In this episode of Melanated ADHD, host Annette interviews Christa Kaodi*, a first-generation Nigerian-American whose upbringing in Kentucky and a series of pivotal events in 2020 led to her late diagnosis of ADHD in her early 30s.

Christa shares her journey toward self-awareness, discussing how ADHD intersects with her multifaceted identity and the importance of culturally competent healthcare providers who can break down barriers to receiving proper care.

Through Christa’s story, we hope you find aspects that resonate with your own experience and gain insights into building a healthy support system on your path to self-discovery.

*Preferred name has been used to maintain anonymity.

— Chapters

0:33 Meet Christa and how she learned that she had ADHD

4:16 - Differentiating between what might be typical behaviours and ADHD

8:04 -The things that seem very trivial

9:20 - The kitchen is a problem

10:08 - How does ADHD show up at work?

11:39 - Journey to the ADHD diagnosis

16:54 - Removing barriers to get diagnosed

21:24 - Conversations with family and friends

27:17 - Comments on Mental Health Support and Telemedicine

35:10 - Access to Mental Health Support in Canada

36:34 - Self care and ADHD

37:56 - Puzzles and routines - Link below (not a paid or affiliate link)

41:57 - Reframing milestones and achievements

48:40 - You don’t realize how hard you’re working until your routines are disrupted

54:04 - Final thoughts/call to action

LINKS REFERENCED

Puzzle Name and Puzzle Artist: Cosmos by Satwika Kresna

UK/Europe shoppers: https://www.cloudberries.co.uk/product/cosmos-small-batch-1000-pieces/

US shoppers: puzzledly.com

Intro/Outro Background music clip by https://jippy.bandcamp.com

ABOUT US

At Melanated ADHD, we are on a mission to showcase and interview as many voices in one space to emphasize the need for support and research on BIPOC living with ADHD, especially Black and Brown women. Through this podcast, we aim to profile and elevate voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream ADHD discussions, reshape perceptions of how ADHD impacts our communities and explore pathways to flourish and thrive, together.

Podcast Website: https://rss.com/podcasts/melanated-adhd/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melanated_adhd/

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MelanatedADHD

Buy Me A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/annettewashere

In this episode of Melanated ADHD, Host Annette shares her deeply personal journey of growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, reflecting on her childhood, academic life, and worklife, leading to pivotal moments of self-realization. Through vulnerability and introspection, Annette explores how understanding ADHD shaped her relationships and sense of self. Her story of overcoming personal hurdles in both education and professional settings inspired her to create this podcast, emphasizing the importance of mental health support, therapy, and self-discovery.

Tune in to hear how her experiences sparked the creation of Melanated ADHD, a podcast designed to share and uplift the voices of individuals at the intersection of ADHD and BIPOC identities.

Background music clip by https://jippy.bandcamp.com

ABOUT US

At Melanated ADHD, we are on a mission to showcase and interview as many voices in one space to emphasize the need for support and research on BIPOC living with ADHD, especially Black and Brown women. Through this podcast, we aim to profile and elevate voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream ADHD discussions, reshape perceptions of how ADHD impacts our communities and explore pathways to flourish and thrive, together.

Learn more about the origins of Melanated ADHD, get a sense of what to expect and how you can be apart of this podcast.

*Please note, 'BIPOC' is a term that refers to Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (non-White people). Other terms that are used interchangeably are 'racialized' or 'minority'. Although 'BIPOC' can be seen as an outdated term in some places, as a podcast with a global audience, this term is used to refer to people are considered non-White in a Western World context.

Background music by: Your Best Friend Jippy

--

ABOUT US

At Melanated ADHD, we are on a mission to showcase and interview as many voices in one space to emphasize the need for support and research on BIPOC living with ADHD, especially Black and Brown women. Through this podcast, we aim to profile and elevate voices that are often underrepresented in mainstream ADHD discussions, reshape perceptions of how ADHD impacts our communities and explore pathways to flourish and thrive, together.

--

Follow us for updates on all things Melanated ADHD

Website: https://rss.com/podcasts/melanated-adhd/

Instagram: @Melanated_ADHD

YouTube: MelanatedADHD

Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/annettewashere