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ADHD Essentials: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Brendan Mahan
In ADHD Essentials, Brendan Mahan, M.Ed., M.S. interviews parents, teachers and experts to get their views on ADHD in childhood, and how it affects families.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 weeks ago10 min
Overcoming the Wall of Awful Introduction
Today’s episode is an introduction to my first book, Overcoming the Wall of Awful: Why It's Hard to Get Things Done with ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety (and How to Do Them Anyway). Or, rather THE introduction to the book. I was able to get special permission from my publisher to share the introduction to audiobook with you! (If the voice sounds familiar, it’s because I’m the narrator!) But first, I want to share a couple of pieces of information: Overcoming the Wall of Awful releases in two days and it will be available in bookstores everywhere. Check out www.WallofAwful.com for links to order from! After you preorder (or if you already have), please share your proof of purchase at this link, and I’ll send you an invitation to the official Book Release Party held over Zoom on Friday, September 4th at 8pm Eastern.
- Jul 11, 202616 min
On Multiple Intelligences and Why They're Useful
EXCITING NEWS: On September 1st, Overcoming the Wall of Awful releases in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats wherever great books are sold! Even better, you can preorder it right now at TheWallofAwful.com! Today’s episode is just me. I’ll be discussing Dr. Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences - what it is, and why it’s useful. We discuss: Why this theory isn't quite a theory The eight types of intelligence according to Gardner The types that Gardner dismissed The new type that's been discussed recently Why Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences is useful, even if it's not quite valid >>>PREORDER OVERCOMING THE WALL OF AWFUL HERE<<<
- Apr 13, 202651 min
Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults with Caroline Maguire
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Caroline Maguire, M.Ed., ACCG, PCC. Caroline is an internationally recognized expert in social-emotional learning, ADHD coaching, and relationship development. She is the author of the award-winning book, "Why Will No One Play with Me?" and the forthcoming "Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults" (Balance Books, April 14, 2026), and hosts "The ADHD Social Playbook" podcast. Caroline talks to me about her new book, Friendship Skills for Neurodiverse Adults. We discuss: Approaching making friends as a skill Improving her book by listening to the cynics Reading the room you’re in & the room inside yourself The 3 Ps of friendship And how third places and joining activities helps us make friends Guest Links: Learn more about Caroline and her work here: Caroline Maguire: https://carolinemaguireauthor.com/ Order Caroline's book and get "Book Bonuses" here: https://carolinemaguireauthor.com/book-bonuses/ Learn More about Brendan and his work at: Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community Check out the ADHD Essentials Website Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Men’s ADHD Support Group Links: Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community
- Apr 9, 202641 min
The ADHD Field Guide to Adults with Cate "Catieosaurus" Osborne and Erik Gude
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Cate Osborne (aka Catieosaurus) & Erik Gude. Cate and Erik co-hosts the podcast Cate and Erik’s Infinite Quest: An ADHD Adventure, and are co-authors of the The ADHD Field Guide for Adults. They’re here to talk about that very book! We discuss: How they made the most ADHD friendly book I’ve ever read. The endeavor of reading a book Analog Doom-Scrolling How to prove to yourself that you can do the thing! And the wide variety of people with ADHD Guest Links: Learn more about Cate and Erik here: The ADHD Field Guide for Adults: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Erik-Gude/214689550 Infinite Quest: https://infinitequestpodcast.com/ Cate's website: https://catieosaurus.com/ Learn More about Brendan and his work at: Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community Check out the ADHD Essentials Website Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Men’s ADHD Support Group Links: Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community
- Feb 12, 202644 min
DadDHD SimulPod! ADHD and Fatherhood with Brendan Mahan
Today's episode is a little different. My buddies Shane Thrapp and Braden Young have started the DadDHD Podcast, and I'm helping them with their launch! So rather than an episode of ADHD Essentials, I'm featuring episode 5 of their show where they interviewed me about fatherhood and ADHD. I hope you enjoy it. Register for the ADHD Essentials Parenting Groups Here Guest Links: Find the DadDHD podcast here: https://www.daddhd.com/ Learn More about Brendan and his work at: Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community Check out the ADHD Essentials Website Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com Men’s ADHD Support Group Links: Learn more about the Men’s ADHD Support Group Join the Men’s ADHD Support Group’s Facebook Community
- Feb 2, 202634 min
How Restrictions Help ADHD and Creativity Thrive with Bradley Smith II
In today’s episode, I talk to ADHD coach Bradley Smith II. Bradley joins the pod to talk about about how restrictions help ADHD and creativity thrive. We discuss the nature of creativity, the ways that ADHD can lead to small scale mourning, how limitations can be useful, and how to set those limitations. Learn more about Bradley and his work at: https://www.mindsmithcoaching.com/ Learn More about Brendan and his work at: Learn about & Register for the The ADHD Essentials Online Parent Coaching Groups Join The ADHD Essentials Facebook Community Check out the ADHD Essentials Website Contact Brendan at brendan@ADHDessentials.com
- Jan 10, 20269 min
Thoughts on ADHD & Goals for 2026
It’s January 10th. By now, odds are you’ve already fallen down on some of your resolutions. To that end, I want to talk about two of my goals that I can almost guarantee were more delayed than yours are, and the takeaways I have from them. When my boys were born, I set a goal to earn my black belt and write a book by the time they turned five. They’re sixteen now, almost seventeen, and I finally reached both of those milestones - a mere eleven years later than I planned. Let’s unpack that. In hindsight, the black belt goal was ambitious, but realistic. The book goal was naive at best. Please indulge me for a minute while we play “Storytime with Mr. B”. I had been training in Kempo for a little less than a year when my boys were born. I don’t remember what belt I was, probably orange or green, but I went to the dojo a lot. As long as grading permitted, I was still a teacher at the time, I spent about 10 hours a week there across four days. By the time they turned four, I had earned my brown belt. And there I would stay for the next 12 years. So what happened? Around the time the boys turned four, my career as a teacher ended and I had to rebuild myself. I ended up exploring ADHD coaching and pursuing a second Masters in Counseling. At the same time, my mom fell very ill and eventually passed away. Oh, and my car burned down. It was a lot to absorb, and eventually led to me leaving the dojo because I didn’t have time for it. No regrets, though, because that road eventually led me to where I am now. And I am both better at my ADHD work than I was at teaching, and find it more fulfilling. In June of 2018, the dojo lost one of its members, and I attended the funeral. Which led me to reconnect with Master Phil, my instructor, and return my training. By the time I had knocked the rust off, and ranked up to just below black belt, COVID hit and the world shut down. Taking class over Zoom and in parking lots without the ability to actually interact with each other doesn’t make for the best training. Things were mostly back to normal by 2022, and told me I should prepare to test for Black belt at the end of the year. I did. But in March of that year, my son’s OCD spiked and by July he would be in McLean Hospital’s OCDi Jr program, coming home that October. Thankfully, it worked and he got better. But the whole experience left an impact on our family, and I spent much of the rest of the year managing the lingering effects on his twin brother while also helping to care for my dad who was sick at the time. (Eventually, everyone got better, but I was pretty burned out.) And so, I told Master Phil that I wasn’t going to be ready for December. It broke my heart. He told me not to worry, and that the Black Belt test would come when I was ready. That happened this past December. It was a seven hour test. I had bronchitis. It sucked. But I passed. I had a lot of mixed emotions in the moment, mostly guilt and shame for it taking so long. But when I took that first Black belt class, I knew I belonged there. Takeaway #1: People say that a goal without a due date is just a dream. I say a goal that you keep working toward regardless of a lapsed timeline will be reached eventually. Just keep moving forward. As for the book, mostly I was naive. I had a good idea for a fantasy novel. It’s still good, actually. But I didn’t realize how big of an undertaking writing a book is, and I also didn’t yet know that I had ADHD. It was honestly more of a dream than a goal. But then my teaching career ended, I started to move into ADHD work, and I developed the Wall of Awful model. When I presented it for the first time on a professional stage, I was immediately asked if I was writing a book. I wasn’t ready to then, I barely had enough content to talk about it for an hour, but as time went on, the concept grew. And, as you know, as time went by I also ended up pretty burned out. One thing I knew at the time was that I wouldn’t get out of burnout if I didn’t have something to head towards that felt like growth. Enter Alex Hughes Capell. We had interacted on Twitter (back when it was good), and she posted about being for hire as a ghost writer. I contacted her, and she was excited about the project. She had heard of, and been helped by, my Wall of Awful model, and wanted more insight into it. With some financial help from my newly recovered dad, I hired her. But, she’s my co-writer, not my ghost writer. Her name is on the book just like mine. That partnership led to a publishing deal with the Balance imprint of Hachette Book Group at the start of last year. The book comes out in September. Takeaway #2: Goals aren’t met without support. Without my dad, I don’t hire Alex. Without Alex, I don’t write the book. Heck, without Caroline Maguire, who I didn’t even mention, I don’t g
- Nov 19, 20259 min
ROUGH CUT: ADHD Con 2025 Day 2
In this episode, I resume the tradition of dragging a bunch of people into my room to reflect on the day's events of the ADHD Conference. This is the second day of the general conference - Saturday, November 15, 2025. My guests include: The ADHD MD, Dr. Carolyn Letzsch-Parcells Author Caroline Maguire ADHD Coach Kate Barrett from Coaching Cville Dr. Zach Gershon, facilitator of ADDA's Young Adult Support Group Liz Lewis writer at https://www.healthyadhd.com/ Brittany Smith from Devise and Conquer Coaching Will Curb, host of the Hacking Your ADHD podcast Keith Griffin, living This ADHD Life Myself, host of the ADHD Essentials podcast
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About ADHD Essentials
In ADHD Essentials, Brendan Mahan, M.Ed., M.S. interviews parents, teachers and experts to get their views on ADHD in childhood, and how it affects families.
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