Attention Different | Adulting with ADHD

Is ADHD really a superpower, or is that just a story we tell ourselves to feel better?

In this episode of Attention Different, Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with Kyrus Keenan Westcott, creator of The Vibe With Ky. What follows is an honest, funny, and deeply personal conversation about late-diagnosed ADHD, anxiety, creativity, identity, and learning to accept yourself without pretending every part of ADHD is a gift.

Diagnosed in his 30s after first seeking help for anxiety and depression, Ky shares how finally understanding his “busy brain” changed the way he saw himself and eventually shaped the community he built online.

The conversation explores imposter syndrome, self-validation, introversion, and the vulnerability of putting yourself and your ideas into the world. Ky also challenges the idea of ADHD as a “superpower,” sharing why acceptance can mean giving yourself grace, acknowledging what’s difficult, and recognizing that no two ADHD experiences look exactly the same.

✨Highlights✨
✔️ Why a late ADHD diagnosis can bring both relief and grief
✔️ What it means to give yourself grace on both good and difficult days
✔️ Why imposter syndrome doesn’t have to stop you from showing up
✔️ The important difference between introversion, shyness, and anxiety
✔️ Why validation has to start with yourself
✔️ How lived experience helped Ky find his voice as a creator
✔️ Why ADHD should be understood as a spectrum rather than one universal experience

❓What has accepting your ADHD looked like for you? Share your experience in the comments.

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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:
Hosts: Aaron Smith & Stephen Tonti
Producer: David Grabowski
Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
Theme Music: David Grabowski
Follow Kyrus Keenan:
Instagram: thevibewithky/
Website: The Vibe With Ky
Send us Fan Mail
We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!
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Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

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Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent

Why does a simple comment, a change in someone’s tone, or an unanswered message send your emotions into a spiral that feels impossible to stop?

𝐃𝐫. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐃𝐨𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐧—board-certified adult psychiatrist—returns to Attention Different for another insightful conversation with Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith. This time, they’re taking a deeper dive into Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD), a term that has helped many adults with ADHD put words to the overwhelming emotional pain they experience around rejection, criticism, and perceived failure.

Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Dr. Dodson explains the origins of RSD, what he believes distinguishes it from other forms of emotional sensitivity, and why it can feel so intense that it affects not only emotions but also the body.

The conversation goes beyond the immediate pain of rejection to examine how years of criticism, unrealistic expectations, and pressure to fit in can shape the way adults with ADHD see themselves. Together, they explore the connections between rejection sensitivity, shame, masking, perfectionism, and people-pleasing, including why some people avoid opportunities, relationships, or challenges altogether rather than risk being rejected. They also discuss ongoing questions about RSD, its possible biological and environmental influences, and the approaches Dr. Dodson uses in his clinical practice to help patients manage its impact.

✨Highlights✨
✔️ What Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) means and where the term originated
✔️ Why perceived rejection, criticism, or failure can trigger overwhelming emotional reactions
✔️ How RSD differs from general rejection sensitivity and emotional dysregulation in Dr. Dodson’s framework
✔️ Why rejection can sometimes feel physically painful and difficult to describe
✔️ How repeated criticism can contribute to shame, masking, and feelings of being unlovable
✔️ Why perfectionism, people-pleasing, and avoidance can develop as responses to the fear of rejection
✔️ What researchers and clinicians are still exploring about the relationship between RSD, ADHD, and trauma
✔️ How Dr. Dodson approaches medication, emotional balance, and preventing intense episodes
✔️ Why recognizing the early signs of an emotional spiral can help you respond differently

“𝑃𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐴𝐷𝐻𝐷 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑟𝑠. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑙𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑡.” — 𝐃𝐫. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐃𝐨𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐧

For adults with ADHD who have spent years being told they’re too sensitive, too emotional, or simply overreacting, this conversation provides a different way to understand those experiences. Dr. Dodson’s insights explain why certain emotional reactions can feel so overwhelming and how recognizing these patterns can help people understand themselves, navigate relationships, and approach everyday challenges with greater awareness and self-compassion. 

💬 Have you ever experienced a moment when a small comment or perceived rejection triggered an overwhelming emotional response? Share your experience in the comments.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:
Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
Producer: David Grabowski
Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski
Follow Dr. William Dodson
Website: dodsonadhdtreatment.com/
Send us Fan Mail
We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent

What would change if you learned that struggling with ADHD isn't a motivation problem but a knowledge gap?

In this episode of Attention Different, Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with 𝐃𝐫. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐃𝐨𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐧, a psychiatrist who has spent decades working with adults with ADHD. Known for his work around Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) and the interest-based nervous system, Dr. Dodson brings a perspective shaped by years of listening to people with ADHD describe their experiences, struggles, strengths, and the ways their nervous systems actually work.

Together, they explore the emotional side of ADHD, from the intensity of rejection and criticism to the lasting impact of being told you’re “too much.” The conversation moves beyond a deficit-focused view of ADHD to look at masking, shame, authenticity, and the strengths that can emerge when the right conditions are in place. They also unpack what it means to have an interest-based nervous system and how interest, challenge, novelty, urgency, and passion can help people with ADHD get engaged, get “in the zone,” and better understand what allows their abilities to show up.

✨Highlights✨
✔️ Why rejection and criticism can carry so much emotional weight for people with ADHD
✔️ How RSD and life experiences can intersect
✔️ What Dr. Dodson means by an “interest-based nervous system”
✔️ The role of interest, challenge, novelty, urgency, and passion in ADHD engagement
✔️ How masking can affect identity, acceptance, and self-worth
✔️ Why noticing what works can be just as important as identifying what doesn’t
✔️ How to begin building your own “owner’s manual” for your ADHD brain
✔️ Why a strengths-based understanding of ADHD can change the way you approach your abilities

“𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐴𝐷𝐻𝐷, 𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒.” — 𝐃𝐫. 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐃𝐨𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐧

💬 What helps YOU get into the zone? Is it interest, challenge, novelty, urgency, passion, or something else? Tell us in the comments.

For anyone with ADHD who has ever questioned why their abilities seem to show up so easily in some moments and feel out of reach in others, this conversation offers a different perspective. By understanding what engages your nervous system, recognizing the impact of rejection and masking, and paying closer attention to the conditions where you function at your best, you can begin to understand your ADHD brain through its strengths, not just its struggles.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:
Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
Producer: David Grabowski
Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski
Follow Dr. William Dodson
Website: dodsonadhdtreatment.com/
Send us Fan Mail
We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent

What happens when you spend years trying to keep up without realizing your brain runs on a different set of rules? 
In this episode of 𝘓𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴, Devin Pitts-Rogers sits down with 𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥 — entrepreneur, father, husband, gamer, D&D enthusiast, and Venture Forth cast member, to talk about late-diagnosed ADHD and the everyday realities that can come with it. Diagnosed in his late 30s, Rodney reflects on how understanding his ADHD helped him make sense of experiences that had followed him from school into adulthood, including hyperfocus, executive function challenges, burnout, and the pressure to constantly accomplish more.
Together, they discuss why seemingly simple tasks can become unexpectedly complicated with ADHD, how body doubling and accountability can help with getting started, and what happens when notifications, responsibilities, and unfinished tasks are all competing for your attention. Rodney also opens up about his experiences in the workplace, the importance of having support structures instead of being labeled “lazy” or inattentive, and the danger of tying your value to how much you can accomplish. Along the way, they explore meditation, intentional rest, creativity, parenting, and why Dungeons & Dragons gives Rodney an opportunity to be fully present and engaged.
✨Highlights✨
✔️ Why ADHD can make everyday tasks feel much more complicated than expected
✔️ How body doubling and accountability can make it easier to get started
✔️ Why hyperfocus isn’t always the same as being able to control your attention
✔️ How notifications and overstimulation can compete for an ADHD brain’s attention
✔️ Why workplace support can make a meaningful difference for neurodivergent employees
✔️ The connection between productivity, burnout, and self-worth
✔️ Why rest doesn’t always mean doing nothing
✔️ How Dungeons & Dragons, creativity, and improvisation help Rodney stay present
“𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡. 𝑊𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑙.” — 𝐑𝐨𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥
💬 If you received an ADHD diagnosis later in life, what did it help you understand differently about yourself? Share your thoughts in the comments below. 👇
Whether you were diagnosed with ADHD later in life, are still figuring out what works for your brain, or simply want to better understand the everyday realities of adult ADHD, this episode offers an honest look at productivity, support, rest, creativity, and learning to work with your brain instead of constantly fighting against it.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:
Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
Producer: David Grabowski
Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 Rodney Campbell:
LinkedIn: Search Rodney Brice Campbell
Instagram: sirodnus/

Send us Fan Mail
We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent

What if the problem was never that you couldn’t learn, but that no one had figured out how you learn?
In this episode of the Attention Different Podcast, Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝, founder and managing director of the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education, to rethink what teaching can look like when we stop expecting every brain to learn, process, and demonstrate knowledge in the same way. Rhoda shares how her experiences as a musician, educator, and student shaped her belief that great teachers are “treasure hunters” who look for what is already there instead of measuring people against a single definition of success.
The conversation explores accessible arts education, neurodivergent learning, and the limitations of standardized education, while getting deeply personal about shame, creativity, trauma, and self-acceptance. Rhoda explains what can change when someone feels truly seen for who they are, why accessibility benefits more than just those who need it most, and how curiosity can thrive when learning isn’t built around the fear of getting it wrong.
✨Highlights✨
✔️ Why teaching every student the same way can leave real learning invisible
✔️ What it means to be a “treasure hunter” for someone else’s strengths and talents
✔️ Why accessibility should be built into education from the beginning, not added as an afterthought
✔️ How shame and fear of judgment can shut down curiosity and learning
✔️ Why feeling seen for who you are matters just as much as being recognized for what you can do
✔️ How creativity and the arts can give people a way to express what they may struggle to put into words
✔️ Why meeting learners where they are can create better learning experiences for everyone
“𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦, 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑛𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑡, 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑛'𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒. 𝐼'𝑚 𝑟𝑒𝑤𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑎 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒.” — 𝐃𝐫. 𝐑𝐡𝐨𝐝𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐝
🗨️ Who was the person who made you feel seen when you were learning? Let us know in the comments 👇
This episode is for anyone who grew up believing they were lazy, difficult, incapable, or somehow failing at learning when the system may simply have failed to meet them where they were. Because sometimes unlocking someone’s potential has less to do with teaching them differently and more to do with seeing them differently.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺:
Hosts: Stephen Tonti, Aaron Smith & Devin Pitts-Rogers
Producer: David Grabowski
Editors: Ian Lopez & Luis Paulo de la Fuente
Sound Mix & Theme Music: David Grabowski
Follow Dr. Rhoda Bernard
Website: rhodabernard.com/
LinkedIn: Search Rhoda Bernard
Instagram: @rhodabernard41
Send us Fan Mail
We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community.

If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe!
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1

--------------------------------------------------------------------

Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey
•  Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com
•  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/attention_different
• Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent
• X -   https://www.x.com/attndifferent