Episode Details

Welcome to the Feel Better Every Day Podcast! Today I’m thrilled to share my conversation with Tracy Otsuka, host of the ADHD for Smart Ass Women podcast and author of the book by the same name.

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Tracy was one of the first voices I discovered on my own ADHD journey, and her strengths-based, neuro-affirming approach has been truly transformative. She’s a former lawyer who boldly celebrates the brilliance often overlooked in ADHD while being refreshingly honest about the challenges.

In this episode, we explore:

• Why ADHD is an identity problem, not just a productivity issue
• Exercise supporting and sometimes replacing medication for managing symptoms
• The power of finding your “sweet spot” where executive function challenges disappear
• Revenge Bedtime Procrastination and the most creative solution I’ve come across
• The 43% of ADHDers with excellent mental health that nobody talks about

Whether you’re newly diagnosed, long-time ADH or supporting someone who is, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and hope. Enjoy!

Chapters

0:00 – Introduction to Tracy Otsuka and her work

2:51 – Personal impact of Tracy’s podcast and book

4:02 – Finding Tracy and her programmes

4:41 – ADHD as an identity problem and building on strengths

5:46 – Ideal self-care practices

6:19 – Exercise and medication experiences

8:13 – Morning routines and dopamine

11:26 – Reading, hyperfocus, and slow dopamine

12:13 – Gardening, tapping, and somatic practices

13:12 – Sleep and managing bedtime resistance (Revenge Bedtime Procrastination)

15:20 – Strategies for easier evening routines

18:55 – Advice for younger self and understanding ADHD

21:07 – Self-expertise and navigating medications

23:42 – Following interests and creating meaningful work

24:51 – Music, piano, cello, and doing things your way

26:25 – Singing, family, and supporting creativity

27:29 – How you can find Tracy

FULL TRANSCRIPT

I can’t wait to introduce today’s guest. She’s someone who has helped me enormously on my own ADHD and now AuDHD journey. Hers was one of the first podcasts I found when I started going down that rabbit hole.

The very fantabulous Tracey Otsuka, host of the ADHD for Smart Ass Women podcast and author of the book ADHD for Smart Ass Women.

Her podcast is really working with the brilliance that is often overlooked with ADHD. She’s very bold, very dynamic, former lawyer, and really confident, honest about the challenges, honest about the disabling aspects, but really it’s probably one of the most strengths-based neuro-affirming approaches I’ve heard.

And I just love her guests. She is wanting to draw awareness to the 43% of ADHDers with excellent mental health. So I hope you enjoy our interview.

I’m really looking forward to talking to her. And I hope that without any kind of toxic positivity, without any negating of the struggles, you too will be able to own your challenges, know that you deserve support for your challenges and make space for your brilliance. Let me know what you think.

Welcome to Episode 85 of the Feel Better Every Day Podcast. Every Tuesday, I share new episodes helping trauma survivors, ADHDers and AuDHDers take better care of yourself, create a life you don’t need to retreat from, and help build a world in which everyone feels safe, welcome, and loved, able to thrive. So literally working with your nervous system, your energy, and it’s a very holistic approach.

You can subscribe if you haven’t already, and you’re very welcome to share. I do a lot of free content because I know not everyone can afford one-