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How’d You Get THAT Job?!

Explore the unique (and often unexpected) career paths of people who learn and think differently. Listen as host Eleni Matheou talks with people about finding a job they love​ — and how it reflects who they are and how they learn.

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Latest episodes

June 28, 2023

In the series finale of How’d You Get THAT Job?!, host Eleni Matheou unpacks what we’ve learned about how people thrive at work.

June 14, 2023

Nathan Friedman is the co-president and chief marketing officer of Understood.org. And he has dyslexia and ADHD. Learn how he got into the C-suite.

May 31, 2023

Dr. Loucresie Rupert is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist with ADHD. She didn’t have an easy time getting her diagnosis as a Black woman.

May 17, 2023

Kristjana Williams is a London-based Icelandic artist with dyslexia. She wasn’t diagnosed until she was 25, and now she has her own studio.

May 3, 2023

Aideé Chávez Frescas has ADHD, and is a senior social media manager at Understood. Her posts help end stigma and show others they’re not alone.

April 19, 2023

Alex Gilbert is a career coach with ADHD and dyslexia. After working in leadership development for years, she started her own coaching business.

April 5, 2023

Dan Reis was diagnosed with ADHD during the pandemic. Now, he’s made it his mission to explore coping strategies to help him get his work done.

March 22, 2023

Rachel Basoco’s two jobs keep things interesting for her ADHD. She works full time at Fidelity, and part time at 11:11 Media, Paris Hilton’s company.

March 8, 2023

Gil Gershoni says that everything he does is dyslexic. He founded the branding firm Gershoni Creative and hosts the Dyslexic Design Thinking podcast.

February 22, 2023

Claire Odom is a psychotherapist with ADHD. She’s also a disability inclusion consultant who has advice on navigating the workplace.

February 8, 2023

Michael Upshall Senior and Junior both have ADHD. This father-and-son duo doubles as boss and employee in their family carpentry business.

January 25, 2023

Darcey Gohring has dyslexia, and didn’t tell anyone she worked with for 25 years. Now, as an established writer and editor, she’s speaking out.

Isaac Zablocki has always had trouble expressing himself in writing. Now, he uses films to share stories.

December 14, 2022

Listen to this bonus episode to hear what we’ve learned from our guests so far — like being open to failure and asking for accommodations.

November 30, 2022

Dina Ragab got an ADHD diagnosis after finishing law school. Now, she’s found the right work environment as a lawyer for California high-speed rail.

November 9, 2022

Omar Mouallem is a journalist and filmmaker with ADHD. His ability to hyperfocus on projects wins him awards.

October 26, 2022

Delia Gallegos is the chief financial officer of the Black Nerds Create collective. Her fandom hobby became the perfect job for her ADHD.

October 12, 2022

Scottie Donovan is a NYC wastewater engineer with ADHD. She thrives in this interactive civil engineering work, and uses tools to help along the way.

September 28, 2022

Luke Kolpin is a chef with dyslexia. After working at Noma and competing on Top Chef, he’s looking for his next hands-on challenge.

September 14, 2022

Hanna Brooks Olsen is a freelance writer. She doesn’t fit the ADHD stereotype, but soon saw a connection between it and her mental health diagnoses.

August 31, 2022

Rohan Chhabra found out he had dyslexia in grad school. Then he understood his insecurity around his intelligence — and why he was drawn to the arts.

August 17, 2022

Robert Carroll grew up with resources that helped him with dyslexia. Now, he’s an Assembly member who wants to give every child that opportunity.

August 3, 2022

Phoebe Gavin is executive director of talent and development of Vox.com, a veteran, and a private career coach. Her ADHD makes all of this possible.

July 20, 2022

Liz Miele is a comedian with dyslexia, her hidden superpower. Quick witted, and creative, she puts dyslexia, and all it comes with, in the spotlight.

July 6, 2022

Brendan Mahan has ADHD, and a drive to help others. Putting these together led him to become an ADHD coach. Hear his story and advice.

June 22, 2022

Jacquelyn Spathies faced hardships growing up with ADHD and dyslexia. One teacher saw her potential, and now Jacquelyn works in a federal research lab.

June 8, 2022

Ryan Walter Wagner has bounced around many jobs with his ADHD. He’s found a home in freelance photography, where he elevates other people’s stories.

May 25, 2022

Ship captain Dave Gugliotti has ADHD — and a love for the open sea. Hear how he made a career that fits his ADHD brain.

May 11, 2022

Lindsay Miguelez has ADHD and dyscalculia. College wasn’t right for her, so she took a shot at starting her own wedding photography business.

April 27, 2022

Eric Tabach grew up with ADHD in Russia. He talks about his life as an actor and YouTuber, and how social media burnout led to a new focus: Ukraine.

April 13, 2022

Alex Bilowitz created a thriving career as a record producer, songwriter, and composer — and he did it all with ADHD.

March 30, 2022

David Rubinstein took his love for coffee and turned it into a career. Learn about how his learning differences became his strengths.

March 16, 2022

Cyber insurance may not be the most glamorous-sounding job, but it allows Alonna to work when and where she chooses.

March 2, 2022

Albert Kim is passionate about digital accessibility because of his ADHD, dyslexia, and invisible disabilities. He wants you to join him.

February 16, 2022

From the first moment that he saw Japanese anime, Paul Starr was hooked. Did it have something to do with his ADHD?

January 19, 2022

Whitney Valentine-Wafer has ADHD and never finished college. By believing in herself, she built a nontraditional career as a finance professional.

January 19, 2022

Raquel Fleetwood says cooking is her zen, peace, and love. It’s a place where her trouble with math and anxiety fade away, and learning is natural.

January 5, 2022

Julia Schifini has many, varied interests — and ADHD. Hear how her interests pushed her to leave her day job for a career in niche podcasting.

December 15, 2021

Stevie Ondra landed her dream job doing costumes and wardrobe in TV and film. Hear how her language-based learning challenges impact her career.

December 8, 2021

Dyslexia helped him find his strengths — like thinking ahead. Frank Imperiale explains why he excels as a production manager for live events and concerts.

December 1, 2021

Michaela Hearst shares how her nonverbal learning disabilities (NVLD) led her to a career where she supports kids with learning differences.

November 17, 2021

Jo Shaffer, who has ADHD, learned a technical skill through hyperfocus and obsession. Listen to Jo’s career advice and unique claim to fame.

November 10, 2021

Heath Howes struggled in school with reading and focus. His passion for art and working with his hands led to a unique career in saddle making.

November 3, 2021

Kellie Williams is an engineer with ADHD. Hear about the obstacles she’s faced in this male-dominated field, and how she came to thrive.

October 27, 2021

Robert Benjamin calls himself an “absent-minded professor” because of his ADHD. Hear how he turned his strengths into a career working with kids.

October 20, 2021

Zo V says she can’t focus because of ADHD. But when she has a chance to be creative, this seamstress gets hyperfocused in the fashion industry.

October 13, 2021

Steve Dean once put a sign up in a NYC park offering “free dating advice.” Learn how this ADHD super connector helps people find love.

October 6, 2021

Gracen Gantt sold her first house as a real estate agent in college. Hear how learning differences and ADHD impacted how she chose her career.

September 29, 2021

As a kid with ADHD, Chris Ivan hated school, but he found his calling as a history teacher by bringing comedy into the classroom.

September 29, 2021

His young adult novel is a best-seller on Amazon. Find out how dyslexia and ADHD shaped Ryan Douglass’ unique approach to writing.

April 19, 2023

Alex Gilbert is a career coach with ADHD and dyslexia. After working in leadership development for years, she started her own coaching business.

Host

  • Eleni Matheou

    leads user research for Understood. She helps Understood to center its work on the lived experiences and voices of people who learn and think differently.

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