Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people - Ending epilepsy stigma through filmmaking – with Under the Lights director Miles Levin

Ending epilepsy stigma through filmmaking – with Under the Lights director Miles Levin

01/22/24 • 25 min

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Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people

Miles Levin is a filmmaker and public speaker living with epilepsy. His short film “Under the Lights” starring Pearce Joza and Alyssa Jirrels has become a beacon for epilepsy representation in movies. The film has inspired people to create daily fan art, learn more about epilepsy and open up about their disabilities. He is now making the full length film of Under the Lights, in an effort to create the single biggest epilepsy awareness campaign in history.

During this episode, you will hear Miles talk about:

How his life experience with epilepsy inspired Under the Lights
The powerful impact that Under the Lights is having on audiences
His fundraising campaign to make the full-length film of Under the Lights (and how you can support the campaign!)

Watch the short film of Under the Lights.

Support the fundraiser for the full-length Under the Lights movie (ends on January 30!)

Follow Under the Lights on social media: @underthelightsfilm on Instagram @underthelightsfilm on Facebook @underthelightsfilm1 on TikTok

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.*

During this episode, you will hear Miles talk about:

How his life experience with epilepsy inspired Under the Lights
The powerful impact that Under the Lights is having on audiences
His fundraising campaign to make the full-length film of Under the Lights (and how you can support the campaign!)

Watch the short film of Under the Lights.

Support the fundraiser for the full-length Under the Lights movie (ends on January 30!)

Follow Under the Lights on social media: @underthelightsfilm on Instagram @underthelightsfilm on Facebook @underthelightsfilm1 on TikTok

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!

Previous Episode

Swarit Gopalan – Nonspeaking autistic writer and poet

Swarit Gopalan is a 12-year old autistic nonspeaker who uses a letterboard to spell and a keyboard to type to communicate. He lives with his family in Florida and goes to Invictus Academy for school. Swarit is a talented writer and poet who shares his writing on Facebook and Instagram. He is also a passionate advocate for other nonspeaking people.

During this episode, Swarit talks about:

Learning to communicate using a letterboard and keyboard
What inspired him to start writing about his life experiences on social media
How he defines dysregulation and how it affects his life
Going to school as a nonspeaking student
The joy of meeting other nonspeaking people and their families
How people can be good friends and allies to nonspeaking people

Follow Swarit on social media to read his writing:

Facebook: Swarit Gopalan - My truisms unfiltered
Instagram: @swarit_my_truisms_unfiltered

Learn more about resources for nonspeakers mentioned in this episode:

Motormorphosis Conference for Nonspeakers
Directory of Nonspeaker Blogs and Pages (from Neuroclastic)

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!

Next Episode

How to support employees with invisible disabilities - with Jenn Grindeland

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Jenn Grindeland has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. She is also a multiple brain injury survivor. With this background, she teaches leadership skills designed to support equity and inclusion for employees with non-apparent, invisible disabilities.

During this episode, Jenn talks about:

How her life changed when she had her first traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Why inadequate job accommodations during her TBI recovery hurt her relationships at work
How she teaches teams to better support employees who are neurodivergent and/or have non-apparent disabilities
Why she thinks many people are scared to advocate for themselves in the workplace
Advice for managers who want to support the people with disabilities on their teams

Learn more about Jenn and her work on her website TheWorkingWell.us and on 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!