The Impulsive Thinker

André Brisson - ADHD Entrepreneur

We celebrate ADHD entrepreneur success and discuss challenges and solutions. Having lived with undiagnosed ADHD for a large part of his entrepreneurial journey, the host André Brisson shares his personal story of overcoming undiagnosed symptoms and how he refined his systems, routines and habits once diagnosed with self-awareness and personal growth. André will interview high-achieving ADHD entrepreneurs, ADHD experts, and strength discovery experts covering many topics including their own obstacles and successes, strategies to manage their ADHD, share knowledge to gain insights and more. André will also be interviewed by guest hosts to pull out solutions and information from his brain – since his solutions are impulsive thoughts when talking to someone else. André Brisson was diagnosed at 44 with severe ADHD and Asperger's. He has lived it, researched it, and transformed himself into a higher-functioning ADHD entrepreneur.

  1. 2d ago

    ADHD Entrepreneurs: Therapy Heals, Coaching Executes. The Line Nobody Talks About

    You don't need healing. You need results. Therapy and coaching aren't the same for ADHD Entrepreneurs — and most people are still getting it wrong.   In This Episode: The real differences between ADHD coaching and therapy Why therapy tackles the past and coaching builds execution When coaching won't work — and why therapy comes first   What You'll Take Away: Coaching isn't for everyone, especially if depression or past trauma is in play ADHD therapy is about stabilizing, not fixing a "broken" brain Licensing matters — coaches can't diagnose, therapists can Both paths can work together, but the order matters Bad coaching ignores emotional paralysis — that's therapy territory   GUEST BIO Mariah Spradlin is an ADHD therapist, coach, and co-author of the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Workbook for Adult ADHD. She gets the ADHD Entrepreneur struggle — because she lives it herself. www.northstartcc.com   Books by Mariah The DBT Skills Workbook for Adult ADHD, with Scott Spradlin (2026, New Harbinger) https://a.co/d/0enSKylP   You might also be interested in: 🤔 ADHD Entrepreneur Blocked by Emotions? Get Unstuck Now! | Dr. Alexandra Philipsen | EP235   ABOUT THIS EPISODE The Impulsive Thinker® brings on Mariah Spradlin to draw a hard line between ADHD coaching and therapy. They cut past the feel-good talk. This one is straight about what actually works for real ADHD Entrepreneurs. ADHD, entrepreneurship, therapy vs. coaching, diagnosis, and execution — all on the table. Mariah Spradlin and The Impulsive Thinker® talk about why therapy isn't just for healing, and why coaching only works if the emotional storms are already calmed. The episode digs into licensing, insurance, executive function, and why emotional paralysis can kill progress faster than any lack of strategy. Hear the real reasons why coaching fails for some, and how the two can work side by side — but only if the foundations are solid. If you keep switching between coaches and therapists — or wonder which you need — this episode is for you. ADHD entrepreneurs who are tired of hearing they're broken, listen up. Hit play if you're ready for the truth.   Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.   🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount! 📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool. 📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter. 🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn. 👣Follow me on Instagram. 💻Check out our website. 👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.   00:00 Introduction to ADHD Coaching and Therapy 01:37 Understanding the Roles: Therapist vs. Coach 04:10 The Process of Therapy vs. Coaching 09:52 Healing vs. Execution: Different Approaches 15:42 When Therapy is Necessary Before Coaching 19:03 Expectations in Therapy vs. Coaching 23:56 The Importance of Self-Understanding and Growth   © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.

    32 min
  2. 6d ago

    ADHD Entrepreneur - Odds Are, Your Real Problem Was Always Social

    You've always been called the troublemaker. Turns out, you were the only one asking the real questions. The Impulsive Thinker® finally rips open his own pre-diagnosis story — raw, unfiltered, and loud.   In This Episode: Why questioning the rules gets you labelled a problem — at home, school, and in business The real difference between ADHD brains and society's expectations What a late ADHD diagnosis actually feels like for an entrepreneur   What You'll Take Away: Trouble doesn't always mean troublemaker — sometimes it means you're the only one paying attention Most of your childhood "problems" were social — not intellectual or behavioural ADHD is not the deficit — it's how everyone else reacts to your brain Getting a diagnosis isn't relief at first — it means rewriting everything you believed about yourself Questioning authority as an ADHD Entrepreneur isn't defiance — it's survival   ABOUT THIS EPISODE This episode of The Impulsive Thinker® is a raw look at the ADHD Entrepreneur experience before diagnosis. The Impulsive Thinker® shares how persistent questioning and nonconformity make life harder — not because of the brain, but because of society's measuring stick. The conversation covers social rejection, manufactured chaos, and why neurodivergent Entrepreneurs get punished for needing clarity. Hear what it's really like to go from believing you're broken to realizing ADHD is just a different operating system. This one's for every ADHD Entrepreneur who's ever been told to sit down and shut up. This episode will remind you: the problem isn't your brain — it's theirs.   Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.   🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount! 📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool. 📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter. 🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn. 👣Follow me on Instagram. 💻Check out our website. 👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.   00:00 The Journey of a Troublemaker 04:04 Understanding ADHD and Diagnosis 06:57 Reflecting on the Past and Self-Acceptance   © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.

    12 min
  3. May 25

    The Impulsive Thinker's Story - Pre-ADHD Diagnosis

    You didn't burn your business down. You got bored — and nobody told you why. The Impulsive Thinker® finally digs into his own ADHD story. If you never fit in, this episode is for you.   In This Episode: Why masking and not fitting in hits hardest for ADHD Entrepreneurs How boredom and conformity kill the drive to build and create What happens when you mistake ADHD for being a "bad person"   What You'll Take Away: Not fitting in is the baseline for ADHD Entrepreneurs — not a problem to fix Masking starts young and scars deep, but doesn't erase who you are Boredom triggers chaos — your brain blows things up to feel something ADHD isn't the problem. It's the world's refusal to bend that breaks you. Diagnosing ADHD late means years of thinking you're the issue   GUEST BIO Cassandra Morari is an ADHD brain and COO at The Rock, a Saskatchewan family ag-business. She knows small town. She knows family business. And she's been masking her brain for years. www.therackonline.com   ABOUT THIS EPISODE This episode of The Impulsive Thinker® tears the mask off the host's own ADHD Entrepreneur experience. No fluff. Cassandra Morari asks the questions nobody's put to The Impulsive Thinker® before — what did pre-diagnosis really look like? From growing up the oddball in a rural Catholic town to blowing up career moves out of boredom, The Impulsive Thinker® walks through decades of fitting everywhere but belonging nowhere. They hit on real ADHD challenges — masking, rejection, internalized blame, and how boredom and novelty drive business decisions. The Impulsive Thinker® explains that ADHD isn't the enemy. The problem is being forced to run on "society's measuring stick" instead of your own operating system. The worst damage isn't business chaos — it's the belief that your brain is broken. This episode is built for ADHD Entrepreneurs who know being different isn't a marketing slogan. If you're sick of pretending to fit in, hit play now.   Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.   🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount! 📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool. 📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter. 🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn. 👣Follow me on Instagram. 💻Check out our website. 👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.   00:00 Introduction to Cassandra Morari and ADHD 03:02 Exploring André's Early Life and ADHD Awareness 05:38 Navigating School Life with ADHD 08:26 Friendships and Social Dynamics in School 11:26 University Experience and Finding Acceptance 14:15 Parenting and Social Challenges Today 17:16 Career Journey and Entrepreneurial Spirit 19:37 Navigating Workplace Relationships and Misunderstandings 22:45 The Journey of Self-Discovery and ADHD Awareness 28:57 Understanding ADHD: Stigma and Acceptance 34:12 Embracing Uniqueness and Building Confidence   © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.

    38 min
  4. May 21

    Society Calls Women ADHD Entrepreneurs "Unreliable" as Soon as They Stumble

    She thought she was losing her mind. Turns out menopause crashed her systems and ADHD was under it all. The world doesn't care—it just calls you unreliable.   In This Episode: What happens when menopause wipes out the ADHD coping strategies you didn't know you had Society's double standard for women with ADHD in the workplace Judgment, masking, and why the world still won't adapt even when you do   What You'll Take Away: Fumbling at work wasn't dementia—it was hormonal change unmasking ADHD Discipline and willpower were just a side effect of estrogen, not character Getting an ADHD diagnosis delivers knowledge, not instant relief No one told women what menopause would really do—least of all to ADHD brains Judgment from others doesn't stop just because you know what's going on   ABOUT THIS EPISODE This episode of The Impulsive Thinker® hits hard on what happens when menopause throws ADHD Entrepreneurs off their game. Vicki Noels-Cornish's lived experience forces a real look at hormonal shifts, lost coping strategies, and brutal workplace consequences. ADHD, entrepreneurship, and menopause—the hidden connections get called out. Forget the standard clinical talk. The Impulsive Thinker® lays out the raw realities for neurodivergent women in business. It's a "blame the woman" world—ADHD burnout, masking, and societal expectations come into sharp focus. Loss of self, job risks, and the weight of judgment aren't just talking points here—they're lived experience. Menopause and ADHD collide, and nobody warned you what that wreck would look like. This is for ADHD Entrepreneurs running the show on fumes, blamed for every crack in the facade, and tired of pretending. If your brain's dropped the ball and the world called you broken, hit play.   Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.   Follow Vicki Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCompanyYOU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecompanyyou_vicki X: https://x.com/thecompanyYOU   🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount! 📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool. 📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter. 🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn. 👣Follow me on Instagram. 💻Check out our website. 👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.   00:00 Understanding Menopause and ADHD 02:47 The Impact of Societal Expectations on Women 05:32 Navigating Identity and Judgment 08:19 Vicki's Journey and Key Takeaways   © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.

    10 min
  5. May 18

    No, You're Not Losing Your Mind: ADHD, Menopause, and Performance Freefall

    You kept all the balls in the air for decades. Then menopause hit. Now your ADHD brain drops every one — and everyone around you thinks you just stopped caring. This episode is that conversation nobody has in public.   In This Episode: Why menopause pushes ADHD symptoms into crisis mode The stigma ADHD Entrepreneur women face — from their own heads and everyone else Judgement, masking, and why "having it all together" is a lie   What You'll Take Away: Menopause can expose every workaround an ADHD Entrepreneur built Forgetfulness, brain fog, and spiral thinking aren't failures — they're neurology and biology at war Stigma sticks hardest when you look like you "had it all together" until now Most women think they're the only ones falling apart — they aren't High achiever wiring compounds judgement — internally and externally   GUEST BIO Vicki Noels-Cornish is the founder of The Company U. She's an ADHD brain, people development consultant, and Colby-certified advisor advocating for new ways to work, especially for women who don't fit society's measuring stick.   Follow Vicki Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCompanyYOU Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecompanyyou_vicki X: https://x.com/thecompanyYOU   ABOUT THIS EPISODE This episode of The Impulsive Thinker® rips the lid off menopause and ADHD inside the Entrepreneur world. Vicki Noels-Cornish walks through exactly what happens when your old playbook stops working. ADHD, entrepreneurship, masking, and menopause collide in raw detail. The Impulsive Thinker® doesn't let go until all the ugly stigma, judgement, and self-doubt are out in the open. The discussion breaks apart why ADHD Entrepreneur women get blindsided by menopause and a lifetime of high achiever masking. Forget the clinical stuff — this one's about the real-life meltdowns nobody's talking about. This matters because you're not losing your edge — your biology and neurology just hit a new level of chaos. Every system you built to survive the grind won't save you here. If you've ever lost track of reality, felt judged for being "too much," or got told you dropped the ball after years of keeping it all together — listen now. Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.     🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount! 📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool. 📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter. 🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn. 👣Follow me on Instagram. 💻Check out our website. 👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.   00:00 Navigating ADHD and Menopause 04:22 The Impact of Hormonal Changes on ADHD 09:16 Understanding the 'Rabbit Hole' of ADHD 13:53 Societal Stigmas and Expectations 18:05 Finding Support and Community   © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.

    28 min
  6. May 14

    ADHD Entrepreneurs Live with Invisible Stigma Until It's Too Late

    You didn't fail at being "a good girl." The standard was impossible from the start. ADHD women spend their whole lives playing a game they can't win—then get blamed for losing.   In This Episode: The real history and weight of ADHD stigma for women and girls How perfectionism and impossible standards mask real ADHD needs Why internalized shame hits harder than ignorance or bias from others   What You'll Take Away: Society doesn't just misunderstand ADHD in women. It makes girls punish themselves for it. Perfectionism is a survival tool when the rules were never built for you. Masking breaks down—often right when life gets hardest. The ADHD entrepreneur brain isn't flawed. It just doesn't fit society's measuring stick. Owning your difference is survival, not selfishness.   ABOUT THIS EPISODE This episode of The Impulsive Thinker® cuts into ADHD stigma for women in entrepreneurship to expose where internalized shame does the most damage. The episode drills into expectations of perfection, masking, and why so many ADHD Entrepreneur women feel broken before they even get a diagnosis. Social norms demand women do everything effortlessly—plus mask every ADHD trait. That pressure erases real identities. André rips into how these standards lead to losing track of who you are. Perfection, masking, and chasing what others want cost ADHD entrepreneurs time, confidence, and mental health. If you're sick of being told you're failing someone else's test, this one's for you. Listen close—because no one wins by playing by rules made to keep you out.   Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.   Books by Dr. Hinshaw The Triple Bind: Saving Our Teenage Girls from Today's Pressures and Conflicting Expectations - https://www.amazon.ca/Triple-Bind-Pressures-Conflicting-Expectations/dp/0345504003 The ADHD Explosion: Myths, Medication, Money, and Today's Push for Performance - https://www.amazon.ca/ADHD-Explosion-Medication-Todays-Performance/dp/0199790558/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0   🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount! 📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool. 📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter. 🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn. 👣Follow me on Instagram. 💻Check out our website. 👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.   00:00 The Cost of Being a Good Girl 02:37 Stigma and Psychological Branding 05:07 Perfectionism and Societal Expectations 07:51 Empowerment and Ownership for Women   © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.

    10 min
  7. May 11

    The Women ADHD Entrepreneur Cost of "Good Girl" Training with Dr. Stephen Hinshaw

    What did being a "good girl" cost you? Stigma isn't a buzzword — it keeps ADHD women silent, unseen, untreated. The Impulsive Thinker® and Dr. Stephen Hinshaw rip into why society still isn't catching ADHD in girls — and what it's costing all of us.   In This Episode: Why stigma around ADHD is more than social — it's internalized and impacts diagnosis for women How impossible "good girl" expectations push masking, burnout, and depression The role of social media in both exposing and worsening ADHD stigma   What You'll Take Away: Increased awareness doesn't erase stigma. It just teaches stereotypes. ADHD women are forced to mask and self-stigmatize to survive Societal expectations for women still demand compassion, competition, and perfection — all at once ADHD is misread as laziness or bad behaviour unless you fit the male stereotype TikTok and algorithm trends are fuelling misinformation and overdiagnosis   GUEST BIO Dr. Stephen Hinshaw is a psychology professor at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco. He led the largest long-term study of girls with ADHD, rewriting what we know about women's ADHD and why it matters right now. www.hinshawlab.berkeley.edu   Books by Dr. Hinshaw The Triple Bind: Saving Our Teenage Girls from Today's Pressures and Conflicting Expectations - https://www.amazon.ca/Triple-Bind-Pressures-Conflicting-Expectations/dp/0345504003 The ADHD Explosion: Myths, Medication, Money, and Today's Push for Performance - https://www.amazon.ca/ADHD-Explosion-Medication-Todays-Performance/dp/0199790558/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0   ABOUT THIS EPISODE This episode of The Impulsive Thinker® exposes how stigma trains girls and women with ADHD to hide — not seek help. The Impulsive Thinker® talks with Dr. Stephen Hinshaw, a leading ADHD and stigma researcher. They break down the triple bind: perfection, nurturing, achievement. ADHD women can't win, so they mask harder and break sooner. The cost? Crushed self-worth, missed diagnoses, and internalized shame. This isn't about awareness — it's about how false expectations get under your skin and block your growth as an ADHD Entrepreneur. Social media plays both sides: validation and a tidal wave of noise. Real stakes, real impact. If you feel like you're faking it to "pass" and burning out anyway — you need this episode. Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.   🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount! 📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool. 📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter. 🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn. 👣Follow me on Instagram. 💻Check out our website. 👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.   00:00 Understanding Stigma and Its Origins 08:38 The Triple Bind: Societal Expectations on Women 18:52 The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health 23:46 Navigating ADHD and Gender Dynamics   © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.

    30 min
  8. May 7

    Masking Is a Pyrrhic Victory: ADHD Women Suffering in Silence Has a Price

    You keep your head down, play nice, and still get steamrolled by everyone else's expectations. ADHD isn't the problem — it's the world that ignores how you operate. The Impulsive Thinker® and Dr. Stephen Hinshaw call out what everyone else misses about masking, silence, and the cost of being invisible.   In This Episode: ADHD in women and girls — what masking really costs The hidden dangers of suffering in silence Research-backed risks that follow when nobody notices   What You'll Take Away: Masking is survival, but it comes at a brutal personal cost For women and girls with ADHD, problems snowball until they're unavoidable Suffering in silence leads to real-world risks — including mental health and relationships Negative outcomes aren't fate when the right support shows up One or two people who "get it" can turn everything around   ABOUT THIS EPISODE This episode of The Impulsive Thinker® puts a spotlight on ADHD in women and girls, breaking down the silent damage masking causes. The Impulsive Thinker® pushes the conversation past clichés to show how suffering in silence compounds over years. Real data, not empty reassurance — everything discussed has lived experience and research behind it. If you've been told you're not trying hard enough, or if hiding has become your norm, this is why it matters in your business and life. Built for ADHD entrepreneurs tired of invisible struggles. Hit play and hear what nobody else is saying.   Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.   Books by Dr. Hinshaw The Triple Bind: Saving Our Teenage Girls from Today's Pressures and Conflicting Expectations - https://www.amazon.ca/Triple-Bind-Pressures-Conflicting-Expectations/dp/0345504003 The ADHD Explosion: Myths, Medication, Money, and Today's Push for Performance - https://www.amazon.ca/ADHD-Explosion-Medication-Todays-Performance/dp/0199790558/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0   🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount! 📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool. 📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter. 🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn. 👣Follow me on Instagram. 💻Check out our website. 👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.   00:00 Understanding ADHD in Women and Girls 05:04 The Impact of Masking and Societal Expectations 06:23 Changing Trajectories and Finding Support   © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.

    8 min
4.6
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

We celebrate ADHD entrepreneur success and discuss challenges and solutions. Having lived with undiagnosed ADHD for a large part of his entrepreneurial journey, the host André Brisson shares his personal story of overcoming undiagnosed symptoms and how he refined his systems, routines and habits once diagnosed with self-awareness and personal growth. André will interview high-achieving ADHD entrepreneurs, ADHD experts, and strength discovery experts covering many topics including their own obstacles and successes, strategies to manage their ADHD, share knowledge to gain insights and more. André will also be interviewed by guest hosts to pull out solutions and information from his brain – since his solutions are impulsive thoughts when talking to someone else. André Brisson was diagnosed at 44 with severe ADHD and Asperger's. He has lived it, researched it, and transformed himself into a higher-functioning ADHD entrepreneur.

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