Podcast Summary: Women & ADHD with Katy Weber

Episode 191 - Christal Wang: Affordable, Culturally Competent ADHD Coaching

Release Date: October 7, 2024
Guest: Christal (“Chris”) Wang, Co-founder & CEO of Shimmer

Episode Overview

In this episode, host Katy Weber interviews Christal Wang, CEO and co-founder of Shimmer—a pioneering behavioral tech platform focused on delivering affordable and culturally competent ADHD coaching for adults. Chris discusses her personal journey to a late ADHD diagnosis, the hurdles presented by her Asian and queer identity, and how those experiences led her to start Shimmer. The conversation delves into the accessibility gap in coaching, cultural stigma, the unique strengths of ADHD entrepreneurs, and the nuts and bolts of the Shimmer platform.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christal’s ADHD Diagnosis & Journey

• Diagnosis Timeline:
  • Chris was diagnosed with ADHD in 2022 while she was in grad school, after struggling with online learning during the pandemic.
  • She describes a “marinating phase” where TikTok content alerted her to ADHD symptoms before she sought a formal diagnosis.
  • The absence of structure and the resulting chaos for herself and her growing team was the final push to seek help.
  • Quote:
    • “I had the marination of… maybe like a year or so in my head already. And that was when I started seeking the diagnosis, when all of the structure was gone, added onto that. Everything was online.” (07:57)
• Personal and Cultural Barriers:
  • Chris attributes her delayed diagnosis more to growing up in an Asian family with cultural stigma and expectations than to gendered stereotypes.
  • Quote:
    • “I chalk my not being diagnosed up to being Asian more so than being a woman.” (09:51)
  • Family reaction was ultimately curious rather than negative, with her mother diagnosing other relatives rather than focusing on Chris herself. (10:34)

2. The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Impact

• Both Chris and Katy discuss how the pandemic spurred a surge in late diagnoses, especially among women, as routines vanished and self-management challenges became unavoidable. (08:14)

3. Differentiating ADHD from Typical Human Experience

• Chris emphasizes that the differentiator is often the “level of everything”—when symptoms impair functioning across multiple life domains and become part of one’s identity. (12:05)

4. Genesis & Philosophy of Shimmer

• Origins:
  • After diagnosis, Chris realized there was no behavioral (non-med medication) solution that felt accessible, affordable, and culturally competent.
  • Chris personally interviewed 12+ coaches, found the process overwhelming, and decided to build a smoother, more affordable experience.
  • Quote:
    • “I wanted someone to just ask me some questions and then match me with the right coach. …The biggest thing was the affordability—that was, like, the number one thing that I was just, like, priced out of most of them.” (16:20)
• Name Meaning:
  • “Everyone shimmers differently. It’s about figuring out what is the unabashed, unapologetic, sparkling version of yourself.” (14:25)
• Immediate Actions Post-Diagnosis:
  • Chris started Shimmer almost immediately after being diagnosed, another example of ADHD entrepreneurial drive. (04:29)

5. Cultural & Neurodivergent Competency in Coaching

• Product/Service:
  • Shimmer’s matching process caters to users’ preferences for coach identity and style, including lived experience (e.g., matching an Asian American or queer coach for clients who prefer it).
  • Internal coach training covers intersectional, culturally competent topics (BIPOC, LGBTQ+) to ensure coaches can meet diverse client needs.
    • “The user experience is …neurodivergent competency. …If this works for people with ADHD, it’ll work for everyone.” (21:54)
    • “With Shimmer, we train our coaches on… queer LGBTQ competence, and we do BIPOC competence.” (21:54)
• Chris critiques the advice from therapists lacking cultural context: “No, I can’t. That’s not how being Asian works.” (25:02)
• Framing coaching in positive, goal-oriented terms rather than “treatment” is important for lowering stigma and encouraging participation, especially in Asian and immigrant communities. (26:19)

6. Distinction Between Coaching and Therapy

• Chris and Katy discuss the boundaries and overlap between the two, echoing the idea that both are valuable, especially when practitioners are cross-trained.
• Both note that coaching strategies targeting executive function benefit anyone, not just those with a formal diagnosis. (13:31)
• Quote:
  • “Coaching is so different and has a completely different set of outcomes and purpose as to why it exists.” (27:10)

7. ADHD Entrepreneur Strengths & Identity Reframing

• ADHD as a “core ingredient” in entrepreneurship—manifesting as drive, resistance to the status quo, and an ability to solve problems quickly.
• Katy and Chris both reflect on the tendency of ADHDers to “drop everything and create structure” when lacking external systems.
• Quote:
  • “People with ADHD… have one of the most important ingredients to be an entrepreneur: that drive, and… not being okay with the status quo, because the status quo has not served them.” (33:02)
• Reframing a patchwork career/resume from “a mess” to “a patchwork quilt” that leads to one’s unique position in life. (20:57)

8. Shimmer Platform Details (How It Works)

• Onboarding: Short quiz, matching with 2-3 coaches suited to user preferences. Users pick, pay, and then enter the app—which supports both web and mobile. (38:29)
• Features:
  • Weekly video coaching sessions through the app
  • Onboarding assessments, guided journaling, and introductory videos
  • Shared to-do lists: coach gets notified when tasks are checked off, providing real human accountability
  • Daily body doubling sessions (virtual coworking)
  • Learning modules on ADHD-specific challenges (e.g., procrastination, RSD)
  • Clients can easily switch coaches as needed
• Coaching Affordability Innovation:
  • Shimmer reduces cost by removing the admin/marketing burden from coaches, letting them focus purely on coaching—automation handles scheduling, reminders, cancellations.
    • “We can continue… every week we’re looking at more things from the coach that we can help automate or make it easier for them.” (43:12)
• Chris is skeptical of replacing real human interaction with AI-only solutions for ADHD, believing “accountability from a person is the strongest motivator.” (44:57)

9. Community Features & Anonymity

• Main community aspect is the daily body doubling (video co-working), with low-pressure participation (camera optional).
• Shimmer also hosts public events and a newsletter/podcast (“Brain Waves”) open to all; users can choose their level of visibility and engagement. (47:23)

10. ADHD Naming—A Philosophical Rabbit Hole

• Chris suggests “wavy” as a potential new term for ADHD, inspired by the diversity and resilience implied by a wavy line vs. a strict, straight line.
• Quote:
  • “I would like to go out and just be like, ‘Yeah, I’m neurodivergent, and specifically, I’m wavy.’” (49:42)
• Both discuss the importance of a term that is neither overtly clinical nor stigmatizing and reflects the variability within neurodivergence.
• Fun fact: earthquake-proof (resilient) buildings are wavy, not rigid. (52:00)

11. Shimmer’s Vision & What’s Next

• Shimmer is focused on augmenting coaching with more features to support users between sessions, always iterating based on feedback.
• Shimmer now offers “AuDHD” (autism & ADHD) coaching as well.
• Most exciting new feature: expansion and celebration of daily body doubling.

12. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On ADHD impulsivity:
  • “Oops, I accidentally started a new business overnight. Whoops.” (48:45)
• On lived experience and compassion:
  • “Loving yourself means loving both sides of the hand—the positive and the negative traits that come together.” (36:44)

Memorable Quotes with Timestamps

• “People always think I’m exaggerating, but I’m not. After my diagnosis, I was given 10 milligrams of Adderall and told to come back when I needed more or less.” — Christal Wang (15:37)
• “There’s always going to be a front and the back of the hand. …A lifelong journey for ourselves is loving every single negative aspect that is attached to our positive traits.” — Christal Wang (36:44)
• “Everyone deserves to shimmer.” — Christal Wang (14:25)
• “It’s like there’s this invisible string that’s almost pulling you, and you’re just following the string, but like, nobody else can see it, but you’re having a great time following it.” — Christal Wang (20:15)
• “It’s the essential core ingredient. And now I just need to…solve for all these other things. But that’s a way better situation than having all the other things and not having the core essential ingredient.” — Christal Wang (33:02)
• “I like how ‘wavy’ is—there’s so many different…you can have infinite types of wavy lines. And that shows…I think, the diversity within ADHD.” — Christal Wang (51:11)
• “If you love someone else, you have to love both sides of the hand.” — Christal Wang (36:44)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Diagnosis Story & Marinating Phase: 05:57-08:11
• Cultural Barriers & Family Conversations: 09:09-11:45
• Coaching vs. Therapy Boundary: 27:10-29:24
• Reframing ADHD Entrepreneurial Drive: 31:26-35:11
• Shimmer Platform Walkthrough: 38:29-41:58
• How Shimmer Makes Coaching Affordable: 43:12-44:57
• Philosophical ADHD Naming Discussion: 49:42-55:15
• Upcoming for Shimmer: 56:53-58:45

Tone & Language

The conversation is warm, candid, reflective, and often playful, with moments of laughter at ADHD foibles and solidarity over shared struggles. Chris’s passion for inclusion and accessible mental health shines through, as does Katy’s curiosity and empathy as a coach and interviewer.

Further Information

• Find Shimmer: shimmer.care
• Instagram: @shimmercare
• Podcast/Newsletter: Brain Waves
• Use code WomenADHD for 30% off the first month

This episode offers a nuanced, intersectional look at late-diagnosed ADHD and entrepreneurial innovation, providing both practical insights into accessible coaching and a broader philosophical conversation about neurodivergent identity.