Reflections of an ADHD Strategist: My Journey Hosting the Podcast

When I started the "Diary of an ADHD Strategist PODCAST," I never anticipated the remarkable community that would form around it.

Sitting in my recording space, surrounded by equipment that took me months to figure out (classic ADHD rabbit hole research), I find myself reflecting on the connections, conversations, and patterns that have emerged over countless episodes.

The Alternative Career Club

I've lost count of how many times I've heard a guest say something along the lines of, "I just couldn't make the traditional work environment work for me."

It's become clear that my virtual sofa has become a meeting point for what I affectionately call the "Alternative Career Club" – professionals who discovered the standard nine-to-five was about as comfortable as wearing shoes on the wrong feet.

"I kept hitting the same wall," one of my favorite guests, a former corporate employee turned ADHD coach, told me. "Eventually I realized the wall wasn't going anywhere, but I could."

That sentiment has echoed through so many conversations that it might as well be our unofficial motto.

What fascinates me most about the coaches and consultants who join me isn't just that they offer advice – we all know the internet isn't exactly experiencing a shortage in that department – but how they've repositioned neurodiversity as an advantage rather than an obstacle.

They're not just working around ADHD; they're leveraging it, using their unique perspectives to support others traveling similar paths.

I remember nodding vigorously when a business consultant told me during her episode: "I don't succeed despite my ADHD. On my best days, I succeed because of it.

I see connections others miss." It was one of those moments where I wanted to reach through my microphone and high-five her.

Entrepreneurship: Our Natural Habitat

If there's one thing I've noticed about my guests, it's that you can't swing a virtual cat without hitting an entrepreneur.

This prevalence initially surprised me, but the more conversations I have, the more the connection between ADHD and entrepreneurship makes perfect sense.

For most of us with ADHD, entrepreneurship offers something precious: freedom to design workflows around our natural rhythms rather than forcing ourselves to adapt to rigid external structures.

I've smiled knowingly as guests describe building businesses that accommodate their neurodivergent needs – from PR specialists helping "oddball" entrepreneurs find their voice to software developers creating tools specifically for brains like ours.

I'll never forget when one guest described the traditional career ladder as "a game of Snakes and Ladders where someone kept adding extra snakes when I wasn't looking."

I laughed so hard I nearly knocked over my microphone stand.

What I value most in these conversations is the honesty. None of my guests pretend entrepreneurship is some magical solution that makes all ADHD challenges disappear.

We discuss the administrative tasks that pile up during creative hyperfocus, the feast-or-famine cycles of productivity, the sometimes overwhelming responsibility of being your own boss.

But underneath these candid accounts, there's an unmistakable sense of liberation.

As one social media strategist put it – and I quote this often – "I'd rather deal with the chaos I create than the chaos created by a system that wasn't built for brains like mine."

The Power of Personal Stories

The most meaningful aspect of hosting this podcast has been creating a space where people feel safe enough to share not just their professional achievements but their personal journeys.

I've worked hard to foster an environment where guests can venture beyond rehearsed narratives into the messy, complicated reality of navigating professional landscapes with neurodivergent minds.

I've had the privilege of witnessing deeply moving moments.

A successful business owner describing the exact moment they realized they weren't "broken," just different.

A productivity coach revealing strategies developed through years of painful trial and error.

Entrepreneurs recounting turning points that transformed their perceived weaknesses into recognized strengths.

These aren't the sanitized success stories we're used to hearing.

They're raw, complicated, and refreshingly authentic accounts that often leave me emotional behind my microphone.

The vulnerability my guests display creates connections not just with me but with listeners who tell me they finally feel understood and less alone.

The Art of Natural Conversation

People often ask about my interviewing "technique," but the truth is, I don't really have one.

What I do have is genuine curiosity and a preference for organic discussions over structured questions.

I call them "natural conversations" because that's exactly what they are – the kind of exchanges that might happen if we were just chatting over coffee without microphones present.

I've found that this approach creates space for the spontaneity that characterizes many neurodivergent minds, allowing our conversations to flow toward unexpected and often profound territory.

Some of the most impactful moments on the podcast have come from these unplanned detours – insights that might never have surfaced if I'd stuck rigidly to prepared questions.

My goal has always been to make these conversations feel like the listener is eavesdropping on an enlightening chat between friends – one that happens to be packed with valuable insights about navigating the world with ADHD.

A Mission That Matters

What connects the diverse individuals who've joined me on this podcast is a genuine desire to help others.

Whether they're offering executive function strategies, mindset shifts, or simply the comfort of shared experience, there's an authentic intention to make a positive difference that transcends typical business motivations.

This isn't to suggest we're all floating above commercial concerns – we're professionals building careers, after all.

But I've observed across countless conversations an unmistakable sense that success is viewed as a means rather than an end – a way to expand positive impact rather than simply accumulate resources.

I often think about what one business coach told me: "I measure success differently now.

It's less about what I earn and more about who I help. Though," she added with a laugh that had me grinning, "paying my bills is still rather nice."

That balance between purpose and practicality seems to define many of our approaches.

Embracing Vulnerability

Perhaps what makes me proudest of this podcast community is the refreshing comfort with vulnerability.

My guests speak openly about failures, self-doubt, and ongoing challenges – creating an atmosphere where authentic struggle isn't hidden beneath polished professional veneers.

This openness serves multiple purposes. It demystifies success, making it seem more achievable.

It normalizes the challenges of neurodivergent experiences.

And perhaps most importantly, it models the very self-acceptance many of us advocate for in our professional work.

The Journey Continues…

What started as my personal project has evolved into something far more meaningful – a hub for a growing community united not just by shared neurological traits but by shared values: authenticity, adaptability, mutual support, and the courage to forge unconventional paths.

As I prepare for my next recording session, I'm filled with gratitude for the community that has formed around these conversations.

The "Diary of an ADHD Strategist PODCAST" has become more than just audio content; it's a reminder that sometimes the most insightful discussions happen when you get rid of the script and just have a proper chat, with a good dose of humour to keep things from getting too heavy.

And who knows? Maybe you'll join us and find your fellow wonderfully wired souls along the way.

authenticcity, adaptability, mutual support, and the courage