May 25
In this episode of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, Tracy introduces you to Sarah Gise. Sarah is an award nominated Chicago actor who got her BFA degree for Acting at the University of Southern California (USC). She’s worked a thousand different jobs and gigs because she experiences intense FOMO (fear of missing out), so in addition to acting, she’s dipped her toes into teaching, writing, directing, podcasting, bartending, and coaching. She is currently an ensemble member with Interrobang Theatre Project, and has performed in numerous shows with different companies around Chicago. Her performance in Interrobang Theatre Project’s production of the one woman show THE AMISH PROJECT (2016) was nominated for Best Solo Performance at the 2017 Joseph Jefferson Awards.
In addition to theatre, she has appeared in several web series, films, commercials, and audiobooks. Sarah currently works as an Executive Functioning Coach for Effective Artistry, and is the Host/Producer of The ADHD Artist Podcast, which explores and celebrates the lives of artists with ADHD.
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"Follow your passion. I mean, I know that I wish that my passion was more lucrative sometimes. No, like, Oh, I just happen to do this thing that's gonna make me a billionaire, but especially artists, like, make your art, make your art. And it really does help."
- Sarah Gise
"So the big ones are exercise, like cardio, specifically lifting weights doesn't do it as much although I do that nowadays for Other reasons, but if I'm not like, moving my body, I almost describe it. Like, it's like my brain forgets that it has a body."
- Sarah Gise
"Finding your support system, surrounding yourself with people that feel safe, that you can talk to about the things that you may be ashamed of, as this is, especially when you've moved to a new city state country, like, find your tribe, find your people, because otherwise, you're just going to be pretending you're just gonna be pretending to be something you're not and hiding the things that you don't think other people want."
- Sarah Gise
- Sarah discusses her experience with ADHD medication in high school and college, including how it affected her grades and her decision to audition for acting programs.
- Sarah shares her experience with ADHD and Adderall in college, including using it to stay awake during late-night study sessions and feeling ashamed about it.
- Sarah share her experience with mindfulness meditation and how it has helped her manage anxiety.
[22:42 - 35:36] ADHD and Memorization Techniques
- Sarah discusses memorization techniques for actors, including the app Line Learner.
- Sarah shares her struggles with ADHD and the shame she felt about it, even with close friends and family.
- Sarah describes ADHD as having "superpowers" that can be both creative and destructive, and likens it to the X-Men, who have powers they don't know how to use.
[35:36 - 46:49] ADHD, Creativity, and Coaching
- Sarah emphasizes finding support systems and passions to live successfully with ADHD.
- Sarah discusses her podcast, theatre company, and upcoming personal writing project.
- Sarah fell into coaching after starting a podcast on ADHD and neurodiversity, and later collaborated with playwright Brandon Testors to launch his coaching practice, Effective Artistry.
