Sharpening Your ADHD Productivity Toolkit with Author Ari Tuckman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives.   Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA is a psychologist, international presenter, and ADHD thought leader. The author or acclaimed ADHD After Dark, today joins us after a few years to tell us about his highly anticipated fifth book, The ADHD Productivity Manual. You can find more information about his books, his podcast More Attention, Less Deficit, upcoming and recorded presentations and contact information at adultADHDbook.com.  Enjoy! [You are now safely here] 00:42 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! [Episode 332 I believe, but we will be 10 years old, wowzers! -Ed] 01:20 - Introducing and welcome back Ari Tuckman! 02:00 - COVID - 2025? 02:30 - Check out Peter’s interview with Ari about his book ADHD After Dark Interview here! 02:50 - Tell us about your new book The ADHD Productivity Manual 03:00 - Fitting the pieces of lists together, and how we can get stuff done, better and quicker 04:20 - It’s an easy read, right? 04:47 - What are you dealing with in your brain today? Let us know if the comments! 05:22 - Lazy, Stupid, Studio, or Crazy? 05:55 - On starting the learning late, and focusing on the right lessons and rituals for us. 06:40 - Experiences are our own 07:00 - On being kind to others. And dogs, and cats, all of the pets. 08:11 - On the importance of community support, and laughter 08:50 - On being a good person. A mentor who speaks your language/same brain. 10:05 - 5 FAST THINGS from the book: How to live with: Schedules, To Do Lists, and ALARMS and deadlines How to handle social stuff, and others’ expectationa of you and your work How to have faith and deal with the process, experience your experience; but show up and keep showing up. On focusing on the process and not giving up on the daily confusion or frustration. What’s the point anyway? 12:25 - A final thought on personal effectiveness and productivity using ADHD 13:06 - How can people find you? More Attention, Less Deficit also at adultADHDbook.com 13:18 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! D you know of anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! See you shortly! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is psychologist, international speaker, and the CoFounder of Coa, the gym for mental health, Dr. Emily Anhalt. Dr. Anhalt studied psychology at the University of Michigan and attained Masters and Doctorate degrees in Clinical Psychology in Berkley, California. She conducted her doctoral research on ADHD and Success Without the Use of Medication and has spent the past two decades working clinically with executives, founders, and tech employees to support their emotional fitness. Dr. Anhalt has matched more than 800 people into therapy and has collaborated with some of the fastest-growing technology companies in the world including Google, Salesforce, NBCUniversal, NASDAQ, and the NBA. [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:20 - Introducing and welcoming Dr. Emily Anhalt. 01:44 - Emily in her own words.  02:13 - Emily’s research on adult ADHD success without the use of medication.  02:29 - 3 keys to success alongside your ADHD.  04:45 - Is ADHD a good or a bad thing? 06:25 - Reframing ADHD. 06:53 - Gen Zers are standing up for their mental health and destigmatize ADHD.  08:03 - Social media is flipping the way we view mental health and ADHD.  08:56 - But it’s also paving the way for “Dr. TikToks” to take over.  10:07 - Al as a tool for the neurodiverse brain.  11:31 - Why AI is a tool and not a way to diagnose or get therapy.  12:08 - Emily’s new book, “Flex Your Feelings, Train Your Brain to Develop the Seven Traits of Emotional Fitness.” 13:44 - Connecting with Emily. 14:16 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! Connecting with Emily: Website: dremilyanhalt.com Instagram: @dremilyanhalt LinkedIn: Dr. Emily Anhalt X: @dremilyanhalt Don’t forget to pre-order Emily’s debut book, Flex Your Feelings, Train Your Brain to Develop the 7 Traits of Emotional Fitness before it launches on May 13, 2025!  My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is family man, entrepreneur and CEO, Mike Dos Santos. Mike is the CEO of Versatile Studios, a production studio with offices worldwide, the creator of Versa Battery and Co-Founder of Crane Properties LLC and Crane Property Holdings LLC. Mike is also a former partner in One Drop Rentals and a former director for Quixote Studios New York. Today, Mike shares how he has learned to stay focused amidst his busy schedule and he and Peter discuss how exercise has been a game changer for both of their careers.  Born and raised in Boston, Mike was drawn to photography at an early age and graduated from Northeastern University in 2003 with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Photography. Mike completed his photography degree at the New England School of Photography and started in the photo industry as an assistant, worked in digital tech, and was a retoucher and photographer before establishing his own digital production studio, Versatile Studios, in Manhattan and Los Angeles. In addition to Versatile Studios, Mike and his partner, Shawna, created Crane Properties, a real estate redevelopment company investing in the North Shore of Boston as well as Crane Property Holdings with real estate holdings across the United States.    [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing! 01:20 - Introducing and welcoming Mike Dos Santos, CEO of Versatile Studios.  03:15 - How Mike juggles his busy schedule with #ADHD. 04:56 - Why trusting your employees is a game-changer for your business.  05:28 - What excites Mike most about his busy days? 07:25 - How to persevere when tasks are boring as someone with #ADHD.   07:58 - Brain.fm to help #ADHDers focus on boring tasks (use this link to get brain.fm for FREE for 30 days exclusively for FTN listeners) 09:32 - How working out first thing in the morning can help #ADHDers to crush the day.  12:18 - Peter and Mike talk about their favorite workouts.  15:05 - Connecting with Mike.  16:06 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! Connecting with Mike: Website: Versatilestudios.com Instagram: @mikedos22 Don’t forget to click this LINK to access 30 days of brain.fm for FREE exclusively for Faster Than Normal listeners.  My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman  

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is Angela Engel, founder of the Collective Book Studio.The Collective Book Studio is a publishing company that is committed to honoring every author’s voice through the entire creative process. Angela created The Collective Book Studio because she saw a need for a new kind of publishing business: one that adhered to the author’s vision every step of the way. Angela’s experience in traditional publishing supports her keen eye for bringing beautifully crafted books to life. Her passion for literature and innovative thinking influences every product she undertakes, ensuring each book reflects the unique vision of its creator.  [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:20 - Introducing and welcoming Angela Engel.  02:40 - Why doesn’t everyone write a book?  04:11 - So you have an idea for a book, what now? 05:16 - So you wrote a book. What’s next?  06:48 - So you found a publisher. How do you promote your book? 08:09 - What makes Angela's Collective Book Studio different? 11:40 - Inside Angela’s experience as a mom to a teenage girl with #ADHD.  14:28 - Connecting with Angela.  15:38 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Connect with Angela:  LinkedIn: @Angela Engel Website: Collective Book Studio  Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is Dan Clark, CEO of brain.fm, a platform that helps you work better through music by stimulating your brain with gentle rhythmic pulses that support attention. Dan has been fascinated with technology and passionate about its ability to positively impact the world from a young age. He started building websites when he was 13, began a design and advertising business at 18 and has driven millions in revenue for multinational brands. Dan has truly been at the forefront of using technology to exponentially grow successful businesses.  Dan was one of brain.fm’s first users. The story of how he came to be CEO demonstrates Dan’s drive to use technology for positive impact. Dan called the company 12 times before they agreed to bring him in for an interview. When he did receive an offer, he jumped at it (“jumped” as in, he worked for FREE for the first few weeks!) Dan worked his way to brain.fm’s Head of Technology and is now CEO. As CEO, Dan is constantly striving to build a company that will change the world through music and be one of the best companies for people to work for and grow with.  [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:20 - Introducing and welcoming Dan Clark, CEO of brain.fm. 01:50 - Updates on brain.fm since we last talked to Dan.  03:42 - Brain.fm in a nutshell and how they help people focus. 05:30 - Why music can be a gamechanger for people with #ADHD.  06:40 - Solutions tailored to each person.  08:06 - The science behind brain.fm.  12:12 - What’s next for brain.fm. 14:30 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Connect with Dan on LinkedIn  Check out brain.fm today!  Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is Cat Duval. Cat is a transformational coach, speaker, and founder of Nine Lives Yoga, specializing in helping neurodiverse entrepreneurs—especially ADHDpreneurs—overcome burnout and thrive. With over a decade of experience and a global reach of 25,000 clients in 11 countries, Cat integrates neuroscience, mindfulness, and yoga philosophy to empower individuals to unlock their potential. Her signature 4 Pillars of Happiness framework—Peace, Purpose, Power, and Play—guides clients to create routines that prioritize well-being, growth, and connection. Cat’s work has supported progressive business owners and blue chip companies like Microsoft, Unilever, and the National Health Service (NHS.) Her latest project, ADHDpreneurs, is geared towards spreading the practices to boldly go from flux to flow, no matter your stage of business.  [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:03 - Introducing and welcoming Cat Duval!  01:52 - Cat’s story and how she ended up working with ADHDers. 03:45 - Using yoga to slow down with ADHD.  06:03 - Finding mental balance through flow states.  10:03 - Visualization and how Cat discovered yoga. 12:53 - Connecting with Cat and accessing her exclusive Flow Hacks Action Pack for Faster Than Normal Listeners.  13:36 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Connect with Cat Website: www.catduval.co.uk Facebook: Cat Duval Instagram: @cat.duval YouTube: @CatDuvalNineLivesYoga LinkedIn: Cat Duval Get access to Cat’s Flow Hacks Action Pack created just for Father Than Normal Listeners here!  Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman  

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is Emily Gironda. Emily has 20 years of teaching and instructional design experience. She began her education career in high school English classrooms, specializing in teaching writing and metacognition (that is thinking about one’s own thinking.) Emily’s expertise extends to curriculum development, including programs for gifted and neurodivergent learners at the University of Virginia. [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:54 - Introducing and welcome Emily Gironda 02:34 - Why does Emily post on Threads? 04:05 - 2E schools and Emily’s experience writing curriculum  06:19 - What are the first things you notice when evaluating for neurodivergent thinkers? 09:14 - Student attention factors  10:12 - What do gifted students really need?  12:02 - Wrestling with the exclusive class aspect of giftedness 12:42 - What would you say to a parent who is looking at their child in a regular school and saying, “something isn’t clicking”? 14:04 - Connecting with Emily on Threads 19:35 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Connecting with Emily: Threads: @emily.anne.g Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman  

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Antonia Bowring is a leading executive coach in New York City, working with founders, C-Suite executives, and leadership teams to unlock their potential. One of her specialties is helping neurodiverse leaders create the necessary scaffolding to leverage their gifts and maintain their focus. As a frequent speaker, Antonia tackles topics like leadership mindset, ADHD in the workplace, and communication strategies. Her articles for the Forbes Coaches Council are widely read, and The American Reporter named her one of the 10 leadership coaches to watch in 2022. Antonia’s first book, Coach Yourself: Increase Awareness, Change Behavior, and Thrive empowers leaders to flourish as individuals and thrive at work. Her latest ebook, ADHD Success Planner: Your Simple Guide to Boost Productivity with Less Stress, offers tangible tools for ADHDers to pursue their goals with greater ease. When she’s not coaching or writing, Antonia is passionate about her family and endurance fitness challenges. While she lives in New York City, British Columbia is home in her heart. Learn more about her work at ab-strategies.com. [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:02 - Introducing and welcome  03:00 - Antonia’s take on endurance fitness  05:19 - Working with neurodivergent executives 07:33 - Biggest roadblocks for executives 10:06 - The importance of step goals  12:32 - Increasing blood flow to increase focus 13:40 - Antonia’s E-book that breaks down planning and prioritizing 15:50 - Planning as a security blanket for your weekly to-dos 16:57 - Connecting with Antonia 17:45 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon!   Connect with Antonia:  LinkedIn: Antonia Bowring TikTok: @antoniabowring963 ab-strategies.com   Planning and prioritizing with ADHD can be difficult. Antonia has created a system for planning, prioritizing, and getting stuff done! Purchase your copy of Antonia’s ADHD Success Planner here.  Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives.   Our guest today is Aleksandra Czech-Seklecka. She is an entrepreneur originally from Poland, now living in Scotland. Her career journey has been diverse and shaped by a deep curiosity and drive to pursue multiple passions, holding degrees in cross-cultural psychology, media psychology, and cultural studies with a specialization in Japanese culture, along with certification in the Japanese language. In her own words: Growing up, I faced many challenges. I come from a difficult family background and was bullied throughout most of my life, which deeply impacted my self-esteem. These experiences, combined with the struggle of living with undiagnosed ADHD and with chronic pain, with undiagnosed endometriosis, pushed me to develop resilience and determination. I learned early on how to persevere, which has shaped the way I approach life and business today. After a few career starts I moved into project management at Samsung R&D Institute Poland, gained certifications in Prince2 and Agile, and co-created a Project Management Office for Android commercialization across Europe. After moving to Scotland, my career took an unexpected turn due to health challenges. I was diagnosed with endometriosis (finally after 20 years of suffering), which required multiple surgeries and led to a significant gap in my employment. This challenging period pushed me to reinvent myself, and I decided to focus on building my own business. During this time, finding work was made even more difficult by the timing of Brexit, which created additional barriers. So instead of banging my head against the wall, I decided to build my own business. I had many ideas, but I was constantly searching for something that could truly help others because I love helping people. That’s when VanFill was born - an on-demand platform connecting customers with transport providers using empty spaces in vans and trucks, helping underserved communities access delivery services. The idea came to life when I organized a collection of medical supplies in Scotland for Ukraine. I realized that this platform would be another way I could help others. I turned this idea into reality by learning no-code tools to build the prototype. Since then, I have participated in numerous accelerators and business programs to develop the skills and networks needed to bring VanFill to life. Throughout my life, I’ve been actively involved in volunteering - supporting women with chronic pain and health conditions, working with different charities, and helping minority groups. In addition to my entrepreneurial work, I am deeply committed to advocating for women living with chronic illness and chronic pain. As someone who also lives with ADHD, I know firsthand the mental and physical hurdles that can arise. Through my journey, I want to inspire and empower women facing similar challenges to pursue their goals despite the obstacles. Currently, I am writing a book aimed at helping entrepreneurs, with a special focus on those living with ADHD and chronic conditions, offering guidance and inspiration for navigating the challenges of building a business while managing health difficulties and living with ADHD. I believe that no matter the challenges - be it chronic pain, personal struggles, or professional roadblocks - there is always a way forward. We just need to find the right map and guidance to not get lost on our way. Enjoy! [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:20 - Introducing and welcome Aleksandra Czech-Seklecka! Ref:  https://www.vanfill.co.uk 02:50 - What was growing up with ADHD like for you in Poland? 04:00 - On finding a focused pursuit for her passions and talents 05:40 - Endometriosis and finding a name for what was wrong, in order to build a support kit 06:50 - On adjusting to being ADHD 07:20 - About not knowing what’s wrong with your partner 08:10 - Explaining the gap in her resume/CV 09:10 - On rethinking her life after being diagnosed and not being able to walk for a year 10:00 - On finding her niche  10:50 - On starting your own business with ADHD and how to avoid being bored 12:15 - On social media marketing, distractions/choices and being ADHD 13:00 - About the benefits of time blocking, logging ideas and setting priorities  13:58 - What other rules and tools do you put into play to make sure things happen? 15:20 - On overwhelm and emotional processing 16:02 - Never underestimate screaming out in nature with friends! 16:50 - Spousal help and office/task management 18:06 - How can people find you? Via https://www.vanfill.co.uk also on LinkedIn  And @akaiworlds on Instagram and LinkedIN 18:30 - Forthcoming book teaser 19:35 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Jeff Johns is a lifelong adventure traveler and filmmaker who has spent nearly half of his life abroad, with the last twelve years as an expat living throughout Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Graduating with honors from the Brooks Institute of Photography in 2010, Johns is a passionate storyteller with a degree in documentary filmmaking and visual journalism.  As a successful television producer, he has created popular shows for Discovery Channel, National Geographic, and the BBC. As the co-creator of the adventure travel platform “What Doesn’t Suck?”, he has filmed and published videos from Everest Base Camp to the Great Pyramids, and the Albanian Alps to the Greenland ice sheet. Watched over 15 million times by a growing worldwide audience of 250,000, these travel guides highlight unique and off- the-beaten-path locations made accessible to even the novice traveler. Jeff continues to work in the travel space as a senior creative producer for Booking.com and resides in the Netherlands with his French wife and their trilingual third-culture daughters. He struggles to keep up with all three. Enjoy! [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:02 - Introducing and welcome Jeff Johns! Ref: https://www.whatdoesntsuck.com 02:20 - Tell about remote bars in Thailand; how did you wind up there? 02:28 - You were diagnosed with ADHD in High School, but you pursued a different course of management. Tell us! 04:30 - On eliminating the day-to-say of living in the US 05:07 - Did you miss a support system, kind of living on your own? 05:38 - On traveling to feel “nothing” 06:40 - How did you channel your talents into Television production? 07:38 - What tools did you develop for yourself as you were traveling and working? 09:00 - What gave you the strength to keep your momentum streak going?  Ref: DuoLingo  09:58 - What’s a day in your life like? 10:40 - On how rituals and resolutions work 12:10 - What do you do when you get overwhelm? 13:00 - Pre-dawn exercise rides (sometimes with police) 13:23 - How can people find you? His books are on Amazon and via https://www.whatdoesntsuck.com  Socials @WhatDoesntSuck at Facebook  INSTA YouTube 14:04 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman