Podcast Summary – ADHD reWired, Episode 561

Title: Doing It the Way Your Brain Actually Works
Host: Eric Tivers, LCSW, ADHD-CCSP
Guest: Katherine Muti Driscoll, PhD
Date: February 5, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into how adults with ADHD (and frequently, autism) can approach projects—like writing a book—in ways that align with how their brains naturally work. Eric Tivers interviews Dr. Katherine Muti Driscoll about her journey writing "The ADHD Workbook for Teen Girls," her dual diagnosis (ADHD + autism), and practical, creative strategies for working with (rather than against) neurodivergent traits. The conversation covers everything from imposter syndrome and rejection sensitive dysphoria to embracing your "quirks" and finding meaningful ways to put your ideas into the world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Katherine’s Neurodivergent Journey

• Diagnosis Story:
  • ADHD at 37 after her son’s diagnosis prompted self-reflection (04:12)
  • "I was like, well, this couldn't be me...The more I read [the ADHD checklist], I was like, oh no, this is it." - Katherine (04:30)
  • Autism diagnosis at 41, rooted in executive function challenges and specific social preferences (one-on-one, structured roles) (06:56-07:16)
• Misconceptions:
  • Both she and many women miss ADHD/autism diagnoses due to "male stereotypes" or social "presentation"
  • "You can be social in a very particular way and still meet the criteria." - Katherine (07:18)

2. Writing a Book with an ADHD/Autistic Brain

• Structure Is Essential
  • Success came with external structure: clear templates, deadlines, feedback from her publisher (09:33)
  • "There's no way I could have done it...without some form of support, structure, deadlines.” - Katherine (12:11)
  • A contract and external expectations were crucial: "It really made a difference that somebody wanted me to write it." (12:52)
• Intrinsic Motivation vs. External Accountability
  • Katherine reflects honestly—she didn't write for "helping" alone; it was about connecting with ideas, being part of the bookstore/information world (10:21)
  • She notes that many with ADHD have the idea of "a book in them," but need specific tools and processes to get it out (12:02)

3. Securing a Publisher (with a Little Serendipity)

• The opportunity with New Harbinger arose from book group involvement and serendipitous publisher outreach (14:13)
• Authenticity matters: "Be yourself and just put it out there...she saw that and she said, hey, we need someone to write a book about ADHD teen girls." (14:22)
• Book title: "The ADHD Workbook for Teen Girls" (14:31)

4. Navigating the Real Process: The Good & The Bad

• Imposter Syndrome: Hard to shake, especially with negative reviews (28:11)
  • "Now I have gone through getting my one star review and I survived it." (28:11)
• Promotion & Payment:
  • Promotion fatigue is real; focus on what works for you (28:58)
  • Writing is a “labor of love,” not a get-rich-or-famous-quick path (29:05)
  • "I still haven't gotten paid for the first one. It's hilarious, right?...So it's, it's a labor of love, I guess." (29:08)

5. Working With Your Brain—Not Against It

• Structure is Magic: School, outlines, publisher frameworks—these keep her on track (24:58)
• Time Management is Variable:
  • "I'd love to say that I've mapped it out...but I don't." It often comes down to late, deadline-driven bursts and focused writing retreats (26:01-26:43)
• External Deadlines/Community: If you don't have a contract, seek classes, coaches, or accountability partners (27:04); co-working sessions like "Write with Me" help enforce self-imposed structure
• Owning Your "Weird": Katherine openly rejects societal pressure to hide her romance novel fandom or structured nerdiness: "Embrace your weird." (35:01)

6. Katherine’s Current Writing: Tackling RSD (Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria)

• The second book is on RSD—a topic with limited research, so she blends theory (especially Internal Family Systems/"parts work") and community feedback (19:25, 20:35, 22:09)
• Research Approach: Balancing structure (proposals/outlines) and seeking community voices, despite the tight schedule (20:19; 22:09)
• Internal Family Systems (IFS): Helpful for understanding emotional triggers and internal voices (23:25-24:54)

7. Practical Strategies for Getting Unstuck

• Dictation: Walking and dictating ideas into an app to bypass writer’s block (37:49)
• Editing Tactics: Printouts for tactile editing; listening to drafts; having a familiar show in the background while doing rote tasks (38:30)
• General ADHD Strategies: Change your environment, body double, background stimulation, always (good!) coffee (39:25)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Realizing You’re Neurodivergent:

  "You can be social in a very particular way and still meet the criteria." - Katherine (07:18)

• On the Role of Structure:

  "It's like magic. And that's why I just keep going back to school — I can do almost anything when it's mapped out." - Katherine (24:58)

• Why Write?

  "I just love books... Bookstores are always kind of a refuge." - Katherine (10:21)

• On Promotion & Reviews:

  "Now I have gone through getting my one star review and I survived it." - Katherine (28:11) "It's a labor of love... Dr. Hallowell... said I wasn't gonna make any money on this book." (29:05)

• Imposter Syndrome & Passion:

  "You do come into contact with a lot of those parts of you that doubt your abilities and think you're full of crap." - Katherine (29:05)

• Final Message:

  "You don't have to do creativity, quote unquote, the normal way to count as a real creator... Build a weird little system that works for your weird little nervous system. There's room for all of us." - Eric (41:23)

Key Timestamps

• Diagnosis & Backstory: 04:12 – 09:31
• Writing With Structure: 09:33 – 12:52
• Getting the Publishing Deal: 13:10 – 14:31
• Promotion, Payment, and Passion: 28:11 – 29:05
• New Book on RSD; Research & Process: 19:23 – 24:15
• Practical Writing Tips for ADHD: 37:49 – 39:25
• Embracing Your Authentic Self: 35:01 – 37:33; 41:23 (final message)

Additional Resources & Where to Find Katherine

• Katherine’s website: katherinemutidriscoll.com (spelling in show notes) (40:47)
• Her book: The ADHD Workbook for Teen Girls

Takeaway Messages

• Structure, accountability, and knowing what works for YOUR brain are essential to success for neurodivergent creators.
• Own your quirks and passions—don’t mask them for others.
• Writing is rarely glamorous, often hard, and needs to matter to you first.
• Find your format—whether it’s books, podcasts, or YouTube—and build your systems accordingly.
• You’re not alone; community, support, and external deadlines can turn intentions into finished projects.
• It's OK for your creative process to be unconventional; if it works for you, it works.

For more, visit ADHDreWired.com and check episode show notes for resources and links.