Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people

Lillian Carrier is an autistic actress and advocate from Los Angeles, best known for her breakout role as Drea in the television series "Everything's Gonna Be Okay." In 2025, Lillian starred in her first leading film role in Horsegirls, an acclaimed independent dramedy that premiered at the Tribeca Festival. Lillian plays Margarita, a 22-year-old autistic woman who discovers confidence, community, and a path toward self-determination through the unexpected world of competitive hobby horsing. Lillian's performances are grounded in truth, humor, and emotional depth, driven by a mission to reshape how autistic stories are told. During this episode, you will hear Lillian talk about: What her life was like growing up autistic How she became interested in acting What drew her to the role in Horsegirls Disability accommodations she had during filming The difference between authentic and accurate representation in film Why it's important to get multiple perspectives when creating media The projects she's working on next   Watch Horsegirls on your favorite streaming platform: sumerian.bio.to/horsegirls  Learn more about Horsegirls on Instagram @Horsegirls.Film and TikTok @HorsegirlsMovie. Follow Lillian Carrier on Instagram @lilliancarrier. Learn about Lillian's latest project, Caverns & Chimeras:  speclabs.org/donate Find out more about: ●    Alex Plank, autistic producer on Horsegirls: AlexPlank.com ●    Chloe Estelle, autism sensitivity coordinator on Horsegirls: linktr.ee/chloeestelle Support or sponsor this podcast: BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds Watch the video of this interview on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=E8lca2MlvlQ Read the episode transcript: carolynkiel.com/podcast/horsegirls-lillian-carrier Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1336740192 Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes: mailchi.mp/f9f6e8356138/insider *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. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Owen Williamson is an emerging filmmaker from England and an advocate for dyspraxia awareness. He is developing a new short film called DYSPRAXIA, which is inspired by his own lived experience. Through his filmmaking and advocacy, Owen aims to challenge misconceptions about dyspraxia and help bring greater understanding and representation to dyspraxic people. During this episode, you will hear Owen talk about: ●    The challenges he faced growing up with dyspraxia ●    How his short-lived career as a boxer gave him a reality check about his limitations ●    What inspired him to make a film about dyspraxia ●    His goals for this film Learn more about Owen's short film DYSPRAXIA on Instagram @dyspraxiamovie and support the film on his Crowdfunder page: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/dyspraxia-1  Support or sponsor this podcast: BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds Watch the video of this interview on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=P7dTQMH9SEo Read the episode transcript: carolynkiel.com/podcast/owen-williamson-dyspraxia  Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1336740192 Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes: mailchi.mp/f9f6e8356138/insider *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. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Kantu (they/he) is the founder and co-owner of the social media presence known as the Angry Autist. Indigenous to the Andes in Abya Yala, Kantu is Quechua and is racialized as a visibly Native person. Kantu is autistic, has dissociative identity disorder (DID) and has experienced psychotic depression. When founding the Angry Autist, it was their goal to bring awareness to their experience as a multiply and visibly disabled, racialized, and medium support needs autistic person. Since then, he has become further radicalized as explicitly anti-racist, anti-ableist, and anti-saneist, drawing inspiration from the ten principles of disability justice, the CripplePunk movement, Indigenous philosophy, mad liberation, and fat liberation. During this episode, you will hear Kantu talk about: How they discovered they have DID How DID stereotypes affect real-life perceptions of DID How their autism affected their own experience of DID Their experience with psychotic depression symptoms and treatments The meaning and significance of mad liberation To find out more about Kantu and his work, follow them on Threads @angry_autist and Instagram @angry_autist. They can also be reached by email at angryandautistic [at] gmail [dot] com. Other Beyond 6 Seconds episodes about dissociative identity disorder (DID): Amber Louise Ainsworth (episode 194):  beyond6seconds.net/194   Crystals Multifaceted (episode 215):  beyond6seconds.net/215  Support or sponsor this podcast: BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds Watch the video of this interview on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=JVP1yibrlXg Read the episode transcript: carolynkiel.com/podcast/mad-liberation Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1336740192 Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes: mailchi.mp/f9f6e8356138/insider *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. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Torina Gedler is a musician who is also known as DEĀ EX MACHINĀ, which means "Goddess from the machine" in Latin. With their lush synth-pop sound, DEĀ EX MACHINĀ promotes harmony and inclusion in society through authentic Disability representation in music.  DEĀ EX MACHINĀ advocates for the arts, LGBTQIA+ rights and Environmental and Disability Justice. Their debut EP, APO/THECARY, comes out on July 29, 2026. During this episode, DEĀ EX MACHINĀ discusses: Their work as a musician before and after being disabled by a brain injury Why it's important to have disability representation in music The main themes of their debut EP How joining RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities) influenced their work as a musician Their EP release party on July 29 in Des Moines, Iowa Learn more about DEĀ EX MACHINĀ at www.DeaExMachina.music and listen to their music on Subvert, Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Learn more about Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD) at RAMPD.org. Listen to other Beyond 6 Seconds episodes with neurodivergent musicians: Adin Boyer (episode 227):  https://www.beyond6seconds.net/227  Kaishawna (episode 187):  https://www.beyond6seconds.net/187   Support or sponsor this podcast: BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds Watch the video of this interview on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=IldZ1PQYP4E Read the episode transcript: carolynkiel.com/podcast/dea-ex-machina Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1336740192 Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes: mailchi.mp/f9f6e8356138/insider  *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. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*

Luke hosts the Howdy Beans Podcast, where he reviews movies, TV shows, video games, books, and all things pop culture. He is dyslexic with an overlap of dyspraxia and dyscalculia, and he's currently on the waiting list for an autism assessment. Luke is an avid reader who writes short stories and poems, and he's currently writing a dark fantasy novel. During this episode, you will hear Luke talk about: ●    How he discovered that he was neurodivergent at a young age ●    Why he doesn't take reading and writing for granted ●    His passion for writing stories ●    What led him to start the Howdy Beans Podcast and how he's kept it going for five years Listen to the Howdy Beans Podcast on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/74Pe9IWfTxxbVgEcTt47SG?si=af480bede172486c&nd=1&dlsi=0d644bd85ad24e46  Follow the Howdy Beans Podcast on Instagram and YouTube @thehowdybeanspodcast and on TikTok @the_howdybeans_podcast. Support or sponsor Beyond 6 Seconds: BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds Watch the video of this interview on YouTube: youtu.be/3RGlfliUoIQ Read the episode transcript: carolynkiel.com/podcast/luke-howdy-beans-podcast Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player: pod.link/1336740192  Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes: mailchi.mp/f9f6e8356138/insider 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. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.