What if spending most of your life believing you were somehow “less” was actually the result of not understanding how your own brain worked?
In this episode of the Journey to Purpose Podcast, Philippa Bagley sits down with Mark Steiner, co-founder and CEO of GigSalad, to explore late-diagnosed ADHD, sobriety, authenticity, entrepreneurship, self-worth, and rediscovering the parts of yourself that may have been hidden beneath decades of self-doubt. Together, they unpack what changed when Mark was diagnosed with ADHD at 57, why giving up alcohol helped him feel mentally clearer, and how understanding himself differently has given him permission to pursue creativity, acting, and new experiences on his own terms.
🎯 In this episode you’ll learn:
- How Mark’s daughter’s ADHD diagnosis eventually led him to recognize many of the same patterns in himself
- Why struggling to focus as a student contributed to years of insecurity and feeling like he was somehow “less”
- How receiving an ADHD diagnosis at 57 helped Mark understand parts of himself that had previously felt like personal shortcomings
- Why giving up alcohol around the same period created what Mark describes as a lifting of the mental “fog”
- How Mark built GigSalad into a major marketplace connecting event planners and entertainers long before understanding his ADHD
- Why learning the difference between curiosity and genuine commitment has changed the way Mark approaches new experiences
- How becoming more comfortable with himself has helped Mark feel like the most authentic version of himself he has ever been
- Why he’s returning to acting in his sixties – not because he needs fame or recognition, but because he genuinely enjoys the craft
- How letting go of regret and giving yourself permission to change direction can create space for an entirely new chapter
- Why Mark is continuing his creative journey with a new interview podcast, Think Upon
Understanding yourself later in life doesn’t erase the years that came before – but it can completely change the story you tell yourself about who you were, who you are, and what might still be possible.