[𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: This episode contains a discussion about suicidal ideation and mental health struggles] 💭 What happens when you spend decades believing you’re “lazy” or “bad”, only to discover your brain was working differently the entire time? In this episode of Late, Not Less, host Devin Pitts-Rogers sits down with actor, voice actor, tabletop RPG creator, and nonprofit founder 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐤 for a deeply personal conversation about ADHD, late diagnosis, masking, depression, creativity, and learning to finally understand yourself. Jesse shares what it was like growing up undiagnosed in the 80s and 90s, struggling through school while constantly being told he simply needed to “try harder.” Together, Jesse and Devin unpack the emotional toll of feeling different, the shame many ADHD adults carry into adulthood, and how discovering ADHD later in life can completely reshape the way you view your past. The conversation also dives into creativity, TTRPGs, worldbuilding, hyperfixation, perfectionism, doom piles, music, acting, and why collaborative storytelling can become such a powerful space for neurodivergent people to explore identity, connection, and self-understanding. ✨ Highlights ✨ ✔️ What a late ADHD diagnosis feels like after decades of self-blame ✔️ Why many ADHD adults get labeled “lazy” instead of supported ✔️ How ADHD and depression can become deeply intertwined ✔️ The emotional impact of finally finding medication that works ✔️ Why tabletop RPGs attract so many neurodivergent creatives ✔️ ADHD perfectionism, doom piles, hyperfixations, and creative chaos ✔️ The importance of language, empathy, and feeling understood “𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑑 𝑘𝑖𝑑. 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡.” – 𝐉𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐤 This episode is for anyone who grew up feeling misunderstood, emotionally overwhelmed, or convinced they were failing at life when they were actually navigating an unsupported neurodivergent brain. Send us Fan Mail We are Attention DIFFERENT not DEFICIT An advocacy and edutainment podcast centered on radical acceptance and neurodiveristy. Attention Different aims to de-stigmatize and build community by exploring the intricacies of living life and "adulting" with ADHD in the modern world. We periodically feature experts, special guests and influencers in the ADHD community. If you enjoy the podcast please like, share, and subscribe! -------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV0lWgdvEhaI4p5MyxM5w3A?sub_confirmation=1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow all of these if you want to be inspired in your ADHD journey • Website - https://www.attentiondifferent.com • Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/attention_different • Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/attndifferent • X - https://www.x.com/attndifferent
