Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives.

Our guest today, Nicole Groman is a registered dietitian who helps people heal their relationship with food and their bodies. She empowers her clients to let go of dieting and find peace enjoying all foods without guilt. Nicole shares her non-diet approach and practical tips on Instagram @thehungryclementine and has created an apparel line celebrating freedom from dieting. Special thanks to friend of the show Jenn for the introduction- Enjoy!

01:45 - Introducing and welcome Nicole Gorman!

02:39 - What’s your story?

04:42 - What’s the connection between food and ADHD?

05:50 - If we didn’t need food then…

07:00 - On moderation and food and control

07:58 - What is the middle ground or the compromise as you think about & consider which foods you use

09:45 - No restriction Pizza?

11:30 - About the connection between emotions and choices of comfort and simplicity

15:18 - On comparing tool boxes and rituals

15:55 - Food versus other addictions

17:25 - Could you share with us a few tips that you would recommend for our listeners?

21:00 - On why and how make room for the middle ground in your cravings and needs

23:00 - Intuitive eating versus scanning the numbers

• 23:20 - How can we find you?
• Website: https://www.nicolegroman.com/
• Socials: @thehungryclementine on INSTA and TikTok
• Thank you Nicole, and thank you for being here!! Give us a shout anytime!
• https://linktr.ee/petershankman
• Email: peter@shankman.com
• Podcast: Faster Than Normal

Do you know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain?

We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Our guest today, Clifford Myers is a 16-year stand-up comedy veteran, Founder of The Other Comedy Company, and President of The Canadian Association of Stand-up, Sketch and Improv Comedians (CASC).Clifford uses his unique position at the intersection of comedy, education and advocacy to speak on ADHD, humor and creativity as complex human traits, the importance of communal learning, emotional-drivers, adversity, authenticity and self-acceptance. Today we learn about how he harneses his ADHD to propel his comedic career- Enjoy!

• Introducing and welcome Clifford Myers
• So, were you diagnosed at school or did it happen years later?
• Tell me how the comedy started.
• I'm assuming it was that rush of you come off the stage, you're like, hs!
• When you first started versus now are people more open about their neurodiversity that you seeing
• Talk about how you use comedy outside of doing stand-up, outside of comedy, just on a regular basis to improve your life.
• How does ADHD or neurodiversity help you on stage?
• How can we find your great work!?
• 17:22 - Thank you for being here!! Give us a shout anytime!
• https://linktr.ee/petershankman
• Email: peter@shankman.com
• Podcast: Faster Than Normal

Do you know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain?

We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Join host Peter Shankman as he kicks off the ninth season of the Faster Than Normal podcast with Rachel Watts, the owner of Doodles and Sketches. Rachel shares her journey of managing mental health, entrepreneurship, and raising a neurodiverse child. Discover how she built a powerful online community and the challenges she faced along the way.

Our guest today, Rachel Watts, founder of *Doodles and Sketches*, is a neurodiverse entrepreneur who creates fandom-inspired merchandise. Living with autism, ADHD, and chronic illness, she candidly shares her journey of balancing mental health, parenting a neurodiverse child, and running a business. Following a mental health hospitalization, Rachel shifted her focus from business promotion to authentic self-expression on social media. Her openness has cultivated a deeply engaged online community, echoing the influence of early parenting bloggers. Her story underscores both the struggles and triumphs of neurodiverse entrepreneurship and the transformative power of vulnerability and connection online. We are grateful you are here- Enjoy!

• 01:45 - Introducing and welcome Rachel Watts!
• 03:30 - Threads versus ‘the old days’
• 04:00 - On mental recovery, socials, community building and authenticity.
• 05:20 - How to find a topic and learn from trusting your community
• 06:00 - A little about talking representation and politics
• 06:38 - Dealing with criticism and opinions with positivity as a neurodiverse person
• 07:31- Rachel was not diagnosed with Autism until she was 28.
• 07:40 - About dealing with pushback in verbal confrontations
• 08:50 - A note about representation, curiosity, caring patience and compassion
• 10:30 - ON ADHD and Social media ‘self-controls’ and choices in 2025
• 11:15 - Why did you get diagnosed; what made you pursue testing? Ref: Dialectable Behavioral Therapy DBT
• 13:50 - On finding a provider and the ideal mental healthcare team members Ref: EMDR
• 15:50 - On how women and men present differently with behaviours and symptoms of being neurodivergent
• 17:60 - On finding the best team, advocating for your children.. and why you must learn to trust your gut.
• 18:15 - On how good mental health is a Practice!
• 19:00 - How can we find your awesome work!? www.doodlesandsketches.com
• 19:42 - This is Peter’s Sweatshirt Era (SB’s too btw -Ed)
• 20:40 - Protect Queer Kids - cheers!
• 21:00 - Thank you for being here!! Give us a shout anytime!
• https://linktr.ee/petershankman
• Email: peter@shankman.com
• Podcast: Faster Than Normal

Do you know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain?

We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you’re looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman