The Faster Than Normal Podcast: ADD | ADHD | Health

Peter Shankman
  • 4.8 (484)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives.

  1. 3D AGO

    Neurodiversity, ADHD, and Racial Bias in Psychiatry with Dr. Isaiah Crumb

    Dr. Isaiah Crum M.D. is a board-certified psychiatrist in New York City specializing in the mental health of young professionals. He grew up in a community that treated a fast, curious mind as a problem to be corrected. He became a psychiatrist anyway, making his life's work out of what others once called his flaw. His practice is built on a simple premise: psychiatric conditions, including ADHD, look different depending on who you are and where you come from, and too many people have been misread, under-treated, or told nothing was wrong because no one was trained to see them clearly. He is currently building an independent practice designed to change that. In this episode of Faster Than Normal, Peter Shankman interviews Dr. Crumb, a psychiatrist specializing in neurodiversity and mental health within Black communities. Together, they explore the nuances of ADHD diagnosis, the impact of racial bias in psychiatry, and the importance of representation and understanding in mental health.  0:02 - Introduction and guest background 1:09 - Growing up with neurodiversity in Omaha, Nebraska 2:02 - The stigma and late diagnosis of ADHD 3:41 - The role of health insurance and diagnosis in women of color 4:08 - Gender differences in ADHD presentation and masking 5:08 - ADHD in incarcerated populations and underserved groups 5:47 - Coping strategies before diagnosis, including caffeine and gamification 7:15 - The importance of hacks and adaptive strategies from lived experiences 8:08 - The concept of masking and its costs, especially in Black communities 9:03 - Overlap of ADHD symptoms with anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation 10:19 - Communication challenges and the cycle of not being heard 12:34 - Representation in psychiatry and the current demographic disparities 16:14 - Pushback from community when pursuing psychiatry 20:29 - The significance of diagnosis and stigma in Black communities 22:24 - Racial biases in diagnosis and the problematic use of ODD 25:56 - The racialized perceptions of authority and defiance 27:00 - Closing thoughts and future projects Dr. Isaiah Crumb on Threads Thank you for being here and for subscribing- give us a shout anytime! https://linktr.ee/petershankman Substack:  petershankmanofficial.substack.com Email: peter@shankman.com Podcast: Faster Than Normal Do you happen to know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

    29 min

  2. APR 29

    Uniquely Fully Enough: Raising a Child With a Rare Chromosome

    ur guest today, Vicki Christensen in her own words:  I am passionate about advocating for families of special needs children through the IEP process always with a child-centered approach. Equally important is educating parents/guardians on the rights of a person with a disability and on communication strategies to allow for a positive and open relationship with the IEP team, school & district. My background is a unique combination of 15 years of special education advocacy both as a parent and a professional with a Certificate of Special Education Advocacy from USD, a small business owner giving back to the special needs community and over 10 years as a professional in the healthcare field allowing me to utilize my degree and experience in Communication Studies. I am a mother of a 21 year old (who wears Blue Glasses) with global developmental delays and am experienced in early intervention, the IEP and 504 processes as well as working with the Regional Center. I am widely networked with both parents of special needs children and professionals in the San Diego area and look forward to continuing to provide advocacy services to many more families. I am currently on the Special Education Advisory Committee in the Carlsbad Unified District working to increase awareness and inclusion for our special education students.  In this episode, Vicki Christensen shares her journey parenting a neurodiverse son, Luke, with a rare chromosome disorder, offering insights, practical strategies, and emotional support for parents navigating similar challenges. Enjoy! 01:09 - Intro and welcome Vicki Christensen 01:11 - Vicki's journey from her son's diagnosis to adulthood 02:15 - Initial reactions and how we process a diagnosis 04:09 - Overwhelm of early medical and therapy appointments 05:19 - Living life amidst caregiving responsibilities Ref: what is IEP? 06:24 - Why Vicki wrote her book and its purpose 07:45 - Practical advice for parents 09:44 - On the importance of protecting your marriage 11:49 - Balancing caregiving and personal boundaries 13:05 - On building your support village 14:44 -  How can people find you? • Website: https://www.blueglassesadvocacy.com/ Socials: @BlueGlassesAdvocacy on INSTA Uniquely, Fully, Enough: The Neurodivergent Parenting Journey - A Memoir and Handbook on Amazon Thank you for being here- give us a shout anytime! https://linktr.ee/petershankman Substack:  petershankmanofficial.substack.com Email: peter@shankman.com Podcast: Faster Than Normal Thank you for staying tuned-in; more episodes coming up soon! Do you happen to know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

    17 min

  3. APR 22

    Harnessing ADHD for Business Success: Strategies from Chris Douglas

    Our guest today, Chris Douglas is the founder of Big Red Dog Marketing with degrees in Applied Psychology from UNC-Charlotte and an MBA from East Carolina University. With over 15 years of experience in Marketing Technology, Local SEO, and Email Marketing, he's passionate about helping startups and small businesses scale and reach their potential. A Raleigh native, Chris has helped local businesses thrive as the city grows into a business hub. He founded and runs the Triangle Marketing Club, a non-profit networking group for local marketers. In his spare time, he's an avid pilot with Single and Multi-Engine Licenses and Instrument Rating, holds a blackbelt in Aikido from Innovative Martial Arts Academy, and enjoys time with his Red Golden Retriever, three daughters, and wife. Today we're talking.. you guessed it, ADHD.  Also in this episode, we explore how ADHD influences creativity, time management, and client relationships through an engaging conversation with Chris Douglas, founder of Big Red Dog Marketing. Discover practical strategies for agency owners and entrepreneurs to harness ADHD strengths and improve productivity. Enjoy! 01:09 - Intro and welcome Chris Douglas!!  02:51 - Navigating ADHD in Business 05:37 - Agency-Client Relationships and Communication 08:20 - Time Management Strategies for ADHD 10:18 - Handling Emergencies and Daily Tasks 14:27 - Advice for Agency Owners 16:10 - Conclusion and Resources 17:00 - How can people find you? • Website: https://bigreddog.marketing/ Socials: LinkedIN Thank you for being here- give us a shout anytime! https://linktr.ee/petershankman Substack:  petershankmanofficial.substack.com Email: peter@shankman.com Podcast: Faster Than Normal 18:41 - Thank you for staying tuned-in; more episodes coming up soon! Do you happen to know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

    18 min

  4. MAR 18

    ADHD and Innovation- Douglas M. Katz on the Tools That Fit Us

    Our guest today Douglas Katz is a West Point graduate, disabled Army veteran, inventor, and entrepreneur. He is the creator of NULU, an adaptive kitchen knife designed to align cutting tools with human biomechanics, and continues to pursue other innovations focused on improving how people interact with everyday tools. In addition to his work as an inventor, Douglas speaks about the intersection of human capability, design, and performance. Drawing on experiences in the military, corporate leadership, and product development, he explores how physical limitations, aging, and cognitive differences influence the way people solve problems and build better tools. Living with ADHD has been both a catalyst and a challenge throughout that journey. The same nonlinear thinking and curiosity that can create headwinds in structured environments has also fueled his ability to question assumptions and see connections others overlook. Through his talks and writing, Douglas introduces audiences to ideas like the Ability Curve—the concept that human capability isn't binary but shifts across a lifetime—and how designing with that reality in mind leads to better tools, systems, and outcomes for everyone. Enjoy! Peter's bodybuilding competition journey on substack is here! 01:50 - How far is West Point from Manhattan? 02:30 - Intro and welcome Douglas Katz!  Ref: his cutlery invention, Nulu 03:30 - On West Point jumpers 04:00 - First of all, tell us your story and when you got diagnosed?  Ref: GEN X 05:35 - Tell us about the rigidity of West Point Academy in relation to your ADHD? 06:00 - Ref: BIOS 06:20 - The Military and ADHD/Neurodiversity guardrails 07:30 - Above as compared to the corporate world 08:35 - Beauty in structure 10:00 - On ADHD, fear, operations and structure 11:24 - check out Doug's writings at www.DouglasMKatz.com! 12:00 - You mentioned AI- how are you implementing it and what are your thoughts, thus far? 13:15 - On knowing your AI tools Ref: Tony Stark and J.A.R.V.I.S IDEATION 14:30 - Tell us about the tools you are creating and have created for we neurodiverse? 15:00 - About non-consumptive free time and the impetus for creating his products 17:00 - AI integration and usage with his product pipeline 17:55 - How can people find you? • Website: douglasmkatz.com   NuluKnives.com Socials: @DOUGLASMKATZ on Facebook and INSTA TikTok and w.katz on LinkedIN Thank you for being here- give us a shout anytime! https://linktr.ee/petershankman Substack:  petershankmanofficial.substack.com Email: peter@shankman.com Podcast: Faster Than Normal 18:41 - Thank you for staying tuned-in; more episodes coming up soon! Do you happen to know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

    20 min

  5. MAR 11

    The ADHD Toolkit Behind Conner Kinney's Real Estate Success Story

    Today we welcome Conner Kinney! He is a 22-year-old, full time real estate investor who has built a multi-seven-figure real estate business with a core focus on acquiring and scaling long-term rental properties primarily through seller-financed acquisitions. He is the founder of his own real estate company, Kinney Property Group, and currently owns a 37 unit rental portfolio with over 10M+ in completed real estate transactions.  In high school, Conner struggled with ADHD and was often told it was a disadvantage. Instead of fighting it, he learned how to channel it into focus, creativity, and decisive action, ultimately turning what others saw as a weakness into one of his greatest advantages in building his business. Enjoy! 00:50 - Welcome back to FTN! We are still here! :-) 01:30 - Intro and welcome Mr. Conner Kinney!! 02:15 - First of all, tell us your story and when you got diagnosed? 02:27 - How did you decide to begin a career in Real Estate? 03:55 - How did you acquire your first property? 05:00 - How the clients become 'the bank' and defer capital gains taxes 06:00 - Where are you based? 06:15 - You didn't fit into the traditional mold as a kid; tell us about your journey? 07:15 - Faster Than Normal and The Boy with the Faster Brain 08:00 - On how Conner is hitting the numbers in his business 08:40 - Say what??! 09:00 - On how things work and the systems involved 09:45 - About moving too fast, but smartly 10:00 - What has been your biggest goof-up to this date? 11:37 - On ADHD systems and parameters 11:55 - Tell us about your team(s) and your ADHD management tool kit? 14:00 - What's the catch Conner- how have you been so "lucky"? 15:44 - How can people find you? • Website: ConnerKinney.com Socials: @ConnerKinney on Facebook  LinkedIN and INSTA Thank you for being here- give us a shout anytime! https://linktr.ee/petershankman Substack:  petershankmanofficial.substack.com Email: peter@shankman.com Podcast: Faster Than Normal 16:00 - The win/loss proposal of 'free time' 17:35 - Please do not forget to stretch! Cheers, Conner 18:15 - Thank you for staying tuned-in; more episodes coming up soon! Do you happen to know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

    20 min

  6. 10/22/2025

    Matt Canning Creator of Your Chaos Management App: NoPlex

    Today we welcome Matt Canning!  A Philadelphia-based technologist, entrepreneur, ex-Fortune 50 executive, and author who founded NoPlex, which empowers individuals struggling with ADHD and anxiety to thrive in a neurotypical world. Matt has a 12-year-old daughter who struggles with ADHD, and her challenges (and the clear gaps in everyday tools for people with ADHD) are what drove him to develop NoPlex. NoPlex turned out to be huge for individuals who struggle with anxiety as well as neurotypical folks, leading to the conclusion that the pace and complexity of life in general have made it such that ADHD-focused tools are applicable for people of all walks of life. This has been atop his pursuits since he was unexpectedly diagnosed in his late 30s. Today we're talking about his journey, chaos and breaking the stigma- Enjoy! 01:45 - Intro and welcome Matt Canning!! 02:31 - First of all, tell us your story and when you got diagnosed? 03:02 - Matt Canning's Journey with ADHD 05:55 - The Development of NoPlex 09:04 - Navigating Neurodiversity and Stigma 12:02 - Tools and Strategies for Managing ADHD 14:53 - Parenting and ADHD: Lessons Learned 15:12 - Why other than NoPlex, obviously, what do you have any secrets that you use or things that you do on a regular basis?" 17:54 - How's your daughter? 17:56 - The Impact of Technology on ADHD 20:52 - Conclusion and Resources for ADHD Support 21:34 - How can people find you? • Website: https://www.noplex.ai/ Socials: @ noplex.ai on INSTA  TikTok  Spotify  LinkedIN Thank you for being here- give us a shout anytime! https://linktr.ee/petershankman Email: peter@shankman.com Podcast: Faster Than Normal Do you know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

    23 min

  7. 10/15/2025

    Running Through Ultra-Endurance Challenges: CEO | Entrepreneur | ADHD Advocate Simon Blair of 'Beyond Limits'

    Our guest today, Simon Blair, is an ultra-endurance athlete and entrepreneur; who is also the founder of the successful London-based property company SHB He is a husband, and father of three. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Simon has turned his diagnosis into a source of strength, using ultra-endurance sport as a tool for personal growth and mental maintenance.  Today we discuss the intersection of ADHD, mental health, and extreme sports. Simon shares his journey from being diagnosed with ADHD later in life to using ultra-endurance sports as a tool for personal growth, brain management and mental clarity. The conversation delves into the challenges and triumphs of living with ADHD, the importance of diagnosis, and how Simon's documentary, "Beyond Limits," explores these themes. We're talking resilience, neurodiversity, and the power of pushing beyond perceived limits- enjoy! 01:27 - Introducing and welcome Simon Blair!! 01:55 - ADHD and Ultra-Endurance Sports Dive into his inspiring journey and documentary 'Beyond Limits.' Watch now on Amazon Prime! #ADHD #Endurance #Inspiration 02:43 - Personally speaking.. 05:50 - When were you diagnosed? 06:00 -  Influences of ADHD on daily life 09:08 - Finding balance through exercise, aka self-medication 11:51 - Connections between nature and mental health 14:51 - Documentary/learned insights and personal growth 17:41 - The many roles of neurodiversity in society 20:44 - What's next for you Simon? 22:20 - How can we find you? Website: https://shbre.co.uk/about Socials: @ LinkedIN: linkedin.com/in/simon-blair-a4000510 Thank you for being here- give us a shout anytime! https://linktr.ee/petershankman Email: peter@shankman.com Podcast: Faster Than Normal Do you know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

    26 min

  8. 10/08/2025

    Unlocking Cosmic Confidence: Divergent By Design's Praxie Osong on ADHD and Astrology

    Our guest today, Praxie Osong is the founder of Divergent by Design Co, where she offers neurodivergent-affirming natal chart readings for late-diagnosed ADHD and autistic adults. With astrology as her lifelong passion and a lived experience of neurodivergence, Praxie's approach centers on self-acceptance, strengths, and "cosmic confidence," helping clients reframe their stories and embrace their authentic selves. Her sessions are collaborative, empowering, and rooted in the belief that being "Divergent by Design" is something to celebrate, not fix. Praxie's mission: to create an affirming space where neurodivergent folks feel seen, validated, and inspired to trust their own path. Enjoy! 01:27 - Introducing and welcome Praxie Osong! 02:00 - You can't pick your neighbors in this solar system 03:05 -  So were you diagnosed ADHD early, or a little later in life? 03:53 - When/how did you begin to utilize your ADHD toolkit? 05:12 - What's your take on connecting Astrology and ADHD? 06:00 - A little about nature-versus-nurture, masking, hyper focus 07:13 - Can you walk us through how you'd help someone struggling with ADHD—like trouble focusing, job loss, feeling overwhelmed? Ref: What is a "house" in astrology? 09:55 - How do you begin a conversation with someone who's skeptical? 11:14 - We only know about six percent of what is on this planet. 12:30 - Have you noticed any patterns or trends in your experience that might stand out to you—even patterns that people unfamiliar with astrology and sign charting might overlook? 15:10 - How can we find you? Website:  divergentbydesign.co Socials: @divergentbydesign on INSTA and TikTok 15:48 - Thank you Praxie, and thank you for being here- give us a shout anytime! https://linktr.ee/petershankman Email: peter@shankman.com Podcast: Faster Than Normal Do you know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

    17 min
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484 Ratings

About

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives.

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