Living with cerebral palsy and learning disabilities – with Aashna Parikh
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Release Date: 06/10/2024
Social media marketing for queer business owners – with Rylan Hoffman
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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 organic views, they know the power of visibility, but also its risks. After facing doxxing, harassment, and even extremist threats, Rylan made it their mission to help queer business owners navigate the internet safely while getting the right eyes on their content. During this episode, you will hear Rylan talk about: How they first discovered that they were neurodivergent (ADHD and autistic) The...
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Autism Inclusion in the Christian Church – with Sunita Theiss
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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, marketing, and storytelling, and has found several ways to support and encourage families raising neurodivergent kids. Sunita is passionate about creating opportunities for culturally responsive support in a way that helps families honor both their values and their children’s needs. She is a regular contributor to PDA North America's Insights and Key Ministry's blog, and her writing has been...
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Tourette syndrome community and research - with Dr. Daniel P. Jones
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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 methodologies, focusing on the embodied experiences of public spaces, kinship, and solidarity within Tourette syndrome communities. As someone who has lived experience of Tourette syndrome himself, he has been actively engaged in community facilitation and Tourette syndrome activism in the UK for over a decade. During this episode, you will hear Daniel talk about: How he realized he had Tourette...
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Dyslexia advocacy in Nigeria – with Oladoyin Idowu
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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 professional dedicated to bridging the gap between neurodiversity, education, and mental well-being. Growing up in Nigeria with undiagnosed dyslexia, she experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating an education system that was not designed for neurodivergent learners. In 2016, she founded One Word Africa Foundation, becoming one of Nigeria’s foremost voices in dyslexia awareness and...
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Memoirs of a Neurodivergent Latina – with Lya Batlle-Rafferty
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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 performing that type of work. She hosts her podcast, Memoirs of a Neurodivergent Latina, on her nights and weekends. During this episode, you will hear Lya talk about: How she realized she is neurodivergent What it was like growing up as a neurodivergent girl in El Salvador and the United States The challenges she has faced because of her neurodivergence What inspired her to start her podcast, “Memoirs...
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Trans and ADHD inclusion – with Trystan Reese
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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 as neurodivergent. Trystan founded Collaborate Consulting to provide training on LGBTQ+ inclusion and has contributed to various anthologies on mental health and social justice. During this episode, Trystan and I talk about: How he realized he had ADHD after his child was diagnosed What it was like growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, and the impact on his education and self-image How he coaches...
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Neurodiversity-affirming support for autism and ADHD – with Samar Waqar of Kind Theory
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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 the same week (March 15-21, 2025). Today’s episode features Samar Waqar, the Founder and Executive Director of Kind Theory, a neurodiversity-based nonprofit based in Texas. Using the insights and knowledge of neurodivergent people themselves, Kind Theory educates organizations, institutions, and the general public about neurodiversity, accessibility, and disability rights as these relate to...
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) – with Jessica Birch
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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 attention to awareness building and education to create a better understanding of the prevalence and consequences of prenatal alcohol exposure in Australia. Jessica shares her lived expertise in an effort to equip individuals, parents/carers, educators and health professionals with the information they need to create successful interventions and support. She believes awareness and action are key to...
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Chinese New Year, filmmaking and autism acceptance with Beatrice Leong
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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 health challenges and misdiagnoses, she was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 35, bringing clarity to her lifelong struggles. Beatrice founded AIDA (Autism Inclusiveness Direct Action Group), an autistic-led advocacy group based in Asia that promotes inclusion and self-representation of the autistic community. She actively participates in shaping policies to improve the lives of autistic individuals....
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Adin Boyer - American Idol, autism and anti-bullying advocacy
Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
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 school, when he faced less bullying and leaned into his musical talent and training in classical piano, choir, opera and music theory. Adin gained widespread international notoriety as a contestant on season 21 of American Idol, where he advanced to the top 55. Now Adin performs locally and on tour, with solo and full-band indie rock performances, and speaks to audiences about autism acceptance,...
info_outlineAashna 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.
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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.*