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Artwork for Hyperfocus

Hyperfocus with Rae Jacobson

Rae Jacobson, Understood.org
ADHD
Mental Health
Postpartum Depression
Women
Neurodiversity
Learning Differences
Suicidal Ideation
Berkeley Girls With ADHD Longitudinal Study
Conduct Disorder
Anxiety
Gender Differences In ADHD Diagnosis
Women's Health
Women With ADHD
Therapy
Self-Harm
Disability Rights
Workplace Inclusion
Gender Differences
Pandemic
Women Empowerment

Hyperfocus is a show that zeroes in on what fascinates us about ADHD, mental health, and learning. Big questions like, “Does ADHD make you more likely to have postpartum depression?” Little nitpicks (TikTok was wrong about something?!), and personal conversations with everyone from old bosses and hilarious comedians, to leading researchers. Because on this show, hyperfocus isn’t the distraction — ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes46Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Health & FitnessMental HealthSelf-ImprovementEducation

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Artwork for Hyperfocus

Latest Episodes

What if your brain had a volume knob? Researcher Dr. Zachary Gershon joins Rae to explain Homer1a, a gene variant that may hold the key to how we focus. When levels are lower during development, the brain gets better at filtering out distractions, or... more

YouTube

Rae puts on her most uncomfortable pants (on purpose!) to ask a fashion designer and former special ed teacher whether adults can actually get over sensory issues. Julia DeNey, founder of sensory clothing brand Sense-ational You, breaks down why tact... more

Hyperfocus listener Jenna Plonsky opens a raw conversation about ADHD, late diagnosis, and the mental health struggles many women face in silence.

From postpartum depression to PMDD, this episode explores how hormonal shifts intersect with neurodive... more

Our team has been seeing something called “ring of fire” ADHD spreading across the internet. It’s a supposed subtype of ADHD promoted by Daniel Amen, a celebrity psychiatrist with clinics in multiple states and a huge online following.

But in report... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Julia DeNey
Fashion designer and former special education teacher; founder of a sensory-focused adaptive clothing brand
Sense-ational You / sensoryclothes.com
Episode: Can I get rid of my adult sensory issues?
Jenna Plonsky
Listener who shares her experiences with ADHD, PMDD, and postpartum depression
Listener to Hyperfocus
Episode: PMDD: Why women with ADHD are 4x more likely to struggle
Roberto Olivardia
Clinical psychologist
Clinical practice; guest on the show
Episode: Is “ring of fire” ADHD real?
Jenn Spindler
Former special education teacher turned researcher
Cambridge University research on inclusive education
Episode: This changed my mind on what’s possible with a learning disability
Dr. Jessica Rosenfeld
Clinical psychologist and faculty member at the Chicago School
Chicago School
Episode: Why there’s no “gold standard” for adult ADHD tests
Dr. Reneh Karamians
Neuropsychologist and rehabilitation psychologist
Episode: Why there’s no “gold standard” for adult ADHD tests
Dr. Kristin Carothers
An amazing clinician with expertise in the role of race in diagnosis
Episode: Conduct disorder: A controversial diagnosis with lifelong consequences
Cate Osborn
Content creator and podcast host, focusing on ADHD awareness.
Understood.org
Episode: The ADHD content economy: How algorithms and incentives turn help into grift
Jia Lynn Yang
Senior Writer at The New York Times
The New York Times
Episode: Kids are at a breaking point, and school policies might be to blame

Host

Rae Jacobson
Host of Hyperfocus; widely associated with understand.org and Hyperfocus Podcast; experienced in exploring ADHD, education, and mental health through rigorous, narrative-driven interviews.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 55 ratings
  • “This ADHD American Life” - Quality + Not Sales-y

    Bravo! Finally an ADHD podcast that isn’t trying to sell you a course!

    Host Rae Jacobson and her production team have perfectly mastered the 1st rate “This American Life”/“Invisibilia”/“Serial” style audio journalism in which the host begins with a personal observation or question which she wishes to investigate, and that then frames a conversation. Additionally, show seems to assume a basic knowledge of ADHD, but there are plenty of places to get the 101 information. It seems as if they d... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mnanda
    United Statesa year ago
  • The podcast I didn’t know I needed

    Wow. I just finished listening to the first episode and am so excited to see what else they have in store. So much of what they said deeply resonated and tapped into areas that I haven’t heard other podcasters or experts talk about. The host is great and has a perfect podcast voice, which is always a plus.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kmarts
    United States2 years ago
  • Delightful host, crucial insights!

    I learned so much in this first episode and can’t wait to hear more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jgabriel41
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The host delivers journalism with a narrative, investigative style that's refreshingly not salesy.
Great voice and grounding in ADHD content; insightful and resonant.
Hosts combine warmth with crucial, actionable insights in mental health and education.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is “ring of fire” ADHD real?
Q: What should people trust when they see claims from brain-imaging clinics?
The hosts emphasize relying on empirically sound studies and caution that brain scans like SPECT are not FDA-approved for diagnosing ADHD or bipolar disorder; focus should be on evidence-based treatment.
Is “ring of fire” ADHD real?
Q: So is this Ring of Fire ADHD? Do I have that in bipolar?
The guest explains that there is no such thing as Ring of Fire ADHD and that the Ring of Fire label is not in the DSM; ADHD and bipolar disorder can co-occur, but Ring of Fire is not a valid diagnostic category.
Conduct disorder: A controversial diagnosis with lifelong consequences
Q: What do you, as a clinician, wish people knew about that so that they could be more accurate, be more helpful?
Clinicians should seek expert consultation when diagnosing conduct disorder, as it is a serious label that should not be made lightly and requires careful consideration of contextual factors.
Conduct disorder: A controversial diagnosis with lifelong consequences
Q: What do you do for someone with CD? How can you help somebody?
The treatment involves highly structured behavioral interventions focusing on consistent consequences and reinforcement of on-task behavior.
Conduct disorder: A controversial diagnosis with lifelong consequences
Q: So can I ask you first, like, what is conduct disorder?
Conduct disorder is a serious mental health issue characterized by a pattern of behavior that involves harming others, lack of empathy, and persistent defiance across multiple settings.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About Hyperfocus

What is Hyperfocus about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers on ADHD, mental health, learning differences, and how systems—schools, healthcare, and media—shape those experiences. Episodes feature a mix of researchers, clinicians, educators, and voices with lived experience, often connecting scientific findings to real-world implications for families, students, and adults navigating neurodiversity. A standout pattern is the balance between rigorous expert perspectives and candid, personal storytelling that illuminates bias, policy, and the everyday realities of living with or supporting someone who's neurodivergent. The show tends to push for practical advocacy—from inclusive education practices to ethical considerations around online information and care—and frequently challenges... more

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How many subscribers and views does Hyperfocus have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Hyperfocus has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Hyperfocus?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Hyperfocus:

1. ADHD Aha!
2. ADHD Experts Podcast
3. Women & ADHD
4. MissUnderstood: The ADHD in Women Channel
5. Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

How many episodes of Hyperfocus are there?

Hyperfocus launched 2 years ago and published 46 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Hyperfocus?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Hyperfocus?

Recent guests on Hyperfocus include:

1. Julia DeNey
2. Jenna Plonsky
3. Roberto Olivardia
4. Jenn Spindler
5. Dr. Jessica Rosenfeld
6. Dr. Reneh Karamians
7. Dr. Kristin Carothers
8. Cate Osborn

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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