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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47:41
EP. 329: How to Stop Overthinking and Start Writing
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___How do you build a writing life when your brain refuses to follow rules? For Paulette Perhach, the answer has always been a mix of creativity, structure, and compassion.Paulette is an award-winning author, writing coach, and creator of the Writer’s Mission Control Center and Finishing School for Writers. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vox, Glamour, The Washington Post, and Cosmopolitan. But before all that, she was a gifted kid with a brain full of ideas—and no clue why some things came so easily while others felt impossible.In this conversation, Paulette shares how growing up with undiagnosed ADHD and without financial resources—shaped her writing path, her self-image, and her relationship with money. She talks with Tracy about the emotional cost of feeling "less than," the unpredictability of social energy, and how finding a creative community changed everything. Diagnosed in adulthood, she finally began to understand the why behind her chaos and built systems that helped her move from intention to execution.Paulette also breaks down her FINISH framework, a six-part approach to help ADHD writers build structure, create momentum, and finally complete the work they care about. She shares how she bootstrapped her own software tool to support writers like her, and why creating spaces that center neurodivergent needs isn't just helpful—it's transformative.Whether you're a creative with too many ideas or someone still trying to trust your voice, Paulette’s story will make you feel seen, inspired, and ready to try again, with a little more self-compassion this time.Resources:Website: https://www.pauletteperhach.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulette-perhach-23b12832 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulettejperhach X: https://x.com/pauletteperhachSend 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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59:21
EP. 328: Intuition & ADHD: Unlocking Your Spiritual Gifts
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___If you’ve ever been told you’re “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” or just “too much,” this episode is here to tell you: you’re not. You’re intuitive, and that might just be your ADHD superpower.Julie Jancius, known as The Angel Medium, is a spiritual teacher, podcast host, and bestselling author who helps people reconnect with their intuition, their energy, and their purpose. Diagnosed with ADHD in middle school, Julie always knew she was different—driven, creative, deeply empathic, and always tuned in to something just below the surface. But it wasn’t until she experienced major life upheaval as a teen and later lost her father unexpectedly that she began to fully understand the power of intuition and energetic sensitivity—and how it had been guiding her all along.In this conversation, Julie and Tracy explore the link between ADHD and spiritual gifts, from intuitive decision-making to emotional depth and the ability to read a room without saying a word. Julie shares why traditional ADHD solutions didn’t work for her, how energy healing and spiritual connection became her lifelines, and why learning to follow your internal compass might just be the most important skill of all. They also talk about breaking cycles, building purpose-led businesses, and why listening to your intuition isn’t “woo”—it’s wisdom.If you’ve ever felt like your brain doesn’t follow the rules and your heart doesn’t either, Julie’s story will leave you feeling more seen, understood, and inspired to trust yourself.Resources:Website: https://theangelmedium.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/angelpodcast Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/theangelmedium Podcast & Membership Links: Podcast: https://angelsandawakening.comAngel Membership: https://theangelmedium.com/angelmembershipAngel Reiki School: 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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49:51
EP. 327: Changing the ADHD Money Narrative with Nicole Stanley
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___Money advice rarely works for the ADHD brain. We’re told to budget, track every dollar, and rely on willpower—but what if the real answer is to make it easier, not harder?Nicole Stanley gets it. A financial coach, Latina entrepreneur, and founder of Arise Financial Coaching, Nicole helps women ditch the shame, confusion, and overwhelm around money. But before she coached hundreds of women and couples to pay off debt and build wealth, Nicole was a young mom in financial survival mode. Married at 22, she had to learn about money fast when her husband’s modest salary wasn’t enough to make ends meet. With a baby on her hip and a brain that struggled with traditional systems, she slowly built a business that now serves over 100 clients and supports a full-time team—long before she even knew she had ADHD.Nicole was diagnosed with ADHD at 31, and everything started to make sense: the disorganization, the impulsive spending, the exhaustion from trying to do money “the right way.” She realized that what worked for neurotypical people didn’t work for her—or for many of the women she coached. That’s when she began designing tools and systems rooted in compassion, simplicity, and sustainability—approaches that honor how the ADHD brain actually works.Nicole and Tracy talk about the emotional weight many women carry when it comes to money. They dive into why ADHD women are often labeled “bad with money,” how to build dopamine-boosting routines that stick, and what it means to make peace with your finances—not through shame, but through clarity and choice. Resources:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arise.financial.coaching/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@arise.financial.coaching/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/arise.financial.coaching/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arisefinancialcoaching Book a discovery call: 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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1:05:32
EP. 326: How Lizzie Smiley Built an Etsy Empire
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 a self-taught, multi-passionate entrepreneur builds a six-figure Etsy business from scratch—while homeschooling on a farm and running multiple income streams? You get Lizzie Smiley.Known for her hot-mess mom humor and contagious high energy, Lizzie is the host of How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy, where she helps creative entrepreneurs build thriving online businesses. But behind the success is a story many ADHD women will find deeply familiar: years of self-doubt, people-pleasing, and the constant feeling of being “too much.” In this conversation, Lizzie opens up about her late realization that she likely has ADHD, how it shows up in her personal and professional life, and the mindset tools that help her stay grounded amidst the chaos.Tracy and Lizzie dive into everything from hyperfocus and imposter syndrome to business pivots, family dynamics, and anxiety spirals. Lizzie also shares how delegating, tapping into joy, and leaning on her strengths helped her 10x her income—and build a life that works with her brain, not against it. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing too much and still not enough, this one’s for you.Resources:Website: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smiley_lizzie How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy Podcast: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/podcast 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
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*I have NEVER met an ADHD woman who wasn’t truly brilliant at something! This podcast, with nearly 7 million downloads, is for smart, high-ability ADD/ADHD (diagnosed or suspecting) women who see their symptoms as more positive than negative. If you want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and discover where your brilliance lies, this podcast is for you!**ADHD for Smart Ass Women is globally ranked in the top one-tenth of one percent of all podcasts in the world on any subject. It’s streamed in more than 160 countries and is downloaded by more than 150,000 listeners every month. My book of the same name, published by HarperCollins/William Morrow, was recently honored by Amazon Editors as a Top 20 Best Nonfiction Book of 2024.**I’m Tracy Otsuka, your host. I’m a lawyer, not a doctor, a lifelong learner, and a certified ADHD coach. I’m on a mission to change the conversation around ADHD because I believe it’s time to focus on the strengths that come with our unique brains. When I was diagnosed eight months after my son, my entire life finally made sense, yet all I read and heard about ADHD focused on what I should struggle with. What I discovered, though, was that my ADHD was responsible for some of my greatest strengths.**Another thing we constantly hear is all the success stories about ADHD men, but no one talks about the women. This podcast is here to change that. ADHD women are my people, and I’m here to acknowledge, support, and cheer them on. My experience as an adult living with ADHD, along with my expertise, is regularly sought out by top-tier media, including Bloomberg, Forbes, CBS Mornings, ABC News Live, Inc., Prevention Magazine, Verywell Mind, ADDitude magazine, and The Goal Digger Podcast, etc.**adhdforsmartwomen.com**The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and does not constitute medical or professional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of anything you have seen or heard from Tracy Otsuka, her guests or this podcast.
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