A Guidebook To Transforming Adult ADD / ADHD
Adult ADHD ADD Tips and Support Podcast
What if ADHD is better understood as a neurological type, not just a disorder? Since 2015, this acclaimed podcast has been changing the conversation on neurodiversity and adult ADHD.
Founded with fellow creative, Bahman Sarram, each episode offers natural, holistic, and practical tools for artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs to thrive.
Hosted by author and ADHD life coach Michael Joseph Ferguson, this podcast is based on his popular and foundational books, “The Drummer and the Great Mountain” and “ADHD Time Management.”
We explore topics such as: the “hunter-type” brain (ADHD hunter farmer theory), time management, mind mapping, nutrition, exercise and fitness, biohacking, mindfulness, nature connection, navigating addiction recovery, and success stories from fellow neurodivergent thinkers.
Our online community spans the globe: US, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and beyond. We connect regularly through online events, workshops, and live roundtables throughout the year.
This content is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Do you have a hyper-creative brain that generates a thousand ideas but finishes none of them? Join us as we explore ADHD project completion strategies to help you navigate beyond your perfectionism and cross that finish line.
We’ve all been there. You have a great idea for a project, then you immediately throw yourself headlong into it.
But slowly the initial inspiration wanes and you move onto something else.
In this episode, we'll do a deep dive into "ADHD Creative Project Completion." Having been a creative professional for the bulk of his career, Michael can let you in on some secrets that creative professionals use to ensure their projects get completed on time, without compromising quality -- that can be applied to any of your personal or professional projects.
FREE RESOURCE: Download the PDF slide deck for this episode at: www.drummerinthegreatmountain.com/episode124
ADHD Time and Task Management Masterclass (March 31st & April 7th).
www.drummerinthegreatmountain.com/workshop
GET THE BOOK:
This podcast is an audio companion for the book, "The Drummer and the Great Mountain - A Guidebook to Transforming Adult ADD / ADHD."
Episode Timestamps:
(00:00) - The struggle of starting projects vs. the wane of initial inspiration
(01:03) - Welcome and host introduction with Michael Joseph Ferguson
(01:09) - Today's topic: ADHD and creative project completion
(01:19) - How to download the free PDF slide deck for this episode
(01:43) - Announcement: ADHD Time and Task Management Masterclass
(03:26) - The emotional process of bringing creative ideas into form
(04:22) - Why struggle is a necessary part of the creative process
(05:21) - Building the habit of completion by starting with smaller projects
(05:51) - Universal challenges: Overwhelming ideas and perfectionism
(07:44) - The Tree Analogy: Being selective with which ideas to pursue
(09:31) - Using Mind Maps to ground creative energy
(09:54) - Branch 1: Defining specific goals and deliverables
(11:17) - Branch 2: Setting manageable milestones and "chunks"
(11:40) - Branch 3: Managing the "Notes" branch and idea sifting
(12:19) - Branch 4: Mapping out project flow and linear direction
(12:51) - Branch 5: Building your support team and action items
(14:01) - Choosing Source Material to provide insights into completion
(16:51) - Strategies to stay on track and avoid project overwhelm
(18:55) - Staying consistent: The power of relative consistency and resiliency
(20:13) - Energy management: Why you shouldn't schedule creative work at night
(21:24) - What to do when the initial inspiration wanes
(23:52) - Handling distractions and cultivating strong internal dialogue
(25:48) - Building the mental "Muscle of Completion"
(29:44) - Final summary and how to join the upcoming workshop
In this episode, we'll explore:
- What to do when you have too many ideas
- How to get back on track when don't know what to do next
- How to maintain consistency for longer-term projects
- What to do when the initial inspiration wears off
- What to do when you get distracted by other projects
- How to prevent your perfectionism from holding you back
Links Mentioned in this Episode:
- (Workshop) ADHD Time & Task Management Masterclass - March 31 & April 7
- (PDF) ADHD Project Completion Slide Deck
Don't see a player? Click this link to download the MP3 file.
If you have an Apple device (iPhone/iPad), you can download the podcast (and subscribe) for free at this link:
itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/adult-adhd-add-tips-support/id988935339
Visit the podcast web page to listen to all 124 episodes:
www.drummerandthegreatmountain.com/adult-adhd-add-podcast
>> Take the ADHD Hunter-type Quiz
Outro voice over by Lauren Regan.
Intro music: "Pure Water" by Meydän. (CC BY 4.0)
Episode photo credit: Aedrian Salazar
Outro music by Bahman Sarram
For more info, visit: www.DrummerAndTheGreatMountain.com
ADHD task paralysis can really take us down. Mind mapping is THE tool for maximizing how our creative brains work, while minimizing our challenges with executive functioning. It's a non-linear method of getting your thoughts out of your head and into a form you can look at, organize, make plans, and prioritize. In this episode we'll cover an often overwhelming task: where to start when attempting to tidy up a messy home office...
For many of us, the word “goal” has all kinds of negative associations. It can remind us of past failures, our short-comings, and our challenge with short and long-term planning. Because of how our hyper-creative brain works, our dopamine receptors, and challenges with executive functioning, we often have an initial burst of inspiration... But that initial energy tends to wane and we're left with a list of flat and possibly overwhelming goals that we never look at again. However, knowing how to work with goals is essential to making forward progress in your life...
In this episode, we're joined by pioneering educator and art teacher Demetrius Fuller. We explore his groundbreaking educational framework entitled "The HOMies," a neurodiversity-friendly approach to classroom learning based on the Harvard's Studio Habits of Mind. In our discussion, we unpack the shame and trauma often experienced by neurodivergent students, and the importance of having an alternative education framework that supports self-esteem, embraces unique learning styles, and can successfully integrate into the mainstream public school system. Demetrius introduces the HOMie characters, and how each represents a specific aspect of learning...
In this episode, we're joined by Ginger Gonzaga -- actress, writer, comedian, director, and filmmaker known for her roles in Marvel’s She-Hulk, the lead in the CBS series True Lies, and countless other memorable performances in TV and film. This inspiring and lively conversation explores how Ginger learned to “lean life in your favor,” sharing how to recognize your unique strengths, trust your instincts, and have the courage to break free from the constraints that can limit your full expression. We also discuss her ADHD diagnosis at 35, including how undiagnosed ADHD can make you vulnerable to toxic relationships. Most importantly, she shares tips on how she stays balanced and productive, while managing her hyper-creative brain.
In this episode, we're joined by Skylar Duran, a paramedic firefighter and technical rescue team member for the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department. This extraordinary interview highlights how our ADHD traits, often experienced merely as challenges, can become life-saving superpowers. Skylar recounts his harrowing and remarkable rescue mission during San Diego's recent flooding events, describing how his ADHD "wiring" may have contributed to his ability to perform during a very stressful situation. He'll also discuss what it was like growing up with ADHD, his experience with learning a musical instrument, and what's been most helpful from the tips and practices we discuss on this podcast.
In this episode, we're joined by educator and ADHD coach, Lauren Regan. We'll explore her remarkable journey, from growing up in a low-income neighborhood, getting her college degree, going through addiction recovery, getting diagnosed with ADHD later in life, to finally thriving and giving back through her award-winning work at a university and being an ADHD coach. In this interview Lauren discusses which practices support her in staying balanced, focused, and keeping with her routines, even when life is challenging.
If you can believe it, our little podcast is celebrating it's 10 Year Anniversary! It's been a truly remarkable journey connecting with all of you. The community that grew up around this podcast spans the globe. Today's episode maps out where we've come from and shares a little bit about what's coming next...
Dealing with uncertainty can be immensely triggering -- inducing anxiety, challenges with focus, and ultimately distracting us from what actually needs to get done. Uncertainty can manifest as disturbing world events, family health issues, financial fears, work setbacks... The list goes on and on. And, our brain does not like uncertainty. In this episode we'll explore practical techniques for navigating uncertainty -- getting ourselves out of the spin of tunnel vision, into greater emotional regulation, perhaps even finding real well-being in the face of external chaos...
In this episode, we'll do a deep dive into the neuroscience of brainwaves and ADHD. What are brainwaves and why are they important to know if you have ADHD? What brainwaves are people with ADHD deficient in? What are the 5 main brainwave types...
In this episode we'll cover part 2 of the Life Visioning exercises mapped out in the book The Drummer and the Great Mountain. We'll continue our discussion on how to approach goal setting from an ADHD-friendly perspective, including some references to rock climbing, Alex Honnold, and Patagonia's founder Yvon Chouinard's book "Let My People Go Surfing."
Happy 2025! Taking a bit of time at the beginning of the year to do some Life Visioning work can be extremely fruitful. And, this can be an overwhelming task for many of us. In this episode we'll cover part 1 of the Life Visioning exercises mapped out in the book The Drummer and the Great Mountain...
