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He’s delivered over a thousand talks across Ireland and Europe - but the hardest stage he ever faced was inside his own mind.
Brian Downes built a career helping others lead, perform, and speak with power - all while wrestling with ADHD, anxiety, and the kind of silence that doesn’t show on camera.
This isn’t a story about public speaking.It’s a story about being seen - about turning chaos into clarity and learning that the bravest thing you can ever say on stage… is the truth.
In this episode, we dive into:
🟧 The misunderstood gift of ADHD - and how to use it as a superpower
🟧 Panic attacks, Lexapro, and the two-year war nobody saw
🟧 The “F**k It Switch”: how to kill perfectionism in real time
🟧 Why therapy isn’t for the broken - it’s for the brave
🟧 Doing hard things on purpose: how pressure builds peace
🟧 Why audiences don’t want polish - they want presence
Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to lead yourself through the noise, this one’s proof that courage isn’t found in the spotlight
— it’s forged in the shadows.
Follow Brian:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianpdownes/
https://briandownes.com/
https://www.performancenerds.com/
Follow Caolan:
https://www.instagram.com/kelly_caolan/
https://open.spotify.com/show/1jMeGl3yO3JJYfPWQATbSD
https://www.linkedin.com/in/caolankelly55/