Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people

Sania Khimji is an accomplished artist, model, influencer, and international beauty pageant winner based in India who continues to redefine boundaries and inspire inclusivity in every space she enters. Living with Down syndrome, Sania celebrates her uniqueness as just one part of her powerful story that's rooted in creativity, confidence, and courage. Through her art, modeling, and advocacy, Sania continues to shine as a global voice for empowerment — showing the world that when you lead with passion, purpose, and pride, there are truly no limits to what you can achieve. During this episode, you will hear Sania talk about: What was it like growing up with Down syndrome The challenges and stereotypes she faced as someone with Down syndrome How she got interested in fashion and modeling What inspired her to become an artist who shows her art in India and around the world How she advocates for people with disabilities Her goals for the future Follow or contact Sania on Instagram. Contribute to Carolyn's tip jar to support the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast's disability 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. *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.*

This is a special Beyond 6 Seconds episode for Podcasthon, where for one week, thousands of podcasts are highlighting a nonprofit of their choice, to raise awareness and encourage support for charities around the world. The focus of this episode is Meals in the Meantime, a nonprofit organization addressing food insecurity in the Chicagoland south suburbs. Meals in the Meantime provides free, fresh, healthy, high-quality grocery bags of food at drive-thru, pop-up food pantries. I interviewed Kevin M. Yates, President and Founder of Meals in the Meantime, about: What inspired him to start Meals in the Meantime How Meals in the Meantime achieves its mission of "filling the food gap with nourishment and dignity" How the nonprofit's philosophy of "What Would You Eat" (WWYE) influences the types of foods that Meals in the Meantime provides Why Meals in the Meantime is different from other types of food banks and food pantries Learn more about how you can support Meals in the Meantime at MealsInTheMeantime.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. Visit podcasthon.org to discover charities featured by podcasters from around the world. Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds! 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. *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.*

Psychotherapist Ivy Rizzo has a master's degree, speaks multiple languages, and owns her own business... but she struggles with doing basic math, remembering important dates, and recalling events in chronological order. Dyscalculia is often dismissed as just being "bad at math," but for Ivy, it has a wide-ranging effect on her life. In this episode, Ivy talks about: How the severity of her dyscalculia impacts her math, memory and sequencing skills What it was like for her growing up with dyscalculia in the 1980s-1990s How dyscalculia impacts her adult life, including work, parenting and friendships Her viral post about how she visualizes the months of the year The shame of being misunderstood by educators and supervisors, who misinterpreted her dyscalculia in traumatic ways How her neurodivergence helps her support and strengthen her client relationships Using her strengths and tech tools to help accommodate her dyscalculia To find out more about Ivy and her work, visit her website and follow her on Threads. If you enjoyed this episode about dyscalculia, you may also enjoy my episode about dyscalculia education and advocacy with Elena Chambers (episode 190). 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. *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.*

Sonido Reyes is an award-winning and bestselling author who is best known for tackling difficult topics through a hopeful lens. They write stories celebrating their own queer and Mexican identities, including The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, The Luis Ortega Survival Club, The Broposal, and The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar. They also have contributed short stories to the anthologies Transmogrify! and For the Rest of Us. Sonido is also the vice-president of My Galvanized Friend, a nonprofit focused on providing access to and amplifying LGBTQ+ writing, art, and creators. During this episode, you will hear Sonido talk about: How they were diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder What life was like growing up with schizoaffective disorder How manic episodes have affected their writing What they want people to understand about schizoaffective disorder How they choose the topics of the stories they write The importance of representation in books How they became involved with the nonprofit My Galvanized Friend Visit SonidoReyes.carrd.co for links to Sonido's website, writing and social media. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy my conversation about schizoaffective disorder with Sally Littlefield on episode 243 of this podcast. This episode is sponsored by Tas Kronby, Accessibility Consultant & Designer: Parallax scrolling, scroll bar hijacking, flickering, and neon colors are ruining your design—they trigger dizziness, migraines, and vertigo. You've audited for vision and hearing compliance. But does your online content make people sick? Tas Kronby offers Vestibular Accessibility Audits that go beyond compliance. Learn what you need to make your business truly inclusive. Tas will help you Design with All in Mind. Visit TasTheArtist.com/design-services/ to schedule your free consultation. 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. *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.*

This episode is a special collaboration between Beyond 6 Seconds and the Living with FASD podcast hosted by Patti Kasper. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are lifelong conditions caused by prenatal alcohol exposure that can impact physical, cognitive, and behavioral development. FASD is a type of neurodivergence, but it's often left out of conversations about neurodivergence. This episode is part of a series that Patti is doing on her podcast to help bring FASD into those conversations. We discuss what communication differences can feel like for people with certain types of neurodivergence, such as FASD, autism (including apraxia in non-speaking autism), ADHD, and schizophrenia. We also explore why communication challenges can happen, and how friends and loved ones can help provide understanding and support. A quick caveat: This conversation is not medical or diagnostic advice, and it does not speak for every neurodivergent person. Instead, Patti and I are sharing our own experiences and some insights from the people we've interviewed on our podcasts. You can find Living with FASD podcast on Apple, Audible, Patreon, Pocket Casts, Rumble and YouTube, and connect with Patti at dot.cards/yourfasdcoach. Do the things we mention in this episode match your experience as a neurodivergent person? Do you have other experiences? Let me know what you think! 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. *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.*

Nieta Greene is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Disability Community for Democracy, Inc., an organization focused on safeguarding the rights of individuals within the disability community and providing a platform for political engagement founded on intersectional disability justice. She is a resilient and proud Disabled Puerto Rican, Black, gender non-conforming, gay woman. Nieta openly champions her identity as she advocates for inclusivity and belonging on behalf of those unable to voice their concerns. During this episode, Nieta talks about: Her experience growing up with multiple disabilities in the 1980s, and becoming involved in disability and LGBTQ+ advocacy Founding Disability Community for Democracy, Inc. after the 2024 U.S. election Systemic challenges that disabled people face in the United States (employment, healthcare, housing, etc.) and how politics impacts those challenges The importance of coalition building How to increase the disability community's political power in the United States Learn more about Nieta and Disability Community for Democracy at DisabilityCommunityForDemocracy.org, subscribe to Nieta's Substack Nothing About Us Without Us and find social media and other links on Linktree. Contribute to Carolyn's tip jar to support the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast's disability 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. *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 year-end solo episode, I celebrate some big milestones that Beyond 6 Seconds achieved in 2025, highlight the variety of topics that my guests and I discussed on my podcast, and share what podcasting-related things I've been up to this year! I also reflect on several challenges that the neurodivergent and disability communities are facing in the United States, and share my focus for the year ahead. 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. 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.*

Caroline Smith founded her business, The Introverted Misfit, to help shy, awkward introverts become socially confident versions of themselves so they can have healthy, manageable social lives. Because of her experience with being autistic, which was the source of many social difficulties and major social anxiety for her, she knows what it's like to build self-acceptance, self-improvement, and a life that works for individualized needs. Now Caroline helps fellow introverts (whether they are autistic or not) learn how to connect with others, create fruitful relationships, and have a manageable social life – without acting like someone they're not! During this episode, you will hear Caroline talk about: When she realized that she was autistic Her experience dealing with social anxiety Why she decided to help people become more socially confident The role of self-acceptance in making new friends and connections Her advice for autistic people who struggle with social cues Why it's important not to hyperfocus on your own social mistakes The importance of having coping mechanisms for overwhelming social situations How her "Misfit Meetups" bring people together to socialize in a low-pressure, fun environment To learn more about Caroline, her coaching program and Misfit Meetups, visit TheIntrovertedMisfit.com and follow her on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Download Caroline's FREE AUDIO GUIDE: 3 Simple Ways to Start a Conversation with Anyone. 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.*

Kellina Powell, known as the Deaf Queen Boss, is a podcast speaker, best-selling author, and passionate advocate for the deaf and disability communities. She empowers young adults with disabilities to chase their dreams, breaks down barriers around mental health, and educates others about deaf culture and inclusion. During this episode, you will hear Kellina talk about: What it was like for her to grow up deaf from an early age, and her exposure to deaf culture How she educates people about the deaf community and mental health issues The coaching work that she does for people with disabilities Learn more about Kellina and her work at KellinaEmpowerment.com and follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn. 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.*

Tiffany Hammond is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, and disability advocate. She is the author of A Day with No Words, a picture book about a Black mother and son who use a tablet to communicate with each other and the world around them. A Day With No Words successfully normalizes communication methods outside of verbal speech and provides representation of neurodiversity and autism in a way that affirms and celebrates. Through Tiffany's platform, Fidgets and Fries, she shares stories about autism, identity, and the fullness of Black and disabled family life. She is the proud mother of two autistic sons and uses her lived experiences to shift narratives around autism and communication. Win a copy of A Day with No Words! For a limited-time, Beyond 6 Seconds is giving away a hardcover copy of "A Day with No Words" to up to 3 listeners in the United States. To enter, check out my pinned Instagram post @beyond6seconds on November 11, 2025. The giveaway ends at 11:59 PM ET on November 21, 2025.⁠ Up to 3 winners will be selected at random. This giveaway is valid for listeners at US addresses only. During this episode, you will hear Tiffany talk about: How her family's real-life experiences inspired her to write A Day with No Words Why she wrote her book from the perspective of a nonspeaking autistic child What her nonspeaking autistic son Aidan thinks of the book How her book is different from other children's books about autism Common misconceptions that people have had about her autistic sons Learn more about Tiffany at ADayWithNoWords.com. Follow Tiffany on Facebook, Instagram and Substack. 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.*

As a dyslexic child, Sabrina Fandell had to sit in her school's book closet for her reading lessons. Now she sits on the Board of Directors of the International Dyslexia Association - Dallas Branch. She is passionate about fostering inclusive environments and advocating for neurodivergent students in school. During this episode, Sabrina talks about: Her experience growing up as a child with dyslexia, and as a parent of children who have dyslexia How advancements in technology and teaching methodologies can help students with dyslexia succeed in school Why she got involved with the International Dyslexia Association The complicated journey to get her son assessed for dyslexia and ADHD The fine line she walks as a parent when advocating for her son at IEP meetings Resources and advice to help parents support their children with dyslexia Learn more about the International Dyslexia Association Dallas Branch, their hotline and their scholarship program for dyslexia testing. Follow the International Dyslexia Association Dallas Branch on Facebook and Instagram. 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.*