Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
First impressions can take only 6 seconds to make! But if you’re neurodivergent, those quick judgments about you can be misleading.
That’s where the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast comes in! Join me, Carolyn Kiel, as I talk with neurodivergent entrepreneurs, creators, advocates & more about their lives and identities. Their stories shatter misconceptions, break stigma and showcase the vibrance of neurodiversity.
- Update frequency
- every 13 days
- Average duration
- 32 minutes
- Episodes
- 244
- Years Active
- 2018 - 2025
Identity, horror and artistic expression – with Tas The Artist
Content note: This episode discusses abuse in a religious cult, gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, and the negative impact of U.S. current events on marginalized people.
Tas The Artist is an autistic…
Dyspraxia, dyslexia and autism – with Charis Hawkley
Charis Hawkley is an award-nominated disability advocate with dyslexia, dyspraxia and autism. She enjoys discussing her experiences as a neurodivergent woman through writing articles, guesting on pod…
Life as a neurodivergent preemie – with Preeti Kalra
Preeti Kalra is a Hospital Clinical Pharmacist with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Masters in Health Administration. She is the Director of Partnerships …
Space To Exhale – with Lisa Hurley
Lisa Hurley is an Anthem award-winning activist and author of the new book, “Space To Exhale: A Handbook For Curating A Soft, Centered, Serene Life.” She is also the Founder of The Great Exhale, a se…
Down syndrome advocacy – Matthew Schwab Speaks
Matthew Schwab is a 27-year-old North Carolina native with Down syndrome who has his own public speaking business, Matthew Schwab Speaks. In 2019, he gave a TEDx talk about the importance of employin…
Cerebral palsy and disability in the entertainment industry – with Abbie Hills
Abbie Hills is a UK-based talent agent, producer, writer, and passionate disability advocate with cerebral palsy. Abbie founded The Dazey Hills Company in 2019 to promote diversity and inclusion in t…
Social media marketing for queer business owners – with Rylan Hoffman
Rylan Hoffman, the founder of Hoff Social, is a transmasculine and neurodivergent marketing strategist and content creator who has spent 14+ years building online communities. With over 100 million o…
Autism Inclusion in the Christian Church – with Sunita Theiss
CW: Eating disorder, death of a parent.
Sunita Theiss is an autistic, ADHD and PDA* parent, writer, and advocate. A second-generation Indian American, she has a rich background in communications, mar…
Tourette syndrome community and research - with Dr. Daniel P. Jones
Dr. Daniel P. Jones is a Creative Practitioner, Disability Scholar, and Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Sheffield in the UK. Daniel specializes in inclusive research methodologie…
Dyslexia advocacy in Nigeria – with Oladoyin Idowu
Content warning: This episode mentions physical and verbal abuse in school, suicidal ideation and a suicide attempt, and drug use.
Oladoyin Idowu is a pioneering dyslexia advocate and mental health p…
Memoirs of a Neurodivergent Latina – with Lya Batlle-Rafferty
Lya Batlle-Rafferty, an MIT graduate with a degree in Cognitive Science, has had a career focused mostly on technology. She has often been a trailblazer as the only woman in a large company performin…
Trans and ADHD inclusion – with Trystan Reese
Trystan Reese is an award-winning author and facilitator dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with nearly two decades of experience in the trans community. He also has ADHD and identifies a…
Neurodiversity-affirming support for autism and ADHD – with Samar Waqar of Kind Theory
This episode is part of the 3rd edition of Podcasthon: a global effort among 1000+ podcast hosts to raise awareness and support for important causes by highlighting a charity of their choice during t…
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) – with Jessica Birch
Jessica Birch is a national advocate and speaker living on the South East Coast of Australia. Since her late diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) at the age of 33, she has turned her a…
Chinese New Year, filmmaking and autism acceptance with Beatrice Leong
Content warning: Death of a pet, mentions of institutionalization and electroconvulsive treatment
Beatrice Leong is a Malaysian entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker. After a lifetime of mental heal…
Adin Boyer - American Idol, autism and anti-bullying advocacy
Diagnosed with autism at age 2, Adin Boyer grew up struggling with being bullied, making friends and accepting himself. He finally began to flourish while attending a performing arts middle and high …
2024 year-end episode
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, so…
Inclusive education and Down syndrome advocacy – with Sheri Brynard
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…
Fighting stigma about schizophrenia - with Michelle Hammer
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 pa…
Inclusive education – with LeDerick Horne, dyslexic poet and advocate
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 dysle…