Episode 190 with Ella Fielding.

“My thoughts are like sneezes.”

Ella is a distinguished sculptor based in Surrey and London, with over 15 years of expertise in chainsaw carving. She has created monumental installations at events like Glastonbury Festival, and she is one of the featured master-crafters on “The Woodland Workshop,” which airs on Discovery Plus.

Ella and I talk about her diagnosis of ADHD at the age of 38, which came 20 years after her diagnosis of dyslexia in university. We discuss Ella’s academic experiences, her artistic journey, how she discovered chainsaw carving, and how she realized her ADHD brain is fundamental to her creative process.

We also talk about how our imaginative, intuitive, and curious neurodivergent brains can really shine when given the opportunity, rather than feeling like we’re ‘less than’ because of those tedious, administrative tasks that tend to be, ahem, more challenging — and how maybe it’s time to start redefining the term “adulting.”

Website: ellafielding.com

Instagram: @ella.fielding.sculptor

Links:

The Woodland Workshop on Discovery +

British Dyslexia Association

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Episode edited by E Podcast Productions

Find the transcript of this episode at www.womenandadhd.com/transcripts

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Small group coaching with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/groupcoaching

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Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching

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Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse

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Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!

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If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.

Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcast

Tiktok: @womenandadhdpodcast

Twitter: @womenandadhd

Facebook: @womenandadhd

Episode 189 with Jackie Schuld.

“We need more time for things to work through our brains. Art helps with that and gives an outlet for all the intense emotions and thoughts we have.”

Jackie is an expressive arts therapist who runs a private practice specializing in late-identified Autism & ADHD. As a late-identified autistic and ADHDer herself, she loves to connect with her clients through writing, art, and conversation. She also writes and illustrates visual books, including “What is Autism,” “Grief is a Mess” and many more.

Jackie and I talk about the road to identifying as an autistic and ADHD adult, and some of the limitations to the diagnosis process. We also discuss the difficulties that many neurodivergent adults, especially women, have had with therapy in the past and some of the unique needs that neurodivergent clients bring to a therapeutic relationship.

We also talk about how and why art therapy — including writing, drawing, music, and more — can be such a valuable tool for expression and self-exploration, especially for neurodivergent clients.

Website: jackieschuld.com

Medium: @jackieschuld

Links & Resources:

Jackie's Adult Autism Resources

What is Autism by Jackie Schuld

Grief is a Mess by Jackie Schuld

Unmasking Autism by Devon Price

The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon

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Episode edited by E Podcast Productions

Find the transcript of this episode at www.womenandadhd.com/transcripts

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Small group coaching with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/groupcoaching

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Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching

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Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse

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Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!

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If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.

Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcast

Tiktok: @womenandadhdpodcast

Twitter: @womenandadhd

Facebook: @womenandadhd

Episode 187 with Sarah Collins.

“I’ve probably spent more money on therapy than anything else in my life, and yet nobody ever said anything about ADHD or neurodivergence.”

Sarah is an activist and entrepreneur. Having grown up in apartheid South Africa, Sarah has spent much of her life passionate about social justice and improving the welfare of others, especially when it comes to gender equality and environmental sustainability.

In 2008, Sarah founded Wonderbag, a portable, non-electric slow cooker designed to retain heat and continue cooking food after being brought to a boil. It has enormous versatility, especially for communities in crisis where electricity and fuel are either scarce or non-existent. Wonderbag has won dozens of environmental & leadership achievements over the years, and was voted one of the world's Top 50 Genius Companies by Time Magazine in 2018.

Sarah and I talk about the ups and downs of being a neurodivergent entrepreneur, as well as how neurodiversity intersects with innovation and its potential to spark humanitarian change. And we also talk about the very real hidden costs of being an ADHD entrepreneur, like masking, burnout, and the constant pressure to appear as if you have it all together.

Sarah is also my coaching client, and we talk about the difference coaching has made in her life since her adult diagnosis. If you’re looking to make that step in your own life, make sure to head over to womenandadhd.com/coaching to book a free introductory consult with me to find out if we’re the right fit.

Website: wonderbagworld.com

Instagram: @thewonderbag

Additional links:

Wonderbagworld.com: Exclusive 20% discount for listeners: WOMENADHD20

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Episode edited by E Podcast Productions

Find the transcript of this episode at www.womenandadhd.com/transcripts

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Small group coaching with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/groupcoaching

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Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching

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Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse

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Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!

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If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.

Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcast

Tiktok: @womenandadhdpodcast

Twitter: @womenandadhd

Facebook: @womenandadhd

Episode 186 with Holly D’Arcy.

“Sometimes I cringe at the word ‘resilience,’ but I am grateful for my resilience because I often have to work harder than anybody else in the room to do the same thing.”

Holly is a military spouse, mother, health coach, and competitive athlete who brings a unique perspective to the challenges and triumphs of navigating life with ADHD. Diagnosed at the age of 33, Holly has become passionate about learning all that she can about how ADHD impacts women young and old.

We talk about the many ways in which ADHD affects our relationship with food, our bodies, and long-term fitness goals. Holly has a passion for helping adult women build confidence and consistency toward their health and fitness. We also talk about her personal training and lifestyle coaching and some of the common goals that she works on with her clients.

Since Holly is a military wife, we talk about structure and discipline, which can be appealing to so many of us with ADHD. And we talk about the pros and cons of having to relocate frequently.

Websites: hdfitnesscoach.com

Instagram: @hollywaydarcy

Resources & Links:

Marnie Bothmer’s website

Episode 125 of Women & ADHD with Marnie Bothmer

Episode 17 of The ADHD Lounge

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Huff Post article on Joe Wicks

Dr. Joshua Wolrich’s response to Joe Wicks

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Episode edited by E Podcast Productions

Find the transcript of this episode at www.womenandadhd.com/transcripts

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Small group coaching with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/groupcoaching

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Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching

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Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse

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Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!

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If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.

Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcast

Tiktok: @womenandadhdpodcast

Twitter: @womenandadhd

Facebook: @womenandadhd

Episode 185 with Clara Harris.

“I told my therapist how there were so many thoughts swirling in my head — it was just so noisy that my ears were ringing. She paused and said, Um, maybe we should test you for ADHD.”

Clara lives in Louisville, KY, and she is an actor, writer, and producer with over two decades of experience. In 2022, she produced and performed her solo show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest performing arts festival. The show is called This Moment in America, a live recorded audio drama and sonic collage of the American psyche. When Clara returned home from this incredible experience, she found she had an empty business account and struggled to reintegrate into life and find a “jobby job” and suddenly felt like a failure. Her longtime therapist suggested she look into ADHD and that’s when the lightbulb went off.

Clara wanted to share her diagnosis story because she knows first hand how lonely this journey can feel, especially as a late-diagnosed woman. We talk about the potpourri of diagnoses Clara received prior to her ADHD diagnosis, as well as finding the right medication. We also talk about some of the ways in which anxiety impacts our daily life and the elaborate systems we develop in order to cope.

And Clara shares the exciting news about her upcoming studies at University College London pursuing her Masters in audio storytelling. Clara is also the creative force behind Swamp Witch Studio and its audio drama podcast, Night Owl Theatre, which offers live chamber performances in homes and other non-traditional spaces.

Websites: swampwitchstudio.com ; clara-harris.com

Instagram: @claraharris

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Episode edited by E Podcast Productions

Find the transcript of this episode at www.womenandadhd.com/transcripts

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Small group coaching with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/groupcoaching

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Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching

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Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse

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Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!

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If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.

Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcast

Tiktok: @womenandadhdpodcast

Twitter: @womenandadhd

Facebook: @womenandadhd

Episode 184 with Melody Hubert.

“My dad always said, ‘You're brilliant, but you have no stick-to-itiveness.’ I did so many different things but I couldn’t stick with anything for long.”

Melody is a 45-year-old radiologic technologist from Central Florida. When her son was little, he was diagnosed with ADHD, but like many parents, it never occurred to her that she could also possibly have ADHD. Many years later, it was a chance conversation with a patient about Melody’s “hobby hopping” that led her down her own rabbit hole to an eventual diagnosis.

We talk about how Melody’s ADHD has impacted her life, including focus, indecision, impulsivity, and “stick-to-itiveness.’ We also talk about the positives of ADHD, including her ability to stay calm in a crisis and juggle multiple part-time jobs while caring for her family members.

We also talk about how an adult ADHD diagnosis feels like you’re swimming in the ocean with other people you suddenly realize they're all standing on a sandbar while you're the only one treading water!

And, you’ll love Melody’s SASSy alternative name for ADHD!

Instagram: @harmony_rk

Links & Resources:

Jessica McCabe’s TedTalk

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Episode edited by E Podcast Productions

Find the transcript of this episode at www.womenandadhd.com/transcripts

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Small group coaching with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/groupcoaching

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Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching

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Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse

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Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!

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If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.

Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcast

Tiktok: @womenandadhdpodcast

Twitter: @womenandadhd

Facebook: @womenandadhd

Episode 183 with Laura Mears-Reynolds.

“This isn’t just a new chapter; it really does feel like a new life. My diagnosis not only changed but actually saved my life.”

Laura is an ADHD activist and the host of the popular ADHD AF podcast. Laura's life was not only transformed but saved by her ADHD diagnosis at the age of 38. She wants all people with ADHD to be treated both medically and with the respect they deserve.

We talk about Laura’s journey from lying on the couch to her unstoppable activism, as well as the new ADHDAF+ charity and its mission to educate and overcome the barriers to diagnosis and treatment in the UK healthcare system.

We also talk about the Leopard Print Army and Laura’s upcoming Alien Nation tour where she brings her unique flavor of community building and activism with a side of bingo and karaoke. This will be her final tour of this kind, so if you’re in or around the UK in the next few months, make sure to get tickets at adhdasfemales.com/events.

Website: adhdasfemales.com

Instagram: @adhdafpodcast

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Episode Sponsor:

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Episode edited by E Podcast Productions

Find the transcript of this episode at www.womenandadhd.com/transcripts

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Small group coaching with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/groupcoaching

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Work 1-on-1 with Katy: www.womenandadhd.com/coaching

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Order the “Hey, it’s ADHD!” course: www.womenandadhd.com/adhdcourse

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Did you love this episode? Click here to pledge a one-time donation to the podcast!

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If you are a woman who was diagnosed with ADHD and you’d like to apply to be a guest on this podcast, visit womenandadhd.com/podcastguest.

Instagram: @womenandadhdpodcast

Tiktok: @womenandadhdpodcast

Twitter: @womenandadhd

Facebook: @womenandadhd