In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Brendan Mahan—host of the ADHD Essentials podcast and author of Overcoming the Wall of Awful (available for pre-order now!). Brendan is a former educator, mental health counselor, and one of the most hopeful voices in the ADHD space. And today? We’re diving deep into emotional dysregulation, shame, burnout, and what it really takes to move forward when your brain feels like the obstacle.

We talk about why ADHDers build a “wall of awful,” how repeated failure shapes our emotional responses, and what actually works to get past it. If you’ve ever struggled to start, found yourself stuck in procrastination, or spiraled into shame after a mistake—this episode is going to give you language, tools, and most importantly, hope. Press play and let’s unpack it together.

Brendan Mahan, M.Ed., MS., hosts the ADHD Essentials Podcast, and is the author of “Overcoming the Wall of Awful©” due out in Fall of 2026 from the Balance/Hachette.A former educator and mental health counselor, Brendan helps individuals, families, and organizations manage neurodiverse challenges by blending education, collaborative problem-solving, and accountability with compassion, humor, and a focus on strengths and growth.Brendan is on the board of the Men’s ADHD Support Group, and the organizing committee for the International Conference on ADHD. He has featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, LinkedIn, Understood, How to ADHD, and ADDitude.

Episode Highlights:

[1:05] - Introducing Brendan Mahan and his new book Overcoming the Wall of Awful

[2:42] - What it’s really like to write a book with ADHD (and why collaboration was key)

[7:17] - Burnout, anxiety, and the difference between moving away from something vs. toward something

[7:47] - What the “Wall of Awful” actually is—and why we all have one

[9:31] - Guilt vs. shame: “I made a mistake” vs. “I am the mistake”

[14:22] - Emotional dysregulation, the amygdala hijack, and finding the pause

[25:43] - The 5 ways we respond to the Wall of Awful (and which ones actually work)

[28:16] - Climbing the wall vs. putting a door in it: practical ADHD strategies

[34:04] - Why emotional dysregulation is at the core of the Wall of Awful

[35:32] - The psychology of change (pre-contemplation → maintenance → relapse)

[37:55] - Why 10% better beats dramatic transformation every time

[40:56] - Brendan’s advice: define “done” and make your goals smaller than you think

Connect with Brendan Mahan:

Pre-order Overcoming the Wall of Awful (available September 1, 2026)

ADHD Essentials – Website & social media

Thank you for tuning into "SuccessFULL with ADHD." If this episode has impacted you, remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach and help more individuals navigating their journeys with ADHD.

🚨Calling all aspiring ADHD coaches ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

Help your clients break free from paralysis and better manage their life with 3C Activation® coach training!

💥Gain a proven process for ADHD coaching

💥Earn 38 ICF Credits and 25.5 PAAC CCE’s

💥Learn the latest neuroscience to boost your practice

💥Qualify to be listed under ACO Directory

Learn more ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

This episode is one that hits your home and your heart. I’m joined by Katy Wells, author of Making Home Your Happy Place and host of Maximize Minimalist. Together, we unpack the biggest lies we’ve been sold about decluttering—especially how harmful those messages can be for ADHD and neurodivergent brains.

We go far beyond “just get organized” and dig into how clutter impacts your nervous system, identity, emotions, and stress levels. Katy shares a compassionate, realistic, and ADHD-friendly approach to decluttering that doesn’t rely on perfection, Pinterest aesthetics, or overwhelm. If clutter has ever sent you into a shame spiral or made you feel like you’re failing at adulthood, this conversation is for you.

Katy Wells, author of Making Home Your Happy Place: The Real-Life Guide to Decluttering without the Overwhelm, created Holistic Decluttering—an approach that tackles clutter at its roots and pairs it with simple, sustainable systems. As host of The Maximized Minimalist podcast (5 million listens), Katy helps families break the cycle of clutter that keeps coming back. Her work has been featured on NBC News Daily, Martha Stewart, and Real Simple. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her husband and two sons.

Episode Highlights:

[0:51] – Introducing Katy Wells and why this conversation goes way deeper than “stuff”
[2:03] – The biggest decluttering myths we’ve been fed and why they harm ADHD brains
[5:51] – The shocking research linking clutter, cortisol, and focus
[8:27] – Why mess and clutter are not the same thing (and why that matters)
[11:56] – ADHD-friendly decluttering: one category, one decision at a time
[16:54] – “Only Handle It Once” and designing your environment for follow-through
[20:32] – Finding your baseline instead of chasing impossible standards
[24:45] – Decluttering as a lifestyle, not another exhausting to-do list
[33:00] – The four types of clutter: superficial, scarcity, sentimental, and identity
[40:33] – Letting go without regret and why decluttering is a skill you can build
[49:55] – Creating a home that feels possible, supportive, and truly yours

Links and Resources:

Katy’s website: https://www.katyjoywells.com/

Thank you for tuning into "SuccessFULL with ADHD." If this episode has impacted you, remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach and help more individuals navigating their journeys with ADHD.

🚨Calling all aspiring ADHD coaches ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

Help your clients break free from paralysis and better manage their life with 3C Activation® coach training!

💥Gain a proven process for ADHD coaching

💥Earn 38 ICF Credits and 25.5 PAAC CCE’s

💥Learn the latest neuroscience to boost your practice

💥Qualify to be listed under ACO Directory

Learn more ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

In this episode, I’m joined by Lisa Candera, a fellow ADHDer, autism mom, attorney, and parent coach who helps parents regulate themselves first so they can better support their neurodivergent kids. This conversation is raw, honest, and deeply needed—especially if you’ve ever felt like you’re holding everything together while quietly falling apart.

Lisa and I talk about what really happens when parenting a neurodivergent child pushes you to your limits—emotionally, physically, and mentally. We explore why traditional parenting strategies often backfire, how parent regulation changes everything, and what to do when behaviors escalate beyond what feels manageable. If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child and wondering, “Why isn’t this working?”—this episode is for you.

Lisa Candera is a single mom, attorney, ADHD-er, and autism mom coach. She helps parents of autistic children regulate themselves first so they can show up for their kids with compassion, clarity, and strength. Her upcoming book explores what it means to be a “solid object” for your child: not fixing, not co-escalating, but standing steady in the storm. She hosts The Autism Mom Podcast (top 2%) and has been featured in numerous top podcasts, like Turn Autism Around and On The Hard Days.

Episode Highlights:

[0:48] – Introducing Lisa Candera and why parent regulation matters more than we think
[2:20] – The moment Lisa realized she was just as dysregulated as her son
[3:22] – Why parent coaching often matters more than child-focused interventions
[5:25] – How traditional parenting approaches can backfire with neurodivergent kids
[6:13] – Lisa’s late ADHD diagnosis and how it reframed her parenting and career
[11:16] – Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria and taking your child’s behavior personally
[13:34] – When behaviors turn physical and safety becomes the priority
[16:26] – Understanding the “order of operations” during behavioral crises
[22:54] – How to find autism-informed medical and mental health support
[27:22] – Why ABA isn’t always the right fit, especially with OCD and anxiety
[34:44] – Proactive strategies to reduce escalation before fight-or-flight hits
[36:06] – Co-regulation vs. compliance and why “doing less” can help more
[38:22] – Reframing behavior as communication—not disrespect
[44:21] – Regulating yourself as a parent when you’re triggered
[49:41] – The truth Lisa wishes she could tell her past self

Links & Resources

• Lisa’s website: https://theautismmomcoach.com
• Lisa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theautismmomcoach/
• Lisa on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theautismmomcoach
• The Autism Mom Coach Podcast

Thank you for tuning into "SuccessFULL with ADHD." If this episode has impacted you, remember to rate, follow, share, and review our podcast. Your support helps us reach and help more individuals navigating their journeys with ADHD.

🚨Calling all aspiring ADHD coaches ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches

Help your clients break free from paralysis and better manage their life with 3C Activation® coach training!

💥Gain a proven process for ADHD coaching

💥Earn 38 ICF Credits and 25.5 PAAC CCE’s

💥Learn the latest neuroscience to boost your practice

💥Qualify to be listed under ACO Directory

Learn more ▶️ https://www.coachingwithbrooke.com/3c-for-coaches