Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #364: From Walking on Eggshells to Walking in Self-Trust

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

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This week on the podcast, I’m joined by ADHD counselor Jenna Free to talk all about emotional regulation, nervous system regulation, and why ADHDers need to stop rushing.

Jenna is a Certified Canadian Counsellor (CCC) who specializes in helping ADHD brains move out of fight-or-flight and into a state where they can function at their best—while honoring neurodivergence and individual needs.

Together, we explore the four stress responses—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—and how chronic rushing keeps so many ADHDers stuck in survival mode. We also discuss why slowing down can feel so uncomfortable, what regulation actually looks like in real life, and how nervous system support can improve productivity, relationships, emotional resilience, and overall quality of life.

If you’re constantly overwhelmed, reactive, exhausted, or feeling like you can never fully relax, this episode will help you understand why.

Jenna also shares insights from her book, The Simple Guide to ADHD Regulation.

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Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #362: The Science Of ADHD Sleep: Circadian Rhythms, Sunlight, And Why You’re So Tired

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

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Strong-willed kids don’t respond to “normal” parenting—and that doesn’t mean you’re failing. In this episode, I’m joined by Kirk Martin, founder of CelebrateCalm.com and host of the Calm Parenting Podcast, to talk about what actually works with intense, demand-avoidant, emotionally reactive kids.

Kirk shares the personal story behind his work, including his experience raising his son Casey, and explains why traditional discipline, consequences, and power struggles often backfire with these kids. We dive into PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), why labeling kids as “demand avoidant” can miss the deeper picture, and how strong-willed kids often seek intense emotional engagement—not because they’re manipulative, but because they’re dysregulated.

We also discuss:

1. Why FAFO parenting doesn’t work for many neurodivergent kids
2. How to avoid emotional collisions and stop taking behavior personally
3. Why reducing demands isn’t always the answer
4. The connection between accepting ourselves and accepting our children

This conversation is compassionate, practical, and full of paradigm-shifting insights for parents raising kids who feel “too much” for conventional parenting advice.

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Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343

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Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #360: I Almost Lost A Huge Opportunity To Rejection Sensitivity (But Here’s How I Came Back)

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

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Today I’m joined by my friend Ari Tuckman, psychologist, ADHD thought leader, and author of The ADHD Productivity Manual, for a real, down-to-earth conversation about what it actually looks like to be productive with an ADHD brain.

We kick things off by unpacking Ari’s idea that productivity is a mental game, and why that matters way more than whatever planner or app you’re using. We also call out “fake productivity,” the stuff that feels productive but isn’t actually moving your life forward.

From there, we get into the good stuff: how to choose the right goals when you have a million ideas, how to realistically assess your time without lying to yourself, and what it takes to build a work environment and workflow that actually supports your brain.

We also talk about your relationship with your to-do list, what to do when overwhelm hits, and how to navigate the ambiguity that comes with doing meaningful work.

And maybe most importantly, we zoom out and ask: how productive do you really need to be?

This one is practical, honest, and full of those “oh wow, I’ve never thought about it like that” moments.

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Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343

Hang out with Kristen on Instagram and TikTok

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #372: 10 Signs You’re In A Dysfunctional Family

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

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Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Benjamin Hollingsworth, best known as Brady on Virgin River and from The Christmas Ring. While audiences feel like they know him from the screen, this conversation offers something much more personal: Benjamin opens up publicly for the first time about his ADHD.

We dive into his diagnosis story: when he first realized his brain worked differently, what signs were there all along, and how getting diagnosed shifted his self-understanding. Benjamin shares what it’s really like navigating ADHD in the high-pressure world of TV and film, from long days on set to the intense focus required when the cameras roll.

We also talk about fatherhood: raising three boys while managing an ADHD brain, and the kind of dad he wants to be. It’s an honest, relatable conversation about identity, growth, and learning how to work with your brain instead of against it.

Whether you’re a fan of Virgin River or simply curious how ADHD shows up behind the scenes of a successful acting career, this episode offers a rare and meaningful glimpse into the real life of someone you thought you already knew.

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Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343

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Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #358: The Day I Hired a Frontal Lobe: How Paying for Help Pulled Me Out of ADHD Chaos

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

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In this episode, I sit down with dyslexia expert Natalie Brooks for a powerful, eye-opening conversation about what dyslexia really looks like and how it often overlaps with ADHD in ways that can be confusing, frustrating, and deeply validating once understood.

Whether you’ve been diagnosed, suspect you might have dyslexia, or love someone who does, this episode will help you connect the dots and feel less alone.

We also dive into Natalie’s new book, Dyslexia Unlocked, which offers practical tools and empowering insights for dyslexic adults navigating a world that wasn’t designed for their brains.

Dyslexia Unlocked

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Have questions for Kristen? Call 1.833.281.2343

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Love this clip? Check out the full episode: Episode #356: Tech Jobs + ADHD Minds: How David Made It Work

Listen to the full conversation in the original episode HERE.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.