Episode
Behaviour Change Scientist on ADHD & Addiction: Shahroo Izadi
- Podcast
- The Hidden 20%
- Published
- Jan 7, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4729
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
In this episode, Ben sits down with bestselling author, psychologist and behaviour change expert Shahroo Izadi for a deep, honest conversation about ADHD, addiction and how habits really form. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Shahroo reflects on how years spent working in addiction services helped her make sense of her own impulsivity, shame cycles and coping strategies - long before she had the language for neurodivergence. Together, Ben and Shahroo unpack why addiction is often misunderstood, how neurodivergent brains are especially vulnerable in a frictionless modern world, and why behaviour change isn’t about willpower or fixing yourself. This is a compassionate, practical conversation about trust, self-belief and designing habits that work with your brain - not against it. Join us at hidden20.org/donate . ________ Host: Ben Branson Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné Video Editor: James Scriven Social Media Manager: Charlie Young Music: Jackson Greenberg Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller 00:00 Introduction 01:26 Shahroo Izadi’s ADHD Diagnosis & Personal Journey 08:12 ADHD, Neurodivergence & Addiction: What’s the Link? 11:44 Is Addiction a Disease — or a Coping Strategy? 13:04 Why Willpower Fails: Understanding Habit Formation 16:50 ADHD vs Autism: Impulsivity, Dopamine & Delayed Reward 19:08 ADHD & Addiction: Shahroo’s Framework for Sustainable Change 29:18 Trusting an ADHD Brain After Years of Self-Criticism 33:33 Applying Behavioural Psychology to Living With ADHD 36:15 The ADHD Tax: Shame, Avoidance & Hidden Costs 39:25 External Dependence, Coping Mechanisms & Control 42:03 Shahroo’s 3 Practical Tips for Lasting Behaviour Change 52:13 Ben on Addiction & Recovery: Choice Without Deprivation 58:47 What We Still Get Wro…