Exploring Different Brains

Comedian Darcy Michael discusses his diagnoses for ADHD and autism. For 20 years, Darcy Michael has been a powerhouse in comedy, with a voice unlike any other. Lauded by the Montreal Gazette as one of their favorites at the prestigious Just for Laughs Festival, Darcy has graced its stages over ten times. His meteoric rise continued in 2021 when he launched a TikTok account, quickly garnering 4 million followers and over 150 million likes, proving his humor resonates across generations and platforms.In 2018, Darcy made history with Darcy Michael Goes to Church, Just for Laughs’ first-ever one-hour stand-up special, now streaming on Crave and available globally via YouTube and Facebook Watch. This partnership cemented Darcy's status as a leading voice in comedy. His latest stand-up album, Family Highs, debuted at #1, further showcasing his comedic brilliance. On screen, Darcy’s charisma has shone in roles opposite Dave Foley in CTV's Spun Out, as well as in hit shows like Legends of Tomorrow, Lucifer, The Tw

ICF certified coach Gillian Forth discusses how to make a workplace neuroinclusive. Gill is a 35 year old white settler, cisgender, neuro queer woman who is married, childfree, and living in the suburbs of Ontario, Canada. Their coaching practice is neuro affirming and inclusive of LGBTQQIP2SA plus communities and people of all gender identities. Gill has spent a decade in the nonprofit sector with a focus on client experience and engagement, group facilitation, DEI, and operations. They hold a certificate in Adult Education and are an ICF Associate Certified Coach (ACC) and have coached hundreds of neurodivergent people as they move into new roles and workplaces, and supported both employees and managers through a wide range of workplace challenges. Gill also has extensive experience advising teams and organizations on creating more inclusive and accessible environments, particularly for neurodivergent and disabled professionals.   For more about Gill’s’ work: https://www.thelowachiever.com/ For more ab

Comedian James Mullinger discusses ADHD’s effect on his life and performances. James Mullinger was one of the UK’s top comedians and Comedy Editor for GQ magazine when he moved to Canada in February 2014. Since his arrival, he has taken the country by storm. Sold out shows across the country, appearances on CBC’s The Debaters, CTV’s The Social and The Good Stuff With Mary Berg. Movies, TV shows, festivals, awards, podcasts, stand-up specials... he’s done it all! An award-winning writer, comedian and filmmaker, he spent 15 years in a senior position at British GQ, interviewing everyone from Jerry Seinfeld and Paul Rudd to Rachel Weisz and Scarlett Johansson and launching the magazine’s digital division. In April 2016 and 2018, James sold out TD Station Arena with his uniquely hilarious stand- up shows, outselling Jerry Seinfeld, Snoop Dogg and Guns N’ Roses when they played the same venue. An award-winning CBC documentary about the show titled City On Fire was aired nationally to rave reviews. His stand-up

CONTENT WARNING: discussion of pregnancy loss Cartoonist Chari Pere discusses how she used art to share her experiences with pregnancy loss. Cartoonist Chari Pere is on a mission to create art that is heartfelt, funny, and relatable–and has most recently done so with her award-winning "Unspoken" Cartoonmentary series, shedding light on miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and other taboo topics. She has previously worked with Red Bull, Mad Magazine, Gretchen Rubin, Comedy Central, Mayim Bialik, Bud Light, and Purina. During the pandemic, her “Corona Mama” comic series and coloring books brought humor to the challenge of parenting in lockdown. In 2024, she was named Artist of the Year by JewCE (the Jewish Comics Experience). Chari lives in Teaneck, NJ with her husband and three kids. For more about Chari’s work: https://www.charipere.com/ For more about host Bea Moise: https://beatricemoise.com/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains

Author, attorney, and self-advocate Haley Moss explains autistic joy, and how to be supportive of it. Haley Moss was diagnosed with autism at age 3. She graduated with her Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 2018, and graduated from the University of Florida in 2015 with Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Criminology. She is a renowned visual pop artist and the author of Middle School: The Stuff Nobody Tells You About and A Freshman Survival Guide for College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Stuff Nobody Tells You About. She also was the illustrator and a contributor for the Autism Women’s Network anthology What Every Autistic Girl Wishes Her Parents Knew. Her writing has been featured in HuffPost, Teen Vogue, Elite Daily, The Mighty, and other websites and publications. For more about Haley’s work: https://haleymoss.com/ For Haley’s show Spectrumly Speaking: https://differentbrains.org/spectrumly-speaking-page/ Here is an example of the emotion wheel Haley mentio

Clinical psychologist, autism self-advocate, and educational consultant Dr. Eric Endlich shares tips for students transition from high school to college. About our guest: Eric Endlich, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and founder of Top College Consultants®, manages a diverse, nationwide team of college admissions professionals helping neurodivergent students transition to higher education. He co-teaches the UC Irvine continuing education course for educational consultants, Working with Students with Learning Differences, and co-manages a 27,000-member Facebook group for parents of college-bound neurodivergent students. Dr. Endlich has served on the board and the Learning Differences/Neurodiversity Committee of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), and was honored with IECA’s “Making a Difference” award for contributions such as a database of neurodiversity-friendly colleges. A keynote speaker, researcher and professional writer, he is also on the board of the College Autism Network and he

Host Bea Moise continues her chat with author and accessibility expert Alex Norman. Alex Norman is the founder and CEO of Access Built, a leading agency helping organizations reimagine environments to be more inclusive. As the author of Boundless: Real Stories and Practical Strategies for Inclusive Living, Alex blends powerful life stories with actionable design strategies. A former global advertising and innovation leader, Alex now helps organizations uncover and remove the “friction points” in the built world. His work, rooted in personal experience and collaboration with design leaders, challenges audiences to see accessibility not as compliance but as a catalyst for innovation, inclusion, and human potential. For more about Alex’s work, visit: accessbuilt.com For more about host Bea Moise, visit: beatricemoise.com Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exp

Access Built CEO Alex Norman shares the tenants of universal design, his journey to achieve inclusive living. Alex Norman is the founder and CEO of Access Built, a leading agency helping organizations reimagine environments to be more inclusive. As the author of Boundless: Real Stories and Practical Strategies for Inclusive Living, Alex blends powerful life stories with actionable design strategies. A former global advertising and innovation leader, Alex now helps organizations uncover and remove the “friction points” in the built world. His work, rooted in personal experience and collaboration with design leaders, challenges audiences to see accessibility not as compliance but as a catalyst for innovation, inclusion, and human potential. For more about Alex’s work, visit: accessbuilt.com Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://

Actor, voice-over artist, author, and self-advocate Adam Lee Sietz shares how improv comedy helped him navigate ADHD. Adam Sietz has spent more than a quarter century writing, producing and performing in the Entertainment Business. He has written and performed with the National Lampoon, and written extensively for television, animation, radio, corporate events and various private individuals from top Comedians to CEO's. As a comedian he has worked with some of the best Comics of this generation: Kevin Hart, Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle, Louis CK...and some Comedy Legends: Jerry Lewis, Robert Klein, Rodney Dangerfield, Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld. A lifelong impressionist, he swiftly became a highly requested voice-over talent for major national commercial campaigns, well known cartoons and a few of the biggest videogames of all time. As an actor, he's blessed to be cast in Academy Award, Golden Globe Award films and Tony Award nominated Broadway shows. He has been cast by some of the best producers and

Expert and author Terri Duncan explains the importance of emotional regulation, and offers was to support those with emotional disregulation. Terri Duncan is a Speech Language Pathologist and has worked with Autistic children and a broad range of developmental delays. She is also author of the book Why Emotional Regulation Might Mean EVERYTHING. Terri has her B.A. in Psychology and Linguistics from the University of Ottawa and her Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Alberta. She has been consulting in schools, homes and communities for more than 20 years, an interest that began when she worked as an aide with a four-year-old boy with autism in a family’s home. Since that time she has been fascinated by the complexity of autism and the resilience of families dealing with the challenges they face on a daily basis. Terri founded Children’s Autism Services of Edmonton in 2004 and since that time, the organization has become one of the largest service providers in Western Canada se

Self-advocate Tim Ulmer shares his journey with epilepsy, and talks about his show Epilepsy Gangster. Tim Ulmer is an epilepsy self-advocate, and author, and the creator and producer of Epilepsy Gangster. Tim also facilitates the prominent support group that he started over a decade ago. He's been a moderator-writer for Health Union's EpilepsyDisease.com where people can read his columns about living with epilepsy (at no charge). He is also the author of the book Involuntary MISSION: In China with a Thorn in the Flesh. In 2024, for his work on Epilepsy Gangster, he was a finalist in Health Union's Social Awareness Awards in the category of "Creative Contributor", and the international Invisible Disabilities Association has selected him to be its first Ambassador who is epileptic. For more about Tim’s work, visit: epilepsygangster.com Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more ep

Self-advocate and author Rebecca Tillou shares the realities of life with FASD, and her journey towards getting a diagnosis at age 33. Rebecca Tillou is a self-advocate of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which is under the umbrella Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Since being diagnosed at the age of 33, she has become a tireless advocate raising awareness of this often misunderstood condition. She is the author of the auto-biographical book “Tenacity”, and the founder of the virtual 5K for FASD United. For more about Rebecca and FASD, visit: https://adultingwithfasdcoms.com/ https://fasdunited.org/ http://www.runfasd.org/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

Autism self-advocate and therapist Megan MacKay discusses her work helping those experiencing PTSD and CPTSD. Megan MacKay works as an addiction and trauma psychotherapist. She is a CSAT, LCPC and LPC in the states of Arizona and Montana. Megan is also a Clinical Mental Health Consultant at Trapper Creek Job Corps, and a Board Member for Returning Youth Initiative. She also is a host and Board member for 101.5 KFGM, Missoula Community Radio. For more about Megan’s work, visit: https://www.innerstatehealingandrecovery.com/ https://bloggingforrecovery.wordpress.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganmackayaz/ Listen to 101.5 KFGM at https://www.1015kfgm.org/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

Autism self-advocate and therapist Megan MacKay discusses her role with Job Corps, and how it can help the neurodivergent population. Megan MacKay works as an addiction and trauma psychotherapist. She is a CSAT, LCPC and LPC in the states of Arizona and Montana. Megan is also a Clinical Mental Health Consultant at Trapper Creek Job Corps, and a Board Member for Returning Youth Initiative. She also is a host and Board member for 101.5 KFGM, Missoula Community Radio. For more about Megan’s work, visit: https://www.innerstatehealingandrecovery.com/ https://bloggingforrecovery.wordpress.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganmackayaz/ Listen to 101.5 KFGM at https://tunein.com/radio/KFGM-1015-s288054/ Follow Different Brains on social media: https://twitter.com/diffbrains https://www.facebook.com/different.brains/ https://www.instagram.com/diffbrains/ Check out more episodes of Exploring Different Brains! http://differentbrains.org/category/edb/

In the second part of our review of 2024, we hear from some of the people making a difference for the neurodiversity community including Dr. Jennie Trocchio, Cheryl Checkers, Aisha McDonald & more! AISHA MCDONALD – full interview pt 1 https://differentbrains.org/recognizing-intersectional-trauma-with-aisha-t-mcdonald-lmhc-edb-328/ / pt 2 https://differentbrains.org/suicide-prevention-mental-health-with-aisha-t-mcdonald-lmhc-edb-329/ | for more about their work: https://www.unitedwaybroward.org/ CHERYL CHECKERS AND DR CHRISTOPHER KAY – full interview: https://differentbrains.org/mental-health-on-the-autism-spectrum-with-cheryl-checkers-dr-christopher-kye-edb-325/ | for more about their work: Cheryl: https://www.cherylcheckers.com/ Dr Kye: https://www.christopherkyemd.com/ NICOLE STORRS – full interview: https://differentbrains.org/9muses-supporting-mental-health-through-art-peer-support-with-nicole-storrs-edb-323/ | for more about their work: https://9musesartcenter.org/ TAINAH GEORGES – full inter

In the first part of our review of 2024, we hear from some of the neurodivergent self-advocates that have appeared on the show, including Shawn Smith, Ali Idriss, Diane Gould & more! ALI IDRISS – full interview: https://differentbrains.org/adhd-in-the-er-with-ali-idriss-edb-316/ | for more about their work: https://differentbrains.org/author/ali-idriss/ DIANE GOULD – full interview: https://differentbrains.org/navigating-pda-demand-avoidance-autism-neurodiversity-with-diane-gould-edb-331/ | for more about their work: https://dianegouldtherapy.com/ ZACHARY TOVIN – full interview: https://differentbrains.org/neurodiversity-self-advocate-spotlight-zachary-tovins-autism-journey-edb-318/ | for more about their work: https://zachtovinphotography.wordpress.com/ SHELLY BAER AND JAIRO ARANA – full interview: https://differentbrains.org/project-s-a-l-t-creating-self-advocate-leaders-with-univ-of-miamis-shelly-baer-jairo-arana-edb-319/ | for more about their work: https://med.miami.edu/centers-and-institutes/ma

Canadian ADHD & autism self-advocate and therapist Shawn Smith shares his experiences battling burnout, and offers tips on how ot overcome it. Shawn Smith M.Ed., CCC, LCT is an autistic and ADHD Counsellor and psychotherapist, and the founder of Don’t dis-my-ability® Consultation Services Inc. Shawn helps parents, young people, and adults who are neurodivergent (ADHD/Autism/Dyslexic and more). Prior to his own diagnoses, Shawn struggled at every level of the public education system. It took Shawn 4 years to complete 3 years of high school, 32 attempts to earn the 18 credits required to graduate including failing grade 10 math 4 times. Since then Shawn has experienced a tremendous amount of self-growth in a relatively short period of time and has a unique understanding of his thought process. In 2010, Shawn was accepted to the Master of Education in Counseling Psychology program at the University of New Brunswick on Academic Probation and graduated in 2011 at the top of his class. Shawn is a self-advocate

PDA expert and autism self-advocate Diane Gould, LCSW discusses Pervasive Demand Avoidance (previously known as Pathological Demand Avoidance). Diane is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that specializes in serving autistic individuals. As the Executive Director and Founder of PDA North America, she founded the annual PDA North America conference held in Chicago that has changed the lives of hundreds of PDA (pathological demand avoidance/persistent drive for autonomy) families. She co-authored the book Navigating PDA in America with Ruth Fidler which was published in June 2024. In April 2024, Diane was diagnosed as autistic. Diane has a private practice in the suburbs of Chicago, where she serves neurodivergent children, adults and their families. Over the last 40 plus years, she has worked for both private agencies and school systems. Diane has always been facinated by human behavior and has worked to better understand and support individuals with distressed behavior over the years. She currently focuses

Linda J. Silver, M.S., Ed.S. discusses Section 504 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and her career ensuring appropriate accommodations for students. Linda J. Silver, M.S., Ed.S. is the Executive Director and Founder of Silver & Associates Educational Consulting Solutions. She is an expert in the field of Section 504, an award winning certified school counselor, a nationally recognized speaker and published author advocating for students with disabilities. Linda’s training and work experiences have given her a unique perspective on children, schools and school district dynamics. Linda has been a Teacher, Guidance Director, Educational Leader, District Guidance Coordinator. She was selected to work at the school district level in administrative positions serving grades Pre-K to 12 for Broward County Schools, Ft. Lauderdale, FL the 6th largest school district in the United States. In her roles as the School District Section 504/ADA Specialist and as the School District Guidance Coordinator for the Schoo

Certified Trauma and Resiliency Expert Aisha T. McDonald, LMHC returned to discuss her work as a Suicidologist. and the importance of inclusive mental health. Aisha T. McDonald, LMHC is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Certified Trauma and Resiliency Expert. She has worked in the social services field for over 12 years in a variety of capacities ranging from advocacy, direct service, and macro-focused positions. She is also a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging expert who aims to address the systemic barriers to equity in our community. Throughout her varied roles, Aisha has worked with marginalized populations within South Florida specifically those with severe and persistent mental illness, the forensic population in the criminal justice system and those incarcerated in local jail facilities, individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders, youth in the welfare system and those in the department of juvenile justice, and individuals who are involuntarily hospitalized u