#158: The Episode That Changed Everything — Understanding ADHD in Women with Leah Barnes (Revisited)

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This replay features one of the most pivotal episodes in the history of the Mother Plus Podcast—a conversation that sparked a major shift in the show’s direction.

In this episode, hosts Stacey and Steph sit down with licensed clinical mental health counselor Leah Barnes to explore what ADHD actually looks like in adult women, especially mothers. At the time, they were just beginning to uncover how different ADHD presents in women—and how often it goes undiagnosed or misunderstood. The response to this episode was overwhelming, with listeners flooding their inboxes saying, “I’ve never felt so understood.”

This powerful conversation helped launch a deep dive into ADHD in women, eventually leading to interviews with top experts including psychologists, hormone specialists, coaches, and authors. But this episode? This is where it all started.

Topics discussed in this episode include:

• Why ADHD symptoms in women are often overlooked or misdiagnosed
• The emotional toll of masking, perfectionism, and people-pleasing
• How motherhood intensifies executive function struggles
• The shame spiral of unfinished tasks and sensory overload
• Why recognizing and naming ADHD can be profoundly healing

If you've ever wondered why simple things feel impossibly hard—or why you constantly feel like you're falling short as a mom—this episode will leave you feeling seen and validated.

Links & Resources:

• Listen to Part 2 of the Leah Barnes conversation

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