ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

By: Tracy Otsuka
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  • Summary

  • Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here : programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

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    I have NEVER met an ADHD woman who wasn’t truly brilliant at something! This podcast, with nearly 7 million downloads, is for smart, high-ability ADD/ADHD (diagnosed or suspecting) women who see their symptoms as more positive than negative. If you want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and discover where your brilliance lies, this podcast is for you!
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    ADHD for Smart Ass Women is globally ranked in the top one-tenth of one percent of all podcasts in the world on any subject. It’s streamed in more than 160 countries and is downloaded by more than 150,000 listeners every month. My book of the same name, published by HarperCollins/William Morrow, was recently honored by Amazon Editors as a Top 20 Best Nonfiction Book of 2024.
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    I’m Tracy Otsuka, your host. I’m a lawyer, not a doctor, a lifelong learner, and a certified ADHD coach. I’m on a mission to change the conversation around ADHD because I believe it’s time to focus on the strengths that come with our unique brains. When I was diagnosed eight months after my son, my entire life finally made sense, yet all I read and heard about ADHD focused on what I should struggle with. What I discovered, though, was that my ADHD was responsible for some of my greatest strengths.
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    Another thing we constantly hear is all the success stories about ADHD men, but no one talks about the women. This podcast is here to change that. ADHD women are my people, and I’m here to acknowledge, support, and cheer them on. My experience as an adult living with ADHD, along with my expertise, is regularly sought out by top-tier media, including Bloomberg, Forbes, CBS Mornings, ABC News Live, Inc., Prevention Magazine, Verywell Mind, ADDitude magazine, and The Goal Digger Podcast, etc.
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    adhdforsmartwomen.com

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    The content in this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and does not constitute medical or professional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of anything you have seen or heard from Tracy Otsuka, her guests or this podcast.

    © 2025 ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka
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Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living
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Episodes
  • EP. 328: Intuition & ADHD: Unlocking Your Spiritual Gifts

    EP. 328: Intuition & ADHD: Unlocking Your Spiritual Gifts
    Apr 16 2025

    Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

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    If you’ve ever been told you’re “too sensitive,” “too emotional,” or just “too much,” this episode is here to tell you: you’re not. You’re intuitive, and that might just be your ADHD superpower.

    Julie Jancius, known as The Angel Medium, is a spiritual teacher, podcast host, and bestselling author who helps people reconnect with their intuition, their energy, and their purpose. Diagnosed with ADHD in middle school, Julie always knew she was different—driven, creative, deeply empathic, and always tuned in to something just below the surface. But it wasn’t until she experienced major life upheaval as a teen and later lost her father unexpectedly that she began to fully understand the power of intuition and energetic sensitivity—and how it had been guiding her all along.

    In this conversation, Julie and Tracy explore the link between ADHD and spiritual gifts, from intuitive decision-making to emotional depth and the ability to read a room without saying a word. Julie shares why traditional ADHD solutions didn’t work for her, how energy healing and spiritual connection became her lifelines, and why learning to follow your internal compass might just be the most important skill of all. They also talk about breaking cycles, building purpose-led businesses, and why listening to your intuition isn’t “woo”—it’s wisdom.

    If you’ve ever felt like your brain doesn’t follow the rules and your heart doesn’t either, Julie’s story will leave you feeling more seen, understood, and inspired to trust yourself.


    Resources:

    Website: https://theangelmedium.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelpodcast
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theangelmedium
    Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/theangelmedium

    Podcast & Membership Links:
    Podcast: https://theangelmedium.com/podcast
    Angel Membership: https://theangelmedium.com/membership
    Angel Reiki School:

    Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

    Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

    Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/book

    Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aok

    Visit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com

    Join our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka

    Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/class

    Unlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends
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    50 mins
  • EP. 327: Changing the ADHD Money Narrative with Nicole Stanley

    EP. 327: Changing the ADHD Money Narrative with Nicole Stanley
    Apr 9 2025

    Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

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    Money advice rarely works for the ADHD brain. We’re told to budget, track every dollar, and rely on willpower—but what if the real answer is to make it easier, not harder?

    Nicole Stanley gets it. A financial coach, Latina entrepreneur, and founder of Arise Financial Coaching, Nicole helps women ditch the shame, confusion, and overwhelm around money. But before she coached hundreds of women and couples to pay off debt and build wealth, Nicole was a young mom in financial survival mode. Married at 22, she had to learn about money fast when her husband’s modest salary wasn’t enough to make ends meet. With a baby on her hip and a brain that struggled with traditional systems, she slowly built a business that now serves over 100 clients and supports a full-time team—long before she even knew she had ADHD.

    Nicole was diagnosed with ADHD at 31, and everything started to make sense: the disorganization, the impulsive spending, the exhaustion from trying to do money “the right way.” She realized that what worked for neurotypical people didn’t work for her—or for many of the women she coached. That’s when she began designing tools and systems rooted in compassion, simplicity, and sustainability—approaches that honor how the ADHD brain actually works.

    Nicole and Tracy talk about the emotional weight many women carry when it comes to money. They dive into why ADHD women are often labeled “bad with money,” how to build dopamine-boosting routines that stick, and what it means to make peace with your finances—not through shame, but through clarity and choice.

    Resources:
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arise.financial.coaching/
    Threads: https://www.threads.net/@arise.financial.coaching/
    Facebook: http://facebook.com/arise.financial.coaching/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@arisefinancialcoaching
    Book a discovery call:

    Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

    Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

    Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/book

    Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aok

    Visit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com

    Join our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka

    Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/class

    Unlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • EP. 326: How Lizzie Smiley Built an Etsy Empire

    EP. 326: How Lizzie Smiley Built an Etsy Empire
    Apr 2 2025

    Want to fall in love with your ADHD brain and make it work for you? Learn more about my patented program, Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy here: programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

    ___________

    What happens when a self-taught, multi-passionate entrepreneur builds a six-figure Etsy business from scratch—while homeschooling on a farm and running multiple income streams?

    You get Lizzie Smiley.

    Known for her hot-mess mom humor and contagious high energy, Lizzie is the host of How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy, where she helps creative entrepreneurs build thriving online businesses. But behind the success is a story many ADHD women will find deeply familiar: years of self-doubt, people-pleasing, and the constant feeling of being “too much.”

    In this conversation, Lizzie opens up about her late realization that she likely has ADHD, how it shows up in her personal and professional life, and the mindset tools that help her stay grounded amidst the chaos.

    Tracy and Lizzie dive into everything from hyperfocus and imposter syndrome to business pivots, family dynamics, and anxiety spirals. Lizzie also shares how delegating, tapping into joy, and leaning on her strengths helped her 10x her income—and build a life that works with her brain, not against it.

    If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing too much and still not enough, this one’s for you.


    Resources:

    Website: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smiley_lizzie
    How to Sell Your Stuff on Etsy Podcast: https://www.howtosellyourstuff.com/podcast

    Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

    Learn more by connecting with Tracy through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, or visit adhdforsmartwomen.com.

    Are You Ready to Discover Your Brilliance? Order Now: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/book

    Join Your ADHD Brain is A-OK: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/aok

    Visit our website: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com

    Join our community of ADHD For Smart Ass Women: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tracyotsuka

    Join What Do I Do With My Life Masterclass: spyhappy.me/class

    Unlock your best days with Blends: https://adhdforsmartwomen.com/blends
    Show more Show less
    58 mins
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Profile Image for Theresa Greer

Helpful information that is so validating!

I was nodding my head with every word. it's so validating to hear others' experiences as females with ADHD.

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Profile Image for Alisia Davis

So great! Highly recommend. There is hope!

This podcast was excellent. I have only listened to a few episodes in the series because I just found it, but so far, the ones I've listened to have been great! I was so happy to hear the interview with Kailin. I feel like my medication isn't working (or helping) the way it should be, but I've only been diagnosed and on meds for 2 years. It took SO long to try this dose to start and give it a few weeks, step up a tiny bit higher and try that for a while, step a bit higher again - over and over and over, I'm afraid to try something different because it is such a difficult process! She also made me question my diagnosis. I've been on various antidepressants for about 20 years now, which started in college. I have such similar traits to Kailin, I'm wondering if there isn't something more to my Neuro divergence. I knew that ADHDers have super powers and are amazing at some specific things, but I had never heard anything about ADHD in high achieving women. First I opened up Kailinjohnson.com so I didn't have to worry about remembering the url. Next up, a Google search for ADHD in high achieving women. Thank you!

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Profile Image for Che

Getting to know myself.

This is so helpful. I love a lot of this episodes. the one about learned helplessness was very helpful. thank you so much. it is entertaining, informative and engaging.

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Profile Image for SMSLee

thank you!!!

Great and helpful information!! I love listening to these podcasts everyday while driving to work.

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Understanding

One, two, three, four, Five, six, Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything, Everything

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Profile Image for G. Chercus

Really helpfull

All great points and good to not feel so alone in it but ... acknowledging medication and doing the work sometimes doesn't make life livable.

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Profile Image for Jennifer Niemann

LOVE THIS PODCAST

As a woman with ADHD I so appreciate this! I feel so seen when listening but would LOVE to hear from more women diagnosed later in life (I was as diagnosed at 42-after my son was). I still struggle with imposter syndrome (despite proven success) and am terrified to be “out” in a professional capacity. Would love to hear more of a GenX perspective on these issues.

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Profile Image for Robbi78

Thank you for doing these podcasts

I just found this podcast and have been listening non stop. For the longest time I felt like I was the only woman with ADHD. To hear others talking about their journey, so often it’s like I’m hearing myself. I don’t personally know any other woman struggling with ADHD. It gives me hope things can and will change for me, hearing others have been able to get control of their ADHD and thrive.

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Profile Image for Tara Bradley

FINALLY!

Can I tell you from a young age, going into the mall or specifically Wal-Mart I would get tired, foggy, spacey and couldn't think straight. Restaurants that are busy I can't focus. I was always told it was depression/anxiety. I do have anxiety... but so many years I was trying to find out why I felt this way. I got diagnosed 2 years ago and I still fight it. (Why can't I do this like normal people) But it's also relieving to have an explanation. I still naturally want to keep searching and I need to accept this is MY normal! love the podcast :)

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Profile Image for Sandra R. McMillan

this is me!!

I'm 59 and just going through this. This episode was so very empowering and helpful

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