Are You Planning Your Work More Than You're Doing It? | ADHD & Start-up Building with William Cerdelli

I Thought I Was Lazy. It Was ADHD All Along | Late ADHD Diagnosis - Ep 140 w/ Catherine Lee

For years, Catherine Lee believed she was lazy, unintelligent, and simply not trying hard enough. An ADHD diagnosis didn't change who she was. It changed the story she'd been telling herself her entire life. In this episode, Catherine shares her late ADHD diagnosis, how it transformed her self-esteem, and why understanding neurodiversity can create safer, more inclusive workplaces. We also explore ADHD at work, workplace accommodations, executive functioning, hyperfocus, productivity strategies, and why designing systems for different brains benefits everyone. Catherine Lee is a Queensland-based occupational health and safety consultant, founder of the Neurodiverse Safe Work Initiative, and founder of Lethbridge Piper & Associates. With more than 30 years of experience, she helps organizations build safer, more inclusive workplaces for neurodivergent employees through evidence-based consulting, coaching, and systems design. Episode Highlights 00:09:30 — Rewriting a lifetime of self-criticism After receiving her ADHD diagnosis at 55, Catherine realized she wasn't lazy or unintelligent. Changing that lifelong internal narrative became one of the biggest turning points for her confidence, self-esteem, and overall wellbeing.  00:10:30 — Why workplaces unintentionally exclude neurodivergent people Catherine explains that most workplace systems are designed with the assumption that everyone thinks and learns the same way. She argues that inclusive systems don't just help neurodivergent employees, they create safer workplaces for everyone.  00:22:30 — The hidden barrier to workplace accommodations Many adults struggle to access ADHD assessments because of long waitlists and high costs, yet employers often require formal diagnoses before making adjustments. Catherine discusses why focusing on a person's actual needs is more effective than relying solely on labels.  00:31:00 — The productivity routine that actually works with ADHD Instead of forcing herself through overwhelming task lists, Catherine begins each day by identifying her highest priorities before clearing quick "low-hanging fruit" tasks for an early dopamine boost. Timers and structured breaks help her stay productive without burning out.  00:33:30 — ADHD time blindness and protecting deep focus Catherine shares how time blindness causes hours to disappear without her noticing, and why alarms, scheduled breaks, and exercise have become essential tools for managing hyperfocus and maintaining sustainable productivity.  00:38:10 — Building a life that works with your brain Beyond work, Catherine talks about the routines that keep her grounded, including movement, cooking, family dinners, and protecting time for relationships. Working with her ADHD, rather than constantly fighting it, has made both work and life more sustainable.  Connect with Catherine: Website: https://neurodiversesafework.com.au/ [https://neurodiversesafework.com.au/]https://neurodiversesafework.com.au/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-lee-08048695 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 [https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear]

Are You Planning Your Work More Than You're Doing It? | ADHD & Start-up Building with William Cerdelli

Is planning becoming a distraction? William Cerdelli spent years building productivity systems, tweaking workflows, and optimizing how he worked, only to realize that sometimes the excitement of building the system was greater than actually doing the work. In this episode, we explore ADHD self-awareness, productivity traps, hyperfocus, energy management, startup building, and the lessons William learned while creating Stu, a physical AI desk companion designed to help people with executive dysfunction stay on track. William Cerdelli is the co-founder of Hey Stu, an AI-powered desk companion designed to help people with ADHD manage executive dysfunction, focus, and productivity. Originally from Italy, William transitioned from a career in data science to full-time startup building after seeing strong demand for Stu, which sold out its first production run and quickly attracted hundreds of pre-orders. Episode Highlights 00:09:07 — When planning becomes more exciting than doing  William describes a pattern many ADHD people recognize: spending hours designing productivity systems instead of completing the actual work. Learning to recognize when optimization becomes avoidance helped him become more intentional with his time. 00:10:00 — Managing the hyperfocus and burnout cycle  Some days William feels capable of working 15 hours straight, but that intensity often comes with a cost the following day. Developing awareness around energy management became just as important as managing tasks. 00:11:30 — Why ADHD thinking can be a founder advantage  William explains how rapid context-switching, non-linear thinking, and years of exploring random hobbies became valuable strengths when building a startup. The same traits that can look like distraction often create unexpected connections and creative solutions. 00:14:30 — Building Stu to reduce executive dysfunction  After speaking with members of the ADHD community, William saw an opportunity to create something different from traditional productivity apps. Stu was designed as a physical desk companion that helps users organize tasks, capture thoughts, and stay focused without adding more screen time. 00:18:00 — Selling 100 prototypes before they existed  What started as a simple experiment quickly turned into a real business. William shares the chaotic story of manually producing and delivering the first 100 Stu devices using 3D printers and a small team working around the clock. 00:32:00 — The productivity skill most people overlook  Instead of filling every spare moment with more inputs, William argues that doing nothing can be surprisingly valuable. Taking walks, staring at the water, and allowing the brain to rest became an important part of maintaining focus and creativity. Connect with William: Website: https://www.heystu.io/ [https://www.heystu.io/]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-cerdelli/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-cerdelli/] 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 [https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear]

I Thought Everyone Did This | Late Diagnosed ADHD & Autism - Ep 138 with Pip Scott Allen

Ever realize your ‘normal’ isn’t everyone else’s normal? After being diagnosed with ADHD in college, Pip Scott-Allen later discovered he was autistic too. Looking back, a lot of the things he thought were “just quirks” suddenly started making sense, from only drinking out of red cups to avoiding certain clothing textures and carefully balancing food while eating. In this episode, Pip shares what it’s like unpacking a late autism diagnosis after years of masking through leadership and team-building work, and how understanding his sensory needs and communication style has changed the way he approaches work, relationships, and self-acceptance. Guest Bio Pip Scott-Allen is a leadership facilitator, speaker, and founder of Premier Team Building Australia. With a background in outdoor education, tourism, and leadership development, Pip helps organizations improve communication, culture, and collaboration through hands-on workshops and team experiences. Episode Highlights 00:04:08 — Realizing his “quirks” were sensory needs Pip shares the everyday habits his wife noticed long before his autism diagnosis, from refusing to wear full-length pants to carefully balancing food while eating. What he assumed was just personality or preference turned out to be sensory and autistic traits. 00:06:30 — The red cup rule and other “normal” behaviors For years, Pip would only drink from red cups and use certain cutlery because other options felt wrong in his hands. The conversation explores how many autistic people assume their internal rules are universal until someone points out otherwise. 00:09:20 — Understanding why masking became exhausting Before diagnosis, Pip assumed constant exhaustion was just part of life. Looking back, he realized how much energy went into forcing himself through uncomfortable sensory and social situations every day. 00:17:11 — Becoming more honest about sensory triggers After his diagnosis, Pip stopped forcing himself to tolerate foods and situations that made him deeply uncomfortable. Being more open about textures, safe foods, and sensory needs gave him more energy and reduced self-judgment. 00:27:00 — Why autistic communication is often misunderstood Pip explains how many neurodivergent people communicate through direct curiosity, while neurotypical people often interpret hidden meanings or emotional undertones. A simple question like “Why are you tying your shoes like that?” can unintentionally sound critical even when it’s genuine curiosity. 00:34:08 — Advice for leaders supporting neurodivergent teams Pip encourages leaders to listen carefully to what people actually say rather than assuming intent. He also explains why flexibility, clear communication, and understanding sensory needs help neurodivergent employees perform at their best. Connect with Pip: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pip-scott-allen-facilitator-of-awesome-8458a069/ Email: pip@premierteambuilding.com.au Website: https://premierteambuilding.com.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PremierTeamBuildingAus/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/premier_team_building/ 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 [https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear]

Understanding Communication Differences in ADHD and Autism - Ep 137 with Elaine Lee

“It’s like being a car on a side street trying to enter a highway… and you just can’t get in.” Elaine Lee shares what it’s like struggling to enter conversations, missing social cues, and feeling out of sync in both work and relationships. After being diagnosed with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia later in life, she began to understand why communication had always felt so difficult. In this episode, we explore misreading emotions, defaulting to problem-solving instead of connection, and how misunderstanding intent can damage relationships. Elaine also shares how she’s building Evro, a tool designed to help people better understand communication patterns. If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t “read the room” or struggled to jump into conversations, this episode will feel very familiar. Elaine Lee is a product strategist and CEO of Evro, a communication-focused AI tool designed to help people better understand conversations and social dynamics. She has over 15 years of experience across fintech, health tech, and AI platforms. Episode Highlights 00:05:00 — Struggling to read social cues at work Elaine explains how not being able to detect boredom, disengagement, or passive-aggressive behavior made navigating meetings difficult. This impacted her effectiveness as a leader and made sensitive situations harder to manage. 00:06:30 — Why joining conversations feels impossible She describes group conversations as trying to merge onto a busy highway without a gap. By the time she finds space to speak, the topic has already moved on, leading to frustration in both social and professional settings. 00:08:30 — Missing emotional cues in real time In a tense meeting, a colleague became visibly upset and raised their voice, but Elaine didn’t recognize it in the moment. She continued trying to solve the problem logically, only realizing later what had happened. 00:13:00 — Reframing relationships after diagnosis After her diagnosis, Elaine began to understand that communication struggles weren’t due to lack of care or effort. This helped her and her partner meet in the middle and reduce long-standing misunderstandings. 00:15:30 — Reinterpreting her childhood with compassion Looking back at her mother’s behavior through an autism lens shifted her perspective. What once felt like absence or lack of love became something she could understand with more empathy. 00:22:00 — Building Evro to bridge communication gaps Elaine explains how Evro analyzes conversations to highlight patterns people might miss. The goal is to reduce misinterpretation and help people communicate more effectively across different styles. Connect with Elaine: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-lee-a0716918/ Website: https://www.evro.ai/ 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

The Reality of Working Full-Time with ADHD and Autism - Ep 136 with Caitlin Hughes

“I’ve only ever worked full-time for two years… and by the end of it, I was an absolute zombie and I couldn’t function.” Caitlin Hughes spent years trying to meet traditional expectations around work and productivity. But pushing herself into full-time work led to burnout, exhaustion, and losing the ability to function. In this episode, she shares how discovering her autism, ADHD, and giftedness changed the way she approaches work, energy, and self-expectations. From late diagnosis and grief to redefining consistency, building a part-time work model, and designing work around her brain, this conversation explores what sustainable productivity actually looks like for neurodivergent people. Caitlin Hughes is a multi-exceptional autistic, ADHD, and gifted accredited mental health social worker, founder of Cathartic Collaborations, and a PhD candidate at Queensland University of Technology. Her work focuses on autistic mental health and neuro-affirming practice, combining lived experience, clinical work, and research to support neurodivergent individuals. Episode Highlights 00:02:00 — Discovering neurodivergence through client work Caitlin shares how working closely with autistic and ADHD clients led her to recognize similar patterns in herself. A training video became a turning point, helping her connect her childhood experiences to autism for the first time. 00:04:00 — The grief and self-compassion after late diagnosis Receiving a diagnosis in her thirties brought both clarity and grief. Understanding her neurodivergence helped her replace self-judgment with compassion and reframe past struggles. 00:08:30 — Realizing she could only sustain part-time work After pushing through full-time work and burning out, Caitlin recognized her limits. Accepting a reduced work capacity allowed her to show up more consistently and sustainably. 00:10:00 — Managing energy instead of just managing time She explains how productivity is not just about hours worked but the type of work and level of social interaction involved. Balancing client work with deep, independent research helps her regulate energy. 00:16:00 — Redefining consistency in a neurodivergent way Instead of rigid routines, Caitlin defines consistency as checking in with her capacity each day. This flexible approach prevents burnout and supports long-term progress. 00:33:30 — Designing work around your brain, not the other way around She emphasizes the importance of building work structures that align with individual needs rather than forcing yourself into traditional systems. For her, sustainability is more important than productivity metrics. Connect with Caitlin:  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinhughes299/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlinhughes299/] Website: https://www.catharticcollaborations.com.au/ [https://www.catharticcollaborations.com.au/] Podcast: https://www.catharticcollaborations.com.au/podcast [https://www.catharticcollaborations.com.au/podcast] 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 [https://www.tiktok.com/@focusbear]