Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity Stories

@beyond6seconds.bsky.social

460 Followers 394 Following

Extraordinary stories from neurodivergent people: entrepreneurs, creators, advocates & more! Hosted by Carolyn. #ActuallyAutistic

A quote from Luke: “ My neurodivergence is in everything that I create. With the podcast, every episode is personal...I think that's why people listen: they can tell that I'm being honest, I'm being genuine, I'm being myself.”
A quote from Luke: “ I'm always reading, because I'm working that reading muscle out of fear of maybe one day I could lose it, and I don't want to. I keep reading, enjoying the written craft, and just immerse myself in it… No matter where I go, I've always got stories going on in my head, and I love it."
A quote from Eugene: “You want to have representation because often underserved communities never see themselves in [healthcare] material. So by putting a face or image in there from that community, they're more likely to feel seen and more likely to engage [with] the material.”
A quote from Eugene: “I know what it feels like sometimes to be isolated. And I said, ‘well, you don't have to be alone. How can we help you?’ I just try to make sure everyone is included and feels seen.”
A quote from Mike on the latest episode of Beyond 6 Seconds.
A quote from Dory on the latest episode of Beyond 6 Seconds.
A quote from Jasmine: “The job board is curated based on who is actually in a space where they are holding our community with care, where they're treating workers as people.”
A quote from Jasmine: “This is a common situation that happens to Black queer, trans and disabled people in the workplace: where we're disregarded, isolated and excluded from spaces without consideration on how that impacts our livelihood and well-being.” Jasmine is the founder and director of Black Remote She, a community-driven job platform for Black queer, trans, non-binary, disabled people and allies.
Crossover episode with the Made For Us podcast on the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast. Changing the narrative around accessible fashion with Maura Horton. Logos of Made For Us and Beyond 6 Seconds next to a photo of Maura Horton.
A quote from Oliver: “If you asked me to read something, it would feel like somebody was literally putting me in a headlock… It suffocates me. I feel lost.”
A quote from Oliver: “Not knowing how to read left me with not many options. Being able to read gives you options. If there's no options inside of your brain, you go with the best option that you think is suitable for you.”
Justin, an artist and disability advocate, is holding a coloring book that he designed. A digital image of a leopard that he designed is also shown on an orange background. Justin is quoted as saying: “I enjoy creating digital art because each subject that I choose to draw or create is unique and every piece has a special meaning for me.”
Justin is a smiling artist wearing a paint-splattered smock beside one of his colorful fluid artworks. Text quote from Justin: “Creating art helps my mental health because it allows me to relax after a busy day, and also during times when life is stressful.”
A quote from Amy: “If you're really drawn to doing something, just give it a go. Because [of] what's happened as a result of [starting my podcast] – for me personally, for people who've emailed me on numerous occasions over the years – I think it was so worth doing.”
A quote from Amy, host of the Squarepeg podcast: “I've learned that I actually like people a lot more than I thought. I like talking to people a lot. So that's been a really nice experience because I've always been such an introvert… I'm learning how to relate to people in a way that suits me.”
A quote from Pastiche Graham, autistic employee & advocate, about bringing autism representation to the CBS TV show Undercover Boss (season 11, episode 4, in 2022): “Parents [of autistic children] saw their kid in me: "Hey, that can be my kid running a franchise for their boss, or representing a really big company."
A quote from Pastiche Graham, author of Pia Pistachio Gets a Job: “I really hope that Pia Pistachio does break stereotypes [about autism], but also begins to pave a way for [autistic] women and girls.”
Image text is a quote from Max Barrows, autistic self-advocate, disability rights leader & community builder: “When people with disabilities join a self-advocacy group, we realize we are not alone… connecting with peers creates a safe and positive space where people can lean on each other during hard times and share what's really on our minds.”
A quote from Max: “We believe in one another because we see each other's strengths. We give real feedback to each other and have high expectations for each other. That's what peer-to-peer connection is all about: learning from each other, telling the truth and building leadership from the inside out.”
A quote from Kirsty. “I finally had these words for my internal experience. Self-compassion ended up replacing, for the most part, self-blame and shame: realizing that because I'm autistic and have ADHD, it isn't a flaw. It just so happens to be intrinsic to who I am.”
Kirsty, a woman with short hair in a blazer and glasses, next to her leadership quote: Text in image is a quote from Kirsty: “Seeing leadership as creating conditions, not controlling the outcomes, is really an important way of leading. [It’s about] designing systems that support humans as well, and just allowing people to be able to show up as their true authentic selves... I feel like that's a massive part of my role.”
A quote from Sania about walking fashion runway ramps as a model with Down syndrome: “When I walk the ramp, I walk for everyone who's being told they can't.”
A quote from the latest episode of Beyond 6 Seconds.
"Food insecurity is a condition, not a condemnation." A quote from Kevin M. Yates, Meals in the Meantime president and founder, on the latest episode of Beyond 6 Seconds.
Volunteers in blue vests behind tables of packed grocery bags under a "Meals in the Meantime" tent. The bags are ready for distribution. A quote from Kevin on the latest episode of Beyond 6 Seconds: “Food is one of the most basic needs that we have as humans… and so many people are going without on a daily basis. Our mission is filling the food gap with nourishment and dignity.”
Carolyn at the NY City podcast awards.
A quote from the latest episode of Beyond 6 Seconds from Ivy Rizzo, describing her dyscalculia. "It's like throwing a wadded piece of wet paper at a wall, and it sticks for a second and then it falls down. That's how numbers have always felt for me."
A quote from the latest episode of Beyond 6 Seconds.
A quote from the latest episode of Beyond 6 Seconds.
A quote from the latest episode of Beyond 6 Seconds.
A quote from Patti, discussing communication differences in neurodivergent people: "I think people take for granted how much energy it consumes who live in a body that has some of these differences."
A quote from Patti: “As a child, I came up with all kinds of reasons to explain my frequent rejections, why I was bullied, why this, why that... but none of them made sense the way learning I'm neurodivergent [did]. It enabled me to give myself grace, for my life to truly for the first time makes sense, and allow me to embrace myself the way we all need to be able to do.”