ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

• EP. 334: Why Crafting Isn’t Cute—It’s Critical with Vickie Howell

  Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___Vickie Howell discovered something most people never do: the exact moment her brain went quiet. It happened when her hands were busy with yarn and needles, long before she had words for ADHD or understood why making things felt like medicine.Vickie has spent over two decades at the forefront of the modern craft movement. She’s best known as the host of Knitty Gritty on HGTV, but her reach goes far beyond the screen. She’s written bestselling books, launched hit YouTube shows and PBS segments, and recently founded StitchWell Social Club, a membership community that connects creativity with nervous system care. At 51, when she was diagnosed with ADHD, everything came into focus—her rocky school years, the urgency behind her creative drive, and the systems she built to stay afloat in a world that didn’t always make room for brains like hers.In this episode, Vickie and Tracy unpack the connection between fiber arts and focus, between making things and making peace with your own mind. Vickie shares how handcrafts became her regulation tool, how bullet points saved her writing life, and why crafting deserves a seat at the mental health table. They also talk about imposter syndrome, building a business around your strengths, and what it means to get a diagnosis later in life—and realize you were never actually “lazy” or “scattered,” just misunderstood.Whether you knit or not, Vickie’s story will leave you thinking differently about how we soothe ourselves, how we process the world, and how creativity can become a powerful form of self-advocacy.Resources: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickie-howell-0592b55  Website: https://vickiehowell.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vickiehowell Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/bookJoin Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aokVisit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.comJoin our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/classUnlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends

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• EP. 333: Too Much, Too Funny, Too Brilliant

  Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___What happens when your brain is loud, your schedule is chaotic, and your best coping skill is making people laugh?Jessica Michelle Singleton is a no-filter comedian, podcast host, and the kind of ADHD woman who can command a stage, lose her keys, and write a killer joke—all before lunch. She’s dropped two #1 comedy albums, racked up millions of views with her stand-up, and performed alongside comedy heavyweights like Mark Normand and Melissa Villaseñor. But behind the laughs? A woman who always knew her brain worked differently, even if it took years to get a name for it.Diagnosed in college after nearly losing her scholarship, Jessica shares how undiagnosed ADHD shaped her identity, her anxiety, and her early drive to do it all—four sports, a packed schedule, and straight As. She and Tracy talk about how ADHD shows up in her comedy, why perfectionism nearly sidelined her special, and how growing up in chaos made her both resilient and hilarious. They also unpack family dynamics, trauma, and the real reason so many comedians come from childhoods that were anything but funny.If you’ve ever felt like a hot mess with a high-octane brain, Jessica’s story is a powerful reminder: sometimes the traits that made you feel “too much” are the exact ones that make you unforgettable.Resources:Punchup: https://punchup.live/jms   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jmscomedy  X: https://x.com/JMScomedy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessicamichellesingleton Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/bookJoin Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aokVisit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.comJoin our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/classUnlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends

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• EP. 332: Kelly Smith: Calm isn’t a luxury—it’s strategy

  Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___What happens when the thing you thought wasn’t for you, like meditation, turns out to be exactly what your brain needed?Kelly Smith is a meditation teacher, yoga instructor, podcast host, and the creator of Mindful in Minutes, which has guided over 23 million meditations to date. Diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, Kelly grew up feeling like she didn’t quite fit anywhere. School was a struggle, friendships were hard, and her self-esteem took a major hit. But everything began to shift when, at just 16, she discovered yoga and mindfulness as a way to support her mom through breast cancer and to reconnect with herself.In this episode, Kelly and Tracy talk about why traditional meditation advice often fails ADHD women and what actually works instead. Kelly shares her unique approach to building a sustainable meditation practice that doesn’t require perfection or stillness. Sometimes it just takes a few moments of self-awareness to create a real shift. They talk about creative batching, emotional regulation, her color-coded systems, and why walking without your phone might be more powerful than you think.Whether you’re curious about meditation, skeptical of mindfulness, or simply looking for a way to feel more grounded, this episode offers a fresh and practical take. It’s about finding calm in ways that work with your brain, and creating space to come back to yourself.Resources:Website: https://www.yogaforyouonline.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yogaforyouonlinePodcast: Mindfulness in Minutes MeditationYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mindfulinminutes Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/bookJoin Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aokVisit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.comJoin our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/classUnlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends

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• EP. 331: Build a Business That Works Like Your Brain with Latrice Prater

  Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___What if the systems you were told to follow just… never worked for you?Latrice Prater spent years trying to fit into traditional jobs and structures, feeling like she was always falling short, until her ADHD diagnosis in her 30s made everything click. A Navy veteran, certified Director of Operations, and now founder of The Digital Solutions Team, Latrice has since built a thriving agency that helps women create neurodivergent-friendly businesses built around their actual brains, not just business blueprints.In this episode, Latrice and Tracy dive into the realities of being an ADHD entrepreneur, the problem with cookie-cutter strategies, and the power of building systems that serve your energy, not drain it. Latrice shares how her military background shaped her discipline, why she believes in automations as acts of self-kindness, and how she transformed chaos into clarity for herself and hundreds of clients.They also talk about how motherhood, burnout, and masking pushed Latrice to the edge and how the decision to embrace her neurodivergence became the foundation for her agency, her book, and her healing. She opens up about the pressure to “do it all,” the toll of hiding her struggles, and the freedom she found in building a business that finally worked with her brain.You’ll also hear how she redefined leadership, what finally helped her stop feeling “bad at life,” and why your zone of genius is the one place you should never outsource. Whether you’re a business owner, a creative, or just someone tired of trying to do things the “right” way, this conversation will give you permission to build something better.Resources: Website: https://www.thedstagency.com  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latrice-prater   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/virtualsolutionsforher   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevirtualpro Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/bookJoin Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aokVisit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.comJoin our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/classUnlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends

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• EP. 330: Why Being Yourself Is the Smartest Strategy with Elizabeth Elfenbein

  Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup___What happens when you stop trying to prove your worth and start building what only you can see? Elizabeth Elfenbein is a creative powerhouse, a purpose-driven leader, and a visionary storyteller who’s redefining women’s health, equity, and representation on a global scale. But like so many ADHD women, that journey started with feeling like she didn’t quite fit in.Diagnosed later in life after both of her children received ADHD diagnoses, Elizabeth realized she’d spent decades navigating the world with an undiagnosed brain. School was a struggle, especially growing up in a family that valued academics above all else. But when she discovered design and visual storytelling, everything clicked. That passion led her to Pratt Institute and a trailblazing career in branding, healthcare, and advocacy—all built on instinct, creativity, and a refusal to accept the status quo.In this conversation, Elizabeth and Tracy talk about the energy behind ideas, the power of purpose, and why ADHD minds are wired for innovation. They explore how mission-driven work becomes a container for restlessness, how meditation and self-care keep Elizabeth grounded, and why she’s never been afraid to run toward a problem others might avoid. She also opens up about parenting ADHD children, managing emotional energy over time, and what it means to finally recognize your own brilliance, not just in what you create, but in who you are.Resources:LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elizabethelfenbein  Website: otherhoodagency.com Website: underthehoodofwomenshealth.com   Under the sisterhood: underthesisterhood.comBlog: medium.com/@elizabethelfenbein Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/bookJoin Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aokVisit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.comJoin our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/classUnlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends

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