through motocross and other high-adrenaline pursuits, Ryan discovered that the environments many people see as risky or extreme can actually bring calm, focus, and clarity to ADHD minds. That insight inspired Dopamine Hunters, a growing community, podcast, and documentary exploring how dopamine drives passion, performance, and purpose.
Ryan shares candidly about late diagnosis, substance use, self-medication, education systems that miss neurodivergent children, and why interest-based learning is often the key to unlocking potential. This episode is an honest and energetic conversation about finding healthy outlets for ADHD intensity and creating spaces where neurodivergent people can thrive.
Key Points from the Episode:
Ryan’s late ADHD diagnosis and emotional aftermath
Growing up masking ADHD while siblings received support
The connection between ADHD and substance self-medication
Why adrenaline environments can calm ADHD brains
Motocross as regulation, focus, and community
The idea behind Dopamine Hunters and how it started
Interest-based learning and why traditional classrooms fail many ADHDers
The “hidden 20%” of students with internalised neurodivergency
Burnout vs healthy stimulation for ADHD minds
Reframing hobbies as exploration rather than “quitting”
The link between ADHD, dopamine, and purpose
Ryan’s mission to create a platform for neurodivergent stories
Links:
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dopamine-hunters/
WEBSITE: https://www.dopamine-hunters.com/
YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@DopamineHuntersRyanTurner-h8z
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ryanturner751/
Send a text
Thanks for listening.
📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.
🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz
📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast
📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD
ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

Julie Legg speaks with accountant, financial educator, podcast host, and author of ADHD Money, Tina Mathams. Together they unpack the emotional side of money for ADHDers — the impulsive spending, the avoidance, the shame, and the cycle of guilt that can quietly spiral into financial overwhelm.
Tina shares her personal story of hitting financial rock bottom while undiagnosed, and how understanding her ADHD completely changed the way she approached money. Rather than relying on willpower or rigid budgeting systems, she explains how tools like gamifying, body doubling, identity-based goals, and nervous system regulation can create sustainable financial change.
This is a great reminder that money struggles are not moral failings — and that small, imperfect action can change everything.
Key Points from the Episode:
Growing up with limiting money beliefs
Impulse spending as dopamine-seeking
Avoidance, shame, and money guilt cycles
Separating self-worth from financial mistakes
Understanding your “money story”
Why willpower-based budgeting fails ADHD brains
Gamifying savings and body doubling for money tasks
Breaking long-term goals into present-moment identity shifts
Persistency over consistency
The power of self-compassion in financial recovery
Tina’s rock-bottom moment and rebuilding journey
Why money doesn’t have to be perfect to improve
Links:
WEBSITE: https://www.instagram.com/theadhdaccountant/
ADHD MONEY & FINANCE PODCAST: https://open.spotify.com/show/25LpCxWszqhkbmS8tcvLa1?si=891d61c6f6714cc0
BOOK: https://amzn.to/3ZDExkN
LINKTREE: https://beacons.ai/adhdmoney
Send a text
Thanks for listening.
📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.
🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz
📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast
📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD
ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

Julie Legg speaks with psychotherapist Karen Dwyer-Tesoriero, who specialises in adult ADHD, complex trauma, and attachment. With over 25 years in social work and psychotherapy, Karen brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation after discovering her own ADHD later in life through her son’s diagnosis.
Together, they discuss powerful overlap between ADHD and trauma, particularly how negative childhood messaging can evolve into legacy burdens that shape adult identity, attachment styles, perfectionism, and people-pleasing. Karen unpacks how rejection sensitivity can be mislabelled as personality disorder, how masking impacts women especially, and how internalised “I’m not good enough” narratives quietly drive anxiety and depression.
Key Points from the Episode:
Discovering ADHD later in life through a child’s diagnosis
Masking in women and the “talks too much” childhood narrative
ADHD and complex trauma: where they overlap
Rejection sensitivity vs borderline personality misdiagnosis
How negative childhood messages become “legacy burdens”
Perfectionism and people-pleasing as trauma responses
Attachment styles in ADHD relationships
The role of nervous system regulation in healing
Using EMDR and Internal Family Systems to untangle beliefs
Why “normal” and “perfect” don’t actually exist
Building evidence for “I am good enough”
A daily mantra: Dare to believe in yourself
Links:
WEBSITE: https://www.kdtesorierolcsw.net/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/kdtesorierolcsw
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/kdtesorierolcsw.net/ 
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-dwyer-tesoriero-lcsw-emdr-certified-411316a1/
Send a text
Thanks for listening.
📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.
🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz
📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast
📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD
ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More