Chef, content creator and food waste activist Martyn Odell - better known online as Lagom Chef - joins Ben for a chaotic, funny and emotional conversation about ADHD, creativity, food, and finally understanding his brain.
Diagnosed with ADHD midway through writing his first cookbook, Martyn reflects on growing up in kitchens where chaos and intensity were normalised, and why that made it difficult to recognise the difference between personality, coping and neurodivergence. They explore ADHD creativity, burnout, internet culture, the pressure of social media, and what happens when your job relies on constantly turning your brain into content.
Martyn shares why “eat the food you buy” became his philosophy, how cooking can help people reconnect with themselves, and why perfection is ruining the way we think about food.
This is a conversation about ADHD, identity, creativity, and learning to trust your own way of doing things.
Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
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Host: Ben Branson
Production Manager: Phoebe De Leiburné
Video Editor: James Scriven
Social Media Manager: Charlie Young
Music: Jackson Greenberg
Head of Marketing: Kristen Fuller
00:00 Introduction
01:12 Martyn Odell: ADHD, Cooking & Internet Chaos
03:44 Why Kitchens Made ADHD Feel “Normal”
06:20 The Link Between Creativity, Chaos & Cooking
09:18 Growing Up With Undiagnosed ADHD
12:42 Social Media Pressure & Going Viral Online
16:10 Why Humour Can Become a Mask
19:25 Burnout, Content Creation & Internet Pressure
22:14 Being Diagnosed With ADHD Midway Through Writing a Book
25:39 ADHD, Executive Dysfunction & Writing Struggles
26:43 “Eat The Food You Buy”: Martyn’s Philosophy on Food Waste
28:30 Why Cooking Intuition Matters More Than Recipes
31:11 Social Media Pressure, Trolls & Public Perception
34:02 Why Perfection Is Ruining Cooking
38:16 ADHD Hyperfocus & Creativity in the Kitchen
42:05 The Emotional Connection Between Food & Memory
46:20 Why Simplicity Matters More Than Perfection
50:12 What Cooking Actually Gives Martyn’s Brain
54:40 Martyn’s Green Dot Badge
The Hidden 20% is a charity founded by AuDHD entrepreneur, Ben Branson.
Our mission is simple: To change how the world sees neurodivergence.
No more stigma. No more shame. No more silence.
1 in 5 people are neurodivergent. That’s 1.6 billion of us - yet too many are still excluded, misunderstood, or left without support.
To break the cycle, we amplify voices, challenge myths, and keep showing up. Spotlighting stories, stats and hard truths. Smashing stereotypes through honest voices, creative campaigns and research that can’t be ignored.Every month, over 50,000 people turn to The Hidden 20% to feel safe, seen and to learn about brilliant brains.
With your support, we can reach further, grow louder, and keep fighting for the 1 in 5 who deserve more.
Join us at hidden20.org/donate.
Become a monthly donor.
Be part of our community where great minds think differently.
Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348
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Ben Branson @seedlip_ben
Martyn Odell @lagomchef
If you'd like to support The Hidden 20%, you can buy a \"green dot\" badge at https://www.hidden20.org/thegreendot/p/badge. All proceeds go to the charity.
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