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The ADHD Social Playbook

Caroline Maguire, M.Ed

Hosted by author, coach, and social skills expert Caroline Maguire, M.Ed, The ADHD Social Playbook is a heartfelt and practical podcast for neurodivergent adults who want real connection but often feel stuck, misunderstood, or overwhelmed.

This show is for adults with ADHD and anxiety who struggle with making and keeping friends, managing emotional overwhelm, or constantly replaying social interactions. It’s for anyone who’s been told they’re “too much” or “too sensitive,” who feels behind socially, or who masks their true self just to fit in. Whether you were diagnosed with ADHD as a kid or just uncovered it as an adult, this podcast will help you untangle the social knots and start building the connections you deserve.

Each episode features honest conversations with experts, advocates, and real people who get what it’s like to feel out of sync. Together, we explore how to build relationships that feel safe, show up with confidence, and recover from the bumps along the way.

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  • 21 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 28 min
  • English

Episodes 21

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  • #47
    Tuesday · 53 min

    The Wall of Awful (with Brendan Mahan)

    In this episode, I talk with ADHD coach, executive function expert, and author Brendan Mahan about his powerful concept, the “Wall of Awful,” the emotional barrier that can build between us and the things we struggle to do. Brendan explains why procrastination, task paralysis, avoidance, and difficulty getting started are often about much more than motivation, discipline, or making a better to-do list. Past failures, guilt, shame, overwhelm, anxiety, rejection, and disappointment can become emotional “bricks” in the wall, while anxiety can act like the mortar holding those bricks together.

  • #46
    June 2 · 20 min

    The Most Misunderstood Part of Autism with Rachel Feldman {Part 2}

    What does friendship really look like for autistic and AuDHD individuals? In this episode, Rachel Feldman, LCSW, shares her personal and professional insights on communication, social cues, boundaries, and the importance of finding people who truly understand you. We explore why direct communication matters, how neurodivergent friendships often differ from societal expectations, and why there is no single "right" way to connect with others.

  • #45
    May 26 · 23 min

    Why ADHD in Women Gets Missed for Years with Dr. Gilly Kahn [Part 2]

    Why are so many women diagnosed with ADHD later in life? In this episode, psychologist and author Gilly Kahn opens up about the hidden realities of ADHD in women, from impulsivity and emotional dysregulation to trauma, masking, hormones, and late diagnosis.

  • #42
    May 19 · 26 min

    The Hidden Signs of ADHD in Women with Dr. Gilly Kahn [Part 1]

    In this episode, psychologist and author Dr. Gilly Kahn joins the podcast to discuss the hidden realities of ADHD in women, from emotional dysregulation and masking to late diagnosis, anxiety, and the stigma surrounding treatment.

  • #40
    May 12 · 26 min

    What Autism in Women REALLY Looks Like with Rachel Feldman [Part 1]

    What does autism actually look like in women and late-diagnosed adults? In this powerful conversation, psychotherapist Rachel Feldman shares her personal journey of being diagnosed with ADHD in childhood and autism later in life and how that discovery changed everything.

  • #39
    May 5 · 25 min

    Autism & ADHD in Adults: The Cost of Not Knowing Sooner with Patrick Casale [Part 2]

    In this powerful conversation, Patrick Casale shares his experience of being diagnosed with autism and ADHD later in life and the years of loneliness, confusion, and self-doubt that came with it. From feeling “broken” to struggling with identity, burnout, and belonging, this episode dives deep into the emotional reality of undiagnosed neurodivergence.

  • #38
    April 21 · 24 min

    ADHD Truths No One Talks About with Jessica McCabe [Part 1]

    Have you ever walked away from a friendship feeling like you’re the problem? In this deeply honest conversation, Caroline Maguire sits down with Jessica McCabe (creator of How to ADHD) to talk about something that doesn’t get said out loud enough: what it actually feels like to struggle with friendship when you’re neurodivergent. Jessica shares what it was like growing up believing she wasn’t a “good friend,” always feeling like other people outranked her, and how that shaped the way she showed up in relationships. Together, Caroline and Jessica unpack the hidden gap between understanding ADHD and knowing how to connect with people. They also share how their friendship has impacted each other in both meaningful and critical ways. This video is one you don't want to miss. It’s a real conversation about self-worth, social blind spots, people-pleasing, and why friendship can feel confusing even when you’re doing your best. If you’ve ever felt like you’re missing something everyone else seems to just “get,” this episode will resonate. Get your copy of Caroline's new book here: https://www.amazon.com/Friendship-Skills-Neurodivergent-Adults-Distracted/dp/1538773082 Get your copy of Jessica's book How To ADHD here: https://www.amazon.com/How-ADHD-Insiders-Working-Against/dp/0593578945 Want more from Caroline? Listen to The ADHD Social Playbook Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2rm4vdyRflRoAmQvy5fqWw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-adhd-social-playbook/id1810263678 And subscribe for more conversations about ADHD, friendship, and building real connection.

  • #37
    April 7 · 26 min

    Late-Diagnosed Autism & ADHD with Patrick Casale [Part 1]

    What if the problem isn’t you, it’s the expectations you’ve been trying to meet? Patrick Casale shares his journey of being late-diagnosed with autism and ADHD, and how years of masking and people pleasing led to burnout.

  • #36
    March 24 · 38 min

    Why Kids With ADHD Struggle in School (with Cindy Goldrich)

    In this episode, ADHD expert Cindy Goldrich joins us to unpack the real challenges behind executive function and how they impact kids with ADHD at home and in school. We discuss why even highly intelligent children can struggle with organization, motivation, and processing speed, and how anxiety often plays a hidden role in their behavior. Cindy shares practical insights for parents and teachers on building collaboration, understanding executive function gaps, and supporting kids with compassion instead of blame. This conversation offers powerful tools to help families create stronger connections and empower neurodivergent children to succeed.

  • #35
    March 17 · 39 min

    The Truth About ADHD, Motherhood, and Impossible Expectations with Patricia Sung

    Motherhood is hard for everyone but for moms with ADHD, the pressure to meet impossible standards can feel overwhelming. In this episode, I sit down with Patricia Sung, certified ADHD coach and host of the Motherhood and ADHD Podcast, to talk about the realities ADHD moms face every day, from feeling like you’re always “too much,” to navigating expectations around parenting, friendships, and running a household.

  • #34
    March 10 · 20 min

    Healing ADHD Trauma with Kristin Carder [Part 2]

    In this powerful conversation, I dive deep with Kristin into the emotional side of ADHD that rarely gets talked about, trauma, rejection sensitivity, family dynamics, and healing. Many adults with ADHD are navigating more than just focus or productivity challenges. They're also unpacking childhood experiences, emotional flashbacks, people-pleasing, and relationships shaped by years of misunderstanding and gaslighting.

  • #32
    February 24 · 24 min

    ADHD & Relationships: Stop Making Everyone Else Comfortable with Kristin Carder [Part 1]

    What happens when you realize the people closest to you don’t actually celebrate you? In this ADHD conversation, Kristin Carder and I talk about the moment you wake up inside relationships that no longer fit. Some of us don’t need better communication skills. Some of us just need new people. If you’re in the middle of reframing your life after an ADHD diagnosis, this episode will feel like permission.

  • #31
    February 10 · 33 min

    The Screen Time Conversation Every Parent Needs with Dr. Michael Rich [Part 1]

    In this conversation, Isit down with pediatrician and digital wellness expert Dr. Michael Rich to talk about one of the biggest parenting challenges today: screens. From gaming and social media to YouTube and smartphones, screens are shaping childhood, especially for kids with ADHD. But is banning them the answer? Dr. Rich shares a refreshing, research-backed approach that moves parents away from fear and toward partnership, connection, and digital wellness.

  • #29
    January 20 · 24 min

    Stop Interrupting Me! with Lisa Rabinowitz

    Struggling with blame, finger pointing, or constant friction in your relationship where ADHD is in the mix? In this candid conversation, ADHD coach Caroline Maguire sits down with couples counselor Lisa Rabinowitz to reframe ADHD and partnership as a team sport. Instead of “fixing” one person, Lisa shows how both partners bring history, habits, and hurt into the boat and how you can paddle together. You’ll learn practical tools to shift from criticism and defensiveness to collaboration, how to spot emotional flooding before the car crash, and simple language tweaks that lower conflict fast.

  • #28
    January 13 · 30 min

    Bullied With ADHD? The Hidden Adult Version No One Talks About (w/ Brooke Schnittman)

    In this episode, Caroline Maguire sits down with executive function ADHD coach and bestselling author Brooke Schnittman to talk about a topic we don’t discuss enough: bullying across the lifespan for kids and adults with ADHD. Brooke shares what pushed her to run a survey after years of hearing the same painful story from clients and what she found was staggering: -47% of children with ADHD are bullied -17% go on to become bullies (often as a trauma response) -In Brooke’s adult survey: 89% reported being bullied in childhood, 82% in adulthood, and 70% in both Together, Caroline and Brooke break down what “adult bullying” actually looks like (hint: it’s not always obvious), why so many people don’t label it as bullying, and what you can do to start protecting your nervous system, your self-trust, and your relationships.

  • #27
    January 6 · 27 min

    Late Diagnosis, Fewer Cloudy Days & Choosing Agency With ADHD with IngerShaye Colzie [Part 2]

    What if you had known about your ADHD diagnosis sooner? In part two, Caroline and psychotherapist and ADHD coach IngerShaye Colzie talk about late diagnosis, grief, and why the goal is not a perfect past, it is a better tomorrow. We unpack masking by choice, how diagnosis helps you string together more good days, and practical steps to move from regret to agency. If you missed part one, watch that first, then come back here.

  • #26
    Dec 16, 2025 · 22 min

    Unmasking, Energy Pacing & the “Hurry” Habit with Dr. Megan Anna Neff {Part 2}

    Caroline sits down with Dr. Megan Anna Neff for part two of their conversation to dig into energy, burnout, and unmasking for ADHD and autistic folks. They explore why many ADHD brains lean on urgency and “hurry” to get going, how that cortisol-driven push fuels boom and bust cycles, and what to try instead. Dr. Neff walks through her PINCH framework (passion, interest, novelty, challenge or competition, and hurry) and shares what changed when she stopped over-relying on hurry.

Showing 1–20 of 21 episodes