Why ADHD Brains Forget What They Just Learned

Presented by Understood.orgMany adults with ADHD feel like they have a bad memory.You learn something in a meeting or training session, but a few days later it feels like the information has disappeared.In this episode of ADHD Skills Lab, Skye and Robbie break down research on memory and ADHD. They explore how information gets encoded into long-term memory and why this stage of learning often breaks down for ADHD brains.The discussion covers a major meta-analysis on effective learning techniques, research on long-term memory in adults with ADHD, and an experiment comparing retrieval practice with restudying.In Friday’s episode they’ll explore practical systems that help ADHD professionals and business owners design training and learning systems that actually stick.What We CoverThe difference between encoding and retrieving informationWhy ADHD memory problems often start during the learning stageResearch showing practice testing and spaced learning outperform rereadingWhy verbal learning can be harder for ADHD than visual learningWhat research suggests about medication and learning performanceIf you're enjoying ADHD Skills Lab, you may also enjoy Understood.org’s new podcast, Everyone Gets a Juice Box: For Parents of Neurodivergent Kids.Listen here:https://lnk.to/everyonegetsajuiceboxPS!adhdskillslab P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye. 

Presented by Understood.orgYou start a business for freedom.Then one day you realize the business no longer fits the way your brain works.Taki Moore is often called the business coach’s favorite business coach. Through his Million Dollar Coach community he has helped thousands of coaches grow their businesses and create more than $1 billion in client results.Along with that success was something he didn’t fully understand until recently: ADHD.In this episode of the ADHD Skills Lab, Taki joins Skye Waterson to share the story of discovering his ADHD in his late 40s - and the moment medication made his mind go “library quiet” for the first time in his life.It’s a side of Taki that most people haven’t heard before.Together, they explore what happens when a high-performing entrepreneur finally understands how their brain actually works - and what changes when you stop trying to run someone else’s business model and start designing one that fits you.From creative bursts and energy crashes to the support systems that keep his business running today, this conversation looks at the real relationship between ADHD and entrepreneurship.What We CoverThe moment Taki realized ADHD was shaping his work and lifeWhat changed after his diagnosis in his late 40sHow he redesigned his business around how his brain worksThe systems and support that keep him focused and productiveIf you're enjoying The ADHD Skills Lab, you may also Understood.org'snew podcast, Everyone Gets a Juice Box: For Parents of Neurodivergent Kids.Listen here: https://lnk.to/everyonegetsajuiceboxPS!adhdskillslabConnect With Taki MooreWebsite: https://takimoore.comMillion Dollar Coach: https://milliondollarcoach.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TakiMooreInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/takimoore/ P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye.

Many adults with ADHD struggle with tools that seem simple at first but quickly become overwhelming. Dashboards full of icons, systems that require too many clicks, and constantly changing interfaces can quietly drain focus.In this episode of ADHD Skills Lab, Skye and Robbie explore practical ADHD work systems that reduce visual overload and make digital tools easier to navigate.Earlier this week, they explored research on object recognition memory in ADHD and why visual systems like software interfaces can create unexpected cognitive load.This episode focuses on what to do about it.They walk through practical ways to simplify work systems, stabilize digital environments, and design tools that support ADHD focus instead of constantly disrupting it.Start with Wednesday’s research episode before this one. This conversation builds directly on the findings discussed there.What We CoverWhy constantly changing tools create friction for ADHD brainsDesigning stable digital systems that reduce cognitive loadHow visual clutter quietly drains focusPractical ways to simplify your work environment P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye.

Why does a simple software update suddenly make everything feel impossible to use?In this Research Recap, Skye and Robbie break down a meta-analysis examining object recognition memory in ADHD.Object recognition memory helps your brain recognize visual information like icons, folders, faces, and layouts. It’s what allows you to quickly identify the right button in a menu or remember where something lives inside a complex interface.Researchers reviewed 28 studies involving children and adolescents with ADHD to examine whether object recognition memory differs from neurotypical controls.Skye and Robbie walk through:How researchers test object recognition memoryWhat the data actually shows about ADHD and visual recognition tasksWhy visually complex systems like software interfaces can feel cognitively heavier for ADHD brainsNo hype.No miracle cures.No “just try harder.”Just what the research shows.Then tune in on Friday, when Skye and Robbie return to this study and explore how these findings might translate into practical strategies for navigating tools, systems, and visual environments with ADHD. P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye.

When creative work gets hard, most people with ADHD assume something’s wrong.Wrong idea.Wrong project.Wrong career.In this conversation, Andy J. Pizza (author, illustrator, and host of Creative Pep Talk) breaks down the moment his work completely dried up — and why that crisis forced him to stop winging it and start creating strategically.We talk about perfectionism, rejection sensitivity, creative droughts, collaboration fights, and the uncomfortable shift from “I hope this works” to “I’m building this on purpose.”This isn’t about hacks or hustle.It’s about understanding that hard and bad are not the same thing — and sometimes the difficulty is the point.What We CoverWhy “hard” is often a sign of growth, not failureThe shift from exploratory creativity to strategic authorshipHow perfectionism and RSD quietly stall creative outputRebuilding after a six-month career droughtWhy collaboration feels like conflict (and why that’s normal)Connect with Andy: on his website or follow him on Instagram @andyjpizza P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye.

Business owner with ADHD wanting operational clarity and focus? Click here to book a session with Skye.https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com for a operational clarity session!More adults with ADHD start businesses than the general population.But here’s the part nobody talks about:Research shows ADHD is positively linked to entrepreneurial attitudes and startup behavior…and negatively linked to post-launch outcomes, performance, and wellbeing.In this Research Recap, Skye and Robert Waterson break down a 2025 meta-analysis on ADHD and entrepreneurship - exploring why hyperactive types tend to start, why inattentive types may struggle more with scaling, and where the “ADHD is a superpower” narrative falls short.This episode is about what happens after the excitement of starting.What we cover:The difference between entrepreneurial attitude, startup behavior, and post-launch outcomesWhy hyperactive ADHD is linked to action (but also burnout)Why inattentive ADHD may struggle with scaling and follow-throughThe myth of brute-force hustleWhere the “ADHD is a superpower” framing conflicts with the dataWhy systems - not motivation - change outcomesIf you’ve ever felt amazing at starting… and exhausted trying to sustain - this one’s for you. P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye.

DescriptionBusiness owner with ADHD wanting operational clarity and focus? Click here to book a session with Skye.https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com for a operational clarity session!Why does focus feel like forcing a rusty machine to start… instead of flipping a switch?In this Research Recap, Skye and Will unpack a randomized placebo-controlled study examining how brain networks behave differently in adults with ADHD.This episode isn’t about recommending medication.It’s about something more fundamental: the push-pull relationship between the brain’s default mode network (daydreaming, internal thoughts) and task positive network (focused attention) — and what happens when that switch doesn’t work automatically.If you’ve ever tried to white-knuckle your way through work, this episode will feel deeply validating.What we cover:Why ADHD brains struggle to “automatically” switch into focusWhat brain scans reveal about default mode vs task networksHow this study compared medication-naive adults with controlsWhat changed in network activity during treatmentWhy brain-difference evidence reduces self-blameWant more of Will’s work? Go check out HackingYourADHD.com or subscribe to his YouTube channel P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye.

You can be successful on paper and still feel stuck.In this episode, Skye talks with entrepreneur and investor Kassidy Warren about leaving the corporate “safe path,” taking real risks, and the identity shift required to stop playing small. They unpack rejection, procrastination, reinvesting before results, and what it actually means to turn pro — especially with an ADHD brain.If you’ve built something stable but know you’re capable of more, this one will hit.What we cover:The hidden cost of corporate stability and “golden handcuffs”Why procrastination is fear in disguiseHow to handle rejection without shrinkingThe mindset shift from amateur to professionalActing before you feel ready — and why waiting keeps you stuckBusiness owner with ADHD wanting operational clarity and focus? Click here to book a session with Skye. https://www.unconventionalorganisation.com for a operational clarity session!Connect with Kassidy WarrenKassidy Warren is the host of the For Your Own Good podcast, where he shares practical, direct conversations about business growth, leadership, and building companies that actually work.If this episode resonated, you can follow Kassidy and explore more of his work here:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kassidy.warrenYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KassidyWarrenFor Your Own Good on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1UfWzqSpuL685ReFGnIrgBHe regularly shares insights for operators and founders who want to move from chaos to clarity without fluff or hype. P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye.

“I wasn’t failing. I just wasn’t growing.”Adam Tasker had the career. The family. Three kids. Responsibility handled.But privately, he knew he was drifting.After being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, following his sons’ diagnoses, he began to look at how he was operating. Not just as a father, but as a leader. At home. In business. With himself.In this conversation, Skye and Adam unpack:What actually changes after a late ADHD diagnosisHow overwhelm escalates and why some days collapse fastThe identity shift from practitioner to leader in businessDelegation, emotional regulation, and being the tone-setter at homeThey talk through structure, routines, communication, and the tension between flexibility and discipline in a neurodivergent household.This episode is not about productivity hacks.It is about responsibility, self-awareness, and learning to lead without burning out or defaulting to shame.If you are a parent, a founder, or someone who knows you are capable of more than “going through the motions,” this conversation will resonate.Connect with Adam Tasker, COO of High Performance Father, at https://highperformancefather.com or email him directly at [email protected] for resources and support. P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye.

Looking for The Business Visibility Workshop?Click here for details:https://unconventionalorganisation.circle.so/checkout/the-business-visibility-workshop-wednesday-feb-18thYou don’t need a formal ADHD diagnosis for ADHD traits to affect your health, finances, or well-being.In this Research Recap, Skye and Will break down a study on subclinical ADHD - ADHD traits that fall below the diagnostic threshold - and how they impact entrepreneurs and employees.The findings are confronting.Across nearly 400 participants, higher ADHD traits were linked to:Higher anxietyWorse physical healthLower happinessLower subjective financial well-beingEven without meeting diagnostic criteria.Entrepreneurship showed some buffering effects — more autonomy, more novelty, slightly higher life satisfaction.But it also intensified financial pressure and the self-management demands that ADHD traits can make harder.In this episode, we unpack:What “subclinical ADHD” actually meansWhy “not diagnosed” doesn’t mean “not affected”Why entrepreneurs may feel financial strain more intenselyHow work environment fit shapes well-beingWhat this research misses about ADHD management in practiceIf you’ve ever thought, “Maybe it’s not bad enough to count…”this conversation may change how you see that.Want more of Will’s work? Go check out HackingYourADHD.com or subscribe to his YouTube channel P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos, with unfinished tasks piling up and revenue stuck, it's not you. It's your operating system. Click here to book an operational strategy session with Skye.