Something for the Busy Brain — honest conversations to help you manage the overwhelm and make the most of your potential.

Busy Brain & ADHD Coach @ goodtothinkdifferently.com
  • 0.0 (0)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A supportive podcast for people whose minds rarely switch off: the thinkers, feelers, creators, over-loaders, people-pleasers, idea-machines and quiet battlers of the modern world. Hosted by ADHD and mental health coach Ben Cook, this is an honest space exploring the highs, lows and intensity of a busy brain - from overwhelm and burnout to creativity, sensitivity and untapped potential. Through raw conversations, personal stories and practical tools, Ben and his guests unpack what it really means to live with constant inner noise, and how to build a calmer, more intentional life around it, so you can feel more in control of yourself. This isn’t a podcast about diagnosis or labels. It’s a podcast about humans, emotions, lived experience, identity - and the power unlocked when we understand our minds. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, burned out, stuck, misunderstood or full of unexpressed potential… you are NOT alone. Welcome to a space where you learn to work with your busy brain, not against it — and gently regain a sense of control, one conversation at a time.

  1. MAR 25

    When Your Strengths Start Working Against You

    Send me a message, from episode feedback to theme requests. What happens when your biggest strength starts working against you? In this reflective episode of Something for the Busy Brain, I explore what the last few weeks have taught me about burnout, ADHD, criticism, rejection sensitivity, and the emotional cost of trying to do meaningful work when you’re already running on empty. I talk honestly about how being a caring person can become kryptonite when you’ve got nothing left to give, why criticism can feel like threat when you’re exhausted, and why “feel the fear and do it anyway” is not always realistic for ADHD minds. This episode is about more than overwhelm. It’s about the fear of being seen, the weight of other people’s opinions, and the truth that sometimes the hardest part of doing good work is exposing yourself to judgement. I also reflect on what I’m learning I actually need in order to keep moving forwards: better conditions, better language, better people around me, and a more honest understanding of how my mind works. If you’ve ever felt paralysed by criticism, derailed by self-doubt, or exhausted by caring too much, this one may really speak to you. In this episode: why caring deeply can become self-neglect during burnoutwhy criticism hits harder when you are emotionally depletedADHD, rejection sensitivity and fear of judgementthe importance of being around people who champion youhow language shapes mindset, momentum and possibilitywhat it can look like to move forwards without abandoning yourselfSomething for the Busy Brain is a supportive podcast for people whose minds rarely switch off, especially those navigating ADHD, overwhelm, burnout, identity, and emotional wellbeing.

    14 min

  2. MAR 19

    I Feel Like a Failure, But I Know I’m Not

    Send me a message, from episode feedback to theme requests. If you feel you'd benefit from the sound of someone else who's struggling, then listen away - Here I am - broken, croaky and vulnerable. It was painful to record, but it's got a load off my mind in doing so. Here's hoping there's a golden nugget in there for you too. It's okay not to feel okay. It doesn't make it any easier when you're in the thick of that feeling though! In this episode of Something for the Busy Brain, I talk openly about the reality of life with a new puppy, anxiety, overwhelm, lack of sleep, and what happens when a busy brain gets pushed beyond its limits. Moose, my puppy, is doing brilliantly. I’m the one struggling. What I expected to feel like joy, connection and excitement has also brought palpitations, hypervigilance, exhaustion, intrusive thoughts, shame, fear, and a level of anxiety I haven’t experienced in years. This episode is a real-time reflection on neurodivergence, emotional overwhelm, mental health, and the pressure of trying to cope when your brain feels like a saturated sponge. I also talk about why sharing when you’re struggling matters, how coaching can help create space to think more clearly, and why not every difficult chapter means you’re failing. This episode may resonate if you are: living with ADHD or a busy brainfeeling overwhelmed by change or responsibilitystruggling with anxiety, burnout or emotional dysregulationnavigating puppy life, pet ownership or life transitionsfinding it hard to ask for supporttrying to hold it together while quietly falling apartThis is an episode about mental health, vulnerability, neurodivergence, and being honest when things feel hard. Topics covered: ADHD, anxiety, overwhelm, puppy blues, new puppy stress, neurodivergence, emotional regulation, burnout, coaching, mental health, vulnerability, sleep deprivation, intrusive thoughts, asking for help, adult ADHD, busy brain struggles. If this episode speaks to you, please share it with someone else who may need to hear that they’re not the only one struggling.

    15 min
  3. What My 8 Week Old Puppy Is Teaching Me About Life

    MAR 14

    What My 8 Week Old Puppy Is Teaching Me About Life

    Send me a message, from episode feedback to theme requests. What can a new puppy teach us about ADHD routines, emotional regulation and building a life that actually works for a busy brain? Quite a lot, it turns out. In this episode of Something for the Busy Brain, I reflect on the first week with my new puppy, Moose. Five nights in, he’s slept through every night, learned to sit on command and is already settling into his routine. Meanwhile my brain has been doing somersaults. Trying to take him to the office, feeling like I’d failed after two hours, and then realising something important on the drive home. Busy brains are brilliant at spotting problems. We’re not always great at noticing progress. This episode explores the unexpected lessons a nine week old puppy is already teaching me about routine, patience, emotional regulation and why small steps matter far more than we often realise. Sometimes the best insights do not come from books or experts. Sometimes they come from a small furry creature who just needs consistency, calm energy and a bit of patience. And maybe we are not that different. In this episode • Why routine and structure help both puppies and busy brains  • The link between emotional regulation and leadership  • Why busy brains often overlook their own progress  • The importance of reflection when life feels overwhelming  • Why you do not have to do everything alone Reflection for listeners When things feel overwhelming, which one do you default to? Spotting everything that is not working or noticing the progress you have already made?

    6 min
  4. Leaving the ADHD Label Behind - with Guest Joseph Pack

    MAR 4

    Leaving the ADHD Label Behind - with Guest Joseph Pack

    Send me a message, from episode feedback to theme requests. Episode: Leaving the ADHD Label Behind (with Joseph Pack) In this conversation, I sit down with my coach, Joseph Pack, to talk about something that might ruffle a few feathers: What happens when you loosen your grip on the ADHD label? We both have ADHD. We both coach ADHD’ers. And yet, we’re both speaking about it less and less. Not because we’re denying struggle – but because we’re more interested in the human underneath the diagnosis: values, environment, habits, food, sleep, connection… and what’s actually possible when you stop treating four letters as a life sentence. We talk about: How an ADHD diagnosis can both validate your experience and quietly limit youThe difference between understanding your brain and living inside a labelWhen diagnosis helps – and when it becomes an excuse not to tryMedication, side-effects, and why Joe had to go looking for alternativesUltra-processed food, inflammation, sleep, and why your “busy brain” might be screaming for a resetThe power of coaching, challenge, and having someone who refuses to buy your limiting storyThis is not an anti-diagnosis episode. It’s an honest, messy, hopeful chat about identity, agency, and what changes when you start asking: “Who am I beyond ADHD – and what kind of life do I actually want to build?”People, books & ideas Joseph references If you want to go deeper into some of the thinkers Joe mentions: Dr Sami Timimi – Searching for Normal: A New Approach to Understanding Mental Health, Distress and Neurodiversity Book link: Searching for Normal  Prof. Tim Spector – ultra-processed food & gut health Channel 4 series What Not To Eat: Show info  Dr Chris van Tulleken – Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isn’t Food… and Why Can’t We Stop? Book link: Ultra-Processed People  Dr Gabor Maté – ADHD and trauma ADHD page & his book Scattered Minds: drgabormate.com/adhd  René Girard – Mimetic desire The idea that we often desire what others around us desire, which shapes behaviour and identity in deep, often unconscious ways.Opal – screen-time & focus app Joe mentions for cutting down distractions Website: https://www.opal.so  Connect with us Host – Ben Cook Busy Brain & ADHD Coach Podcast: Something for the Busy Brain Email: ben@goodtothinkdifferently.com Guest – Joseph Pack ADHD coach, founder, consultant (and my own coach) Email: hello@josephpack.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to ADHD and Busy Brains 02:53 The Impact of ADHD Diagnosis 05:39 Memetic Desire and Identity Crisis 08:44 The Weight of Diagnosis 11:30 Shattering Limiting Beliefs 14:31 The Role of Coaching in Self-Discovery 17:33 Challenging the ADHD Narrative 20:29 The Subjectivity of ADHD Diagnosis 23:21 Conclusion: Beyond the Diagnosis 24:15 The Missing Heritability Link in ADHD 26:18 ADHD Medication: A Controversia

    52 min

  5. FEB 26

    Stop Borrowing Energy From Tomorrow: My Truth About ADHD Burnout

    Send me a message, from episode feedback to theme requests. Yesterday I tried to record this episode and I couldn’t get one word in front of the next. But because my brain was completely and utterly fried. This episode is about that place. Wired but tired. I’ve been building something that matters deeply to me these last few weeks. Up at 6am. Laptop by 6:05. Every waking moment has been consumed by this. Caring is expensive. This isn’t about laziness. It’s not about discipline. It’s about complete nervous system dysregulation. Key takeaways: What “wired but tired” actually feels like (and why it’s not the same as being sleepy) Why ADHD burnout often looks like talking more, not less The hidden cost of hyperfocus and caring deeply “We don’t lack capability — we lack containment” How to spot your personal burnout warning signs Why external scaffolding is regulation, not weakness How body doubling and accountability can stabilise your nervous system The concept of “borrowing energy from tomorrow” A simple way to start your own energy audit today The reframe: energy management = nervous system management Hit follow/subscribe, and if this lands, send it to someone in your world who needs a push to press go. About the host: I am a mental health and wellbeing coach who supports adults with busy brains — including ADHD — to find calm, clarity, and self-trust. Support beyond the podcast: I offer a free, no-obligation 30-minute call. You’ll find my contact details below: https://www.goodtothinkdifferently.com/coaching ben@goodtothinkdifferently.com

    17 min
  6. Why Am I Getting A Puppy When My Life Is Already Busy?

    FEB 20

    Why Am I Getting A Puppy When My Life Is Already Busy?

    Send me a message, from episode feedback to theme requests. Why would someone already 100 miles an hour like me choose to get a puppy?  Because it’s not about being less busy - it’s about adding the right kind of energy.  This episode explores playfulness, grief, connection and designing a life that actually fits who you are.  Key takeaways: 1️⃣ Busy Isn’t the Question - Alignment Is  It’s not about how full your life is.  It’s about whether what fills it aligns with who you are. 2️⃣ Know What You Need - Then Build Around It  Clarity about self makes decision-making simpler.  Not easy, but simpler. 3️⃣ One Word Can Be a Compass My word is: Playful. Playfulness isn’t trivial. It’s a regulation tool. It’s a processing tool. It’s a survival tool. 4️⃣ Playfulness Is a Doorway to Hard Emotions  - Not an Escape From Them  Humour and play can create safety around pain, without diminishing it. 5️⃣ Design Your Life Around What Works for You  Instead of asking “Does this fit my current life?”  Ask “Can I design my life to support who I want to be?” 6️⃣ Focus on What It Says Hello To - Not Goodbye To Expansion requires choosing where you place your attention. 7️⃣ Structure Isn’t Confining - It’s Containing Sometimes the thing that feels like “another commitment” is actually regulation disguised as responsibility. 8️⃣ Connection Is a Non-Negotiable Human Need The puppy becomes symbolic of leaning toward: CompanionshipLovePresence9️⃣ Choosing Growth Despite Nerves If you’re both nervous and excited, you’re probably expanding. Hit follow/subscribe, and if this lands, send it to someone in your world who needs a push to press go. About the host: I am a mental health and wellbeing coach who supports adults with busy brains — including ADHD — to find calm, clarity, and self-trust. Support beyond the podcast: I offer a free, no-obligation 30-minute call. You’ll find my contact details below: https://www.goodtothinkdifferently.com/coaching ben@goodtothinkdifferently.com

    9 min

  7. FEB 11

    You don’t silence the inner critic. You build courage around it.

    Send me a message, from episode feedback to theme requests. Ever had a burning idea or project you keep coming back to? The potential is staggering. You can feel what it could become. All you’ve got to do is put it out into the world — and everyone (including you) will finally see what you’re capable of. But then… the inner critic shows up. Every. Single. Time. I’m on the edge of launching something big — and I’m absolutely sh*tting myself. Recorded at my dining room table (with the cats loudly having their tea), this episode is a pep talk for me and for you about what happens when your creativity is massive… and your confidence decides to wobble at the exact moment you need it most. In this episode: The difference between “just another exciting idea” and the one that burns until you actWhy your tribe matters (the people who let you run wild — then help you make it real)The naysayers, the cynics, the “you’re doing it for the money” noise — and how to stay steady anywayThe truth about bravery: sometimes it’s just doing the thing with a loud mindOne of my favourite lines: going against the grain will always give you splinters — so let’s learn how to keep going with splintersIf you’ve got something in your heart that you know could help people… but you’ve stalled right at the starting line — this one’s for you. Hit follow/subscribe, and if this lands, send it to someone in your world who needs a push to press go. About the host: I am a mental health and wellbeing coach who supports adults with busy brains — including ADHD — to find calm, clarity, and self-trust. Support beyond the podcast: I offer a free, no-obligation 30-minute call. You’ll find my contact details below: https://www.goodtothinkdifferently.com/coaching ben@goodtothinkdifferently.com

    11 min

  8. FEB 3

    It's NOT selfish to prioritise yourself in a relationship - My kiss and tell story of why

    Send me a message, from episode feedback to theme requests. Getting vulnerable with yourself might be the most attractive thing you ever do. This kiss-and-tell episode unpacks why my relationship ended, and what I learnt. I’ve just kissed goodbye to someone I dated three years ago. She couldn’t really remember why we split… but I can. The truth is simple, but uncomfortable: it wasn’t her. It was me. In an honest, very vulnerable reflection, I talk about the gap between looking confident and feeling confident, how neediness can show up when you’re not meeting your own needs, and why people-pleasing + over-giving can quietly wreck your emotional availability. The core takeaway: you’ll only get what you want from a relationship when you prioritise self-care and protected time out. Not as a luxury—as a prerequisite. If you’re navigating dating, ADHD overwhelm, emotional burnout, or you want healthier relationships with better boundaries, maybe this episode's for you!? About the host: I am a mental health and wellbeing coach who supports adults with busy brains — including ADHD — to find calm, clarity, and self-trust. Support beyond the podcast: I offer a free, no-obligation 30-minute call. You’ll find my contact details below: https://www.goodtothinkdifferently.com/coaching ben@goodtothinkdifferently.com

    8 min
See All (16)

About

A supportive podcast for people whose minds rarely switch off: the thinkers, feelers, creators, over-loaders, people-pleasers, idea-machines and quiet battlers of the modern world. Hosted by ADHD and mental health coach Ben Cook, this is an honest space exploring the highs, lows and intensity of a busy brain - from overwhelm and burnout to creativity, sensitivity and untapped potential. Through raw conversations, personal stories and practical tools, Ben and his guests unpack what it really means to live with constant inner noise, and how to build a calmer, more intentional life around it, so you can feel more in control of yourself. This isn’t a podcast about diagnosis or labels. It’s a podcast about humans, emotions, lived experience, identity - and the power unlocked when we understand our minds. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, burned out, stuck, misunderstood or full of unexpressed potential… you are NOT alone. Welcome to a space where you learn to work with your busy brain, not against it — and gently regain a sense of control, one conversation at a time.

Information

You Might Also Like