The Faster Than Normal Podcast: Add | Adhd | Health

Dr. Kenneth Carter is a Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology at Oxford College of Emory University. He has published in both academic and lay publications, translating psychology research into engaging everyday language. His articles have been published in magazines such as Psychology Today and Women’s Health, and he has appeared on news programs such as NPR’s: ShortWave and NBC’s Today show. The psychology of thrill-seeking is the current focus of Dr. Carter’s research. He has delivered a TEDx talk on thrill-seekers and presented on the subject in March 2020 at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. His most recent book is Buzz!: Inside the Minds of Thrill-Seekers, Daredevils, and Adrenaline Junkies (Cambridge University Press). When not teaching, speaking, or writing, Dr. Carter prefers reading and relaxing on the beach to wingsuit flying or BASE jumping. Today we’re talking about it all, well, all that we can get to in our time today. ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION also EPISODE 200!!!*** Hey guys, Peter S

Alex Hey (pronounced "high") was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 20. This diagnosis explained two decades of underachievement and feeling misunderstood. In the wake of his diagnosis, he began a casual study of ADHD which, over the years, turned into a passion for learning about ADHD and finding all strategies that might help work with his brain, not against it. From July of 2017 until May of 2018, Alex dove into heavy research and writing which resulted in Catholicism and ADHD: Finding Holiness Despite Distractions (available on Amazon). While working on this book, he had the opportunity to support one of his friends who was being tested for ADHD. Writing the book and supporting his friend helped him discover a passion for helping those with ADHD. This led him to pursue a career as an ADHD coach. Alex was trained by the ADD Coaching Academy, and in 2019, received his PCAC (or Professional Certified ADHD Coach) credential from the Professional Association for ADHD Coaches (PAAC).  Today we’re talking about h

Nick Seluk is the New York Times Bestselling cartoonist behind Heart and Brain comics and creator of The Awkward Yeti. He is the author/illustrator of two books with Scholastic, creator of the card game OrganATTACK, and enjoys finding new projects and mediums to work in. Nick lives in Michigan, where he enjoys occasionally going for a very slow, painful run.  Today we’re talking about his ADD and how he harnessed it to create a career! Enjoy!   ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION***   In this episode Peter & Nick Seluk discuss: :47-  Intro and welcome Nick!  Check out his work that I love here https://theawkwardyeti.com 2:12-  Tell us your backstory, tell us what it was like growing up? 5:00-  Growing up as a kid were your distractions primarily drawings, doodling then? 6:20-  What would you say to our listeners who are emailing and saying, how do I figure out what I really want to do and how do I turn it into success, despite whatever degree I’m allegedly pursuing?  11:40-  Have you had a moment where you realized/i

Life can change when you embrace your fears like our guest today did. His name: Patrick Sweeney. His occupation: Stunt pilot. He is also an Olympic level athlete, a best selling author, a World Record holder, has built and sold three global tech companies, is a leukemia survivor, a husband and a father. Why does he fly and seek-out fear regularly? Today we’re talking about managing fear and ADHD.. and also a little about skydiving!   A bit more about Mr. Sweeney in his own words: "I grew up terrified of everything. I didn't have confidence or self-esteem. My biggest fear was flying. I made excuses every time I had a chance to fly – on exchange programs, to family reunions, for big races, I made excuses to cover up the shame I felt of being afraid. I was lying to the world and myself. Then at 35 I got one of the rarest forms of leukemia. The doctors told me to say my good-byes. That was when I chose courage. Yeah, it's a choice. Not for me but for my 1-year-old daughter and unborn son. I decided if I beat the

Andy J. Pizza is an American illustrator, podcaster and public speaker. His explosive color drenched illustrations have brought hope and smiles to clients like The New York Times, Nickelodeon, YouTube and Warby Parker. He is the founder of the Creative Pep Talk podcast, a mostly monologue show with occasional interviews with creatives like Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Broad City’s Abbi Jacobson and Poet and Lettering Artist Morgan Harper Nichols. Creative Pep Talk has been featured by Apple, BuzzFeed and Vanity Fair and has over 5 million listens.”  Today we talk about how he found his first artistic path, how he manages creative deadlines as a neurodiverse individual, and why sometimes red means green. Enjoy!   ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION***   In this episode Peter & Andy J. Pizza discuss: 1:00-  Intro and welcome Andy! Check out his great podcast www.CreativePeptalk.com 2:15-  So was Art always your thing; your way of ‘getting in trouble’?  4:10-  On trying so hard as a kid to outwit or out-will his ADD/ADHD 5:00-

I met today’s guest around three years ago when I was invited to join Adobe’s Influencers Group and I’ve been just in awe of her ever since! Rani Mani is the Head of Global Employee Advocacy at Adobe and helps teams with Influencer Relations. She's passionate about cultivating and nurturing communities and coaching others to do the same. She is currently working across Adobe teams to drive understanding, excitement, and advocacy among the global workforce in order to enable and empower all employees to be the company’s biggest brand ambassadors. Nicknamed “The Velvet Hammer” Rani’s mantra is to make the impossible seem possible through her humor, grace, and passion. When she’s not asking provocative questions and making declarative statements at work, Rani is making magical memories with her husband and four kids as they continue to visit the many wonders of the world. Today we talk about how helping others can be it’s own reward, the value of diversity in thought, and helping employees to embrace and believe

Today’s guest Katherine Kendall, is an actress most known for her roles of Dorothy in Jon Favreau’s “Swingers” and The Counselor in the cult classic “Firefly”. She is also a photographer and an artist. She was one of the first women to come forward about being sexually assaulted by Harvey Weinstein in Jodi Kantor’s article in the New York Times on October 10, 2017. Since then she’s been interviewed on CNN and several other news outlets, as well as documentaries. She’s been a keynote speaker, and participated on panels about emotional and sexual abuse around the country. She is currently hosting her own podcast called “Roar with Katherine Kendall”. It focuses on stories of courage and resilience. Today we talk about the lessons she’s learned that enable her to run a busy & healthy life as an actress, and as an advocate. Enjoy!   ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION***   In this episode Peter & Katherine Kendall discuss: 1:03-  Intro and welcome Katherine! 2:20-  When were you diagnosed? 6:00-  On learning how to pr

Today’s guest Rachel says:  I was a distraction. I could be disruptive. I used to think this was the way it was always going to be.  I used to believe the labels that had been assigned to me through my life were who I was. My brain was like popcorn and would work at four million miles per hour. I really thought this was my identity and who I was. I had allowed myself to be defined by the labels and experiences, rather than using them to shape me. I believed I would never be good enough because ‘that’ was who I was, and you can’t change …. Or can you? Powered by a supercharged ADHD driven mind. I am sharing the motivation, inspiration and perspiration from the university of my life.    I’m Rachel Young, I was put on this planet to make a difference to people’s lives and to get people moving, both physically and mentally. I am a highly motivated (and very easily distracted) character.  Simply put, I love the fitness industry and I love nothing more than helping others to become the best version of themselves. 

David is not only my best friend, he is my running partner, he's my triathlon coach and he was the one who got busted with me when we both got a summons for exercising in Central Park in the morning before it opened. He's been with me through thick and thin and I'm glad he was around to join us. Today we’re learning how things have been going for him during these weird days, his advice and perspective as a teacher, a husband, father, and an Iron Man coach who is also- you guessed it- ADHD. Enjoy!   ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION***   In this episode Peter & David discuss: :58-  Intro and welcome David Roher! 2:00-  How’s it going right now from your perspective as a Special Education teacher? 3:30-  How are the kids handling it? 4:22-  Why do you think elementary schoolers are having such a tough time of it? 5:04-  Does T-Pain have all the answers? No, just a wild-timed digital audio glitch! 5:32-  On a child’s mental process & adaptation during a pandemic 6:28-  How are you holding up? 7:40-  On acknowledgi

New York native Eric D’Alessandro has always found his place in the spotlight. His passion for comedy is equally credited to his creative mindset, as well as his big Italian family which inspires his raw comedic sketches and uncensored,relatable rhetoric.  Having grown up with a camera in his hand, Eric created a YouTube channel where he developed his comedic skills from a young age. Through his sketches which feature original characters like “Maria Marie,” as well as impressions of celebrities like Drake and comedic covers of popular songs, his YouTube platform helped Eric build a loyal fanbase. The millions of views on his videos laid the groundwork for Eric to gain over 98k followers on Instagram. Through social media, Eric is able to share original, timely and relatable content for the everyday American. A pivotal moment in Eric’s career was when he moved cross-country to Los Angeles in order to pursue his passion as a creator. California has helped Eric generate a new fanbase that lies beyond the five bo

Deitra is a single mom from the Scranton area who’s living and loving life! Growing up, like most kids with ADHD, school was really rough for her. She was diagnosed with ADHD at around age ten after a lot of fighting her mother performed on her behalf. That experience instilled a drive and passion within her to help others. She currently works as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Wesley village in Pittston, PA. Now a mother to a 7 year old daughter who has a passion for the Arts, and especially for theater and singing. She is grateful for all of the support she receives from coworkers family and close friends- it takes a village! She says it’s good to know that people are seeing just how awesome is it to be Faster Then Normal! Today we learn about her journey and what all she’s doing to stay SANE during these historic times. Enjoy!   ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION***   In this episode Peter & Deitra discuss: 1:04-  Intro & welcome Deitra Banning!  1:54-  You are a normal person- but you wouldn’t be without yo

Lauren Comito is a cape wearing, ukulele playing, sword swinging, activist librarian in NYC. She is currently a Neighborhood Library Supervisor at Brooklyn Public Library, Library Journal's 2020 Librarian of the Year, and is founder and the Chairwoman of the Board of Urban Librarians Unite, a national c3 not for profit focusing on providing training, advocacy, and support for front-line library staff working in large urban systems. Lauren has spent the last 30 years figuring out how to make her ADHD work for her, and has done a pretty good job of it. She is creative, passionate about connecting library patrons to the services they need, and a true believer in the ability of the library to change people’s lives and communities for the better. Enjoy!   ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION***   In this episode Peter & Lauren discuss: 1:32-  Intro and welcome Librarian of the Year, Lauren Comito!  Ref: Library Journal 3:05-  So what happens at a Librarian of the Year awards banquet?? 4:15-  What are the lion’s names at t

Dr. Anhalt was one of the first interviews I ever did on Faster Than Normal, and now she's back! Emily Anhalt, PhD is the founder of a new project called COA, an innovative mental fitness studio that is currently offering free therapist-led workshops on managing work stress from home, how to deal with anxiety, building mental health & mindfulness through routine, how to be a fit leader during this time, and more. We learn her advice for dealing with: anxiety, there being ‘no end in sight’, finding new structure(s), the 3 best pieces of advice Peter has ever received, and all around good mental health. This is a really good one, enjoy! ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION*** In this episode Peter & Emily discuss: 1:04-  Intro & welcome back Dr. Emily Anhalt!  Emily’s first interview on FTN 

Tedi is a Fitness Coach & Runner, Public Speaker, Author, and Health Educator.  She is a Washington state native who calls the Utah mountains home for the past 20 years. A longtime advocate for outdoor adventure and physical wellness for ADHD. Tedi is a strong believer in building a healthy mindset which has helped her deal with ADHD and anxiety. She took up trail running during an especially difficult time in life and kept on running. Loves teaching teenagers and speaking to inspire positive changes in people’s lives. We learn today about what she’s learned to do in order to stay mentally and physically healthy, what works for her and why. Enjoy!   ***CORONA VIRUS EDITION***   In this episode Peter & Tedi discuss: 1:00-  Intro & welcome Tedi Searle 2:14-  You originally self-diagnosed, then again officially in your 30’s. Tell us your story! 3:25-  What problems was your ADHD causing after you first self-diagnosed? 4:09-  How did you find out that physical fitness actually helped you? 4:48-  What’

Can cannabis actually improve your focus when you are ADD or ADHD; what does the research say? Is it only misinformation and perception that keeps cannabis a Schedule 1 drug? Will we see more research in the US? What can cannabis possibly do for your community? Today we examine all of these questions with leading expert in the field, Max Simon. A bit more about our guest today is below. Enjoy!   Max Simon, Founder/CEO Green Flower Media, Inc. With the vision of building a media company that would change the world’s perception of cannabis, Max Simon co-founded Green Flower in 2014. Green Flower has since become the industry leader in cannabis education, producing thousands of hours of premium content; bolstering a network of over 700 top cannabis experts; and building the largest library of cannabis education content in the world. Today, Max leads an incredible 30-person team united around the mission of becoming the global leaders in cannabis education. Max’s mission to educate people about cannabis and discr

Investigative journalist and anthropologist Scott Carney has worked in some of the most dangerous and unlikely corners of the world. His work blends narrative non-fiction with ethnography. What Doesn’t Kill Us was a New York Times bestseller; other works include The Red Market and The Enlightenment Trap. Carney was a contributing editor at Wired for five years and his writing also appears in Mother Jones, Men’s Journal, Playboy, Foreign Policy, Discover, Outside and Fast Company. His work has been the subject of a variety of radio and television programs, including on NPR and National Geographic TV. In 2010, he won the Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism for his story “Meet the Parents,” which tracked an international kidnapping-to-adoption ring. Carney has spent extensive time in South Asia and speaks Hindi. He attended Kenyon College and has a masters degree in anthropology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He currently lives in Denver, CO.  Today we welcome him back on FTN to talk about his new bo

Alex Shebar experiences all that life has to offer like it's his job, which, truthfully, it is. He is the new Director of Experiences at Culture Trip, one of the world's leading travel, media and entertainment sites. Previously, he was also the first Brand Manager for Bumble and Director  of Community for Yelp. His goal is to try and make everyone's travel experiences just a little more interesting so if you're heading somewhere new, message him on Instagram at @AlexShebar or find him in person. He's always up for a conversation on how to travel like a local.  Today we talk about what it’s like to be a “breaking news journalist”, how it feels to be ADHD and always three steps ahead, how sharing is kind of our favorite thing, inspiration for The Hall Of Justice, how to list for success, and perhaps what to do after you get fired from your first job. Enjoy!     In this episode Peter & Alex discuss: 1:01-  Intro & welcome Alex Shebar! 1:50-  You weren’t diagnosed until your college years; what was young

Our guest today is Justin Randall. A former 2-tone-Mohawk wearing punk who has received a lifetime ban from all K-Mart stores, was once Woody Harrelson’s personal bodyguard, had an argument with Johnny Cash, then NITRO, (among others), has served time in jail, done a ton of drugs, and naturally- he repeatedly failed Math. Raise your hand if you can relate to any of these grand “achievements”? Justin has since earned his MBA, a BS in Computer Science and has built an amazing career as a transformational servant leader in the Fin-Tech vertical, working with some of the top fortune 100 and 500 companies on how to manage anxiety in uncertain times. How the heck did he do all that, especially having ADHD?! Even more, how does he continue to do that in 2020? True story folks. Enjoy!   In his own words: I am a former 2-tone-Mohawk’d Skate/PUNK who has received a lifetime ban from ALL K-Mart stores in the USA, 3 lifetime bans from the Fiesta mall, and 5 lifetime bans from Mill AVE in downtown Tempe (Where I currently

This is a special episode that calls for a special man. Our guest today is Judson A. Brewer, MD PhD. He has trained ministers of foreign government, Olympians and their coaches, has been featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes, The New York Times, Business Week, TED talk, and on and on. (see below). Today we talk with this kind medical professional about something we are all dealing with:  how to manage anxiety in uncertain times.    A bit more about Dr. Jud: Jud Brewer, MD PhD (“Dr. Jud”) is a thought leader in the field of habit change and the “science of self-mastery”, having combined over 20 years of experience with mindfulness training with his scientific research therein. He is the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Center and associate professor in Behavioral and Social Sciences and Psychiatry at the Schools of Public Health & Medicine at Brown University. He also is a research affiliate at MIT. A psychiatrist and internationally known expert in mindfulness training for addictions, Brewer

Grant currently works as a full-time contractor and virtual event video coordinator for Dell Technologies. A man wearing many hats, he was previously a three-time social media manager on both the agency and brand side, a past YouTube channel manager for Fortune 100 enterprises, a nationwide conference speaker on video marketing, a former professional editorial cartoonist and talk radio host, a comedy club staffer, and a dabbler in documentary film production. He is a proud fighter of free speech for everyone and was represented by the ACLU during his college years. Grant volunteers with Karen as foster parents for a cat and kitten adoption and rescue organization. For fun, he enjoys running in thousand-acre forest preserves, looking for the best craft beer deals across state lines, listening to offbeat podcasts, enjoying quirky documentaries, open mic nights, and getting into spirited dialog with humor. His first solo book, GRANTASMS! is the culmination of many years of word creations from his big ideas, smal