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The Impulsive Thinker®

The Impulsive Thinker®

By: André Brisson - ADHD Entrepreneur
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About this listen

 We celebrate ADHD Entrepreneur success and discuss challenges and solutions. Having lived with undiagnosed ADHD for a large part of his entrepreneurial journey, André Brisson shares his personal stories on how he overcame his undiagnosed symptoms and how he refined his systems, routines and habits once diagnosed with self-awareness and personal growth. André interviews other ADHD Entrepreneurs, ADHD experts, and strength discovery experts covering many topics including their own obstacles and successes, strategies to manage their ADHD, share knowledge to gain insights and more. André is also interviewed by guest hosts to pull out solutions and information from his brain – since his solutions are impulsive thoughts when talking to someone else. André Brisson was diagnosed at 44 with severe ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) level 1 (Asperger's syndrome). He has lived it, researched it, and transformed himself into a successful ADHD Entrepreneur.© 2025, The Impulsive Thinker® Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • Guilt Comes from Inside — Shame Hits from Outside for ADHD Entrepreneurs

    Guilt Comes from Inside — Shame Hits from Outside for ADHD Entrepreneurs
    Apr 9 2026

    Shame isn't your problem. Toxic shame is. The Impulsive Thinker® cuts straight through what most ADHD Entrepreneur podcasts never talk about.

    In This Episode:

    • The real difference between shame, toxic shame, and guilt
    • Why self-sabotage is just self-protection for the ADHD brain
    • How a shame-bound identity quietly shapes your work and relationships

    What You'll Take Away:

    • Shame is a social correction tool — but toxic shame attacks your identity
    • Your brain never got the memo that you're safe now
    • ADHD Entrepreneurs react to toxic shame, not regular shame
    • Self-sabotage is just another name for trying to survive — not thrive
    • Complaints hit like verdicts when toxic shame rewires your system

    ABOUT THIS EPISODE
    This episode of The Impulsive Thinker® rips into the difference between regular shame and the toxic stuff that rewires your brain. The Impulsive Thinker® breaks down Dr. Shawn's blunt take on shame, guilt, and why your brain keeps you stuck.

    Forget the motivational nonsense — this is about ADHD, Entrepreneurs, and how toxic shame runs on automatic even when your world is safe. Identity, behaviour, and self-sabotage are unmasked for what they are.

    Shame is a tool — until it turns toxic. Self-sabotage isn't weakness, it's your nervous system overcorrecting after years of running defence. Real ADHD Entrepreneur talk without easy answers or stock fixes.

    If you're an ADHD Entrepreneur who feels like complaints always land like final judgement — you need this episode. Hit play and see the problem for what it actually is.

    Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.

    🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount!

    📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool.

    📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter.

    🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn.

    👣Follow me on Instagram.

    💻Check out our website.

    👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.

    00:00 Understanding Shame: The Misconception

    02:42 The Role of Toxic Shame vs. Healthy Shame

    05:24 Self-Sabotage: A Form of Self-Protection

    08:02 Reframing Our Relationship with Shame

    © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.
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    9 mins
  • ADHD Entrepreneurs Collect Shame, Not Feedback — Dr. Shawn Horn Explains Why

    ADHD Entrepreneurs Collect Shame, Not Feedback — Dr. Shawn Horn Explains Why
    Apr 6 2026
    Shame isn't a quirk — it's a weapon. If you're sick of feeling like the problem, this episode puts the truth on the table. The Impulsive Thinker® and Dr. Shawn Horn demolish what you think you know about shame. In This Episode: The difference between shame, toxic shame, and guilt How shame-bound identity hijacks your decisions Why ADHD brains get stuck in people pleasing, perfectionism, and self-protection What You'll Take Away: Shame is a social emotion — it starts outside, then you absorb it Toxic shame attacks your identity, not your actions ADHD Entrepreneurs are experts at hiding, not because they want to, but as self-protection The self-sabotage you feel is a defence against rejection Healthy shame corrects behaviour — toxic shame cripples growth GUEST BIODr. Shawn Horn is a licensed clinical psychologist, TEDx speaker, author, and host of Inspired Living Podcast. She helps neurodiverse entrepreneurs crush toxic shame and build real self-acceptance. Check out her book Thrive Socially with Adult ADHD. ABOUT THIS EPISODE This episode of The Impulsive Thinker® goes hard at shame with Dr. Shawn Horn, breaking down why ADHD Entrepreneurs can't just "think positive" when the world is hell-bent on making them feel defective. The Impulsive Thinker® sharpens the line between guilt and shame — and why most people get it dead wrong. Expect talk about toxic shame, identity condemnation, and why society's measuring stick is always pointed at you. Dr. Shawn Horn explains how shame is installed in childhood, why it sticks, and how it keeps you hustling for worth. This isn't theory — it's neuroscience and lived reality. You'll hear how healthy shame sparks change, but toxic shame becomes the filter you see the world through. People pleasing, workaholism, over-functioning — they're all rooted in this shame-bound identity. Real talk about what that costs you as an ADHD Entrepreneur. If you're done with being told you're the problem, you need this episode. High-achieving, neurodivergent, black sheep — get ready to hear the truth. Hit play now. Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference. 🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount! 📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool. 📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter. 🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn. 👣Follow me on Instagram. 💻Check out our website. 👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here. 00:00 — Kicking Off: Shame as Social Emotion for ADHD Entrepreneurs 01:41 — Healthy Shame vs. Toxic Shame: What No One Tells You 04:51 — Shame Reflex, Guilt, and Early Conditioning 06:40 — Shame-Bound Identity and Entrepreneur Behaviour 09:36 — How Toxic Shame Fuels Perfectionism and Numbing 12:09 — Masking, Hiding, and Self-Protection in ADHD 14:18 — Self-Sabotage, "Self-Protection," and The Value of New Narratives 16:05 — Unrealistic Expectations and Society's Measuring Stick 17:44 — Radical Self-Acceptance for Entrepreneurs 19:38 — Judgement vs. Description: Breaking the Shame Loop 22:09 — Practical Takeaways: Moving Away from Shame Toward Behaviour 23:34 — Why Shame Is Useful — Until It's Not 24:27 — Where to Find Dr. Shawn Horn and Next Steps © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.
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    26 mins
  • Your Body Decides First: ADHD Entrepreneurs Brain Aren't Calling The Shots

    Your Body Decides First: ADHD Entrepreneurs Brain Aren't Calling The Shots
    Apr 2 2026

    You aren't dysregulated — your nervous system is. Your body calls the shots before your brain even shows up. The Impulsive Thinker® breaks down polyvagal theory and why old advice never fit ADHD Entrepreneurs.

    In This Episode:

    • The three polyvagal zones: green, yellow, and red, and how they control your reactions
    • Emotional vs. nervous system dysregulation — why it's not about you
    • Hacks to retrain your nervous system and stop sabotaging yourself

    What You'll Take Away:

    • 80% of communication is body to brain, not the other way around
    • ADHD brains hit red zone fast — and it's not a self-control issue
    • Nervous system triggers are wired, not willed
    • Retraining your environment starts with catching triggers early
    • Getting out of red isn't failing — it's training reps for green

    ABOUT THIS EPISODE
    This solo episode of The Impulsive Thinker® puts the polyvagal theory under the ADHD Entrepreneur lens. The Impulsive Thinker® explains why your nervous system acts first and your brain justifies after. ADHD isn't a personal flaw — it's a hardwired difference that shows up in business and stress.

    Key themes include nervous system dysregulation, green/yellow/red reaction zones, and practical tools for catching triggers early. André Brisson covers why retraining your nervous system (not just your brain) actually shifts your baseline. This episode drops the old "emotional regulation" myth and names the real challenge.

    If you've ever asked "what's wrong with me," this is your episode. Stop blaming discipline. Listen for brutal honesty — and practical steps no one else is talking about.

    Email me about it at andre@theimpulsivethinker.com. Remember — ADHD failure is measured on society's measuring stick. Not yours. Your brain runs on interest, not importance. That's not a flaw. That's a different operating system. ADHD is not a deficit. It's a difference.

    🧠Check out the ADHD Simplified® online course - coming soon! Join the waitlist for a special discount!

    📃Download The Sh!t List™, my weekly planning tool.

    📰Join the Impulsive Thoughts newsletter.

    🔗Connect with me on LinkedIn.

    👣Follow me on Instagram.

    💻Check out our website.

    👂🏼We want to hear from you! Send us your ideas, questions, or feedback Here.

    00:00 Understanding the Nervous System's Role

    02:44 Emotional Dysregulation vs. Nervous System Dysregulation

    05:31 The Importance of Awareness and Retraining

    08:37 Building Resilience in the Nervous System

    11:20 Living in the Green Zone

    © 2025 The Impulsive Thinker®. All rights reserved. The Impulsive Thinker® and ADHD Simplified® are registered trademarks of Objective Engineering Inc.
    Show More Show Less
    13 mins
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