ADHD Ahas from a Combat Pilot, a $250 Million Founder, and a Professor episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 22, 2026 · 44 MIN

ADHD Ahas from a Combat Pilot, a $250 Million Founder, and a Professor

from The Anxious Achiever · host Morra Aarons-Mele

What do a combat pilot, a $250M entrepreneur, and a world-renowned academic have in common? ADHD. In this episode, I revisit one of my favorite conversations about how ADHD shows up in high-performing leaders who live different lives. I sit down with Nate Swan, a combat pilot who thrives in high-stress environments, Dan Bastian, co-founder of Boom Chicka Pop, and Johan Wiklund, a professor who studies ADHD in entrepreneurship. We talk about hyperfocus, impulsivity, anxiety, late diagnosis, leadership, and the unexpected ways ADHD can become a competitive advantage. Get ready to learn how the very traits often labeled as “disorders” can fuel success, creativity, and resilience. Check out our sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/achieverfree Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Cozy Earth - Give your home the luxury it deserves. Head to cozyearth.com and use code ACHIEVER for up to 20% off. Express VPN - Secure your online data today. Visit expressvpn.com/achiever and find out how you can get up to four extra months. Talkiatry - Head to talkiaitry.com/achiever and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Working Genius - Take the working genius assessment today and get 20% off with code ACHIEVER at working genius.com In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 3 high achievers with ADHD live completely different lives. 03:15 Why chaotic environments calm the ADHD brain. 04:45 How anxiety and ADHD overlap. 05:30 What happens when ADHD goes undiagnosed in adulthood? 06:30 The career risks of ADHD medication for military pilots. 09:00 Leadership lessons from managing neurodiverse teams. 11:30 How the military is shifting its mental health culture. 18:00 The anxiety that never fully goes away. 20:30 Is ADHD good or bad? 25:30 The types of work that suit ADHD brains. 34:30 Designing work around energy cycles. 37:30 How to use ADHD and anxiety as motivators. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

What do a combat pilot, a $250M entrepreneur, and a world-renowned academic have in common? ADHD. In this episode, I revisit one of my favorite conversations about how ADHD shows up in high-performing leaders who live different lives. I sit down with Nate Swan, a combat pilot who thrives in high-stress environments, Dan Bastian, co-founder of Boom Chicka Pop, and Johan Wiklund, a professor who studies ADHD in entrepreneurship. We talk about hyperfocus, impulsivity, anxiety, late diagnosis, leadership, and the unexpected ways ADHD can become a competitive advantage. Get ready to learn how the very traits often labeled as “disorders” can fuel success, creativity, and resilience. Check out our sponsors: Northwest Registered Agent - Protect your privacy, build your brand and get your complete business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes! Visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/achieverfree Shopify - Sign up for a $1 per month trial, just go to shopify.com/anxiousachiever Cozy Earth - Give your home the luxury it deserves. Head to cozyearth.com and use code ACHIEVER for up to 20% off. Express VPN - Secure your online data today. Visit expressvpn.com/achiever and find out how you can get up to four extra months. Talkiatry - Head to talkiaitry.com/achiever and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Working Genius - Take the working genius assessment today and get 20% off with code ACHIEVER at working genius.com In this Episode, You Will Learn 00:00 3 high achievers with ADHD live completely different lives. 03:15 Why chaotic environments calm the ADHD brain. 04:45 How anxiety and ADHD overlap. 05:30 What happens when ADHD goes undiagnosed in adulthood? 06:30 The career risks of ADHD medication for military pilots. 09:00 Leadership lessons from managing neurodiverse teams. 11:30 How the military is shifting its mental health culture. 18:00 The anxiety that never fully goes away. 20:30 Is ADHD good or bad? 25:30 The types of work that suit ADHD brains. 34:30 Designing work around energy cycles. 37:30 How to use ADHD and anxiety as motivators. Resources + Links Get a copy of my book - The Anxious Achiever Watch the podcast on YouTube  Find more resources on our website morraam.com Follow Follow me: on LinkedIn @morraaronsmele + Instagram @morraam

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ADHD Ahas from a Combat Pilot, a $250 Million Founder, and a Professor

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This episode was published on January 22, 2026.

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What do a combat pilot, a $250M entrepreneur, and a world-renowned academic have in common? ADHD. In this episode, I revisit one of my favorite conversations about how ADHD shows up in high-performing leaders who live different lives. I sit down...

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