Backpacking Through ADHD

This week’s episode of Backpacking Through ADHD is inspired by the hat “I’ll Bring the Good Times”, and the unexpected star wearing it: my dog, Lucky. But behind the laughs and cuteness is a much bigger message. Joy isn’t something we earn after we’ve checked all the boxes. For ADHD brains, joy is the fuel, not the reward. In this episode, we’ll explore the science behind dopamine and why stimulation, play, and laughter are essential for regulation. You’ll hear stories and wisdom from the ADHD community, ideas for building joy into your daily life, and reflections on how joy shows up in unexpected places, from dance breaks instead of timeouts to googly eyes on your office mug. Whether you're parenting, adulting, or just trying to make it through the week, this is your reminder that joy is not a luxury. It’s a strategy. Come laugh with me, learn with me, and let’s bring the good times, on purpose.

This week on Backpacking Through ADHD, we’re diving deep into one of the most powerful and challenging concepts in ADHD family life: unconditional love. Inspired by the “Love Freely” hat, this episode explores what it means to show up with love in the moments that test us most. From parenting through meltdowns to forgiving ourselves for the mess, we talk about how ADHD brains crave connection, struggle with shame, and often need love the most when it feels hardest to give. I share personal stories, revisit emotional dysregulation from past episodes, and reflect on how loving our kids—and ourselves—without condition can change everything. I also open up about shifting the podcast release schedule to Saturdays, because sometimes loving freely means giving ourselves permission to move at our own pace. Whether you're an ADHD parent, partner, or someone learning to love your own neurodivergent mind, this episode is for you.
 

Ever feel like you need all the answers to feel okay? Same. This week’s episode is a day late—but right on time emotionally. Inspired by a hat with an upside-down question mark, we’re talking about sitting with uncertainty, asking better questions, and why curiosity might be our greatest ADHD superpower. I also share a moment with Grayson on the baseball field that changed everything. This one’s about flipping the script. Let’s go.

In this week’s episode of Backpacking Through ADHD, I’m leaning all the way into a theme that’s been on my heart—and sitting right on my head. My hat this week says Be the Kindness, and that’s exactly where we’re going together. This episode is a deep, emotional, and at times raw exploration of how kindness isn’t just a nice idea—it’s a powerful ADHD regulation tool. We talk about what kindness looks like in the middle of meltdowns, how it can be used to repair ruptured relationships, and why it’s often hardest to access when we need it most. I share stories from my own parenting journey, moments of failure, and the hard-won lessons I’ve learned about showing compassion to both my child and myself. We also revisit insights from previous episodes on emotional dysregulation, behavior strategies, and self-care, tying them all together through the lens of kindness. Whether you’re navigating the chaos of ADHD at home, at work, or inside your own head, this episode offers a space to breathe, reflect, and remember that kindness isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. Join me for a full two hours of truth, vulnerability, laughter, and maybe a few tears. And if you’re having one of those weeks, this is your sign: Be the kindness. To your child. To your people. To yourself. You deserve it.

In this deeply personal episode, I share my belated Mother’s Day tribute to the woman who raised a neurodiverse household without ever needing a diagnosis herself. My mom doesn’t have ADHD—but she parented three ADHD brains with grace, grit, and intuition that rivaled any expert playbook. Through stories, reflection, and a letter I never knew I needed to write, I honor the legacy of a woman who was our structure, our rhythm, and our calm.
This episode also explores the unique role of neurotypical mothers raising neurodivergent children, Studies show that ADHD is highly heritable (74–80%), but not every family member shares the diagnosis—which makes parental empathy and adaptability even more crucial. When neurotypical parents step into executive-functioning roles for their children, their impact can be life-changing.
For those of you raising ADHD kids—or looking back at the mother who raised you—this episode is for you.

In the final episode of our “Under the Hat” series, we dive into the identity stories our ADHD kids tell themselves—and how those stories are often rooted in shame, perfectionism, and years of correction without recognition. From “I’m stupid” to “I always mess up,” we explore where these thoughts come from and how we can help rewire them. With insight from Kirk Martin’s Brain Boosters, the Child Mind Institute, and voices like Skye Rapson and Les Steed, this episode is all about giving kids the tools to stand up to their inner critic and reclaim their self-worth. If you’re raising or teaching a child with ADHD, this one’s not just for them—it’s for you too.
 
 
 
 

In this episode of Under the Hat, we unpack the real, daily needs of the ADHD brain—movement, nutrition, sensory input, and the tools that actually help kids regulate and focus. Inspired by the Brain Boosters series and layered with personal experience, this episode explores what it means to fuel focus instead of forcing it. From fidgets to food routines, we’re building a survival kit that supports ADHD brains in real life—not just theory.

In this kickoff episode of my new series, Under the Hat: What ADHD Kids Wish We Knew, I take you inside the real struggles behind ADHD behavior and how we can reroute the parenting and teaching roadmap with compassion, structure, and calm. Inspired by the Calm Parenting Podcast and Kirk Martin’s Brain Boosters series, this episode is filled with hard-earned insight, practical tools, and stories that will resonate—whether you're parenting an ADHD child, teaching in a classroom, or trying to better understand your own neurodivergent brain. From emotional meltdowns to behavior plans that miss the mark, we unpack why typical responses often backfire and what works instead. This week’s message? “Take it easy.” And not in a passive way—but as a reminder that calm and connection always beat chaos and control.

This week, I’m solo on the mic — and feeling it — as I dive into one of the hardest lessons for ADHD brains: patience. Inspired by a weekend stuck on I-70 (again), I’m sharing real stories, including the birth of my son, and unpacking why waiting feels so impossible for us. We’ll talk time blindness, emotional spirals, impulsive decisions, and how to build patience like a muscle — even when every part of you wants to hit the gas. If you’ve ever felt stuck, this one’s for you. You’re still moving, even when life slows you down.

Today’s episode is a special one—because it’s personal. I’m sitting down with Matt Bonavita, an educator, dean, professor, and longtime advocate for neurodiverse students in New York City. But before I knew Matt the educator, I knew Matt the DJ—he was the one who rocked my wedding and taught me the power of letting go of rigid plans. We dive into everything from IEPs, emotional regulation, and the hidden lives of at-risk students, to how neurodiversity shows up in classrooms and even on the dance floor. This conversation is raw, real, and a reminder that kids don’t need to be fixed—they need to be seen. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or just someone who believes in meeting people where they are, there’s something here for you.