Hacks and Hobbies with Junaid Ahmed

The Tech Executive Who Turned Silent Menopause Suffering Into a Global Wellness Movement (Amita Sharma)

She was 40, successful in tech… and secretly falling apart. Sleep vanished, anxiety spiked, brain fog wrecked her performance — and no one at work knew why. Even her doctors didn’t have answers, beyond a prescription for antidepressants she instinctively refused. In this raw and revealing conversation, Amita Sharma, co-founder of Nourish Doc, shares how her hidden battle with perimenopause exposed a brutal truth: women are expected to perform at their peak while silently enduring hormonal chaos that medicine barely studies and workplaces completely ignore. What started as a desperate attempt to “fix herself” has become a mission to build a global, holistic platform for hormonal health and to put menopause, perimenopause, and PMS at the center of DEI and health equity. If you’re a founder, HR leader, or a woman navigating your 30s, 40s, or 50s, this episode will change how you think about work, wellness, and what it really means to support women at every stage of life. What You'll Learn : How a high-pressure tech career collided with Amita’s perimenopause — and nearly broke her Why doctors spend as little as 8 hours learning about menopause in medical school The hidden cost of cultural stigma, “masking,” and generational silence around women’s health Why holistic therapies (nutrition, lifestyle, breathwork) were Amita’s turning point How Nourish Doc is transforming a taboo topic into a global, scalable wellness and equity platform Timestamps [00:00] From tech career to taboo topic: introducing Amita’s hidden struggle [01:27] “I was a complete mess”: the brutal reality of perimenopause in a young industry [03:32] Masking, stigma, and cultural silence: why she told no one at work or home [05:00] The medical gap: 8 hours on menopause and a prescription for antidepressants [09:39] Interviewing 3,000+ experts: discovering the problem is global and cross-cultural 11:09] Turning pain into a platform: the birth of Nourish Doc during the pandemic [17:47] Younger women, shifting hormones, and why workplaces can’t ignore this anymore [20:47] Fantasy, history, and healing: the books and stories that shaped Amita [22:47] The breath that saved her: simple practices Amita uses to calm chaos [23:30] The bold truth: why hormonal health must be part of DEI and health equity Where to reach Our Guest: Website: Nourish Doc LinkedIn: Amita Sharma Instagram: Nourish Doc Books Mentioned: The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ADHD Business Strategist Who Turns Chaos into Focused Growth (Sky Waterson)

You don’t need more discipline. You need a system built for your brain. In this powerful conversation, ADHD strategist and founder of Unconventional Organization, Sky Waterson, reveals why most traditional productivity and business systems silently fail ADHD entrepreneurs—and what to do instead. If you’ve ever felt “broken” because you can’t stick to lists, planners, or funnels that seem to work for everyone else, this episode will feel like finding the manual you never got. Sky breaks down her “step into focus” routine, how to escape the feast-or-famine cycle, and why dopamine, time blindness, and working memory must sit at the center of any system you use. From post-it recipes to front-loading rewards, she shows you how to create sustainable focus, predictable revenue, and space for hobbies and real life—without trying to become someone you’re not. What You'll Learn: Traditional systems fail ADHD brains because they ignore dopamine, working memory, and time blindness. They weren’t designed for you. Feast-or-famine is a systems problem, not a character flaw; you need focus filters and clear revenue visibility, not more willpower. The “step into focus” routine starts with a reward before the hard task, then uses a simple written “recipe” to defeat distraction. Post-it note planning helps counter time blindness and tab-hopping by defining exactly what you’ll do this session—no more getting lost in rabbit holes. Immersive hobbies are essential, not optional; intense, project-like hobbies help ADHD entrepreneurs switch off, reset, and come back sharper. Timestamps 00:01 – Why ADHD entrepreneurs burn out on traditional systemsSky explains why “proven” business frameworks keep ending up on the shelf for ADHD minds. 02:15 – The hidden cost of forcing yourself into neurotypical systemsHow misaligned systems create shame, exhaustion, and constant restarting. 04:15 – The feast-or-famine trap and the “focus filter” fixSky shares how to stop reacting to everyone else’s crises and start building real momentum. 05:03 – The secret: reward yourself before you startDopamine transfer deficit theory and why standard “reward yourself after” advice doesn’t work for ADHD. 06:34 – The step into focus routine: post-its, recipes, and no more rabbit holesA practical breakdown of how to write out your focus like a recipe and protect it from distractions. 09:04 – From crisis to clarity: turning ADHD strategy into time and revenueHow combining ADHD tools with business strategy unlocks hours back each week. 10:35 – 30 keynotes in one month: a client case studyHow one speaker used Sky’s method to cut his prep time in half, consistently. 11:19 – Why intense hobbies (like Warhammer) can save your focusThe power of immersive, project-based hobbies for switching off from business without numbing out. 15:16 – Calendar hacks: scheduling rewards, not just tasksWhy writing the reward in your calendar might be the switch your brain actually responds to. 17:17 – ADHD, energy, and human design: a new frontier?A teaser into exploring the overlap between ADHD, energetic types, and how we work best. Where to reach Our Guest Website & Programs: Unconventional Organization Podcast: The ADHD Skills Lab – available via Unconventional Organization Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ADHD Strategist Reveals How To Prioritize When Everything Is On Fire (Sky Waterson)

What if your overwhelm wasn’t a personal failure, but a wiring mismatch? In this episode, Junaid sits down with Sky Waterson, founder of Unconventional Organisation and an ADHD strategist who went from burning out in academia to building a thriving business, powered by the very brain that once held her back. Diagnosed with ADHD during her PhD, Sky realised no one was going to hand her the “instruction manual” for her brain—so she went and built it herself. Sky breaks down how entrepreneurs and high-performers with (or without) ADHD can stop drowning in tasks, escape the “everything is urgent” trap, and finally create momentum that sticks. If your life feels like 100 tabs open and a to‑do list that never ends, this conversation will change how you see your time, your energy, and your potential. 5 Key Takeaways The diagnosis that changed everything – how discovering she had ADHD during her PhD completely rewired Sky’s understanding of herself. The Two-Minute Focus Formula – a simple way to sort what’s truly urgent from the noise when everything feels on fire. Urgent vs. loud tasks – why other people’s priorities are hijacking your brain, and how to take your time back. The ADHD-friendly 80/20 rule – why effective entrepreneurs ignore 80% of their task list and still grow faster. Energy over time – how inconsistent energy, dopamine crashes, and boredom lead to self-sabotage—and what to do instead. Timestamps 00:00 – The setup: Why this conversation matters if your brain won’t slow down 01:41 – Sky’s late ADHD diagnosis and the burnout cycle that led her there 04:07 – From “no instruction manual” to building a science-backed ADHD system 05:55 – How to prioritize when everything feels on fire 07:35 – Brain dumping, working memory, and why your to-do list is lying to you 09:43 – Urgent vs loud: escaping other people’s priorities and people-pleasing 12:06 – Energy management, dopamine, and why discipline beats motivation for ADHD entrepreneurs Where to reach Our Guest Website: https://www.unconventionalorganization.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unconventionalorganization (For more on Sky’s work, tools, and programs, visit her website and socials.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Personal Brand Architect Reveals How to Monetize Your Name Without Chasing Viral Fame ( Jeremy Bishop )

What if your next client, investor, or life-changing opportunity is already watching you… but you’re posting for likes instead of leverage? In this episode, Junaid sits down with Jeremy Bishop, the personal brand architect behind some of today’s most recognizable names. Jeremy explains why most creators and entrepreneurs are asking the wrong question about monetization—and how to turn your existing skills, relationships, and platforms into real revenue without waiting to “go viral.” You’ll discover the mindset shifts that took Jeremy from service provider to seven-figure business builder, why chasing subscribers is a trap, and how to build a brand that’s not just trending, but trusted for decades. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing all the things” but still stuck financially, this conversation will rewire how you think about social media, sales, and reputation. What You'll Learn : Monetization starts with your business, not the algorithm – Get crystal clear on what business you’re in, who you serve, and what result you want in 6–18 months. You don’t need millions of views, you need the right relationships – One message → one call → one client can be worth more than 1M views. Mindset over mechanics – In the early stages, “make up with your time what you lack in skill” by doing the unsexy work: calls, messages, and real conversations. Future-proof brands are built on trust, not trends – Be the same person online and offline, deliver value over years, and become someone people still pick up the phone for after 5+ years. Don’t sell your soul for fame – Own your name, image, and data. Build a powerful brand while still keeping a safe, private, and controllable life. Timestamps 00:00 – Why your personal brand isn’t making money (yet) 02:31 – The truth about “monetizing” YouTube, podcasts, and social media 04:47 – The mindset shift from service provider to seven-figure business builder 06:05 – Are you doing everything… except the one thing that actually makes money? 08:06 – Trending vs trusted: how to build a brand that lasts decades 11:36 – The real growth hack: 100 messages, 100 touches, 100 relationships 14:52 – Fame, control, and why most pop culture icons paid too high a price Guest Links : https://www.instagram.com/jeremybish0p_/ https://influencerclubmedia.myclickfunnels.com/jeremy-podcast--814db Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Hidden Power of Personal Branding (and Why It’s Costing You Millions) - Jeremy Bishop

You’re building everyone else’s brand… except your own. In this episode, Junaid Ahmed sits down with celebrity brand strategist Jeremy Bishop, the man behind brands for Netflix stars, top realtors, artists, and authors. Jeremy reveals how losing everything in his early twenties forced him to confront a brutal truth: if your name doesn’t stand for something, your success can disappear overnight. They break down what truly makes a personal brand that sells, why most entrepreneurs are invisible online (despite posting every day), and how a simple shift in how you show up on social media can open doors to mentors, clients, and seven-figure opportunities. This episode is a powerful reminder that your name is your most important asset—and you’re probably under-using it. What You'll Learn: Why Jeremy’s first company collapsing overnight made him obsessed with building his name, not just a business. The real reason most social media profiles don’t match the mission people say they’re on. How a clear personal brand creates instant trust, credibility, and opportunity—often before you say a word. The number one monetization mistake creators and entrepreneurs make: ignoring direct, daily communication. How timeless principles from “How to Win Friends and Influence People” still drive Jeremy’s networking and mentorship today. Timestamps 00:00 – The man behind the brands you already follow 01:10 – Losing everything at 20: the moment that created a brand builder 03:30 – Your company can die. Your name doesn’t. 05:24 – “Google you” test: what your online presence really says about you 08:10 – Why your social media doesn’t match your mission (and how to fix it) 11:00 – From metal tours to Michael Bublé: the other side of Jeremy 13:24 – The coffee shop cold-caller: a live lesson in connection and sales 16:11 – The #1 monetization mistake no one realises they’re making Guest Links – Jeremy Bishop(Based on the conversation; please search to find the latest and most accurate links) Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jeremybish0p_/ Recommended Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices