Feb 17
In Episode 82 of ADHD for Smart Ass Women, Tracy introduces you to Natalie Cluck. Natalie is 24 and works at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and is training to become a certified flight controller to fly the International Space Station from Mission Control Houston. In this podcast, Natalie shares: The circumstances of her diagnosis which occurred shortly after arriving at NASA The light bulb event that triggered her desire to find out more about ADHD Information around her school career They symptoms that she always wondered about but now sees as part of her ADHD What has changed since she was diagnosed The ADHD traits that she feels make her an even better flight controller than those without ADHD The traits that she feels are responsible for her success The ways she has always felt different than others What she believes is the key to living successfully with ADHD Her ADHD workarounds.
APPLE
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
"I'm the only one that's a little bit different. So that's where I figured out that that there's probably something special about me."
- Natalie Cluck
"I think that my ADHD traits, they make me very well rounded. I'm good at many different things. So I'm never bored."
- Natalie Cluck
"My number one ADHD workaround is to eliminate the decisions that you have to make throughout the day to avoid getting overwhelmed."
- Natalie Cluck
- Natalie struggled in college after maintaining straight A's in high school, but she was able to maintain a 2.9 GPA through the NASA Pathways Program and prove her leadership skills.
- Natalie discusses her experience with ADHD and how it affects her work as a flight controller at NASA.
- Natalie hares her experience with ADHD, including procrastination, late submissions, and difficulty with time management, despite making straight A's.
[13:52 - 26:38] ADHD, Brain Function, and Communication
- Natalie shares how her ADHD diagnosis has helped her understand and manage her brain's unique operating manual, recognizing it's not a personality flaw but a difference in her brain.
- Natalie explains how communication is crucial in her job as a flight controller, where they have to package their words to convey information clearly and concisely to the flight director and other pods.
- Natalie shares tips for improving communication skills, including the acronym "Star" (Stop, Think, Act, React).
[26:38 - 42:31] ADHD, Homeschooling, and College Experiences
- Natalie discusses her experience with homeschooling and the challenges she faced in college, including feeling overwhelmed at Texas A&M University.
- Natalie shares her experiences with ADHD and how she's learned to forgive herself and seek support from loved ones.
- Natalie recommends the "180 sheet workaround" to eliminate decisions and set reminders to avoid overwhelm.
Youtube: How to ADHD
Jessica McCabe's Ted Talk
STAR stands for Stop - Think - Act - Review
The Brili App
