#160: Tracy Otsuka on Celebrating ADHD for Smart Ass Women (Revisited)

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In this unforgettable episode, we're revisiting a conversation that blew our minds—and helped reframe everything we thought we knew about ADHD, motherhood, and what it means to be “too much.”

Tracy Otsuka is the host of the wildly popular ADHD for Smart Ass Women podcast and author of the book by the same name. A former attorney and certified ADHD coach, Tracy has become a global voice for women who are tired of being pathologized—and ready to celebrate what makes them different.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Why ADHD in women is often misunderstood, masked, and misdiagnosed
• How “smart girl syndrome” leads to high achievement—and high self-doubt
• The difference between the default mode network (DMN) and task positive network (TPN), and why they matter so much to ADHD brains
• The real reason motherhood can feel like Groundhog Day for women with ADHD
• How to get out of your head and into aligned action
• The truth about trauma, shame, and learned helplessness in ADHD women
• Why perfectionism and creativity often co-exist in neurodivergent women
• How Tracy’s approach brings humor, empowerment, and healing to thousands of women

This isn’t just a conversation—it’s a reframe. If you’ve ever felt like the “too much” girl who couldn’t keep up with motherhood, or like you’re sitting on a pile of potential you just can’t access, this episode is for you.

Featured Guest:
Tracy Otsuka is a certified ADHD coach, former SEC attorney, and the creator of the ADHD for Smart Ass Women podcast and book. Her podcast has over 5 million downloads and reaches listeners in 160 countries. She’s been featured in Forbes, ADDitude Magazine, and The Goal Digger Podcast, and moderates a Facebook group with nearly 100,000 members.

Resources & Mentions:

• Tracy Otsuka’s Podcast: ADHD for Smart Ass Women
• Dr. Sharon Saline
• Dr. Christine Li (The Procrastination Coach)

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