ADHD reWired

Pre-registration for the ADHD reWired Coaching Groups is due Thursday. Registration events are happening Thursday and Friday. The next group starts next week. 👉 For exact dates, times, and next steps, go to: https://www.coachingrewired.com This episode includes a short, experimental song made with Suno Ai explaining the coaching groups. If you're listening after the registration window closes, future groups will be announced on the website.

What if the reason you haven't finished the thing you keep thinking about isn't motivation, discipline, or follow-through — but fit? In this episode, Eric is joined by Katherine Mutti Driscoll, PhD, an AuDHD coach, educator, and author, for a conversation that starts with writing a book and quickly becomes something much bigger: how neurodivergent adults actually get meaningful work done. They explore why so many ADHD and AuDHD adults carry "someday projects" for years, how structure (not willpower) turns intention into action, and why unmasking isn't just about identity — it's about designing systems that work with your nervous system instead of against it. Writing is the case study. Adaptation is the point. In This Episode, We Talk About Why motivation isn't the real problem for ADHD and AuDHD adults How an interest-based nervous system shapes creativity and follow-through The role of structure, deadlines, and external accountability in finishing big projects ADHD, autism, and the balance between novelty and predictability Unmasking your process and letting go of "normal" ways of working Why you don't have to love the process to do meaningful work Perfectionism, imposter syndrome, and surviving the one-star review Dictation, movement, printing drafts, and other non-traditional workflows How support, containers, and community make progress possible A Key Takeaway You don't need to become more disciplined. You need a container that fits. When the system works for your brain, the work has a chance to happen. About the Guest Katherine Mutti Driscoll, PhD is an AuDHD coach, educator, and author. She holds a PhD in education, is trained through the International ADHD Coach Training Center and Impact Parents, and is currently studying to become a mental health counselor. Katherine is the author of The ADHD Workbook for Teen Girls and is currently working on her second book focused on Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria. Website: https://catherinemuttidriscoll.com Book (The ADHD Workbook for Teen Girls, New Harbinger): https://www.newharbinger.com/9781648482809/the-adhd-workbook-for-teen-girls/ Resources & Links Mentioned ADHD reWired (podcast, resources, and programs): https://www.adhdrewired.com ADHD reWired Coaching & Accountability Groups: https://www.adhdrewired.com/arc Adult Study Hall (ADHD-friendly virtual coworking): https://www.adultstudyhall.com Internal Family Systems (IFS / parts work): https://ifs-institute.com Interest-Based Nervous System (ADDitude overview): https://www.additudemag.com/interest-based-adhd-nervous-system/

If you've ever had a week where your intentions were solid… and your follow-through vanished into the void, you're not alone. In this episode, Eric is joined by writer, teacher, and ADHD coach Paulette Perhach, who shares the FINISH framework: a simple, ADHD-friendly approach to actually completing projects, building consistency, and getting unstuck. Paulette's take is refreshingly honest: ADHD can feel like the superpower and the kryptonite at the same time. She talks about getting diagnosed at 38, learning to ask for accommodations without shame, and building systems that support creative work… even when your brain fights you every step of the way. This conversation is part practical strategy, part nervous-system-friendly encouragement, and very "you're not broken, you're under-supported." ✅ In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why ADHD brains often need "fake stakes" (engineered urgency) to follow through How to break big goals into small increments that create momentum The importance of nixing distractions (without relying on willpower) How to protect hyperfocus and use it intentionally instead of accidentally Why community and body doubling are so powerful for ADHD How self-compassion becomes a real strategy, not just a nice idea What to do when you're having a "bad brain day" and can't access your usual tools 🧠 The FINISH Framework (Six Elements to Finish Anything) Paulette breaks down the acronym FINISH: F — Fake Stakes ADHD motivation often needs emotional urgency. Fake stakes are "real enough" accountability: deadlines, commitments, public accountability, or putting something on the calendar that makes it harder to ghost your own goal. I — Increment Instead of "write the book," aim for 500 words a day. Small daily targets create dopamine, progress, and trust. N — Nix Distractions This is about designing your environment so you don't have to wrestle your brain all day long. Tools like app blockers (Freedom App) and external reminders can support focus. I — Immerse Make space to hyperfocus on purpose by doing the planning/admin work ahead of time. Paulette calls this a weekly "writer's refresh" to calm the nervous system and reduce background stress. S — Share Community matters. Body doubling matters. Doing things with other people (even silently) can dramatically increase follow-through. H — Hype This one is about self-talk and emotional regulation. Exercise, meditation, and kindness toward yourself aren't luxuries, they're performance tools for ADHD brains. 🔥 Standout Moments Paulette's line: "My version of consistency is that I get back up every time I fall down." The difference between luxury vs. accommodation, especially when traveling Eric's take on requesting extra time to board flights and why it can be a legitimate accommodation The idea that shame doesn't create change (it creates shutdown) Why ADHD-friendly success often looks like iteration, not perfection 🎧 ADHD-Friendly Takeaway If your brain only gives you one usable step today, let it be this: Pick the smallest thread you can hang onto to stay connected to the work. Open the document. Read one paragraph. Write one sentence. Show up for one increment. That counts. That builds trust. 👤 About Paulette Perhach Paulette Perhach is a writer, teacher, and ADHD coach who helps writers and creatives build sustainable, fulfilling creative lives. Her work has appeared in major outlets, and she leads writing and meditation sessions through her community programs. 🔗 Resources Mentioned Paulette Perhach (website): paulperhach.com Writer's Mission Control Center: thewritermissioncontrolcenter.com Freedom App (distraction blocking) ✅ Work With Eric / Join the Community Want structure that actually works for your ADHD brain? ADHD reWired Coaching & Accountability Groups: coachingrewired.com Winter 2026 Groups Forming Now! -- February 5-6 | April 2-3Registration EventsThursday, January 15, 22, 29 at 4:30 PM PT / 7:30 PM ETFriday, January 16, 23, 30 at 7:30 AM PT / 11:30 AM ET Adult Study Hall (Virtual Coworking): adultstudyhall.com Support the podcast on Patreon: patreon.com/adhdrewired

In the final Q&A of 2025, Eric is joined by ADHD reWired coach Brian for a candid, intimate conversation about ADHD, AuDHD, burnout recovery, unmasking, grief, and what it looks like to rebuild momentum without torching your nervous system in the process. They answer listener questions ranging from "what I wish I knew before my autism diagnosis" to "what burnout actually looks like," and they zoom out to something simple but powerful: community and accountability aren't "nice extras," they're often the difference between knowing what helps and actually doing it. Also: a listener puts Eric in the hot seat about getting back to pickleball… and it turns into real-time accountability, immediate action, and a follow-up update that he's now going 3–4 times a week. In this episode, we cover Personal updates: burnout recovery, nervous system capacity, and Eric's autism diagnosis Why AuDHD can increase burnout risk (and why recovery can take longer than you expect) Brian's reflections on exploring autism and recognizing long-term burnout patterns Unmasking: what it really means (beyond "coming out") and how it impacts relationships The balance between honoring your needs while still caring about impact on others Grief and burnout: how loss affects the nervous system, energy, and expectations What burnout looks like in real life: apathy, feeling rudderless, skill regression, and "my usual motivators aren't working" Eric's working theme for the year: attunement (listening to self, body, and capacity) Favorite AI tools right now: thinking partner, planning support, and everyday practical use Autism assessment options in Chicago (including what worked for Eric) A playful-but-serious accountability moment that leads to real behavior change Listener Q&A highlights What are your favorite AI tools right now? Eric and Brian share how they're using ChatGPT in everyday life and personal/professional planning, including using AI to organize thoughts, support self-reflection, help with decisions, and even analyze photos for practical problem-solving. What do you wish you'd known before being diagnosed autistic? Eric talks about high-masking autism, and how repeated success can quietly raise internal expectations year after year… until the nervous system taps out. How has grief impacted your nervous system and burnout? Eric reflects on losing his dad (and grandmother), how grief shows up unexpectedly, and choosing to let grief be grief rather than trying to "bounce back" on a schedule. What does burnout look like for you? Eric describes burnout as apathy, feeling rudderless, needing far more recovery time, anxiety no longer activating last-minute productivity, and struggling to do even the helpful things (like exercise/pickleball). What's the smallest step I can take to get back into pickleball? A listener challenges Eric to take one tiny step… and it becomes immediate action, membership sign-up, and later consistency. Resources mentioned ADHD reWired (podcast, programs, and more): https://www.adhdrewired.com Learn about Coaching & Accountability Groups: https://www.coachingrewired.com Adult Study Hall (virtual coworking + community): https://www.adultstudyhall.com Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/adhdrewired Prosper Health (online autism evaluations): https://www.prosperhealth.io Devon Price (author + clinician mentioned in the episode): https://www.drdevonprice.com Key takeaway Burnout recovery isn't linear. For AuDHD folks especially, the cycle of "I feel better → I go full throttle → I crash again" can repeat fast. This episode is a reminder that community and accountability aren't just support… they're infrastructure. Next live Q&A March 10 at 12:30 PM Central

Join us! Hey, it’s Eric. So, uh — I wasn’t actually planning to record this… but I wanted to hop on for a minute, because this is it. We’ve got our last two registration events this week before our Fall ADHD reWired Coaching and Accountability Groups begin. They’re happening Tuesday, October 14th, and Friday, October 17th — and after that, doors close until next year. Over the past ten years, we’ve worked with more than 1,200 ADHDers — helping folks build systems that actually stick… and the resilience to bounce back when they don’t. Because let’s be honest — sometimes they don’t. That’s kind of the point, right? Learning how to keep showing up, even when your brain makes that hard. If you’ve been listening for a while and thinking, “Maybe someday I’ll do that,” — maybe this is that someday. And if you can’t make one of the registration events, it’s okay — once you finish pre-registration, you can also schedule a 1:1 registration call with me. Our Fall groups start October 23rd, so now’s the time to jump in. Just head over to coachingrewired.com to get started. Again, that’s coachingrewired.com. Hope I’ll see you soon.