ADHD and the work environment feat. AJ Kandy - Episode 3

EDITOR'S NOTE, MAY 2023: a previous version of this episode contained some inaccurate medical information. That segment has now been removed. For more details check out episode 66 with Arbind Gill. Robbie and Jordan apologize unreservedly for the errors and thank Arbind for lending her expertise in correcting them.

This week we welcome our first guest, AJ Kandy. AJ is a Calgary-based designer and performer who discovered he had adult ADHD about a decade ago. AJ shares his experience with work burnout, getting diagnosed, and what he's learned from his extremely interesting self-directed research into how humans are affected by their physical environment, especially the workplace. No spoilers here, but it turns out the Cool Open Plan Startup Office can be a nightmare for ADHD people to function in.

Written and hosted by Robbie McDonald and Jordan Lane. Production and music by Jordan Lane.

AJ: ajkandy.com twitter.com/ajkandy www.instagram.com/aj_kandy

HSIHADAD: anchor.fm/holyshitihaveadhd

Robbie: twitter.com/robertadinvan

Jordan: linktr.ee/thefresheye

AJ has put together some helpful links to material he refers to:

Reading:

Place Advantage by Dr. Sally Agustin https://www.amazon.ca/Place-Advantage-Psychology-Interior-Architecture/dp/0470422122

Peopleware by Tom deMarco and Timothy Lister https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0321934113/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_imm_t1_KSpbGb51AD8KB

“Library Rules: How To Make An Open Office Plan Work,” blog post by Basecamp founder Jason Fried https://m.signalvnoise.com/library-rules-how-to-make-an-open-office-plan-work/

also: Other Basecamp founder, David Heinemeier Hansson disses open offices: https://m.signalvnoise.com/the-open-plan-office-is-a-terrible--horrible--no-good--very-bad-idea/

2002 Article in the NYT about the IBM/Steelcase ‘Bluespace’ smart office concept https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/14/business/new-economy-ibm-and-steelcase-lay-out-their-vision-of-the-office-of-the-future.html?referringSource=articleShare

Watching:

Also fun: This 1994 concept video from Sun Microsystems about a personal information space called Starfire: https://youtu.be/w9OKcKisUrY

TVO’s The Life Sized City documentary series with Mikael Colville-Andersen. He kinda does for urbanism what Bourdain did for food tourism. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgBne2KTlDUwyPE2YYqWeqcAqlK_H_hHg

Playing:

Abzû (E3 launch trailer) https://youtu.be/P2G54w8H4oM

Rime (trailer) https://youtu.be/biPr3V7-IXI

Everything (gameplay trailer) https://youtu.be/JYHp8LwBUzo

Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture (trailer) https://youtu.be/w1tBl7upgDU