This episode is one that hits your home and your heart. I’m joined by Katy Wells, author of Making Home Your Happy Place and host of Maximize Minimalist. Together, we unpack the biggest lies we’ve been sold about decluttering—especially how harmful those messages can be for ADHD and neurodivergent brains.

We go far beyond “just get organized” and dig into how clutter impacts your nervous system, identity, emotions, and stress levels. Katy shares a compassionate, realistic, and ADHD-friendly approach to decluttering that doesn’t rely on perfection, Pinterest aesthetics, or overwhelm. If clutter has ever sent you into a shame spiral or made you feel like you’re failing at adulthood, this conversation is for you.

Katy Wells, author of Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real-Life Guide to Decluttering without the Overwhelm, created Holistic Decluttering—an approach that tackles clutter at its roots and pairs it with simple, sustainable systems. As host of The Maximized Minimalist podcast (5 million listens), Katy helps families break the cycle of clutter that keeps coming back. Her work has been featured on NBC News Daily, Martha Stewart, and Real Simple. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her husband and two sons.

Episode Highlights:

[0:51] – Introducing Katy Wells and why this conversation goes way deeper than “stuff”
[2:03] – The biggest decluttering myths we’ve been fed and why they harm ADHD brains
[5:51] – The shocking research linking clutter, cortisol, and focus
[8:27] – Why mess and clutter are not the same thing (and why that matters)
[11:56] – ADHD-friendly decluttering: one category, one decision at a time
[16:54] – “Only Handle It Once” and designing your environment for follow-through
[20:32] – Finding your baseline instead of chasing impossible standards
[24:45] – Decluttering as a lifestyle, not another exhausting to-do list
[33:00] – The four types of clutter: superficial, scarcity, sentimental, and identity
[40:33] – Letting go without regret and why decluttering is a skill you can build
[49:55] – Creating a home that feels possible, supportive, and truly yours

Links and Resources:

Katy’s website: https://www.katyjoywells.com/

Thank you for tuning into "SuccessFULL with ADHD." If this episode has impacted you, remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach and help more individuals navigating their journeys with ADHD.

🚨Calling all aspiring ADHD coaches ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

Help your clients break free from paralysis and better manage their life with 3C Activation® coach training!

💥Gain a proven process for ADHD coaching

💥Earn 38 ICF Credits and 25.5 PAAC CCE’s

💥Learn the latest neuroscience to boost your practice

💥Qualify to be listed under ACO Directory

Learn more ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Candera, a fellow ADHDer, autism mom, attorney, and parent coach who helps parents regulate themselves first so they can better support their neurodivergent kids. This conversation is raw, honest, and deeply needed—especially if you’ve ever felt like you’re holding everything together while quietly falling apart.

Lisa and I talk about what really happens when parenting a neurodivergent child pushes you to your limits—emotionally, physically, and mentally. We explore why traditional parenting strategies often backfire, how parent regulation changes everything, and what to do when behaviors escalate beyond what feels manageable. If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child and wondering, “Why isn’t this working?”—this episode is for you.

Lisa Candera is a single mom, attorney, ADHD-er, and autism mom coach. She helps parents of autistic children regulate themselves first so they can show up for their kids with compassion, clarity, and strength. Her upcoming book explores what it means to be a “solid object” for your child: not fixing, not co-escalating, but standing steady in the storm. She hosts The Autism Mom Podcast (top 2%) and has been featured in numerous top podcasts, like Turn Autism Around and On The Hard Days.

Episode Highlights:

[0:48] – Introducing Lisa Candera and why parent regulation matters more than we think
[2:20] – The moment Lisa realized she was just as dysregulated as her son
[3:22] – Why parent coaching often matters more than child-focused interventions
[5:25] – How traditional parenting approaches can backfire with neurodivergent kids
[6:13] – Lisa’s late ADHD diagnosis and how it reframed her parenting and career
[11:16] – Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and taking your child’s behavior personally
[13:34] – When behaviors turn physical and safety becomes the priority
[16:26] – Understanding the “order of operations” during behavioral crises
[22:54] – How to find autism-informed medical and mental health support
[27:22] – Why ABA isn’t always the right fit, especially with OCD and anxiety
[34:44] – Proactive strategies to reduce escalation before fight-or-flight hits
[36:06] – Co-regulation vs. compliance and why “doing less” can help more
[38:22] – Reframing behavior as communication—not disrespect
[44:21] – Regulating yourself as a parent when you’re triggered
[49:41] – The truth Lisa wishes she could tell her past self

Links & Resources

• Lisa’s website: https://theautismmomcoach.com
• Lisa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theautismmomcoach/
• Lisa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theautismmomcoach
• The Autism Mom Coach Podcast

Thank you for tuning into "SuccessFULL with ADHD." If this episode has impacted you, remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach and help more individuals navigating their journeys with ADHD.

🚨Calling all aspiring ADHD coaches ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

Help your clients break free from paralysis and better manage their life with 3C Activation® coach training!

💥Gain a proven process for ADHD coaching

💥Earn 38 ICF Credits and 25.5 PAAC CCE’s

💥Learn the latest neuroscience to boost your practice

💥Qualify to be listed under ACO Directory

Learn more ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

In today’s episode, I’m joined by my friend and colleague Dr. Sam Shay—also known as The Neurodiverse Doc. Sam is autistic, ADHD, and deeply committed to helping neurodiverse adults understand how their brains actually work in a world that wasn’t designed for them.

We dive into a powerful (and sometimes triggering) conversation around autism, ADHD, bullying, and the often-confused overlap between autism and narcissism. We talk about intention versus impact, pattern recognition, coercion, control, masking, and what happens when you finally reframe your entire life through the lens of neurodiversity. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this narcissism… or is this autism?”—this episode will give you language, clarity, and validation.

Dr. Sam Shay, DC, IFMCP, is a functional medicine expert, keynote speaker, and self-described NeuroSpicy comic who helps neurodiverse adults navigate life in a neurotypical world. Diagnosed AuDHD himself, Dr. Sam has dedicated his career to advocacy, education, and support for individuals on the autism and ADHD spectrum.

With over 25 years of experience in nutrition, genetics, and functional lab testing, he created the Neuro-Harmony Model and DNA-Decoded programs—data-driven approaches designed to boost energy, improve mental clarity, and help families create environments where neurodiverse individuals can thrive. Alongside his clinical work, Dr. Sam uses clean, witty, story-driven comedy to bring awareness to neurodiversity. His one-hour special, NeuroSpicy: Love, Life, & Comedy on the Spectrum, blends humor with powerful insight and is a must-watch for anyone seeking understanding through laughter.

Episode Highlights:

[0:00] – Understanding the difference between narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths through their core drives
[1:03] – Welcoming Dr. Sam Shay and why this conversation matters for neurodiverse adults
[3:52] – Sensory overstimulation, bonding over shared neurodiverse experiences, and Vegas misconceptions
[6:24] – Autism vs. narcissism: similar behaviors, radically different intentions
[8:27] – Discovering autism later in life and “backfilling” 38 years of memories
[14:57] – Grief, identity shifts, and recalibrating your nervous system after diagnosis
[18:23] – Bullying, coercion, and why neurodiverse kids are often targeted
[21:09] – Masking vs. adapting: where survival ends and authenticity begins
[26:27] – Pattern recognition as protection and reclaiming personal agency
[35:41] – Finding your tribe and why one safe person can change everything
[37:29] – Sam’s closing wisdom on truth-seeking without losing human connection

Links & Resources

· Website: www.DrSamShay.com

· DNA-Decoded program: www.DrSamShay.com/DNA-Decoded

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsamshay

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sam.shay.792

· Youtube: www.Youtube.com/tenpointwellness

· Article on Narci

🚨Calling all aspiring ADHD coaches ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

Help your clients break free from paralysis and better manage their life with 3C Activation® coach training!

💥Gain a proven process for ADHD coaching

💥Earn 38 ICF Credits and 25.5 PAAC CCE’s

💥Learn the latest neuroscience to boost your practice

💥Qualify to be listed under ACO Directory

Learn more ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches