ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___This week I break my cardinal rule of only interviewing women with ADHD on the podcast, which should tell you just how strongly I believe in author and marriage consultant Melissa Orlov's work. Melissa may not have ADHD herself, but her daughter does, which is exactly what prompts Melissa to learn as much about ADHD as she possibly can. She dove deep into the research, even working alongside renowned ADHD expert, Dr. Edward Hallowell, one of my only other guest to break the podcast rule (go back to Episode 106 to listen to his insightful interview).All of Melissa's research led her to the surprising realization that her own husband had ADHD as well. Hello, rabbit ---> bunny! Suddenly, all of the disagreements that they'd been having for years around their relationship suddenly made sense. With this realization came a new level of compassion and understanding for each other. Together Melissa and her husband were finally able to find solutions and create systems that worked for both of them.Since this marriage-saving discovery, Melissa has been researching and writing about how ADHD impacts relationships and marriage with the goal of providing others with the roadmap she and her husband wish they'd had sooner. Whether you're in a relationship with a neurotypical or another ADHDer, Melissa has some helpful tips and insights that may just end that argument about emptying the dishwasher for good.______________Resources:Melissa's website: adhdmarriage.comHer couples' seminar: The ADHD Effect In-DepthHer book: The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six StepsSend a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___When Covid hit the U.S. in 2020 and hair salons all across the country shut down, more and more people started taking the scissors into their own hands, often with disastrous results. While the rest of us were laughing at quarantine haircut memes (or creating our own), Jayne Matthews was brainstorming a solution: What if she could teach people how to cut their own hair using the same technique she used on clients at her salon?Now less than two years later Jayne teaches people all around the world how to give themselves stylish haircuts in a way that's intuitive and easy to follow. This ability to problem-solve in the face of seemingly unsolvable problems is a skill Jayne attributes to her ADHD and is one she believes is the key to her success.Join me this week as educator and trendsetting hairstylist Jayne Matthews and I discuss the importance of blazing new paths rather than trying to fit in, how to be okay with not being great at everything, and some favorite ADHD workarounds.______________Resources:Website: Jaynematthews.comInstagram: @jayne_edosalonSend a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___This week I'm sitting down with ADHD expert, author, and coach René Brooks to talk about Vertical Heterophoria -- a little-known eye condition that, when René stumbled upon the diagnosis by happenstance, changed everything for her. While René is grateful that she was able to find relief from a lifetime of headaches and neck pain, she's frustrated by how close she came to missing such an important diagnosis and believes the medical community still has a long way to go in understanding and treating ADHD comorbidities."It's right there, it's not hidden, people just don't put it together. People are so mired down in the research about ADHD that it's difficult for them to understand how these things apply to real-life scenarios."Vertical Heterophoria and the connection to ADHD is so unknown that I myself had never heard of it, but by the end of the episode, René helps me to realize that this just might be the missing piece in my own son's unresolved vision struggles. This realization is a great reminder of why these conversations are so important to have, and for that reason and many more, I'm so excited to bring you this episode with the brilliant René Brooks.______________Resources:Instagram: @blackgirllostkeysTwitter: @BlkgirllostkeysBlog: Black Girl Lost KeysVertical Heterophoria: The Unknown ADHD Related Eye Condition (scroll to the bottom of the blog post for a link to the online test for Vertical Heterophoria)Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___Is there something that's hanging out there, that you really want to accomplish but you JUST. CAN'T. START? Then this is the podcast for you. Short, simple, and fun. If you keep it light and easy, it'll work every time!😂Tracy shares:Why forcing ourselves to do mundane tasks doesn't workThe real question to ask ourselves that helps us get things doneWhy do our ADHD brains struggle to get through boring, predictable, mundane tasksWhat three things must an ADHD strategy employ for us to successfully get a boring, predictable task doneWhat generates positive emotionWhy deadlines don't work over timeHow light and easy can work every time______________Resources:Youtube: Frank Sinatra - Nice 'n' EasySend a Message: Your Name | Email | MessageInstead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___Join Tracy as she welcomes Miriam Schulman to Ep. 136 of her podcast ADHD for Smart Ass Women.So for all these reasons, I am delighted to introduce you to Miriam Schulman, artist and founder of The Inspiration Place. Through her online classes, business coaching programs, and popular podcasts, she's helped thousands of artists around the world develop their skill sets and sell more art.Miriam is a graduate of Dartmouth College and M.I.T. who has been featured in major publications including Forbes, The New York Times, Art of Man, Professional Artist magazine, and Art Journaling magazine. Her artwork has also been featured on NBC's "Parenthood" and the Amazon series "Hunters" with Al Pacino. Her forthcoming book with HarperCollins Leadership on how to make it as an artist is scheduled to be released in October 2022.Miriam shares her and her family's experience with ADHD, her challenging first year in college, why originality is so important to her, her observations on the link between creativity and ADHD, what it means to be a lifelong learner, why she started The Inspiration Place, the difference between selling art online or in person, the ADHD traits that she regularly sees in artists, what artists tend to struggle with, the importance of practicing your creative, the ADHD traits that she feels are responsible for her success, the key to living successfully with ADHD is, and her number one ADHD workaround.______________Resources:www.schulmanart.comThe Inspiration Place Podcast, Artists and ADD: Creatively Distracted, with Tracy OtsukaSend a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___This week on Episode #135 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, Tracy welcomes Grace L’Orange. Grace is a school psychologist, behavior specialist, and suicide prevention coordinator working in public education. She holds a B.S. in Psychology and an advanced Education Specialist degree in School Psychology. Passionate about equity, inclusion, and advocacy for all students, especially those with disabilities and other differences, Grace works both directly with students and in educating other adults about the impacts of these differences on daily life.Recently, Grace implemented systemic changes in her district by developing updated policies and procedures for special education and suicide prevention/intervention, focusing on equity and best practices. She serves as Director-At-Large on the board for her state school psychologist association and collaborates with the Suicide Prevention Coalition in her county. Initially drawn to school psychology due to her brother’s struggles with ADHD, Grace was diagnosed with ADHD herself at the age of 32. Since then, she has integrated this new facet of her life into her work as an educator with students with disabilities and behavior challenges.In this episode, Grace shares the circumstances surrounding her ADHD diagnosis, the changes she has experienced since then, and how learning about her ADHD shifted her understanding of its presentation in girls. She discusses the alarming number of ADHD women who have attempted suicide and the societal factors contributing to these high rates. Grace provides insights into signs of suicidal ideation and responsible ways to help someone at risk, and she explains how she uses audio journaling to overcome perfectionism, process her thoughts, and speak more kindly to herself. Grace also reveals her key to living successfully with ADHD.______________Resources:National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 1-800-273-8255988lifeline.orgMental Health Crisis Response Program: 1-888-989-9990 (for parents of children through age 17)Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386 (for LGBTQ youth)QueSend a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___This week on Episode #134 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, Tracy welcomes Kamden Hainsworth. Kamden lives with her husband and three (almost four) daughters in Springville, Utah. She enjoys spending time in the nearby mountains, traveling, working on home improvement projects, and serving in her community and church. Kamden has worked as an educator in various capacities for over ten years and finds fulfillment in helping others realize their true potential.Years after her daughter was diagnosed with ADHD, Kamden received her own ADHD diagnosis at 36 years old. She quickly began advocating for herself and researching how to build an amazing life as an ADHDer. Kamden now assists solopreneurs with ADHD in finding their voice and translating it into their business, particularly with marketing and social media.In this episode, Kamden shares the circumstances surrounding her ADHD diagnosis, what has changed since then, and the importance of surrounding herself with people who recognize and appreciate her ADHD gifts. She discusses why social media can be challenging for the ADHD brain, how perfectionism and over-thinking can prevent us from posting online, and how asking, “Who makes the rules about what social media needs to look like?” can help overcome perfectionism and get started. Kamden also offers her strategies for building your online presence one puzzle piece at a time, how determination and trusting her own creativity and problem-solving skills have led to her success, and her #1 ADHD workaround: visuals, visuals, visuals.______________Resources:The ADHDirectoryKamden's InstagramKamden's TikTokSend a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___This week on Episode #133 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, Tracy welcomes Adrienne Smith, a beekeeper who has been accepted into the Oregon State Master Beekeeper program. Adrienne will take her final journeyperson exam at the end of this month and has been studying honeybee beekeeping since 2014. She resides in Central Oregon with her husband on a small farm where they keep bees, chickens, donkeys, a cat, and some koi fish.Adrienne shares the circumstances surrounding her own ADHD diagnosis and her struggle with Auditory Processing Disorder. She discusses how she got into beekeeping after years of "hobby hopping" and why ADHD women are often drawn to careers that go against the status quo. Adrienne also addresses the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field, why beekeeping is so appealing to the ADHD brain, her knowledge of native bees and which species need the most protection, and how hyperfocus is her ultimate ADHD strength.Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___This week on Episode #132 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, Tracy welcomes Denese Marshall for a conversation all about ADHD and trauma.Denese Marshall, MA, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor, and a Nationally Board Certified Counselor. She holds a BA in Psychology, a BA in Criminology, and a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Denese works with adolescents and adults facing addiction, trauma, and OCD. She is passionate about the acceptance of differences and has authored a bullying prevention book aimed at teaching children ages 4-7 to embrace differences and practice acts of kindness.Denese has experience working with clients with a criminal background, assisting with both rehabilitation/reintegration following incarceration and preparing clients with addiction for incarceration. She believes that while our past or life choices influence our behavior, they do not define who we are. Denese helps clients find meaning in their experiences and develop a sense of peace through understanding their life events.In this episode, Denese shares the circumstances surrounding her own ADHD diagnosis, what has changed since her diagnosis, her definition of trauma, and how to distinguish between trauma and ADHD. She discusses the symptoms of trauma, the importance of addressing trauma before working on ADHD executive function issues, what happens to the traumatized brain in the face of discomfort, effective strategies for addressing trauma, and the consequences of not addressing trauma. Denese also offers advice on how to find ADHD professionals who are skilled in both trauma and ADHD.______________Resources:Denese Marshall’s WebsiteSend a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___Join Tracy for Episode #131 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women as she celebrates the one-millionth download of her podcast and expresses her gratitude for your support and confidence. In this episode, Tracy shares how the podcast has changed her life, discussing what she has learned and how these insights might benefit you as well.Discover what it means to be future-focused versus past-focused, how to determine your own ADHD formula, the importance of not believing everything you think, and why what others say about you is none of your business. Tracy also explores how action generates positive emotion, why it’s never too late and you’re never too old, how to never be bored again, what ADHD women have in common, and three simple steps to moving that big thing forward.Resources:Ep. 93: ADHD, Positive Emotion and Being Future-FocusedSend a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next? ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem. That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy 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://tracyotsuka.com/book2Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://tracyotsuka.com/aok Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com