

ADHD Crash Course
Donae Cannon
This is a podcast for those of us who feel we have a lot to learn about ADHD!My name is Donae Cannon- I'm an occupational therapist, a certified coach, a parent of more than one child with ADHD, and I have ADHD. I've been learning about ADHD for a while now, and I'm still learning new things. Welcome to the Crash Course- let's dive in...
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 5, 2025 • 15min
Ep 120. ADHD and Locus of Control: How to Focus on What You Can Control (and Let Go of the Rest)
Explore the concept of locus of control and how it directly impacts managing ADHD. Discover the difference between internal and external control to better focus your energy. Learn practical strategies for overcoming obstacles and improving planning. Dive into managing big emotions and energy fluctuations with actionable tips. Embrace a growth mindset, recognizing that making realistic changes can lead to significant improvements. Gain insights on how to respond to external skepticism while conserving your energy.

Oct 28, 2025 • 9min
Ep.119 Tolerating Undone: Learning to Trust Yourself Even If Everything Isn’t Finished
WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE✉️JOIN MAILING LIST: https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/mailing-list👥 GROUP COACHING:https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/eyb-group-program 👤 1:1 COACHING:https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/coaching-services _______________________________________________________________________I’m Donae, occupational therapist and executive functioning coach—and I’m here to help make life easier for ADHD brains, without shame.If you’re always chasing a never-ending to-do list, feeling like you're behind no matter how hard you try, this episode is for you.We’re talking about tolerating "undone".Not everything on our list gets finished, and that’s not an ADHD failure, that’s just life. But when you live with ADHD, that undone feeling can trigger panic, shutdown, or burnout. You don't trust yourself to stay on top of things and it's hard to know what to focus on.So how do you build trust in yourself when nothing ever feels “done”? How do you keep moving without relying on last-minute chaos?We'll talk about that in this episode- No shame, just practical problem-solving.ADHD tips, ADHD coach, executive functioning ADHD, ADHD time management, how to manage ADHD, realistic ADHD help, ADHD to-do list, overwhelmed ADHD, trust yourself ADHD, ADHD and productivity, ADHD without shame, neurodivergent routines, how to focus ADHD, done is a lie, how to prioritize ADHD, ADHD systems

Oct 21, 2025 • 12min
Ep 118. 3 Tips When Self Care & Hygiene Are Hard with ADHD!
Explore practical ways to tackle self-care and hygiene challenges faced by those with ADHD. Discover why these issues often carry shame and how to reframe them as functional difficulties. Learn about the impact of executive functioning on daily routines, and find tips for organizing your environment to reduce sensory friction. Embrace self-compassion, experiment with flexible techniques, and understand the importance of respecting your energy budget. It's time to treat yourself with kindness and ease into self-care!

Oct 14, 2025 • 15min
Ep 117. 10 ADHD‑Friendly Tips for Transitioning to College
✉️JOIN MAILING LIST: https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/mailing-list👥GROUP COACHING:https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/eyb-group-program 👤1:1 COACHING:https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/coaching-services _____________________________If you’re about to head to college (or you’re already there) and you’re wondering how to not get swallowed by overwhelm, this episode is for you.College shifts the game: in high school, there are rails and structure built in. In college? Not so much. That’s why folks with ADHD often hit a wall.In this episode, I’m walking you through 10 ADHD‑friendly tips for transitioning to college — practical strategies to help you build your support, your routines, and your resilience.00:00:00 Intro & why this matters~00:02:50 Tip 1: Use/maintain accommodations~00:03:45 Tip 2: Be realistic in class scheduling~00:05:15 Tip 3: Semester setup / get systems in place~00:06:15 Tip 4: Read the syllabus & extract key info~00:07:15 Tip 5: Daily habit of checking email & assignments~00:08:00 Tip 6: Weekly review / bird’s-eye planning~00:09:20 Tip 7: Choose study spaces that fit your brain~00:10:10 Tip 8: Adapt to how you learn (audio/visual etc.)~00:11:00 Tip 9: Medication logistics & boundaries~00:12:20 Tip 10: External accountability & supports~00:13:00 Tip 11: Self‑care: body, sleep, nutrition00:14:00+Wrap-up & encouragementADHD, ADHDinCollege, ADHDtips, CollegeWithADHD, StudyWithADHD, NeurodivergentStudents, ExecutiveFunction, ADHDCoach, CollegePrep, ADHDSupportingTools, AcademicSuccess, ADHDTransition, NoShameADHD, BrainFriendlyStudying, NeurodiversityEducation

Oct 8, 2025 • 8min
Ep 116. ADHD & Shame: Why Shame Stops You & What to Do About It
Explore how shame can sabotage progress for those with ADHD. Discover how it undermines problem-solving and replaces curiosity with avoidance. Learn the importance of asking 'how' instead of 'why' to uncover solutions. Brene Brown's insights highlight that connection and authenticity can banish shame's power. Embrace self-compassion and community support to break free from harmful narratives. This thought-provoking discussion reveals that shame is just a story, while curiosity opens doors to possibility.

Oct 1, 2025 • 12min
Ep 115. Why Masking Feels Safer (and Why It’s Time to Stop If You Have ADHD)
✉️JOIN MAILING LIST👥ABOUT GROUP COACHING👤ABOUT 1:1 COACHING 🎥YOUTUBEIf you have ADHD, you've likely spent a good portion of your life masking—suppressing or hiding traits to fit into environments that weren’t designed for your brain. In this episode, I’m diving into what masking really is, how it shows up in everyday life (like interrupting or stimming), and most importantly, what we can do instead to show up more authentically, while still respecting ourselves and the people around us.I’m an occupational therapist and executive functioning coach, and I’m here to make life with ADHD easier and more empowering.Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro: Why we need to talk about masking 00:42 - What is masking in ADHD? 01:30 - Why we mask (hint: it’s about survival) 02:00 - Interrupting: Impulsivity, emotional regulation & working memory 03:45 - Masking vs. problem solving in social situations 04:50 - Stimming: What it is & how masking impacts it 06:10 - The need for dignity, collaboration & support 07:00 - Masking vs. healthy growth: What’s the difference? 08:15 - Real-life story: Masking during grad school interviews 09:45 - How masking blocks authentic connection & opportunity 10:30 - Final thoughts: What to do instead of masking👉 Join my mailing list for weekly ADHD tools, insights, and compassionate strategies for real life.

Sep 23, 2025 • 14min
Ep 114. How to Stop Reacting and Start Choosing: ADHD & Emotional Regulation and The Bee vs. The SUV
Navigating emotional regulation can be challenging, especially with ADHD. Discover how perceived threats, not just physical ones, affect your decision-making. Learn about the story of a bee and an SUV, illustrating the difference between reacting and choosing. Understand why we say 'yes' out of fear and identify core issues versus long-term consequences. Plus, delve into how even lying can be a nervous system response. Strategies for calming your mind and making better choices are also explored, making for insightful listening.

Sep 16, 2025 • 8min
Ep 113. I Can't Get Started! Procrastination, Why Just Do It Doesn't Work (and When It Can)
Explore why traditional advice like "just do it" can fall flat for those with ADHD. Discover two unique strategies: the 'Eat the Frog' method to tackle daunting tasks first, and opting for low-hanging fruit to build momentum through smaller wins. Dive into the reasons behind procrastination—it's not laziness, but rather a complex interplay of energy and support needs. Learn to identify productive actions versus procrastivity, and let curiosity guide your journey in finding what truly works for you!

Sep 2, 2025 • 11min
Ep 112. How to Build Habits with ADHD (That Actually Stick)
Do you tell yourself, “I’m just not a habit person”? I get it—and same. But ADHD doesn’t mean you can’t build habits—it means you need to build them differently.In this video, I walk you through how to create habits in a way that actually works for your ADHD brain—without the burnout, shame spirals, or “new me, new life” traps.💡 You’ll learn:-Why tiny habits matter more than big ones-How to work with your brain, not against it-What to do when you lose a habit that was working-How to build flexibility into your routines-The surprising key to restarting without shameVideo Timestamps:00:00 – Intro: Why habits matter (even if you don’t feel like a “habit person”)01:00 – Why too much structure doesn’t always work with ADHD01:30 – Be picky about which habits to build02:30 – Why "starting small" actually works (and what you’re really doing when building a habit)03:30 – The potted plant analogy: how habits take root05:00 – Controlling for friction (aka pests!)06:30 – How to break a habit using reverse friction07:00 – The #1 pitfall: starting too big08:00 – Building flexibility into your habit system08:30 – How to restart a habit after losing it10:00 – Final thoughts: let go of shame, restart tiny, and build again__________________________________________🧠 Coaching, resources & community:*ADHD tips delivered to your inbox: https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/mailing-list* group program: https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/eyb-group-program*individual coaching: https://theadhdclaritycoach.com/page/coaching-services

Aug 26, 2025 • 8min
Ep 111. Working Memory and ADHD: Why You Keep Forgetting (and What Actually Helps)
Struggling to remember simple tasks is a common challenge for those with ADHD. The discussion highlights the distinction between working memory and attention. It also dives into what forgetting truly means for individuals with ADHD. Real-world strategies, such as setting up reminders and organizational systems, are shared to help manage memory difficulties. Whether it's misplacing instructions or forgetting appointments, practical solutions are offered to create supportive systems that work with your brain.


