

ADHD Essentials
Brendan Mahan
ADHD Podcast for Parents and Educators
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 11, 2019 • 38min
54: Being Outrageous to Keep Their Attention, with Lauren Mahan, teacher. (Special Guest Appearances by Nathan and Gavin Mahan)
Lauren Mahan is a fourth-grade teacher in Massachusetts, and my sister! That’s right, I’m celebrating the anniversary of the pod with family! And since Nathan and Gavin are in fourth grade this year, and Lauren is their aunt, we had them sit in on the interview, and contribute their thoughts. You’ll hear about 4th grade from both sides of the teacher desk. (As well as on top of it!)
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
Why teaching every kid like they have ADHD works
How costumes affect the classroom
The influence of Ms. Frizzle
Showing your work
"Sideways Stories from Wayside School"
Writing on desks in math
Teaching on tables
ADHD is more than one fire to put out
Teaching sarcasm and fidgets
The importance of recess
The power of class pets
ADHD & Anxiety
If the kids didn't learn it, you didn't teach it
ADHD Essentials Links:
Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
ADHD Essentials Homepage
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com
Join Our Facebook Community

Jan 4, 2019 • 18min
53: Three Tiered Goal Setting & 2019 Intentions
In today's episode, I walk us through how I'm setting my goals for 2019. I think you'll find it useful. In fact, this is probably a good one to share with your middle school and older kids.
Shameless Plugs:
Join Our Facebook Community
Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups!
Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/.
Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
Intentions vs. Resolutions
Setting goals with emotions in mind
SMART Goals
Pre-Mortems
Brendan's quest for a Black Belt
The role shame plays in derailing us from our goals
Using accountability & scheduling to keep our goals on track
Alexa as a reminder tool
The power of being a role model for our kids as a motivation tool
Happy New Year!
ADHD Essentials Links:
Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
ADHD Essentials Homepage
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com
Join Our Facebook Community

Dec 28, 2018 • 32min
52: ADHD and Giftedness with Dr. Robert Gruberman
Kids with both ADHD and giftedness, and often referred too as "Twice Exceptional". Today, we're talking about them. (But not behind they're back. They're welcome to listen in.)
Our guest for today's episode is Dr. Robert Gruberman.
Robert is the director of his school district’s gifted and talented program. He has been assessing and teaching gifted children in his district for nearly two decades, and has been a public educator for even longer.
In today’s episode, we discuss ADHD and giftedness through the lens of an academic expert in the field. We talk about the various components of giftedness, and where they overlap with ADHD, the social emotional side of giftedness, how twice exceptional kids are affected by having both ADHD and giftedness, and how to help kids with ADHD, giftedness, or both, manage the challenges they face.
Shameless Plugs:
Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups!
Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/.
Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
The various components of Giftedness
The Social-Emotional side of Giftedness
Models of the solar system upsetting a 4-year-old
The overlap between ADHD & Giftedness
Giftedness & ADHD are not two sides of the same coin
Shared characteristics, arrived at differently
But there’s lots of crossover
Giftedness and ADHD can exacerbate each other when they co-occur.
When school challenges become home challenges
Work in short bursts toward small, manageable goals
The importance of getting kids invested
The power of choice
Peer support
“All Summer in A Day”
Don’t rush to judgement
ADHD Essentials Links:
Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
ADHD Essentials Homepage
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com
Join Our Facebook Community

Dec 21, 2018 • 37min
51: Gifted with ADHD, with Aurora Remember Holtzman, ADHD & Gifted mother of an ADHD & Gifted Child
Today, we’re talking to Aurora Remember Holtzman.
Aurora is a school psychologist, host of the “Embracing Intensity” podcast, and a twice exceptional mother of a twice exceptional son. They both have ADHD and giftedness.
In today’s episode, we’re talking ADHD and giftedness through the lens of someone who’s living it. We explore growing up gifted, impulsiveness vs impulsiveness, the value of teachers who “get” your kid, and the importance of learning to self-regulate as a parent.
Guest Links:
Aurora's Website: http://www.auroraremember.com
Embracing Intensity Podcast: http://www.auroraremember.com/embracing-intensity
Shameless Plugs:
Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers.
Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups!
Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/
Join the ADHD Essentials Facebook Community
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
Growing up Gifted with ADHD
High achievers will achieve regardless of supports
Gifted kids struggling with Executive Function of Social Skills need support
The value of growing up with a foundation of acceptance and love
Adulting can be a challenge
Aurora’s son being too distractible to nurse
The effects of missing meds
Missing meds is not an excuse for poor behavior
Looking for the off-kilter reasons for behavior
Compulsive or Impulsive?
Looking at behavior through the lens of Dopamine
Relationships with teachers affects engagement
Exponential reactions to stressors
“Self Reg” by Stuart Shanker
It's hard to not escalate when your kid is melting down
The importance of learning to self-regulate as a parent
Weaknesses as the flipside of a strengths

Dec 14, 2018 • 48min
50: Talking to Our Kids About Sex (Our Context is Not Their Context) with Erika Miley, Mental and Sexual Health Therapist
We made it to 50 episodes!! Thanks for being a part of it
!!
You might want to preview this if you tend to listen with your kids, because in this episode, we're discussing how to talk to our kids about sex.
Today, Erika Miley guides us through talking to our kids about sex. We start with talking to younger kids about sex, and the move on to older kids as the episode progresses. Regardless of the age of your child, there should be something in this episode that you find useful.
You can find Erika at www.ErikaMiley.com.
Shameless Plugs:
I’m offering 3 sessions of the ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups. They’ll start the week of Jnaiuary 20th. One session will be at noon on Mondays and Wednesdays. Another at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and the final session will be Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5pm.
Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers.
Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups!
Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/.
Registration closes next Friday, December 21st.
Guest Links:
You can find Erika at www.ErikaMiley.com.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
Kids can learn about it from you, or from the internet. Your choice.
When to start talking to kids about sex
Where to begin when talking about sex. (Hint: It’s not intercourse.)
Typical developmental behavior
Helping kids understand consent
You don’t need to tell the about everything at once.
The importance of really listening
Times to talk to kids about sexual safety
Why we shouldn’t use cutesy names for genitalia
Sex talk with older kids
The importance of open-ended questions
Ask the question, shut your mouth
“Let me give you context.”
It’s okay to say, “You don’t want to know.”
Working as a parenting team
Porn will come to your kids
And it’s performance. Not reality
Where to get better sex info
Scarleteen.com
Every question is an opportunity
Give the gift of curiosity
Our context is not their context
Kids talk above their heads
Dopamine seeking behavior & playing with sexual language
Framing sex conversations around family values
Relationships > Sex

Dec 7, 2018 • 40min
49: Talking Organization with Cindy Jobs, Professional Organizer & ADHD Coach
Today, we’re talking to Cindy Jobs.
Cindy is a professional organizer and ADHD coach who I met at last month’s ADHD conference. And I’m really glad I did, because organization is a thing we ADHD folks tend to struggle with.
In today’s episode, we talk about organization as a balance between space and stuff, the clutter/anxiety connection, and making holiday kits.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
Why Cindy enjoys working with ADHD folks
The benefits of having a "Why"
Organization takes time
Brendan's two organizational insights (that came to him really late in life)
Clutter correlating with anxiety
Closet drama
Getting rid of duplicates
Looking at space like real estate
Storing like things together
Organizing through kits
The geography of organization
Reducing the barrier to entry
Reducing the barrier to completion
Organizational consent
Guest Links:
Cindy's Website: https://www.cindyjobs.com
ADHD Essentials Links:
Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
ADHD Essentials Homepage
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com
Join Our Facebook Community

Nov 30, 2018 • 47min
48: An ADHD View from Down Under with Jon Hassall of Connect ADHD
Jon and his wife Monica run Connect ADHD out of Australia. Jon’s a brilliant guy, and we go deep on multiple topics related to ADHD. In today’s episode, we talk about how ADHD leads to our kids’ behavioral explosions, how environment affects our ADHD, the importance of science in ADHD.
I got to spend time with Jon (and Monica. Her workshop was excellent!) at this year's ADHD conference, and editing the show this week felt like I was reuniting with him. I look forward to continuing our relationship in the future.
Guest Links:
Jon’s Website: http://www.connectadhd.com
Shameless Plugs:
Go to https://www.adhdrewired.com/events/ for details about the monthly Q&A with Eric Tivers.
Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups!
Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
Jon’s ADHD Origin Story
ADHD Coaches as the Missing Link for Big Pharma
How Jon works with his clients
ADHD & Potential
Why Scientific Studies spoke to Jon
ADHD & moments of connection
How & Why Brendan does his first sessions.
ADHD Explosions: The Neurochemistry, and recovering afterward
Fight, Flight, Freeze, (Fib)
Forgiving & Fixing
The Underpinning of “We’re all good people”
Russell Barkley’s Extended Phenotype model of ADHD
Brendan’s Executive Function Algebra
Jon’s Performance Influences Model for Executive Function
The Myths of ADHD
Monitoring your inner voice
Using Monitoring, Referencing, and Self-Direction to manage ADHD
ADHD Essentials Links:
Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
ADHD Essentials Homepage
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com
Join Our Facebook Community

Nov 23, 2018 • 42min
47: The History of ADHD at School with Richard Kelley, Veteran Educator for Over Four Decades
Today, we’re talking to Richard Kelley!
I've received excellent feedback on past episodes that looked at the history of ADHD through a personal lens. So, I decided to bring in my friend Richard Kelley. Rich is an Assistant Executive Director with the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA). And he has been working in education for longer than I've ben alive. (Admittedly, only by a year.)
(Side note: I erroneously identify Rich as the President of MSAA during the interview. Thankfully, he corrected me. Sometimes the ADHD wins.)
In today’s episode, Rich shares his experience as an educator for over 42 years, and how he’s seen the approach to ADHD at school change over the decades. It's an interesting conversation. I hope you enjoy it!
ADHD Essentials Links:
Learn about & Register for The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups
ADHD Essentials Homepage
Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com
Join Our Facebook Community

Nov 16, 2018 • 47min
46: This ADHD Life with Keith Griffin, ADHD Coach
Today, we’re talking to Keith Griffin!
Keith is an ADHD coach, and host of “This ADHD Life” on YouTube. He’s also got a webinar on surviving the holidays with ADHD coming up through the Attention Deficit Disorder Association.
Keith can be found at ThisADHDLife.com.
In Today’s Episode We Discuss:
Information Overload
How music can help our morning routines
No screens in the bedroom
Productivity Tips
Tragic Stories
How to Positivify
Brendan's "Today's Awesome" gimmick on FB
The difference between eating watermelon and eating grapes
Self advocacy
And doing less
Shameless Self Promotion:
Learn about The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups!
Or register at https://www.adhdessentials.com/sign-up/.
Don't forget to give us a 5-Star rating & review on iTunes! Thanks!

Nov 9, 2018 • 5min
45: Done is Better than Perfect at the International Conference on ADHD 2018
I'm at the International Conference on ADHD. Here is a brief episode where I share a few takeaways.


