Celebrating the 300th Episode with a Special Guest—My Son, Markus

For this milestone episode of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, I wanted to do something meaningful and personal. So instead of interviewing a high-profile guest, I invited my son, Markus. While we usually only feature women, there have been a few exceptions—like Dr. Ned Hallowell, my husband, and Markus, who has been on twice before.

Now, Markus is at a different stage in life. He’s just graduated from college after navigating a challenging academic journey with ADHD and dyslexia, including attending three high schools and changing majors multiple times. Despite being told he wasn’t “college material,” Markus has proven that those labels mean nothing in the long run. He’s thriving in his first job in recruitment consulting and has gained a lot of wisdom along the way.

In this episode, Markus shares advice that blew me away. He talks about what it means to take risks, to stay hungry in a fast-paced career, and how to push through setbacks with resilience. His story is not just about overcoming challenges, but about thriving and finding success on his own terms.

Join us for this special conversation, filled with lessons on embracing discomfort, managing ADHD in academic and professional settings, and building resilience in both life and work. You may even catch a glimpse of yourself or your children in Markus’s story.

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Do you have PCOS and ADHD? Struggling with anxiety and fertility too? Kristyn Hodgdon’s story might sound a lot like yours.

Kristyn discovered her ADHD and PCOS while navigating fertility treatments and the challenges of motherhood. Balancing her role as co-founder of Rescripted with the emotional toll of trying to conceive, heightened ADHD symptoms eventually led to her diagnosis. In this episode, Kristyn opens up about how understanding her ADHD has reshaped her life, particularly in parenting and self-care.

The conversation also addresses broader women’s health issues like anxiety, depression, and the link between ADHD and conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis. Kristyn highlights the importance of time management, advocating in medical settings, and the need for more research into women’s health. Her story empowers women to embrace their unique health challenges and find strength in their journey.

Kristyn Hodgdon is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Rescripted, a global media platform for women's health. After discovering she had PCOS and ADHD in adulthood, she became a fierce advocate for women's health. Kristyn lives in Long Island, NY, with her husband, twins Brooke and Charlie, and their dog Nash.

Kristyn’s journey is a reminder that understanding your health is key to personal empowerment. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about navigating ADHD, fertility treatments, and the complexities of women’s health.

Resources:
Website: https://rescripted.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristynwithawhy
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyn-hodgdon

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

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What if you could draw your way out of a scattered mind?

For Brandy Agerbeck, drawing became the key to turning her chaotic thoughts into something clear and manageable. Long before she was diagnosed with ADHD, Brandy used her visual skills to take control of her fast-paced brain, translating abstract ideas into organized visuals. In this episode, she shares how drawing helped her make sense of the world and how it’s become her go-to tool for managing ADHD—and empowering others to do the same.

From childhood, Brandy learned that drawing wasn’t just an artistic outlet, but a way to visually organize her thoughts and reduce overwhelm. We discuss how she honed this skill, growing up in a creative family, and found her community of neurodiverse thinkers in college. Brandy also talks about choosing self-employment to avoid the friction of traditional jobs, building a career she could thrive.

In this episode, Brandy walks us through her practical strategies for managing ADHD using visual tools—breaking down tasks with sticky notes, mapping ideas with diagrams, and creating flow states through drawing. We also explore the common challenges of ADHD, like time blindness and staying organized, and how visual thinking offers a way to navigate these issues.

Brandy’s story shows that for those who think visually, drawing can be more than an artistic skill—it can be a way to bring clarity and structure to even the most scattered thoughts.

Resources:
Envision: http://loosetooth.com/smartass
Website: https://www.loosetooth.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loosetoothcom/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/agerbeck

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
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Are you feeling uncertain about your life's direction? Join Tracy Otsuka's free "What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass" to discover how to make better, more confident decisions and realize your full potential. Become an expert on yourself and choose the right path forward. Register now at spyhappy.me/class.

Do you often feel swamped by money decisions? Or find yourself wondering how to make your spending really reflect what matters most to you?

Money management isn't just about crunching numbers - it's deeply personal, shaped by who we are and how we think.

In this episode of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, we explore the complex relationship between personal identity and financial behavior with Ellyce Fulmore, a 29-year-old queer and neurodivergent financial educator, content creator, and best-selling author of "Keeping Finance Personal: Ditch the 'Shoulds' and the Shame and Rewrite Your Money Story." Ellyce is the founder of Queerd Co., a financial literacy company that takes an innovative approach to money matters.

Ellyce's had a late ADHD diagnosis at 25, discovered through TikTok during the pandemic. This transformed her understanding of financial behaviors and led her to develop a unique approach to financial literacy.

With an online community of over half a million, Ellyce is dedicated to helping people find the right tools, strategies, and perspectives to create a life where financial stability and joy coexist. Her expertise has been recognized by major platforms including The New York Times, CBS News, Vogue, The Globe and Mail, and The Financial Post.

Ellyce shares insights from her journey - from post-university struggles to becoming a financial educator and author. Ellyce shared how factors such as neurodiversity, gender, race, and past experiences can profoundly influence our financial decisions and overall well-being.

Elise offers tips from outsourcing tasks to creating spending systems that work for neurodivergent individuals. Her insights are valuable whether you're trying to better understand your own financial habits or looking for new ways to approach money management.

Resources:
Website: https://queerdco.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellyce.fulmore/
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@queerd.co
Get my book: https://queerdco.com/book
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/dopamine-dollars/id1747386954

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

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Can trauma be stored in the body? And if so, could understanding fascia - the connective tissue enveloping our muscles and organs - be key to unlocking healing? Join us as we explore these questions and delve into the often overlooked world of fascia with expert Anna Rahe.

Anna Rahe, founder of GST Body, has dedicated over 25 years to the study and practice of fascia health and wellness. Born in the US and raised in Hobart, Australia, Anna's journey includes a personal history with ADHD, diagnosed at age 21. Her experiences with learning differences and trauma therapy significantly influenced her path toward fascia care. Now based in Boulder, Colorado with her family, Anna has established a successful business teaching fascia health, working with a diverse clientele including athletes, medical professionals, and figures from the entertainment industry.

In this episode, we explore the connections between fascia, frozen shoulder, and hormonal changes. Anna shares insights on fascia's responsiveness to movement and hormonal fluctuations, with particular focus on the challenges during perimenopause and menopause. The conversation touches on cultural perspectives, such as Japan's concept of "50-shoulder," and examines the impact of fascia issues on individuals with ADHD.

Drawing from her extensive experience, Anna offers practical strategies for improving fascia health. She introduces simple, accessible movements that can be integrated into daily life, emphasizing the importance of consistent and varied motion for maintaining healthy fascia. The discussion highlights how these practices may alleviate muscle aches, enhance hydration, and potentially influence both physical and mental well-being. Anna's approach provides listeners with tangible methods to apply this knowledge, offering a new perspective on how caring for fascia can contribute to overall health and vitality.

Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annarahe
https://www.instagram.com/annaraheofgst/
https://www.instagram.com/gstbody/
https://gstbody.com/
https://www.annarahe.com/

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

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

Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

Are you feeling uncertain about your life's direction? Join Tracy Otsuka's free "What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass" to discover how to make better, more confident decisions and realize your full potential. Become an expert on yourself and choose the right path forward. Register now at spyhappy.me/class.

From feeling lost to running a 7-figure business: Is it possible with ADHD?

Molly Claire's journey shows it can be done. As a coach trainer and founder of The Masterful Coach Collective, Molly has built a 7-figure coaching business while navigating the challenges of ADHD. She's a mom of three, hosts a popular podcast, and wrote "The Happy Mom Mindset."

Molly has learned to embrace her ADHD brain and hopes to inspire others – including her two kids with ADHD – to do the same. She's passionate about helping her clients with ADHD recognize their unique strengths while being kind to themselves during difficult moments.

Growing up in the 90s, Molly was diagnosed with ADHD at a time when it was rarely recognized in girls. Rather than feeling ashamed, the diagnosis helped her understand herself better.

Molly believes that with persistence, most challenges can be overcome. This mindset has helped her through various life transitions – from learning to rock climb to adjusting to parenthood and changing careers.

Molly opens up about dealing with self-doubt, anxiety, and the complexities of balancing work and family life. She shares how traits often associated with ADHD, like empathy and creativity, became assets in her coaching career.

Molly offers a realistic look at building a thriving business while managing ADHD, showing that it's possible to turn perceived obstacles into stepping stones for success.

• Website: https://www.mollyclaire.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollyclairecoaching/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/molly-claire-coaching/

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

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Why does our ADHD brain get stuck on those annoying negative thoughts?

It's all about two parts of our brain: the Task Positive Network (TPN) and the Default Mode Network (DMN). The TPN is our "get stuff done" network - it lights up when we're in the zone, laser-focused on a task. The DMN, on the other hand, is our "daydream/worry" network. It's where creativity flows, but also where negative thoughts creep in. For us ADHD folks, switching between these networks can be tricky. We might get stuck in worry-mode (thanks, DMN) or hyperfocus so hard we forget to eat (hello, TPN).

But here's the secret: when you're caught in a loop of negative thoughts, the key is to get into action! Go for a walk, call a friend, or dive into a project. By doing something, you're jumpstarting your TPN and quieting that pesky DMN. It's like changing the channel in your brain. Remember, it's never too late to rewire things upstairs. By understanding how our ADHD brains work and playing to our strengths, we can handle the tough stuff better.

It's all about working with our quirky brains, not against them. So next time you're in a funk, remember: your brain has superpowers - you just have to learn how to use them!

Resources:
https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aok

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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Do you ever feel like your emotions are too much to handle?

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) is a powerful yet often overlooked aspect of ADHD, particularly in women. If you've ever wondered whether your emotional turbulence is more than just "in your head," you're not alone. Many people with ADHD experience RSD, but it's frequently misunderstood - especially among women.

In this episode, we're going to have an honest chat about RSD and how it relates to ADHD. We'll explore why those of us with ADHD often feel things so intensely, and why criticism or perceived rejection can hit us hard. It's not just "being too sensitive" - it's a real part of how our brains work.

We'll also talk about how RSD can make us perfectionists, always striving to do better but never feeling quite good enough. If you've ever felt like an imposter in your own life, we'll discuss why that might be happening and how it connects to your ADHD.

But we won't just talk about the challenges. We'll also share some ways to cope with these intense emotions. From therapy techniques like DBT and CBT to mindfulness practices and medication options.

This episode is designed to bring awareness, understanding, and support to those navigating the emotional landscape of ADHD.

Resources:

• Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria Symptom Test for Adults
• Emotional Regulation
• Rejection Sensitivity and Depressive Symptoms in Women
• New Insights Into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

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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