
Interview with Brendan Mahan of ADHD Essentials
From The DadDHD Podcast by Shane Thrapp and Braden Young
February 10, 2026 · 43 min · Season 1 · Episode 5
About this episode
Shane Thrapp and Braden Young interview Brendan Mahan about parenting neurodivergent children and his insights from raising twins.
Join Shane Thrapp and Braden Young as they interview Brendan Mahan from ADHD Essentials. Brendan, the author of the upcoming book 'Overcoming The Wall of Awful,' shares his experiences of raising 17-year-old twins, the complexities of his childhood, and how they inform his parenting. The conversation covers fatherhood, ADHD strategies, the influence of upbringing, and key insights into maintaining a balanced family life while managing neurodivergence. Don’t miss Brendan's advice on fostering trust, effective communication, and navigating the challenges of OCD. You can find Shane Thrapp at www.creatingorderfromchaos.com You can find Braden Young at www.empoweradhdsolutions.com 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:13 Brendan's Childhood and Parental Influence 05:50 Parenting Philosophies and Challenges 13:06 Building Trust and Communication with Kids 17:45 Professional Experience and Its Impact on Parenting 21:29 Specialized vs. Generalized Treatment for OCD 22:02 Impact of Parenting Twins on Expectations 24:56 Sibling Dynamics and Social Challenges 29:55 Navigating Neurodivergence in the Family 32:59 Overcoming Parenting Challenges and Burnout 36:54 Advice for Parents of…
People in this episode
Hosts: Shane Thrapp, Braden Young
Guest: Brendan Mahan
Topics covered
- fatherhood
- ADHD strategies
- parenting challenges
- neurodivergence
- communication
- trust building
- OCD management
Keywords
- ADHD
- parenting
- twins
- communication
- OCD
- neurodivergence
- trust
- family life
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: ADHD Essentials, Creating Order from Chaos, Empower ADHD Solutions
Books & works: Overcoming The Wall of Awful
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