ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

By: Tracy Otsuka
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  • Summary

  • I have NEVER met an ADHD woman who wasn’t truly brilliant at something! This podcast, with nearly 7 million downloads, is for smart, high-ability ADD/ADHD (diagnosed or suspecting) women who see their symptoms as more positive than negative. If you want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and discover where your brilliance lies, this podcast is for you!

    ADHD for Smart Ass Women is globally ranked in the top one-tenth of one percent of all podcasts in the world on any subject. It’s streamed in more than 160 countries and is downloaded by more than 150,000 listeners every month. My book of the same name, published by HarperCollins/William Morrow, was recently honored by Amazon Editors as a Top 20 Best Nonfiction Book of 2024.

    I’m Tracy Otsuka, your host. I’m a lawyer, not a doctor, a lifelong learner, and a certified ADHD coach. I’m on a mission to change the conversation around ADHD because I believe it’s time to focus on the strengths that come with our unique brains. When I was diagnosed eight months after my son, my entire life finally made sense, yet all I read and heard about ADHD focused on what I should struggle with. What I discovered, though, was that my ADHD was responsible for some of my greatest superpowers.

    Another thing we constantly hear is all the success stories about ADHD men, but no one talks about the women. This podcast is here to change that. ADHD women are my people, and I’m here to acknowledge, support, and cheer them on. My experience as an adult living with ADHD, along with my expertise, is regularly sought out by top-tier media, including Forbes, CBS Mornings, ABC News Live, Inc., Prevention Magazine, Verywell Mind, ADDitude magazine, and The Goal Digger Podcast.

    www.adhdforsmartwomen.com


    THE CONTENT IN THIS PODCAST IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE MEDICAL OR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. NEVER DISREGARD PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE OR DELAY IN SEEKING IT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING YOU HAVE SEEN OR HEARD FROM TRACY OTSUKA OR THIS PODCAST.
    © 2025 ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka
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Episodes
  • EP. 314: Set Intentions, Not Resolutions

    EP. 314: Set Intentions, Not Resolutions
    Jan 8 2025

    Set Intentions, Not Resolutions and Making 2025 Your Best Year Yet

    January feels like a fresh start, but for many ADHD brains, resolutions quickly lose their spark. In this solo episode, Tracy Otsuka takes a deep dive into why the beginning of the year feels so energizing and how to harness that momentum all year long. She introduces the concept of temporal landmarks—natural reset points like New Year’s, birthdays, or even Mondays—that help our ADHD brains reframe goals and create clarity.

    Tracy shares her own journey with setting intentions over resolutions, explaining how defining a single word of the year has transformed her mindset and productivity. She walks listeners through the process of finding their North Star—a guiding intention that simplifies decisions and keeps them aligned with their true goals. From overcoming perfectionism to embracing micro-actions, she offers practical strategies to maintain focus and build momentum without falling into the cycle of self-criticism.

    This episode is packed with actionable advice to help ADHD minds thrive, including daily rituals, micro-goals, and simple strategies to reset and stay on track throughout 2025. Tracy also shares her own word of the year and how it will shape her goals. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by resolutions, this episode will show you a better way to approach the new year—with clarity, confidence, and a plan that actually works.

    Resources:

    • A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aok-everyday


    For other resources:

    • Bracelets, rings and necklaces: adhdforsmartwomen.com/epi-314

    Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

    Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

    Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/book

    Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aok

    Visit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com

    Join our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka

    Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/class

    Unlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends
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    42 mins
  • EP. 313: How Singing Regulates Your Nervous System with Dana Lewis

    EP. 313: How Singing Regulates Your Nervous System with Dana Lewis
    Jan 1 2025

    Your voice is more than what you say—it’s who you are.

    Dana Lewis, a communication and vocal coach, is on a mission to amplify the voices of neurodivergent women. As the founder of Undeniable Voice, she brings two decades of expertise in vocal pedagogy, nervous system awareness, and trauma-informed coaching to help ADHD women reconnect with their authentic voices.

    Dana shares her personal ADHD story, from masking as a child to rediscovering her quirks as a source of strength in adulthood. These formative experiences inspired Dana’s journey of self-acceptance, where she discovered how singing and voice work can not only regulate the nervous system but also boost confidence and foster emotional clarity.

    Dana recounts pivotal moments in her youth that shaped her journey. In grade school, a teacher’s harsh criticism of her learning style left a lasting mark on her confidence. In high school, rumors about her having a learning disability fueled her determination to mask and overcompensate, striving for perfection to prove her capabilities. These challenges ultimately guided Dana toward finding her voice, building resilience, and igniting her passion for helping others do the same. Her later discovery of singing as a tool to reconnect with suppressed emotions solidified her commitment to empowering others to embrace their voices and identities. She now sees voice work not just as a tool for communication but as a pathway to healing and self-expression.

    Through her Bold and Brilliant program, born from this desire to help others reclaim their voices, Dana empowers ADHD women to build resilience, express their truths, and embrace their unique identities with pride.


    Resources:

    • Website: https://www.undeniablevoice.com/
    • LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/danalewis-undeniablevoice
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undeniable_voice/


    Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

    Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

    Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/book

    Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aok

    Visit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com

    Join our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka

    Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/class

    Unlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends
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    57 mins
  • EP. 312: Transforming Financial Trauma with Catherine Morgan

    EP. 312: Transforming Financial Trauma with Catherine Morgan
    Dec 25 2024

    ADHD brains and money: What if your challenges could become your greatest strength?

    In this episode of ADHD with Smart Ass Women, Tracy is joined by Catherine Morgan, a Certified Financial Coach and Trauma of Money Expert, about the emotional side of money and how ADHD shapes financial habits. Catherine, the founder of The Money Panel® and author of the bestseller It’s Not About the Money, shares her own ADHD story and how it reshaped her understanding of impulsive spending, budgeting struggles, and financial shame.

    Catherine breaks down why traditional budgeting doesn’t work for many ADHD brains and offers practical tips like automating finances, focusing on what truly matters, and simplifying money tasks into smaller, achievable steps. Her insights are not just about managing money but about transforming how we see it—as a tool for creating freedom and resilience, rather than a source of stress.

    This episode goes beyond the numbers to explore how trauma and neurodivergence influence our relationship with money. Catherine’s compassionate and relatable approach offers actionable strategies to help listeners build healthier habits and see their financial challenges as opportunities for growth.


    Resources:

    • Website: https://catherinemorgan.com/
    • Instagram: https://instagram.com/catherinemorganmoney
    • LinkedIn: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/catherine-morgan


    Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

    Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

    Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/book

    Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aok

    Visit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com

    Join our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka

    Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/class

    Unlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min

What listeners say about ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

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Profile Image for LP

Excellent podcast. Really informative.

Suspecting I had adult ADHD, I came across this podcast and it has been so reassuring. I've listened to episodes that I feel relevant to me. There is a wealth of information here. Thank you Tracy for the hard work you do creating these podcasts.

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Profile Image for sarah

Back drop for my day

Life changing. Life saving. RSD. If you know you know. Literally the backdrop of my day.

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Profile Image for Grace

A beacon of light.

I have spent life so lost and confused, struggling massively with my mental health since I was an early teen. I've seen doctor after doctor who labelled me with anxiety, depression and bpd but something still felt off. No matter how hard I worked to manage my conditions, I still felt like I was failing life as an adult. It wasn't until Christmas when I stumbled across a video about the symptoms of ADHD in women and it stood out, I related to almost all of them, I looked at the comments, it was the same situation, I then did some further research online and sobbed as I realised everything that I had been giving myself a hard time for throughout my life was listed in front of me. I contacted my doctor and have to wait for an assessment but I didn't want to wait 2 years for answers and that's when I found this podcast! I have learned so so much since listening, there has been so much comfort in the sense that I do not feel alone.I cannot begin to describe how much this podcast has given me hope. Both you and your guests are so inspiring and have taught me so much.
Thank you for being such an incredible human 😊❤

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Profile Image for Alison Matthew

Loved this episode for its Positivity!!

If you struggle with ADHD or just know someone that does . this podcast is inspiring!!! And I don’t even drink Coffee!!! Helena has some excellent ideas of work- arounds . If you want to feel inspired today and positive listen to this !!!!

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