ADHD Founders

Jesse J. Anderson, Marie Ng, and Sharon Pope
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Sep 9, 2025 • 47min

68: Rejected! Navigating App Store Approvals.

Jesse, Marie, and Sharon check in on their accountability goals while navigating the realities of building apps with ADHD. The conversation covers everything from App Store submission challenges and user onboarding insights to the mental weight of incomplete tasks. They also explore practical ADHD strategies, discuss when it's okay to accept help from partners, and share what they're learning from early user feedback. . Follow us on social media: • This podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulCheck out Wavepal: wavepal.appCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Aug 26, 2025 • 47min

67: Doom Boxes and Dopamine

Journey through the chaotic world of ADHD and entrepreneurship with a twist! Discover the hilarity of balancing daily distractions alongside startup challenges. Unravel the mystery of 'doom boxes' and learn creative multitasking hacks. Dive into comforting self-care items and the struggles of accessing health services. Get insights on maintaining user engagement while prepping for new app launches and hear personal stories of vulnerability and resilience in the tech world. It's a raw, relatable exploration of navigating life and business!
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Aug 12, 2025 • 48min

66: Founding with Friends (and Maybe ADHD)

Jesse and Sharon sit down with Lydia Swift, Sharon’s co-founder at Shelpful, to talk about starting a company with a decades-long friend, the whirlwind of launching during COVID, and how the ADHD community shaped their product’s direction. Lydia opens up about living in the “squishy middle” of ADHD (relating to nearly every trait without a formal diagnosis) and the hurdles of self-advocacy in the medical system. Together they swap stories about friendship, entrepreneurship, pivots, and building tools that make life a little easier for brains that work differently. Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Jul 29, 2025 • 53min

65: Do Streaks Actually Work For ADHD Brains?

In this episode of ADHD Founders, Jesse, Marie, and Sharon dive into the complex relationship between ADHD, sleep, and streak-based motivation. From the highs and crashes of productivity apps to the shame spiral of missed days, they unpack how self-tracking tools like the Oura Ring can both help and harm. They also explore revenge bedtime procrastination, night owl tendencies, and how ADHD often intersects with insomnia and time blindness.Plus, a real-life look behind the scenes of each host’s business, from community building and monetizing digital products to the emotional highs and lows of founder life. This one’s full of insight, laughter, and the kind of real talk that makes you feel less alone on the entrepreneurial rollercoaster.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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Jul 15, 2025 • 41min

64: We Accidentally Invent a New App (Again)

In this episode of ADHD Founders, Jesse, Marie, and Sharon unpack how energy-draining conversations, negative feedback, and reactivity can derail an ADHD entrepreneur’s entire day. They explore the difference between venting and vibe-killing, the power of structuring your day around creative flow, and how AI (or even Zapier!) can help you protect your dopamine. Plus: hilarious background setup fails, the ultimate customer sentiment filter, and one surprisingly perfect question for identifying your ideal user. This one’s for every founder who’s ever answered emails in their workout clothes without working out.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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4 snips
Jul 1, 2025 • 44min

63: Vibe Coding for Fun and Profit

Explore the innovative use of AI tools like ChatGPT in app development and daily tasks. Hear stories of hyperfocus leading to unexpected creations, like an iOS app built in a weekend. The discussion also covers the challenges of managing app subscriptions, particularly for ADHD users, and the need for seamless payment processes. Nostalgic reflections on classic games like King’s Quest offer a playful backdrop to the tech talk, making for an engaging blend of productivity tips and personal anecdotes.
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Jun 17, 2025 • 47min

62: Context Switching is Killing Me

In a candid conversation, the hosts reveal the unique challenges of ADHD entrepreneurship. They tackle context switching, motivation dips, and the highs and lows of product launches. With humor, they discuss community-building experiments and the struggle against perfectionism. Insights on using platforms like Circle for better communication add depth to their journey. Plus, they share tips on email marketing and the emotional hurdles of self-promotion, making it a relatable experience for anyone navigating the entrepreneurial world.
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Jun 3, 2025 • 39min

61: “You’re not a good friend” - Getting Feedback as a ADHD Founder

In episode 61, Jesse, Marie, and Sharon dive into the chaos of time zones, appointment scheduling quirks (like 11:11 start times), and the emotional rollercoaster of building ADHD-friendly tech products. They share raw stories about customer interviews, MVP struggles, subscription pricing models, and deeply personal reasons behind why their apps exist. From missed birthdays to AI-driven reminders that help rebuild broken connections, this episode is an authentic look at founders building tools to solve their own ADHD challenges, and hoping they help others along the way.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
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May 20, 2025 • 33min

60: Burnout, Grief, and ADHD

The hosts dive into the raw realities of burnout and grief as entrepreneurs with ADHD. They candidly discuss the struggle to regain focus and establish healthy work habits. Listeners hear about the healing power of changing environments and the importance of social connections. Emotional hurdles like guilt and invalidation are tackled, emphasizing self-care and acceptance. Additionally, the balance between routine and spontaneity is explored, revealing tips for managing distractions while celebrating creativity.
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May 6, 2025 • 42min

59: Unmasked and Understood - A Recap of NeuroDiversion 2025

In this episode of ADHD Founders, hosts Jesse, Marie, and Sharon reconnect after meeting in person for the first time at the NeuroDiversion Conference — a groundbreaking event for neurodivergent entrepreneurs and creators. They share personal reflections on what it meant to unmask, connect, and be surrounded by a community that gets it. From the joys of real-life hugs to insights on building authentic support networks, this conversation is a heartfelt celebration of ADHD, entrepreneurship, and friendship.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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