Attention Different | Adulting with ADHD

💡 Is the substance that “helps you relax” quietly making your ADHD worse? 
Today’s guest stresses: this isn’t about moralizing the issue, it’s about what the science says.
In this episode, hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith welcome back returning guest, clinical psychologist, and Harvard Medical School lecturer Dr. Roberto Olivardia, to unpack one of the most critical topics for today’s ADHDers: cannabis and the ADHD brain.
Diving deep into the sobering research, Dr. Olivardia breaks down how modern THC levels and the unique brain chemistry of ADHDers interact in ways most people never consider. From executive function decline to increased addiction risk and even links to psychosis, this episode challenges the all-too-pervasive belief that cannabis is a harmless or helpful tool for managing ADHD. 
☀️ If you or someone you know is struggling with cannabis or substance dependency, help is available. The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) offers free, confidential support 24/7 and can connect you with local treatment options. You can also visit FindTreatment.gov to search for licensed providers in your area.

✨ Highlights ✨
✔️ Why today’s cannabis is not the same as it was decades ago
✔️ The difference between self-medication and actual treatment
✔️ How THC impacts executive function and brain structure over time
✔️ Why ADHD brains are more vulnerable to addiction and dependency
✔️ The genetic link that may increase risk for cannabis-related psychosis in ADHDers
✔️ The “dimmer switch” effect of cannabis and why it feels helpful in the moment
✔️ What’s really happening when cannabis starts shrinking your world

🧠 “Self-medication is not the same as treatment, and what feels helpful can still be harmful.” 
—Dr. Roberto Olivardia

This episode is for anyone who has ever thought: “Is this actually helping me, or just numbing something deeper?”
If you’ve used cannabis to manage stress, anxiety, sleep, or focus, this conversation offers a clearer, science-backed perspective on what’s really happening, and what your brain might truly need instead.
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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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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 a Navy pilot builds her life on discipline and pressure, and it finally stops working?

In this episode of Attention Different, hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with ADHD coach and former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗶 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻 to unpack why so many ADHD adults rely on stress, fear, and urgency just to function. From a high-achieving military career to burnout and a late diagnosis, Tori reveals why “push harder” strategies eventually fail and what actually works.

Drawing from her lived experience and coaching work, Tori introduces a powerful reframe: ADHD is not a lack of ability, it’s a different kind of nervous system. Through her concept of the 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵-𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮, she explains why some tasks feel effortless while others feel impossible, and how working with your brain, not against it, can change everything.

✨ Highlights ✨

✔️ Why stress, fear, and deadlines lead to burnout
✔️ What an “interest-based nervous system” really means
✔️ The difference between negative vs. positive activation
✔️ How anxiety can mask ADHD for years
✔️ Why you can succeed outwardly but still feel exhausted inside
✔️ The moment everything clicked after a late ADHD diagnosis

 “𝐼𝑓 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛’𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝐼’𝑚 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑑𝑜 𝑖𝑡.” — 𝐓𝐨𝐫𝐢 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧

💬 If you’ve ever felt like you can perform at a high level, but only at the cost of your energy, mental health, or sense of self, this conversation will hit home. It’s a deep dive into why that pattern happens and how to start building motivation that lasts.
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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

💡 You know exactly what you need to do, but you still can’t make yourself do it. Sound familiar? You keep telling yourself “just start”, but your brain won’t cooperate. Why does this happen?
In this episode of Attention Different, hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with executive function coach and former special education teacher Sean McCormick to unpack what’s actually behind the daily struggles of ADHD. From missed deadlines to emotional overwhelm, Sean shares how the system often overlooks the skills people need to function in real life, and what to do about it.
Sean, founder of Executive Function Specialists, has trained hundreds of coaches worldwide and built his work around helping people organize their thinking, take action, and follow through. Drawing from both his professional experience and his own ADHD journey, he breaks down why ADHD isn’t a character flaw, but a skills gap. 

✨ Highlights✨
✔️ What executive functioning actually means (and why it matters)
✔️ Why ADHD struggles are about execution, not intelligence
✔️ How rejection sensitivity (RSD) can derail your life decisions
✔️ The “POSITIVE” framework for building real-life skills
✔️ A step-by-step system (PEMDAS) to turn overwhelm into action
✔️ Your brain is a pattern-recognition supercomputer; use it
✔️ You can develop skills to compensate for how your brain works

“Oftentimes your greatest skill is your unfair advantage, something you’re so good at, you don’t even notice it.” — Sean McCormick
This episode is for anyone who’s ever thought, “Why can’t I just do the things I know I need to do?” and is ready for a more honest, actionable answer. This will help you understand why and what to do differently for anyone who’s been trying harder but still feeling stuck.
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

💡 What if your “anxiety” was never anxiety at all? What if the real story was missed for years?
In this episode, Heather DeAngelis, ADHD specialist and Columbia-trained therapist, sits down with hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith to unpack the reality of late-diagnosed ADHD in women. Drawing from both her clinical work and personal experience, Heather shares how high-functioning women are often misdiagnosed with anxiety or depression, and why many spend years trying treatments that never truly work.
Together, they explore how ADHD can hide behind perfectionism, emotional intensity, and “doing everything right” on the outside while struggling internally. Heather breaks down the connection between untreated ADHD and secondary conditions like anxiety and depression, and why treating the root cause changes everything.
✨Highlights✨
✔️ Why ADHD in women is often overlooked or misdiagnosed
✔️ How “treatment-resistant depression” may actually be undiagnosed ADHD
✔️ Why action comes before motivation for ADHD brains
✔️ The difference between talking about feelings and actually feeling them
✔️ How to regulate emotional overwhelm instead of avoiding it
✔️ Why self-trust is often the biggest missing piece in late diagnosis
“If the treatment that you're seeking for depression is not working, you may not be depressed.” —Heather DeAngelis
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 ADHD treatment isn’t just about the right medication… but a completely different approach to care?In this episode of the Attention Different podcast, hosts Stephen Tonti and Aaron Smith sit down with ADHD clinician and pediatrician Scott Keel to unpack what’s broken in traditional ADHD care and what it actually looks like to treat the whole person.

Building a practice rooted in lived experience, Scott shares how his own ADHD journey reshaped the way he approaches care. Through his work at Even Keel Health Partners, he’s creating a model that goes beyond quick 15-minute “med checks” and instead focuses on whole-person care, combining lifestyle, sleep, nutrition, emotional health, and practical execution strategies. Because as he explains, it’s not about what you know… it’s about what you can actually follow through on. 
This conversation goes deep into the realities ADHD adults face daily. Medication challenges, misdiagnosis, burnout, emotional regulation, relationships, and the hidden systems that either support or sabotage your brain.

✨Highlights✨
✔️ Why ADHD treatment often fails when it focuses only on medication
✔️ The real difference between “feeling” medication vs. it actually working
✔️ How to find your personal ADHD “set point” and avoid overmedication
✔️ Why sleep, nutrition, and movement matter more than most people think
✔️ How ADHD brains fall into cycles of self-medication and burnout
✔️ The power of lowering the “bar of initiation” to finally get things done
✔️ How ADHD impacts relationships, emotional regulation, and connection
✔️ What a true “whole health” ADHD approach looks like in practice
“It’s not the knowledge… it’s the doing. It’s the execution of what I know.” — Scott Keel
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗨𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺:
Scott Keel                                    https://www.instagram.com/doctorkeel/
Stephen Tonti                             https://www.instagram.com/adhdtonti/
Aaron Smith                                https://www.instagram.com/potentialwithinreach/

New Merch - https://www.redbubble.com/people/attndifferent/shop
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