The Faster Than Normal Podcast: ADD | ADHD | Health

Dr. Isaiah Crum M.D. is a board-certified psychiatrist in New York City specializing in the mental health of young professionals. He grew up in a community that treated a fast, curious mind as a problem to be corrected. He became a psychiatrist anyway, making his life's work out of what others once called his flaw. His practice is built on a simple premise: psychiatric conditions, including ADHD, look different depending on who you are and where you come from, and too many people have been misread, under-treated, or told nothing was wrong because no one was trained to see them clearly. He is currently building an independent practice designed to change that. In this episode of Faster Than Normal, Peter Shankman interviews Dr. Crumb, a psychiatrist specializing in neurodiversity and mental health within Black communities. Together, they explore the nuances of ADHD diagnosis, the impact of racial bias in psychiatry, and the importance of representation and understanding in mental health. 0:02 - Introduction and guest background 1:09 - Growing up with neurodiversity in Omaha, Nebraska 2:02 - The stigma and late diagnosis of ADHD 3:41 - The role of health insurance and diagnosis in women of color 4:08 - Gender differences in ADHD presentation and masking 5:08 - ADHD in incarcerated populations and underserved groups 5:47 - Coping strategies before diagnosis, including caffeine and gamification 7:15 - The importance of hacks and adaptive strategies from lived experiences 8:08 - The concept of masking and its costs, especially in Black communities 9:03 - Overlap of ADHD symptoms with anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation 10:19 - Communication challenges and the cycle of not being heard 12:34 - Representation in psychiatry and the current demographic disparities 16:14 - Pushback from community when pursuing psychiatry 20:29 - The significance of diagnosis and stigma in Black communities 22:24 - Racial biases in diagnosis and the problematic use of ODD 25:56 - The racialized perceptions of authority and defiance 27:00 - Closing thoughts and future projects Dr. Isaiah Crumb on Threads Thank you for being here and for subscribing- give us a shout anytime! https://linktr.ee/petershankman Substack: petershankmanofficial.substack.com Email: peter@shankman.com Podcast: Faster Than Normal Do you happen to know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today Dr. Sarah Fajgenbaum-Tesja, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist with clinical expertise in treating anxiety, mood disorders and ADHD. She is the founder of Integrative Psychiatric Services, based in Montclair, New Jersey, where she provides in-person care and telepsychiatry across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Her clinical approach integrates psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and evidence-informed complementary modalities—including lifestyle medicine, light therapy, and nutritional supplementation. Dr. Fajgenbaum-Teslja is committed to trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming care and frequently collaborates with psychotherapists and interdisciplinary teams to support comprehensive treatment planning. Today, Sarah discusses her unconventional path to psychiatry, her integrative approach, and observations on changing attitudes toward neurodiversity and mental health stigmas - stigmans which we are here to help permanently remove through using education, community encouragement, care, and entertainment. Enjoy! [You are now safely here, too] 01:00 - Introducing and welcome Dr. Sarah Fajgenbaum-Tesja! 01:45 - Could you please share a bit about your background and education? 03:20 - Was your path to this career revolving around Psychiatry what you expected? 03:39 - Why do you think ADHD diagnoses have increased, especially among parents and their children? 04:44 - Despite progress, why does stigma around mental health, especially for kids, still exist? 08:16 - What trends are you seeing in neurodiversity and ADHD treatment? 10:10 - How do you help new patients who feel anxious, or even ashamed about seeing a psychiatrist? 12:22 - How can people find you? @integrativepsychiatrynj on INSTA Facebook LinkedIN YouTube and via her company's website: Integrative Phychiatric Services aka https://njips.com/ 12:55 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Do you know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Today we are lucky to share a few minutes with Steph Sprenger. She is a writer, producer, stand-up comic, and single Mom to two teenage girls. She produces Listen To Your Mother Boulder, a live storytelling show, and facilitates creative writing workshops for midlife women at The HerStories Project. As co-host of The Mother Plus Podcast and columnist at The Reclamation Era, she champions women who want to understand and celebrate their neurodivergence, especially at midlife. Steph is currently working on a memoir, "Breadcrumbs Across Suburbia" which is the story of a nostalgia pilgrimage which turns into a therapeutic reclamation by way of visiting her 17 prior homes; which we will talk about a little, in addition to learning about the path she followed which led her here. [You are now safely here, too] Enjoy! 01:48 - Introducing and welcome the multi-talented Steph Sprenger!! 01:51 - Please share with us your background, and about why you were diagnosed? Ref: perimenopause 02:47 - How did your ADHD diagnosis change your perspective on yourself and your family? 03:04 - What were some of the biggest challenges or surprises along the way? Ref: Inattentive ADHD 04:00 - Growing up, did you feel something was different with you, but you couldn't pinpoint just what? 04:08 - On "why can't I", neurodivergence and personal coping mechanisms in relationships and work 05:07 - What specific tools have helped you figure out your brain? Ref: Internal Family Systems - Therapy 06:22 - About applying the wrong operation manual to your personal operating system. 07:11 - If you are Inattentive ADHD, your external behavior is only extension of what's happening to you, and your thoughts internally. 07:37 - Not everyone has a constant-running inner dialogue ..wait, What?!? Ref: A Neurodiverse Namaste on radar/tractor beam 08:49- ADHD changes as you become older as you gain perspective and better tools 10:35 - Family and best friends can really be one and the same. ADHD is never a copout. 11:57 - Is there something to ADHD and divorce? Can dueling ADHD Superpowers produce conflict? 12:15 - On fun tool kits like: setting relationship expectations, meeting specific needs, and respect for systems we neurodiverse in place such as: "Watering Wednesday, or Fridge Friday". 13:33 - Peter's Article in Medium. Ten Ways to be Happier When You Live/Love Someone Diagnosed With ADHD #trust #wetriedreallyhard #notbroken #guilt 14:00 - On parenting and leading by example with sensitive language choices and non-shaming positivity 14:48 - On the importance of good friends who also "speak your language" 15:53 - Tell us what you've learned by working in tandem with Moms and neurodiverse women? 18:00 - An example of parenting, but also personal systems that are working, consistently 19:20 - More on rituals and rigorous systems. ref: What is a mnemonic device as pertains to psychology? 20:32 - Smarthomes are good for you- you should not feel like you are being chased by a bear in the morning 21:36 - On breaking stereotypes and how it is excruciatingly difficult sometimes. 22:10 - How can people find you? @mother_plus_podcast on INSTA and via https://stephaniesprenger.com/ 22:55 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Do you know anyone who is doing wonderful things with #ADHD or their neurodivergent brain? We would love to have them on to learn how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA is a psychologist, international presenter, and ADHD thought leader. The author or acclaimed ADHD After Dark, today joins us after a few years to tell us about his highly anticipated fifth book, The ADHD Productivity Manual. You can find more information about his books, his podcast More Attention, Less Deficit, upcoming and recorded presentations and contact information at adultADHDbook.com. Enjoy! [You are now safely here] 00:42 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! [Episode 332 I believe, but we will be 10 years old, wowzers! -Ed] 01:20 - Introducing and welcome back Ari Tuckman! 02:00 - COVID - 2025? 02:30 - Check out Peter's interview with Ari about his book ADHD After Dark Interview here! 02:50 - Tell us about your new book The ADHD Productivity Manual 03:00 - Fitting the pieces of lists together, and how we can get stuff done, better and quicker 04:20 - It's an easy read, right? 04:47 - What are you dealing with in your brain today? Let us know if the comments! 05:22 - Lazy, Stupid, Studio, or Crazy? 05:55 - On starting the learning late, and focusing on the right lessons and rituals for us. 06:40 - Experiences are our own 07:00 - On being kind to others. And dogs, and cats, all of the pets. 08:11 - On the importance of community support, and laughter 08:50 - On being a good person. A mentor who speaks your language/same brain. 10:05 - 5 FAST THINGS from the book: How to live with: Schedules, To Do Lists, and ALARMS and deadlines How to handle social stuff, and others' expectationa of you and your work How to have faith and deal with the process, experience your experience; but show up and keep showing up. On focusing on the process and not giving up on the daily confusion or frustration. What's the point anyway? 12:25 - A final thought on personal effectiveness and productivity using ADHD 13:06 - How can people find you? More Attention, Less Deficit also at adultADHDbook.com 13:18 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! D you know of anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! See you shortly! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is family man, entrepreneur and CEO, Mike Dos Santos. Mike is the CEO of Versatile Studios, a production studio with offices worldwide, the creator of Versa Battery and Co-Founder of Crane Properties LLC and Crane Property Holdings LLC. Mike is also a former partner in One Drop Rentals and a former director for Quixote Studios New York. Today, Mike shares how he has learned to stay focused amidst his busy schedule and he and Peter discuss how exercise has been a game changer for both of their careers. Born and raised in Boston, Mike was drawn to photography at an early age and graduated from Northeastern University in 2003 with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Photography. Mike completed his photography degree at the New England School of Photography and started in the photo industry as an assistant, worked in digital tech, and was a retoucher and photographer before establishing his own digital production studio, Versatile Studios, in Manhattan and Los Angeles. In addition to Versatile Studios, Mike and his partner, Shawna, created Crane Properties, a real estate redevelopment company investing in the North Shore of Boston as well as Crane Property Holdings with real estate holdings across the United States. [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing! 01:20 - Introducing and welcoming Mike Dos Santos, CEO of Versatile Studios. 03:15 - How Mike juggles his busy schedule with #ADHD. 04:56 - Why trusting your employees is a game-changer for your business. 05:28 - What excites Mike most about his busy days? 07:25 - How to persevere when tasks are boring as someone with #ADHD. 07:58 - Brain.fm to help #ADHDers focus on boring tasks (use this link to get brain.fm for FREE for 30 days exclusively for FTN listeners) 09:32 - How working out first thing in the morning can help #ADHDers to crush the day. 12:18 - Peter and Mike talk about their favorite workouts. 15:05 - Connecting with Mike. 16:06 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! Connecting with Mike: Website: Versatilestudios.com Instagram: @mikedos22 Don't forget to click this LINK to access 30 days of brain.fm for FREE exclusively for Faster Than Normal listeners. My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is Dan Clark, CEO of brain.fm, a platform that helps you work better through music by stimulating your brain with gentle rhythmic pulses that support attention. Dan has been fascinated with technology and passionate about its ability to positively impact the world from a young age. He started building websites when he was 13, began a design and advertising business at 18 and has driven millions in revenue for multinational brands. Dan has truly been at the forefront of using technology to exponentially grow successful businesses. Dan was one of brain.fm's first users. The story of how he came to be CEO demonstrates Dan's drive to use technology for positive impact. Dan called the company 12 times before they agreed to bring him in for an interview. When he did receive an offer, he jumped at it ("jumped" as in, he worked for FREE for the first few weeks!) Dan worked his way to brain.fm's Head of Technology and is now CEO. As CEO, Dan is constantly striving to build a company that will change the world through music and be one of the best companies for people to work for and grow with. [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:20 - Introducing and welcoming Dan Clark, CEO of brain.fm. 01:50 - Updates on brain.fm since we last talked to Dan. 03:42 - Brain.fm in a nutshell and how they help people focus. 05:30 - Why music can be a gamechanger for people with #ADHD. 06:40 - Solutions tailored to each person. 08:06 - The science behind brain.fm. 12:12 - What's next for brain.fm. 14:30 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Connect with Dan on LinkedIn Check out brain.fm today! Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is Emily Gironda. Emily has 20 years of teaching and instructional design experience. She began her education career in high school English classrooms, specializing in teaching writing and metacognition (that is thinking about one's own thinking.) Emily's expertise extends to curriculum development, including programs for gifted and neurodivergent learners at the University of Virginia. [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:54 - Introducing and welcome Emily Gironda 02:34 - Why does Emily post on Threads? 04:05 - 2E schools and Emily's experience writing curriculum 06:19 - What are the first things you notice when evaluating for neurodivergent thinkers? 09:14 - Student attention factors 10:12 - What do gifted students really need? 12:02 - Wrestling with the exclusive class aspect of giftedness 12:42 - What would you say to a parent who is looking at their child in a regular school and saying, "something isn't clicking"? 14:04 - Connecting with Emily on Threads 19:35 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Connecting with Emily: Threads: @emily.anne.g Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman

Having ADD or ADHD is a gift, not a curse. Hear from people all around the globe, from every walk of life, in every profession, from Rock Stars to CEOs, from Teachers to Politicians, who have learned how to unlock the gifts of their ADD and ADHD diagnosis, and use it to their personal and professional advantage, to build businesses, become millionaires, or simply better their lives. Our guest today is Aleksandra Czech-Seklecka. She is an entrepreneur originally from Poland, now living in Scotland. Her career journey has been diverse and shaped by a deep curiosity and drive to pursue multiple passions, holding degrees in cross-cultural psychology, media psychology, and cultural studies with a specialization in Japanese culture, along with certification in the Japanese language. In her own words: Growing up, I faced many challenges. I come from a difficult family background and was bullied throughout most of my life, which deeply impacted my self-esteem. These experiences, combined with the struggle of living with undiagnosed ADHD and with chronic pain, with undiagnosed endometriosis, pushed me to develop resilience and determination. I learned early on how to persevere, which has shaped the way I approach life and business today. After a few career starts I moved into project management at Samsung R&D Institute Poland, gained certifications in Prince2 and Agile, and co-created a Project Management Office for Android commercialization across Europe. After moving to Scotland, my career took an unexpected turn due to health challenges. I was diagnosed with endometriosis (finally after 20 years of suffering), which required multiple surgeries and led to a significant gap in my employment. This challenging period pushed me to reinvent myself, and I decided to focus on building my own business. During this time, finding work was made even more difficult by the timing of Brexit, which created additional barriers. So instead of banging my head against the wall, I decided to build my own business. I had many ideas, but I was constantly searching for something that could truly help others because I love helping people. That's when VanFill was born - an on-demand platform connecting customers with transport providers using empty spaces in vans and trucks, helping underserved communities access delivery services. The idea came to life when I organized a collection of medical supplies in Scotland for Ukraine. I realized that this platform would be another way I could help others. I turned this idea into reality by learning no-code tools to build the prototype. Since then, I have participated in numerous accelerators and business programs to develop the skills and networks needed to bring VanFill to life. Throughout my life, I've been actively involved in volunteering - supporting women with chronic pain and health conditions, working with different charities, and helping minority groups. In addition to my entrepreneurial work, I am deeply committed to advocating for women living with chronic illness and chronic pain. As someone who also lives with ADHD, I know firsthand the mental and physical hurdles that can arise. Through my journey, I want to inspire and empower women facing similar challenges to pursue their goals despite the obstacles. Currently, I am writing a book aimed at helping entrepreneurs, with a special focus on those living with ADHD and chronic conditions, offering guidance and inspiration for navigating the challenges of building a business while managing health difficulties and living with ADHD. I believe that no matter the challenges - be it chronic pain, personal struggles, or professional roadblocks - there is always a way forward. We just need to find the right map and guidance to not get lost on our way. Enjoy! [You are now safely here] 00:40 - Thank you for listening and for subscribing!! 01:20 - Introducing and welcome Aleksandra Czech-Seklecka! Ref: https://www.vanfill.co.uk 02:50 - What was growing up with ADHD like for you in Poland? 04:00 - On finding a focused pursuit for her passions and talents 05:40 - Endometriosis and finding a name for what was wrong, in order to build a support kit 06:50 - On adjusting to being ADHD 07:20 - About not knowing what's wrong with your partner 08:10 - Explaining the gap in her resume/CV 09:10 - On rethinking her life after being diagnosed and not being able to walk for a year 10:00 - On finding her niche 10:50 - On starting your own business with ADHD and how to avoid being bored 12:15 - On social media marketing, distractions/choices and being ADHD 13:00 - About the benefits of time blocking, logging ideas and setting priorities 13:58 - What other rules and tools do you put into play to make sure things happen? 15:20 - On overwhelm and emotional processing 16:02 - Never underestimate screaming out in nature with friends! 16:50 - Spousal help and office/task management 18:06 - How can people find you? Via https://www.vanfill.co.uk also on LinkedIn And @akaiworlds on Instagram and LinkedIN 18:30 - Forthcoming book teaser 19:35 - Thanks so much for listening to Faster Than Normal. Please join us again very soon! Know anyone doing wonderful things with #ADHD? We would love to have them on and listen to how they are using their #neurodiversity to their advantage. Shoot me an email and we will get them booked! My link tree is here if you're looking for something specific. https://linktr.ee/petershankman