“I used to really get annoyed with myself for not being able to just be up and ready and start the day.
Now I know my brain works differently, and I’ve stopped punishing myself for it.”

In this episode, Tania Gerard shares how ADHD self-awareness changed the way she treats herself, works, and lives. She talks openly about slower mornings, letting go of “normal,” hyperfocus, burnout, and the relief that comes from finally understanding how your brain actually works.

If you’ve struggled with ADHD, late diagnosis, self-judgment, burnout, or feeling like you’re constantly failing invisible expectations, this conversation explores what shifts when awareness turns into self-acceptance, and why working with your brain matters more than fixing it.

Tania Gerard is an Accessible Marketing Consultant, Keynote Speaker and Founder of Tania Gerard Digital UK, one of the UK’s first consultancies focused on accessible marketing and neurodiversity. She works with companies to improve accessibility, inclusion and digital communication for diverse audiences.

Episode Highlights

00:05:26 — Learning to stop punishing herself
Tania explains how self-awareness helped her recognize she was constantly blaming herself for not coping like others. Accepting how her brain works allowed her to prepare for environments instead of judging herself afterward.

00:08:33 — Hyperfocus as a strength and a cost
She describes hyperfocus as both a superpower and a risk. Getting days of work done in hours often comes at the expense of bodily needs and rest.

00:12:00 — What accessible marketing really means
Tania breaks down accessible marketing as making content easier for everyone to understand and act on. It’s not about compliance, but reducing friction for real human brains.

00:18:00 — Burnout, rest, and “potato days”
She shares how ignoring rest eventually forces it upon you. Planned rest becomes essential fuel, not a reward for productivity.

00:23:22 — Visual systems to support an ADHD brain
Tania explains how sticky notes, color, and visual cues help her manage overwhelm and follow through. External systems reduce cognitive load when memory and focus fluctuate.

00:37:13 — Accepting slower mornings and letting go of “normal”
She reflects on how ADHD self-awareness changed her mornings. Waking up slower became an act of self-respect instead of something to fix.

Connect with Tania:
Website: https://www.taniagerard.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tania-gerard-neurodiversity/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taniagerard.co

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

“I don't feel like I can do all the things that I used to do, and I'm still me. So this is very confusing.”

Eliana Bravos shares what neurodivergent burnout actually felt like, how it disrupted her sense of self, and why pushing harder only made things worse.

If you’ve experienced ADHD burnout, chronic overwhelm, identity loss, or the fear that you “can’t do what you used to anymore,” this episode explores what burnout really is, why it happens, and how community, self-accommodation, and nervous-system-aware work design

Eliana Bravos is the co-founder of ND Connect, a community platform helping neurodivergent adults form meaningful, supportive relationships. A social impact entrepreneur with an Honors Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto, she has supported over 1,000 leaders in building more accessible cultures and has facilitated non-hierarchical peer programs for neurodivergent people since 2018.

Episode Highlights

00:07:00 — When something inside you breaks
Eliana describes pushing her body past its limits for so long that it felt like something inside her broke. She explains the confusion of still being “herself,” but no longer being able to do what she used to.

00:04:08 — Finding hope through a neurodivergent mentor
Meeting a mentor with ADHD changed how Eliana saw her future. Seeing someone thriving on their own terms made happiness feel possible again.

00:09:24 — Why working from home changed everything
She explains how overstimulation in school and offices made focus nearly impossible. Having control over her environment finally allowed her to concentrate and conserve energy.

00:23:04 — Outsourcing what you’re bad at
Eliana shares why being a non-solo founder is essential for her. Letting others handle operations and admin frees her to work in her strengths.

00:25:58 — Creating communication boundaries
She talks about scheduling email time, setting expectations, and preferring calls over long message threads. Clear communication norms reduce overwhelm.

00:34:17 — Struggling with sleep hygiene
Eliana explains why nighttime routines are hard and how she often falls asleep to shows. Sleep remains a major work in progress.

Connect with Eliana:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eliana-bravos/

Website: https://www.ndconnect.app/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elianahyperfixates/

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eliana_focus

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Calm on the outside. Spiraling on the inside.

Dilpreet Buxi shares what it was like to grow up masking anxiety, living with a constantly racing mind, and slowly realizing his nervous system works differently.

If you struggle with chronic stress, masking, emotional dysregulation, or feeling “fine” while everything feels too much inside, this episode explores why stress begins in the body, how autistic and ADHD nervous systems process stress differently, and what actually helps.

Dilpreet Buxi is the CEO and Co-founder of Philia Labs, a Melbourne-based company using wearable technology and biomedical engineering to make stress measurable and manageable. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Monash University, his work focuses on supporting autistic people, people with anxiety, and their caregivers through objective stress measurement and early intervention.

Episode Highlights:

00:03:05 — Masking anxiety behind calm
He describes learning to appear calm while feeling deeply stressed inside. The disconnect between outer presentation and inner reality shaped how he understood himself.

00:07:27 — Realizing he may be neurodivergent
After pivoting his company toward supporting autistic people, he began recognizing the same patterns in his own life. Reading about nervous system differences forced uncomfortable self-reflection.

00:13:00 — Choosing to pivot or shut down
After hearing caregiver stories, the team faced a choice: pivot or wind down the company. The decision became personal when his co-founder connected the mission to his autistic brother.

00:19:00 — Acute vs chronic stress
He explains the difference between moment-to-moment stress and stress that reshapes the body over months. Chronic stress quietly drives fatigue, sleep problems, and emotional dysregulation.

00:24:16 — You can’t outthink stress
Stress regulation starts in the body, not the mind. Movement, breathing, and vagus-nerve-stimulating practices matter more than positive thinking.

00:32:23 — Winding down for real sleep
Evening yoga, meditation, gratitude, and keeping the phone out of reach help his nervous system switch into rest mode. Better sleep becomes the foundation for everything else.

Connect with Dilpreet:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dilpreet-buxi/
Website: https://solutions.philialabs.com.au/

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

Time isn’t your greatest resource. Focused curiosity is.

In this episode, Sridhar Dhanapalan shares how being late-diagnosed with autism and ADHD reshaped his approach to focus, motivation, emotional regulation, and productivity at work. We talk about “focused curiosity” as a core resource, hyperfocus as both a gift and risk, the role of purpose-driven alignment, and practical strategies like focus modes, yoga rituals, and Gmail Priority Inbox to reduce overwhelm and protect deep work.

Sridhar Dhanapalan is an Enterprise Agile Coach at IBM Consulting and a mindset coach who helps teams and individuals align purpose, values, and execution. He brings a “thinking-first” approach to productivity and leadership, with lived experience as a neurodivergent parent and late-diagnosed autistic + ADHD adult.

Episode Highlights:

00:01:00 — Late diagnosis as an opportunity for growth
Sridhar shares that he was diagnosed with autism under 12 months ago, and ADHD about 10 months ago. Instead of treating it as a setback, he frames it as a curiosity-driven opportunity to grow and better support his neurodivergent children.

00:04:00 — Screeners missed ADHD… but the full assessment didn’t
He explains how ADHD screeners showed “nothing,” even though something clearly felt missing. He took a chance on a full ADHD assessment anyway, and it revealed ADHD, which clarified patterns he’d struggled to explain for years.

00:06:00 — “Time isn’t our greatest resource. Focused curiosity is.”
Sridhar challenges the common idea that time is the most valuable resource. For him, the key is turning curiosity into a laser: compartmentalizing attention and focusing curiosity is what unlocked sustained growth and confidence.

00:09:00 — Hyperfocus: superpower AND kryptonite
He describes hyperfocus as incredibly productive, but dangerous without strict boundaries. When he doesn’t put time limits around it, he burns out, stays up too late, crashes, and loses momentum the next day.

00:11:00 — Emotional regulation is the foundation for clear thinking
Sridhar explains why calming the nervous system matters: emotions fire first, and critical thinking only works well once the mind is regulated. Yoga, breathing, and mindfulness become practical tools for keeping the “fast brain” from hijacking decision-making.

00:18:00 — Productivity begins with “thinking first” and purpose
He argues most productivity advice focuses too much on implementation (“do, do, do”). His approach starts with purpose and alignment first, so decisions become simpler and focus becomes easier to protect.

00:24:00 — Automating focus: do-not-disturb + yoga rituals
Sridhar shares how he uses focus mode and automation to reduce friction. For example, his phone automatically switches to do-not-disturb during yoga so he can create space mentally without distractions.

00:26:00 — Email overwhelm solution: Gmail Priority Inbox
He recommends Priority Inbox as a surprisingly powerful tool that most people ignore. Training the inbox helps him focus on what matters and mentally categorize everything else as “other,” reducing overload.

00:29:00 — Motivation hack: use “towards” AND “away from”
Sridhar explains motivation as both purpose-driven movement toward a goal and awareness of the pain of staying stuck. The key is defining the “towards” first so “away from” doesn’t turn into anxious chaos and avoidance.

00:41:00 — Final message: create space + be kind to yourself
He closes with a grounded summary: build space in your mind, focus your curiosity (especially inward), practice self-compassion, and remember everyone experiences the world through different internal “maps.”

Connect with Sridhar:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sridhard/

Connect with Jeremy:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:
Website: https://focusbear.io
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/
Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

What if your biggest “flaws” were actually invisible load you’ve carried for years?

Sam Perkins is the CEO of Cellular Agriculture Australia. He’s a proudly neurodivergent leader with 15+ years across academia, humanitarian work, and industry, and a PhD in aeronautical engineering. Sam now helps shape the future of food through policy, ecosystem building, and innovation.

In this episode, Sam shares what changed after being late-diagnosed with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism and how it reshaped his work, identity, and communication.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by “simple tasks,” struggled with memory, found networking exhausting, or questioned your productivity, this episode gives a brutally honest look at neurodivergent leadership, ADHD working styles, and practical self-advocacy that improves real life (not just motivation).

Episode Highlight:

00:01:58 — The dyslexia diagnosis that finally made sense
Sam explains how a book conversation exposed a gap: he was deeply engaged while reading, but couldn’t recall what he’d just absorbed. That moment led him to the Cambridge Disability Center and a dyslexia diagnosis that “validated what we already knew.”

00:04:00 — ADHD and autism: “Someone read my life back to me”
After reading Chloe Hayden’s Different, Not Less, Sam recognized his lived experience in her ADHD traits. His formal journey led to an ADHD diagnosis in Oct 2023, followed by therapy and an autism diagnosis in 2024.

00:05:30 — The most powerful part wasn’t the label, it was the validation
He describes the process as overwhelmingly positive, with self-reflection as the main benefit. It helped him acknowledge the hidden cognitive and emotional load he’d been carrying for years.

00:09:45 — How he compensated in uni: rewriting entire textbooks
Sam shares a brutally practical workaround: handwriting content word-for-word to slow down processing and improve recall. It worked well when time was flexible, but became a major barrier under exam time limits.

00:11:10 — The turning point: leaving Formula One to chase purpose
His PhD path originally aimed at Formula One, a childhood dream. But after discovering Buddhism and Eastern philosophy, he questioned the meaning of making cars go faster and pivoted toward purpose and impact.

00:14:43 — Autistic networking: the “role” hack that makes it possible
Sam says unstructured networking is close to his nightmare. But if he has a clear role (facilitator, presenter), he’s comfortable and effective, proving structure can flip social difficulty into competence.

00:19:30 — Meditation for ADHD: it’s not sitting still, it’s training your mind
He reframes meditation as “working on your mind,” not forcing stillness. He also notes stimulants helped him access calm more easily, and describes psychedelics as another pathway toward that stereotypical meditative clarity.

00:27:40 — Productivity without hustle: time boundaries and knowing your cliff
Sam doesn’t obsess over productivity hacks, but he’s strict on time: work hours are work hours. He thrives in an early deep-work block (7am to 1/2pm), then drops “off a cliff,” so he structures life to protect that rhythm.

00:37:04 — 70,000 unread emails: why email fails neurodivergent brains
Emails are overwhelming because they demand sustained attention on mostly irrelevant written info. Sam explains he rarely reads top-to-bottom, needs clear signposting, and prefers Slack/WhatsApp because channels provide context and reduce cognitive load.

Connect with Sam:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-perkins-612b4143/
Website: https://www.cellularagricultureaustralia.org/

Connect with Jeremy:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:
Website: https://focusbear.io
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/
Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

Growing up neurodivergent can leave you believing you’re stupid or lazy — even when the real issue is the way school is structured.

In this episode we interviewed Dr. Neil Alexander-Passe about the lived experience of dyslexia, school-based trauma, and how neurodivergent people make sense of education systems that weren’t designed for them. They discuss identity, learning differences, productivity, and what it means to find ways of working that actually fit.

Dr. Neil Alexander-Passe is a psychologist, researcher, and author who has dyslexia himself and has spent over 20 years specialising in the emotional and mental-health experiences of people with learning differences. He has published 18 books (in English and Italian) and 13 peer-reviewed papers on dyslexia and neurodiversity, exploring links with trauma, creativity, success, parenting, and mental health. He completed his PhD in 2018, researching dyslexia, traumatic schooling, and post-school success, and currently works as an exam access assessor while continuing his research and writing.

Episode Highlights

01:44 – Late dyslexia diagnosis and growing up feeling “stupid”

Neil describes being diagnosed with dyslexia at 12 and how years of misunderstanding at school led him to internalise the belief that he was “stupid,” shaping his self-concept well into adulthood.

02:40 – Changing schools and not fitting traditional learning

He reflects on moving schools repeatedly and realising later that the issue wasn’t effort or intelligence, but a mismatch between dyslexia and rote, traditional teaching methods.

04:13 – Discovering strengths through art

Neil shares how art college became the first place where learning made sense, allowing him to build confidence and a career after years of academic failure.

05:00 – Returning to education as an adult with the right supports

As an adult learner, he explains how time, reduced pressure, and practical accommodations transformed his ability to succeed academically.

11:21 – ADHD traits and having multiple careers

Neil talks about being assessed for ADHD and how having multiple roles and projects suits his neurotype far better than the idea of a single “job for life.”

22:30 – Writing at night and layered editing

He describes his non-traditional writing process, including working late at night and using layered editing across digital and paper formats to support focus and clarity.

39:02 – Growing up neurodivergent: shame, strengths, and finding your keys

In his closing reflection, Neil explains how neurodivergent children can grow up feeling “stupid or lazy,” and why finding individual strengths — rather than focusing on deficits — is key to long-term wellbeing.

Connect with Dr. Neil:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-neil-alexander-passe-0b10b22/

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

What happens when a dyslexic engineer enters venture capital, climate tech, and leadership?

In Ep 126, James Stewart shares how neurodiversity shaped his education, career, parenting, and his work at Always Carbon.

James Stewart is a UK chartered mechanical engineer (Cambridge), MBA holder, angel investor, venture partner at Loyal VC, and CEO/co-founder of Always Carbon, a company focused on carbon removal using biochar.

Episode Highlights:

00:02:04 — Diagnosed dyslexic at six
James shares he was diagnosed with dyslexia early, and how it shaped both his educational and professional life. His relationship with dyslexia has changed significantly in recent years, especially in how he now views it as something to build with rather than “fix.”

00:03:30 — Swimming saved his confidence
A teacher threatened to stop him from going swimming because he struggled in school. That moment helped his parents realize something deeper was happening, and it became the turning point that led to assessment and support.

00:07:30 — Cambridge wasn’t neurodiverse-friendly
He describes Cambridge in the 2000s as not welcoming for neurodiverse students, despite the prestige. But he credits support systems and learning how to study in ways that worked for his brain as what carried him through.

00:10:00 — Neurodiversity drives progress
James argues neurodiverse thinkers bring huge value by challenging the status quo and solving problems differently. He frames it as a feature of human evolution: society advances because some people are wired to think outside the “normal” system.

00:11:12 — Visual thinking in engineering
He strongly agrees dyslexic thinkers often excel in spatial reasoning and 3D thinking, which fits engineering naturally. His approach is visual: diagrams and mind maps beat long documents because they surface structure and meaning faster.

00:15:00 — Always Carbon and biochar explained
James breaks down biochar simply: plants pull CO2 from the air, and converting plant waste into stable carbon can lock it away for hundreds to thousands of years. The key insight: the same material also improves agriculture through water retention, microbiome support, and fertilizer effectiveness.

00:21:11 — Water is everything (and we forget it)
Jeremy brings up water utilities and James goes deep into appreciation for reliable clean water. He points out many people don’t realize how fragile water systems can be globally until they experience unsafe supply firsthand.

00:27:00 — A venture fund for dyslexic founders
James shares he’s investigating launching a VC fund specifically investing in dyslexic and neurodiverse founders. The emotional core here: late diagnosis often comes with trauma, and he’s not willing to accept that as “normal.”

00:30:24 — Parenting changes your priorities
As a founder dad, he became more ruthless about what deserves his time: if it’s not worth missing time with his child, it’s not worth doing. He also shares a practical scheduling tactic: clustering “unbreakable meetings” on specific days to stay flexible for parenting responsibilities.

00:48:30 — Networking is a benevolent act
James closes with a powerful lens shift: networking isn’t selfish when your motives are good. It becomes a way to connect people to opportunities they couldn’t reach alone, making networking a form of service.

Connect with James:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-stewart-a38626/

Website: https://www.alwayscarbon.com/

Connect with Jeremy:

LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy

Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:

Website: https://focusbear.io

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/

Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear

What does ADHD actually feel like in your body and mind?

Shira Levine was diagnosed in the 1980s — and describes the moment medication helped her feel grounded for the first time.

Shira is a Silicon Valley–trained marketing and customer engagement strategist with decades of experience in retention, loyalty, and community-driven growth. Diagnosed with ADHD as a teenager in the 1980s, she brings a rare long-term perspective on neurodiversity, work, creativity, and self-acceptance.

Episode Highlights:

00:06:30 — What ADHD feels like in the body
Shira describes living with ADHD as walking on pavement covered by a thin layer of water — never fully grounded. Medication didn’t “fix” her, but helped her finally feel present and connected to the world.

00:17:20 — Productivity, dragons, and scope creep
She explains how neurodivergent people often solve problems that aren’t theirs to solve. Learning when to say no became essential to doing meaningful work.

00:18:45 — Ruthless prioritization without shame
Shira reframes prioritization not as discipline, but as protection against overwhelm. Seeing too much can be a strength — if boundaries exist.

00:29:00 — Why she rejects minimalism
Minimalism and rigid productivity systems never worked for her ADHD brain. She gives explicit permission to reject trends that create more shame than clarity.

00:30:30 — Fidgets, movement, and regulation
From shells to paper clips, Shira explains how keeping her hands busy helps her stay present. Regulation, not stillness, is the goal.

00:33:00 — Designing tools for real ADHD lives
She describes the need for multidimensional timers that match how neurodivergent people actually multitask. ADHD isn’t a failure of focus — it’s a different operating system.

00:35:30 — Night routines and protecting sleep
Putting her phone on another floor and reading fiction nightly helped Shira become a “gold medal sleeper.” Structure supports rest, not restriction.

00:38:00 — A simple mental exercise for racing thoughts
Listing seven things seen and seven things done becomes a grounding practice when sleep feels impossible. Focus follows structure.

00:40:30 — Self-acceptance, obsession, and dialing it down
Shira reflects on learning to work with ADHD rather than against it. Obsession and intensity aren’t flaws — the work is knowing when to modulate them.

Connect with Shira:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/supershiralevine
Website: https://fanchismo.com/

Connect with Jeremy:
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy
Email: jeremy@focusbear.io

More from Focus Bear:
Website: https://focusbear.io
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/focus-bear/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@focusbearapp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/focusbear1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focus_bear/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusbearapp/
Podcast: https://podcast.focusbear.io
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear