ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka cover art

ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka

By: Tracy Otsuka
Listen for free

Summary

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

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

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

© 2026 ADHD for Smart Ass Women with Tracy Otsuka Alternative & Complementary Medicine Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • EP. 384: ADHD Women Were Never Meant to Work Like This with Meghan French Dunbar

    EP. 384: ADHD Women Were Never Meant to Work Like This with Meghan French Dunbar
    May 13 2026

    Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

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    You worked harder than everyone around you and still felt like you were falling behind. This episode unpacks why the workplace was never built for your ADHD brain.

    Meghan French Dunbar, author of This Isn’t Working, is an entrepreneur, former business journalist, CEO, speaker, and workplace consultant. After years of building and selling a company, going to grad school, launching a media career, and burning out more than once, Meghan was diagnosed with ADHD only four years ago.

    That diagnosis reframed everything. Instead of forcing herself into traditional work models, Meghan started building systems around how her brain works best, from stronger boundaries and values-based decisions to AI support, intentional work hours, and a new definition of success.

    In this episode, Tracy and Meghan talk about late ADHD diagnosis, ADHD workplace burnout, entrepreneurship, guilt, toxic management, and why so many high-achieving women leave jobs before anyone connects the dots with ADHD.

    If achievement has always been your scorecard, this conversation offers a better one: purpose, passion, quality of life, and work your brain is able to sustain.


    Resources:

    • Website: https://www.meghanfrenchdunbar.com
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghanfrenchdunbar
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanfrenchdunbar
    • TEDx talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZfuHsa27yk&authuser=0

    Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

    If this podcast helps you understand your ADHD brain, Shift helps you train it. Practice mindset work in just 10 minutes a day. Learn more at tracyotsuka.com/shift

    Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

    ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

    That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

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

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

    Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 12 mins
  • EP. 383: It’s Not Your ADHD. It’s Your Nervous System with Liz Tenuto, The Workout Witch

    EP. 383: It’s Not Your ADHD. It’s Your Nervous System with Liz Tenuto, The Workout Witch
    May 6 2026

    Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

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    What if your “motivation problem” has nothing to do with discipline?

    In this episode, Tracy sits down with Liz Tenuto, better known as The Workout Witch, to talk about the body, trauma, neurodivergence, and why so many ADHD women feel stuck even when they know exactly what they need to do.

    Liz’s work focuses on somatic healing, using small, accessible movements to help the nervous system release stress and come out of survival mode. But this conversation goes far beyond movement. Liz and Tracy talk about what happens when a body has spent years bracing, masking, people-pleasing, and trying to stay safe.

    They get into CPTSD, ADHD, autism, sensory sensitivities, functional freeze, and the difference between pushing through and actually feeling regulated enough to act. Liz also shares how her own diagnoses helped her understand parts of herself she had spent years trying to explain away.

    This episode is for anyone who has ever looked at their life and thought, “I know what to do, so why can’t I do it?”

    Because the answer isn’t always more motivation.

    Sometimes, the first step is helping your body feel safe enough to move.


    Resources:

    • Website: https://liztenuto.com
    • The Workout Witch Website: https://theworkoutwitch.com
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworkoutwitch
    • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theworkoutwitch
    • YouTube: https://www.tiktok.com/@theworkoutwitch
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-tenuto

    Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

    If this podcast helps you understand your ADHD brain, Shift helps you train it. Practice mindset work in just 10 minutes a day. Learn more at tracyotsuka.com/shift

    Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

    ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

    That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

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

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

    Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

    Show More Show Less
    52 mins
  • EP. 382: What’s Really Behind RSD? with Dr. Shawn Horn Pt 2

    EP. 382: What’s Really Behind RSD? with Dr. Shawn Horn Pt 2
    Apr 29 2026

    Tired of ADHD strategies that don’t work? Here’s what actually does. FREE training here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/signup

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    In part one, we talked about her story. In this episode, we go deeper into what shame actually is. She explains that shame is not internal. It is a social emotion that forms when we feel like we have violated someone else’s standard, and for many ADHD women, that correction starts early and happens often.

    That matters because ADHD creates what she calls the perfect storm. A sensitive nervous system, frequent correction, and social exclusion all combine over time, shaping how we interpret ourselves and others. Without understanding what is happening, those moments do not just pass. They become identity.

    In this episode, we talk about the difference between shame and guilt, why ADHD makes you more vulnerable to shame, and how rejection sensitive dysphoria is actually a trauma response. We also get into neuroception, what your body is scanning for at all times, and why social media can trigger the shame reflex even when nothing is actually wrong.

    If you have ever wondered why your reactions feel so intense or why you keep replaying social moments long after they happen, this episode will help you understand what is happening in your body and not just your mind.

    Resources:
    Website: https://www.drshawnhorn.com
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drshawnhorn
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drshawnhorn
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/drshawnhorn
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-shawn-horn-2934347

    Send a Message: Your Name | Email | Message

    If this podcast helps you understand your ADHD brain, Shift helps you train it. Practice mindset work in just 10 minutes a day. Learn more at tracyotsuka.com/shift

    Instead of Struggling to figure out what to do next?

    ADHD isn’t a productivity problem. It’s an identity problem.

    That’s why most strategies don’t stick—they weren’t designed for how your brain actually works. Your ADHD Brain is A-OK Academy is different. It’s a patented, science-backed coaching program that helps you stop fighting your brain and start building a life that fits. 👉Learn more here: https://programs.tracyotsuka.com/aok-academy

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

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

    Visit our website: https://tracyotsuka.com

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
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All stars
Most relevant
Suspecting I had adult ADHD, I came across this podcast and it has been so reassuring. I've listened to episodes that I feel relevant to me. There is a wealth of information here. Thank you Tracy for the hard work you do creating these podcasts.

Excellent podcast. Really informative.

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Life changing. Life saving. RSD. If you know you know. Literally the backdrop of my day.

Back drop for my day

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If you struggle with ADHD or just know someone that does . this podcast is inspiring!!! And I don’t even drink Coffee!!! Helena has some excellent ideas of work- arounds . If you want to feel inspired today and positive listen to this !!!!

Loved this episode for its Positivity!!

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I have spent life so lost and confused, struggling massively with my mental health since I was an early teen. I've seen doctor after doctor who labelled me with anxiety, depression and bpd but something still felt off. No matter how hard I worked to manage my conditions, I still felt like I was failing life as an adult. It wasn't until Christmas when I stumbled across a video about the symptoms of ADHD in women and it stood out, I related to almost all of them, I looked at the comments, it was the same situation, I then did some further research online and sobbed as I realised everything that I had been giving myself a hard time for throughout my life was listed in front of me. I contacted my doctor and have to wait for an assessment but I didn't want to wait 2 years for answers and that's when I found this podcast! I have learned so so much since listening, there has been so much comfort in the sense that I do not feel alone.I cannot begin to describe how much this podcast has given me hope. Both you and your guests are so inspiring and have taught me so much.
Thank you for being such an incredible human 😊❤

A beacon of light.

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