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Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson

Rae Jacobson, Understood.org

Hyperfocus is a show that zeroes in on what fascinates us about ADHD, mental health, and learning.

Big questions like, “Does ADHD make you more likely to have postpartum depression?” Little nitpicks (TikTok was wrong about something?!), and personal conversations with everyone from old bosses and hilarious comedians, to leading researchers.

Because on this show, hyperfocus isn’t the distraction — it’s the assignment.

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  • 25 episodes
  • fortnightly
  • Avg 26 min
  • English

Episodes 25

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  • #37
    January 15 · 41 min

    Kids are at a breaking point, and school policies might be to blame

    U.S. kids are more depressed, stressed, and anxious than ever. ADHD and autism diagnosis rates are steadily rising. What’s going on? In this episode of Hyperfocus, journalist Jia Lynn Yang joins Rae to examine how major school policy shifts in the U.S. have changed what’s expected of kids, often with unintended — and serious — consequences. Drawing from her New York Times reporting and her personal experience as a parent, Jia Lynn explores whether school itself may be contributing to the cri

  • #36
    Dec 18, 2025 · 26 min

    How are ADHD and chronic pain connected?

    If you have ADHD or autism, research shows you’re at a much higher risk for developing chronic pain — a connection many doctors and patients still don’t know about. In this episode of Hyperfocus, we talk with a doctor who’s trying to change that. Dr. Michael Lenz, a Wisconsin-based pain specialist, explains what the medical community is discovering about the connection between ADHD, autism, and chronic pain, including conditions like fibromyalgia and migraines. He also shares stories from his p

  • #35
    Dec 4, 2025 · 48 min

    The over-pathologizing of ADHD (From Hacking Your ADHD)

    This week on Hyperfocus, Rae is in the guest seat for an appearance on Hacking Your ADHD, a podcast hosted by William Curb. Listen for a fascinating conversation on a topic that’s really common in ADHD circles: the tendency to attribute everyday behaviors to ADHD.

  • #33
    Nov 20, 2025 · 21 min

    Trans with ADHD: Finding good care shouldn’t be this hard

    One of the most urgent ADHD research gaps has to do with ADHD and trans people. We know there are lots of trans folks with ADHD. But when it comes to understanding how best to treat them, it’s a whole different story. That’s why we wanted to talk to someone who knows this experience well. Ivan Hsiao is the founder of Trans Health HQ. He joined this week’s Hyperfocus to share his own diagnosis story and to talk about what we do (and don’t) know about being trans with ADHD.

  • #34
    Nov 6, 2025 · 37 min

    The uncertain future of special education in the United States

    Last month, the Trump administration laid off over 460 people in the U.S. Department of Education. It included nearly everyone in the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), which enforces federal special education laws. A federal judge has temporarily halted the layoffs, but it’s unclear what will happen next. For people who work in or rely on special education services — including 7.5 million kids — the chaos and worry have already begun. So on this week’s Hyperfocus, we wanted to talk

Showing 21–25 of 25 episodes