67: Doom Boxes and Dopamine

Jesse, Marie, and Sharon check in on their accountability goals while navigating the realities of building apps with ADHD. The conversation covers everything from App Store submission challenges and user onboarding insights to the mental weight of incomplete tasks. They also explore practical ADHD strategies, discuss when it's okay to accept help from partners, and share what they're learning from early user feedback. . Follow us on social media: • This podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulCheck out Wavepal: wavepal.appCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jesse, Marie, and Sharon share what it really feels like to juggle ADHD, early-stage startups, and the pressure to stay visible online. They talk through the messy middle — app bugs, audience feedback, life interruptions — and the small wins that keep them moving forward. Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulCheck out Wavepal: wavepal.appCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Jesse and Sharon sit down with Lydia Swift, Sharon’s co-founder at Shelpful, to talk about starting a company with a decades-long friend, the whirlwind of launching during COVID, and how the ADHD community shaped their product’s direction. Lydia opens up about living in the “squishy middle” of ADHD (relating to nearly every trait without a formal diagnosis) and the hurdles of self-advocacy in the medical system. Together they swap stories about friendship, entrepreneurship, pivots, and building tools that make life a little easier for brains that work differently. Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode of ADHD Founders, Jesse, Marie, and Sharon dive into the complex relationship between ADHD, sleep, and streak-based motivation. From the highs and crashes of productivity apps to the shame spiral of missed days, they unpack how self-tracking tools like the Oura Ring can both help and harm. They also explore revenge bedtime procrastination, night owl tendencies, and how ADHD often intersects with insomnia and time blindness.Plus, a real-life look behind the scenes of each host’s business, from community building and monetizing digital products to the emotional highs and lows of founder life. This one’s full of insight, laughter, and the kind of real talk that makes you feel less alone on the entrepreneurial rollercoaster.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode of ADHD Founders, Jesse, Marie, and Sharon unpack how energy-draining conversations, negative feedback, and reactivity can derail an ADHD entrepreneur’s entire day. They explore the difference between venting and vibe-killing, the power of structuring your day around creative flow, and how AI (or even Zapier!) can help you protect your dopamine. Plus: hilarious background setup fails, the ultimate customer sentiment filter, and one surprisingly perfect question for identifying your ideal user. This one’s for every founder who’s ever answered emails in their workout clothes without working out.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, Jesse, Marie, and Sharon dive into how they’re using AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT in their founder workflows for everything from coding whole apps in a weekend to meal planning and fighting writer’s block. Jesse shares how a bout of hyperfocus led him to build an iOS version of Wavepal (almost by accident). Sharon talks about testing AI agents with ChatGPT and the realities of building ADHD-friendly products like Shelpful. Marie breaks down how she uses AI for daily meal planning (and how it still manages to get the math wrong).The conversation spirals (in true ADHD fashion) into app subscription models, RevenueCat tips, the Apple App Store commission debate, and nostalgic computer games like Oregon Trail and King’s Quest.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, Marie, Sharon, and Jesse share updates on their startups and dive deep into the hidden challenges of ADHD entrepreneurship. From Marie’s struggles with context switching and dev motivation, to Sharon’s product launch jitters and personal branding journey, to Jesse’s course rollout and emotional marketing hurdles. This is a raw, funny, and relatable look at building products while managing neurodivergence. Expect candid moments about perfectionism, community-building experiments, and finding creative ways to get work done even when executive function is on vacation.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In episode 61, Jesse, Marie, and Sharon dive into the chaos of time zones, appointment scheduling quirks (like 11:11 start times), and the emotional rollercoaster of building ADHD-friendly tech products. They share raw stories about customer interviews, MVP struggles, subscription pricing models, and deeply personal reasons behind why their apps exist. From missed birthdays to AI-driven reminders that help rebuild broken connections, this episode is an authentic look at founders building tools to solve their own ADHD challenges, and hoping they help others along the way.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, the hosts open up about what it’s like to fall out of rhythm as entrepreneurs with ADHD—and how they slowly find their way back. From quiet burnout to unexpected breakthroughs, this is a raw, insightful conversation about recovery, routine, and self-compassion.Key Highlights:- Honest reflections on doing the bare minimum during burnout periods- How changing environments (like working in a friend’s office) can help reset focus- The struggle and satisfaction of re-establishing healthy work habits- ADHD-specific challenges in solo work versus shared workspaces- Encouragement for listeners to honor their own pace and progressFollow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode of ADHD Founders, hosts Jesse, Marie, and Sharon reconnect after meeting in person for the first time at the NeuroDiversion Conference — a groundbreaking event for neurodivergent entrepreneurs and creators. They share personal reflections on what it meant to unmask, connect, and be surrounded by a community that gets it. From the joys of real-life hugs to insights on building authentic support networks, this conversation is a heartfelt celebration of ADHD, entrepreneurship, and friendship.Follow us on social media: • this podcast: @adhd_founders • Jesse – @adhdjesse • Marie – @llamalifeco • Sharon – @shelpfulSubscribe for free to Jesse’s Extra Focus newsletter: extrafocus.comCheck out Llama Life: llamalife.coCheck out Shelpful: shelpful.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★