Alex Bilowitz put in the elbow grease to create a thriving career as a record producer, songwriter, and composer — and he did it all with ADHD. He was part of the team that wrote the lyrics with BTS for the hit song “Butter.” In this episode, Alex talks about what led him to his career, and what it takes to break into the music world. Though he was diagnosed in the third grade, ADHD sat in the background for Alex until college. Being super organized and on time, Alex didn’t think of himself as s...
Apr 13, 2022•31 min•Ep. 20
Alonna Nicole Williams calls herself an “Energizer Bunny” with ADHD. She says she’s been bouncing off the walls since she was a little girl, all the way into the modern workplace. Mini breaks, flexible scheduling, and work accommodations have helped her create a work life that matches her ADHD needs. But it hasn’t been easy. In this episode, Alonna opens up about crying at work and being anxious about rigid in-person offices. She explains why working remotely in cyber fraud insurance fits how he...
Mar 16, 2022•20 min•Ep. 18
Albert Kim first got interested in digital accessibility because of his ADHD, dyslexia, and invisible disabilities. He wanted to make websites and apps usable for everyone, including himself. After all, he uses a screen reader and text-to-speech to read text online. However, when Albert started to explore a career in digital accessibility, some of his friends discouraged him. They said it wasn’t a good career path. Albert decided to try anyway. Within a few years, demand for his expertise explod...
Mar 02, 2022•24 min•Ep. 17
From the first moment Paul Starr saw the Japanese anime series Robotech (aka Macross ), he was hooked. But did it have something to do with his ADHD? He’d never been motivated about anything before, but now he threw himself into learning Japanese so he could read comics. One thing led to another, and eventually Paul started to work as a translator for Japanese manga and novels. But it took an embarrassing event at work — falling asleep at his desk — to make him realize that to follow his career ...
Feb 16, 2022•24 min•Ep. 16
Whitney Valentine-Wafer has ADHD and never finished college. Yet she’s served as chief financial officer for several organizations and built a career as a nonprofit finance professional. Her journey includes employers like Creative Commons and the San Francisco Ballet. Whitney shares how she was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult — and how she found her way despite being fired from several jobs in her 20s. She says the key to her path was reflecting on what worked and what didn’t work for her brain...
Feb 02, 2022•21 min•Ep. 15
By the time Raquel Fleetwood was diagnosed with a learning disability at age 8, she had already discovered her passion: cooking. By 16, inspired by her Black Latino roots, she was selling cheese flans in NYC — and building confidence with each gig that followed. Now, Raquel is the owner and chef of a catering company that delivers 75,000 meals in an average year. Listen to hear how Raquel turned her love of food into a career. Learn her secret for managing challenges with math, spoken language, ...
Jan 19, 2022•19 min•Ep. 14
Julia Schifini, who has ADHD, left her day job and embraced the opportunity to turn weekly chats with her best friend into a podcasting career. As creator of the popular Spirits mythology podcast, she’s found her niche in topics like Greek mythology, Dungeons & Dragons, and more. Along the way, she also taught herself sound engineering. Listen to how Julia navigates ADHD within the demands of her podcasting work. Find out how her many and varied interests have helped her thrive. And hear her...
Jan 05, 2022•25 min•Ep. 13
After getting a fashion degree from a college with a learning disabilities program, Stevie Ondra decided to follow her childhood dream: TV and film. She started as a production assistant on an indie film, and worked her way up in the costume and wardrobe department. Today, she works on hit television shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel , Gossip Girl , The Report , and Raising Kanan . At work, she's open about her learning differences and what she needs to thrive in her job. Listen in for the in...
Dec 15, 2021•22 min•Ep. 12
As a child with dyslexia, Frank Imperiale always had to think 10 steps ahead to account for his reading challenges and anxiety. Today, thinking ahead is a skill that’s served him well in his career as a production manager for live events. His impressive list of credits includes the NYC Marathon, comedy shows, concerts, and more. Get Frank’s advice on how to turn your learning and thinking differences into strengths. And hear what Whoopi Goldberg, who also has dyslexia, once shared with Frank bac...
Dec 08, 2021•23 min•Ep. 11
Not many people are aware of nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD). Fewer still know the challenges of finding a job when you have NVLD. Michaela Hearst, who has NVLD, shares her career journey — and how she decided to be a school counselor so she could be there for students with learning differences. She also talks about how a social work degree can lead you to different career paths. Hear her story. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood...
Dec 01, 2021•21 min•Ep. 10
Sometimes, people with ADHD can thrive in jobs that require hyperfocus. That’s true of Jo Shaffer, a self-taught visual effects artist who says working on motion graphics is a perfect fit for how their mind works. Learn how Jo gets paid to come up with fun computer-generated graphics for companies and advertisers. Jo also shares thoughts on the connection between having ADHD and being nonbinary. The answer might surprise you. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the ep...
Nov 17, 2021•22 min•Ep. 9
Heath Howes has built hundreds of custom horse saddles for riders. Growing up, he had trouble with reading and writing, as well as ADHD. But he found his strengths in art and three-dimensional thinking. Listen to his thoughts on how to find a career working with your hands. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood . We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at thatjob@understood.org . Related resources Watch Heath working on a horse saddle...
Nov 10, 2021•21 min•Ep. 8
As a female engineer with ADHD and learning differences, Kellie Williams is breaking ground in a male-dominated field. Learn what she’s done to thrive in spite of harassment and ill-fitting equipment made for men. And find out the tools and accommodations she uses at work for her ADHD. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood . We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at thatjob@understood.org . Related resources Download a graphic of lea...
Nov 03, 2021•24 min•Ep. 7
This “absent-minded professor” always wanted to work with kids. So Robert Benjamin focused on strengths like emotional IQ to get a job managing therapy services for foster kids and their families. Hear how he handles job challenges that come with ADHD and executive function issues. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood . We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at thatjob@understood.org . Related resources Watch the video story of Lena...
Oct 27, 2021•24 min•Ep. 6
Zo V says sometimes she just can’t pay attention. But when she has the chance to be creative, this nice girl from Brooklyn gets hyperfocused as a seamstress in the fashion industry. Find out how Zo found a job that fits her differences. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood . We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at thatjob@understood.org . Related resources Learn about the connection between dyslexia and creativity . Check out the ...
Oct 20, 2021•19 min•Ep. 5
Steve Dean once put a sign up in a NYC park offering “free dating advice.” Learn how this ADHD super connector became a dating coach who helps people find love. And get his surprising advice on how to find your own unique career path. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood . We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at thatjob@understood.org . Related resources Explore 40+ career examples of people who learn and think differently . Read ...
Oct 13, 2021•28 min•Ep. 4
Gracen Gantt sold her first house as a real estate agent in college. But it was almost by accident. Because of her learning differences and ADHD, she couldn’t meet college math and foreign language requirements, so she switched her major to retail management. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood . We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at thatjob@understood.org . Related resources Learn about business people with learning and thinki...
Oct 06, 2021•28 min•Ep. 3
His young adult novel, The Taking of Jake Livingston , is a best-seller on Amazon. Find out how dyslexia and ADHD shaped Ryan Douglass’ unique approach to writing. He also shares how being Black and LGBTQ impacts his learning differences. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood . We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at thatjob@understood.org . Related resources Visit Ryan’s website to see his other work Learn about more authors with ...
Sep 29, 2021•23 min•Ep. 1
“Did Ben Franklin die of syphilis from a lady of the night?” As a kid with ADHD, Chris Ivan hated school, but he found his calling as a history teacher by bringing comedy into the classroom. Hear why Chris thinks teaching is an awesome career for people who learn and think differently. To find a transcript for this episode and more resources, visit the episode page at Understood . We love hearing from our listeners. Email us at thatjob@understood.org . Related resources Read why a special educat...
Sep 29, 2021•22 min•Ep. 2
When it comes to jobs, some people think of learning and thinking differences, like dyslexia and ADHD, only as a disadvantage. But could it be that people find fulfilling careers not in spite of their differences, but because of them? Join host Eleni Matheou on How’d You Get THAT Job?! In each episode, she’ll talk to someone new about their unique or unexpected career path. Hear the lessons and strategies they took away from their experiences — and the role learning and thinking differences play...
Sep 23, 2021•2 min
