In this year-end solo episode, I celebrate some big milestones that Beyond 6 Seconds achieved in 2024. I also share my views on how major politicized social issues impact the disability community, some actions we can take to advocate for our rights (whether you're disabled or not), and how we can support ourselves and our communities as we head into 2025. 

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript, which also contains links to some of the other podcasts and resources I mention in this episode.

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*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.*

Content warning: This episode discusses forced sterilization / removal of reproductive rights.

Shéri Brynard is the only person with Down syndrome in South Africa with a tertiary education diploma in Educare. She achieved this without any special assistance or amendments made to the coursework, and despite the fact that her lectures and study material were only provided in English, which is her second language. She is currently a full-time qualified teacher’s assistant at a Primary School for learners with special educational needs and presents motivational speeches to advocate for the rights of people with Down syndrome, all over the world. 

Shéri is an international ambassador for all people with Down syndrome, appointed by Down syndrome international (DSi). She represents people with Down syndrome in South Africa at the DSi meetings, as well as at many other international meetings, and at the United Nations, focusing on disability. Shéri believes that all people can choose to make the best of their circumstances, and she is a living example of this choice.

Through her own determination and her family’s support, Sheri has been overcoming prejudice and stigma for her entire life to achieve her dreams. Shéri shares her experiences during this episode, including: ●    The barriers she faced to getting her education and working in South Africa, and how her family helped her challenge and overcome people’s bias and assumptions about her ●    What inspired her to become a teacher   ●    What was it like completing her tertiary education in her second language, without any special accommodations from the school ●    How she became an advocate who speaks on disability rights

To find out more about Shéri and her work, visit her website at SheriBrynard.co.za, follow her on Facebook or email her mother at Brynard.s @ gmail.com .

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

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*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.*

Content warning: This episode discusses suicidality, paranoia, hallucinations and delusions, and mentions drug use and homelessness.

Michelle Hammer is a schizophrenia activist who spends her time passionately fighting stigma. She is a New York City native who is featured in the WebMD documentary “Voices,” which was nominated for a Tribeca X Award at the Tribeca Film Festival. 

Michelle was diagnosed with schizophrenia at 22 after a misdiagnosis of bipolar at age 18. At 27, Michelle decided to use her artistic talents and fearless personality to do something that could benefit the mental health community. In May 2015, she founded a mental health-focused clothing brand called Schizophrenic.NYC with the mission of reducing stigma by starting conversations about mental health. 

Michelle has also been featured in many publications such as Mashable, The Daily Mail, Stylist, and Buzzfeed, and has also been featured on TV networks like ABC, NBC, and CBS.

During this episode, you will hear Michelle talk about:

• Experiencing her first symptoms of schizophrenia in high school and college
• What it’s like for her to experience hallucinations and delusions
• What inspired her to start her clothing brand, Schizophrenic.NYC
• People’s reactions to her designs and pop-up events in New York City
• Challenging stereotypes and misconceptions about schizophrenia

Find out more about Michelle on her clothing brand’s website Schizophrenic.NYC and on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

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Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*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.*

CW: Mentions of suicidality.

In the third grade, LeDerick Horne was labeled as “neurologically impaired” – a label that followed him through his schooling until he was eventually diagnosed with dyslexia. Today, LeDerick is a dynamic spoken-word poet, a respected author, and a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. He has performed at prestigious venues such as the White House and the United Nations. His workshops, speeches and poetry open doors to discussions on inclusive education, equal opportunity, systemic change, and hope for individuals with disabilities.

During this episode, LeDerick talks about:

• The challenges he faced in K-12 special education, before being diagnosed as dyslexic
• What inspired him to go to college – and how the meaningful support and inclusive education he got there helped him thrive as a student 
• Discovering his passion for poetry, which led to his career as a spoken-word poet and author
• His work as a speaker and trainer on the topics of inclusive education and the intersections of education, disability and race
• Co-hosting the Black and Dyslexic podcast

Stay tuned to the end of this episode to hear LeDerick read two of his poems!

Find out more about LeDerick at his website LeDerick.com, find his social media and more on his LinkTree, and learn about his new video course "6 Steps to Empowering Young People with Disabilities."

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

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Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*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.*

Jack Pabich is a Quality Assurance Support Analyst who found his current job through an autism employment program run by CAI Neurodiverse Solutions. He is responsible for processing requests of potential conflicts of interest, ensuring parties are correctly assigned to the location within the database, and rearranging information to improve database efficiency. Jack’s attention to detail is his biggest strength and he uses it to proactively streamline tasks. In his free time, he enjoys being active with various sporting activities and spending time with friends.

During this episode, you will hear Jack talk about:

• How the autism employment program helped him find work after college
• The work he does at his current employer, and how it leverages his strengths and helps him learn new things and grow as a leader
• His working relationships with his coworkers and managers 
• The type of work he wants to do in the future

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 or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*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.*

Amee is a dedicated health care provider known for her expertise and compassionate care. Beyond her professional achievements, she is a passionate mental health advocate and openly shares her personal journey living with epilepsy on her Instagram @behindthebindis. She is a powerful voice for those who feel they cannot speak up for themselves, working to raise awareness and foster understanding about mental health and invisible illnesses in the South Asian community and beyond.  

During this episode, you will hear Amee talk about:

• What was it like growing up with epilepsy, but not really talking about it
• How her experience with epilepsy changed from childhood to adulthood
• The hospital stay that prompted her to disclose her epilepsy to her closest friends 
• What inspired her to discuss her epilepsy publicly on her social media – and the meaning of “behind the bindis”

Follow Amee on Instagram @behindthebindis to learn more about her epilepsy advocacy.

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 or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*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.*

Dr. Kana Grace is a research psychologist, advocate, Specialist Mentor, and educator, specializing in the mental and physical health of neurodivergent people. Currently, Kana is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE) at the Institute of Education, University College London (UCL), where she completed her PhD.

Kana has lived experiences with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome, dyspraxia, hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). 

She founded Valtameri (which means ocean in Finnish) to advocate for and support neurodivergent people and their families, based in Okinawa, Japan. Through Valtameri, she offers one-to-one support for neurodivergent people of all ages. She also gives talks and public lectures to deepen the understanding of neurodivergence in Okinawa Japan, and all over the world.

Fluent in both English and Japanese, Kana bridges cultures in her extensive work. 

During this episode, you will hear Kana talk about:

• How she discovered she is neurodivergent while at University
• What her life was like before she was diagnosed 
• Why she decided to focus her PhD on the study of loneliness in autistic adults
• The importance of involving autistic researchers in autism research 
• Her experience working in academia 
• Her observations about how autism and neurodivergence is viewed in Japan
• The goals she wants to achieve with her research

Find out more about Kana and her work on her Linktree.

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 or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*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.*

CW: Mentions of suicide and experiences with the criminal justice system as it relates to FASD.

Patti Kasper is a Neurobehavioral Coach and Trainer who provides staff development training and coaching services to support people affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). With over thirty years of experience in the fields of addiction, mental health, and child welfare, Patti draws on her personal experience with FASD, her degrees in social work and psychology, and her training as a Certified Facilitator of FASCETS Neurobehavioral Model.  

Patti hosts a weekly podcast called Living with FASD. The second edition of her book, “Sip by Sip: Candid Conversations with People Diagnosed as Adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD),” was recently released with additional interviews and updated research.

During this episode, Patti talks about: ●    What FASD is, and why it’s more common than most people realize ●    How she discovered in her 50s that she has FASD  ●    Some of the struggles that people with FASD may experience ●    How she supports families and individuals impacted by FASD

Find links to Patti’s website, book, podcast and more.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

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Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*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.*

In this episode, I'm sharing an interview from the podcast Art Heals All Wounds, where host Pam Uzzell talks with her daughter Allegra about Celebrating Neurodiversity, Beauty, and Belonging. I also added a short intro to this episode where I share some thoughts on belonging and how I've been looking for and finding community. 

Check out the Art Heals All Wounds podcast for other stories about how art is a catalyst for healing and change. 

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 or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*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.*

Ian Otto is a Senior Producer with experience in animation, motion design, immersive, visual effects (VFX) and post production. After working in Berlin for many years, Ian now lives in Copenhagen, Denmark, where he is Senior Producer with WOODBLOCK, an animation studio for Design, Film and Immersive content. Recently, Ian began writing and speaking publicly about his experience as a person with Tourette syndrome who works in the creative industry.

During this episode, you will hear Ian talk about:

• Growing up with Tourette’s in the 1990s
• What led him to work in the creative industry
• Working in a client-facing job as someone who has Tourette’s
• How he built his confidence at work  
• What has (and hasn’t) helped him manage his tics

Connect with Ian on Instagram or through email: ian [at] woodblock [dot] tv

Read Ian's article on Medium about working in the creative industry with Tourette’s

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 or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*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.*

Mrinal Gokhale is an author, speaker and creative consultant based in Wisconsin. She has collaborated with organizations and media outlets such as Brown Girl Magazine, ADDitude Magazine, Medical College of Wisconsin, and more. Her most recent book is titled “Taboo: South Asian Mental Health Stories.”

During this episode, Mrinal talks about:

• What inspired her to write about mental health in South Asian communities
• How she found people to interview for her book
• Common mental health themes that she noticed in her interviews
• How her own mental health journey inspired her writing and advocacy

Find out more about Mrinal and her writing on her LinkTree page.

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 or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*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.*