Why ADHD Athletes Struggle With Emotions (And How to Fix It)

About this episode

Derek and Aleka discuss ADHD with expert Michael McLeod, focusing on emotional regulation and executive functioning in children.

In this episode, Derek and Aleka sit down with Michael McLeod , founder of GrowNOW ADHD, creator of the Internal Skills Coaching Model, and an award-winning speaker with over 20 years of experience helping kids and families navigate ADHD and executive functioning challenges. As the author of The Executive Function Playbook and a leading voice in ADHD development, Mike’s work centers on owne core idea: kids with ADHD don’t lack intelligence—they lack an “internal GPS.” This conversation challenges the traditional view of ADHD, reframing it as a disorder of executive functioning , not attention. Instead of focusing on surface-level behaviors like hyperactivity or eye contact, Mike explains why real growth comes from building internal skills— self-awareness, emotional regulation, motivation, and independence . Throughout the episode, he breaks down why many common parenting and coaching approaches—like constant reminders, lectures, or forcing accountability—often backfire by increasing dysregulation and creating more conflict. ADHD is not about attention—it’s about performance and internal skill gaps . Kids need experiences, not constant verbal correction , to build executive…

People in this episode

Host: Derek Shunk

Guest: Michael McLeod

Topics covered

• ADHD
• emotional regulation
• executive functioning
• parenting strategies
• youth development

Keywords

• ADHD
• emotional regulation
• executive functioning
• parenting
• youth development
• internal skills
• coaching

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: GrowNOW ADHD

Books & works: The Executive Function Playbook

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