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

Our Guest today is Rosie Elvin, an ADHD coach, trainer, and educator who champions neurodiversity and inclusive design. Rosie, diagnosed with ADHD later in life, as she teaches architecture. Our discussion centers on the importance of Inclusive design, and naturally working with, rather than against neurodivergent brains. A little more about Rosie:

Rosie Elvin is an ADHD coach, trainer, and educator passionate about helping individuals and workplaces embrace neurodiversity. Following her own late ADHD diagnosis at 43, Rosie founded ADHD Focus, where she provides coaching for adults with ADHD and delivers engaging training sessions on neurodiversity in the workplace.
Her work blends lived experience with professional insight, supporting clients to understand their unique strengths, navigate challenges like executive functioning and emotional regulation, and build strategies that work with their brains, not against them.
Rosie also teaches architecture part-time at Nottingham Trent University, where her interest in social justice and inclusive design shapes both her teaching and advocacy. Through her writing, speaking, and coaching, she challenges outdated narratives around ADHD and champions a strengths-based, human-centered approach.
Whether she’s coaching, writing articles, or leading workshops, Rosie’s mission is clear: to create environments where neurodivergent people are understood, empowered, and celebrated.
Enjoy!

[You are now safely here, feel free to breathe]

• Intro and Welcome Rosie Elvin!

• 01:10 - So, what is inclusive design?

• 02:57 - Coaching Strategies for Neurodivergent individuals

• 03:20 - We don't often consider design's role in neurodiversity or ADHD, similar to how the world is designed for right-handed people; it seems designed for "normal brains."

• 04:12 - When coaching, how do you incorporate design, and what key strategies work for both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals?

• 04:30 - If someone comes to you feeling lost or stuck, how do you help them shift their perspective?

• 05:47 - Understanding Neurodiversity and Its Impact

• 08:06 - Much of the problem stems from being told we're "broken" or "not good enough" for so long.

• 08:39 - On the journey of Self-Acceptance and Advocacy

• 11:20 - It's difficult to un-ingrain lifelong beliefs.

• 11:43 - When you were growing up, neurodiversity "didn't exist"; it meant being disruptive.

• 12:33 - Many first-world countries still don't discuss it.

• 13:13 - You're so talented and good at what you do.

• 14:48 - This seems like a classic ADHD response: identifying a problem and immediately fixing it without overthinking.

• 15:00 - Rosie, where can everyone find you?

• 16:55 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon!

Rosie Elvin:

• LinkedIn: ADHD Focus, Rosie Elvin

• Website: www.adhdfocus.co.uk

• Instagram: @rosie.adhdfocus
  (Less active, as mentioned in the interview, but her LinkedIn and website are preferred contact methods)

Peter Shankman:

• 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