The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast
Episode: 1KHO 680: ADHD Hope | Mike McLeod, The Executive Function Playbook in Action
Host: Ginny Yurich
Guest: Mike McLeod
Release Date: January 15, 2026

Overview

This episode is a beacon of hope and actionable advice for families navigating ADHD and executive function struggles. Host Ginny Yurich welcomes Mike McLeod—author, ADHD expert, and coach—to explore his newly released books: The Executive Function Playbook and The Executive Function Playbook in Action. The conversation moves beyond theory into empowering, evidence-based exercises for parents and kids, namely: how to move from burnout and chaos toward structure, independence, and authentic relationship-building.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Mission: Hope and Empowerment for ADHD Families

• The Need for Real Tools:
  Mike underscores that today’s parents are burnt out and drowning in conflicting advice. He wrote these books to offer hands-on, evidence-based resources grounded in research and years of parent coaching.
  • “Parents today are so drained, so burnt out, so exhausted. I really kept that mission in mind.” — Mike (03:02)

2. Understanding Executive Function and ADHD

• Beyond Time Management:
  ADHD isn’t an information deficit, but rather a disconnect in self-regulation, motivation, and self-awareness—critical skills often underdeveloped in kids with ADHD.
  • “ADHD…is not information deficit disorder. It’s not that they don’t know what to do … Their brains are hardwired for instant gratification.” — Mike (09:41)
• Why Lecturing Fails:
  Traditional parenting approaches—lecturing, using more words—don’t work, especially for ADHD. These kids are wired to react, not reflect, and lectures only fuel power struggles.
  • “Language makes dysregulation worse… when a kid is dysregulated, they cannot process words, logic or problem solving.” — Ginny (22:28)

3. The Playbook in Action: Skills & Activities

• Framework of Four Executive Skills:
  1. Self-Regulation
     • Activity: “Ready/Not Ready” Chart—helps distinguish and accept dysregulated moments, focus on returning to baseline, and builds parent-child understanding.
       • “We’re not gonna vilify not ready Mike. That’s okay. Adults sometimes are not ready.” — Mike (15:04)
     • Visual prompts (gestures, not words) are far more helpful when a child is dysregulated.
  2. Self-Motivation
     • Activity: Positive Emotional Forecasting—helps children imagine their future selves and connect their choices to future feelings, a major challenge for those with ADHD.
       • “There is no motivation unless you have the ability to see yourself in the future…” — Mike (24:10)
     • Building boredom tolerance is essential, treating it like a muscle that must be strengthened.
  3. Self-Evaluation
     • Activity: Self-Monitoring Video Journals—kids set personal goals on video, then evaluate themselves at week’s end, nurturing independence and metacognition.
       • “This is the child looking themselves in the eyes … talking about, ‘who do I want to be?’” — Mike (30:22)
     • Self-evaluation is vital; without learning from mistakes, growth stalls.
       • “Without self evaluation, there can be no real growth. Mistakes are repeated.” — Ginny (36:59)
  4. Self-Awareness
     • Activity: “What Stimulates My Brain” Worksheet—helps kids recognize what gives them positive dopamine, steering them toward healthy self-understanding and away from harmful attention-seeking or screen dependence.
       • “Left to its own devices, the ADHD brain is going to seek dopamine through screens and conflict.” — Mike (39:58)

4. Strategies for Parents: Structure Over Chaos

• Structure is Kindness, Consistency is Care:
  The books advocate firm, loving structure and boundaries—not permissiveness or constant negotiation.
  • “Consistency is kindness. Boundaries protect your energy, they reduce conflict, they help your child grow.” — Ginny (44:14)
• Use Less Language:
  Fewer words reduce triggers for conflict; simple statements and visual cues replace lectures.
  • Example: Instead of “How many times do I have to tell you…?” say, “Dish time now.”
  • Use gestures (e.g., palms up = “Pause”) as a signal to take space.
  • “The number one rule of ADHD parent coaching is to use less language.” — Mike (52:16)

5. Building Family Connection and Resilience

• Shared Experiences and Family Grit:
  Engaging in new activities together—each family member picks a challenge—normalizes struggle and models perseverance.
  • “All of us together as a family are going to try new things… I am now getting dopamine, I’m now feeling good about myself because I have an identity outside of my comfort zone.” — Mike (49:22)

6. Addressing Social Skills & Digital Realities

• Real vs. Virtual Friendships:
  Video games and online interactions don’t build real social skills; in-person shared experience is essential for genuine relationship growth.
  • “Just because I play Minecraft … with someone … that’s not a real social experience. … It’s pure entertainment unless you are in the same room as that person.” — Mike (54:42)

7. Looking Forward: Building Independence

• The ultimate goal is equipping kids for life after home—college, work, friendships—by ensuring they have self-awareness, resilience, and the executive skills to adapt.
  • “These 18 years to follow this playbook … is what prepares us for the things that life throws at us.” — Mike (57:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Parental Burnout & Structure:
  “Parents are being told every day they’re failing…When in reality, we have all the data to show parents are doing more work than ever before…” — Mike (44:14)
• On Hope & Empowerment:
  “This book is about giving parents hope and giving them their identity back.” — Mike (35:24)
• On Motivation and Future Self:
  “Every action you take is a vote for the kind of person and the kind of emotions you want to feel in the future.” — Ginny (24:10)
• On Lectures vs. Action:
  “Memory is not just a record, it’s a resource.” — Mike (34:11)
• On Technology:
  “If you are going to give [kids tech], let’s at least use it for good. … Coaching them to be their own coach.” — Mike (29:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:02 — Mike on book inspiration and parent burnout
• 05:33 — Importance of empowering parents with practical skills
• 09:41 — Misconceptions about ADHD, why it’s not just about info or time
• 12:41 — Why “less language” is key; lecturing fails
• 14:36 — “Ready/Not Ready” activity for self-regulation
• 24:10 — Positive emotional forecasting & motivational skills
• 29:08 — Self-monitoring video journals explained
• 39:58 — Dopamine and the “what stimulates my brain” activity
• 44:14 — Structure and boundaries: you are not being mean
• 47:13 — The “Family Grit Challenge”—building resilience together
• 54:41 — Why in-person friendships > online gaming
• 62:11 — Mike describes EF Camp: real-world skill-building summer camps

Additional Highlights

• Visual/Practical Tools:
  Activity sheets are designed to be printed, laminated, and used daily—“the papers do the talking for you” so parents aren’t trapped in constant negotiation or exhaustion (24:10).
• Bidirectional Healing:
  These exercises can help parents recover from their own burnout and build healthy family culture (51:04–51:52).
• Relevance for All:
  Many of these executive function activities are valuable for all kids (and adults), not just those with ADHD.

Resources Mentioned

• The Executive Function Playbook
• The Executive Function Playbook in Action
• Grow Now Program and Mike’s summer EF Camps
• Grit by Angela Duckworth
• Dr. Russell Barkley’s research on ADHD

Closing Tone

Filled with optimism and practical steps, the episode emphasizes that change comes with the right tools, hope, and structure. Ginny’s admiration for Mike’s work is clear (“robust,” “enticing,” “hope-filled”), making these books must-haves for families facing the ADHD journey.

For more:

• Visit 1000 Hours Outside for tracker sheets, community, and encouragement.
• Find Mike’s new playbooks wherever books are sold.

If you know a parent struggling with ADHD, this is truly the supportive reset and toolkit they need.