Primed for ADHD Podcast with Andrea Toole

Andrea Toole, ADHD Coach
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If you’re an adult with ADHD, I’ve got you. I want you to feel validated, heard, and empowered. This podcast will inform you, challenge you to see things differently, and remind you that ADHD doesn’t have to control your life. I believe in practical, personalized action, not forcing yourself into systems that don’t fit. Through my PRIMED™ framework, I help you find strategies that are meaningful, realistic, and sustainable. While I often speak directly to high-functioning women in midlife, the insights and tools shared here are relevant for adults with ADHD at every stage of life. Because ADHD isn’t about doing more. It’s about creating a life that works for your fast brain. Want more? WILD Minds is a small-group coaching space for high-functioning women navigating ADHD in midlife. A limited Founding Circle opens February 2025. Intro/outro music: Pleasant Porridge by 

  1. ADHD, hormones, and knowing when to pause

    1D AGO

    ADHD, hormones, and knowing when to pause

    This week’s episode is a short one. I originally planned to release a full episode, but I didn’t have the bandwidth, so I chose to respect my energy. This episode connects directly to how I think about ADHD management in midlife, and to one of the most overlooked realities for high-functioning women with ADHD: hormones change the rules, sometimes abruptly. In this episode, I talk about: ADHD and hormonal shifts in midlifeWhy irritability, reactivity, and sensory overload can spike unexpectedlyHow perimenopause and PMS affect energy and emotional regulationWhat it looks like to pause without spiralling into guilt or self-judgmentThis isn’t about doing less forever. It’s about recognizing when pushing through will cost more than it gives back. If this resonates, you may want to revisit the earlier episode “Why ADHD feels harder in perimenopause,” where I explain what’s happening neurologically and hormonally during this stage of life, and why strategies that once worked can suddenly stop working. Behind the scenes, I’m planning February content and updating my offers. The podcast continues as planned. Next episode, we’ll return to the original episode 6 topic: how to talk about your ADHD diagnosis with friends, family, and co-workers, including when disclosure is useful, when it isn’t, and how to think about it strategically. Thanks for listening.

    9 min
  2. Late ADHD diagnosis in midlife: What changes once you know

    JAN 27

    Late ADHD diagnosis in midlife: What changes once you know

    For many women, ADHD isn’t diagnosed because something suddenly goes wrong. It’s diagnosed because what used to work stops working. In this episode of PRIMED for ADHD, I talk about what actually changes after a late ADHD diagnosis in midlife, not just clinically, but internally. I explore why awareness often increases friction before it brings relief, how past experiences start to reorganize once you have language for them, and why insight alone doesn’t always translate into real-life change. We look at the emotional layers that often accompany late diagnosis, including relief, grief, anger, and recalibration, and why none of those reactions follow a neat timeline. I also explain why many high-functioning women feel stuck after diagnosis, even when they finally understand themselves, and how support, coaching, and therapy play different roles at this stage. This episode is for you if: You were diagnosed with ADHD later in life, or are questioning a possible diagnosisYou feel relieved by the insight, but unsure what to do nextWhat worked for years no longer works the same wayYou want to move forward with your ADHD in mind, not against itI also share reflective questions you can sit with as you begin integrating your diagnosis, without pressure to fix, explain, or overhaul your life all at once. If you’re navigating ADHD in midlife and wondering why things feel different now that you know, this episode will help you make sense of that shift. You can learn more about my ADHD coaching work, including private coaching and my group coaching space for professional women in midlife, at andreatoolecoach.com. If this episode was helpful, follow or subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Sharing it with someone who’s been asking the same questions helps more than you think. Contact for questions or comments: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/contact ** Blog post:  Generational ADHD: How family patterns shape our lives and what to do about it - https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/blog/generational-adhd

    22 min
  3. Coaching vs. therapy: who does what (and how to know what you need)

    JAN 20

    Coaching vs. therapy: who does what (and how to know what you need)

    Coaching vs. therapy is one of the most common questions I hear from women with ADHD, especially those diagnosed later in life. In this episode of PRIMED for ADHD, I slow the conversation down and explain, in practical terms, what therapy does well, what ADHD coaching actually looks like, where the two overlap, and how to think about what kind of support makes sense for you right now. If you’ve ever wondered whether therapy is enough, whether coaching is legitimate, or whether you should be doing both, this episode is for you. I talk about why coaching and therapy are often confused, how each supports the ADHD brain differently, and why insight alone doesn’t always translate into day-to-day change. I also share how coaching and therapy can work together, especially in midlife, when old coping strategies stop working and life transitions create new challenges. This episode isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about clarity, realistic expectations, and understanding what kind of support will actually help you move forward. In this episode, I cover: Why coaching and therapy are often confused, especially for adults with ADHDWhat therapy does best and when it’s the right place to startHow ADHD coaching works and what it focuses on in real lifeThe role of insight vs. application when managing ADHDWhen coaching and therapy together can be most effectiveHow midlife transitions can change the kind of support you needIf you’re listening and thinking, "I understand myself better, but I’m still struggling to function the way I want to," coaching may be the missing piece. You can learn more about my ADHD coaching work, including private coaching and my group coaching space for professional women in midlife, at andreatoolecoach.com. If this episode was helpful, follow or subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Sharing it with someone who’s been asking the same questions helps more than you think. Contact for questions or comments: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/contact

    21 min
  4. Why ADHD feels harder in perimenopause

    JAN 13

    Why ADHD feels harder in perimenopause

    If you’re a woman with ADHD in midlife and your brain suddenly feels harder to manage, this episode is for you. (Men: Share this with the women in your life.) In this episode of PRIMED for ADHD, I explore what happens when ADHD intersects with perimenopause and why long-standing strategies stop working. You’ll hear how hormonal and brain chemistry shifts affect focus, motivation, memory, and emotional regulation for women with ADHD in midlife. I unpack what’s happening beneath the surface, why common advice often misses the mark, and how to let go of the belief that these changes are a personal failing. This is especially relevant for high-functioning women who have spent years compensating and holding everything together, only to find the same workload now feels much heavier and that life feels harder overall. In this episode, you’ll learn: How perimenopause affects women with ADHD—beyond basic hormone explanationsWhy estrogen fluctuations matter for focus, motivation, memory, and emotional regulationHow identity, competence, and self-trust are affectedWhy this stage is a transition, not a regressionWhat support works better now than the strategies you’ve relied on for decadesKey questions to ask yourself now to find reliefToo much about my skinThis episode offers clarity and context for women with ADHD in midlife and perimenopause, so you can recognize what’s changing and respond with steadiness instead of self-criticism.  If you have any questions about what I discussed, there's a resource below and you can reach out with questions. Coming up next: The next episode will discuss coaching versus therapy and how each can support you in different ways Resources: Read Navigating ADHD during perimenopause: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/blog/navigating-adhd-during-perimenopause Read When the house gets quiet: ADHD, midlife, and sending kids off to college: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/blog/adhd-in-the-empty-nest  Learn about my coaching framework: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/the-primed-difference 1:1 Support: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/services If you want to practice this kind of support in real time, that’s what WILD Minds is for. Be a part of a community of professional women managing ADHD in midlife.: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/wildminds Episode transcript: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/s/PRIMED-season-2-episode-3-Transcript-ADHD-and-Perimenopause-b832.pdf Contact for questions or comments: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/contact ** Did you enjoy the podcast?  Subscribe on Apple and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/primed-for-adhd-podcast-with-andrea-toole/id1581663470Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4622OZsOjng75IBYV658GVYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgLlYfAhmxuaiiFSrlpQpQUZeWq-crvg1

    25 min

  5. JAN 6

    The 30-Day Anchor Plan for ADHD Brains

    When life feels unsettled, many people with ADHD try to reset everything at once. New routines, new systems, new plans. That approach often creates more pressure than stability. In this episode, I introduce the 30-day anchor plan, a simple way to build steadiness without forcing yourself into rigid routines. Anchors are small, repeatable moments in the day that give ADHD brains something reliable to orient around. This episode explores why anchors work when traditional routines don’t, how to choose morning and evening anchors, and why consistency doesn’t require perfection. Whether you’re listening in January or at any point when things feel fragile or harder than they used to, this episode offers a gentler way forward. In this episode, we cover: Why ADHD brains struggle with both chaos and rigidityWhat anchors are and how they differ from routinesWhy two anchors are often enoughHow a 30-day container helps reduce all-or-nothing thinkingWhat “consistency” really means for ADHD brainsResources mentioned: Download the 30-day anchor plan: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/s/30-day-anchor-plan.pdfEpisode transcript: https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/s/primed-adhd-2-2-transcript.pdfComing up next: What happens when ADHD meets perimenopause, and why coping strategies that once worked can suddenly stop feeling effective. If you want to practice this kind of support in real time, with other women navigating ADHD in midlife, that’s what WILD Minds is for. Be a part of a community of professional women managing ADHD in midlife. https://www.andreatoolecoach.com/wildminds ** Enjoy the podcast? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/primed-for-adhd-podcast-with-andrea-toole/id1581663470).  Subscribe on AppleSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4622OZsOjng75IBYV658GVYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgLlYfAhmxuaiiFSrlpQpQUZeWq-crvg1

    20 min

  6. SEASON 2, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    PRIMED for ADHD: A new season

    After a long hiatus, PRIMED for ADHD is back, with a clearer focus on what it means to live well with ADHD in midlife. In this short welcome episode, host Andrea Toole, ADHD coach and educator, shares why she’s returning to the podcast, what’s changed, and what this season will focus on. She introduces the PRIMED™ framework, a six-part system designed to help high-functioning women create structure without rigidity and take control of their ADHD, instead of being controlled by it. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or decades in, this season is about reconnecting with your focus, energy, and sense of calm, without forcing yourself into systems that don’t fit. Key takeaways Why ADHD support needs to go beyond productivity adviceThe six pillars of the PRIMED™ framework: Physical health, Routine, Intake, Mental state, Environment, and DowntimeWho this podcast is for, and how the episodes are structuredWhat to expect this season: ten weekly episodes with practical, realistic strategiesConnect with Andrea Website: andreatoolecoach.com Instagram: @andreatoolecoach LinkedIn: Andrea Toole YouTube: @AndreaToole Follow PRIMED for ADHD wherever you listen to podcasts, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone. Remember: ADHD isn’t about doing more. It’s about creating a life that works for your fast brain. Andrea Toole is an ADHD coach and educator, currently completing her coaching certification through an International Coaching Federation-accredited program.

    5 min
  7. Season 1, Episode 7: ADHD, Anxiety & Enjoying Fear

    11/04/2021

    Season 1, Episode 7: ADHD, Anxiety & Enjoying Fear

    Season 1 was released in 2021. Links may no longer work. Do you have anxiety with your ADHD? Do you engage in high-risk activities or enjoy frightening things? As someone diagnosed with both ADHD and generalized anxiety, one with an aversion to risk, an empath, I don't understand. I understand the neurochemical process involved, but I also don't understand it from a practical perspective. In this episode, I discuss ADHD in the context of anxiety and high-risk activities and the enjoyment of being spooked. Book referenced: Faster Than Normal: Turbocharge Your Focus, Productivity, and Success with the Secrets of the ADHD Brain by Peter Shankman.Other recommendations (...brought to you by...) The Morning Brew newsletter- The daily Morning Brew email newsletter covers the latest news from Wall St. to Silicon Valley. Informative, witty, brief, and everything you need to start your day.  Its umbrella of newsletters includes Emerging Tech Brew, Retail Brew and Sidekick, among others. I read them almost daily, which is saying a lot.www.andreatoolecoach.com (2024 onward)

    27 min
  8. Season 1, Episode 6: Shooting the sh*t

    10/25/2021

    Season 1, Episode 6: Shooting the sh*t

    Season 1 was released in 2021. This episode of the Primed for ADHD podcast is unscripted.  I called it "shooting the sh*t" but now wish I'd referred to it as a "fireside chat".  I wrote down a few bullet points and that was it. I recorded this on October 14, then edited it a week later. This episode isn't linear. It rambles here and there. Thoughts are shared. One of those thoughts is that it's a good thing that this is a freeform episode because I can go back to a topic that I'd already discussed because I have another point to make. The snort you might hear at 15:41 isn't me, it's my dog who was lying next to me.  Topics included: Is it ADHD or just your nature?"It's not rocket science".Go easy on yourself when you're learning something new.ADHD and suicide

    25 min
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If you’re an adult with ADHD, I’ve got you. I want you to feel validated, heard, and empowered. This podcast will inform you, challenge you to see things differently, and remind you that ADHD doesn’t have to control your life. I believe in practical, personalized action, not forcing yourself into systems that don’t fit. Through my PRIMED™ framework, I help you find strategies that are meaningful, realistic, and sustainable. While I often speak directly to high-functioning women in midlife, the insights and tools shared here are relevant for adults with ADHD at every stage of life. Because ADHD isn’t about doing more. It’s about creating a life that works for your fast brain. Want more? WILD Minds is a small-group coaching space for high-functioning women navigating ADHD in midlife. A limited Founding Circle opens February 2025. Intro/outro music: Pleasant Porridge by 

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