Dr. Dante coined the term "neurobaddies" on TikTok to rebrand neurodivergent women as beautifully unique and admirably strong. He insists that traits like honesty, hyperfocus, and authentic passion make neurodivergent women exceptional—not just in relationships, but in communication and leadership. But years of negative feedback create internalized doubts. For ADHD women, emotional sensitivity is a hallmark—we experience intense emotions, react sharply to rejection, and struggle with regulation. We rarely do things by halves: "I refer to it as being full ass or no ass." This relentless drive fuels entrepreneurial success but also creates vulnerability. Narcissists are drawn to our empathy, honesty, and willingness to overlook red flags. Hyperfocus and the tendency to self-blame make us especially susceptible. Healing demands reclaiming the neurodivergent narrative, not waiting for permission from neurotypicals. The neurodivergent edge isn't just about surviving challenges—it's about reshaping the conversation and building businesses where different truly means better.

ADHD is often misunderstood as mere distraction or restlessness, yet for women it frequently shows up in more invisible ways: emotional overwhelm, chronic masking, and a lingering sense of being misunderstood. Emotional dysregulation—the quick shifts between joy, frustration, and sadness—can complicate relationships and fuel rejection sensitivity, often leading to misdiagnosis as anxiety or mood disorders. But alongside these struggles lie remarkable strengths: curiosity, creativity, and a playful perspective that drives innovation and resilience. By naming and validating these experiences, we not only rewrite the ADHD narrative for women but also highlight the strengths that make neurodivergent minds essential in work, life, and leadership.

ADHD-ish guest Dr. Gilly Kahn joins Diann Wingert to uncover women’s hidden struggles—emotional dysregulation, rejection sensitivity, and late ADHD diagnoses. Expect raw stories, clinical insights, and humor that validate your quirks while offering hope and practical strategies.

High-achieving women are often missed when it comes to ADHD diagnosis, only discovering it in adulthood or midlife when the weight of hidden struggles becomes undeniable. Therapists Diann Wingert and Lisa Lackey share their personal journeys of realizing they had ADHD after years of helping others, revealing how intelligence and adaptability can mask symptoms for decades. Their stories highlight how menopause and midlife often intensify ADHD challenges but also open the door to what Lisa calls the “second knowing”—a return to self, authenticity, and purpose.

This awakening is not just about diagnosis; it’s about transformation. By shedding perfectionism, embracing self-acceptance, and building community, women are redefining success on their own terms. As Lisa says, “You’re not unraveling or falling apart, you’re actually coming together.”

In this inspiring ADHD-ish Podcast episode, Diann Wingert and brand strategist Jess Malli Mercier explore how creative entrepreneurs can redefine productivity, embrace rhythm over rigidity, and use collaboration as a tool for transformation. They discuss why an ADHD diagnosis is optional, but self-understanding is essential—and how building a brand (and business) that reflects your truest self leads to real work-life harmony. Whether you’re sprinting through inspiration or slowing down for self-care, there’s a better way to create, heal, and thrive.

If you have ADHD, you're no stranger to emotional dysregulation and overwhelm. If you're a female entrepreneur, you know the ups and downs of running a business are a major source of stress. Combine these realities, and the task feels monumental. In my recent conversation with ADHD Women's Wellbeing Coach Kate Moryoussef, we explored how deeply loving and accepting ourselves—especially when we make mistakes—isn't just a lofty ideal; it's a survival strategy. Kate's reminder that treating ourselves with the same nurturing kindness we use when teaching children is transformative. From self-awareness and somatic work to breath work and Emotional Freedom Techniques, these tools help bring our nervous systems under control when triggered. Kate's practice of committing to decisions "no matter what" and extracting lessons from them without shame aligns with my belief that flexibility beats rigid routines. For female entrepreneurs with ADHD, radical self-acceptance and self-compassion aren't optional—they're essential for sustainable success.

As a former psychotherapist who's diagnosed others with ADHD and been diagnosed myself, I want to open up a conversation about who fits under the ADHD umbrella. Getting a formal ADHD diagnosis as an adult woman involves meticulous interviews, forms, symptom checklists, and sometimes full psychological evaluations—if it's even available where you live. The psychiatric community has a gender bias when it comes to ADHD diagnosis. Women are told "you can't have ADHD, you completed a college degree" or "you've made it this far without a diagnosis, why get one now?" One woman was told by a psychiatrist that he "does not believe women can have ADHD." Here's a lesser-known fact: it's not the number or severity of symptoms that determine diagnosis—it's the degree of impairment. Women who've created workarounds and built systems might not meet diagnostic criteria, but they most definitely have ADHD. The term ADHD-ish creates space for those who resonate with ADHD traits but don't have formal diagnosis. It's about being inclusive and acknowledging that we all deserve validation.