ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka Tracy Otsuka

Show Notes–Ep. 247: Breaking Up with Booze and Living Your Best Life with Amanda Kuda   Amanda Kuda was acutely aware of being different from her peers growing up–the movie Matilda made her feel seen, minus the telekinesis–so when she discovered that alcohol made it easier for her to fit in, it became a regular part of her social life. After an ADHD diagnosis in her early 20’s, Amanda started to take note of what was and wasn’t helpful for managing her symptoms and realized the habit change that benefitted her the most was removing alcohol from her lifestyle.   Now, seven years later, Amanda is an author and holistic life coach who helps other ambitious women stop drinking and start manifesting the lives they want and deserve. She tells me, “What transpired after I stopped drinking alcohol was that my potential, my authenticity, my magic came online at a level that I hadn't before been able to access it.”   Join my insightful conversation with Amanda to hear about how alcohol may be holding you back from your authenticity and all the ways life can open up for you when you take a step back from substances and embrace who you really are.  Resources: Website: Instagram: @amandakuda

Personally, I can't think of anything scarier than being a live performer, but there's something about the ADHD brain that seems to make us happier when we're running into the fire rather than away from it.    For comedian Blaire Postman, what scared her more than getting up on a stage was the idea of never trying, which is why at 43 she chose to run headfirst into that metaphorical fire and turned her passion for comedy into a full-time career.   Speaking with Blaire, it's easy to see why she was drawn to comedy; with her quick wit and affinity for the silly she can’t help but be funny. Join our conversation to hear more about Blaire’s gutsy leap from lawyer to performer, how her ADHD diagnosis helped her embrace her traits and led to her comedy special “LADY ADHD,” and much more.  Resources: Website: TikTok: @ADHDComedy IG: @PostmanComedy  

Stephanie Caldero is a self-made, self-taught interior designer who owns a boutique design firm in Charlotte, North Carolina. Stephanie has always loved interior design starting when she was a child circling items in catalogs and learning from her seamstress grandmother. For years she designed for friends and family on the side while she worked various marketing jobs, until 2021 when she finally turned her side hustle into her main hustle and never looked back. Stephanie knew she had to turn interior design into a career when she realized it was the one thing she could always get lost in for hours, a decision that was only bolstered by her ADHD diagnosis. Stephanie now understands that this level of passion for her work isn’t just important, but crucial in order for her to find sustainable success in a fulfilling career. Stephanie’s story shows us how much easier things can be when we build our careers around our natural motivators and flow states. I hope our conversation inspires you to start thinking about ways to incorporate your own natural motivators into everyday life. Resources: Website: Instagram: @StephanieCalderonInteriors     

Perfectionism causes so many of us ADHD women to get in our own way and stops us from reaching our full creative potential for fear of criticism. My guest this episode, Dr. Fiona Peters knows firsthand just how disabling the anxiety-perfectionism spiral can be, which is why she’s so passionate about helping others escape it.  Dr. Peters is a speaker and trainer for schools and is currently touring with her talk entitled "Perfectionism and Anxiety,” with which she helps parents, educators, and ADHDers recognize the true cost of this obsession with perfection. “We really rob the world of the genius that we are because we are so worried about external validation and the fear of criticism that actually we don't start things.” Join our conversation to hear the brilliant Dr. Fiona Peters share her incredible ADHD journey from struggling student to PhD program, why it’s so important to be a last 5% finisher, her tips for navigating the workplace when you have ADHD, and ways to start moving away from the need for external validation and toward a more balanced life that allows you to experiment, to make mistakes, and to find validation from within.  Resources: Instagram: @adhd_life LinkedIn: Website: Facebook:  

Sarah McCall is the author of the book, Cecil Gets a Haircut, which she wrote as a tool to help parents, educators, and superintendents of schools work with children with anxiety. Her work both on the pages and in the classrooms helps get the conversation started about ADHD, autism, and mental health, making it easier for students to get the understanding and support they deserve.    Sarah’s life goal is to help children and their adults better understand mental health, but it wasn’t until she went through my “Your ADHD Brain is A-OK!” program that she figured out how to channel her passion into a fulfilling and sustainable career. My program is designed to help ADHD women like Sarah discover who they are and what’s important to them, giving them the foundation and skills to build long-lasting success.    Sarah says, “Now that the doors have opened, these opportunities are abounding. And it's because I'm ready, it's because I'm equipped. I wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for coming through [the program]. I wouldn't have the skills, tools, and techniques, I wouldn't be believing in myself. I wouldn't even dream that I could make any money at this.”   Join our conversation to hear about Sarah’s ADHD journey, her impactful work in mental health, and how, by getting clear on who she is, she was able to build a wonderful career beyond her wildest dreams.

Jessica Liddell is a professional mosaic/mural artist and the owner and founder of Bella Mosaic Art, where she’s been making mosaics professionally since 1997. Before becoming a professional artist Jessica tried pursuing a more practical career in teaching, but after an eye-opening trip to Barcelona, with its exquisite mosaic buildings, she realized that art is where her true passion lies.    When Jessica returned home she dove headfirst into mosaic art, eventually merging her two passions of teaching and art together into one fulfilling career. She’s been able to sustain her business for the last twenty-five plus years because the work is dynamic and ever-changing, which keeps her creative ADHD brain engaged.    Jessica’s story is a great reminder that, for ADHDers, our passions are our greatest motivators, and we have the ability to turn those passions into incredible careers when we have the drive, the hyperfocus, and the self-belief to make it happen. Resources: Website: Instagram: bellamosaic Facebook: bellamosaic