PODCAST. Acting, Comedy, and Addiction with ADHD Big Brother, Russ Jones.
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Today on the ADHD Wise Squirrels podcast, I speak with Russ Jones. Russ is an ADHD coach and host of the ADHD Big Brother podcast. He runs a supportive community for adults with ADHD focused on small daily commitments and real-world follow-through.
What You’ll Learn
Why community + daily commitments outperform information overload
How to use a one-day-at-a-time method to beat task initiation and paralysis
What rejection sensitivity feels like in performance and at work
A realistic take on medication, side effects, and trial-and-error fatigue
Alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis through an ADHD self-regulation lens
How sketch, stand-up, and acting map to executive function and momentum
Simple ADHD management habits you can start this week
How not to quit smoking. Psst, lasers don’t work.
Episode Highlights
1) Knowledge isn’t the bottleneck. Doing is.
Most adults with ADHD already know the advice: they’ve read the books, watched the videos, and can explain the science. The gap is translating insight into consistent action. Russ’s community is built on daily, bite-sized commitments with peers who show up together.
Try this: Pick one micro-task that matters (five minutes of laundry, a single email, one page of admin) and post “done” to an accountability buddy every day.
2) One day at a time beats all-or-nothing
Borrowed from quit groups, the day-by-day frame removes perfectionism and resets motivation. You don’t need a personality transplant or a perfect plan. You need today’s action.
Script: “Today I will do one thing that moves my week forward.” Then do it, even if it’s tiny. Print and post this PDF to remind yourself.
3) Addiction, numbing, and ADHD
For many Wise Squirrels, substances once felt like relief from tension and overwhelm. Russ and Dave discuss nicotine, alcohol, and cannabis with nuance. Key idea: know your patterns, know your risks, and remember that joy and connection don’t require substances.
Note: NA beer can help some people reduce or replace drinking, but it isn’t appropriate for everyone. Always consider your history and talk to a professional.
4) Medication helps, but it’s a process
Stimulants can be life-changing, but it takes time to land on the correct dose and type, working with your doctor.
One useful exercise: pause stimulant meds under a clinician’s guidance to notice baseline drift. I described feeling like I was treading water without support until I hit fatigue and overwhelm. Community and structure remain essential, as do medication.
5) Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) in the wild
From auditions to everyday work interactions, a sharp comment and rejection can spiral into days of self-doubt. Russ uses CBT reframes and fast “let-it-go” resets. The principle carries to creative careers and office life: do the work, leave it in the room, and move on to the next rep.
6) Creativity as an ADHD advantage
Sketch and improv map well to the ADHD brain: short, iterative, high-energy. Russ’s troupe connected sketches without blackouts to maintain flow, mirroring how many of us thrive on continuity and novelty without hard stops.
Apply at work: Break projects into scenes. Ship a first draft, transition smoothly to the next piece, and let momentum carry you.
Practical ADHD Coping Strategies (Start Today)
Daily Micro-Wins
Choose one five-minute task and do it at the same time each day.
Track streaks publicly with a friend or group.
Body-Double or Co-Work
Join a virtual room or text a buddy: “Starting now, 20 minutes on invoices.”
Report back with a single word: Done.
Timeboxing with a Soft Landing
Work in 15–25 minute blocks—end by writing the next actionable step so future-you can re-enter quickly.
Reduce Friction
Lay out tools before you start.
Use checklists for recurring tasks to conserve executive function.
Build a No-Substances Routine for Socializing
Plan alcohol-free options that still feel social and rewarding.
Compassionate Debriefs
When RSD flares, ask: “What else could be true?”
Capture one learning and one next step. Then move.
Resources Mentioned
ADHD Big Brother podcast and community: search “ADHD Big Brother” in your podcast app or visit ADHDBigBrother.com
New Business Networking by Dave Delaney (on using podcasting to build genuine relationships)
Check out Rick Green (not Rick White) for more about comedy and sketch writing.
Go watch all of the Kids In The Hall and Mr. Show right now. Thank me later.
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[00:00.000 --> 00:10.320] My name is Russ. I host the ADHD Big Brother podcast. I'm an ADHD coach. I think my big exciting
[00:10.320 --> 00:17.600] thing is that I run a community for adults with ADHD called ADHD Big Brother. I've been doing that
[00:17.600 --> 00:27.120] for a few years now. And that's who I am. That's who I am today. I have ADHD. I have depression.
[00:27.120 --> 00:35.200] Yeah. Other global cities. All the things. Yeah. Tell me about the community. How's that going?
[00:36.160 --> 00:41.840] It's going awesome. So we're at like 60 plus members right now. So it still has a bit of intimacy
[00:41.840 --> 00:49.360] to it. Yeah. Which I do like. But it's it's really built on the the foundation of a quick
[00:49.360 --> 00:54.080] group that was that was a part of. So I was addicted to nicotine for like 20 some years,
[00:54.880 --> 00:59.600] chewing tobacco. And I would be like chewing and smoking. I always had nicotine in my system.
[00:59.600 --> 01:07.600] So it was a real MFR to quit. Yeah. I found support through community. There was an online community.
[01:08.320 --> 01:13.600] I don't remember like the V-Bulletin software. It was like. Yeah, I do actually. Yeah,
[01:13.600 --> 01:21.600] I have one. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Because my first my first podcast was a parenting podcast with
[01:21.600 --> 01:29.280] my wife. And that was back in 20 years ago this year. So back in 2005. And I had. Yeah, I had a forum
[01:29.280 --> 01:34.720] create. I created a forum so that people could connect with one another because that's always
[01:34.720 --> 01:41.600] part of the goal of. You know, nobody wants to especially like content creators, if you will,
[01:41.600 --> 01:46.880] or whatever word we're using these days. But you know, for people that are built or putting things
[01:46.880 --> 01:52.160] on the internet, they're not doing it for the purpose of it all falling into a black hole and
[01:52.160 --> 01:57.360] avoid and not knowing, which is part of the reason why podcasters are always begging for reviews.
[01:57.360 --> 02:02.800] And because you it's not just that that helps others discover the show, which it does. But it's
[02:02.800 --> 02:08.400] also just to read a review and say, oh my god, like, you know, this is working. This is touching
[02:08.400 --> 02:14.960] people. This is helping people. And so I see that in my sub-sac subscribers, the paying ones,
[02:14.960 --> 02:21.360] and the free ones and those who, you know, hire me for coaching as well or for public speaking. So
[02:21.360 --> 02:28.160] yeah, I'm with you, man. And validation is awesome. Yeah. It was literally the one day at a time
[02:28.160 --> 02:34.240] aspect of it, for me quitting chewing was the really helpful because we would all come together,
[02:34.240 --> 02:39.600] say, day one, I'm not going to chew. And then we would all chat about how awful life is, right?
[02:39.760 --> 02:46.800] Because you're going through insane withdrawals. And I put that towards a mentality about ADHD,
[02:46.800 --> 02:54.000] which is we're so good at, we're so good at knowing what's going on. We live in an information
[02:54.000 --> 02:59.440] time, right? So everybody that I work with, most people know exactly what's going on. They've read
[02:59.440 --> 03:04.880] three books. They've watched all Jessica McCabe's videos. They like, they know what's happening.
[03:04.880 --> 03:10.400] But we're still not doing the work. And so I'm like, well, how, what have we applied this like
[03:10.400 --> 03:17.520] one day at a time mentality to just doing shit, right? Like laundry or whatever your goal is.
[03:17.520 --> 03:24.960] And so I created the community around that. And it's freaking, it's working. We have a community
[03:24.960 --> 03:31.280] member who is over 500 days in a row of doing the thing that she said, that's freaking unheard of
[03:31.280 --> 03:37.040] for a year. It's crazy. I find it's interesting to you because at least in my own personal experience,
[03:37.040 --> 03:45.280] I find as an ADHD or I'm starting things is not a problem. It's quitting things. That's a problem,
[03:45.280 --> 03:51.440] right? Like it's stopping at least in my personal experience. So I mean, yeah, I smoke like a chimney,
[03:52.240 --> 03:58.640] you know, like two packs a day for a while. Like I smoked a lot, but I quit about
[03:58.640 --> 04:06.560] like 25 plus years ago and haven't had a drag since. And, you know, and I had quit for two years,
[04:06.560 --> 04:12.160] some years before that. But then I went camping with friends and was drinking and had a few beers.
[04:12.160 --> 04:16.160] And I was like, hey, let me get a drag of that cigarette. One won't hurt. And my buddy was so
[04:16.160 --> 04:20.240] annoyed. He's like, here, just take one. And I'm like, no, no, I just want a drag. He's like,
[04:20.240 --> 04:24.480] I'm not giving you a drag. Like if you want to smoke take one and butt it out if you want. And,
[04:24.560 --> 04:29.520] and I was smoking again. So, but I'm also from the generation to you. And I mean, I think we're
[04:29.520 --> 04:35.920] probably around the same age. But back in the day, I tried, I tried quitting smoking so many damn
[04:35.920 --> 04:46.160] times. And I even did a friend's mom did laser therapy and successfully quit smoking. What,
[04:46.160 --> 04:53.520] wait, wait, wait, laser, what is that? Yeah. So this is probably I'm, you know, this is like pre-internet,
[04:53.520 --> 05:00.000] right? So we're talking like probably 1990, 91, something like that. And she had quit smoking
[05:00.000 --> 05:06.320] and swore by this laser therapy. So it was like days and days since she did it, she hadn't
[05:06.320 --> 05:12.000] craved or had a cigarette at all. And I'm like, wow, okay. And so I, I, you know, pulled up my money
[05:12.000 --> 05:16.640] and I think it was expensive, but not, you know, I mean, at the time, whatever I can't remember how
[05:16.640 --> 05:21.920] much it was. But and so I paid, it's a longer story, but the short version is that, well, the
[05:21.920 --> 05:30.400] medium version. I want to know about the laser. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So it was me going
[05:30.400 --> 05:38.960] to this, you know, sort of under script office in a sort of script mall somewhere. And yeah, okay,
[05:38.960 --> 05:44.160] whatever. And I go in and there's like a reception person. He's also in like a nurse kind of
[05:44.160 --> 05:51.200] role. And then there's a doctor who wears, who's not a doctor, who wears like a white lab coat.
[05:51.200 --> 05:56.640] And they have like an old dental chair there. Oh, my God. It's either, it's either going to be like
[05:56.640 --> 06:01.120] the mentoring or what was it? The marathon man scene where, you know,
[06:04.240 --> 06:12.400] it's safe. Is it safe? If you know, you know, and God, you dated yourself, bro. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
[06:12.400 --> 06:16.720] Hey, that movie still holds up, folks. Yeah. It's a little cringey. So,
[06:17.040 --> 06:25.200] Justin Hoffman. Yes, it is. Yes, it is. So anyway, so they put me in this chair and, you know,
[06:25.200 --> 06:30.640] the she comes in and like puts this ointment on me around. And then he pulls out this laser
[06:30.640 --> 06:35.200] and starts lasering these, these things, which I think was probably like a pen light.
[06:37.360 --> 06:44.160] I mean, nothing was burning those cat things. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Exactly. Yes. Yes.
[06:45.120 --> 06:55.760] A dangerous toy for an ADHD or especially undiagnosed. So, yeah. So I did it. And at the end,
[06:55.760 --> 07:00.320] he's like, congratulations. He's like, you are now a non-smoker. And I'm like, oh, wow.
[07:00.320 --> 07:05.520] Just like that. He's like, yep. And I got like a little paper certificate that said,
[07:05.520 --> 07:10.400] you are a non-smoker. And congratulations. Kind of thing. And I left. And I remember,
[07:10.400 --> 07:15.200] because I've taken a bus there. I think I was like maybe 18 or 19 years ago. So I take the bus
[07:16.080 --> 07:20.880] home. And I'm watching people smoking on the street. And I'm like, disgusting. Like, I'm actually
[07:20.880 --> 07:25.680] like, that is disgusting. What? I'm so proud of myself. I know I'm never going to do this again.
[07:25.680 --> 07:29.680] And then I see like cigarette butts on the ground, you know, while I'm walking. And I'm like
[07:29.680 --> 07:34.080] disgusting. And I'm, you know, watching movies back then and people are smoking. I'm like,
[07:34.080 --> 07:41.280] nope, never again. This is amazing. And I think about a week later, I started smoking again.
[07:43.120 --> 07:47.520] You probably had one right just to prove you could stay quit. I'm going to ask you just to show
[07:47.520 --> 07:53.120] myself that I'm not addicted anymore. Right. So I was right back to smoking again. And then I met
[07:53.120 --> 08:01.840] up with my friend's mom, who was also smoking again. So the lesson really was like, you know,
[08:01.840 --> 08:06.880] if somebody refers you to a program or something that works, wait until they're finished the
[08:06.880 --> 08:11.280] program and give them some time before you actually see if it actually works. Because I mean,
[08:11.280 --> 08:16.400] she was like me just a couple days, a few days after. And she was still on this gun hoe mindset
[08:16.400 --> 08:23.120] of like, yeah, she, she was convinced that she had quit. So, you know, it's, it's amazing. All
[08:23.120 --> 08:28.960] these different things to try to to quit. And obviously, you know, addiction is, is addiction.
[08:29.040 --> 08:36.080] And, and as an ADHD or, and again, I mean, this is, this is not just years. This is like decades
[08:36.080 --> 08:43.040] before I was diagnosed with ADHD. So I had no idea what ADD or ADHD was back then. Yeah.
[08:44.320 --> 08:50.560] But, you know, addiction is pretty rampant with, with our people and, and not to say everybody's
[08:50.560 --> 08:56.800] addicted, but it, but we could very well, more, probably more easily become addicted to things than
[08:56.800 --> 09:01.280] those who are, you know, that neurotypical. So, oh, you got to be, we got to be, we got to be,
[09:01.280 --> 09:05.920] numbing aspect too, right? The numbing aspect, we have people in our community who,
[09:06.960 --> 09:10.960] well, I mean, we're currently on a, we do challenges. So I think that's one of the ways you
[09:10.960 --> 09:16.240] gamified this stuff. But one of them is a no alcohol challenge. And you really get to know,
[09:18.640 --> 09:23.840] and I don't know if it's the addictive mentality or the just the desire to numb all that tension
[09:23.920 --> 09:32.080] that comes with the paralysis from ADHD. There's so many things that are, I desire reprieve from,
[09:32.080 --> 09:38.320] or I want to escape. And so, historically, I would go to nicotine, I would go to marijuana,
[09:39.680 --> 09:44.800] I would go to like alcohol, just non-moderated. And it's never like what the normies are like,
[09:44.800 --> 09:49.920] I could, I go out and I have a drink at the end of the night. I'm like, no, if I have a drink,
[09:50.000 --> 09:56.800] I'm drinking. Yes. That night I'm drinking. So it's just, it's super interesting.
[09:56.800 --> 10:02.480] I find a lot of, yeah, yeah, I mean, yeah, I quit. I haven't had a drink in five years.
[10:03.360 --> 10:09.840] Oh, right on. Yeah, June was my fifth year. So, and again, I quit before I was diagnosed
[10:10.480 --> 10:15.360] in 2020 when, you know, the world was imploding and there was all sorts of additional pressures
[10:15.360 --> 10:22.960] going on in my life. And just decided, you know, to take 30 days off. When I lived in Ireland,
[10:22.960 --> 10:27.040] we used to call it getting off the piss. So if you're like, hey, you're going out this weekend,
[10:27.040 --> 10:32.880] I'm off the piss. I'm off the piss. Yeah, yeah, I'm off the piss. And so I decided I'm
[10:32.880 --> 10:37.280] going to get off the piss for 30 days just to take a break because I was drinking too much because
[10:37.280 --> 10:43.520] of all the stress of everything. And so, and during that time, what happened was I found
[10:44.480 --> 10:51.440] that we've come a long way in non-alcoholic beer. And I was like, wait, and I remember it was
[10:51.440 --> 10:55.680] well-being was the first, well-being IPA, the first thing I found at this fancy grocery store.
[10:55.680 --> 11:03.600] I'm like, what the hell is this? And I mean, and by the way, the only choice that we had back in
[11:03.600 --> 11:10.400] the day, that was literally the piss. Like, you know, yeah, oh, Jules was terrible. And so I realized
[11:10.560 --> 11:15.520] like, holy crap, now I should also add that, you know, if somebody listening is an alcoholic,
[11:17.360 --> 11:23.120] you know, and I certainly had many blackouts and yeah, I drank like a fish back in the day as well.
[11:23.120 --> 11:29.760] I should add that like, you know, this is something like, even just a crack a can of something that
[11:29.760 --> 11:37.600] tastes like a beer that also has, often has like 0.05%. So it does actually have a touch of alcohol
[11:37.600 --> 11:43.200] that could be maybe dangerous for somebody who who is a severe alcoholic. So I'm not recommending
[11:43.200 --> 11:48.560] this for those who may be, but for those who are trying to quit or taking a break or just casual
[11:48.560 --> 11:55.120] drinkers who want to slip in a few non-alcoholics between the real thing. I highly recommend these
[11:55.120 --> 12:01.280] these types of beers or non beers. This was a conversation I had with somebody recently which I
[12:01.360 --> 12:07.120] find it's interesting, right? So the nicotine used to be such a part of my life. There was
[12:07.120 --> 12:11.760] such nostalgia to it. It was what accompanied all the good things in my life and it has helped
[12:11.760 --> 12:19.520] me escape the bad. But so the idea of not doing it anymore is so scary because like, oh, that means
[12:19.520 --> 12:24.640] a part of me is dead. That means I don't get to experience the joy. And I had the same thing,
[12:24.640 --> 12:34.720] a thought about alcohol even casually, right? Yeah. But I can go out and be the people go out
[12:34.720 --> 12:41.440] to dinners with friends and order water and still have a really good time. Yeah. To me was one of
[12:41.440 --> 12:48.560] those things like I can be that guy. It doesn't represent the only way access to joy or the access
[12:49.040 --> 12:56.160] to a good time. Yeah. So I find that fascinating. I think there's direct, like I think a lot about
[12:56.160 --> 13:03.200] reflecting on what I know now about my ADHD and also just ADHD in general, of course. But is
[13:04.800 --> 13:09.600] you know, in generalizing, of course, because I know it's different for different people. But you know,
[13:09.600 --> 13:16.720] I personally am highly, you know, I'm extroverted. I love chatting, telling stories, talking with
[13:16.720 --> 13:26.480] people. And I think also, you know, with the British Irish heritage, I think also the idea of a pub
[13:27.920 --> 13:34.160] like and having lived in Ireland and Scotland and London for a while, growing up and going to
[13:34.160 --> 13:41.600] pubs and my wife and I had our first date in a pub. We met after our first encounter. We met
[13:41.600 --> 13:46.080] at a pub. We lived in Ireland together. So we would, you know, go to pubs all the time. And the
[13:46.240 --> 13:51.040] thing with pubs is that they're staying for public in houses, right? Like there are public houses
[13:51.040 --> 13:55.920] rather, right? So they're places for people to connect. And yeah, if you have a drinking problem,
[13:55.920 --> 14:02.800] that could be a challenge. However, it was also just the social side. All of my friends did the
[14:02.800 --> 14:09.280] same thing. We would go out to the pub or bar numerous times a week. And that's where we would hang
[14:09.280 --> 14:13.920] out. I would go there when I had nothing to do or I was bored or as by myself. And I would either
[14:13.920 --> 14:19.840] make new friends or I would run into my friends later and we'd meet up there later. So like,
[14:19.840 --> 14:24.480] that was like a constant in my life. And it's something I do miss. I miss that because
[14:25.440 --> 14:31.200] it's not the same necessarily going to like a coffee shop or going to like a fast food or a
[14:31.200 --> 14:36.880] restaurant or some sort of, you know, it's not the vibe. The vibe's not the same. You know,
[14:36.880 --> 14:42.720] the other thing about public houses that I, you know, pubs is the thing I loved about them too.
[14:42.720 --> 14:49.200] And I love about them still is they, anybody can come. They don't, they don't, you know, they don't
[14:49.200 --> 14:55.120] have rules besides age limits, perhaps, but other than that, you know, anybody can come regardless
[14:55.120 --> 15:03.360] of your, your sexuality, gender, political beliefs, religious beliefs, whatever. And I think that's
[15:03.360 --> 15:10.480] where some of the best things, yes, bar fights do happen. But I think a lot of, I learned a lot about
[15:10.480 --> 15:16.080] other people by hanging out at the pub and meeting other people and having a few drinks and then
[15:16.080 --> 15:20.880] letting our hair down and, and shooting the shit about, you know, politics or religion. It's
[15:20.880 --> 15:25.520] funny like in Ireland, in Ireland, like they always say like for visitors going to Ireland, like
[15:25.520 --> 15:32.160] the two things you never talk about in a pub are politics and religion. And, and, but, you know,
[15:32.160 --> 15:36.400] of course, after a couple of pints, what are you talking about politics or religion, right?
[15:36.960 --> 15:43.440] Let me tell you what's pissing me off. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, but I think, you know,
[15:43.440 --> 15:49.920] and it's interesting now with like you mentioned marijuana because I think now with the legalization
[15:49.920 --> 15:57.440] of a lot of like like like weed, for example, with the legalization of weed in civilized states,
[15:57.440 --> 16:05.040] unlike Tennessee, of course. But in civilized places like Canada as well, I was talking about this
[16:05.040 --> 16:10.000] with friends when I was back home in Toronto recently, actually. And we were saying, man, like
[16:10.000 --> 16:14.240] everywhere you go walking down the street now, you smell weed everywhere. And it's kind of annoying.
[16:14.240 --> 16:18.000] But then we were talking about, and we were both used to smoke a ton of weed and stuff. But we were
[16:18.000 --> 16:23.840] talking about it. And we're like, yeah, but has there ever been like a fight that's broken out
[16:23.840 --> 16:28.480] between two people that were high on weed? I mean, because you think about pubs and bars letting
[16:28.480 --> 16:33.200] out at the end of the night and sometimes, you know, things happen. But yeah, it doesn't really know.
[16:33.200 --> 16:38.480] The rage in people and like weed is always like, hey, let's just order pizza and play video games.
[16:38.480 --> 16:43.280] Yeah, for me, I was just like a teddy bear drunk. So I was just like, I love everybody. And that
[16:46.400 --> 16:55.120] sound asleep locked up. But that's cool. So and what's keeping you busy between, you know, coaching
[16:55.120 --> 17:01.040] and running this group and your podcast. Let's talk about your podcast too. When did you start your
[17:01.040 --> 17:11.200] podcast? I'm October 2020. Okay, awesome. Yeah, I was the, I don't know, it's not sad story,
[17:11.200 --> 17:16.880] really, but it's the I right during the pandemic, you know, all our smiles went away. And I got
[17:16.880 --> 17:22.080] really depressed because everybody we were wearing masks and no one would look at anybody in the eye
[17:22.080 --> 17:30.000] anymore at the grocery store and it crushed me. I fell into a dark hole, a deep
[17:30.000 --> 17:39.920] handsome of despair, shall we say. And so I started, I did purpose work where I discovered kind of
[17:41.120 --> 17:47.360] my purpose was in some manner of servitude. That lights me up. And so I just started being
[17:47.360 --> 17:55.440] motivating on Facebook, making videos and talking about things. And I was, I had been diagnosed
[17:56.400 --> 18:00.560] with ADHD at that point. So I had learned all these strategies and started implementing them. And
[18:02.000 --> 18:05.760] and moving the needle forward, wild depressed, and trying to
[18:06.800 --> 18:11.520] was like, this is really fucking hard. And I should, I need to share some stuff and collaborate and
[18:11.520 --> 18:16.560] do this as a thing. So I started making these videos. But then I was like, I, I want to do this
[18:17.200 --> 18:24.240] legit, like in a bigger way. But I don't have it in me to give a shit about how I look. And
[18:24.240 --> 18:30.160] and the, the, the set, I have an entertainment back. I'm in LA. I was an actor for like over a decade.
[18:30.160 --> 18:37.520] And, and that was more true. But all the things that go into the, the, that was too much for me.
[18:37.600 --> 18:45.680] But I could easily grab a microphone and just ramble on and share what I have to share.
[18:45.680 --> 18:50.960] So that's how the podcast started. And then I got like, Adam Savage shouted, shouted it out at one
[18:50.960 --> 18:57.040] point. That was a bit buster guy. Yeah. Yeah. I was like, one day I had just all of a sudden a
[18:57.040 --> 19:03.360] a gabillion. That's not a real number. But it was a massive spike. And I was like, what the hell's
[19:03.360 --> 19:10.720] going on right now? Yeah. So it's amazing. It's been a really rewarding experience. And I think
[19:10.720 --> 19:15.520] about, it took me about a year to get to a point where I was like, okay, no matter what,
[19:16.240 --> 19:22.240] I'm going to put an episode out every Monday. That's my, that's, and so I've, I'm no replays,
[19:22.240 --> 19:26.560] no nothing like that. I'm just going to put an episode out every single Monday. Sometimes
[19:26.560 --> 19:32.800] their guests, and more often than not, that's just me rambling for 15 minutes. I'm really in
[19:32.800 --> 19:40.160] service of doing the work. I don't want to be doing a podcast. If, if nobody's doing the work,
[19:40.160 --> 19:44.960] if it's just another place for people to learn, I'm like, I don't give a shit. I don't care. But
[19:44.960 --> 19:51.520] so I try to put challenges in there and to be like, we're all trying to figure out a way to
[19:51.520 --> 19:57.600] manage our lives. And we're all trying to figure out a way to get on the other end of certain struggles.
[19:58.480 --> 20:04.720] And I, I don't know about you, but I find that a lot of us want our brains to switch and then
[20:04.720 --> 20:10.640] we'll have the motivation to do a thing. I don't believe that. I believe so much that we are,
[20:11.360 --> 20:18.640] we need to find a way to do. And the nudge down the mountain is what it builds the momentum.
[20:18.720 --> 20:23.760] But agree. Yeah. Yeah. The mindset shifting is really hard to wrap my head around.
[20:23.760 --> 20:29.920] Yeah. No, I agree. I mean, we do tend to get stuck. And especially when, you know, I've mentioned
[20:29.920 --> 20:34.000] it so many times on the show, but the map and, you know, ADHDers already know this, right? Like that
[20:34.000 --> 20:38.320] when novelty kind of wears off on whatever we're doing, then it's like tough to get back at it.
[20:39.200 --> 20:46.960] It's kind of a curse of ADHD, I think. But I also, yeah, I think, I think getting stuck is
[20:47.760 --> 20:54.880] is a big one and trying to find that momentum and to keep going. So you back and out, back and
[20:54.880 --> 21:00.720] up a little bit. Where are you from originally? Let's back it up. I'm back up. I'm from Pacific
[21:00.720 --> 21:07.680] Northwest right on the border of Canada. Okay. Nice. Really small town. I'm a small town kid.
[21:07.680 --> 21:15.440] I moved to LA when I was 19 because I did not know I had ADHD as a kid. So I went from the
[21:15.440 --> 21:22.320] structure of my parents and get good grades, or you're grounded, plus the fact that small town
[21:22.320 --> 21:27.200] school is really freaking easy. So I was a straight A student, even though the quality of my work
[21:27.200 --> 21:32.000] varied from day to day, and even though I would do my homework, but forget to turn it in and move it.
[21:32.000 --> 21:39.280] But I went to community college for a year. So I went from structure to no structure. I can do
[21:39.280 --> 21:47.040] whatever I want, whenever I want. And I kicked ass in the, in the plays drama. I was awesome at
[21:47.040 --> 21:53.920] drama, but everything else sort of like sunk. And I just thought that that meant I meant to be an
[21:53.920 --> 21:59.280] actor. So I worked at my dad's lumber mill, saved up money and said, sorry guys, I got to go with
[21:59.280 --> 22:03.920] this is what I'm supposed to do. So I moved to LA. And it worked. I mean, I joined the Miser
[22:03.920 --> 22:11.840] Center. I got a great acting education. I love the art of the acting, me too, the craft as
[22:11.840 --> 22:19.360] they call it. Yeah. And I did sketch comedy. I, we talked about this improv, right? Yeah. Yeah.
[22:19.360 --> 22:26.560] I trained with second city in Toronto. Yeah. And so the, yeah, that's, I, so I've been in the LA
[22:26.720 --> 22:33.760] area ever since. Are you still a working actor too? Or what do you do? Like, well, I've done stuff.
[22:33.760 --> 22:42.960] Like I, when I, I'll do stand up sometimes for shits and giggles. I, I have, I've had friends
[22:42.960 --> 22:48.640] that, because I know people in the, in the industry, right? So if, if anybody ever is like, hey,
[22:48.640 --> 22:53.280] can you want to do a thing and help me out real quick? I will. But I'm not auditioning anymore,
[22:54.000 --> 23:01.360] driving to Santa Monica at 5 p.m. To, to say, no, that's a pizza. Like those days, I'm not doing
[23:01.360 --> 23:08.000] that. I'd rather help people with ADHD. So give me the timeline. So you moved to LA when you're 19.
[23:08.880 --> 23:14.800] Yeah, turn. And so, so you've been there since. And then, yeah, I'm 50. I just turned 50.
[23:14.800 --> 23:20.000] Thank you very much. Happy birthday. There's my cake. Yes. Yes. Yes. The half century mark. I'm
[23:20.000 --> 23:27.120] 53. So yeah, yeah. I'm so you, so, so you moved to LA to become an actor and to pursue that,
[23:27.120 --> 23:33.760] which is commendable. It's awesome. And then, and then you're, when were you diagnosed with ADHD?
[23:35.120 --> 23:42.560] 40. 40. I was getting divorced. So I have two kids and we were getting divorced and we,
[23:42.560 --> 23:46.080] we were in therapy. We were in couples counseling and the couples counseling. So it was like, have
[23:46.080 --> 23:51.040] you ever considered you might have ADHD? And I'm like, where are we working on the marriage?
[23:52.480 --> 23:57.760] And he's like, well, maybe look into that. That's when I discovered it. So about 10 years ago.
[23:57.760 --> 24:03.600] Okay. Yeah. So it's, yeah, I'm just, yeah, it's interesting because, well, first of all,
[24:03.600 --> 24:11.760] like I'm kind of, I mean, I know the struggles of acting and, and, and art in, in, in that it's,
[24:11.760 --> 24:16.640] even as a speaker, because a lot of what I do is keynote speeches and presentations, right?
[24:16.640 --> 24:23.680] But which can be really profitable, like acting, but like acting, it's gig to gig.
[24:23.680 --> 24:28.080] It's awesome, right? Yeah. Yeah. And, and it gets kind of exhausting. Sometimes
[24:28.720 --> 24:33.040] during those quieter periods or those seasonal, there's seasonality to it as well.
[24:33.920 --> 24:39.120] But yeah, I used to do extra work in Toronto. Oh, yeah. Always begging for like a speaking,
[24:39.120 --> 24:46.880] you know, just like one word. Yeah, because as all you, because for, for folks who don't,
[24:46.880 --> 24:52.960] who may not know, like as an extra background actor, you know, you get paid whatever minimum wage
[24:52.960 --> 24:58.240] and, and you're kind of just, you know, it's a long, long days of just doing the same thing over and
[24:58.240 --> 25:04.080] over, much like acting. The difference though is that, yeah, as I said, you get paid crap. And,
[25:04.080 --> 25:08.240] but if you get, if you, at least in Canada, and I'm sure it's probably the same in the states,
[25:08.320 --> 25:15.040] if you say like a word, then they have to, then, then now you're in Canada, it's IATI, I think.
[25:15.040 --> 25:20.880] So like you join the union, you basically, now you get your card. And now as, as a,
[25:20.880 --> 25:27.520] a working actor, even if you've only said one word, now you're getting paid what you deserve.
[25:27.520 --> 25:32.080] And now like, wow, things can really take off from there. I never got that, that one word.
[25:32.080 --> 25:42.640] So I've done, you know, I, my, my claim to fame is the scene in, in what's it called Studio 54
[25:43.440 --> 25:49.920] with Mike Myers, Neve Campbell. Yeah, so the scene is when Ryan Philippe enters the night club for
[25:49.920 --> 25:54.320] the first time and he's so green and young and he doesn't know what's what, and he's looking around
[25:54.320 --> 25:59.040] and he's standing on the dance floor in awe. And this is, you know, disco times is supposed to be in
[25:59.040 --> 26:05.520] the 70s. And, and, and they do this camera pan across the dance floor. Do we see you?
[26:06.240 --> 26:13.840] And you see me like right over his shoulder doing this terrible dance. I have a wig in the scene
[26:13.840 --> 26:19.600] and, and because it's supposed to be the 70s and I had like a crew cut back then. So I have a wig,
[26:19.600 --> 26:25.440] but you can definitely see me and I'll tell you a very, that is awesome. I'll tell you a very geeky,
[26:25.520 --> 26:31.600] funny thing here, where when I lived in Ireland, I was working under the table at a lot of places and
[26:31.600 --> 26:36.640] I worked at a video store at night and working it and I'm a big movie nerd. I love, I love it. So
[26:36.640 --> 26:41.040] that, that works for me perfectly. But I'm working at this video store and these girls had rented
[26:41.040 --> 26:45.680] Studio 54. So they bring it back to return it. They're looking for another movie to rent and I
[26:45.680 --> 26:50.800] queued up my scene on the TVs. And I said, you guys want to, and this is in Galway, Ireland on the
[26:50.800 --> 26:56.480] West Coast. So really, you know, it was like 60,000 people in the, in the town. And so I show them,
[26:56.480 --> 27:00.080] I said, you guys want to see something cool. And they're like, yeah, sure. And I queued up my scene.
[27:00.800 --> 27:08.000] And both of their jaws drop like, what the hell? And I'm like, feeling all proud and like,
[27:08.000 --> 27:14.880] check me out. And then one of the girls without Mississippi says, what mistakes did you make in your
[27:14.880 --> 27:21.600] life from going from a Hollywood film to working at the video shop in Galway? And I was like,
[27:21.600 --> 27:26.320] it's a long road. It's a long road. She put everything in perspective in that, that moment.
[27:27.360 --> 27:33.600] It's so funny. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, but I was also asking about the ADHD diagnosis.
[27:34.640 --> 27:41.760] And acting and comedy and stuff because, you know, rejection sensitive dysphoria, RSD,
[27:42.560 --> 27:52.160] is a popular thing for ADHDers. And did you, I mean, obviously, when you're depicted over and over again,
[27:52.160 --> 27:56.480] and actors have to face that through the auditioning process constantly.
[27:57.200 --> 28:03.200] Yeah, that's a really interesting question on you. Or sometimes, you know, so I was pretty successful
[28:03.200 --> 28:11.120] with commercials. So I did a bunch of work. And I, I became really confident in the
[28:11.600 --> 28:17.920] craft. Or like, the Miser Center was really good for ripping you open and getting me to a place where
[28:19.600 --> 28:26.640] it's so funny. Like, one on one in person and in crowds, I get really uncomfortable. And I get
[28:27.600 --> 28:34.960] very hyper aware of me and like self-loading thoughts and all that stuff. But when I'm performing,
[28:35.040 --> 28:42.800] I don't give a shit. I actually, I'm like, I'm allowed, I'm having fun. And I don't, it's like,
[28:42.800 --> 28:49.680] I don't care. I had a couple of times doing stand-up where, and I never did stand-up on a high level.
[28:49.680 --> 28:57.520] I more did sketch comedy and toured that way. But I had one time where I came off of doing a set at
[28:57.520 --> 29:03.280] the improv. And I was really good. It was, it was awesome. And it was new material type stuff. And
[29:03.280 --> 29:09.200] then I went and did an open mic the next day or something. Same material. Nothing happened.
[29:09.920 --> 29:17.040] And I, I, I imploded. It's like, logically, I imploded. I was like, Oh, I'm not funny. Oh,
[29:17.040 --> 29:22.640] I'm a piece of shit. Oh, my God. And I, I don't think I did stand up for like, it took me four
[29:22.640 --> 29:31.280] months before I tried again. It's crazy. But for the most part, performing and doing stuff like
[29:31.280 --> 29:38.800] that is easier for me than, I don't know, in terms of rejection sensitivity. I remember like,
[29:38.800 --> 29:44.560] what I worked at UPS for a while. And I remember I was just getting trained. One of the guys there,
[29:45.200 --> 29:48.160] I was asking a question because I was getting trained. But he was in the middle of doing something
[29:48.160 --> 29:53.120] dizzy. And so I was like, yeah, what about this? And he's like, get with Pam. I'm making the name
[29:53.120 --> 29:59.200] out. But, and I was like, yeah, but I just need to know, get with Pam. He really, like, I had really
[29:59.200 --> 30:06.400] frustrated him. And I was like, Oh, my God, he hates me as a human being. I'm, I'm the worst human
[30:06.400 --> 30:12.880] being in the world. And it probably took me three days to do all this CBT cognitive behavioral.
[30:12.880 --> 30:18.240] What could he have meant by get with Pam? Maybe you weren't, maybe you were frustrating him. And
[30:18.240 --> 30:24.000] maybe that's normal. People can get frustrated. Does he really, you dead? Would he really hire
[30:24.000 --> 30:31.280] someone to murder you? You know, it's so some of those things could still get to me, I guess.
[30:31.280 --> 30:38.800] Do you think the acting that you felt more comfortable in roles or auditioning in roles because
[30:38.800 --> 30:45.120] of the, you know, you think of even traditionally with, when you think of like icons of acting,
[30:45.120 --> 30:51.360] like, like, and I'm talking about like iconography, things like the, the happy and sad masks. I mean,
[30:51.360 --> 30:56.800] you're masking. You're wearing a mask as an actor, regardless of whether it's actually a mask,
[30:56.800 --> 31:01.680] right? You're pretending you're someone else and you're sort of protected behind that character.
[31:02.720 --> 31:08.160] In a sense, it's almost like a great actor would do that, right? Because you are falling into,
[31:08.160 --> 31:13.040] I remember listening, I listened to smart letters, which is, you know, like so many others,
[31:13.040 --> 31:17.040] great podcasts. And I remember Jason Bayman once talking about that where like how,
[31:18.000 --> 31:22.080] was an interesting perspective, especially for somebody who's like a child actor and who's
[31:22.080 --> 31:29.120] only really acted in his whole career and life. But he was talking about how as actors,
[31:30.960 --> 31:37.040] every time you take on a role, like a consistent role, you're sort of abandoning who you are.
[31:37.760 --> 31:41.440] And you're becoming that new person. And he was talking about how like their,
[31:42.080 --> 31:46.800] you know, especially seasoned actors who have had long careers of acting, they're sort of just like
[31:46.800 --> 31:53.600] clay, like they don't really have much personality in a way or maybe they do, but you know what I mean,
[31:53.600 --> 32:00.160] like because they don't know who they are as an individual because they're craft and their work
[32:00.160 --> 32:06.560] is to become other people. That's so interesting. That's very interesting. I don't have that level of
[32:06.560 --> 32:12.160] experience to speak to that. But in the commercial world, I think every time I went into a room,
[32:12.160 --> 32:18.000] I was mostly just me. It's how would Bruce Jones say these things if this was the circumscent?
[32:18.000 --> 32:24.880] That's very my turner, right? Truth and given imaginary circumstances. But the
[32:26.960 --> 32:32.880] it's like you would kind of know you're in there to do a job, you're auditioning for the job,
[32:32.880 --> 32:38.240] right? So here's my interview piece, or what let's just say, hey, let's do the interview. And then
[32:38.240 --> 32:44.800] you leave, it's becoming better. I think the skill set was becoming good at throwing it away
[32:44.800 --> 32:49.600] afterwards and be like, I don't even want to, I'm not going to dwell. I think early on, I'd be like,
[32:49.600 --> 32:55.280] yeah, I did an audition. Now I'm going to wait. I hope I hear back. And really it's, it's a
[32:55.280 --> 33:00.400] numbers game for a lot of us. If your number will come up at some point and are you ready when
[33:00.400 --> 33:07.280] that does happen? That is interesting now because I don't think, I think most people have some sort of
[33:07.280 --> 33:15.040] idea of what an actor's audition, you know, setting would look like, you know, a couple people,
[33:15.040 --> 33:19.440] a few people sitting behind a table and you're standing in the room, some unscripted office or
[33:19.440 --> 33:28.400] something. But I think I've heard a lot, especially if somebody who loves acting and comedy and
[33:28.400 --> 33:34.080] all that good stuff, and who has maybe hidden aspirations of doing more of that.
[33:34.160 --> 33:41.360] But I don't think a lot of people will realize part of the audition process is exactly as you
[33:41.360 --> 33:48.080] just said. It's what you do after you leave the audition, right? And how you handle that
[33:49.600 --> 33:54.240] from a, you know, mental health sort of perspective, right? Of just kind of, yeah, okay.
[33:54.960 --> 34:01.200] You know, it is, but it is, or the heartbreaking stories I hear from people and even some of my
[34:01.200 --> 34:05.600] own extra work when, you know, you work on something for weeks, you get paid and everything,
[34:05.600 --> 34:10.880] which is nice. But then you get cut from the, from the end product. So you finally see the film
[34:10.880 --> 34:15.520] and you bring your friends and wait a minute. Your whole scene has been removed from the film.
[34:15.520 --> 34:20.720] Or you're just there and you go like, I, it was going to be there. It was going to be there.
[34:21.840 --> 34:26.160] That was the beginning of it. And then you're cut. And it's like, I think Brian
[34:26.160 --> 34:31.360] Cranston had something, he'd said something I want him. I don't know where I'd heard it. But it's
[34:31.360 --> 34:37.440] like the audition is the performance. That's where you do your performing. And that's the, and that's
[34:37.440 --> 34:42.080] you leave it all there. You leave it all there. Yeah, that's if you get the job, you get the job
[34:42.080 --> 34:48.960] great. But the performance is the audition. I think, you know, and it's anecdotal, of course, but I
[34:48.960 --> 34:57.680] really do believe, you know, that so many people in the creative business in the arts are often
[34:57.680 --> 35:06.000] ADHDers, often, perhaps undiagnosed or, you know, they don't even know. Do you find that as well?
[35:07.600 --> 35:12.400] I would imagine, but really it's just speculative, right? In terms of like, I'd bet you
[35:12.400 --> 35:16.480] anything based on your personality and how I'm talking to you. And you know what I mean,
[35:16.480 --> 35:24.320] those kinds of things. But yeah, I think so. And entrepreneur, so thepreneur type people, holy
[35:24.320 --> 35:28.560] shit, I'm going to say yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, there's yeah, there's studies on that one for sure.
[35:29.760 --> 35:37.120] Rick White, a fantastic Canadian comic and he was in the red green show and he did sketch comedy
[35:37.120 --> 35:42.640] back in the day. He did the show for on the floor, the frantic's back in like the 80s and kind of
[35:42.640 --> 35:47.760] before kids in the hall, certainly inspiring kids in the hall, like Dave Foley gave him a shout out
[35:47.760 --> 35:53.840] when he was winning. Oh, wow. And so I had Rick White on who has a YouTube channel all about
[35:53.840 --> 36:00.560] his ADHD now and talks a lot about about that topic. He's fantastic. He's been on the podcast.
[36:00.560 --> 36:06.800] He's great. Rick White. Rick White. Yeah, yeah, it was funny because when I started the interview with
[36:06.800 --> 36:12.080] him, I don't know if I included it, but I was like, he had, he was introduced from someone else to
[36:12.720 --> 36:17.600] me because of my love of comedy and acting and being a Canadian and a canaric and now, I guess.
[36:20.960 --> 36:27.360] He appeared on my screen and I was like, I was like, oh my god, you're that Rick White. Like,
[36:27.360 --> 36:33.760] I was like, we like, like I grew up on him. Like, I mean, he's probably a decade or more older than
[36:33.760 --> 36:42.000] me. So he was always on TV growing up. So I was blown away. But let's talk a little bit about sketch
[36:42.000 --> 36:49.840] comedy, actually, because I'm curious. I'm curious. Like, what was your experiences in that world?
[36:49.840 --> 36:56.000] And obviously connecting it, keeping in mind that, you know, listeners are, you know, often late
[36:56.000 --> 37:04.080] diagnosed adults with ADHD, but, you know, I think comedy and performance, even if you're performing
[37:04.080 --> 37:10.720] in a job interview or in a in a prospective client call or something like that or in the day to day,
[37:11.680 --> 37:16.320] I think there's, there's elements there, but without trying to find a connection.
[37:16.880 --> 37:24.000] I already was doing that while you were talking. Yeah, I'm connecting dots. I just say this about,
[37:24.960 --> 37:31.920] well, I don't know about sketch. Yeah, okay. So the, well, first of all, I'll tell you how it connects,
[37:31.920 --> 37:38.400] first of all, how it connects in my mind is that it's all a matter of practicing a thing.
[37:39.040 --> 37:45.040] It reminds me of like getting comfortable dancing in my car. Like, I really like music and
[37:45.040 --> 37:49.680] I saw I want to get crazy with it, you know, in my car, but I would always feel really insecure
[37:49.680 --> 37:55.600] the people when at stoplights that people are watching. And so I just started tapping my thumbs
[37:55.600 --> 38:02.480] on the wheel and like experiencing the discomfort and seeing that I don't die from it. And then
[38:02.560 --> 38:10.320] just raising the bar a little bit each time. And now I will full on break out like a madman at a stoplight.
[38:10.320 --> 38:15.280] And you're welcome for the show. Everybody that's the people on the crosswalk that are walking by,
[38:15.280 --> 38:22.160] like, what the hell? Yeah, why not? Right? Why not? Yeah, I want to feel joy in the moment.
[38:22.160 --> 38:26.800] Well, I always like making people smile and laugh. Like, I'm always, I embarrass my kids every time
[38:26.800 --> 38:30.960] we go to the grocery store, but that's that's always my goal is just brighten people's day. Like,
[38:30.960 --> 38:34.560] say something funny that they might have been used by, but sorry, go on.
[38:34.560 --> 38:38.800] It's contagious. So don't grab on to it. It's ill you'll infect them with your joy.
[38:41.200 --> 38:48.960] I auditioned for the sketch troop, kind of earlier on, like early 20s, that was coming down from
[38:48.960 --> 38:55.920] Oregon. And one of the guys that was moving down from Oregon that we did the show with,
[38:56.880 --> 39:02.320] well, I got the part and then I did the sketch comedy show and I wrote some sketches for it. And
[39:04.880 --> 39:10.480] after the show, my buddy and I that I met, who's still my best friend to this day here in L.A.,
[39:10.480 --> 39:17.040] we literally walk the Rose Bowl every Sunday. That's great. He's still working. He's on shows and
[39:17.040 --> 39:24.080] he's working great. But we both have the same complaint about sketch comedy, especially when you
[39:24.080 --> 39:28.560] go to a live event. It's very lights up lights down. You know, it's very staring at live. Here's
[39:28.560 --> 39:35.760] the sketch. Sketch is over. New sketch. And so we wanted to do a thing kind of like Monty Python was
[39:35.760 --> 39:40.640] doing like on their lie on their TV shows. Like they would transition from one thing to the next,
[39:40.640 --> 39:46.240] right? Yes, yeah, yeah. And so our mission and it was just three of us. We got a buddy, Michael,
[39:47.600 --> 39:53.360] in the troop, and it was just three of us. And we were everything. So we would and we there was
[39:53.360 --> 39:58.800] no blackouts. We were not allowed to do a blackout. So we would do these 45 minute shows that were
[39:58.800 --> 40:04.320] a series of sketches that then we found transitions. Like that character could be the character
[40:04.320 --> 40:11.840] in this sketch. Yes. And we would start every show covered in clothes that we would peel off quickly
[40:11.840 --> 40:17.600] and then we would grab a new wig and then get on. And it was the most adrenaline high octane
[40:18.320 --> 40:24.320] sketch comedy shows that it was super, super fun. And that was a highlight of my
[40:25.040 --> 40:28.960] existence on this planet. And for the what year was that around?
[40:30.000 --> 40:32.480] Oh, man, you can't ask me questions like that. How dare you?
[40:33.920 --> 40:40.080] As 20s, I don't know. Yeah, there's a reason why I was asking actually because it sounds like Mr.
[40:40.080 --> 40:48.640] Show. Because oh, I loved Mr. Show. I like I'm a huge Mr. Show fan. I think honestly,
[40:48.640 --> 40:59.360] I think I think I honestly think Mr. Show was I'm a die-hard kids in the whole fan and a Toronto
[40:59.360 --> 41:04.000] guy. So, you know, I grew up on kids in the hall. I saw I run into them. I saw them taped a
[41:04.000 --> 41:09.840] couple times. So big big time kids in the whole fan and I love kids in the hall. Yeah, same.
[41:10.400 --> 41:16.240] But compared like Mr. Show, I think was probably the best sketch comedy since
[41:16.240 --> 41:21.280] Monty Python's flying circus with kids in the hall being a very close second place as well.
[41:22.560 --> 41:28.240] But I think a lot of sketch come to your point like a lot of sketch comedy where it falls flat
[41:28.240 --> 41:34.080] often is that it is that transition because they don't know how to end the sketch or the scene.
[41:34.640 --> 41:40.480] And so you don't quite know. And when you're performing improv, you know, you have the other actors
[41:40.480 --> 41:48.080] on backstage who can, you know, do flyby as an eagle and suddenly strike the scene and save you
[41:48.080 --> 41:52.000] from a scene that's crashing and burning anyway because with improv, of course, nothing is
[41:52.080 --> 41:58.160] wrong. So there is, you know, strategies there. But as far as like sketch comedy, that's amazing
[41:58.160 --> 42:04.480] now. That's great. That's so that's that's that's fantastic. One thing with Rick White on the
[42:04.480 --> 42:10.720] podcast when I spoke with him about sketch comedy, he was talking about reflecting on his ADHD as a
[42:10.720 --> 42:19.040] performer and as a, you know, comic and writer. He said he could write sketch comedy so much better
[42:19.840 --> 42:27.520] than like a movie script or a book because they're also short and quick and yeah, and with ADHD,
[42:27.520 --> 42:31.280] yeah, you're on to the next thing or you get bored of the project because it's too big.
[42:32.000 --> 42:35.600] And then not as I mentioned earlier, the novelty runs off. So for sketch, it's like
[42:36.000 --> 42:40.400] write a sketch, write a scene, fine tune it, make it great and then get on the next one and the
[42:40.400 --> 42:44.720] next one and the next one and the next one and the next one. That's awesome. Yeah. I got like in
[42:45.680 --> 42:51.120] buddy of mine called me first draft Jones to my, I don't know if it's my superpower or not, but
[42:51.120 --> 42:59.600] I could see the sketch in my head and just write it and this is what it is. So that to me was a
[42:59.600 --> 43:05.120] pure joy of like, you know, when you're like, you talk about flow, you talk about, you give up time
[43:05.120 --> 43:11.360] and all like you just get into you embody the thing that you're doing. It's very spiritual. Yeah.
[43:11.360 --> 43:18.720] That's one of the things that I got from doing sketch comedy. And what made you, and you know,
[43:18.720 --> 43:22.000] and I just don't, I mean, I kept saying Rick White and I have some sort of
[43:22.720 --> 43:27.280] holler dyslexia. I don't know, but it's Rick Green. I keep saying Rick White. No way.
[43:28.320 --> 43:31.920] Every time I'm down Rick White, you bastard. Now I'm gonna be right it. Okay.
[43:31.920 --> 43:37.840] Oh, Rick White's a great, great performer and a great Canadian band called Eric Strip. So you can
[43:37.840 --> 43:43.760] look at him up later. But the reason why I came to say it's because he was on the show, the red
[43:43.760 --> 43:52.640] green show. And then there's Tom Green and there's no relation whatsoever. But so it's so my
[43:52.640 --> 43:58.080] head like Zippy Zappies in your school's bigoted. It's like, so yeah, so Rick Green, if you're playing
[43:58.080 --> 44:07.760] from home, just to be to be clear on that. But yeah, so and as far as like like the creative
[44:08.640 --> 44:16.000] world out, you know, you know, if people have are aspiring actors or comics or sketch writers or
[44:16.000 --> 44:22.080] what have you, what advice would you give people regardless of their neurotype? Like, is it?
[44:22.880 --> 44:31.040] Oh, just you do it because for the love of doing it, because it's just an arduous soul sucking
[44:31.040 --> 44:38.320] journey. I mean, the entertainment industry is pretty soul sucking. I left because I found
[44:38.320 --> 44:44.720] nope my purpose went away. And I was like, I'm I was successful with commercials. Like I was
[44:44.720 --> 44:49.600] doing many commercials and you don't you don't need to do a lot to make money. You make money.
[44:50.560 --> 44:55.920] Back in the day, the residual structure was phenomenal. But I was like, I don't know if I believe
[44:55.920 --> 45:01.360] in these companies. And and yet I'm I'm a puppet. I'm also like that's a pizza for anybody. I don't
[45:01.360 --> 45:12.000] you know, and the process nobody really is it's just really a soul sucking place. So to do it as
[45:12.000 --> 45:18.720] a career, you have to really, really want to do it. And so then the journey is irrelevant.
[45:19.360 --> 45:23.440] The journey is a joyful journey because you're performing and you're doing
[45:23.440 --> 45:27.840] performances anywhere you can all the time. Yeah, I keep telling people,
[45:28.800 --> 45:34.080] you know, when I like my coaching clients and things that, you know, or companies that that
[45:34.080 --> 45:39.600] want to start a podcast, right? And I've done a lot of public speaking and training about
[45:39.600 --> 45:44.560] podcasting back in the day. I did like two, like a whole day workshop on or two day workshop on,
[45:45.120 --> 45:50.080] you know, from from the idea all the way to getting it in Apple and blah, blah, blah.
[45:50.080 --> 45:56.240] So I've been podcasting for so long, but I think so many people fail at podcasting or pod fade as
[45:56.240 --> 46:02.960] we would say. Yeah, yeah, it's like when you do like a daily show. And then it's going to be
[46:02.960 --> 46:09.440] wow, it's too weekly. And then it's like, I'm so excited. And then it's like monthly. And then it's
[46:09.440 --> 46:15.600] like get around to it. Yeah, yeah. And then it's just another old podcast collecting dust in the
[46:15.600 --> 46:21.200] internet. How many times do you see those podcasts? And they'll it'll be like, sorry, I've been away.
[46:21.200 --> 46:27.120] It's there's so many apologies for coming back late. Yeah. Oh, man. Yeah. Yeah, it's I mean,
[46:27.120 --> 46:32.080] in in in 20 years of podcasting, obviously, I always joke that like how'd I know I had ADHD
[46:32.080 --> 46:37.520] back in 2005? I would have started the ADHD podcast. And I would have like Joe Rogan money now.
[46:37.520 --> 46:44.960] But instead, this is what this is probably why squirrels is probably like my eighth or ninth
[46:44.960 --> 46:50.560] podcast. Well, that's some good advice to give to people like people that want to start a podcast.
[46:50.560 --> 46:56.720] What would you say? Is it the same advice as acting? I'd say why I would ask them why? Why do you
[46:56.720 --> 47:02.240] want to start a podcast? And then why I wrote a blog post back like Christmas one year and I called
[47:02.400 --> 47:09.600] the three wise man like ask yourself three wise almost like the next thing. What are they? But why?
[47:10.480 --> 47:16.960] Right. For me, why do I do it? Or like, what are your three wise? That's a good question or
[47:16.960 --> 47:24.320] question. So for podcasting, I've I studied radio and television broadcasting and majored in radio.
[47:24.320 --> 47:31.760] I've always loved I've always loved the medium. So, you know, I edit my own show because I enjoy
[47:31.760 --> 47:39.040] editing waveforms, even though it's a time suck. But I edit my own show. So I do it because
[47:39.600 --> 47:46.800] I love the idea of alternative media this way before it all went weird and, you know, we can talk about
[47:46.800 --> 47:53.760] that. But yeah, I just I love talking with people. I love platforming great people who are smart and
[47:53.840 --> 48:03.680] not freaks or people that are sharing bad ideas. And yeah, I love talking. I'm clearly
[48:03.680 --> 48:09.520] I'm like, yeah, you do. Yeah, at what point do you let the guests speak on your podcast day? Wow,
[48:09.520 --> 48:17.280] I'm I'm going to go make some coffee, Dave. Geez. This is really good because I know that a lot of
[48:17.280 --> 48:22.880] people will want will want to know like I'm a people that listen to podcasts are probably people
[48:22.880 --> 48:28.720] that might also want to make a podcast. I might think is like I would want to make sure I had
[48:28.720 --> 48:33.840] something to say. It's the second I stopped having something to say. I'm probably just going to
[48:33.840 --> 48:39.680] fade away. I'll get potted, dude. But that's the thing. I think I think you have to have
[48:40.720 --> 48:45.680] there's different podcasts. There's different formats of podcasting. If you want to do a podcast
[48:45.680 --> 48:52.320] as a hobby as just a place to share what's on your mind, awesome. I've done multiple podcasts like
[48:52.320 --> 48:59.520] that. And that's great. So go do it. That's a hobby. If you want to do a podcast, it's like actually
[48:59.520 --> 49:05.360] like for a professional reason, there's different facets of that. So like a brand could do a podcast
[49:05.360 --> 49:09.680] to promote its products and services without sharing and being icky because then nobody will listen.
[49:10.960 --> 49:15.360] Or there's like I have a chapter of my book in new business networking about podcasting
[49:15.360 --> 49:21.360] as a way to network with people where it's a great way for you to, if you reach out to the CEO of
[49:21.360 --> 49:28.240] company X, they're not company X. Don't reach out to that one. Company Y. Yeah, let's say
[49:28.240 --> 49:32.880] a company Y. If you reach out to the CEO company Y, yeah, she's going to be like, no, I don't
[49:32.880 --> 49:36.720] want to talk to you. Or she wouldn't even reply. But if you reach out to her and say, hey,
[49:36.720 --> 49:42.080] I'd love to have you on my podcast to talk about your business. Yeah. Okay. But then the podcast
[49:42.080 --> 49:46.000] really is a way for you to network and you're doing it legitimately and you're trying to promote
[49:46.000 --> 49:51.200] that conversation, of course, you're not just, you know, lying. But that's the goal of that
[49:51.200 --> 49:58.320] podcast is to network and I've done podcasts like that for Y Squirrels. You feel like, do you feel like
[50:00.320 --> 50:06.720] it's a cool opportunity to meet these people, right? Like Ari Takman, right? He's on his book tour,
[50:06.720 --> 50:10.720] right? I got to speak to him. I know you got to speak to him. Yeah. Yeah. That's not a person
[50:10.720 --> 50:16.560] I would get to speak to normally, right? Yeah. You reach out to him and I got to talk to you.
[50:17.920 --> 50:22.400] I got to love you. But I'm doing, he's a sweet guy. He probably would. But you know, the,
[50:22.400 --> 50:28.320] the experts that we get to talk to is pretty freaking cool. It's awesome. Yeah. And I think,
[50:30.160 --> 50:35.040] yeah, and that's the whole thing with this podcast, right? And like your podcast, too, where
[50:35.040 --> 50:40.240] with Y Squirrels, you know, I am trying to remove stigmas and trying to educate people,
[50:41.200 --> 50:47.760] including myself, I'm learning about ADHD along with my great community, my great listeners.
[50:48.560 --> 50:52.640] That's what I'm trying to do, too, and just learn openly. And that's why I always say, like,
[50:52.640 --> 50:57.280] I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on the internet. I'm not, you know, I'm not an expert.
[50:57.280 --> 51:04.240] I'm still learning about this stuff. And that's why I started this as a way to kind of openly share
[51:04.240 --> 51:09.040] my experiences, like, you know, transparently, authentically, you know, and all the other cliché
[51:09.040 --> 51:17.760] words that you hear from a lot of. We get my posters this day. Yeah. Authentically transparent.
[51:19.440 --> 51:26.480] Sounds like a soda Coca-Cola. Yeah, it's authentic, but it's transparent. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[51:26.880 --> 51:32.240] So, yeah, I mean, and that's the other thing. I'm, I'm, I'm
[51:32.960 --> 51:38.000] thankfully honest in my, you know, Canadian humble upbringing, but like, honestly, like, I just,
[51:38.000 --> 51:44.960] I want to, yeah, I want to help people. I want to remove stigmas. And I'm very thankful to
[51:45.600 --> 51:51.200] the, you know, my sub-stack subscribers who actually invest money and support the show and my
[51:51.280 --> 51:57.600] the sponsors you pay to sponsor the show because that, that helps justify it, right? And it helps
[51:57.600 --> 52:02.880] be keep going. Right on, man. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So what, so what are you working on next? What's,
[52:02.880 --> 52:07.520] what's next for you? What's up, what's coming up? That's awesome. That's an awesome question.
[52:07.520 --> 52:12.480] That's like the end of an 80s movie, right? So what now? What next? I don't know. Finish college.
[52:12.560 --> 52:17.120] All I asked Russ and married. Don't you forget about me. Yeah.
[52:19.040 --> 52:25.440] Smoke up 20. Like, these two old people talking. I live in my community. So like, that's,
[52:25.440 --> 52:30.320] that's what's next for me. It's how to grow it and integrate it and build on it. And
[52:32.320 --> 52:38.800] that's really kind of my strong focus. And you know, like, so thepreneurs, like, we,
[52:39.600 --> 52:46.240] we work all the time. So it's, I'm 24 hours a day. That's not true. I sleep.
[52:50.000 --> 52:54.160] I've, you, I went to some laser treatment. And now I don't need sleep.
[52:56.000 --> 53:02.640] Yeah. Yeah. Be careful what you fall for. Anything with the word laser in it. You know,
[53:02.640 --> 53:07.520] side note, my brother got laser eye surgery. And this is why I will probably never do it.
[53:07.520 --> 53:11.760] This is because he was doing the lit. He's like, you never want this to happen. They,
[53:11.760 --> 53:16.160] they had his eye open right and you're sitting there. And the lasers on in here is,
[53:16.160 --> 53:23.840] uh, no, we're good. Like that alone. Uh, no, we're good. The fact that something might have
[53:23.840 --> 53:28.640] gone wrong. I would be silently screened. I would probably be audibly screaming. No. Well,
[53:29.280 --> 53:35.840] yeah. Did he did it? Wait, did the doctors say that? Or did he? The guy running the laser.
[53:36.480 --> 53:40.880] We're good. And did he finish and did he? No, no, he got the surgery and it's
[53:40.880 --> 53:46.000] successful. So yeah, great. I will still never do it because of that story.
[53:47.120 --> 53:51.760] My, I hope, I hope, I hope we don't get attacked by the laser eye surgery people to be like,
[53:51.760 --> 53:57.360] you know what? You're, you're asshole, ADHD big brother that came on and falsely accused us.
[53:58.640 --> 54:02.720] You know, when I started, why squirrels? Actually, you just reminded me. I wrote a,
[54:02.800 --> 54:10.160] I wrote a blog post about laser therapy because yeah, I'm just looking it up. It's called,
[54:10.160 --> 54:13.680] the blog post is called does low level laser therapy work for ADHD,
[54:13.680 --> 54:22.000] a warning about photo bio modulation because apparently that was something to help. Uh, and, uh,
[54:22.000 --> 54:26.560] I, you know, I just, I just was inspired by one of Russ Barkley's videos of just
[54:27.520 --> 54:34.720] just scathing videos about the, the fake, just how fake this is. So, uh, the folks can check that out.
[54:34.720 --> 54:38.880] So yeah, maybe you're right. Maybe lasers are always something to avoid. Maybe that's the
[54:38.880 --> 54:43.920] lesson today. Yeah, unless it's laser fluid, dark side of the man is great with the. Yeah, no,
[54:43.920 --> 54:50.800] that's a, that's a good laser. Yeah, anyway. Yeah. So anyway, I'm one of the things that, I don't
[54:50.800 --> 54:56.080] know if I mentioned this, but like, uh, so I'm a big, I love the medicine for ADHD. It's awesome.
[54:56.080 --> 55:01.680] It works, but I, I always have, uh, side effects. So I currently don't take medicine for it,
[55:01.680 --> 55:06.960] but I still need to get shit down and I still need to do things. Um, and so, uh, a big,
[55:08.000 --> 55:15.520] I mean, I'll profitize this all day long, but community is the way to, um, successfully in my
[55:15.520 --> 55:23.280] experience, um, move the needle forward, even though there's, it's impossible to wrap our head
[55:23.280 --> 55:28.080] around things. We're in the middle of massive distraction. We're in the middle of massive
[55:28.080 --> 55:36.080] paralysis, task initiation is non-existent, um, leaning on a community, not just for the emotional
[55:36.080 --> 55:40.960] support, but for like the camaraderie of, like a quick group, like what are we doing today?
[55:40.960 --> 55:48.000] Let's do it. Let's do it together. Um, so yeah, I agree completely. I also recommend, you know,
[55:48.080 --> 55:52.960] with my, what I do with my doctor was, you know, when I first started taking, um,
[55:52.960 --> 55:58.640] medication for the ADHD, um, yeah, I had some weird side effects. Nothing terrible, but I did
[55:58.640 --> 56:06.000] have some side effects. And it is a process, right? Like you, you try one thing and then you adjust
[56:06.000 --> 56:11.600] the dose to see if you get it to where it's working correctly and, and that's the side effects.
[56:11.600 --> 56:15.760] And if that doesn't work, then you, then you rinse and repeat with a different, uh,
[56:15.840 --> 56:22.880] medication and try that. Um, and, and so it is a process. I did land on something that,
[56:22.880 --> 56:27.840] that is working with me combined with my anxiety medication. So because that's a, you know,
[56:27.840 --> 56:37.280] as you know, anxiety depression, fun comorbidities of ADHD. Um, yeah, yeah. So I do, uh, yeah,
[56:37.280 --> 56:41.600] I do, I do, you know, I would, I would urge you to talk to your doctor and see if,
[56:42.080 --> 56:46.560] if you could try something different and maybe work on the dose, uh, try it out because honestly,
[56:46.560 --> 56:54.880] it is, I think, you know, I did that for a while. For me, I, I, I accept that, but I'm not, like,
[56:54.880 --> 57:00.560] you know, when you try a bunch of things, like one gave me anxiety, one gave me depression,
[57:00.560 --> 57:07.200] one gave me random nosebleeds. Um, it got me out of depression. But I'm like,
[57:07.280 --> 57:13.520] do I want nosebleeds intermittently randomly? Yeah. And so then I got trial and error fatigue,
[57:13.520 --> 57:18.960] where I'm like, I don't blame you. Do I want to try again? I'm, but I'm just, I, I wholeheartedly
[57:18.960 --> 57:25.440] support medicine. Yeah. Cause man, when it works, holy shit. Well, while I was on Adderall,
[57:25.440 --> 57:32.400] it was a brilliant, I wrote a blog post on my squirrels. And I think I'm going to talk to
[57:32.560 --> 57:37.360] about on the show before where, um, where I was taking, because the thing with, with at least
[57:37.360 --> 57:42.320] stimulants is that you can, you can stop taking them if you need to. And yeah, okay, it's fine.
[57:42.320 --> 57:46.720] We're, we're anxiety and depression meds, you know, obviously you can't just stop or you really
[57:46.720 --> 57:52.800] should. Yeah, um, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, but I, I mentioned that because my doctor was, I, you
[57:52.800 --> 57:57.280] know, I was overwhelmed just with life or whatever. And she's like, you know what, let's,
[57:57.920 --> 58:03.520] I'd never had that aha, that hallelujah, when I started taking ADHD meds, I still have it,
[58:03.520 --> 58:08.240] that felt like, ah, I can see the light. Everything's great. Oh, wow. I'll never have that.
[58:09.120 --> 58:15.600] And maybe I still need to do trial in her, but what I did find was she was like, why don't you
[58:15.600 --> 58:20.880] take, stop taking them for a week and just see how you feel. And so I stopped them for a week
[58:21.680 --> 58:28.480] under her guidance. And I wrote a blog post about it called like do ADHD meds work or something.
[58:28.480 --> 58:35.200] And, and I use the analogy of treading water where I felt like when I, when I stopped taking them,
[58:35.200 --> 58:40.800] that I was like in this great resort, beautiful pool, kind of in the middle, sort of gorgeous place,
[58:40.800 --> 58:46.240] and I'm just treading water and it feels great and it's relaxing. And, and that's started how I
[58:46.240 --> 58:50.800] started feeling. And then my arm started getting a little tired treading water. And then suddenly
[58:50.880 --> 58:57.920] I'm like flailing and next thing I knew I'm like drowning, just man, regardless of how beautiful
[58:57.920 --> 59:04.080] my surroundings were. And that's kind of how I felt, I felt, I felt so overwhelmed and so
[59:04.080 --> 59:11.120] self-aware of just how I was reacting. And I was like, Jesus, like this is how I normally am.
[59:12.320 --> 59:17.360] How is my life? This is baseline, Dave. Yeah, like how is she, how is she not murdered me?
[59:18.320 --> 59:26.240] So God bless her. So yeah, so it was an interesting experiment of stopping them and then seeing
[59:26.240 --> 59:32.640] the results, you know, off them. But anyway, Ross, this has been awesome. Thank you so much
[59:32.640 --> 59:39.520] for joining me. How can people get a hold of you? I know, time flies. I know, right? God. Yeah,
[59:39.520 --> 59:45.200] ADHDBigBrother.com. That's my website is ADHDBigBrother.com. You can learn all about the community.
[59:46.160 --> 59:51.440] You can connect with the podcast. I'm sure if you put ADHDBigBrother in whatever podcast platform
[59:51.440 --> 59:58.800] you listen to, yeah, you shall find me. I will be there. Yeah, and I was on it. I love being on
[59:58.800 --> 01:00:02.880] your show. Yeah, a lot of fun. Fun shooting the show with you, Dave. Yeah, you too, buddy.
[01:00:03.520 --> 01:00:08.400] Okay, cool. Well, let's let's yeah, well, I'll make sure to include everything here in the show
[01:00:08.400 --> 01:00:13.200] notes. And then yeah, encourage people to check check you out and listen to the show because it's
[01:00:13.200 --> 01:00:17.360] awesome. So thanks, Ross. This has been fun. Thank you. Appreciate it.
