ADHDifference

Julie Legg

ADHDifference challenges the common misconception that ADHD only affects young people. Diagnosed as an adult, Julie Legg interviews guests from around the world, sharing new ADHD perspectives, strategies and insights. ADHDifference's mission is to foster a deeper understanding of ADHD by sharing personal, relatable experiences in informal and open conversations. Choosing "difference" over "disorder" reflects its belief that ADHD is a difference in brain wiring, not just a clinical label.Julie is the author of The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing, and Living with ADHD (HarperCollins NZ, 2024) and ADHD advocate.

  1. S2E52: ADHD & Quieting the Inner Critic + Dr Katie Brzozowski

    26 MAR

    S2E52: ADHD & Quieting the Inner Critic + Dr Katie Brzozowski

    Julie Legg speaks with psychotherapist Dr. Katie Brzozowski about the inner critic, where it comes from, why it can feel so loud for ADHDers, and how it shapes the way we see ourselves. Katie explains how a lifetime of correction, criticism, and misunderstanding can become internalised, turning into the harsh self-talk many ADHDers carry into adulthood. These “tapes” often resurface during moments of stress, grief, burnout, or life transitions — amplifying self-doubt and making it harder to move forward. Rather than trying to silence the inner critic completely, Katie introduces a more compassionate and practical approach: learning to separate from those thoughts, reduce their power, and stop letting them dictate behaviour. From ACT-based tools to visual techniques and gentle reframing, this conversation offers a grounded, realistic pathway toward self-compassion and emotional resilience. Key Points from the Episode:  How ADHDers internalise years of correction and criticism  The inner critic as learned “tapes” from earlier life experiences  Why the inner critic gets louder during stress, grief, and transition  The difference between “I am” vs “I’m having the thought that I am” Why ignoring negative thoughts doesn’t work  Using ACT (Acceptance & Commitment Therapy) to create distance from thoughts  Techniques to stop getting “hooked” by the inner critic  The impact of comparison and unrealistic life expectations  ADHD, non-linear life paths, and redefining success  Why self-compassion is essential for growth and changeLinks:  WEBSITE: https://speakeasytoday.com/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/speakeasypsychotherapy/ LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkathrynbrzozowski/Send us Fan Mail Thanks for listening.  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.   🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz    📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast   📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD   ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

    35 min
  2. S2E51: Overwhelm & Creating Small Meaningful Wins + guest Jennifer Noll Sparks

    23 MAR

    S2E51: Overwhelm & Creating Small Meaningful Wins + guest Jennifer Noll Sparks

    Julie Legg speaks with therapist Jennifer Noll Sparks, creator of the Create the Win System — a practical, science-informed approach designed to help people move through overwhelm and take meaningful action, even on the hardest days. Drawing from both her professional background and lived experience, Jennifer unpacks why so many ADHDers feel stuck... not from laziness, but from nervous system dysregulation. She introduces the concept of the window of tolerance, explaining how overwhelm can show up as either high activation (anxiety, urgency) or shutdown (paralysis, procrastination). Through simple, playful tools like gamification, “widening the win,” and micro-movements, Jennifer offers an alternative to willpower-based productivity.  Key Points from the Episode:  Overwhelm as a universal (non-clinical) human experience  ADHD, focus struggles, and early school challenges  Why willpower-based advice often fails  The window of tolerance and nervous system states  Activated overwhelm vs shutdown (freeze)  Why procrastination is often nervous system paralysis  Gamification as a dopamine-based motivation tool  “Widening the win” to reduce pressure and build momentum  Micro-actions to break inertia (even moving a limb)  Creating momentum through small, achievable wins  Moving from autopilot to intentional living  Rebuilding agency and self-trust through actionLinks: WEBSITE: https://www.createthewin.com/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/createthewinco/LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-noll-sparks-lcsw-88563885/ Send us Fan Mail Thanks for listening.  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.   🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz    📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast   📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD   ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

    30 min
  3. S2E50: ADHD, Dopamine & Emotional Eating + guest Kamy Moussavi

    19 MAR

    S2E50: ADHD, Dopamine & Emotional Eating + guest Kamy Moussavi

    Julie Legg is joined by Kamy Moussavi, former engineer and founder of Step Together, who brings a powerful and personal perspective to the conversation around ADHD, emotional eating, and the brain’s relationship with food. Kamy shares his own childhood experience with obesity, restrictive dieting, and undiagnosed ADHD, revealing how traditional approaches like calorie counting failed to address the real drivers behind his behaviour.  Together, they unpack the critical link between dopamine, emotional regulation, and eating habits, particularly in ADHD brains. This conversation shifts the narrative away from willpower and discipline, and toward curiosity, compassion, and understanding the root causes behind behaviour. It’s an eye-opening episode for parents navigating food struggles with their children and for anyone who has ever felt stuck in cycles of guilt, shame, or emotional eating. Key Points from the Episode: Emotional eating as a dopamine-driven behaviour in ADHDWhy calorie counting and restriction often fail long-termThe connection between ADHD, dopamine deficiency, and foodBulimia, binge eating, sneaky eating, and shame cyclesWhy weight is a symptom, not the root problemThe role of anxiety, loneliness, and boredom in eating habitsHow shame drives secrecy and worsens behavioursThe impact of environment vs relying on willpowerDopamine regulation and over-stimulation from food and technologyWhy removing food too quickly can backfireFamily dynamics and parental influence on eating behavioursRedefining “healthy” beyond diet cultureLinks: WEBSITE: https://www.steptogether.us/FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568953434947YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@steptogether-child-weightlossINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/steptogether_us/LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamymoussavi/Send us Fan Mail Thanks for listening.  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.   🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz    📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast   📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD   ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

    40 min
  4. S2E49: Raising Kids With ADHD Without Losing Yourself + guest Tiara Brumberg

    16 MAR

    S2E49: Raising Kids With ADHD Without Losing Yourself + guest Tiara Brumberg

    Julie Legg speaks with Tiara Brumberg, certified ADHD coach, entrepreneur, and founder of The Middle Coaching. Tiara lives and breathes the realities of ADHD both professionally and personally — as a mum to three children with ADHD, a partner to a husband with ADHD, and an ADHDer herself. Together, they explore what Tiara calls the “messy middle” — the real-life space where executive functioning challenges, emotional dysregulation, parenting pressures, and everyday family chaos collide. Tiara shares honest insights about raising neurodivergent kids without losing yourself in the process, why curiosity is more powerful than criticism in ADHD households, and how simple tools like whiteboards, visual systems, and self-compassion can transform family dynamics. Key Points from the Episode: Parenting in a household where everyone has ADHDLate ADHD diagnosis in high-performing womenCuriosity vs criticism when kids struggle with behaviourThe “messy middle” of family life with ADHDWhy ADHD mums often lose themselves in caregivingSelf-compassion in the middle of overwhelmVisual tools and whiteboards to reduce mental loadMoving from nagging to collaboration with kidsTeaching independence without shame or power strugglesThe importance of internal vs external locus of controlWhy parents must “put their oxygen mask on first”Redefining success in ADHD familiesLinks: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/tiara.brumberg/INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/tebrumberg/WEBSITE: https://www.themiddlecoaching.net/LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/themiddlecoaching/Send us Fan Mail Thanks for listening.  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.   🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz    📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast   📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD   ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

    39 min
  5. S2E48: ADHD, Self-Trust & the Art of Simplicity + guest Dominic Carubba

    12 MAR

    S2E48: ADHD, Self-Trust & the Art of Simplicity + guest Dominic Carubba

    Julie Legg speaks with Dominic Carubba, a former U.S. Army officer, sales leader, and ADHD coach who was diagnosed later in life after decades of high performance that masked a quiet erosion of self-trust. Dominic shares how ADHD can drive overcomplication, overthinking, and constant attempts to compensate for perceived shortcomings. Even when life looks successful from the outside, internally many ADHDers feel like they are always catching up, always trying to prove themselves.  The conversation explores how cycles of abandoned projects, unfinished ideas, and chronic urgency can slowly chip away at confidence. Dominic explains why simplifying systems, building visible wins, and learning to forgive yourself are key to rebuilding self-trust. This episode is a reminder that ADHD isn’t about being broken. Often it’s about learning to design systems that work with your brain rather than constantly trying to fix it.  Key Points from the Episode:  Late ADHD diagnosis after decades of high performance The hidden cost of overcomplication How unfinished projects erode self-trust Imposter syndrome in capable ADHD adults Why ADHDers often add more systems instead of simplifying Visible wins as a way to rebuild confidence The importance of learning to say no Lowering the bar to rebuild momentum Designing systems that work with ADHD brains Persistence vs consistency Self-forgiveness as part of growth Why ADHD isn’t something to eliminate, but learn to work with Links: WEBSITE: https://momentum.theadhdleader.com/YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/salesandtechnologyconsultantsINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_dominicxLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominiccarubba/Send us Fan Mail Thanks for listening.  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.   🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz    📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast   📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD   ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

    33 min
  6. S2E47: The Hidden Neuroscience Behind Self-Sabotage + guest Brian DesRoches

    8 MAR

    S2E47: The Hidden Neuroscience Behind Self-Sabotage + guest Brian DesRoches

    Julie Legg speaks with psychotherapist and author Brian DesRoches (Living a Trigger-Free Life), whose work focuses on the neuroscience of emotional learning and a process called memory reconsolidation. Brian explains why so many people struggle with recurring triggers, self-sabotage, and emotional patterns even after years of insight or therapy. Rather than simply managing reactions or trying to “think positive,” Brian describes how the brain actually stores emotional learning and how those memories can be updated and rewired through a process that allows the brain to recognise when past threats are no longer true. The conversation explores internal conflict, self-criticism, and the protective mechanisms behind behaviours many ADHDers experience and offers a hopeful perspective: that lasting emotional change isn’t about trying harder, it’s about helping the brain learn something new. Key Points from the Episode: Emotional memories vs explicit memoriesWhat memory reconsolidation actually meansWhy insight alone rarely changes behaviourThe brain’s constant threat prediction systemInternal conflict: one foot on the gas, one on the brakeWhy willpower and discipline often failSelf-sabotage as a protective mechanismUpdating emotional memories through new experiencesReframing ADHD self-criticism and identityWhy emotional learning may represent an evolutionary shiftLinks: WEBSITE: https://www.briandesroches.com/LIVING A TRIGGER-FREE LIFE: https://a.co/d/bDgsLtCLINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-desroches-12313731a/ Send us Fan Mail Thanks for listening.  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.   🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz    📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast   📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD   ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

    44 min
  7. S2E46: ADHD - Personal Reflections of a Dopamine Hunter + guest Ryan Turner

    5 MAR

    S2E46: ADHD - Personal Reflections of a Dopamine Hunter + guest Ryan Turner

    Julie Legg speaks with Ryan Turner — motocross rider, recruiter, content creator, and founder of Dopamine Hunters. After receiving his ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, Ryan began reflecting on a lifetime of intensity, stimulation-seeking, and relentless energy that had previously felt chaotic and misunderstood. Through motocross and other high-adrenaline pursuits, Ryan discovered that the environments many people see as risky or extreme can actually bring calm, focus, and clarity to ADHD minds. That insight inspired Dopamine Hunters, a growing community, podcast, and documentary exploring how dopamine drives passion, performance, and purpose. Ryan shares candidly about late diagnosis, substance use, self-medication, education systems that miss neurodivergent children, and why interest-based learning is often the key to unlocking potential. This episode is an honest and energetic conversation about finding healthy outlets for ADHD intensity and creating spaces where neurodivergent people can thrive. Key Points from the Episode: Ryan’s late ADHD diagnosis and emotional aftermathGrowing up masking ADHD while siblings received supportThe connection between ADHD and substance self-medicationWhy adrenaline environments can calm ADHD brainsMotocross as regulation, focus, and communityThe idea behind Dopamine Hunters and how it startedInterest-based learning and why traditional classrooms fail many ADHDersThe “hidden 20%” of students with internalised neurodivergencyBurnout vs healthy stimulation for ADHD mindsReframing hobbies as exploration rather than “quitting”The link between ADHD, dopamine, and purposeRyan’s mission to create a platform for neurodivergent storiesLinks: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dopamine-hunters/WEBSITE: https://www.dopamine-hunters.com/YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@DopamineHuntersRyanTurner-h8zINSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/ryanturner751/Send us Fan Mail Thanks for listening.  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.   🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz    📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast   📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD   ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

    41 min
  8. S2E45: ADHD & Money - Impulsive Spending, Budgeting & Avoidance + guest Tina Mathams

    2 MAR

    S2E45: ADHD & Money - Impulsive Spending, Budgeting & Avoidance + guest Tina Mathams

    Julie Legg speaks with accountant, financial educator, podcast host, and author of ADHD Money, Tina Mathams. Together they unpack the emotional side of money for ADHDers — the impulsive spending, the avoidance, the shame, and the cycle of guilt that can quietly spiral into financial overwhelm. Tina shares her personal story of hitting financial rock bottom while undiagnosed, and how understanding her ADHD completely changed the way she approached money. Rather than relying on willpower or rigid budgeting systems, she explains how tools like gamifying, body doubling, identity-based goals, and nervous system regulation can create sustainable financial change. This is a great reminder that money struggles are not moral failings — and that small, imperfect action can change everything. Key Points from the Episode: Growing up with limiting money beliefsImpulse spending as dopamine-seekingAvoidance, shame, and money guilt cyclesSeparating self-worth from financial mistakesUnderstanding your “money story”Why willpower-based budgeting fails ADHD brainsGamifying savings and body doubling for money tasksBreaking long-term goals into present-moment identity shiftsPersistency over consistencyThe power of self-compassion in financial recoveryTina’s rock-bottom moment and rebuilding journeyWhy money doesn’t have to be perfect to improveLinks: WEBSITE: https://www.instagram.com/theadhdaccountant/ADHD MONEY & FINANCE PODCAST: https://open.spotify.com/show/25LpCxWszqhkbmS8tcvLa1?si=891d61c6f6714cc0BOOK: https://amzn.to/3ZDExkNLINKTREE: https://beacons.ai/adhdmoneySend us Fan Mail Thanks for listening.  📌 Don’t forget to subscribe for more tools for beautifully different brains.   🌐 WEBSITE: ADHDifference.nz    📷 INSTAGRAM: ADHDifference_podcast   📖 BOOK: The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing and Living with ADHD   ℹ️ DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or ADHDifference. Read More

    29 min

About

ADHDifference challenges the common misconception that ADHD only affects young people. Diagnosed as an adult, Julie Legg interviews guests from around the world, sharing new ADHD perspectives, strategies and insights. ADHDifference's mission is to foster a deeper understanding of ADHD by sharing personal, relatable experiences in informal and open conversations. Choosing "difference" over "disorder" reflects its belief that ADHD is a difference in brain wiring, not just a clinical label.Julie is the author of The Missing Piece: A Woman's Guide to Understanding, Diagnosing, and Living with ADHD (HarperCollins NZ, 2024) and ADHD advocate.