Navigating Adult ADHD – Episode #145: ADHD Conference Take-aways (Experts You Need to Know About!)

Host: Xena Jones
Release Date: December 22, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Xena Jones recaps her experience as the emcee at the recent My Spirited Child ADHD Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand. She distills top lessons and practical takeaways from leading ADHD experts featured at the event, offering listeners science-backed, lived-experience wisdom on topics ranging from workplace disclosure to ADHD burnout, organization, advocacy, and the nuanced overlap between ADHD and trauma. Xena also highlights memorable moments, expert quotes, and actionable advice—serving as both a conference debrief and a guide to key thought leaders in the ADHD adult support space.

Conference Community & Highlights

• Welcoming Listeners & Community Feel (00:03–06:24)

  • Xena sets a friendly and inclusive tone, expressing gratitude for listeners and emphasizing the power of community in ADHD spaces.
  • Shares her experience connecting in person as an emcee and notes the profound sense of belonging when surrounded by "sparkly brain humans."
  • Recommends ADHD conferences as energizing and informative, shouting out support volunteers ("ninjas") who help make them accessible.

  “If you get the opportunity to attend an ADHD conference… it’s just such a great way to learn not only about your brain, but also to be amongst other people like you, who get it...”
  —Xena, 03:24

Key Expert Takeaways

1. Jamie Rose Peacock: ADHD in the Workplace

• Main Focus: Disclosure of diagnosis & workplace accommodations

• Key Points (07:40–15:55)

  • Disclosure is optional: You’re generally not required to disclose unless legally mandated (e.g., specific safety critical jobs).
  • Assess your relationship with your workplace: If it’s not positive, you can still ask for accommodations without disclosing.
  • Legal confidentiality: Employers must keep your health information private if you do disclose.
  • Potential benefits: Disclosure can sometimes lead to advocacy, understanding, and even workplace training on neurodiversity.

  “Telling your employer about your ADHD is entirely up to you, unless there’s a legal requirement for you to do so... you don’t have to tell your employer.” —Xena summarizing Jamie Rose Peacock, 10:33

  • Resource Rec: Jamie’s previous episode on ADHD in the workplace (#136).

2. ADHD Burnout Panel: Ashley Cairns, Jamie Rose Peacock, Kate (Counselor), Xena Jones

• Main Focus: ADHD Burnout—Why it happens and how to recover
• Key Points (16:00–27:45)

  • Burnout is common in ADHDers but not normal or healthy.

  • Prioritizing health is essential:

    “When you think that you do not have time for your mental, emotional, or physical health, sooner or later, you will have to find time for illness.”
    —Xena, 18:12

  • Dopamine balance matters:

    • Quick dopamine sources: scrolling, shopping, junk food, etc. → rapid high/crash cycles.
    • Slow dopamine sources: walks, nature, hobbies, friends → restorative, steadying effects.

    “Not all dopamine is created equal... increase the slow dopamine activities.” —Xena, 21:49

  • Power naps & self-compassion: Rest often, and treat yourself as kindly as you would a close friend.

    “Stop treating yourself like an asshole. Learn some self-compassion... it is one of the most life-changing skills for those of us with ADHD.”
    —Xena, 25:46

3. Carrie Lagostet: Organization for Neurodivergent Brains

• Main Focus: Home organization, out-of-sight/out-of-mind strategies
• Key Points (27:50–34:22)

  • Understand your organizational style: Some need to see things to remember them; others are visual minimalists who crave clear spaces.

  • Practical tips: Use trays to collect items (e.g., supplements on the kitchen bench) to maintain visual reminders without creating clutter.

    “If I don’t see the painting supplies, I forget that I have painting supplies, so I just don’t paint.”
    —Xena relaying Carrie Lagostet, 29:16

  • Implementing simple changes: Even $5 trays can reduce visual overwhelm and improve daily function.

4. Freddie Bennett: Advocacy & Motivation for ADHDers

• Main Focus: ADHD as difference, not deficit; inspirational ADHD living
• Key Points (34:30–41:14)
  • Personal story: Late diagnosis for himself and family, overcoming mental health challenges.
  • Record-breaking advocacy: Guinness World Record for running a marathon dressed as a fisherman.
  • Mission: Making NZ the most ADHD-friendly country for diagnosis and support.
  • Reframing effort:

    “Telling neurodivergent people to just try harder is like telling someone with type 1 diabetes to just make insulin.”
    —Freddie Bennett, as quoted by Xena, 40:59

5. Rebecca Chaloner: ADHD vs. Trauma

• Main Focus: Distinguishing ADHD from trauma responses
• Key Points (41:15–47:55)

  • People-pleasing as rejection sensitivity: Many ADHDers become chronic people-pleasers to avoid social rejection.

  • Nuanced understanding for teens: Girls may say yes under pressure for safety; boys may take risks (e.g., theft) for group acceptance.

  • Hyperactivity difference:

    • ADHD hyperactivity: Bursts, linked to interest; flip side is paralysis. Rooted in brain wiring.
    • Trauma hyperactivity: Constant, survival-driven, not interest-related. Rooted in fight/flight response.

    “ADHD hyperactivity shows up in bursts… trauma hyperactivity can be constant, consistently hyperactive on the go, go, go until you run out of steam… It comes from a fight or flight survival instinct.”
    —Rebecca Chaloner, via Xena, 45:26

  • Upcoming episode tease: Xena plans a deep-dive conversation with Rebecca on these distinctions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Conference Community:
  “To be amongst other people like you, who get it, who are meeting you where you’re at and who appreciate the differences that you have... I just love hanging out with our community.”
  (04:45)

• On Workplace Disclosure:
  “You don’t have to tell your employer [about your ADHD], but obviously you need to be mindful of the relationship you have with your employer...” (10:55)

• On Burnout & Self-Care:
  “When you think you don’t have time for your health, sooner or later, you’re gonna have to find time for illness.” (18:12)

• On Dopamine:
  “Not all dopamine is created equal.” (21:49)

• On Organization:
  “If I put my jewelry away, I swear to God, I forget I even have it.” (29:42)

• On Effort in ADHD:
  “Telling neurodivergent people to just try harder is like telling someone with type 1 diabetes to just make insulin. Boom. Mic drop.” (40:59)

• On ADHD vs. Trauma Hyperactivity:
  “ADHD hyperactivity is interest driven... trauma hyperactivity can be constant, from a survival instinct.” (45:26)

Important Timestamps

• 00:03 — Welcome, community building, importance of ADHD conferences
• 07:40 — Jamie Rose Peacock: Disclosure & workplace rights
• 16:00 — ADHD Burnout Panel: Shared experiences, slow vs fast dopamine, self-compassion
• 27:50 — Carrie Lagostet: Organization and “out-of-sight out-of-mind” strategies
• 34:30 — Freddie Bennett: Advocacy, personal story, mic drop analogy
• 41:15 — Rebecca Chaloner: ADHD vs trauma, people-pleasing, hyperactivity distinctions

Closing

Xena wraps up by encouraging listeners to check out each speaker’s resources (links in show notes), and teases future podcast episodes for deeper dives with these experts. She signs off wishing everyone a joyful and restorative holiday season, and reminds listeners to visit the website for more ADHD support.

For more resources and coaching tools, visit: navigatingadultadhd.com