What is OCD, really? It’s far more than the stereotypes of handwashing, tapping, or lining up your pens just right. On today’s episode, Eric is joined by Natalia Aíza — a therapist, parent, writer, and co-founder of Kairos Wellness Collective — who specializes in supporting individuals and families navigating OCD and anxiety. Together, they explore how OCD can show up in less obvious ways, especially for those with ADHD.

You’ll hear:

✅ Why OCD is often missed or misdiagnosed in ADHD brains
✅ How intense nostalgia, perfectionism, and social media checking can all be forms of OCD
✅ The difference between typical anxiety and OCD
✅ Why intrusive thoughts don’t define you
✅ How exposure response prevention (ERP) and medication can help
✅ Eric’s own reflections on healing unexpected layers through EMDR and discovering his autism

If you’ve ever felt stuck in mental loops, struggled with perfectionism, or wondered whether your patterns might be more than “just” ADHD, this episode is for you.

Learn more about Natalia Aiza and Kairos Wellness Collective:
👉 Instagram: @letstalk.ocd
👉 Kairos Wellness Collective: kairoswellnesscollective.com
👉 Email: natalia@kairoswellnesscollective.com

Ready to take the next step with your ADHD?
Don't miss our second 2nd chance Registration Event for the summer ADHD reWired Coaching & Accountability Groups on Thrusday, July 10. Visit coachingrewired.com to learn more and secure your spot.

Support Comes from ADHD reWIred's Coaching and Accountability Groups. Summer Sessions are July 24 - Sept 18. Join us at our next registration event on July 10th. Learn more by going to www.coachingrewired.com

Episode Overview:
In this episode, Eric is joined by Ari Tuckman, PSY.D, MBA, psychologist, international presenter, and author of the new "ADHD Productivity Manual." Together, they dive deep into the realities of productivity for people with ADHD, exploring motivation, activation, self-compassion, and practical strategies for getting things done.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The difference between motivation and activation, and why both matter for ADHD brains
• How perfectionism and unrealistic expectations can sabotage progress
• The importance of understanding your "why" for each task, not just the "what"
• Social aspects of productivity: people-pleasing, setting boundaries, and communicating when you can’t meet a deadline
• Real-world strategies and creative hacks from Ari, Eric, and their clients (including timers, accountability, and engineering urgency)
• The value of celebrating small wins and tracking progress over time
• Self-compassion and letting go of impossible standards
• How to build systems that work for your unique brain, not just follow generic advice

Guest Bio:
Dr. Ari Tuckman is a leading ADHD expert, psychologist, and author of five books, including the "ADHD Productivity Manual." He brings decades of clinical experience and a practical, compassionate approach to helping people thrive with ADHD.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about Ari and his books: adultadhdbook.com
• Join ADHD reWired Coaching & Accountability Groups: coachingrewired.com
• Check out Adult Study Hall for virtual coworking: adultstudyhall.com

Support the Show:

• Become a patron for bonus content and monthly coaching calls: adhdrewired.com/patreon
• Sign up for the newsletter and get episode resources: adhdrewired.com

Takeaway:
You’re not broken, and you don’t have to do hard things the hardest way or alone. Progress is possible—one step, one system, and one act of self-compassion at a time.

Thanks for listening!

In this special announcement episode of ADHD reWired, Eric shares something a little different: a powerful 10-minute audio montage of alumni from our most recent coaching group — voices from ADHDers just like you who finished the program not long ago.

You’ll hear, in their own words, why they joined, what they were struggling with, and what changed for them over 8 weeks of coaching, accountability, and connection. From burnout and overwhelm to self-doubt and shame, these stories highlight the real transformations that can happen with the right support.

👉 Our second-chance registration event is Thursday, June 26th at 10 AM Pacific / 1 PM Eastern!
✅ Pre-registration is due by Wednesday, June 25th at least 24 hours before the event.

📝 Session details:

• Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

• 10 AM Pacific / 1 PM Eastern

• July 24th through September 18th

💥 Ready to join us? Here’s your next step:
1️⃣ Go to coachingrewired.com
2️⃣ If you’re not already on our interest list, click the button to join
3️⃣ Check your email and confirm your address so you don’t miss anything

When you join the interest list, you’ll also get:

• A free time tracker we use in group

• A letter you can share with your employer about the program

🎧 Even if joining this season isn’t possible for you, we hope these alumni stories remind you:
👉 You’re not alone.
👉 You can do hard things — and you don’t have to do them the hardest way possible.

Join host Eric Tivers and three incredible panelists—Nathan James, Meg Zirger, and Christal Wang—for the second-annual Neurodivergent Queer Pride panel, organized by Shimmer. In this landmark conversation, we explore:

• Masking vs. Unmasking: Why hiding feels safe and how reclaiming your authentic self fuels resilience.

• Intersectional Identities: How ADHD, autism, and LGBTQ+ pride intersect—and why that intersection is a source of strength.

• Political Climate & Pride: Strategies for holding onto joy and courage when the world feels heavy.

• Power of Community: From isolation to solidarity—why peer support is essential for lasting change.

Whether you’re neurodivergent, queer, an ally, or simply curious, this panel offers actionable insights, heartfelt stories, and affirmations to help you thrive.

1. Masking Is Exhausting

   • Childhood “survival mode” often becomes adult burnout.

   • Unmasking is an ongoing, courageous process of self-discovery.

2. ADHD + Queer = Unique Superpower

   • Both identities challenge “scripts” society hands us.

   • Embracing difference unlocks creativity, empathy, and authenticity.

3. Pride Under Pressure

   • Celebrate safely: balance vigilance with joy.

   • Collective conversation and advocacy build courage.

4. Community as Catalyst

   • Small cohorts and online groups reduce shame and spark accountability.

   • Shared experiences create “me-too” moments that heal and empower.

• 00:00 Welcome & Episode Intro

• 01:04 What Is Neurodivergent Queer Pride?

• 03:07 Panelist Introductions & Backgrounds

• 09:30 Personal Identity Journeys: “Scripts” & Masking

• 17:36 Societal Expectations: Fitting In vs. Standing Out

• 29:18 Deep Dive on Masking & Self-Acceptance

• 38:59 Holding Pride in a Difficult Political Climate

• 48:12 The Role of Community in Connection & Healing

• 54:48 Final Affirmations & Advice

• 57:41 Closing Thoughts & Next Steps

• Join ADHD reWired Coaching & Accountability Groups (Season 41)
  ▸ Live kickoff: Wed, June 18 • 2 PM CT
  ▸ Pre-registration due: Tue, June 17 • 2 PM CT
  ▸ 👉 https://www.coachingrewired.com

• Shimmer (Episode organizer; online ADHD coaching platform)
  ▸ Co-founder & panel host: Christal Wang
  👉 https://www.shimmerplatform.com

• Adult Study Hall (24/7 ADHD-friendly coworking)
  👉 https://www.adultstudyhall.com

1. Subscribe to ADHD reWired so you never miss an episode.

2. Share this episode with friends who identify as neurodivergent, queer, or allies.

3. Explore our summer Coaching & Accountability Groups to turn these insights into real-world growth.

Your whole self belongs. Let’s celebrate, connect, and thrive—together.

Summer coaching groups start on July 24th. LIstners can save $200 by signing up at the registration kickoff event on June 18th. Learn more and get on the interest list at www.coachingrewired.com

Eric shares updates about prioritizing sustainable energy practices and coping with recent family challenges, including the passing of his grandmother and his father's health issues.

The main segment features Dr. Shannon Palma, founder and CEO of ITI Assistive Technologies, discussing her late autism and ADHD diagnoses. She shares insights into her decades-long journey with executive function challenges, her comprehensive self-diagnosis process, and the development of support tools for neurodivergent adults.

Shannon and Eric delve deeply into the nuances of autistic and ADHD burnout, the differences between autistic burnout and occupational burnout, and the challenges of masking and managing sensory sensitivities. The episode also reveals the host's own recent autism diagnosis, providing a reflective and personal perspective on understanding neurodivergence.

The episode wraps up with contact information and a teaser for a follow-up episode focusing more on Shannon's work and the host's continued exploration of his diagnosis.

https://itiassist.com

https://autisticselfreliance.org/

00:00 Introduction and Announcements

02:30 Eric’s Personal Updates and Challenges

05:12 Guest Introduction: Dr. Shannon Palma

06:32 Shannon's Diagnosis Journey

09:42 Sensory Sensitivities and Family Traits

16:56 Burnout and Neurodivergence

ADS
26:56 Support and Community

28:36 Join Coaching Rewired This Summer

28:42 Introducing Adult Study Hall

30:54 Exploring Autism and ADHD

34:12 Self-Diagnosis and Professional Insights

35:29 Navigating Social Cues and Sensory Sensitivities

40:35 Understanding Neural Processing

46:56 Social Interactions and Coping Strategies

53:37 Wrapping Up and Contact Information

What happens when two ADHDers realize there's more to the story?

In this deeply personal and exploratory episode, Eric is joined by his friend and fellow coach, Portia Jackson Preston, for an honest, vulnerable, and unmasked conversation about discovering—later in life—that they’re not just ADHD… they're also autistic.

April is Autism Acceptance Month and there’s no better time to peel back the layers. Eric and Portia share their parallel journeys of exploring what it means to be AuDHD, how autism was hiding in plain sight for both of them, and how late diagnosis is reshaping their self-understanding, their relationships, their parenting, and their work.

Together, they unpack:

• What unmasking looks like—and feels like—especially when it's not a conscious choice

• Why self-diagnosis is valid and often necessary

• How intersecting identities impact recognition and diagnosis

• The grief and growth that come with seeing your past through a new lens

• Why autistic burnout hit both of them so hard (and what they’re doing now to recover)

• And how this shift is impacting their businesses, boundaries, and sense of self

You’ll also hear about how EMDR therapy played a pivotal role in both of their journeys, how the Johari Window concept reframed Eric’s understanding of his blind spots, and how reconnecting with their full, authentic selves has allowed for deeper joy—even in the weirdest places (like dancing at a Phish show with hand flaps in full glory).

This is the kind of conversation that gives others permission to explore, to question, and to be.

👉 Related links & resources:

• Unmasking Autism by Dr. Devon Price

• Unmasking for Life by Dr. Devon Price

• Coaching Groups at ADHD reWired

• Virtual CoWorking with Adult Study Hall

• Portia Jackson Preston on Instagram: @portiasjourney

🎧 Takeaways:

• Unmasking isn’t a one-time event—it’s a process.

• Late diagnosis can be both a relief and a reckoning.

• Self-compassion isn’t optional; it’s a survival tool.

• You don’t have to prove your neurodivergence to anyone.

• It’s okay to change. It’s okay to grieve. And it’s okay to rest.

🎙 Guest Info: Today's guest, Elise Fillmore, is a queer and neurodivergent financial educator, bestselling author, and the founder of QueerdCo Elise focuses on identity-based finance, helping people navigate money through the lens of their lived experiences, challenges, and strengths. She’s also the author of Keeping Finance Personal and the host of the Dopamine Dollars podcast.

💡 Episode Highlights:

• How traditional financial advice often fails neurodivergent people
• Why financial planning should be tailored to your identity, lifestyle, and brain
• Strategies for making money management less overwhelming and more engaging
• The importance of automation and dopamine-driven finance systems
• Why shame and financial struggles are often systemic, not personal failings
• Common financial myths and why some mainstream advice (like Dave Ramsey’s) doesn’t work for ADHDers
• Practical ways to infuse joy into budgeting and create sustainable financial habits
• How to set up "fun money" accounts and make saving more rewarding
• Why financial tools and strategies “expire” for ADHDers – and what to do about it
• The role of external accountability in managing money

📌 Resources & Links:

• Elise Fillmore's Website: www.queerdco.com
• Instagram: @elisefillmore
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellycefulmore
• Book: Keeping Finance Personal – Available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook https://amzn.to/3FxRpCf
• Podcast: Dopamine Dollars – Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more

🔗 Mentioned in This Episode:

• DOPA Menu: A list of dopamine-boosting activities to help manage impulsive spending

📢 Support ADHD reWired!

• Leave a rating & review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen
• Share this episode with someone who might find it helpful
• Become a Patreon supporter to help us keep creating great content!

🚀 Join ADHD reWired’s Coaching & Accountability Groups!

• Our Spring 2025 Coaching Groups are coming up soon! April 24 - June 19
  • Registration Events: March 27 & April 2
• Learn more & sign up: coachingrewired.com

🖥 Adult Study Hall - ADHD reWired's Virtual Co-working community. www.adultstudyhall.com

• New Zen Tangle and Journal with me sessions on Sundays at 8:30am PT / 11:30am ET

🎧 Don’t Miss the Next Episode!
Subscribe & follow so you never miss an episode of ADHD reWired!