The ADHD Chef: Why Chaos Felt Normal My Entire Life

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.



Eat The Food You Buy: 15 Everyday Ingredients, Endless
Delicious Meals by Martyn Odell is publishing on 16th July
2026 (Penguin Life, £25)

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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
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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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Website: www.hidden20.org


Instagram / TikTok / Youtube / X: @Hidden20charity


Ben Branson @seedlip_ben


Martyn Odell @lagomchef








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