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Learn to Thrive with ADHD Podcast

Mande John

Welcome to the Learn to Thrive with ADHD Podcast. This is the show for you if you’re an adult with ADHD or ADHD-like symptoms and you need help. Do you feel like your symptoms are holding you back from reaching your full potential? Are you frustrated, unmotivated and overwhelmed?

Many people aren’t aware that ADHD coaching is even an option. Perhaps you are newly diagnosed, or not diagnosed, but you check all the boxes and you’re finding it difficult to cope in certain areas of your life. Host, Mande John and ADHD coach, is here to help. Each week, you’ll get solutions and practical advice to navigate ADHD symptoms and live a productive life.

On the podcast, you’ll hear from coaches and clients who share real-world applications, tools, and resources that you can apply to your own life. We can be creatives, entrepreneurs, or multi-passionate people, and not know how to organize our ideas, or even how to take action on them. With Mande John as your guide in the area of ADHD coaching, she’ll show you how to transform your life when you apply the tools to help you be more focused, less overwhelmed, and be a person that commits and stays the course. Are you ready for a life-changing experience? Let’s go!

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#142
Thursday · 22 min
Ep 142: Does ADHD Coaching Work? What the Research Actually Shows
If you're going to spend your time and money on ADHD coaching, it's reasonable to want to know whether there's any evidence that it actually helps. I'm an ADHD coach, but my experience with my clients isn't the same thing as scientific evidence, and I don't want you to take my word for it just because I'm a coach. So I went looking at the research to see what we actually know. This is part 3 of my six-part series on ADHD coaching. Today we look at what the research tells us, what it doesn't tell us, and how you can tell whether coaching is making a difference in your own life. In this episode: What it means for ADHD coaching to "work," and why my first question is "works for what?" What a March 2026 study of 12 individual coaching sessions for adults with ADHD found Why the lack of a control group matters, and what we can and can't conclude What happened six weeks after coaching ended What earlier research, mostly with college students, tells us Why "promising" is the word I'd use for the research right now What should actually change when you work with an ADHD coach What ADHD coaching can't do What to think about if you've tried coaching and it didn't help How to tell whether your coaching is working, and why getting better at doing it on your own matters Research mentioned in this episode: Ahmann, E., Saviet, M., & Otto, M. (2026, March). Coaching for Adults With ADHD: A Prospective Study. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276261432960 Ahmann, E., Saviet, M., & Otto, M. (2026, August). Coaching for Adults With ADHD: Gains at a Six-Week Follow-Up. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276261473877 Parker, D. R., Hoffman, S. F., Sawilowsky, S., & Rolands, L. (2011). An Examination of the Effects of ADHD Coaching on University Students' Executive Functioning. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 24(2), 115–132. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ943698 Álvarez-Godos, M., Ferreira, C., & Vieira, M. J. (2023). A systematic review of actions aimed at university students with ADHD. Frontiers in Psychology. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1216692 Try this: If you're working with a coach, ask yourself: What is different now that wasn't different before? Be specific. Missed part 2? Ep 141: Do You Need an ADHD Coach, a Therapist, or Both? https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/adhd-coach-or-therapist/ Next week: How much does ADHD coaching cost? Is it worth the investment? And how do you know whether you're choosing the right coach? I'm reopening my group coaching program in November. Join the waitlist to hear when enrollment opens. On the same page, if you'd prefer one-on-one coaching, you can book a consultation with me: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/services Not ready for coaching? Join my free weekly newsletter for practical ADHD tools and ideas you can use in your everyday life: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly Coaching isn't a cure for ADHD, and it isn't a replacement for medical care or mental health treatment. The 2026 study looked at 12 individual coaching sessions, so its results can't be assumed for every coaching program, including group coaching. Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#141
October 22 · 18 min
Ep 141: Do You Need an ADHD Coach, a Therapist, or Both?
You've decided you want some help with your ADHD. You're ready for support. But now there's another decision: do you need an ADHD coach, a therapist, or both? If you're not sure what the difference is, you're not alone. One explanation I hear all the time is that therapy focuses on the past and coaching focuses on the future. I've never liked it, because it isn't accurate. The real differences have more to do with the type of work being done and the professional's role. This is part 2 of my six-part series on ADHD coaching. Today we look at the differences between coaching and therapy, where they overlap, and how to decide what kind of help makes the most sense for you. In this episode: Why "therapy is the past, coaching is the future" doesn't hold up Starting with what you actually need help with What an ADHD coach helps with, using a workweek that falls apart by Wednesday What a therapist helps with, and why therapy can be very practical Where coaching and therapy overlap: emotions and executive function How the same problem, like missing deadlines, can have different causes Working with a coach and a therapist at the same time Professional qualifications and boundaries, and why recognizing limits is a good sign How to decide where to start, and questions to ask before you begin Try this: Before you decide who to call, ask yourself: What am I struggling with, and what kind of help am I looking for? Missed part 1? Ep 140: What Does an ADHD Coach Actually Do? https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/what-does-an-adhd-coach-do/ Next week: Does ADHD coaching actually work? I'm reopening my group coaching program in November. If you'd like to hear when enrollment opens, join the group coaching waitlist on my Services page: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/services You can also join my free weekly newsletter, where I share practical ideas and tools for managing ADHD in your everyday life: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly This episode is for education only. It isn't medical or mental health advice. If you're having suicidal thoughts or are concerned about your immediate safety, please seek urgent mental health support (call or text 988 in the U.S.) rather than relying on coaching. Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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October 15 · 19 min
Ep 140: What Does an ADHD Coach Actually Do? What a Coaching Session Looks Like
You know you need to use your calendar. You know breaking big projects into smaller steps helps. You've probably heard a hundred times that routines are good for ADHD. But knowing all of that doesn't mean you're actually doing it. That gap is one of the most common things I hear from adults with ADHD, and it's one of the reasons people look for ADHD coaching. I talk about coaching all the time on this podcast, but I haven't spent much time explaining what it actually is. So this episode kicks off a six-part series on ADHD coaching: how it works, what you can expect, and how to figure out whether it's the right kind of support for you. Today we're starting with the basics. In this episode: What ADHD coaching actually is: a collaborative process, not someone running your life Why the problem you notice (like always running late) often has something different going on underneath The gap between knowing and doing, using bedtime as an example A walk-through of what a coaching session can look like, and my Review, Revise, Recommit framework Why coaching is more than accountability What people work on with an ADHD coach (it's not only time management and organization) Why ADHD-specific knowledge makes a difference What coaching isn't: it doesn't replace medical care, diagnosis, medication management, or mental health treatment What progress looks like, and how to tell whether coaching could help you Try this: Think of one area where you already know what you need to do but you're having trouble following through. Instead of looking for another piece of advice, ask: What have I tried? What happened? What could I change next time? Next week: ADHD coaching vs. therapy. Read the blog post: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/adhd-coaching-session/ I'm reopening my ADHD group coaching program in November. If you've been thinking about getting some support with your ADHD, see my coaching options, book a call, or join the group coaching waitlist on my Services page: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/services Would you rather start with some practical ADHD tools and ideas you can use on your own? Get on my email list: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#139
October 11 · 8 min
Ep 139: Why Am I So Inconsistent With ADHD? Why You Can Do It One Day and Not the Next
Have you ever gotten a ton done one day, and then a day or two later you couldn't get started on the exact same thing? It's so frustrating, because you know you can do it. You already did it. In this episode, I talk about why performance can be so inconsistent with ADHD, and why that doesn't mean something is wrong with you. Something changed. I'll walk you through how to notice what was different on the easier days, how to stop using your good days against yourself, and how to plan for the harder days with minimums and maximums. Key takeaways: Inconsistency is a real part of ADHD. Researchers call it intra-individual variability: your performance can vary from one time to another, and people with ADHD tend to show more of it. Swap "What's wrong with me today?" for "What was different when this was easier?" Energy, stress, sleep, clarity, deadlines, interest, and how much is pulling at your attention can all change. Your best day is not your new minimum. Use good days to learn what helps you, not as proof you should always be able to do more. On a harder day, look at what's missing and make just one adjustment: clarify the first step, ask someone to check in, or give yourself 20 minutes instead of two hours. Set a minimum and a maximum so you have another option besides doing everything or doing nothing. The amount changes, but you're still moving forward. Find your patterns with the ADHD Performance Pattern Finder, a short interactive quiz that builds your personalized plan: https://www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/patternfinder Read the blog post: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/adhd-inconsistent-performance/ A short ADHD coaching series is coming soon. I'll share more when it's ready. Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#138
October 1 · 16 min
Ep 138 - ADHD Energy Reset
Coach Mande John got on a coaching call last week feeling mentally and physically exhausted - a high-energy new puppy, big projects in motion, and the sense that everything was taking more out of her than she had to give. She got off that call with more energy and a clearer head. Nothing in her life had changed. The puppy was still there. The projects were still there. So what shifted? This episode is about ADHD mental energy: the difference between what's actually happening and everything your brain adds on top of it. Mande walks through why ADHD already takes so much energy to manage, why cognitive fusion (a concept from Russ Harris's The Happiness Trap) can make a passing thought feel like a fact, and why reframing "I have to" as "I choose to" changed how heavy her puppy, her projects, and her ADHD systems felt — without making any of them easier. This isn't "just think positive." Mande is clear: sometimes you're just tired, and your body needs rest. But sometimes there's real tiredness, and then there's a whole extra layer stacked on top of it — and those two things need different solutions. ✅ Why ADHD already asks so much of your energy ✅ The difference between facts and the stories we add to them ✅ "I have to" vs. "I get to" vs. "I choose to" — and why the last one matters most ✅ Cognitive fusion and why a thought can feel like a fact ✅ How to tell real exhaustion from added mental weight ✅ A simple set of questions for when something feels heavier than it should 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. 📄 Grab the free ADHD Energy Worksheet: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/adhdenergy 💼 Book a free coaching consultation: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/services #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note. Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#137
September 24 · 19 min
Ep 137 - How to Get Big Projects Done With ADHD (Without the Overwhelm)
Big projects can feel especially heavy with ADHD — not because you can't do hard things, but because a "big project" usually isn't one task. It's 20 to 100 of them, and a lot of those steps aren't even visible until you've finished the ones before them. In this episode, Coach Mande John shares how she's currently moving six big projects forward at once, using a simple framework: Plan, Build, Run. She breaks down the difference between work that just finishes a task and work that makes all future work easier — the kind of "setting the foundation" work that feels slower today but saves you from redoing the same decisions over and over. You'll hear how Mande used this exact approach to finally remodel her laundry room (and eliminate dozens of tiny daily decisions through something called cognitive offloading), how she and her husband overhauled their gym's outdated membership system by giving the project "somewhere to live" on the calendar, and how to tell the difference between useful setup work and just decorating a project to avoid the part that actually matters. ✅ Why big projects feel so heavy with ADHD ✅ The Plan, Build, Run framework ✅ Cognitive offloading and why it matters ✅ How to protect a big project from everything else competing for it ✅ How to make today smaller without making the project smaller ✅ Setup work vs. "decorating the project" 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. 📬 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly 💼 Book a free coaching consultation: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/services #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#136
September 17 · 19 min
Ep 136 - Do I Have ADHD? Adult ADHD Signs, Symptoms, and When to Get Evaluated
Have you ever read about ADHD and thought, "That's me" - then immediately talked yourself out of it because "doesn't everybody do that sometimes"? This episode is for you. Coach Mande John separates ordinary distraction - the kind driven by notifications, stress, and a world built to pull your attention in a hundred directions - from what ADHD actually looks like. She walks through executive function, the DSM-5-TR criteria clinicians use to diagnose ADHD in adults, and the most common reasons people rule themselves out without realizing it ("I did well in school," "I'm not hyperactive," "I can focus for hours when something interests me"). Mande also shares her own path to diagnosis - which, for her, wasn't a big revelation but a confirmation of patterns she'd already recognized - and what it actually takes to get evaluated: who to see, what to expect, and what happens after you have an answer. This episode won't diagnose you. It will help you ask sharper questions. ✅ Why modern life affects everyone's attention, and how that's different from ADHD ✅ What executive function means and why ADHD is more than "can't focus" ✅ The DSM-5-TR criteria clinicians actually use ✅ Why not remembering ADHD as a kid doesn't rule it out ✅ Whether you actually need a formal diagnosis ✅ What to expect from an evaluation and how to find the right person ✅ What happens after you know 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. 📬 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#135
September 10 · 23 min
Ep 135 - Is ADHD Really a Superpower? What Faster Than Normal Gets Right
Is ADHD really a superpower? Coach Mande John has mixed feelings about that word - and this episode explains why. Using Peter Shankman's book Faster Than Normal as a jumping-off point, Mande explores the real strengths that often come with ADHD: fast thinking, creativity, risk-taking, hyperfocus, curiosity, and the willingness to do things other people wouldn't consider. But she's also honest about the flip side — the same traits that build an interesting life can make that life harder to manage without the right support. You'll hear why self-awareness matters more than willpower, why rituals beat resolutions for ADHD brains, how environment quietly shapes how well you function, and why Mande's own two-part framework — executive function plus mind management — is what actually makes strengths usable day to day. This isn't about forcing yourself to call ADHD a gift, and it's not about pretending the hard parts aren't hard. It's about seeing yourself more completely — not just where you struggle, but where your brain already helps you. ✅ What Faster Than Normal gets right about ADHD strengths ✅ Why the same trait can help you and hurt you ✅ Rituals vs. resolutions — and why ADHD brains need the former ✅ How to design your environment instead of relying on discipline ✅ The two-part framework: executive function + mind management ✅ Why copying someone else's system isn't the goal — knowing your own brain is 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. 📬 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly 💼 Book a free coaching consultation: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/services #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#134
September 4 · 28 min
Ep 134 - REBROADCAST How To Create a Great Week
This week's episode is a rebroadcast of a fan-favorite: How to Create a Great Week. Coach Mande revisits her go-to process for ADHD weekly planning — one that goes way beyond typical time management advice. Before diving back in, Mande shares what she now understands even more clearly: your great week isn't a contract you have to prove you can follow. It's a draft — your best guess based on what matters to you, your responsibilities, and the capacity you actually have right now. Inside the episode, you'll walk through the five steps to build your own great week: asking the important questions, identifying non-negotiable responsibilities, mapping weekly tasks, plugging it all into a week view, and creating space to evaluate and adjust. Mande also shares personal examples — from delegating dinner to timing her laundry — and the "don't miss twice" mindset that makes consistency sustainable. Grab the free workbook to follow along at learntothrivewithadhd.com/greatweek. Links: 🌐 Website: https://www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/ 💬 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learntothrivewithadhd/ 💬 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learntothrivewithadhd/ 🔗 LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/learntothrivewithadhd Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#133
August 27 · 32 min
Ep 133 - REBROADCAST You Know What to Do, So Why Aren’t You Doing It?
You know exactly what to do. So why aren't you doing it? This gap between what you know and what you do is called the knowing-doing gap. And for those of us with ADHD, it's not just frustrating - it's painful. Because we're smart enough to see the gap. We're aware enough to know we're not bridging it. But here's what most people don't realize: The gap isn't about lack of knowledge. It's about your beliefs. In Episode 133 (rebroadcast), I break down the knowing-doing gap and the limiting beliefs that create it. What's Inside: ✓ What the knowing-doing gap is (and why ADHD people feel it so intensely) ✓ How your beliefs directly create the gap ✓ Hand-me-down beliefs (where they came from) ✓ Self-sabotage (why you protect beliefs that aren't true) ✓ The thoughts-feelings-actions chain (how it all connects) ✓ Fear in the gap (what you're really afraid of) ✓ The 3-question framework (that reveals everything) ✓ Reframing techniques (that actually work) ✓ Practical steps (to bridge your gap) Key Quote: "You are brilliant, creative, amazing people. You know what to do and I really believe that is what makes it painful to those of us with ADHD. Were we ignorant we wouldn't feel out of alignment with who we are." – Mande Perfect For: ✓ Anyone stuck between knowing and doing ✓ ADHD people frustrated with the gap ✓ Those who know what to do but don't do it ✓ Anyone ready to examine their beliefs ✓ People tired of trying harder Resources: 📚 "I Know What To Do, So Why Don't I Do It?" by Nick Hall, Ph.D. (available on Audible) 📄 Free Knowing-Doing Gap Workbook → learntothrivewithadhd.com/freeresources/ Links: 🌐 Website: https://www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/ 💬 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learntothrivewithadhd/ 💬 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/learntothrivewithadhd/ 🔗 LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/learntothrivewithadhd Send a voice message: https://www.speakpipe.com/learntothrivewithadhd Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#132
August 20 · 33 min
Ep 132 - REBROADCAST ADHD Time Management: The System That Finally Worked for Me
🎯 REBROADCAST This important episode is back because it deserves another listen. "You cannot fit what's important to you into the cracks of time that you have." In this episode, Mande breaks down her personal time management system—the one that transformed her from someone who thought she couldn't manage time to someone who uses these tools daily to run multiple businesses, show up for family, and actually get things done. What's Inside: The Google Calendar + Acuity Scheduling foundation How to set up a "Now vs. Not Now" list Why offloading everything from your brain changes everything Trello for delegation and project tracking Time blocking without feeling restricted The routines that saved her life (and can save yours) Why mind management matters as much as time management Daily vs. weekly planning strategies The visual timer hack How to track planned vs. actual time Key Quote: "Routine is a vegetable—you don't want it, but you need it." Tools Mentioned: Google Calendar, Acuity Scheduling, Trello, Tul Planner, Time Timer, ChatGPT voice feature, voice notes, Post-its Perfect For: ✓ Anyone with ADHD who feels stuck managing their time ✓ People running their own business ✓ Those juggling multiple priorities ✓ Anyone who's tried systems and given up ✓ People looking to actually accomplish their goals Click here for show note Download Your Free Resource: Time Management Action Sheet → learntothrivewithadhd.com/timemanagement Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#131
August 13 · 19 min
Ep 131 - The Busy ADHD Brain: How Constant Input Is Stealing Your Focus
You're not short on information. You're buried in it. And if you're a professional or entrepreneur with ADHD, you probably take in information all day long- messages, email, podcasts, saved posts - and it's all useful. That's exactly what makes it hard to notice when it becomes too much. In this episode, Coach Mande John explores why constant input can leave an ADHD brain feeling unfocused, even when nothing is technically wrong with your ability to focus. She breaks down the stress stimulation loop, the difference between purposeful and avoidant input, and why removing the phone doesn't fix the problem if the underlying discomfort never gets addressed. Then she offers a small, sustainable "attention reset" you can start using today. ✅ Why busy and effective aren't the same thing ✅ The stress stimulation loop, and how it quietly overloads your brain ✅ Purposeful input vs. reactive input vs. avoidant input ✅ Why more research can become a way to delay a decision, not clarify it ✅ How to build a small attention reset instead of a full digital detox ✅ Why quiet, unfilled moments matter for creativity and clarity 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. 📬 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly 💼 Work with Mande: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/services #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#130
August 6 · 24 min
Ep 130 - High-Performing With ADHD: Why Success Still Feels So Hard
Can you handle a massive project with a million moving parts, but still can't answer one simple email for three weeks? You might already be a high performer — and this episode is for you. Coach Mande John speaks directly to ADHD adults who create impressive results, but only through pressure, urgency, and last-minute effort. From the outside, everything looks successful. On the inside, it can feel like barely holding it together. So this episode isn't about pushing harder. Instead, it's about building a version of high performance your brain can actually sustain. ✅ Why you might already be performing at a high level, even if it doesn't feel like it ✅ What happens when "Rising to Necessity" turns into needing a crisis for everything ✅ Why busy and effective aren't the same thing ✅ The three levels of clarity that make a goal actually actionable ✅ How to tell a clarity problem apart from avoidance or depletion ✅ Why strengths, not weaknesses, are where sustainable performance comes from ✅ The Three R's: Review, Revise, Recommit 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. 📬 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly 💼 Work with Mande: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/services #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#129
July 30 · 20 min
Ep 129 - ADHD Rebuilding Self-Trust with ADHD: How to Come Back After Setbacks
If a goal falls apart and your brain immediately says "see, I knew I couldn't trust myself" — this episode is about breaking that cycle. Coach Mande John explores one of the most painful, least-discussed parts of ADHD: what happens to your self-trust after years of starting, stopping, forgetting, and not following through the way you meant to. She makes the case that self-trust was never supposed to mean perfect consistency — and offers a more honest, more ADHD-compatible definition of what it actually takes to trust yourself again. ✅ Why self-trust ≠ never getting off track ✅ How past unfinished attempts quietly turn into a belief about your identity ✅ The difference between "I didn't follow through" and "I can't trust myself" ✅ A redefinition of consistency built for ADHD brains, not against them ✅ How to rebuild trust through small, specific, keepable commitments ✅ Why a repair plan matters more than a perfection plan Mande also shares details on her live workshop, From Stuck to Success: The ADHD Reset — built for anyone who feels like they lost momentum this year and is waiting for a "clean restart" instead of just resetting now. 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. 🎟️ Sign up for the workshop: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/adhdreset 📬 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly 💼 Work with Mande: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/services #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#128
July 23 · 34 min
Ep 128 - Success with ADHD: Why You're Not Failing, You're Just Using the Wrong System
Do you look at your unfinished projects, abandoned systems, and half-followed-through plans as proof that you're falling short of your potential? In this episode, Coach Mande John challenges that story. The problem usually isn't discipline, desire, or capability - it's that most success advice assumes a brain that doesn't work the way ADHD brains do. Decisions don't always stay top of mind. Motivation fades. A perfectly good plan on Monday can feel like it belongs to someone else by Thursday. Mande introduces the Three R's - Review, Revise, Recommit - a tool she uses with her coaching clients to build success in a way an ADHD brain can actually sustain. Instead of aiming for a system you never fall off of, the goal becomes noticing sooner and coming back faster, without turning every pause into a verdict on your character. ✅ Why "just make a plan and stick to it" doesn't hold up for ADHD brains ✅ The preparation trap — when learning and planning quietly become a way to avoid the risk of trying ✅ Why failure is data, not a verdict, and inaction is the real worst case ✅ How shorter feedback loops keep a goal from silently disappearing ✅ A redefinition of consistency: getting better at returning, not never drifting ✅ The Three R's: Review, Revise, Recommit 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. 📬 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly 💼 Work with Mande: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/services #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note. Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#127
July 16 · 31 min
Ep 127 - ADHD and the Someday Trap: Stop Waiting for the Perfect Time
We all have a "someday" list — the things we keep telling ourselves we'll get to once life calms down, once we're more confident, once we finally get our act together. But what if that perfect time never actually comes? In this episode, Coach Mande John explores the Someday Trap and why it's so convincing for ADHD brains. Someday feels safe. It doesn't ask anything of us today. But the longer we wait, the more life keeps moving without our participation — and waiting doesn't just delay the outcome, it delays everything we would have learned by trying. Mande walks through why ADHD adults are especially prone to this pattern (hint: it's not a discipline problem), the real costs of waiting, and how to tell the difference between a wise, intentional pause and an indefinite delay that just quietly floats. You'll walk away with a simple reframe: instead of waiting for the perfect time, find the next step. ✅ Why "someday" sounds reasonable but keeps everything important on hold ✅ The 4000 Weeks perspective and why it's clarifying, not overwhelming ✅ How waiting protects you from discomfort now — and adds regret later ✅ Why motivation was never meant to carry the whole thing ✅ How to shrink big, vague goals into one small, doable next step ✅ Permission to ask for support without earning it first 🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform or watch on YouTube. 📬 Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly 💼 Work with Mande: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/services #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note. Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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July 9 · 32 min
Ep 126 - Feeling Good for ADHD: Executive Function Meets Mind Management
Today we're talking about Feeling Good by Dr. David Burns — the book that changed my life in my 20s, and one I've gifted over 100 times. It's not just for depression and anxiety; the concepts in it are now central to how I coach people with ADHD. ADHD doesn't just affect what we do — it affects how we feel about what we do, and the stories we tell ourselves when we forget something, procrastinate, or fall off a routine. In this episode, I walk through the most common thought distortions I see in ADHD brains, and a simple technique for catching and reframing them before they turn into shame. ✅ Why the thought matters as much as the task ✅ The 7 cognitive distortions that show up most with ADHD ✅ The Triple Column Technique for reframing a negative thought ✅ Why action — even small action — changes your mood ✅ How to build habits that survive your worst days, not just your best ones 🎁 Grab the free ADHD Thought Reset Guide: https://learntothrivewithadhd.com/reset #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp Click here for show note. Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#125
July 2 · 15 min
Ep 125 - Executive Function Series #10 Goal Sustainability Finish What You Start
Starting goals isn't the problem for ADHD brains — sustaining them is. The excitement fades, life gets busy, and suddenly we're asking ourselves why we can never stay consistent. Sound familiar? In this episode of the executive function series, Coach Mande John breaks down the real reason goals fade for ADHD adults — and how to build systems that actually last. This isn't about becoming more disciplined. It's about building a different approach that works with your brain instead of against it. In this episode you'll learn: Why inconsistency is a neurological pattern, not a character flaw How the motivation cycle works for ADHD brains — and why it always runs out Why goals built on shame and pressure rarely last How to make goals smaller, more flexible, and easier to start The role of external systems, accountability, and body doubling in sustainability How to restart after setbacks without shame or spiraling Why celebrating small wins matters more than you think Sustainable growth with ADHD is possible — it just looks different than we were taught. And that's okay. 🔗 Join the weekly email list: learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp #adhdpodcast #adhdgoals #adhdproductivity #executivefunction #adhdentrepreneur Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#124
June 25 · 8 min
Ep 124 - 6 Things to Stop Saying Today to Feel Better With ADHD
There are six words and phrases that ADHDers use every single day — and they're quietly making your ADHD worse. Not because they're bad words, but because every time you say them, you're reinforcing shame, overwhelm, and limitation without even realizing it. In this episode, Coach Mande John shares the exact words she's worked hard to remove from her own vocabulary and what she's replaced them with instead. These small language shifts create less pressure, more possibility, and a lot more self-compassion. In this episode you'll learn: Why "should" keeps you focused on who you're not instead of what's possible How replacing "have to" with "get to" instantly reframes any task The reason Mande stopped using the word "busy" years ago The one tiny word that turns "I can't" into an open door What to say instead of "I don't know" to keep your brain curious How to stop turning temporary feelings into permanent identity labels 🎁 Grab the free ADHD Language Reset Guide at learntothrivewithadhd.com/6words ADHD is challenging enough. We don't need our language making it harder. #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp #adhdpodcast #adhdtips #adhdmindset #adhdwomen #adhdlife Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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#123
June 4 · 21 min
Ep 123 - ADHD Negative Thought Loops and How To Question Them
Does your brain have a story it loves to prove? "I'm behind." "I never finish anything." "I can't stay consistent." "I'm not disciplined." For ADHD brains, these thoughts don't just show up - they collect evidence. Your brain scans for proof, finds it fast, and builds a case so convincing that the story starts to feel like fact. In this solo episode, Coach Mande John breaks down ADHD negative thought loops - how they form, why they feel so true, and how to start questioning the stories that are keeping you stuck. Here's what we explore: Why your brain wants to be right - and how that backfires The thought-feeling-action loop that keeps proving painful stories How Mande believed she was "an anxious person" for years - and what shifted The most common stories ADHD brains believe (I'm behind, I never finish, I can't be consistent) Why absolute words like "always," "never," and "can't" are making it worse The "What else could be true?" question that gently interrupts the loop The power of the word "yet" - and how one small word changes the whole sentence How to give your brain a better assignment to look for Free infographic with everything from this episode: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/thoughtloops Subscribe to the weekly newsletter: www.learntothrivewithadhd.com/weekly #adhdcoach #adhdcoaching #adultadhd #adultadd #adhdhelp #adhdmindset #adhdthoughts Click here for show note Send us Fan Mail CLICK HERE for more resources. We're on this journey together!
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