Is ADHD really a neurological disorder — or could gut health, diet, and inflammation play a role?

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, Janine VanStee sits down with functional medicine practitioner Dr. Brad Montagne to explore a different perspective on ADHD, chronic illness, and the gut-brain connection.

Dr. Brad shares insights from nearly four decades of working with people experiencing complex health conditions including Lyme disease, digestive issues, and inflammation-related symptoms. The conversation dives into topics like diet, sugar, gut microbiome health, and how lifestyle choices may influence focus, behavior, and overall well-being.

Together they discuss:

• The connection between gut health and brain function

• Why inflammation may affect focus and behavior

• Diet, sugar, and processed foods

• The gut-brain relationship

• Functional medicine approaches to chronic illness

• Parenting and supporting children with ADHD

• Supplements, fish oil, and nutrition myths

• Epigenetics and lifestyle factors

As always on ADHD Eavesdrop, this is an open conversation — not a script — where you get to be a butterfly on the wall listening in.

If you’re curious about different perspectives on ADHD, health, and how our bodies work, this episode offers plenty to think about.

Dr. Brad Montagne

https://www.instagram.com/healthfullyu/

https://www.facebook.com/healthfullyu

https://healthfullyu.com

Free ADHD coaching consultation with Janine VanStee: https://calendly.com/jvansteeadhdlifecoaching/45-min-consultation

Website: https://jvansteeadhdlifecoaching.net

00:00 Welcome to ADHD Eavesdrop

03:00 ADHD, Diet, and “Toxic Food”

06:00 Why Defining the Problem Matters

09:00 Gut Health and the Brain Connection

12:00 Inflammation, Dopamine, and ADHD

15:00 Sugar, Caffeine, and Kids

18:00 Is ADHD Neurological or Gut-Related?

21:00 Epigenetics and Lifestyle Factors

25:00 Fish Oil, Supplements, and Nutrition

30:30 Advice for Parents of Kids with ADHD

The views expressed in this episode are those of the guest and are for informational purposes only and not medical advice.

In this episode, Janine talks with Randi-lee Bowslaugh about autism, depression, parenting neurodivergent children, and the healing power of creativity and writing.

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, Janine sits down with author and podcaster Randi-lee Bowslaugh to talk about neurodiversity, mental health, and the power of creative expression.

Randi-lee shares her experiences living with autism, depression, and PTSD, while also parenting a neurodivergent child and navigating life as a grandmother. Together, Janine and Randi-lee explore how writing, storytelling, and creativity can support emotional healing, identity development, and connection.

This conversation touches on self-acceptance, resilience, and the importance of finding supportive spaces where neurodivergent people can be fully themselves.

As always, this episode is a real, unscripted conversation — just like listening to two people talk at the next table in a coffee shop.

00:00:00 Introduction and guest welcome

00:02:15 Randi-lee’s story: autism, depression, and PTSD

00:05:10 Parenting neurodivergent children

00:08:40 Becoming a grandmother and life perspective

00:11:30 Writing as emotional expression and healing

00:15:20 The connection between creativity and mental health

00:19:05 Living with multiple diagnoses

00:23:40 Identity, acceptance, and self-understanding

00:27:15 Supporting neurodivergent families

00:31:00 Closing reflections and encouragement

Is ADHD Life Coaching right for you? If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or ready to better understand how your ADHD shows up in your daily life, coaching might help. I offer supportive, practical ADHD Life Coaching focused on real-life strategies, self-awareness, and sustainable change.

You can schedule a free 45-minute consultation to see if coaching is a good fit: https://calendly.com/jvansteeadhdlifecoaching/45-min-consultation

Learn more at: https://jvansteeadhdlifecoaching.net Email: jvansteeadhdlifecoaching@gmail.com

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, mental health, or professional advice. The views shared in this episode reflect personal experiences and conversations, not clinical recommendations. If you need support, please reach out to a qualified professional.

Short Spotify Description: How stress lives in the body — and how somatics can help you move from overwhelm to resilience. Janine talks with ADHD coach Jen Kreiner about nervous system awareness, burnout, and emotional healing.

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, Janine VanStee talks with ADHD coach Jen Kreiner about the mind-body connection and the role of somatics in emotional regulation, stress, and resilience.

Jen shares how somatic practices help people notice where stress lives in the body, understand nervous system responses like fight, flight, and freeze, and build the ability to move from automatic reactions to intentional responses.

They explore how ADHD, burnout, trauma patterns, and emotional avoidance can show up physically — and how learning to pause, notice, and connect with body sensations can support healing and long-term change.

This conversation is especially helpful for adults with ADHD who experience overwhelm, rumination, or chronic stress and want practical ways to reconnect with themselves.

Key Topics

• Somatics and the mind-body connection
• Nervous system regulation
• Fight, flight, freeze, and rest-and-digest
• ADHD and emotional avoidance
• Burnout and resilience
• Processing unexpressed emotions
• Curiosity and emotional awareness

Guest

Jen Kreiner — Stonesthrowcoaching.com

Disclaimer

ADHD Eavesdrop is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical or mental health treatment. ADHD coaching is not therapy, counseling, or medical care. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical or mental health concerns.

What if the same pattern recognition that shapes bestselling thrillers is also tied to ADHD and autism?

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, I sit down with J.D. Barker, New York Times bestselling author, for an unscripted conversation about how his brain sees connections others miss — and how that ability influences creativity, storytelling, and suspense.

We talk about:

• Pattern recognition in ADHD and autism
• How noticing small inconsistencies can lead to big stories
• The overlap between neurodivergence and creative work
• Why some minds naturally see where things are headed — before anyone else does

This episode isn’t about writing tips or formulas. It’s about how certain brains work, how patterns become stories, and why neurodivergent thinking can be a powerful creative advantage.

If you’re curious about ADHD, autism, creativity, or what really goes on inside the mind of a thriller writer, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, an ADHD podcast for adults, Janine sits down with Leah Caroll, an ADHD life and mindset coach, to talk about adult ADHD, overwhelm, and why ADHD isn’t your fault.

Leah shares her lived experience with late-diagnosed ADHD, burnout, and years of feeling like life was harder than it should be. Together, Janine and Leah explore how executive dysfunction, shame, and all-or-nothing thinking keep many adults with ADHD stuck — even when they’re smart, capable, and trying their best.

This honest conversation focuses on what actually helps people with ADHD feel more in control: reducing overwhelm instead of chasing perfect systems, building habits that work with an ADHD brain, and replacing self-criticism with curiosity and self-compassion.

If you’ve ever wondered why routines don’t stick, why motivation feels inconsistent, or why you feel exhausted by daily life, this episode offers validation, practical insight, and a gentler way forward.

Find Leah!:

w: leahccoaching.com

i: @adhd.coach.leah

l: Leah Carroll

f: ADHD: Now What?!

00:00 – ADHD Isn’t Your Fault Why ADHD is about wiring, not willpower — and how shame keeps people stuck

02:15 – Leah’s ADHD Story & Late Diagnosis Burnout, meds, and realizing life didn’t have to feel this hard

05:45 – Burnout, Identity, and Starting Over Quitting everything and what it taught Leah about adult ADHD

09:30 – Executive Dysfunction Explained Why “just try harder” doesn’t work for ADHD brains

13:00 – Pills Don’t Teach Skills Where medication helps — and where coaching matters most

16:30 – Reducing Overwhelm Without Perfection Why small, realistic changes beat total life overhauls

19:45 – Consistency vs. Persistence Why flexible routines work better than rigid plans

23:00 – Habits That Actually Stick Keys on hooks, tiny systems, and ADHD-friendly habit building

26:15 – Curiosity Over Self-Criticism Breaking shame cycles and rewriting the ADHD inner voice

29:45 – Advice to Our Younger ADHD Selves Self-compassion, safety, and progress over perfection

Creativity is often romanticized as something that only comes from pain, struggle, or trauma — but what if that’s completely wrong?

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, Janine sits down with therapist and creative Rachel Moore for a candid, unmasked conversation about ADHD, late diagnosis, and the myth of the “suffering artist.” Rachel shares why creativity doesn’t come from trauma, but from sensitivity — and how that sensitivity shapes how neurodivergent people experience art, work, relationships, and the world itself.

Together, they explore why so many creatives are neurodivergent, how structure and novelty support ADHD brains, and why you don’t have to be miserable to make meaningful art. This episode is a grounding reminder that creativity can come from joy, regulation, and being fully yourself.

Settle in, get cozy, and be a butterfly on the wall for this honest and affirming conversation.

⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to ADHD Eavesdrop A conversation about ADHD, creativity, and late diagnosis

00:39 – Rachel’s Late ADHD Diagnosis Testing well, failing homework, and being diagnosed at 45

02:12 – ADHD, Work, and Why Certain Jobs Fit Deadlines, novelty, urgency, and creative careers

04:22 – Are All Creatives Neurodivergent? The overlap between creativity, ADHD, and theater communities

05:39 – Therapy as a Creative Process Structure, intuition, and why creativity matters in clinical work

08:16 – The Myth of the Suffering Artist Why trauma is not the source of creativity

09:39 – Creativity Comes From Sensitivity A powerful reframing of art, trauma, and neurodivergence

11:46 – ADHD, Perception, and Trauma Why neurodivergent kids experience the world differently

13:35 – Art, Emotion, and Identity Why sensitivity shapes creative expression

27:52 – Being Fully Unmasked Creativity, safety, and the freedom to be yourself

A candid conversation about late-diagnosed ADHD, burnout, and the hidden cost of overachievement—featuring author and former academic Adva Shaviv. What does it cost to live for decades with undiagnosed ADHD—especially when you’re a high achiever?

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, I’m joined by author and former academic Adva Shaviv, joining me from the Netherlands, for a deeply honest conversation about late-diagnosed ADHD, burnout, and the unseen toll of overcompensating for years.

We talk about growing up feeling “different,” pushing through higher education without support, parenting while neurodivergent, and why so many people with ADHD appear successful on the outside while quietly burning out on the inside.

Our conversation weaves through journaling, block scheduling, sensory needs, creativity, homeschooling, and the stormy-but-magical inner world of the ADHD brain.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing too much and still falling short, this episode will feel familiar.

Come be a butterfly on the wall and listen in.

Big emotions, black-hole hyperfocus, and caffeine just to function—sound familiar? In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, we sit down with neurodivergent author Jennifer Shaw to explore her family’s shared journey with ADHD and autism.

Diagnosed in adulthood, Jennifer found clarity and healing through writing, music, and deep self-discovery. She shares how late diagnosis transformed her parenting, mental health, and creativity. From navigating emotional dysregulation to using writing as a nervous system regulator, this conversation is packed with real-life strategies and relatable stories for anyone living with ADHD or autism—especially women and parents.

🧠 Topics include: • Late ADHD and autism diagnosis in adults and children • Writing for emotional regulation and mental clarity • Music, movement, and creative expression as neurodivergent coping tools • Parenting neurodivergent kids while navigating your own diagnosis • Reframing “too much” as a neurodivergent strength

👩‍💻 Guest: Jennifer Shaw is a writer from Airdrie, Alberta, whose family shares both ADHD and autism diagnoses. Learn more: https://jmshawauthor.com

🎧 Subscribe for more honest, unscripted ADHD conversations.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for education and entertainment only. Views expressed are those of the guests and do not substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.