The ADHD Skills Lab

Skye Waterson
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Navigate each day in an ADHD-friendly way – with research-backed strategies, real-life experiences and expert advice. Each week, UO founder Skye Waterson chats with expert guests, reviews the latest ADHD research, takes your questions and offers practical support to help you move past whatever may be holding you back. Skye Waterson is a former academic turned coach, podcast host, and founder of an international ADHD support service, Unconventional Organisation. After getting a surprise ADHD diagnosis in the first year of her PhD, Skye turned her struggles into research-based strategies. She researched and wrote over 50 articles with a combined readership of 250,000+ and then began her next phase of disseminating these strategies around the world. After being invited to share her strategies with the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) in 2022, Skye has supported late-diagnosed healthcare professionals, professors, lawyers, reporters, fortune 500 directors, and entrepreneurs. She crafted her vision for Unconventional Organisation after realizing how few personalized ADHD strategies were available for adults following her diagnosis.

  1. I Thought My Memory Was Failing - Then I Realized I Had ADHD

    5D AGO

    I Thought My Memory Was Failing - Then I Realized I Had ADHD

    Looking for the Bottleneck Reset Workshop? Click here for details: https://unconventionalorganisation.circle.so/checkout/bottleneck-reset-workshop-wednesday-jan-21st Growing a business is hard. Doing it with ADHD - while raising five kids - can make you feel like your brain is actively working against you. In this episode, Skye talks with Tiana Sutton, a fitness instructor, community builder, and mother of five, about realizing she had ADHD later in life - not through childhood struggles, but through business, memory issues, and the feeling that she couldn’t keep up with herself anymore. They talk honestly about working memory falling apart, starting things with energy and losing momentum, learning how to sell without pressure, and what it looks like to keep showing up even when progress feels invisible. This isn’t a success story or a hustle episode. It’s a real conversation about understanding your brain after you’re already overwhelmed - and deciding to keep building anyway. Connect with Tiana Tiana is the founder and instructor at Bluebird Wellness, where she helps people reconnect with their bodies through movement, community, and care. Website: https://www.bluebird.life Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluebird.life/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BluebirdWellnessTexas P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

    29 min
  2. Why ADHD Brains Rely on Hyperfocus (and Why It Backfires)

    JAN 5

    Why ADHD Brains Rely on Hyperfocus (and Why It Backfires)

    Looking for the Bottleneck Reset Workshop? Click here for details: https://unconventionalorganisation.circle.so/checkout/bottleneck-reset-workshop-wednesday-jan-21st If you have ADHD, you probably know this pattern. You’re foggy, scattered, or stuck… until a deadline hits. Then suddenly, you’re laser-focused, productive, unstoppable. And afterwards, you’re wrecked. In this episode, Skye and William Curb from Hacking Your ADHD unpack why hyperfocus feels like the only way to get things done, and why it quietly creates more stress, burnout, and long-term chaos than most people realize.  Using research on university students, we explore how executive function difficulties change the way ADHD brains access focus, why more ADHD symptoms often lead to more hyperfocus (not less), and why relying on pressure is not a sustainable strategy, even if it looks productive on the surface.  This episode is for late-diagnosed adults, professionals, and business owners with ADHD who keep asking themselves:  “Why do I only function when everything’s urgent?”  “And why does it always cost me afterwards?”  What we cover: - Why hyperfocus shows up most when things feel critical or overwhelming  - How executive function difficulties push ADHD brains into last-minute intensity  - The difference between intense focus and sustainable focus  - How hyperfocus borrows energy from your future self  - What this pattern means for productivity, stress, and burnout long-term P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

    14 min
  3. ADHD and Advertising: Making Sense of the Noise

    12/29/2025

    ADHD and Advertising: Making Sense of the Noise

    Ads are overwhelming for a lot of ADHD business owners, not because they are bad at marketing, but because the information is scattered, noisy, and contradictory. In this episode, Skye talks with ads expert Jeremy Pogue, founder of Summit Acquisition, about how ads actually work at a high level, what they are and are not responsible for, and how to think about them without spiraling into complexity. This is a grounding conversation designed to help you understand the landscape before you decide anything. What we cover Ads as awareness, not instant resultsWhy starting small matters emotionally and financiallyThe role of time and patience in ad performanceCommon misunderstandings that create anxietyHow to tell if ads even belong in your business right nowConnect with Jeremy: Instagram: jeremy_pogue. YouTube: @Jeremy_Pogue P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

    42 min
  4. Why ADHD Brains Struggle With Video Content

    12/22/2025

    Why ADHD Brains Struggle With Video Content

    Video is everywhere, but very little of it is designed with ADHD in mind. In this Research Recap, Skye and William Curb from Hacking Your ADHD unpack a qualitative study exploring how people with ADHD actually experience video content. From captions to pacing to visual overload, they look at what helps, what hurts, and why one size never fits all. They also talk about why many ADHD viewers adapt by speeding up videos, multitasking, or using video as background stimulation, and how those habits make a lot more sense once you understand the research. This is a grounded look at accessibility, attention, and why flexibility matters more than rules when it comes to ADHD and learning. What we cover How ADHD viewers experience video differentlyWhy captions help some people and frustrate othersThe impact of pacing and playback speed on focusWhy redundancy can improve comprehensionWhat accessibility really means for ADHDIf you want a copy of the research paper discussed in this episode, DM VIDEO to on Instagram to @unconventionalorganisation and we will send it to you. Want more of Will’s work? Go check out HackingYourADHD.com or subscribe to his YouTube channel P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

    19 min
  5. Focus, Flight, and Figuring It Out: An ADHD Founder’s Journey

    12/15/2025

    Focus, Flight, and Figuring It Out: An ADHD Founder’s Journey

    Skye sits down with Carly Braker, founder of Avialan Blue, to talk about building a high tech areospace engineering consultancy while navigating ADHD. Carly shares how she masked symptoms growing up, why the “real world” hit harder, and the adjustments she had to make when deep focus, sensory overwhelm, and impostor feelings collided with entrepreneurship. What we cover: Why gifted kids often miss their own ADHD signsThe crash that happens when school structure disappearsThe identity shift from employee to founderWhat it took to create stability in a high focus consulting businessHow behaviour mapping helped her create systems that actually workCurious to see more of Carly’s work? You can find it here: https://www.avialanblue.com/adhdskillslab/ Connect with Carly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlybraker/ P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

    45 min
  6. ADHD Strengths and Success: The Evidence Behind the Myth

    12/08/2025

    ADHD Strengths and Success: The Evidence Behind the Myth

    People love to say ADHD comes with superpowers. The research is more nuanced. In this Research Recap with William Curb from Hacking Your ADHD, Skye and Will examine two papers that look at ADHD strengths in careers. They discuss the themes that appear across 79 studies, the stories from qualitative interviews, and the complicated truth about strengths that can help and hurt depending on context. What we cover: Why creativity and idea linking appear across ADHD career researchHyperfocus: strength, liability, or bothHow environment can support or sabotage ADHD strengthsThe emotional side of ADHD achievement before diagnosisThe role of humor, resilience, and adaptive altruismWant more of Will’s work? Go check out HackingYourADHD.com or subscribe to his YouTube channel P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

    24 min
  7. The ADHD Shift: When Everything Suddenly Adds Up

    12/01/2025

    The ADHD Shift: When Everything Suddenly Adds Up

    Most people with ADHD have one moment that stops them in their tracks. For Laura, it was finding her childhood journals filled with the word “focus” scribbled in every possible way. In this conversation, Skye talks with Laura Key, host of the ADHD Aha! podcast, and VP of content at Understood.org. After interviewing more than 120 people about their ADHD stories, Laura shares her own. From finding her childhood journals to understanding how ADHD shaped her leadership, parenting, and emotional load, this is the moment everything starts to make sense. They talk about late diagnosis, invisible overwhelm, the pressure women carry, and what Laura has learned from listening to so many ADHD journeys. It is warm, thoughtful, and full of the moments that make ADHD adults think, “I have lived this my whole life, I just never had the language for it.” What we cover: The moment ADHD finally comes into focusWhy so many women overlook their own symptoms for yearsWhat Laura learned from interviewing 120 ADHD guestsWhy recent research shows women trust ADHD podcasts more than any other mediumWhere to Find Laura Key Connect with Laura and explore her work here: Instagram: @understoodorg LinkedIn: Understood: https://www.linkedin.com/company/understood Laura Key: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-key-720b7436/ Podcast: ADHD Aha: https://www.understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha Research Mentioned in the Episode: Study on why women trust ADHD podcasts: https://www.understood.org/en/press-releases/new-study-finds-podcasts-help-women-with-adhd P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

    42 min
  8. ADHD, TikTok, and the Misinformation Trap

    11/24/2025

    ADHD, TikTok, and the Misinformation Trap

    Can TikTok actually teach you about ADHD - or is it just feeding you misinformation? In this Research Recap with William Curb from Hacking Your ADHD, Skye dives into a 2022 study analyzing the quality of ADHD content on TikTok. They explore how much of it is accurate, how much is personal storytelling, and why the most relatable content often isn’t the most reliable. What we cover: Why #ADHD is one of TikTok’s biggest health hashtagsThe 3 types of ADHD videos researchers foundWhy “personal experience” and “misinformation” often overlapHow even healthcare professionals get ADHD content wrong onlineHow to spot credible ADHD information before you share itWant more of Will’s work? Go check out HackingYourADHD.com or subscribe to his YouTube channel Disclaimer: The information shared in this message, including any examples or stories, is for educational and illustrative purposes only. It’s not professional, medical, or financial advice. Every person’s ADHD journey is different, and results will always vary depending on your individual situation, effort, and circumstances. While we share research-based tools and strategies, we can’t promise specific results or outcomes. Your progress will depend on factors like your goals, consistency, and environment. Unconventional Organisation and its coaches are not responsible for any decisions or actions you take based on this content. Always seek guidance from qualified professionals before making significant personal, medical, or business decisions. P.S. If your ADHD symptoms turn every business day into chaos—unfinished tasks piling up, revenue stuck, systems that don't stick—it's not you. It's your operating system. We help service business owners unblock their next $50-500k with simple systems that focus their brain. Watch this video to see how we do it, then take the program walkthrough.

    20 min
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4.8
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About

Navigate each day in an ADHD-friendly way – with research-backed strategies, real-life experiences and expert advice. Each week, UO founder Skye Waterson chats with expert guests, reviews the latest ADHD research, takes your questions and offers practical support to help you move past whatever may be holding you back. Skye Waterson is a former academic turned coach, podcast host, and founder of an international ADHD support service, Unconventional Organisation. After getting a surprise ADHD diagnosis in the first year of her PhD, Skye turned her struggles into research-based strategies. She researched and wrote over 50 articles with a combined readership of 250,000+ and then began her next phase of disseminating these strategies around the world. After being invited to share her strategies with the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) in 2022, Skye has supported late-diagnosed healthcare professionals, professors, lawyers, reporters, fortune 500 directors, and entrepreneurs. She crafted her vision for Unconventional Organisation after realizing how few personalized ADHD strategies were available for adults following her diagnosis.

Information

  • Creator
    Skye Waterson
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    124
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The ADHD Skills Lab
  • Show Website
    The ADHD Skills Lab

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