ADHDifference

Julie Legg speaks with Julio Angel Rivera, a New York City-based writer, mental health advocate, and martial arts coach, about his experience with ADHD, bipolar disorder, depression and CPTSD. He speaks of the jiu-jitsu mindset of flow: the art of redirecting energy rather than resisting it or absorbing it head-on. 

This jiu-jitsu philosophy profoundly resonates with how Julio has come to approach ADHD and mental health, and has learned to flow with challenges and embrace nonlinear paths to progress. Diagnosed at 42, he reflects on the struggles he faced before his diagnosis and the personal growth t...

Julie Legg interviews Cali Keating, a neurodivergent therapist based in Barcelona who specialises in supporting clients with the triple combo: ADHD, OCD and autism, and various dual combinations thereof. 

Cali explains how OCD, like ADHD, is tied to dopamine and cortisol regulation and how these overlapping neurodivergences can complicate diagnosis and treatment.

The core of the conversation revolves around multiple neurodivergent diagnoses, commonly referred to as "multiple exceptionalities" or "twice exceptional" when someone has more than one neurodivergent condition. Cali dives into the mechanisms and nuances of OCD, especially "P...

Julie returns to respond to more questions in part 2 of Curiously ADHD. She ponders an array of topics including medication, meditation, labels, genetics, unmasking and reclaiming a lost spark.

As a late diagnosed ADHDer she offers empathetic, experience-based reflections meant to validate, soothe, and support.

6 KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED

Q1. Medication Worries: "I've recently started ADHD medication but it's not working well for me. I've changed GPs a few times and I'm now worried my current doctor won't take me seriously. What should I do?" 

Julie Legg chats with Theresa Lear Levine—an EFT master practitioner, hypnotherapist, business coach, author and fellow ADHDer, about tapping into joy and presence.

Diagnosed with ADHD at 42 Theresa describes the experience as finally switching on a light in a room she didn’t know was dark. This self-discovery reframed years of internal tension and helped her release long-held guilt, particularly in her roles as a mother and entrepreneur. Together, they explore how therapeutic tools, like EFT and subconscious reprogramming, can shift emotional patterns.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

In this solo episode, Curiously ADHD, Julie Legg sits down with a cup of coffee to answer frequently asked questions she’s received over time from people trying to make sense of ADHD. 

This episode is both personal and practical, aiming to empower listeners through shared experiences and pragmatic guidance rather than medical advice. Julie emphasizes that she is not a medical professional, but a diagnosed ADHDer and author who has spent years researching and speaking with others in the community. 

5 KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED

0:00:00 Intro 

0:01:39 Q1:  "I was te...

Wherever on your ADHD journey, you are not alone. Julie and Jel Legg reflect on the importance of community, connection, and shared experiences for those living with ADHD. 

The conversation is sparked by their attendance at a recent author’s event and the overwhelming sense of affirmation and belonging that came from engaging with readers who identified with The Missing Piece, Julie’s book for women diagnosed with ADHD later in life. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Dr Alessandra Wall, founder and CEO of Noteworthy, joins Julie Legg to reflect on her life, career, and insights into women in leadership. 

She shares her experiences of working with children and adults with ADHD and what led her to shift from psychology to founding Noteworthy, a platform helping women in leadership roles find their voice and value. Though never formally diagnosed with ADHD, Alessandra recognised many of its traits in herself. The conversation dives deep into how to communicate our value, the reality of executive stress, the concept of the “gilded cage” and the power...

Julie and Jel Legg explore the deep emotional responses people with ADHD often have to perceived injustices. They delve into the concept of justice sensitivity, describing how this sensitivity can manifest in different areas of life—particularly through heightened emotional responses and a strong sense of moral fairness.

They introduce the four key domains of justice: Distributive (fairness in outcomes), Procedural (fairness in processes), Interpersonal (fairness in treatment), Informational (fairness in communication). The conversation highlights how ADHD traits such as emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and intensity of feelings contribute to a heightened se...

In this episode Julie and Jel Legg delve into the topic of negative self-talk—those persistent, looping thoughts that can erode confidence and hold people back from trying new things. For those with ADHD, these internal narratives can be especially loud and deeply rooted, often shaped by years of misunderstanding, impulsivity, and self-doubt.

They explore how these thought patterns can quickly spiral into feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy. The conversation touches on the role of adult diagnosis in helping to reframe these thoughts, the importance of recognising unrealistic expectations, and the power of self-compassion. Together, th...

Julie and Jel Legg explore the concept of body doubling, a common ADHD coping strategy where the presence of another person helps one complete tasks that feel overwhelming or unappealing when done alone. They clarify that body doubling isn’t teamwork—both people don’t have to be doing the same thing. Instead, it's about having someone nearby as a form of gentle accountability and moral support, which can reduce distraction and increase focus. 

They share personal anecdotes, and reflect on how many people may have been using this strategy instinctively without having a term for it...

Julie Legg interviews Michael W. Allison—CEO of The Adversity Academy, U.S. Marine combat veteran, Purple Heart recipient, and resilience expert—about his ADHD journey and how adversity shaped his purpose.

Michael explains how he navigates life with ADHD through the lens of adversity, identity, and personal growth. From his early experiences of being misunderstood to discovering how structure, self-awareness, and purposeful systems can transform challenges into strengths, he shares powerful insights on reframing ADHD as a source of clarity, adaptability, and leadership.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Host Julie Legg speaks with ADHD and anxiety coach Dana Baker-Williams about the complexities of parenting neurodivergent children. Dana, who has ADHD herself, shares her personal journey and emphasizes that while traits may manifest differently in each child, there are common struggles with ADHD and parenting. 

Parents, she explains, play a crucial role in helping their children navigate these challenges, but they must also prioritize their own well-being. Self-care, even in small doses, is essential to maintaining balance in a household where emotions can run high. Ultimately, Dana’s message is one of empowerment: when par...

Host Julie Legg speaks with Tina Hazen, author and professional organizer (Houston, Texas) about her work helping others—especially those with ADHD—create structured, clutter-free spaces: organising the chaos.

Diagnosed with ADHD and anxiety at 38, Tina (founder of Think Inside the Boxx) emphasizes that traditional organizing methods often don’t work for individuals with ADHD, who may struggle with object permanence, decision paralysis, and maintaining systems over time. She shares her personal experiences of trial and error in organizing her own space and explains how she turned these lessons into strategies for her clients. Through her bo...

Julie and Jel Legg explore dopamine stacking—when multiple sources of dopamine stimulation are layered on top of each other. This can create an intense, pleasurable experience but also lead to a crash afterward, leaving individuals feeling unmotivated, overstimulated, or even emotionally flat.

They discuss how ADHD brains crave dopamine, and explore how dopamine stacking manifests in different areas of life, including social interactions, work, and family environments. They chat about dopamine ‘snacking’—engaging in small, spaced-out dopamine hits, which can help maintain motivation without burnout.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Dopamine...