Overcoming Distractions

The most impactful way to navigate life with ADHD is to shift your identity from a “disability deficit” mindset to a neuroaffirming, strength-based perspective.

In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave chats with Liz Ahmann and Micah Saviet, authors of the new book Flourishing with Adult ADHD (released April 2026).

The discussion dives deep into practical, evidence-based strategies for high-performing professionals and entrepreneurs who are tired of temporary “hacks” and ready for long-term growth.

They explore how understanding your unique brain wiring is the first step toward moving past the shame of a late diagnosis and toward true well-being.

Key Discussion Points

• Hacks vs. Habits: Why temporary ADHD “hacks” often fail and how a deeper understanding of your specific “flavor” of ADHD leads to sustainable lifestyle changes.
• The Power of the Pause: Introducing the STOP practice (Stop, Take a breath, Observe, Proceed mindfully) to move from a reactive limbic state to a thoughtful executive state.
• Neuroplasticity in Action: How mindfulness and nature walks physically clear neural pathways and lower cortisol levels.
• Identity Re-calibration: Moving away from the “square peg in a round hole” mentality by embracing neurodivergence rather than trying to fix perceived weaknesses.
• Combating Shame: A look at the research-backed need for self-compassion and how it serves as a foundation for emotional regulation and resilience.
• Practical Growth Tools: Simple shifts like gratitude journaling, “micro-wins,” and using the VIA (Values in Action) assessment to identify natural strengths.

Find Flourishing with Adult ADHD: The Evidence-based Guide to Client Well-being for Therapists and Coaches here: https://amzn.to/4uX9Bd0

And learn more about the work Liz Ahmann and Micah Saviet are doing here: https://www.adulttraumaandadhdsolutions.com/

https://www.pathways-ahead.com/

Dave is joined by Dana Hargus, founder of Restore Ada and an expert in trauma-informed wellness. Together, they explore how the body “keeps the score” of stress and trauma, the physiological signs of a dysregulated nervous system, and practical modalities like biofeedback and neurofeedback to help busy individuals with ADHD regain their sense of self.

Key Discussion Points

• The Reality of Burnout: Burnout is often more than just being “tired” It is a complex state of chronic stress that can be rooted in unresolved trauma.
• The ADHD Connection: High-performers with ADHD often operate in a state of constant mental racing, which can mask the subtle physical signs of systemic overload.
• The Body Keeps the Score: Even if a person does not have a verbal memory of a traumatic event, the body can retain the physiological impact, often manifesting as chronic pain, migraines, or digestive issues.
• Nervous System Dysregulation: Dana explains “fight, flight, or freeze” modes and how a dysregulated system perceives minor stressors as major threats.
• Practical Self-Regulation: * Morning Routine: Using the first five minutes of the day for gratitude and positive framing.
  • The “Sleep is King” Rule: Establishing strict routines, avoiding screens, and aiming for rest by 11:00 PM.
  • Grounding: The physical benefits of letting sunlight hit your face and placing bare feet on the earth to lower inflammation.
• Introduction to Biofeedback for ADHD: An overview of how neurofeedback uses electrodes to monitor brain waves and “exercise” the brain to improve focus, sleep, and stress management.

Externalizing accountability is the “beating heart” of productivity for the ADHD brain.

Dave sits down with Russ Jones, founder of  “ADHD Big Brother” to dismantle the stigma surrounding accountability. They explore why “internalized” accountability often fails those with ADHD and how shifting to external structures can turn “not now” into “done.”

Russ explains the mechanics of “felt accountability” and introduces the game-changing concept of body doubling for busy professionals with ADHD.

Dave and Russ talk about:

• Felt Accountability: Moving from internal promises which ADHD brains can struggle with, to external visibility that creates healthy pressure.
• The Power of Body Doubling: How working in the presence of others, even virtually, adds a “teaspoon of extra focus” to boring or daunting tasks.
• Nagging vs. Support: Understanding that true accountability is an opt-in partnership, whereas nagging is unsolicited and often ineffective.
• The “Car Pulls Left” Analogy: Why consistent check-ins are necessary to keep the ADHD brain from drifting off course.
• Externalizing the Day: Using “true” calendars and physical notifications to prevent tasks from becoming “part of the furniture.”
• The Task Audit: Identifying “leaks” in your process, from capturing ideas to handling the “inner tantrum” when it’s time to start.

Learn more about Russ Jones and ADHD Big Brother here: https://www.adhdbigbrother.com/leaks 

Have you ever tried breath work to manage your adult ADHD?

In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave sits down with Kurtis Lee Thomas, a corporate mindfulness trainer and founder of Breathwork Detox.

They explore the critical importance of “hitting the pause button” in a world that demands constant digital engagement.

Kurtis shares his personal journey from suffering a mysterious, debilitating stomach condition to discovering a powerful somatic breathing technique that provided a miracle cure when Western medicine could not.

The conversation dives deep into why high-achieving entrepreneurs and professionals, especially those with ADHD, often struggle with chronic stress and how breathwork can provide immediate relief.

Managing adult ADHD through breath work.

• The Power of the Pause: Why professionals and those with ADHD must incorporate intentional breaks to maintain mental clarity and performance.
• Breathwork vs. Meditation: Understanding the “umbrella term” of breathwork and why active breathing can be more accessible for chaotic minds than traditional silent meditation.
• Stress and the Body: How the body acts as a “living library” for trauma and stress, often manifesting in physical ailments like digestive issues or burnout.
• The Digital Defocus: How smartphone habits act as a form of “de-meditation,” training our brains to constantly switch channels and lose focus.
• The Breathwork Detox Method: A look into this somatic, mouth-breathing technique designed to clear the sympathetic nervous system and release built-up emotional baggage.
• Interrupting Rumination: Strategies for breaking the “hamster wheel” of repetitive negative thoughts common in busy leaders.

Learn more here: https://breathworkdetox.com/

And Kurtis has a special code for listeners: Podcast50

Dave sits down with John Mollura, a former test operations expert for NASA and the U.S. Military. John shares his journey of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult and how he transitioned from viewing his “brain wiring” as a deficit to a high-performance superpower.

From mission-critical field testing in the Mojave Desert to creative problem-solving on spacecraft hardware, John explains how the ADHD brain is uniquely equipped for pattern recognition and decisive action in high-pressure environments.

Our Adult ADHD Discussion:

• ADHD and Pattern Recognition: Not everyone agrees that ADHD is a superpower, but many often excel in high-pressure scenarios where others might freeze, thanks to rapid pattern recognition.
• The Adult Diagnosis: John discusses how a song by Penn Holderness led him to realize his “focus-based” ADHD was never a lack of effort, but a difference in wiring.
• Mission-Critical Problem Solving: A look at “MacGyver-style” solutions John used at NASA, including using ratchet straps and 4x4s to save a spacecraft’s launch schedule.
• Building Confidence Through Micro-Habits: How keeping small promises to yourself, like flossing or emptying the dishwasher, can train the brain for larger professional successes.
• Managing Cognitive Load: The importance of “clearing the decks” of small tasks to pave the way for “flow state” and deep work.
• Explanation vs. Excuse: Shifting the mindset from apologizing for ADHD traits to using them as an explanation to implement better guardrails.
• Find John on his website: https://johnmollura.com/

In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave talks with Scott Proposki, a high-level photographer who has shot for the White House and National Geographic. Scott shares his journey of scaling a seven-figure studio, losing it during the 2020 pandemic, and the psychological toll of that transition.

The conversation focuses on how entrepreneurs with ADHD can pivot from seeing their condition as a liability to leveraging it as a professional asset.

Even when it seems impossible.

Key Discussion Topics

• The Power of Hyper-Focus: Scott discusses how his camera acted as a “superpower,” allowing him to achieve elite professional success through intense focus.
• The Dangers of “The Stop”: Why high-energy entrepreneurs with ADHD often thrive in chaos but can struggle with depression when professional momentum suddenly halts.
• The Myth of Academic Success: Both David and Scott reflect on their poor academic histories (the “C- student” experience) and how it didn’t prevent them from both becoming best-selling authors.
• The Importance of Body Doubling: Scott identifies how his previous success relied on having assistants or office managers to act as “accountability partners” and why isolation during the pandemic was so damaging.
• Building Repeatable Systems: A look at the Mark Cuban philosophy: why entrepreneurs must create repeatable systems to turn a “chaotic job” into a real business.
• Recovering from Zero: Insights into the mindset shifts required to rebuild a business and professional identity after a total loss.

Find Scott Proposki here: www.scottproposki.com

In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave welcomes Dr. Gilly Kahn, a clinical psychologist, ADHD specialist, and author of the new book, Allow Me to Interrupt. While ADHD is often associated with external disruptions in boys, Dr. Kahn highlights how it frequently manifests internally as emotional dysregulation in women.

The conversation dives deep into why women are often diagnosed later in life and how biological factors, specifically hormonal shifts, play a critical role in how ADHD symptoms fluctuate.

Key Discussion Points

• The Gender Bias in Diagnosis: Dr. Kahn discusses how current ADHD diagnostic criteria are historically rooted in observations of male children, often leading to women provided with an accurate diagnosis.
• The Estrogen-Dopamine Connection: A fascinating look at how fluctuating estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and perimenopause directly impact dopamine availability, often exacerbating ADHD symptoms during the luteal phase.
• Late-Life Diagnosis: Why many professional women aren’t diagnosed until their 40s or 50s, often triggered by the increased cognitive load of demanding careers, parenting, or perimenopause.
• Co-occurring Physical Challenges: The link between ADHD and chronic health issues like migraines, which further complicate emotional and physical regulation.
• Strategic Management: Practical advice on “capitalizing” on high-energy weeks and practicing self-compassion during more difficult hormonal shifts.

You can find Dr. Kahn at her website: https://www.drgillykahn.com/

In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave welcomes mindset coach and former therapist Cindi Frechette to discuss a non-traditional approach to thriving with ADHD.

Moving beyond surface-level productivity hacks like to-do lists and timers…, Cindi introduces the Unknow Method, a framework designed for high achievers to manage mental chaos and mitigate burnout.

Cindi shares her “lived experience” with ADHD, offering a unique perspective on how internal narratives drive behavior. Together, they explore how busy professionals can stop “performing” and start living authentically by aligning their daily actions with their deepest values.

Key Discussion Topics:

• The Unknow Method: A three-step framework consisting of Unravel (identifying automated thoughts), Rebuild (strengthening self-identity), and Reclaim (mastering time and energy).
• The “Thought Dump” Exercise: A practical tool to separate objective facts from ruminating opinions.
• The Neuroscience of Overthinking: Understanding how the ADHD brain interprets survival signals and conserves energy.
• Value-Based Decision Making: Why re-evaluating your personal values every 3–6 months is essential for long-term alignment.
• Masking and Burnout: How “performing success” leads to internal exhaustion and how to reverse-engineer your feelings to change your actions.

Freebie to offer: “You can grab Cindi’s free Thought Reset Tool at https://stan.store/Unknowwithcindi . It’s designed to help you pause the chaos and rebuild clarity ADHD brain approved.”

In this episode, Dave sits down with Theresa Lear Levine, an EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Master Practitioner and hypnotherapist, to explore the deep connection between the nervous system and ADHD. For high-achieving entrepreneurs and professionals, ADHD is often managed through “mechanics” Which are mission critical.

However, Theresa explains why the nervous system is in a state of high-functioning anxiety or chronic stress for many busy professionals with ADHD. And how we can mitigate that stress.

Key Discussion Points:

• Reframing ADHD: Moving away from the “disorder” mindset to view ADHD as a mismatch between one’s brain and their environment or expectations.
• The Power of the Nervous System: Why emotional regulation is the foundation that allows executive functioning strategies to actually work.
• Understanding EFT (Tapping): How combining ancient meridian points with modern psychology can disrupt “fight or flight” responses in the amygdala.
• The “Body Keeps the Score”: Discussing how chronic stress and trauma are stored physiologically and how releasing that tension improves focus and health.
• Overcoming the Resistance to Slowing Down: Why high achievers fear “pausing” and how to reintroduce pleasure and joy to prevent burnout.
• Breaking the Procrastination Loop: Using nervous system tools to lower the perceived “threat” of a daunting task so it becomes doable.

Juggling a demanding career and the unique challenges of adult ADHD can be tough enough. But what happens when you add significant life commitments, like caregiving, into the mix?

In this episode of Overcoming Distractions, Dave welcomes Lisa Candera, a mom, attorney, ADHD-er, and autism mom coach.

They dive deep into the real-world strategies for managing a full, complex life while respecting and even leveraging your ADHD wiring. Lisa shares her personal journey of late-in-life ADHD diagnosis and the radical compassion it unlocked.

This episode is packed with essential insights on managing burnout, mastering self-regulation, and finding grace amidst the chaos.

For Busy Professionals with ADHD:

• Customized Support is Key: For adults with demanding careers, support (from a coach or mentor) should meet you where you are! There is no one-size-fits-all “playbook” for ADHD.
• Embrace Individual Needs: Recognize and respect your unique sensory environment. Some thrive in dead silence (like David), while others need background stimulation (like Lisa, who studied for the bar in coffee shops).
• Unexpected Coping Tools: Simple items can be life-savers. Lisa’s AirPods/earphones help with focus, enjoyment (listening to true crime), and self-regulating her sound sensitivity and quick startle response.
• The Adult ADHD “Click”: Many adults with ADHD are diagnosed later in life, often after a child’s diagnosis. What seemed like stress, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation often turns out to be a manifestation of their neurotype.
• The Caregiving Challenge: When you have caregiving or high-level family responsibilities, you often experience a next level of exhaustion. Bringing home complexities into the workplace is a reality that contributes to burnout.
• Practice Radical Compassion: Apply the same love, grace, and understanding you afford a struggling child or friend to yourself. This helps reframe struggles that you previously saw as character flaws as part of your wiring.

Find Lisa Candera on her Website: theautismmomcoach.com