The DadDHD Podcast

Shane Thrapp and Braden Young · daddhd.com

We’re Shane Thrapp and Braden Young, two neurodivergent dads talking about the things that matter to fathers who are neurodivergent, or who have neurodivergent kids. No perfect parenting BS, just what actually works when your brain’s wired different. We’re both certified ADHD life coaches, community leaders, and fathers who got our diagnoses as adults. We know what it’s like to figure out parenting when you’re also figuring out your own brain. And we’re here to help you do the same.Each episode, we bring you practical strategies for neurodivergent parenting, the kind that actually fit into real life with real kids and real challenges. You’re raising kids who might be neurodivergent. You might be neurodivergent yourself. Either way, you’re dealing with executive function challenges, sensory issues, time blindness, and all the chaos that comes with parenting when traditional advice doesn’t cut it.We break down the latest research on ADHD, autism, and neurodivergence into stuff you can

19 episodes

2mo ago latest

fortnightly cadence

English language

Explicit rating

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Episodes 20

Rest Isn't Lazy - Why Neurodivergent Dads Need to Stop Thinking They Need To Earn It
3d ago · 18:51
Hey -- before we get into it, we owe you a quick apology. Life got away from us. Things have picked up on both ends, and we dropped the ball on getting new content out. We're back, and we're glad you're still here. This week we're talking about something that sounds simple and isn't: rest. Not sleep. Not stopping. Actual rest -- and why neurodivergent brains are wired to fight it, guilt-trip themselves over it, and then crash hard when they finally can't avoid it anymore. Shane and Braden dig into why ADHD and AuDHD dads tend to treat rest like a reward they haven't earned yet, why that logic
Beyond Maslow: Purpose, Community, and Cultural Perpetuity for Neurodivergent Dads
2mo ago · 14:02
Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions explore why Maslow’s hierarchy of needs can feel like it has a ceiling for neurodivergent parents who have reached stability and self-actualization but still ask “now what?” They discuss how neurodivergence can complicate safety, belonging, and esteem through masking, isolation, and shame, and why self-actualization shouldn’t be the finish line. Drawing on Dr. Cindy Blackstock’s interpretation of the contrast between what Maslow observed while studying the Siksika Nation and what he published, they describe a
ADHD Lows: The Gray State, Dopamine Hunting, and How to Tell It From Depression
2mo ago · 16:04
Shane Thrapp and Braden Young discuss “ADHD lows,” the flat, gray, low-arousal state where nothing feels worth the effort, and how it often leads to “dopamine hunting” like binge-watching, hyperfixating, scrolling, or other novelty-seeking. They connect the experience to anhedonia and “indifferent boredom,” framing it as dopamine dysregulation in ADHD rather than necessarily burnout or depression, and warn that mislabeling it can lead to wrong interventions. They share ways to spot the difference from depression (whether anything can still spark interest and whether the feeling comes and goes)
Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: Unmasking, “Dropping a Ping,” and Building Friendship-Friendly Routines With Caroline Maguire
2mo ago · 46:00
Shane Thrapp and Braden Young welcome ADHD coach, author, and speaker Caroline Maguire, who shares why she wrote her new book, ”Friendship Skills For Neurodivergent Adults,” after decades of working with neurodivergent people and hearing adults and parents ask for friendship help. They explore common themes Maguire found through interviews and surveys, including masking, people-pleasing, shame, rejection sensitivity, and the need to “find your people” through shared interests. Maguire explains why parent friendships can feel like workplace politics, and how to move from acquaintance to real fr
The Cost of Silence: Neurodivergent Men, Masking, and Finding Support
3mo ago · 13:53
Shane Thrapp and Braden Young discuss “the cost of silence” underneath masking, arguing that many men are conditioned from childhood to push through struggles quietly and treat needing help as weakness, which becomes even harder when layered with ADHD or autism-related executive dysfunction, overwhelm, and emotional dysregulation. They explain that without language or diagnosis—often delayed into the late 30s or 40s—men may assume they’re lazy or broken, avoid asking for help, and absorb escalating costs that show up later as anxiety, depression, substance abuse, relationship distance, shame,
Beyond Mother’s Day: Building Daily Respect and Connection in ADHD Relationships
3mo ago · 15:54
Shane Thrapp and Braden Young use Mother’s Day as a starting point to talk about how ADHD and AuDHD can make dates, gestures, and follow-through difficult, and why appreciation needs to be a daily practice rather than a once-a-year performance. Shane shares involving his kids, Liam and Harley, in choosing gifts to teach them to notice and value their mom, while both hosts emphasize that small, consistent acts of attention matter more than grand gestures. They explain how dopamine-driven novelty, time blindness, object permanence issues, executive function challenges, and rejection sensitive dy
Their Story, Not Yours — RSD and the Trap of Making Your Child's Struggles About You
3mo ago · 12:11
Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions flies solo and unpacks rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) and what it looks like when your child is the one experiencing it—especially in a neurodivergent household where a parent’s own ADHD and past rejection can get activated. He explains how perceived rejection can feel like overwhelming emotional pain, and how parents can accidentally shift into fix-it mode, over-advocacy, story-sharing, anger, or minimizing as a way to manage their own discomfort. Braden reframes the goal as empathy without enmeshment: your child’s rejection belongs to them, not as
Breaking the Spanking Cycle Using Authoritative Parenting Skills
4mo ago · 24:14
Join Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as we get into one of the most charged conversations in parenting: spanking, discipline, and the cycle most of us were handed before we ever had a choice. We're digging into what the research actually says, why "I turned out fine" deserves a harder look, and what gentle parenting actually means — because the misunderstanding around that term is costing a lot of families. Learn about why decades of research across more than 160,000 children landed in the same place and what that means for how we discipline
Connecting With Our Kids Through the Things We and They Love
4mo ago · 24:18
Join Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as they talk about the quiet distance that builds between neurodivergent dads and their kids when we keep our lives and theirs in separate lanes. Our hobbies over here, their stuff over there. Our downtime on one side of the house, them on the other. This episode is about closing that gap by including our kids in what we already love, letting our ADHD brains do what they do best, and showing up for the small moments that actually build the relationship. Learn about why sometimes embracing the chaos of our
You Need More Than Systems: Why Therapy Matters for Neurodivergent Dads
5mo ago · 20:20
Join Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as we tackle the conversation most neurodivergent dads avoid: therapy. Not coaching. Not podcasts. Not self-help books. Actual therapy. We dig into why so many dads resist getting professional help, what types of therapy actually work for ADHD, autistic, and AuDHD brains, and why relationship therapy isn't optional when you're in a neurodiverse marriage. Learn about why therapy and coaching serve different functions and you probably need both, what CBT, EMDR, and DBT actually do for neurodivergent brains,
Burnout, Depression or Both? Why Dads Need to Get Checked for Both
5mo ago · 24:48
Join Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as we tackle neurodivergent burnout and what it really means for fathers. Not the "I need a day off" kind. The kind where your brain and body hit a wall because you've been running at 200% just to meet baseline expectations. We break down the difference between burnout and depression, why they need completely different treatment, and what happens when your doctor can't tell them apart. Learn about why neurodivergent dads are especially vulnerable to burnout, how to start having real conversations with you
Managing Work Life Balance with Neurodivergence
5mo ago · 28:43
Join Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as they talk about managing work life with ADHD, autism, AuDHD, and fatherhood. From the provider pressure their dads drilled into them to the careers they actually landed in, Shane and Braden get real about what happens when the work you do fights your brain and why that cost follows you home to your kids. Learn about why "just clock out" doesn't work for neurodivergent brains, what the wrong job actually costs someone with ADHD, Autism, or AuDHD and why building a real transition between work mode and d
Braden's Legacy Origin Story
5mo ago · 9:56
Join Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as he flies solo for this one and shares his legacy origin story. He talks about the biological father who said "I can't" and walked away, the complicated and often abusive relationship with his stepdad, and the mom who stepped in and showed him what choosing someone actually looks like. Braden opens up about stepping into his stepdaughter's life undiagnosed, the anger he carried, and the moments he wishes he could take back. Learn about how undiagnosed ADHD shows up as anger in fatherhood, why breaking cycles isn't clean and sometimes you interrupt
Masking and Being a Neurodivergent Father
6mo ago · 32:39
Join Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as we dig into masking—the pressure to perform a version of yourself that isn't really you to hide your ADHD or Autism. We talk about where masking starts (the "be a man" messages, the bootstrap CEO myth), how it shows up in our relationships and kills intimacy, and why we accidentally teach our kids to mask when we do it ourselves. Learn about the difference between strategic masking and masking out of fear, how to unmask safely with your partner without dropping it all at once, and why naming what's hap
Interview with Brendan Mahan of ADHD Essentials
6mo ago · 42:57
Join Shane Thrapp and Braden Young as they interview Brendan Mahan from ADHD Essentials. Brendan, the author of the upcoming book 'Overcoming The Wall of Awful,' shares his experiences of raising 17-year-old twins, the complexities of his childhood, and how they inform his parenting. The conversation covers fatherhood, ADHD strategies, the influence of upbringing, and key insights into maintaining a balanced family life while managing neurodivergence. Don’t miss Brendan's advice on fostering trust, effective communication, and navigating the challenges of OCD. You can find Shane Thrapp at www.
Telling Your Kids "Walk It Off" Is Bullshit - What Resilience Means for Neurodivergent Kids
7mo ago · 22:42
Join Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as they break down why the traditional "walk it off" mentality fails neurodivergent kids—and what actual resilience looks like. Through a real story about Braden handling his autistic son's scraped knee at school, they explain the difference between teaching resilience and teaching kids to mask their needs. This episode challenges fathers to show up emotionally, not just provide, and offers concrete strategies for co-regulation that work with neurodivergent brains instead of against them. You can find Sha
After School / Work Collapse and Co-Regulation
7mo ago · 16:22
Join Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos Consulting and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as they discuss the phenomenon of afterschool restraint collapse. Learn about the challenges faced by both neurotypical and neurodivergent children, the impact on parents, and why co-regulation is essential. Discover practical strategies for managing stress and fostering a supportive family environment. Tune in for expert insights into building routines that accommodate the needs of every family member. You can find Shane Thrapp at www.creatingorderfromchaos.com You can find Braden Young at www
ADHD Medications Do Not Do What We Thought
7mo ago · 7:44
Join Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions as he discusses a recent study from Washington University in St. Louis that reveals surprising findings about the effects of stimulant ADHD medications. The study examines how stimulant ADHD medications affect brain activity differently than previously believed. Key findings include the role of stimulants in enhancing arousal, wakefulness, and reward centers, rather than directly improving attention. The discussion also explores the implications for sleep hygiene and its connection to ADHD symptoms, and Braden talks about the necessity of sufficient
Our Stories of Fatherhood, Advocacy, and Best Tips
7mo ago · 33:47
Join Shane Thrapp of Creating Order From Chaos Consulting and Braden Young of Empower ADHD Solutions for our first official episode of The DadDHD Podcast. We talk candidly about our personal histories and our fathers, our experiences as fathers with ADHD and autism, our neurodivergent kids, and why we started this podcast.Learn about effective parenting strategies for fathers, advocating for your kids at school and with family, and setting routines that work for neurodivergent children. Don’t miss our tips on using timers for smooth transitions and the importance of co-regulation. You can find
Braden and Shane Intro
8mo ago · 3:59
Welcome to The DadDHD Podcast. This is where we start. We're Shane Thrapp and Braden Young—two certified ADHD life coaches and neurodivergent dads who are tired of parenting advice that assumes everyone has a neurotypical brain. There's a massive gap between research and what actually helps you at 3 AM when your kid won't sleep and your brain won't shut up. We're here to bridge that gap. In this episode, we introduce ourselves, explain why this podcast exists, and lay out what you can expect. We're talking practical strategies, no misinformation, no "just try harder" BS. Just real help for dad

Episodes

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Episodes 20

Rest Isn't Lazy - Why Neurodivergent Dads Need to Stop Thinking They Need To Earn It

Beyond Maslow: Purpose, Community, and Cultural Perpetuity for Neurodivergent Dads

ADHD Lows: The Gray State, Dopamine Hunting, and How to Tell It From Depression

Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: Unmasking, “Dropping a Ping,” and Building Friendship-Friendly Routines With Caroline Maguire

The Cost of Silence: Neurodivergent Men, Masking, and Finding Support

Beyond Mother’s Day: Building Daily Respect and Connection in ADHD Relationships

Their Story, Not Yours — RSD and the Trap of Making Your Child's Struggles About You

Breaking the Spanking Cycle Using Authoritative Parenting Skills

Connecting With Our Kids Through the Things We and They Love

You Need More Than Systems: Why Therapy Matters for Neurodivergent Dads

Burnout, Depression or Both? Why Dads Need to Get Checked for Both

Managing Work Life Balance with Neurodivergence

Braden's Legacy Origin Story

Masking and Being a Neurodivergent Father

Interview with Brendan Mahan of ADHD Essentials

Telling Your Kids "Walk It Off" Is Bullshit - What Resilience Means for Neurodivergent Kids

After School / Work Collapse and Co-Regulation

ADHD Medications Do Not Do What We Thought

Our Stories of Fatherhood, Advocacy, and Best Tips

Braden and Shane Intro

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Episodes 20

Rest Isn't Lazy - Why Neurodivergent Dads Need to Stop Thinking They Need To Earn It

Beyond Maslow: Purpose, Community, and Cultural Perpetuity for Neurodivergent Dads

ADHD Lows: The Gray State, Dopamine Hunting, and How to Tell It From Depression

Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults: Unmasking, “Dropping a Ping,” and Building Friendship-Friendly Routines With Caroline Maguire

The Cost of Silence: Neurodivergent Men, Masking, and Finding Support

Beyond Mother’s Day: Building Daily Respect and Connection in ADHD Relationships

Their Story, Not Yours — RSD and the Trap of Making Your Child's Struggles About You

Breaking the Spanking Cycle Using Authoritative Parenting Skills

Connecting With Our Kids Through the Things We and They Love

You Need More Than Systems: Why Therapy Matters for Neurodivergent Dads

Burnout, Depression or Both? Why Dads Need to Get Checked for Both

Managing Work Life Balance with Neurodivergence

Braden's Legacy Origin Story

Masking and Being a Neurodivergent Father

Interview with Brendan Mahan of ADHD Essentials

Telling Your Kids "Walk It Off" Is Bullshit - What Resilience Means for Neurodivergent Kids

After School / Work Collapse and Co-Regulation

ADHD Medications Do Not Do What We Thought

Our Stories of Fatherhood, Advocacy, and Best Tips

Braden and Shane Intro