Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people – Details, episodes & analysis

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.

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.*

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.*

Aashna Parikh is a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultant and inclusive marketing specialist based in India. Living with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities, she has consulted and collaborated with Forbes-listed and Fortune 500 companies across diverse sectors such as Fintech, Sustainability, Agriculture, and Technology. A strong advocate for neurodiversity, disability, and gender, she examines these issues through an intersectional lens.  

During this episode, you will hear Aashna talk about:

• What was it like growing up and going to school with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities
• Living with disabilities in a world where people tell her she “doesn’t look disabled”
• The type of work that she does as a DEI consultant
• Her thoughts on DEI through an intersectional lens
• How DEI is addressed in different countries
• Her advice for requesting accommodations at work and in job interviews

Connect with Aashna on LinkedIn or via email at aashnacparikh at gmail.com .

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.*

If your employees spent their workdays engrossed in colorful LEGO® bricks, what would you think?

If you're David Kokai, you'd probably think that business is good! 

David founded a company devoted to the LEGO® secondary market when he left the corporate world to start WE LOVE WHAT YOU BUILD (WLWYB), a LEGO® parts dealer. WLWYB operates their breakthrough platform, MOCHUB, which allows LEGO® builders to share their work and make money with their creations.

WLWYB is a neurodiverse workplace that employs autistic people in key parts of their business, and recognizes that the diversity within their teams makes their company stronger.

During this episode, David and Lili talk about:

• How David’s interest in data science inspired him to start a LEGO®-focused business
• Why they decided to create a neurodiverse and autism-friendly work environment at their company
• How they recruit and employ autistic people in key parts of their business and build a work environment that is safe, effective and a great place to grow for all of their employees
• How they adjusted their business operations during the pandemic lockdown with almost no interruptions in orders
• Advice for people who want to start their dream company

To find out more about WE LOVE WHAT YOU BUILD, visit their official website wlwyb.com and connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. You can also contact David and Lili through the contact us page on the WLWYB website.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Click here for the episode transcript.

More about David Kokai, Founder of WE LOVE WHAT YOU BUILD (WLWYB):

David Kokai is the founder of WE LOVE WHAT YOU BUILD (WLWYB). He studied economics at the Corvinus University of Budapest (former University of Economics Budapest) and graduated from the University of Vienna.

He had been working in the IT sector at leading multinational companies for more than a decade in several managing roles based in Budapest and Vienna. After getting acquainted with the secondary market for LEGO® in 2010, he opened a LEGO® parts dealership called WE LOVE WHAT YOU BUILD (WLWYB). WLWYB's business innovation is that it has placed its operations in this segment in a unique way in the world based on strong data science, supporting key enterprise functions with a comprehensive, custom-developed business intelligence system; such as purchasing, inventory management, and pricing.

As a result of many years of systematic building, in addition to its position in the secondary market of LEGO®, WLWYB opened the world’s first marketplace in 2018 specializing in bespoke LEGO® creations, called MOCHUB. MOCHUB provides an opportunity for emerging and professional LEGO® builders to receive a royalty from the sale of the models they design. MOCHUB sold many thousands of bespoke LEGO® kits around the world in its first year of operation. After several years of work, the company became an autism friendly workplace in 2019.

Kevin M. Yates is a learning & development leader with a career spanning 20+ years, a sought-after expert in the field of learning measurement, a global public speaker and e-book author... and as a Black man living and working in the U.S., he sometimes feels he is mistakenly seen as a "unicorn."

On this episode, Kevin talks about what he means by “unicorn” and how it relates to his experiences as a Black man living and working in the United States. He speaks candidly about the impact of race in his professional and personal life. We also talk about how the racial and social justice movements of 2020 have further inspired Kevin to live in authenticity by being transparent about his whole self and experiences, because as he puts it, “living in duality is too much work.”

Find out more about Kevin on his website, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Twitter, on LinkedIn, and on YouTube.

Get your free copy of Kevin’s e-book, “L&D Detective Kit for Solving Impact Mysteries©”

Listen to my previous Beyond 6 Seconds interview with Kevin (episode 61) about how he created his dream career after a layoff.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Click here for the episode transcript.

Elaine Montilla is an accomplished senior executive who has been an IT leader in higher education for two decades. As an immigrant, Latina, lesbian woman, Elaine has overcome many challenges to build her successful IT career. She is currently Chief Information Officer and Assistant Vice President for Information Technology at The City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center, a Forbes Technology Council member and contributor, and an AMA Women’s Leadership Center presenter.

Elaine is also a TEDx speaker and the founder of 5xminority.com, a company and social media brand dedicated to empowering women and minorities, especially in tech, with a mission to demonstrate how businesses can be powerful platforms for social change. 

During this episode, you will hear Elaine talk about:

• What inspired her to start 5xminority.com
• Her story of moving from the Dominican Republic to New York and discovering her interest in IT while attending college, where she learned English and programming language at the same time
• How her first job working in a restaurant kickstarted her IT career
• The obstacles she overcome to build a successful IT career in the US as an immigrant, female, Latina, lesbian human being… and how she battled imposter syndrome while advancing in her career
• Why you can’t believe everything you think, and how challenging your own thoughts is critical to overcoming imposter syndrome and unconscious bias
• How important it is for your career development to "be comfortable being uncomfortable” and have difficult conversations
• Why it is important for leaders to admit their mistakes and to be vulnerable

Learn more about Elaine and her work at 5xminority.com and on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Watch Elaine’s TEDx talk: The Value of Mentoring Women and Minorities in Tech

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Click here for the episode transcript.

Courtney Stewart is the Founder and CEO of LipRevolt, a cosmetics brand specializing in lipstick that promotes social activism. Through LipRevolt, Courtney aims to inspire people to fight for what they believe in and to speak up for others. LipRevolt donates 15 percent of its net profits to organizations that support women’s rights, civil rights, and LGBTQ rights. Courtney started her career in public service after receiving her BA in Political Science from Spelman College and MS in Terrorism and Homeland Security Policy from American University.

Content Warning: This episode contains mentions of sexual assault and abuse, and an incident of racism and violence.

During this episode, you will hear Courtney talk about:

• How her personal experiences, the #metoo movement and the importance of using your voice inspired the creation of LipRevolt 
• Why she decided to support nonprofits with her own business' profits
• How she learned to run a beauty business as a newcomer to the beauty industry
• Her future plans for LipRevolt, and why the month of March is significant to her

Find out more about LipRevolt on LipRevolt.com, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. If there is a nonprofit that you want to see LipRevolt support, you can message your recommendation to the Instagram account.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Click here for the episode transcript.

Heneka Watkis-Porter is an entrepreneur, coach, 5x author and international speaker. As the host of The Entrepreneurial You Podcast, she has interviewed Richard Branson, John Lee Dumas, Seth Godin and many other influencers. Heneka is also the creator of the Caribbean’s first virtual conference and expo: The Entrepreneurial You Virtual SME Conference & Expo. She hosts Leadercast events in Jamaica and writes for the Leadercast blog and Thrive Global.

During this episode, Heneka shares her experience and advice about what makes a leader worth following, including:

• What she learned about leadership from starting her own business
• The importance of sharing feedback and showing vulnerability as a leader
• Her experience with burnout, how she recovered, and why it’s important to make time for self-care (especially for leaders)
• How she gets opportunities to interview famous leadership experts on her podcast – and what makes their advice so powerful
• How mentors can help entrepreneurs and other leaders succeed

To learn more about Heneka and her work, you can find her on her official website henekawatkisporter.com where you can contact her directly on WhatsApp. You can also listen to her podcast, The Entrepreneurial You, and visit her social media on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

Learn more about how to attend Heneka’s “Slow Down & Live: Health Is Wealth” summit in January 2021.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Click here for the episode transcript.

On the Beyond 6 Seconds end of year episode for 2020, host Carolyn Kiel talks with fellow podcaster Laura Joyce Davis, the host of the Shelter in Place podcast. We discuss our experiences podcasting in 2020: how it has helped us cope with the challenges and isolation of this year, inspired our creativity, and allowed us to make connections and share powerful stories. Plus, we discover our mutual background in a cappella singing, and how it impacts the way we podcast!

Listen to Laura’s podcast, Shelter in Place, at shelterinplacepodcast.info.

Learn more about the things we reference during this episode:

• Goodnight America (song by Miko Marks) 
• Podcast conferences: She Podcasts Live Conference and Werk It Festival 
• The MetropoliTones (Carolyn’s a cappella singing group) 
• Laura’s solo song from her a cappella group (Tangled Up in Blue) that was included in the Best of College A Cappella 2002 collection. 

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Click here for the episode transcript.

Jenny Delacruz is a Haitian-American writer, a licensed counselor and the founder of Cobbs Creek Publishing. She is a wife and mom of 2 boys. Born and raised in New York, she has always been aware of the importance of diversity and how each person has a story that weaves back to generations.

Jenny’s passion for teaching her children about world history and current events led her to pursue writing and launch her own educational children’s book series. She has written 2 picture books, "Fridays With Ms. Mélange: Haiti" and "Momma, Can I Sleep with You Tonight?" which helps children cope with the impact of COVID-19. She recently released her first nonfiction book for adults called "How Was Your Summer? Fostering Critical Conversations with Students." It’s a guide for parents and teachers to nurture mental health in kids from grades K-12.

During this episode, you will hear Jenny talk about:

• How she wrote her first book for her son who wanted to learn more about Haiti, which led her to start Cobbs Creek Publishing
• Her advice on how to talk to kids about tough topics in an age-appropriate way
• How her youngest son inspired her to write “Momma, Can I Sleep with You Tonight?”
• How she uses social media to increase her books’ reach and accessibility
• Her future plans for writing and publishing

You can find out more about Cobbs Creek Publishing at cobbscreekpublishing.com, on Instagram, on YouTube, and on Facebook.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for all the latest news and updates about my podcast!

Click here for the episode transcript.