

ADHD Aha!
Understood.org, Laura Key
Listen to people share candid stories about the moment it clicked that they have ADHD. Host Laura Key, who’s had her own ADHD “aha” moment, chats with guests about common topics like ADHD and shame, mental health challenges, and more. Through heartfelt interviews, listeners learn about the unexpected, emotional, and even funny ways ADHD symptoms surface for kids and adults.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 25, 2024 • 28min
“ADHD for Smart Ass Women” host Tracy Otsuka!
As women, it can feel like we have to do it all, yet not be “too much.” Add ADHD stigma and shame on top, and it can feel impossible. Good thing we have Tracy Otsuka to remind us that no one has ever made a difference by being “too little.” Tracy is an ADHD coach, the host of the ADHD for Smart Ass Women podcast, and author of the book with the same name! In this episode, host Laura Key and Tracy talk about how her son’s diagnosis led to her own, the need for an ADHD cookbook, and challenging the status quo. Related resourcesTracy’s podcast, ADHD for Smart Ass WomenTracy’s book, ADHD for Smart Ass WomenADHD and women: The essentialsTo get a transcript of this show and check out more episodes, visit the ADHD Aha! podcast page at Understood.We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at ADHDAha@understood.org.
Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give

18 snips
Jun 11, 2024 • 29min
Toxic productivity, remembering to remember, and rejection sensitivity (Jesse Anderson’s story)
Jesse Anderson, an ADHD advocate, discusses toxic productivity, remembering tasks in marriage, rejection sensitivity, and the importance of owning a whiteboard to improve prospective memory. He shares strategies for managing ADHD symptoms and reflecting before responding impulsively.

6 snips
Jun 4, 2024 • 17min
ADHD hacks with William Curb
ADHD advocate William Curb shares coping skills and hacks on Hacking Your ADHD podcast. Topics include ADHD emotions, favorite hacks, managing priorities efficiently, setting boundaries, and broadening ADHD management beyond productivity.

8 snips
May 28, 2024 • 29min
An ADHD coach on being a defiant teen, ADHD overwhelm, and self-care (Caren Magill’s story)
Caren Magill, an ADHD coach and creator of "It's The ADHD-Friendly Show," opens up about her personal journey with ADHD. She discusses her teenage years, marked by struggles like dropping out of high school and poor self-care. Caren emphasizes the importance of fitness, sleep, and meditation in managing ADHD, encouraging a shift from shame to curiosity in tackling challenges. She also sheds light on the unique experiences of women with ADHD, advocating for self-care and community engagement as vital tools for empowerment.

May 14, 2024 • 31min
Pushing boundaries, breaking norms, and the ADHD brain (Casey McQuiston’s story)
Best-selling author Casey McQuiston discusses how ADHD influences their writing, shares a sneak peek of their upcoming book, and explores unpacking shame and neurodivergence. They delve into personal experiences, struggles in school, and discovering the strengths of ADHD for creative pursuits.

May 7, 2024 • 36min
A personal conversation about being a mom (and woman) with ADHD
Rae Jacobson, a mom with ADHD, joins Laura in a heartfelt conversation about the challenges of being a mom with ADHD. They discuss navigating executive functions and emotional labor, feeling burned out, and the relief of talking with someone who understands. The episode explores the difficulties of balancing motherhood and ADHD, bedtime routines, societal pressures, and the emotional toll it takes on mothers with ADHD.

Apr 30, 2024 • 28min
The pain of struggling with basic tasks: ADHD in the pandemic (Ellyce Fulmore's story)
Guest Ellyce Fulmore shares her journey with ADHD and impulsive spending, leading to a pandemic-driven ADHD evaluation. Topics include struggles with daily tasks, money control vs. impulsivity, and the transformative impact of an ADHD diagnosis on self-care and finances.

16 snips
Apr 16, 2024 • 35min
An ADHD coach on burnout (Jaye Lin’s story)
ADHD coach Jaye Lin shares her journey of battling burnout and seeking an ADHD diagnosis. She discusses navigating stress, managing high academic expectations in an Asian household, and building supportive communities for women and Asians with ADHD.

Apr 2, 2024 • 22min
Impulse buying, negative bank balances, and the ADHD tax (Paulette Perhach's story)
Paulette Perhach, a talented author and writing coach featured in The New York Times, shares her journey with ADHD and personal finance. She discusses her concept of the 'f-off fund' and candidly reveals her struggles with impulse buying and financial chaos. Paulette reflects on her family's history with money issues and the emotional weight of the ADHD tax, emphasizing the importance of community support and self-compassion. Her story inspires listeners to confront their financial challenges with empathy and understanding.

Mar 19, 2024 • 28min
Why “just try harder” is a myth (David Flink’s story)
David Flink shares his journey of being diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia in 5th grade, and how he learned to 'try smarter' instead of 'try harder'. He founded Eye to Eye to improve experiences for students with learning differences and busts age-old ADHD myths with host Laura Key.