The ADHD Creative Club

This week's guest is David Middleton, game designer and founder of Bewilder box Escape Rooms. David has created over 40 immersive experiences and worked with some massive names including Horrible Histories, Peaky Blinders, Paddington, and Black Sabbath. He's also got ADHD, and it turns out building escape rooms might just be the perfect job for a brain that runs on dopamine.The Dream Job Hidden in Plain Sight: Escape rooms are basically a dopamine delivery machine. Every puzzle solved, every player delighted is a hit your ADHD brain was built to chase. Coasting at Work (On Purpose): David's honest take on surviving the nine to five: he deliberately didn't go all-out at work because if he had, he'd have burnt out completely. Saving energy isn't laziness, it's survival.The Side Project Safety Valve: Bands, quizzes, weird creative schemes. Having something creative on the go in the background was what allowed David to keep showing up to the normal job. The side project wasn't a distraction, it was the release valve.Keep it Simple, Seriously: After trying every complicated productivity app going, the winner is a basic digital to-do list mirrored across phone and computer. If the system is too complicated, you won't stick to it.OneNote as a Brain Extension: Dumping everything into a digital notepad means you can search for it later. David regularly uncovers notes from years ago he'd completely forgotten writing, and says he finds "absolute gold" in there.Gamify Everything: From tracking streaks on the NHS quit smoking app to ticking off tasks, the ADHD brain responds to visible progress. Find the game inside the task and you're halfway there.Swallow the Frog: A tip from David's productivity coach. Do the thing you're most dreading first. The relief of getting it done makes everything else feel more manageable, and gives you an actual win to feel good about at the end of the day.The Dishwasher Trick: Can't face the whole job? Just put one glass away. Then another. Breaking a low-dopamine task into tiny pieces lowers the dread of starting, and once you've started, you'll usually just crack on and finish it anyway.Know Your Peak Hours: Without a boss setting your schedule, it's on you to protect the hours when your brain actually works. Fighting against your natural rhythm is a losing battle.Accountability as an External Brain: Agreeing to do something with or for another person adds just enough outside pressure to make following through more likely. Sometimes an audience of one is all you need.ADHD Looks Different on Everyone: Delayed diagnosis often happens because people compare themselves to someone else's experience and conclude "that's not me." Years of masking and finding dopamine in different ways, whether that's exercise, creativity, food, or less healthy things, shape how the symptoms actually show up.Imposter Syndrome Doesn't Go Away: Working on Paddington at County Hall, with a full cast and set, was genuinely exciting. But stepping into bigger projects still brings that nagging voice asking whether you're actually good enough for it.Ask for Help Early: When you go from employee to business owner you suddenly have to do everything yourself. David learnt very quickly that needing support isn't a weakness, it's just sensible.David's path from office worker to escape room designer to working on major licensed IP shows what happens when you stop fighting your brain and start working with it instead. And if nothing else, if your job involves people screaming with delight every time they solve something you built, you've probably found the right career.Play David's Escape Rooms: bewilderbox.co.uk, featuring sci-fi themed adventures with Norman Lovett from Red Dwarf.Explore David's Creative Work: rebelbrain.co.ukFollow David: @RebelBrain on InstagramJoin the ADHD Creative Club community at https://theadhdcreative.club for more tips, tricks and real talk on getting on as a neurodivergent creative entrepreneur.

From makeup artist to award-winning cake designer to intuitive abstract artist and burnout coach, Hali Jafari has pivoted more times than most people have had hot dinners. But here's the thing: every single pivot was a feature, not a bug. In this episode, Hali talks about why ADHD's so-called "shiny object syndrome" can actually be your greatest creative superpower, why the antidote to burnout isn't rest but making marks on a canvas, and how a painting she made for her mum became the wake-up call that changed absolutely everything.The Fearless Pivot: Why ADHD's "get bored and leap" instinct took Hali from total cupcake beginner to international award winner in just a couple of years, and what other creatives can nick from her pattern of push, learn, launch.Burning Out vs Burning Bright: Hali's honest account of juggling three young kids, multiple side projects, a full-time job and undiagnosed ADHD all at once, and the moment she quit her entire business overnight rather than just... having a sit down.Art as Active Meditation: Why 30 minutes of intuitive abstract painting beats a bubble bath with a business podcast every single time, and why getting your hands busy is the real off switch for an ADHD brain.The Consuming vs Creating Problem:Why constant scrolling, podcast bingeing and back-to-back content consumption is quietly driving creatives towards burnout and anxiety, and the surprisingly simple daily habit that starts to fix it.Just Make a Mark: How Hali broke through years of perfectionism paralysis with three words from her coach, and why she firmly believes every human being is born creative. Yes, even the ones who "can't draw a stick man."Manifestation Without the Woo: No crystals required. Hali breaks down the practical side of visualisation and why keeping your goals on your radar every day is the real reason opportunities start turning up.The Lucky B*tch Strategy: How Hali manifested events she genuinely couldn't afford to attend, and why her best ideas tend to arrive when she's deep in her creative zone rather than glued to her phone.The Creative Playground Journal: Hali's own journaling tool built specifically for ADHD brains. Short prompts, habit tracking and weekly reflection that fits into five minutes. Keep it next to your bed so you don't lose it.Employed and Still Building: The honest truth about holding down a day job whilst quietly working on something of your own, and why Hali always treated employment as temporary rather than permanent.https://www.halijafari.com/Follow Hali: Connect with her on Instagram for her 30-day daily creative challenge and intuitive art journey.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hali.jafariFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/halima.jafari/Join the ADHD Creative Club community at https://theadhdcreative.club for more tips, tricks, and real talk on thriving as a neurodivergent creative entrepreneur

Ever felt like a Scalextric car being held down on the track—wheels spinning, motor screaming, and smelling like burning rubber, but you’re not actually moving? Katherine, founder of Lightbulb ADHD Coaching, lived that cycle through a dozen "failed" careers before realising she wasn't broken; she was just using a neurotypical operating manual.Katherine now holds exceptional credentials that place her among an elite minority of ADHD coaches: She has both ICF PCC certification (top 4% of all ICF-certified coaches globally) and PAAC 'PCAC' certification (one of only 6 in the UK). According to the 2025 US National Survey on ADHD Coaching published in JAMA Network Open, most ADHD coaches have not completed PAAC credentialing or professional coach certification, making Katherine's dual credentials particularly rare in the field. She's also the author of an industry white paper on ADHD coaching standards that's helping to shape best practices and is part of an ethics and standards review with UKAAN. Katherine specialises in working with late-diagnosed adults, especially creative, late diagnosed professionals and executives .In This EpisodeThe "Scalextric" Effect: Why forcing yourself to "just do it" is actually making you more stuck.The Diagnosis Trap: Navigating the "hit or miss" world of ADHD advice and why TikTok might not be the best doctor.Permission to Pause: Why Katherine took a five-month break from her own podcast and why you should too.The "Bible" Method: How to use AI as a thinking partner without losing your authentic creative voice.Executive Function "Positive" Assessments: Rewriting the rules so your brain feels capable instead of criticized.The 20-Minute Truth: A simple time-tracking hack for the tasks you hate (looking at you, emails).Creative Career Pivots: From iconography and Victorian costume making to ADHD coaching.ADHD is a Body Thing, Not Just a Brain Thing: When you're stuck in "freeze" mode, stop researching and start moving; dictating a report while walking is often more effective than staring at a blank screen.Stop "Jamming" the Schedule: You cannot keep adding tasks to an overwhelmed brain and expect it not to burn out; space and permission are the two most important tools in your business.Outsource the "Menial" to Save the "Creative": Even three hours a week of support can prevent the day-to-day routine from tanking your professional reputation.Internalised Ableism is the Real Growth Block: The "needle-moving" work isn't a new hack or app; it's changing how you think about your productivity and letting go of "how things are meant to be."This isn't about "fixing" your ADHD so you can work like a robot. This is a conversation for the creative entrepreneur who is tired of the "just use a planner" advice. Katherine reminds us that our creativity is a perk, but managing the emotional "heavy lifting" of ADHD is what actually allows us to thrive. If you're currently in a cycle of procrastination or feeling like an imposter in your own business, this episode is your permission slip to stop revving and start playing.Take the Action Quiz: Want to understand your personal ADHD action style? Visit https://lightbulbadhd.com/go/quiz-guest to take Katherine's Action Quiz and discover where you're more likely to get stuck when facing important tasks.Join the Waitlist for Lightbulb Studio: Katherine's group coaching program for people ready to translate ADHD knowledge into sustainable action.Find Katherine:Social Media Links :Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lightbulbadhd/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhd_coach_katherine/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@adhd_coach_katherineLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-sanders-pcc-accg-803634212/Join the ADHD Creative Club: Join the ADHD Creative Club community at ⁠https://theadhdcreative.club⁠ for more tips, tricks, and real talk on thriving as a neurodivergent creative entrepreneur.

For Maddy Alexander-Grout, the realisation that she wasn't a "broken horse" but a "beautiful rainbow-colored zebra" didn't come until her ADHD diagnosis at 37. Before that, life was a chaotic cycle of self-medicating with alcohol and chasing dopamine hits through a shopping addiction that racked up £45,000 in debt. Now, she’s flipping the script to show neurodivergent entrepreneurs how to turn "procrastin-faffing" into a superpower and build a business that actually fits a non-linear brain.The Dopamine Debt Trap: Why ADHD brains are biologically wired for spending addiction and how Maddy climbed out of a £45k hole.Passive Income Gold: Why memberships are the ultimate "low-energy" revenue model for neurodivergent creatives.Visibility vs. Virality: Why your personality and "quirks" sell better than a polished, viral video.The "Procrastin-faffing" Cure: How to identify task paralysis and move forward when you have too many "bubbling ideas".Gamifying the Boring Stuff: Tips for making budgeting and admin feel like a win rather than a chore.RSD in Business: Navigating the "gut-punch" feeling of client rejection and why it’s usually not about you.Owning Your Soundtrack: The cassette tape analogy for pausing, rewinding, and rewriting your business story.Recurring Revenue is Freedom: For creatives, hitting a "ceiling" with physical products is common. Building a membership or evergreen course provides the recurring revenue needed to scale without constant manual labor.Authenticity is a Filter: Don't hide the "screamy" music taste or the "two left feet". Showing your true self online attracts "know, like, and trust" faster than any sales pitch.Money Values are Formed Early: Most of our financial "blocks" are set by age seven. Understanding your "money story" is the first step to fixing a broken relationship with profit.As Maddy explains, if it isn't fun, why bother? Running a business on "hard mode" often means trying to force an ADHD brain into a neurotypical box. Whether it's through outsourcing the "chores" of business or building a flexible budget that includes self-care (and eyelashes!), success comes from building a life that accommodates your brain, not one that tries to fix it.Work with Maddy: Find her financial coaching, the Mad About Money app, and her "Invisible to Influential" membership via her Stan Store.Read the Book: Grab a copy of Mad About Money at all major bookstores.Follow Maddy: Catch her on TikTok (@madaboutmoneyofficial) or Instagram (@maddytalksmoney).Join the ADHD Creative Club community at ⁠https://theadhdcreative.club⁠ for more tips, tricks, and real talk on thriving as a neurodivergent creative entrepreneur.

For many ADHD creatives, the "business" side of things feels like a separate, hostile language. Celie Nigoumi describes the brutal shift from being a "talented amateur" to a "struggling pro" who was once so overwhelmed by corporate meetings she’d completely zone out, feeling like an "idiot". She eventually realised that building a successful business isn't about fixing your brain—it's about building a fortress of systems around it.The "Accidental" Networker: How working a part-time shop job became the ultimate lead generator for local business clients.Charging Your Worth: Why Celie shifted from "50 quid" Facebook shoots to high-end branding by investing in the client experience.The Funding Secret: How to use government resources like Access to Work to pay for the support you actually need.Automating the Fear: Using Studio Ninja to handle contracts and payments so your "forgetful" brain doesn't drop the ball.Feedback as Fuel: How a "Reflection Sheet" helps you iterate your services and provides a mental boost when RSD hits.Quarterly Re-calibration: Why you need to step out of the business every few months to see if you actually like the path you’re on.The "Signature Offer": Transitioning from "doing everything" to a specific, high-value "Brand Story Experience".Systems over Willpower: Don't rely on your memory to send an invoice. Use a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system to automate your workflows. If it isn't automated, it likely won't happen.Support is Not a Luxury: Whether it's a virtual assistant to manage your Trello board or a mentor to get you "unstuck," professional help is the fastest way to scale.Regulate Your Nervous System: Success is unsustainable if you're constantly in "fight or flight." Learn to name your triggers (like Celie's "Frieda") to navigate PDA and rejection sensitivity.Building a business as a neurodivergent creative means rejecting the "standard" hustle culture. As Celie points out, you can’t run a business while burnt out. Success comes from knowing your cycle, protecting your "me time," and creating a structure that allows you to be the artist without being crushed by the administrator.Work with Celie: Check out her Brand Story Experiences and Mentoring at celienigoumi.com.Follow the Journey: Catch Celie on Instagram at @celienigoumi.Application Link: Apply for an Access to Work grant.Join the ADHD Creative Club community at ⁠https://theadhdcreative.club⁠ for more tips, tricks, and real talk on thriving as a neurodivergent creative entrepreneur.

Running a business as an ADHDer is like putting your face right next to a fire—there is nowhere to hide from the heat of feedback. Maddy Shine, SEO and website strategy expert, knows this "burn" all too well; from the sting of a short email to the internal spiral when a client cancels a membership. In this episode, we dive into how Maddy stopped letting Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) dictate her professional worth and how she built a "Managing Expectations" shield to protect her peace.The tone-of-voice trap: Why written communication makes it nearly impossible to detect tone and fuels RSD.Expectation Shields: Using a "Managing Your Expectations" document to define exactly how you want to be spoken to.The "Essay of Love": Why we expect poems of praise for our work and feel crushed by a simple "yes, all right".The 2% Rule: Why 96% of people aren't actually thinking about you at all, even when you want them to.Separating Art from Self: Learning to detach your personal identity from project results to avoid devastation.Voice Note Therapy: Using community and "Instagram buddies" to let off steam so you can carry on with your day.Role-modeling Rest: Why choosing to help family over chasing "multi-six-figure" burnouts is the ultimate power move.Interrogate the Sting: When a message hurts, call it out; Maddy asks, "that stung a bit actually. Is everything okay with you?" to clear the air.Contractual Kindness: Establish a separate document to your contract that lays out how you wish to be communicated with to ensure a friendly working environment.Community is a Coping Tool: Whether it’s hanging out at the pub or speaking to "Instagram buddies," community is a massive mechanism for navigating the low moments.Prioritize the "Mental Health Project": Realize that being your own boss is about the freedom to choose your time—like taking a day off to help family—rather than just chasing money.Being a creative entrepreneur is empowering because it suits our brains to be our own bosses. However, it also means our work is deeply personal and we often internalize harshness. If you've ever felt like you were being "told off by a parent" just for sending a client an invoice or a draft, this episode is your reminder to be kind to yourself and find people who back you up.Maddy's work focuses on uplifting women and non-binary entrepreneurs in three excellent ways so go check her out:Official Personal Website: maddyshine.co.uk — Focuses on visibility educationSassy and Soft (SEO Agency): sassyandsoft.co.uk — Her agency providing "done-for-you" SEO and website strategy services Pints and Purpose: pintsandpurpose.co.uk — Her South London-based pub networking group  Instagram: @maddy.shine — Be inspired by the colour and the visibility tipsDownload her free SEO Resource: Tell Google You Exist Guide — A free download to help business owners get started with search engine optimisation.Join the ADHD Creative Club: Join the ADHD Creative Club community at ⁠https://theadhdcreative.club⁠ for more tips, tricks, and real talk on thriving as a neurodivergent creative entrepreneur.

We’ve all been there: the "bull in a china shop" energy that feels like it’s either going to build a kingdom or burn the room down. In this episode, Dave sits down with filmmaker Ben Ogunbiyi, who went from "flushing" his potential through self-medication to directing socially vital films like Neon. Ben opens up about the raw shift from masking his neurodivergence to using it as a high-definition lens for storytelling.The 90-Day Reset: How a brutal running challenge rewired Ben’s brain for actual discipline (not just "hyperfocus" luck).The Masking Trap: Why self-medicating was a temporary fix for a permanent neurodivergent reality.Scripts & Spite: Using a photographic memory to memorize entire scripts—because "just your lines" wasn't enough.Reading the Room: The transition from being "too much" to becoming a mature, collaborative leader on set.14-Hour Magic: A wild, unpaid shoot in France that proved why ADHD passion is the ultimate fuel.Taboo as a Tool: Why Ben uses his ADHD "magnifying glass" to focus on the stories society is too scared to tell.Tick-Box Diversity: A candid look at navigating the film industry without becoming a neurodiversity statistic.Hard Time creates New Paths: High-intensity commitments (like a 90-day challenge) provide the external structure an ADHD brain craves to build internal discipline.Passion is an Amplifier: Your ADHD isn't a "broken" focus; it’s a volume knob. Learn to point that volume at the right projects, and you become unstoppable.The "Kindness" Butterfly Effect: In a high-stress creative industry, being the person people want to work with is more valuable than being the person who is "perfect."Invest in the Human, Not the Tool: When you prioritize your mental well-being and self-acceptance, your creative output naturally levels up.If you’ve ever felt like your brain is a Ferrari with bicycle brakes, this conversation is your roadmap. Ben’s journey from a diagnosis at age 11 to running a successful production company in his thirties proves that we don't need to "fix" our ADHD to be successful creatives. We just need to stop fighting the engine and start learning how to drive it.Instagram: @benhasgonebananasLigatura Films: @ligaturafilmsWatch: Neon, Meat Free, and upcoming projects Faults and his debut horror feature.Join the ADHD Creative Club community at ⁠https://theadhdcreative.club⁠ for more tips, tricks, and real talk on thriving as a neurodivergent creative entrepreneur.

Visit https://theadhdcreative.club/ for tips, resources, and to join the community.From Alien to Artist: how late ADHD diagnosis changed everything In this deeply moving episode of the ADHD Creative Club, Dave welcomes tattoo artist and fine artist Katriona Macintosh, who shares her extraordinary journey from being the "gifted child" who painted herself as an alien at age 9, to receiving her ADHD diagnosis at 55. In this episode, Katriona discusses:Painting herself as an alien at age 9: the first sign something was "different"Being labeled a "gifted child" and the isolation that followedMoving countries constantly while masking her way through schoolThe 10-year period where she stopped making art entirelyHow becoming a mother reignited her creative passionEntering the male-dominated tattoo industry as a late starterHer son approaching her during COVID: "Mom, I think I have ADHD"The moment she realised: "We all do the same sh*t, it's me, I'm the cause"Getting diagnosed at 55 and finally understanding a lifetime of feeling "alien"Raising three creatives (tattoo artist, interior architect, photographer) in an ADHD householdWhy reading before bed stops the rumination spiralLearning to communicate better as an ADHD familyKey Takeaways: Be unapologetically you, the right people will gravitate to you Reading/creative pursuits can stop anxiety spirals and rumination It's okay to explore multiple creative mediums (don't let anyone limit you)Work around your schedule as a creative parent, flexibility is key It's okay to walk away from people who don't serve you (even with RSD) Support your children for who they are, not who you want them to beLate diagnosis (even at 55!) can still be transformative Katriona's story is a testament to resilience, late-blooming creativity, and the power of finally understanding yourself after decades of feeling different. Her message about being "normal in a different way" will resonate deeply with anyone navigating a late ADHD diagnosis.Connect with Katriona:Instagram: @katrionatattooThreads: @katrionatattooJoin the ADHD Creative Club community at theadhdcreative.club for more tips, tricks, and real talk on thriving as a neurodivergent creative entrepreneur.

This week on the ADHD Creative Club, I sat down with Wesley Verhoeve: a photographer, director, and curator whose work you've probably seen in places like the New York Times, Airbnb, and Discovery Channel. Wesley just got diagnosed with ADHD later in life. He talks about that weird, emotional moment when he realised, "Oh... so this is what it's like to not feel anxious all the time."In this episode, Wesley talks about:His first week on ADHD meds and that lightbulb moment about anxietyWhy saying "creatives with ADHD" is kind of redundant (most of us are wired this way)His whole creative approach: do first, get inspired later, not the reverseWhy he was able to finally launch a newsletter when he found the simplicity of the Substack platformHow working alongside his partner (body doubling) helps him actually get boring stuff doneThe weirdly high number of ADHD folks in improv comedyUsing street photography as a form of meditationBuilding systems that don't feel like they're fighting your brainBeing kinder to yourself. Like, actually kind.Key Takeaways: Don't wait for inspiration. Just start moving and it'll show up.  Pick tools that look clean and simple, even if they do less  Body doubling isn't cheating, it's strategy Stack new habits onto existing ones so they actually stick  Put rest breaks in your calendar (seriously: 15 minutes, twice a day) Use both phone lists and paper lists. Different tools for different moods. Creative work can quiet your brain down when it's spinning Cut yourself some slack. You'd do it for someone else.Wesley's story hits different if you got diagnosed late or you're still figuring out how to run a creative business with an ADHD brain. He's not sugarcoating it. He's just being honest about medication, what systems actually help, and why being nice to yourself matters more than you think.Find Wesley here: Newsletter: readprocess.co Instagram: @wesley Website: wesley.coWant more real conversations like this? Join us at theadhdcreative.club, where we talk about what actually works (and what doesn't) for neurodivergent creatives trying to build something.

In this episode of the ADHD Creative Club, Dave sits down with sports presenter and award-winning podcaster Dom Newton, who received his ADHD diagnosis in November 2023. Dom shares his raw and honest journey from being a "working-class lad from Bradford" to building a successful career in sports broadcasting, all powered by what he calls the "ADHD superpower."In this episode, Dom discusses:The moment everything "flushed" from his brain before big interviews (and how he learned to manage it)Why ADHD people interrupt (and why it's not actually rude)How obsession with Blue Peter led to a career working with Alan Davies and the BBCThe brutal reality of rejection sensitivity and online commentsWhy bullet-point research saved his careerHis journey from creating a passion project podcast to award-winning broadcasterThe thing he's most excited (and nervous) about: trying ADHD medicationWhy he believes the creative industries are where ADHD brains truly thriveKey Takeaways: How to turn ADHD hyperfocus into career momentum Practical strategies for managing short-term memory issues Why finding "your thing" matters more than formal qualifications The importance of opening up about neurodiversity (especially for men)Whether you're a creative professional navigating ADHD, a business owner trying to understand your team better, or just curious about the neurodivergent experience, Dom's story will inspire you to lean into your obsessions and embrace your unique brain.Connect with Dom Newton:Podcast: Manhood (available at bantamsbanta.com)Social Media: @sportingdom (all platforms)Archive Podcast: Bantams Banter (www.bantamsbanter.com)Join the ADHD Creative Club community at theadhdcreative.club for more tips, tricks, and real talk on thriving as a neurodivergent creative entrepreneur.