Beyond 6 Seconds

Kaishawna is a 21 year old Deaf Black Autistic woman, clarinet player and college student who is studying to become an educator for neurodivergent and disabled students. She communicates using an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) text-to-speech app on her iPad, sign language, and sometimes unreliable vocal speech. She is a disability advocate and aspiring author who is working on two novels that feature disabled main characters. During this episode, Kaishawna discusses: Her experiences using AAC to communicate with others How she experiences playing music as a Deaf Autistic musician, and her love of music theory How she found out she was autistic, and how that led her to become involved with disability rights advocacy The difficulty she had finding community as a Deaf Black Autistic woman, and the racism and ableism she faces What she hopes to teach her students as an educator The two novels she is currently working on Follow Kaishawna on Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube. Read the episode transcript. Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Patty DeDurr is a mom, healthcare worker and award-winning author of two children’s books: "This Kid Can Hyperfocus" (a story about ADHD) and "This Llama Can Write" (a story about dysgraphia). She provides educational information and resources about supporting neurodivergent kids on her publisher's website, Sensing Greatness. Patty has ADHD and dysgraphia herself, and she’s determined to help reduce stigma surrounding neurodivergence by increasing representation in literature. During this episode, you will hear Patty talk about: What is dysgraphia, and what it’s like for her to have dysgraphia and ADHD  Why assistive technology is important for individuals with dysgraphia   What inspired her to write children’s books with neurodivergent characters, and how she came up with the plots for the stories The neurodiversity resources she provides for her advocacy work Learn more about Patty's books, This Kid Can Hyperfocus and This Llama Can Write. Get Patty's free resources for neurodivergent children on her website, Sensing Greatness. Follow Patty on Facebook and Instagram. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube. Read the episode transcript. This episode features a promo for Differently Brained, the podcast where no brain is the same.   Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player!  Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Content note: This episode describes instances of medical trauma and mental health crises, and mentions violence and death. Kate Wallinga is a forensic psychologist and crisis clinician by training, and currently hosts the podcast “Ignorance Was Bliss,” which has surpassed 1 million downloads. Kate has ADHD, epilepsy, and a traumatic brain injury (TBI) after having a near-death experience in childbirth and a grand mal seizure.     During this episode, you will hear Kate talk about: The origin story of the “Ignorance Was Bliss” podcast (and its tagline, “Didn't you feel better before you knew that?”) How her life, neurotype, cognition and family relationships changed after her near-death experience and traumatic brain injury – including her experiences with amnesia and aphasia  Why she describes herself as being broken, and why being broken is ok How her recovery means she has gotten to a new baseline, and doesn’t mean going back to the way she was How she learned to give herself grace in her life, after everything she's been through Listen to Kate’s podcast “Ignorance Was Bliss” at IWBPodcast.com or on your favorite podcast player. Follow Kate on Twitter, Instagram, Mastodon and TikTok.   Listener shout-out! A big THANK YOU to Buna, a Beyond 6 Seconds listener, for supporting this podcast on BuyMeACoffee.com!  Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Adam Mico is the Principal of Data Visualization and Enablement at Moderna. He is a Tableau Visionary, 3x Tableau Ambassador, an Advisory Board Member of the Data Leadership Collaborative, and a member of the Tableau Speaker Bureau. In his spare time, he blogs, produces data visualizations, travels, and networks with the larger data community. He is autistic and supports diversity and inclusion efforts, which includes neurodiversity.    During this episode, you will hear Adam talk about: His multi-year journey to recognizing and accepting his autism How he discovered Tableau and data visualization as a career interest His transformative decision to “bet on himself” and leave his public sector job after 22+ years to switch careers and industries Finding the Tableau community where, for the first time in his life, he felt supported and safe enough to start “unmasking” his autism as an autistic professional   The surprise and honor of being recognized for his contributions to the Tableau data community The “happy accident” that led him to the opportunity to write a published book  How he mentors neurodivergent data professionals His advice on how to connect to the Tableau community online and join the #DataFam Follow Adam on LinkedIn and Twitter and get his book “Tableau Desktop Specialist Certification: A prep guide with multiple learning styles to help you gain Tableau Desktop Specialist certification” on Amazon.   Are you an autistic person who works in the corporate world? Join the new LinkedIn Group for Autistic Corporate Professionals, a place to share advice and experiences with navigating corporate jobs, careers and workplaces.   Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Janelle Johnson, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), is a wife, mother, and Founder of Bridges Family Life Center, a Systemic Therapy and Consulting group practice near Raleigh, North Carolina. An award-winning educator and innovative mental health leader, she is often sought out for her social justice advocacy regarding intersectionality of ableism, sexism, and racism. She currently serves as President of the NC Association of Marriage and Family Therapy. A graduate of NC State University and Chapman University, she has returned to her first alma mater as a doctoral student in the Educational Equity program.    During this episode, you will hear Janelle talk about: How she discovered she was autistic during an interaction with one of her clients Her experience in school as an undiagnosed autistic child How the struggles of a family friend sparked her lifelong interest in psychology The importance of having Black and brown therapists who can support Black and brown clients How she became a doctoral student in the Educational Equity program, researching the intersectionality of disability and race Her personal experience with unmasking as a Black autistic woman and code-switching How she teaches leadership teams how to have conversations about race, disability, and other challenging topics in ways that build organizational culture and connection Find out more about Janelle and her work at the website for Bridges Family Life Center (her therapy and consulting group practice), on Facebook and LinkedIn. Learn more about FACES for Autism, the advocacy and empowerment program for Black families raising autistic children that Janelle partners with as part of her doctoral research. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. This episode features a promo for The Other Autism, a podcast hosted by Kristen Hovet that explores late-diagnosed autism, with a focus on autistic women. Listen to The Other Autism at other-autism.buzzsprout.com or on your favorite podcast app. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Ben VanHook is an autistic master’s degree student studying public policy at George Mason University, with the hopes of reforming employment and education policy to make them more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals. Ben's passion for creating a more inclusive world stems from his own experiences as an autistic Jewish Asian American adoptee and has led to him speaking and presenting to employers, professors, researchers and self-advocates in the United States and abroad. During this episode, you will hear Ben talk about: How he learned he was autistic while he was in high school The challenges he faced coming from China to the United States as an adoptee His insights about the intersections of his identities as an autistic, Jewish, Asian American adoptee How posting on LinkedIn led him to become a neurodiversity advocate and public speaker on the intersections of autism, race and religion His role in a TV documentary about intersectionality between race and autism  His thoughts on supporting neurodivergent employees in the workplace and in their careers What are the main goals for his advocacy  To learn more about Ben and his advocacy: Follow him on LinkedIn  Watch the PBS documentary episode that featured him: “A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity - Neurodivergence and People of Color” See his United Nations presentation about Autistic perspectives on Policy and Advocacy for 2023 World Autism Awareness Day Listener shout-outs! A big THANK YOU to Elaine A. and Dan G. for supporting this podcast on BuyMeACoffee.com!  Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Jordyn Zimmerman earned her bachelor's degree in Education Policy from Ohio University and her Masters of Education at Boston College. As a nonspeaking autistic student who was denied access to effective augmentative communication until she was 18, Jordyn has personal experience challenging the educational status quo. Her experience is featured in the 2021 documentary, “This Is Not About Me.”  Technology helped open Jordyn's world, and she began advocating for students. She has keynoted and presented at conferences around the world, is on the board of CommunicationFIRST, works as Director of Professional Development at The Nora Project, and has been featured by prominent media outlets. Recently, Jordyn was appointed to serve on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. Jordyn is passionate and determined to make a difference in the world of education — making sure every student can access effective communication and exercise their right to a truly inclusive education. During this episode, Jordyn shares: What life was like before she could communicate by typing – and how it changed when she finally got access to effective communication technology at the age of 18 The poor treatment and substandard education she received in school, from people who denied her access to communication technology and refused to recognize her intelligence – and how her experiences fuel her advocacy for inclusive education What was it like going to college away from home – and why she started a college cheerleading team that includes disabled and nondisabled students  Her advocacy with the nonprofit organization CommunicationFIRST for people with communication disabilities How she got the opportunity to be featured in the documentary “This Is Not About Me” Her advice for nonspeakers and their allies  To find out more about Jordyn and her work, visit her website at JordynZimmerman.com and connect with her on Twitter and LinkedIn. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

After working as a gifted education teacher, Emily Kircher-Morris became a clinical mental health counselor who supports gifted and twice-exceptional (gifted + neurodivergent) children. She is also the host of The Neurodiversity Podcast and the author of several books, including "Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today's Classroom" and the revised edition of "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children." She has three neurodivergent children and is neurodivergent herself. During this episode, Emily talks about: What her life was like as a twice-exceptional student (gifted and ADHD)   Her experience as a teacher of gifted and twice-exceptional children, and why she decided to become a clinical mental health counselor The importance of neurodiversity-affirming therapy, and what it looks like in practice What inspired her to start The Neurodiversity Podcast The story behind the books that she wrote Find out more about Emily and her work at these links: Twitter: @EmilyKM_LPC The Neurodiversity Podcast Neurodiversity University Her books: Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today's Classroom and Raising Twice-Exceptional Children: A Handbook for Parents of Neurodivergent Gifted Kids Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

How do you get an education when you cannot speak, and the school system does not understand your abilities or support your needs? This was the experience of Ben Breaux, a 22-year-old nonspeaking autistic man with epilepsy who uses a letterboard and a text-to-speech app on his iPad to communicate.  Ben is an aspiring journalist who feels it is very important that non-, minimal- and unreliably speaking autistic people have equal rights, opportunities, and voices in society. He writes and advocates on these topics and more on his public Facebook Page, for numerous autism advocacy groups worldwide, and on advocacy boards and committees in his home state of Virginia and nationally.  During this episode, Ben discusses: What life was like before he learned how to communicate using a letterboard The struggles he faced to earn his education The advocacy work he does for nonspeaking autistic people with two nonprofit organizations, NeuroClastic and CommunicationFIRST    What inspired him to start sharing his writing online   His advice for parents of nonspeaking children, and for nonspeaking people themselves Read Ben’s writing on his Facebook page, Instagram and on the Neuroclastic website, and follow Ben on TikTok. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Note: This episode contains occasional swearing (coprolalia). Monica Nguyen is a 20-year-old disability advocate who lives in Sydney, Australia. Monica began sharing her experiences online after facing a lot of discrimination from people who don’t understand her Tourette Syndrome. Her goal is to inspire, educate and empower. During this episode, you will hear Monica talk about: What her life has been like with Tourette’s, as someone living in Australia who is part of a Vietnamese family The discrimination she’s faced in public because of her tics and coprolalia, including a confrontation at a train station that compelled her to start sharing her life experiences with Tourette’s online The positive community she has built on TikTok by creating videos about her life with Tourette’s The goals she has for her advocacy Follow Monica on TikTok @meowmons and Instagram @ticswithmon. This episode features a promo from the Psychocinematic podcast, which discusses the representation of disability and mental health conditions in film and TV. Listen to Psychocinematic at PsychocinematicPodcast.com or on your favorite podcast app. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Content warning: This episode mentions emotional abuse. Tessa McEvoy is autistic, has a speech disability called Oral Motor Apraxia, and was recently diagnosed bipolar. She talks about her experiences on her popular Facebook page, Apraxia Story, and advocates for autistic, bipolar, abuse survivors and apraxic individuals online. In 2022 she wrote, illustrated and published her book called “What is it like Living with Depression?” During this episode, you will hear Tessa talk about: What inspired her to start sharing her apraxia story online The difficulties she’s faced as a neurodivergent person with a speech disability, including being judged, abused and isolated Why she advocates for disabled people who are experiencing abuse The inspiration and motivation behind her book Sharing her life experiences to help people in similar situations feel less alone Follow Tessa on Facebook at Apraxia Story, join her Patreon community and check out her book, “What is it like Living with Depression?" on Amazon. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Rickey Z is a Pre-K Special Education teacher who started her podcast management business in 2020. She is a co-host on Woe Nelly Media's "Geekin' Out" and is in partnership with ADHD + Black, an up-and-coming organization whose mission is to provide support and resources for the Black neurodivergent community. Rickey Z was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 30 while in the process of coming to terms with untreated depression and anxiety. During this episode, you will hear Rickey Z talk about: How she discovered that had ADHD at the age of 30 What it was like growing up as a Black girl with undiagnosed ADHD Why she thinks boys are identified as neurodivergent at younger ages than girls are How realizing she has ADHD impacts how she views and manages her depression and anxiety Managing her life as a special education teacher, mother and owner of a podcast management business How her partnership with ADHD + Black creates resources to support Black neurodivergent people You can find out more about Rickey Z and her work on: Instagram: @rickeyz_social and @adhdandblack TikTok: @rickey_z Twitter: @RickeyZ_Social and @ADHDandBlack Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Jeremy Andrew Davis is a screenwriter, film director, and consultant for disability representation in media. He describes himself as multi-disabled with several neurodivergencies as well as chronic illnesses. As a recognized name in disability, he became one of 12 LinkedIn Top Voices of Disability Advocacy of 2022. Jeremy is also a social media influencer with more than 100 million video views across his career, including a TikTok channel that grew to almost 300,000 followers after only six months. During this episode, you will hear Jeremy talk about: How he discovered his neurodivergencies later in life The types of stories he has been telling through his filmmaking, starting from a young age His processes for writing characters – and how he writes diverse casts of characters outside of his own identities and lived experiences What’s required to make media that’s authentically representative of people with disabilities (it’s more than just hiring a disability consultant!) His thoughts on the representation of autistic people on TV, like Love on the Spectrum and Extraordinary Attorney Woo – and what media he feels is getting autistic representation right What led him to start his TikTok account, and how the content he creates there is different from his other writing and filmmaking Find out more about Jeremy and his work on his website and TikTok. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Diane J. Wright is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility media consultant working in film and television. She is also the founder of Autastic.com, which provides resources and community for late-identified autistic people of color and their allies. During this episode, you will hear Diane talk about: How burnout led her to discover that she is autistic and has ADHD Why it is difficult for her to detangle the intersections of her racial, gender and neurodivergent identities What inspired her to create Autastic.com How the Autastic community encourages meaningful conversations and connections among late-identified autistic people of color and their allies The valuable curated resources for late-diagnosed autistic adults on Autastic The life-changing impact that Autastic has had on its community members Her hope for more Black and brown autistic people to find each other, feel less alone and less vulnerable Visit www.autastic.com for more information about Autastic and check out www.autastic.com/support for ways to support their mission. You can also find Autastic on social media on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Dr. Lola Day is a multi-passionate busy mother of 3, a pediatric cardiologist, podcaster and ADHD trained life coach and productivity strategist for women. She is also the CEO and Founder of LollieTasking, a coaching and consulting firm that teaches high achieving, easily distracted professional women how to accomplish their goals without overwhelm or their brain sabotaging their efforts. During this episode, Lola talks about: How she learned she had ADHD while in medical school How she compensated for the challenges and leveraged the strengths of her ADHD, even before getting her diagnosis The systems she put in place – the processes, people, structures and more -- that helped her succeed How she became an ADHD trained life coach to help people lean into their interests and build their own systems for success Why coaching that works for neurotypical people may not work for people with ADHD – and what techniques people with ADHD may want to try instead Find out more about Lola on her podcast, LollieTasking with ADHD, on Instagram @lollietasker, and by email at hello at lollietasking.com. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Jack RH O'Sullivan is an award-winning independent filmmaker and film director based in London. He is autistic, has Tourette Syndrome and OCD. He has directed ten short films including “Tourettes & I”, a coming-of-age drama about his own experiences with Tourette’s. With this film, he intends to raise awareness about Tourette Syndrome, so others don't have to go through the tough childhood of bullying and misinformation he went through. During this episode, you will hear Jack talk about: His late diagnosis of Tourette’s, autism, and OCD and how that affected his early life in school The negative and misleading depictions of Tourette’s in the media, and the authentic representation that “Tourettes & I” brings to the big screen Casting an actor with Tourette's in the film's lead role  How the UK charity Tourettes Action supported the film The film's impact on audiences and at film festivals Learn more about “Tourettes & I” and Jack’s other films on Movie Making Media's website, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Watch "Tourettes & I" for free starting on New Year’s Day 2023 at DarkSkyTV.com. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, and I'm excited to host my first podcast guest who is talking about Down syndrome! Mary Borman is an ambassador for Down syndrome and 2018 Self-Advocate of the Year for the National Down Syndrome Society. We recorded this episode a few weeks ago, while Mary was preparing to compete at the Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships in Portugal this month. We talk about several of Mary's accomplishments, which include: Swimming competitively and winning medals at the Special Olympics National Games and Down Syndrome World Swimming Championships Modeling in Northwest Arkansas Fashion Week Lobbying for disability rights and legislation Speaking to organizations across the U.S. about Down syndrome Learn more about Mary and her work at MaryBorman.com and follow her on Instagram and TikTok. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Miya Sae is an autistic Christian, blogger, and aspiring author. Through her writing, she strives to help bridge the neglected gap between autism and Christianity, while bringing hope and encouragement to other misunderstood neurodivergent Christians like herself. During this episode, you will hear Miya talk about: What her life was like before her autism diagnosis How her views of her own autism and her relationship with God changed over time The initial conflict she felt between her faith and her secular special interests, and how she feels about her special interests today The advice that she has for other neurodivergent people who are struggling with their faith You can find more about Miya and read her writing at MiyaSae.com, and follow her on Instagram and Twitter. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

"You can choose to keep living your life in isolation... Or, you can break yourself out of that isolation and start to own the things that make you, you. One of which is having Tourette's, right?" Kevin Helgren's mom shared these encouraging words with her son after seeing him struggle with his Tourette Syndrome diagnosis in middle school. This conversation helped give Kevin the confidence to talk about his Tourette's and start accepting it as a unique and authentic part of himself. Last year, Kevin shared his story in a keynote speech at Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he recently got his MBA. His speech, called “You're Scaring the Bears: The Power of Tourette's,” helped him educate even more people about Tourette's when it was published on YouTube. In this episode, Kevin talks about living with Tourette's and sharing his experiences publicly, where the unique name of his speech comes from, the importance of leaning into your authentic self, and the intersection of his identities as a neurodivergent gay man. Learn more about Kevin and his Tourette’s advocacy on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. You can also watch his 13-minute talk, “You're Scaring the Bears: The Power of Tourette's,” on YouTube. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*

Lee Chambers is a business psychologist and the founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing, which helps organizations design and deliver well-being and inclusion strategies. He is the current Great British Entrepreneur of the Year for Service Industries and can be often found speaking on gender equity and menopause in the workplace. During this episode, you will hear Lee talk about: Getting his autism diagnosis as an adult His experience growing up as an undiagnosed autistic Black boy, including his struggles to fit in and find role models His eclectic career path that led him to entrepreneurship How he helps organizations improve employee well-being in the workplace – what that means, why it’s important for employee retention, talent development and a healthy workplace culture – and why organizations need to “Show, not Tell” when it comes to inclusion The connection between menopause and talent management that's often ignored To find out more about Lee and his work, you can find him on his official website. You can also find him on social media on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Watch the video of this interview on YouTube! Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes! Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode! Read the episode transcript. *Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations.*