
What Happens When You Stop Hiding Your ADHD
From Something Shiny: ADHD! by David Kessler & Isabelle Richards
January 14, 2026 · 22 min · Season 4 · Episode 115
About this episode
Jesse Sanchez discusses his journey with ADHD and the transformative power of peer mentorship in the neurodiversity movement.
Ever felt like you were doing everything "wrong" compared to everyone around you...like, thinking back to college, why did studying take you five environment changes and an all-nighter when your roommate just sat there and did it? If so, then this one's for you! Jesse Sanchez, President of the Neurodiversity Alliance , joins hosts Isabelle Richards and David Kessler to talk about his journey from "wait, am I broken?" confusion in college to leading a national movement that's literally changing (and saving) lives through peer mentorship and community. And yes, we have the data to back that up. Jesse gets incredibly real about what it was like to need accommodations for years without anyone explaining why, and how finding other neurodivergent people who just got it completely transformed the way he saw himself. They also get into what it actually looks like to unmask and take care of yourself in professional settings—like when Jesse collapsed on a couch between high-stakes donor meetings at the Neurodiversity Leadership Summit with Isabelle and David there. It was beautiful:) And why that kind of authentic nervous system regulation isn't weakness—it's literally the accommodation…
People in this episode
Hosts: Isabelle Richards, David Kessler
Guest: Jesse Sanchez
Topics covered
- ADHD
- neurodiversity
- peer mentorship
- self-acceptance
- mental health
Keywords
- ADHD
- neurodiversity
- mentorship
- self-care
- mental health
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Neurodiversity Alliance
More episodes of Something Shiny: ADHD!
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- "I've Had ADHD My Whole Life. I Just Didn't Know It Yet." · May 20, 2026 · 32 min
- The Self-Esteem Reframe Every ADHD Brain Needs to Hear · May 6, 2026 · 44 min
- What Happens When You Don’t Have to Mask So Hard? · April 22, 2026 · 23 min
- When “You’re Fine” Feels Like the Worst Thing to Hear · April 8, 2026 · 24 min
- Why “Good Change” Still Feels Overwhelming When You Have ADHD · March 25, 2026 · 18 min
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