What if the same pattern recognition that shapes bestselling thrillers is also tied to ADHD and autism?

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, I sit down with J.D. Barker, New York Times bestselling author, for an unscripted conversation about how his brain sees connections others miss — and how that ability influences creativity, storytelling, and suspense.

We talk about:

• Pattern recognition in ADHD and autism
• How noticing small inconsistencies can lead to big stories
• The overlap between neurodivergence and creative work
• Why some minds naturally see where things are headed — before anyone else does

This episode isn’t about writing tips or formulas. It’s about how certain brains work, how patterns become stories, and why neurodivergent thinking can be a powerful creative advantage.

If you’re curious about ADHD, autism, creativity, or what really goes on inside the mind of a thriller writer, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, an ADHD podcast for adults, Janine sits down with Leah Caroll, an ADHD life and mindset coach, to talk about adult ADHD, overwhelm, and why ADHD isn’t your fault.

Leah shares her lived experience with late-diagnosed ADHD, burnout, and years of feeling like life was harder than it should be. Together, Janine and Leah explore how executive dysfunction, shame, and all-or-nothing thinking keep many adults with ADHD stuck — even when they’re smart, capable, and trying their best.

This honest conversation focuses on what actually helps people with ADHD feel more in control: reducing overwhelm instead of chasing perfect systems, building habits that work with an ADHD brain, and replacing self-criticism with curiosity and self-compassion.

If you’ve ever wondered why routines don’t stick, why motivation feels inconsistent, or why you feel exhausted by daily life, this episode offers validation, practical insight, and a gentler way forward.

Find Leah!:

w: leahccoaching.com

i: @adhd.coach.leah

l: Leah Carroll

f: ADHD: Now What?!

00:00 – ADHD Isn’t Your Fault Why ADHD is about wiring, not willpower — and how shame keeps people stuck

02:15 – Leah’s ADHD Story & Late Diagnosis Burnout, meds, and realizing life didn’t have to feel this hard

05:45 – Burnout, Identity, and Starting Over Quitting everything and what it taught Leah about adult ADHD

09:30 – Executive Dysfunction Explained Why “just try harder” doesn’t work for ADHD brains

13:00 – Pills Don’t Teach Skills Where medication helps — and where coaching matters most

16:30 – Reducing Overwhelm Without Perfection Why small, realistic changes beat total life overhauls

19:45 – Consistency vs. Persistence Why flexible routines work better than rigid plans

23:00 – Habits That Actually Stick Keys on hooks, tiny systems, and ADHD-friendly habit building

26:15 – Curiosity Over Self-Criticism Breaking shame cycles and rewriting the ADHD inner voice

29:45 – Advice to Our Younger ADHD Selves Self-compassion, safety, and progress over perfection

Creativity is often romanticized as something that only comes from pain, struggle, or trauma — but what if that’s completely wrong?

In this episode of ADHD Eavesdrop, Janine sits down with therapist and creative Rachel Moore for a candid, unmasked conversation about ADHD, late diagnosis, and the myth of the “suffering artist.” Rachel shares why creativity doesn’t come from trauma, but from sensitivity — and how that sensitivity shapes how neurodivergent people experience art, work, relationships, and the world itself.

Together, they explore why so many creatives are neurodivergent, how structure and novelty support ADHD brains, and why you don’t have to be miserable to make meaningful art. This episode is a grounding reminder that creativity can come from joy, regulation, and being fully yourself.

Settle in, get cozy, and be a butterfly on the wall for this honest and affirming conversation.

⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome to ADHD Eavesdrop A conversation about ADHD, creativity, and late diagnosis

00:39 – Rachel’s Late ADHD Diagnosis Testing well, failing homework, and being diagnosed at 45

02:12 – ADHD, Work, and Why Certain Jobs Fit Deadlines, novelty, urgency, and creative careers

04:22 – Are All Creatives Neurodivergent? The overlap between creativity, ADHD, and theater communities

05:39 – Therapy as a Creative Process Structure, intuition, and why creativity matters in clinical work

08:16 – The Myth of the Suffering Artist Why trauma is not the source of creativity

09:39 – Creativity Comes From Sensitivity A powerful reframing of art, trauma, and neurodivergence

11:46 – ADHD, Perception, and Trauma Why neurodivergent kids experience the world differently

13:35 – Art, Emotion, and Identity Why sensitivity shapes creative expression

27:52 – Being Fully Unmasked Creativity, safety, and the freedom to be yourself