Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Cold-calling strangers about Brazilian butt lifts wasn’t exactly the plan. But for Taryn Delanie Smith — comedian, actor, former Miss New York, and creator of the viral TikTok character “Denise, Heaven’s Receptionist” — the detours turned out to be the whole story.
In this episode, Taryn talks about competing in the Miss America pageant with undiagnosed ADHD, the curses and gifts of ADHD, a learning disability in math, and struggling in corporate America. Plus: justice sensitivity, farting around time, and why waitressing might be the perfect job for an ADHD brain.
For more on this topic:
Listen: What’s so funny about ADHD? (Comedian Jim Tews’ story) understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha/whats-so-funny-about-adhd
Read: ADHD and creativity understood.org/en/articles/adhd-and-creativity-what-you-need-to-know
Watch: What is dyscalculia? youtube.com/watch?v=GRJS-jeZ7Is
For a transcript and more resources, visit ADHD Aha! on Understood.org. understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha/taryn-delanie-smith-adhd-story
You can also email us at adhdaha@understood.org.
Questions about learning and thinking differences? Get answers and expert-vetted resources by asking the AI-powered Understood Assistant:
understood.org/en/assistant?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=assistant-agn-prod&utm_content=video
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/en/donate?sc=AHA0725YTO&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-vid-adhdaha&utm_content=video
For more resources, support, and excellent memes, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on:
Instagram: instagram.com/understoodorg
Facebook: facebook.com/Understood
TikTok: tiktok.com/@understood.org
Pinterest: pinterest.com/understoodorg
Cold-calling strangers about Brazilian butt lifts wasn’t exactly the plan. But for Taryn Delanie Smith — comedian, actor, former Miss New York, and creator of the viral TikTok character “Denise, Heaven’s Receptionist” — the detours turned out to be the whole story.
In this episode, Taryn talks about competing in the Miss America pageant with undiagnosed ADHD, the curses and gifts of ADHD, a learning disability in math, and struggling in corporate America. Plus: justice sensitivity, farting around time, and why waitressing might be the perfect job for an ADHD brain.
For more on this topic:
Listen: What’s so funny about ADHD? (Comedian Jim Tews’ story) understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha/whats-so-funny-about-adhd
Read: ADHD and creativity understood.org/en/articles/adhd-and-creativity-what-you-need-to-know
Watch: What is dyscalculia? youtube.com/watch?v=GRJS-jeZ7Is
For a transcript and more resources, visit ADHD Aha! on Understood.org. understood.org/en/podcasts/adhd-aha/taryn-delanie-smith-adhd-story
You can also email us at adhdaha@understood.org.
Questions about learning and thinking differences? Get answers and expert-vetted resources by asking the AI-powered Understood Assistant:
understood.org/en/assistant?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=assistant-agn-prod&utm_content=video
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/en/donate?sc=AHA0725YTO&utm_medium=organic&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=fundraising-agn-vid-adhdaha&utm_content=video
For more resources, support, and excellent memes, subscribe to our YouTube channel or follow us on:
Instagram: instagram.com/understoodorg
Facebook: facebook.com/Understood
TikTok: tiktok.com/@understood.org
Pinterest: pinterest.com/understoodorg
