Shows / Rhythms of Focus
Rhythms of Focus
Join psychiatrist, musician, and productivity strategist Dr. Kourosh Dini on a journey to transform your relationship with work, creativity, and focus. "Rhythms of Focus: for Wandering Minds, ADHD, and Beyond" explores the intersection of meaningful work and the art of engaging creativity and responsibility without force, particularly for wandering minds, ADHD, and beyond. Each week, Dr. Dini weaves together insights from psychiatry, mindfulness practices, and creative experiences to help you…
Episodes
Rhythms of Focus79. Intentional AI with Guest David Sparks
You are in for a treat this week as I am joined by guest David Sparks. You may know him from one of his many projects, including his podcast, Intentional AI…
Rhythms of Focus78. You Can't Trust Yourself on Command
Too often we're given the well intentioned advice to "just trust yourself." For some, it seems like such a simple thing to do, a forgone conclusion. For those…
Rhythms of Focus77. Is the ADHD Medication Working?
ADHD medications can be extremely helpful, but it's important to understand it isn't a catch-all that fixes everything. While it can have positive benefits…
Rhythms of Focus76. No Pain, No Gain, and the Wandering Mind
Far too often we operate under the assumption that "pushing" ourselves and "forcing" ourselves to do something are the same thing. Both can definitely be…
Rhythms of Focus75. Building Trust With a Wandering Mind
Comparison can not only be the thief of joy, it can also be the bearer of guilt, shame, and inadequacy. For those of us with wandering minds, ADHD, and the…
Rhythms of Focus74. The Break in the Work
For those of us with ADHD, wandering minds, and the like, coming up against the feelings of guilt, shame, and frustration at being unable to get our work done…
Rhythms of Focus73. I'm Sorry. I Can't Do the Laundry. I Just Don't Have the Dopamine.
I came across a social media post recently that made me laugh. "I'm so sorry," it said, "I can't do the laundry, I just don't have the dopamine." I laughed…
Rhythms of Focus72. You Don't Need Another List — You Need a Better Prompt
One might say the road to hell is paved with well-intentioned lists. Wandering minds tend to collect a stockpile of the latest apps, notebooks, and sticky…
Rhythms of Focus71. Single-Threading: AI, ADHD, and the Cost of Switching
Using AI to help with productivity and multitasking is not for the faint of heart when you've got ADHD or a wandering mind. We may feel as though we are being…
Rhythms of Focus70. Should I Tell My Boss About My Wandering Mind?
This week we discuss the very real fear of disclosing our wandering minds with bosses and managers. Will they think less of us? Will they support the perhaps…
Rhythms of Focus69. Further Adventures of AI and the Wandering Mind
As someone who loves tools and figuring out the best ways to use them, I've been intrigued with the potentials of AI, particularly using it as someone with a…
Rhythms of Focus68. What If You're Not Time-Blind? — Three Rhythms Beneath the Clock
The anxiety of a task taking too long, a project starting too late, or the loud silence of an undone to-do list can be incredibly overwhelming. This is…
Rhythms of Focus67. ADHD, Mindfulness, and Anchoring
As someone with ADHD or a wandering mind, you may have been told to keep a scratchpad on you at all times. It's a great way of capturing our thoughts in the…
Rhythms of Focus66. ADHD and the Power of Care in Story with Guest Neal Foard
This week I am joined by storyteller Neal Foard to discuss the act and emotion of care. Those of us with ADHD and wandering minds can often get overwhelmed by…
Rhythms of Focus65. ADHD and the Seductive Pull of Passion
When the universe puts something fun or interesting in front of us, it can become a welcome distraction from what we are "supposed" to be doing. This can be…
Rhythms of Focus64. Creativity and the Wandering Mind with Graphic Designer Extraordinaire, Matt Strieby
This week I welcome creative mind and graphic designer extraordinaire, Matt Strieby of New Leaf Design. I was first lucky enough to work with Matt in 2005…
Rhythms of Focus63. Creativity and Frustration
Frustration is an emotion that can be elusive in its origins while being capable of putting a halt to almost anything we're trying to accomplish. We feel…
Rhythms of Focus62. 3 Unlocks from Scratchpad to Anchor
This week we explore how ADHD-related working-memory limits create a bottleneck. While a scratchpad can help, it often fails without a mindfulness-based…
Rhythms of Focus61. How Much Do We Delegate to AI - A Discussion with Brett
This episode I am joined by Waves of Focus community member and fellow wandering mind, Brett. As a software developer, he is no stranger to technology, and as…
Rhythms of Focus60. The Power of Boredom
In this podcast episode, I reflect on boredom. Boredom is a restless, sometimes frightening emotion that can feel like an indictment of a life being wasted…
Rhythms of Focus59. Creativity and Error
This episode explores how those of us with ADHD and wandering minds often link our “scatter” to creativity. Of course, turning creative ideas into finished…
Rhythms of Focus58. Trust, Decay, and Retooling - A Discussion with Michael
This week I have a discussion with Michael, a Waves of Focus group member, about living with ADHD and a wandering mind and how he refines tools and routines to…
Rhythms of Focus57. The Power of Anchoring with ADHD - Options Over Tasks
Summary This episode explores how ADHD and wandering minds can make “I don’t wanna” feelings so strong that even writing a dreaded obligation down feels…
Rhythms of Focus56. Fear of the Blank Page
This episode focuses on the struggle of the blank page. How it can seem like a hack to use pre-existing content to spring us forward to a starting point that…
Rhythms of Focus55. Speaking Authentically with ADHD Featuring Guest Rachel Hanfling
I am delighted to be joined by speaking coach and producer Rachel Hanfling, who has coached everyone from shy speakers to Fortune 500 leaders to help them find…
Rhythms of Focus54. Vitamin Nothing
This episode explores the concept of "doing nothing", which, ironically, is still an act of doing "something." In fact, “doing nothing” is a valuable practice…
Rhythms of Focus53. The Waves of Focus are the Suzuki for Practicing ADHD
Growing up in the 1980s, heavy metal hairbands were rock gods looked up to by kids and adults alike. While studying piano and awkwardly attempting early…
Rhythms of Focus52. Agency, Story, And Symbols with Guest Billy Broas
When building a thing to bring out to the world, we face “marketing.” Some of us who have had to put this on their to-do list may well have had a similar…
Rhythms of Focus51. The Story of "Just"
Telling ourselves “I should just do that thing” rarely motivates action and instead can lead to self-judgment. The word “just” can be an unconscious way to…
Rhythms of Focus50. Gaming Ourselves
Many of us with ADHD and wandering minds have been told our motivation problems are mainly about dopamine dependence. This has led to numerous activities and…
Rhythms of Focus49. SMART Goals Are Anything but Smart
For those of us moving through life with ADHD or wandering minds, “SMART Goals” can act as too rigid a process. One that may impede the value of the end…
Rhythms of Focus48. On Willpower and ADHD
This episode discusses the concept of willpower, particularly in relation to the struggles of individuals with ADHD. We question the traditional notion of…
Rhythms of Focus47. Finding Our Unique Voice
This week we explore how to “find your voice,” when it feels as though everything has been done before. How do you create something to put you on par with…
Rhythms of Focus46. Wait, What Were You Just Talking About?
This episode examines how our minds can often wander in the middle of conversations, while reading, or tackling a project. This can lead to embarrassment and…
Rhythms of Focus45. At the Piano - Wandering Passion
We do something a little different on this episode of The Rhythms of Focus. Join me for an informal piano practice session and get a glimpse of my own…
Rhythms of Focus44. AI vs Agency
When does AI help—and when does it hinder our agency? In this thoughtful episode of Rhythms of Focus, we explore the delicate balance between using powerful…
Rhythms of Focus43. "I have a thing at 5. My day is ruined."
Ever found your whole day thrown off by “a thing at five”? In this episode of Rhythms of Focus, we explore the quiet storm that happens when time anxiety, fear…
Rhythms of Focus42. On Decision, Indecision
When every choice feels like too much—what to do, where to go, even what to eat—indecision can quietly drain our focus and energy. In this episode of Rhythms…
Rhythms of Focus41. The Spirit and Practice of Care
This episode explores the complex nature of care and how especially those with ADHD can be caught in a vicious cycle of others feeling as though we don't care…
Rhythms of Focus40. The Beauty of Error
Miles Davis says, there is no such thing as a mistake. How can we understand the truth within this seemingly odd idea? We’ll explore how to gently reframe…
Rhythms of Focus39. Aligning Emotion and Intention with the 8 Gears of Focus
Caught between “I can’t start” and runaway hyperfocus, many of us feel like passengers in our own minds rather than pilots of our days. In this episode of…
Rhythms of Focus38. An Honor Guide
When we finally finish a project yet still feel behind, it is rarely about the checklist and almost always about our relationship with time, memory, and trust…
Rhythms of Focus37. Reading and the Wave of Confusion
When we sit down to read and realize we’ve “read the same paragraph four times,” it can feel like proof that we’re broken. In this episode of Rhythms of Focus…
Rhythms of Focus36. Play Eludes Measure
When a language app starts running your day instead of helping you learn, something vital is off. In this episode of Rhythms of Focus, we explore what really…
Rhythms of Focus35. The Authority Within
In today’s episode of Rhythms of Focus, we how motivation can seem to slip away when someone else's "should" enters the equation. Why do wandering minds rebel…
Rhythms of Focus34. Tripwires and "Sticky Decor Decay"
In this episode of 'Rhythms of Focus,' listeners explore the concept of 'trip wires' as a tool for mindfulness and task management. Discover how to set…
Rhythms of Focus33. An Overview of the 8 Gears of Focus
Discover eight distinct “gears” of focus—stages we moves through, from simply being, to considering, approaching, and ultimately performing at our best…
Rhythms of Focus32. Prelude to a Pause
In this episode of "Rhythms of Focus," we consider distraction and stimulation. When our minds wander and the pull of the phone grows strong, we search for…
Rhythms of Focus31. It's Too Hard to Even Make It There - A Lean Into Challenge
Feeling stuck—where even the simplest task feels too heavy to lift? In this episode, instead of chasing rigid productivity, listeners will discover the subtle…
Rhythms of Focus30. The 4 Limits of Productivity
Discover why your latest app or productivity hack is not the real hero—or the real challenge. In this episode of "Rhythms of Focus," we explore what truly lies…
Rhythms of Focus29. What if I break the chain?
Break free from the tyranny of the unbroken streak—what if focus meant something deeper than chasing another checkmark? This episode of Rhythms of Focus…
Rhythms of Focus28. Clock Time vs Self Time
A short little poem Mentioned in this episode: Waves of Focus YouTube Series Look out for new episodes of the new Waves of Focus YouTube series here…
Rhythms of Focus27. The Principles of the Waves of Focus
Uncover a revolutionary approach to managing ADHD and wandering minds in this episode of 'Rhythms of Focus.' Discover the 'Waves of Focus,' a comprehensive…
Rhythms of Focus26. The Trouble Isn't Interest, It's Force
Ever feel lost at the starting line, waiting for motivation or urgency to nudge you into action? In this episode of Rhythms of Focus, we break through the myth…
Rhythms of Focus25. Overwhelm of the Infinite
Feeling swallowed by the waves of overwhelm? In this episode of “Rhythms of Focus,” Kourosh Dini invites listeners on a gentle voyage through the tumultuous…
Rhythms of Focus24. The Daily Invite
Agency and trust are vital guiding currents in the sea of wandering minds. Instead of rigid productivity hacks, listeners are invited to chart their own…
Rhythms of Focus23. ADHD and the Nature of Time
Wandering Minds often blame themselves when struggling with time. Instead of painting "time blindness" as a personal flaw, what if our struggles are a natural…
Rhythms of Focus22. A Major To Do List Mistake
Discover the secret rhythms that guide a wandering mind—especially when the “energy goes poof.” In this episode of Rhythms of Focus, Kourosh Dini dives into…
Rhythms of Focus21. Dr. Fuschia Sirois and the Vital Importance of Emotion in Procrastination
Exploring Procrastination, Self-Compassion, and Emotional Management with Dr. Fuschia Sirois In this episode, we delve into the roots of procrastination with…
Rhythms of Focus20. A Delight in Craft - The Unconscious Mind Board Game
Ever felt your mind swept clean, like cobwebs brushed away, simply by admiring true craft? In this episode of Rhythms of Focus, I invite you to explore how the…