The War on Attention: Recent Episodes
Joseph Pack
We're living through the war on attention. We’re sinking deeper into a technologically dominated world. With social media, gaming and endless video calls dictating our lives. This podcast aims to remedy that. Teaching listeners - ADHD or not - how to boost focus via natural techniques -- without medication.
In this episode, I interview Carly Brinkman.
Carly is my client. But our coaching relationship isn't all one way. Carly is an extremely open soul, who has opened my mind up to
In this episode we discuss:
- How to build a sustainable business (with ADHD)
- How to decide what is enough
- How to remain independent
- Not identifying as ADHD
- How to be controversial (with a clear conscience)
- We even talk about choosing an alternative vaccine schedule for your kid (very controversial, but it shouldn't be)
And much more.
Carly has just launched an email newsletter. You'll 100% learn something new and beautiful if you sign up. Go here to sign up now.
An interview with Kerry Munro, an Occupational Therapist and outdoor enthusiast who runs the Instagram account @minds.first
In this episode we discuss:
- The corruption of Big Pharma
- The downsides of psychiatry
- The benefits of clinical psychology
- Wild swimming
- And the benefits of living near nature
Enjoy!
There's a common fallacy in ADHD circles that we can't meditate. It's not true. We can, we've just been taught wrong. Meditation is simple. It's the repetitive process of focusing on an object of attention (a mantra).
In this episode I explain the meditation technique I teach to all Drug Free ADHD clients. It's specifically designed for ADHD brains.
Have a listen and have a go for yourself.
If you want to go deeper, join me on 27th June at 18:30 UK for the ADHD-friendly meditation workshop. Buy tickets here: https://lu.ma/tvkewd9c
This is a unique episode for the Drug Free ADHD podcast.
I interview Carly Watson, a coaching client who, after perfectly executing the Drug Free ADHD toolkit, managed to kick the meds for good (in just 3 months).
We talk about:
- Brutal ADHD meds side effects
- Using ice baths to boost dopamine
- How meditation settles the mind
- Breathwork to calm the mind and boost energy
- How ADHD meds feel like Class A party drugs
- And Carly's life transformation to managing ADHD with skills (not pills)
Carly has also decided to take everything she learned from Drug Free ADHD to become an ADHD coach in her own right.
To book a free consultation with her, click here.
Procrastination.
That word leaves me in a cold sweat.
Endless hours staring at a blank piece of paper. Full workdays lost to YouTube. Anything at all to avoid doing the one thing I should do.
I used to fear it.
But I don't any longer.
This week's podcast - a solo episode from me - explains my entire process for dealing with weapons grade procrastination.
I go into detail on:
- The 3 categories of procrastination
- What to do about FOMO
- How to plan chaos into your day
- And how the Hunters vs Farmers theory helps me avoid procrastination
My interview with Thom Hartmann, author of Hunter in a Farmers World.
What an honour.
Hunters in a Farmers World is my favourite book on ADHD. The only book on ADHD I’ve read multiple times. This book completely changed my perspective on ADHD. From that of a disorder, an illness, a problem. Into a benefit.
It’s hard to put into words how much Thom’s view of ADHD has influenced how I do business, how I live my life, and how I help people manage ADHD with skills (not pills).
In the interview we talk about:
- How Thom developed the idea of Hunters in a Farmers world
- Experimental school (where kids go at their own pace) and how the traditional schooling system is built for farmers not hunters.
- How he was attacked by Russell Barkley for trying to make people with ADHD feel good
- How to avoid becoming a victim of the ADHD industry
- Why ADHD meds are wildly over-prescribed
- And much much more
Meditation is THE most effective (drug free) tool for managing ADHD.
As Amy Polly rightly says it's not that you can't meditate. It's that you can't meditate, yet.
But with the advice in this podcast you will.
Meditation is much easier than you think. If you're struggling it's likely the teacher. Headspace and Calm weren't made for you. But Amy's teachings are.
So, if you have ADHD and want to manage drug free, this episode will teach you one of the three fundamentals tools for doing so.
This is the first in a series of solo educational episodes.
But before we get into the details, I wanted to explain how I came to create the Drug Free ADHD method.
In this short episode I talk about why breathwork, meditation, and cold exposure are essential to managing ADHD without meds.
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In this short (8 minute) episode I talk about:
- Getting diagnosed 8 years ago
- Avoiding meds
- Going vegan
- Going back to meat
- Self-experimenting to discover the Drug Free ADHD method
This week’s episode is with Nat Pearce. Co-founder of The Future Kind. A culture consultancy creating better employee experiences.
Nat also has ADHD. Making her the perfect person to design ADHD-friendly workplaces.
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In this episode, Nat and I discuss:
- Being a quick start founder
- Having a co-founder
- Going solo
- Building wonderful working culture
- Transcendental meditation
- Idea generation
- Productivity techniques for ADHD
- And even a little bit about Lord of the Rings
This episode was a lot of fun to record.
I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.
This week’s episode is with Meg Holloway, AKA The Joy Project Coach.
Meg coaches badass millenials to get out of their own way and unlock the next level of life. Change mindset. Find joy.
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In this episode, Meg and I discuss:
- Avoiding the smarties (ADHD drugs)
- Surrender
- Finding joy in daily life
- Ancient wisdom over modern science
- The happiness baseline
- Working with your ADHD, not against it
- The removal of preferences
- Being happier with less money (and less status)
- On the simple life
This was my favourite episode to record. Meg is a lot of fun.
You’ll learn how to find joy in the simplest aspects of your life. Newsflash, that means NOT chasing wealth, status and enormous goals.
Look around you. Are the people chasing those things happy? Are they fuck!
Meg knows this.
And you will too after listening to this episode.
Craig Watkins is CEO of Verian UK.
He has over thirty years’ experience of working for, and with the public sector, giving him a deep understanding of public policy and the challenges facing the sector in the UK.
He also has ADHD. And manages it with skills (not pills).
We discuss:
- How Craig manages his ADHD drug free
- How people reacted to his diagnosis
- Why it’s important to remain optimistic
- That ADHD is a part of him, but not all of him
- Doing work that suits your unique traits
Have a listen and let me know in the comments what you think.
In this episode I speak with Samantha Hiew PhD, an Award-Winning Intersectionality & Neurodiversity Speaker, Scientist, Social Entrepreneur.
We discuss:
- The problem with the term “neurotypical”
- Meditation for dealing with the voice in our head
- Risk taking vs security
This episode was recorded back in 2022.
In typical ADHD fashion it’s been sitting on my hard drive for way too long. There is so much gold in this episode.
This was the first time Sam and I met. Since then we’ve become close friends. So I hope we’ll record and release a follow-up episode very soon.
In this episode I speak with 3x best selling author and ADHD Coach, Leanne Maskell.
We discuss:
- How to deal with rejection
- Not taking thoughts seriously
- Why feeling matters more than thinking
Leanne shares her unique lived experience of ADHD. And insights from coaching dozens of clients.
In this power-packed episode, I host Tim Perreira, a coach from San Diego. Get ready to unlock your potential as we dive into:
- Drug-free approaches to ADHD: Rethinking conventional treatments
- Workaholism: Why the grind might be grinding you down
- Natural Health 101: Your ultimate guide to holistic well-being
Tim shares his unique strategies to help you get unstuck, annihilate burnout, and reclaim your confidence. Don't miss this chance to revolutionise your life. Tune in now!
Justin Breen partners with the 0.1 percent because they create the technologies, companies and systems that benefit the other 99.9 percent.
I met Justin at Climb23. He immediately worked out my Kolbe score, accurately.
In this episode we discuss:
- Kolbe Index A
- ADHD & trauma
- ADHD in entrepreneurship
- Gratitude for loved ones
Aaron Hayle is a productivity coach to driven entrepreneurs.
But his approach is great for people with ADHD (particularly founders).
There's a massive crossover between ADHD and founders. Although Aaron doesn't work specifically with ADHDers, his advice is super relevant to us.
In this episode, we discuss productivity. But we also go way deeper, exploring meaning, purpose and education. Aaron is an intelligent and well-read guy. I think you'll get a lot from him. So tune in.
Highlights from episode #7:
- Productivity for ADHD (why and how it's different)
- Why self-employment is great for people with ADHD
- Yoga and meditation for ADHD
- Making education better for people with ADHD
- Alternative education for ADHD
If you want to manage your ADHD drug-free, consider signing up for my free weekly newsletter: https://drugfreeadhd.org/
Carol May is an ADHD Health Coach.
She helps people with scattered minds eat better, giving them a greater chance at managing their condition without drugs.
On episode #6 we discuss:
- What is intuitive eating?
- How do we actually do it?
- What eating well does for the ADHD brain
- If you do take meds, when to eat and what to eat
Mark White was named by Red Bull as one of the top social entrepreneurs in the world.
And he deserves that title.
Since 2012, Mark has been using the power of running to bring community back to UK towns. He's also injected gratitude into running and movement through the global movement of Run Grateful. Today, he's building MEUS, a company that is encouraging men to connect more deeply with themselves through the power of movement and self-reflection.
Highlights from episode #5:
- Where it all started for Mark (Your Town)
- Recovering from addiction
- How his recovery impacts his ability as an entrepreneur
- What could happen if men become more self-aware
- Surrendering the path of least resistance
If you want to manage your ADHD drug-free, consider signing up for my free weekly newsletter: https://drugfreeadhd.org/
Helen Pengelly is a meditation with ADHD who has created a tailored approach to teaching meditation to adults with ADHD. She's also developed a "Holistic ADHD Roadmap" that includes sea swimming, healthy eating, coaching and meditation.
Highlights from episode #4:
- Dr. Gabor Maté on ADHD and trauma
- Techniques for learning how to meditate with ADHD
- How meditation helps to release the trauma that triggers ADHD
- Later in life ADHD diagnosis
If you're interested in exploring a drug-free approach to ADHD, consider signing up for my weekly email newsletter and join hundreds of ADHDers learning how to manage their ADHD without medication: https://drugfreeadhd.org/
Angela Bentley is a Wim Hof Method instructor and transformation coach who is helping people release their inner warrior. She's also helping people with ADHD manage their symptoms through cold exposure, breathwork and mindset coaching.
In this episode we discuss what the Wim Hof Method is, how you can learn it, all of it's science-backed benefits and the astounding fact that just a few minutes in 14 degree celsius water can boost dopamine by 250%.
Highlights from episode #3:
- How cold exposure benefits ADHDers
- How breathing techniques benefit ADHDers
- How you can learn the Wim Hof Method
- What my experience has been using the Wim Hof Method for several years
If you're interested in exploring a drug-free approach to ADHD, consider signing up for my weekly email newsletter and join hundreds of ADHDers learning how they can manage their ADHD without medication: https://drugfreeadhd.org/
Dr. Ed Rainbow is a GP (family doctor), men's mental health expert and lifestyle medicine practitioner who has helped 1000s of people with severe mental health problems.
In this episode, we discuss the truth about the efficacy of medication, why it doesn't work long-term and what to do instead.
Highlights from episode #2:
- Why it's essential to ask ADHD patients about their life
- The role of stress, lack of sleep and poor diet in severe cases of ADHD
- The importance of forming super simple habits
- Why men need to take better care of themselves (and how they can actually do it)
If you're interested in exploring a drug-free approach to ADHD, consider signing up for my weekly email newsletter and join hundreds of ADHDers learning how they can manage their ADHD without medication: https://drugfreeadhd.org/
Kate Moryoussef is an ADHD coach, EFT tapping therapist and host of the ADHD women's wellbeing podcast.
This is episode number one of The War on Attention, where we try to answer the question: can you manage ADHD with natural techniques alone?
Highlights from episode #1:
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An ADHD diagnosis story
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The difficulty in getting diagnosed today
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Why women and girls find ADHD so difficult
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Why and how spirituality plays a large part in drug-free ADHD
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An introduction to tapping and why it's so important for managing ADHD
You can find Kate Moryoussef via her podcast, Instagram and LinkedIn.
If you're interested in exploring a drug-free approach to ADHD, consider signing up for my weekly email newsletter and join hundreds of ADHDers learning how they can manage their ADHD without medication: https://drugfreeadhd.org/