PODCAST. Late-diagnosed ADHD, Careers, and the Sanity-saving Kanban Board with Eddie Francis.

EPISODE SPONSORED BY: Inflow. Inflow helps people make sense of how ADHD traits show up in their own lives, then points them toward the support that’s right for them. For some people, that means practical CBT-based tools in the Inflow app. For others, it may mean connecting them to specialized ADHD therapy through one of Inflow’s trusted partners. Take Inflow’s free ADHD traits quiz at wisesquirrels.com/inflow.

Eddie Francis spent almost 40 years in the workforce, building a career on watching leaders and figuring out what made them tick, before he finally understood why he worked the way he did.

It took a three-week training that broke him wide open. Halfway through week one, Eddie, a longtime communications and PR pro turned leadership voice strategist, hit a wall so hard he was ready to quit. It was not because the material was hard; it was because it was too much, all at once, and his brain had nowhere to put it.

He got through it. He always got through it; that was the confusing part. But it was not until he told the story to his therapist that anyone asked the question that changed everything: Have you ever considered you might have ADHD?

Eddie was 53. His response was simple: "Please test me."

This ADHD Podcast is for Adults, newly diagnosed and ready for change.

If you have ever powered through a project by disappearing into a room for two hours of forced hyperfocus and called it "just how I work," or if you grew up being told you were lazy when what you actually had was an undiagnosed brain difference, this conversation will land close to home.

Eddie and I get into the topics that do not usually make it into standard ADHD related topics:

Growing up with educator parents: What it is actually like to be raised by two teachers (one English, one math) who could not understand why you would stall out halfway through a homework problem.

The relief of clarity: The specific, physical sense of relief that comes with finally having a name for your experience at 53.

Emotional regulation: The part almost nobody talks about, specifically how undiagnosed ADHD showed up not just as disorganization, but as an intense temper he could not explain to himself, let alone anyone else.

We also explore the family history question many late-diagnosed adults end up asking: Did one of my parents have this, too? Eddie's answer, along with a story involving his dad, a cup of tea, and the worst-timed math homework session of his childhood, might be the funniest five minutes on Wise Squirrels all year!

Key Topics Covered

The catalyst: The initial freak-out that led to his diagnosis, and the single line from his therapist that Eddie still reflects on today.

Unpacking the diagnosis: Why hearing "I'm not lazy" was the most emotional part of receiving his assessment results.

Fraternity life and emotional regulation: The connection between his college fraternity leadership, an unexplained hot temper, and the book he ultimately wrote about it.

Learning through teaching: How teaching adult learners, including many first-generation students catching up on missed years, taught Eddie more about his own ADHD than therapy alone did.

His personal management system: The exact setup Eddie uses to manage his workload now, including a physical Kanban board, time-blocking by energy level rather than the clock, and why he deliberately overestimates project timelines.

About Eddie Francis

Eddie Francis is a leadership voice strategist and public speaking coach based in the greater New Orleans area. He helps individuals and organizations find their voice and communicate with greater impact, works as a fractional communications and marketing leader, and teaches non-traditional and adult learners as an adjunct instructor.

You can find him at eddiefrancis.com or reach him directly via email at eddie@eddiefrancis.com.

A Quick Note to Our Community

If this episode hits home, remember that you are not alone. A lot of us in this community discovered later in life that words like "lazy" or "difficult" were never the right fit. Subscribe so you do not miss our next conversation, and if you know someone who needs to hear Eddie's story, please share this episode with them.

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Wise Squirrels is Sponsored by Littlebird and Inflow.

Dave

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