The ADHD Chef: Why Chaos Felt Normal My Entire Life

Chef, content creator and food waste activist Martyn Odell - better known online as Lagom Chef - joins Ben for a chaotic, funny and emotional conversation about ADHD, creativity, food, and finally understanding his brain.Diagnosed with ADHD midway through writing his first cookbook, Martyn reflects on growing up in kitchens where chaos and intensity were normalised, and why that made it difficult to recognise the difference between personality, coping and neurodivergence. They explore ADHD creativity, burnout, internet culture, the pressure of social media, and what happens when your job relies on constantly turning your brain into content.Martyn shares why “eat the food you buy” became his philosophy, how cooking can help people reconnect with themselves, and why perfection is ruining the way we think about food.This is a conversation about ADHD, identity, creativity, and learning to trust your own way of doing things.Join us at hidden20.org/donate.Eat The Food You Buy: 15 Everyday Ingredients, Endless Delicious Meals by Martyn Odell is publishing on 16th July 2026 (Penguin Life, £25)________Host: Ben BransonProduction Manager: Phoebe De LeiburnéVideo Editor: James ScrivenSocial Media Manager: Charlie YoungMusic: Jackson GreenbergHead of Marketing: Kristen Fuller00:00 Introduction01:12 Martyn Odell: ADHD, Cooking & Internet Chaos03:44 Why Kitchens Made ADHD Feel “Normal”06:20 The Link Between Creativity, Chaos & Cooking09:18 Growing Up With Undiagnosed ADHD12:42 Social Media Pressure & Going Viral Online16:10 Why Humour Can Become a Mask19:25 Burnout, Content Creation & Internet Pressure22:14 Being Diagnosed With ADHD Midway Through Writing a Book25:39 ADHD, Executive Dysfunction & Writing Struggles26:43 “Eat The Food You Buy”: Martyn’s Philosophy on Food Waste28:30 Why Cooking Intuition Matters More Than Recipes31:11 Social Media Pressure, Trolls & Public Perception34:02 Why Perfection Is Ruining Cooking38:16 ADHD Hyperfocus & Creativity in the Kitchen42:05 The Emotional Connection Between Food & Memory46:20 Why Simplicity Matters More Than Perfection50:12 What Cooking Actually Gives Martyn’s Brain54:40 Martyn’s Green Dot BadgeThe Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.Join us at hidden20.org/donate.Become a monthly donor.Be part of our community where great minds think differently.Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348______________Follow & subscribe…Website: www.hidden20.orgInstagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charityBen Branson @seedlip_benMartyn Odell @lagomchefIf you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a "green dot" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.