ADHDifference

Julie Legg chats with ADHD coach and advocate Leah Carroll, whose own diagnosis at 28 catalyzed a deep journey of self-understanding and transformation. Leah shares how her early attempts to "fix" her ADHD through medication alone fell short and how travel, radical honesty, and coaching led her to discover the personalized systems that now support her neurodivergent brain.
Leah unpacks the behind-the-scenes reality of living with ADHD from executive dysfunction to emotional dysregulation and offers powerful strategies to shift from shame to self-trust. Whether it's in the workplace, relationships, or day-to-day life, this conversation is full of relatable truths and practical tools for anyone navigating ADHD.
Key Points from the Episode:
How Leah’s ADHD diagnosis at 28 was just the beginning, not the solution
Why medication alone wasn’t enough and what she needed instead
The emotional toll of shame, blame, and victimhood in undiagnosed ADHD
What long-term travel taught her about adaptability and executive dysfunction
The hidden labour behind ‘looking functional’ as an ADHDer
How executive function challenges overlap to create chaos and paralysis
The complex toll ADHD takes on relationships and how to build better communication
The workplace mismatch: thriving in crisis but overwhelmed by admin
Strategies for minimizing friction and maximizing clarity at work
Why emotional regulation is about safety, not just willpower
Building self-trust through small, consistent wins
The underestimated power of foundational habits: sleep, food, movement, light, and hydration
The magic of a “dopamine menu” and tiny strategies that re-regulate the nervous system
Links:
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/adhd.coach.leah/
WEBSITE: https://leahccoaching.com/
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahdcarroll/
BOOK A FREE COACHING CALL: https://calendly.com/adhdlc/free
REFERENCE BOOK: https://www.thefouragreements.com/
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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 Kayla Oughton — a Napier-based AuDHD coach and neurodivergent advocate with an eclectic background in construction project management, health coaching, suicide prevention, and digital marketing.
Kayla shares her journey from burnout in a male-dominated construction industry to becoming a voice for ADHDers and autistic women navigating late diagnosis, shame, and self-trust. She talks about the importance of understanding rejection sensitivity, embracing neurodivergent strengths, and leaning into the body’s signals.
This conversation cuts through the fluff and dives deep into what it really looks like to rebuild your life after diagnosis, and long before it. From beast days to slug days, Kayla reminds us all that we are not broken.
Key Points in the Episode:
How a therapist’s question sparked Kayla’s ADHD diagnosis at 35
Life inside the chaotic, undiagnosed world of construction project management
The link between rejection sensitivity and suicidal ideation
Why shame often hides behind the productivity mask in women
How understanding ADHD can reframe your entire life story
The overlap (and contradiction) between ADHD and autism traits
Why rest, nervous system awareness, and body cues are vital tools
The reality of success amnesia and the power of small wins
Kayla's words to those still feeling broken or “too much”
Links:
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-oughton/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/adhdcoachkayla
WEBSITE: https://dopamineandco.com/services 
MATES4LIFE: https://mates4life.org.nz/ 
Send us 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 sits down with Dr. Eugene Manley, a bioengineer-turned-cancer scientist, nonprofit founder, and passionate advocate for equity in science and healthcare. Diagnosed with ADHD during graduate school, Eugene shares how his neurodivergent wiring shaped his path from misunderstood childhood behaviours and micromanagement clashes to his deep sense of justice, pattern recognition, and innovation.
Eugene opens up about navigating academia, launching a nonprofit to address health disparities, and leading through empathy rather than conformity. This conversation is packed with powerful reflections on how ADHD can be a strength — especially when harnessed with awareness, strategy, and aligned values.
Key Points in the Episode:
The overlooked signs of ADHD growing up, and what finally led to diagnosis in grad school
How neurodivergence influences innovation, empathy, and the fight against injustice
Why ADHDers often struggle in hierarchical workplaces — and thrive with autonomy
Micromanagement vs. motivation: how trust and freedom foster better work
What inspired the launch of the STEM & Cancer Health Equity Foundation
The hidden barriers underserved communities face in healthcare settings
Practical ADHD strategies that helped Eugene manage time, focus, and burnout
Viewing ADHD through a strengths lens: pattern recognition, hyperfocus, and drive
Advice for late-diagnosed adults navigating regret, relationships, and self-trust
Links:
WEBSITE: https://scheq.org/
LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugenemanleyjrphd/
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/STEMMCHEQ/ 
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/stemmcheq/
Send us 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 is joined by Dr. Jack Hinman — clinical psychologist and Executive Director of Engage Young Adult Transitions. Drawing from over two decades of experience working with young adults in hospitals, residential treatment, and community mental health, Jack shares what he sees at the root of today’s growing anxiety epidemic: a crisis of focus, a crisis of connection, and a culture of avoidance.
Jack explores how ADHD often shows up subtly or is missed altogether in young adults, especially in women, and why emotional regulation, identity development, and executive function all suffer when connection is lost. 
This conversation dives into the deeper systemic and developmental factors shaping today’s “anxious generation,” and why safety, structure, and relationship-based support are key to long-term growth.
Key Points from the Episode:
Why ADHD is under-diagnosed in young adults, particularly women
The real drivers behind anxiety, shutdown, and burnout
How emotional dysregulation and avoidance are often misread
The impact of missed early coping development and attachment
What’s fueling the “attention crisis” and “connection crisis” in this generation
The harmful effects of pathologising normal anxiety
The role of phones, online connection, and the loss of real-world social skills
Why therapy should be immersive, relational, and present in everyday life
The importance of structured autonomy and consistent support
How nature-based, experiential learning (like skiing or biking) boosts self-trust
What young adults, and parents, need to thrive through transition
Links:
WEBSITE: engagelifenow.com
LINKEDIN: jack-hinman-engagelifenow 
INSTAGRAM: engage.transitions 
FACEBOOK: Engage-Young-Adult-Transitions-100087789164852/
YOUTUBE: @engageyoungadulttransition6817
Send us 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 is joined by clinical psychologist and tech entrepreneur Dr. Jay Spence, co-founder of Evro AI, an innovative software platform purpose-built to support neurodivergent professionals.
Drawing on years of research and clinical insight, Jay shares how Evro is reshaping workplace communication by translating meetings, externalising tasks, reducing overwhelm, and acting as a cognitive co-pilot for ADHD and autistic thinkers. From memory scaffolding to emotional tone translation, this AI tool is designed to work with the brain, not against it.
Jay offers powerful insights into how neurodivergent professionals are already using AI as a productivity lifeline and how platforms like Evro can reduce burnout, support disclosure decisions, and radically shift how we experience work.
Key Points in the Episode:
Why neurodivergent professionals are early adopters of AI
How ADHD brains use AI tools to reduce burnout and organize thoughts
Autistic professionals using AI as a social translator
The hidden communication workload neurodivergent people carry at work
What the Evro AI platform does differently for ADHD and autistic users
How to use AI as a working memory prosthetic
When and how disclosure at work can be helpful (or risky)
The business case for neurodivergent-inclusive teams
One practical to start: use AI to externalize and prioritize your mental load
Links:
WEBSITE: https://www.evro.ai/
EVRO AI COMMUNITY: https://discord.com/invite/Yh4aXRkYfc
LINKEDIN: (https://www.linkedin.com/company/evro-ai/
LINKEDIN (founder): https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-lee-a0716918/
LINKEDIN (founder): https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjayspence/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/evro.ai/
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@evroai 
 
Send us 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