About Nancy Armstrong
Nancy Armstrong is an award-winning filmmaker, producer, certified parent coach, and the creative force behind The Disruptors, a groundbreaking documentary that’s changing the way the world sees ADHD. From her early days in Hollywood to her mission as a parent and advocate, Nancy has made it her life’s work to replace stigma with understanding. Her film, featuring Howie Mandel, will.i.am, and Paris Hilton, doesn’t just explore ADHD, it flips the narrative, showing how what’s often seen as a “deficit” can actually be a driver of creativity, innovation, and success.
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Nancy Armstrong
Episode Highlights:
In this episode, Bobby Mascia sits down with award-winning filmmaker, producer, and certified parent coach Nancy Armstrong, the powerhouse behind The Disruptors, a groundbreaking documentary that’s changing how the world sees ADHD.
[02:58] "We were kicked out of Mommy and Me class when he was 2 years old because he couldn't sit still like the other kids." — Nancy Armstrong
Nancy opens up about how her journey began when her son was kicked out of Mommy and Me class at just two years old for not being able to sit still. What followed was eight long years of confusion, frustration, and discovery that ultimately inspired her to create a film reframing ADHD not as a disorder but as a different kind of brilliance.
Nancy also shares how understanding your “right kind of difficult” can unlock incredible potential, and why society needs to move away from labeling ADHD as a deficit and start recognizing it as a strength. This episode is both deeply personal and empowering, a reminder that success looks different for everyone and that different isn’t broken.
[17:38] “It's not a mental illness, it's not a disease. It's not even a disorder. I would say it's a brain type.” — Nancy Armstrong
Whether you’re a parent, a leader, or someone who’s always felt wired a little differently, this conversation will leave you inspired to see ADHD in a whole new light.
In this episode:
- [00:00] Introduction
- [01:44] Opening discussion: ADHD and curiosity
- [02:46] Nancy’s family story and diagnosis journey
- [04:07] Challenges of parenting and school systems
- [06:41] High-functioning adults and finding the right fit
- [11:34] Parent coaching and support strategies
- [13:18] Medication: controversy and realities
- [16:24] Accommodations and reframing ADHD
- [17:59] ADHD as a brain type, not a disorder
- [19:00] Environmental impact and misdiagnosis
- [21:09] Stigma, early intervention, and confidence
- [24:01] ADHD strengths in careers and entrepreneurship
- [32:10] Signs of adult ADHD: recognition and substance abuse
- [34:02] Nancy’s upcoming book and parent guidance
- [38:51] Societal reframing of ADHD: teachers and employers
- [46:00] Career transitions and self-understanding
- [48:45] Parental perspective and the journey to success
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