In this episode, Emily Kircher-Morris has a heartfelt conversation with Lake Bell, an award-winning actress, writer, and director, who opens up about her journey as a mother navigating her daughter Nova's epilepsy diagnosis. Emily and Lake talk about the challenges of living with neurodiversity, and discuss ways to turn them into victories. Lake shares the impact of seizures on Nova's identity, and she reflects on her own experiences with dyslexia. They talk about the importance of reframing neurodiversity, and the role of advocacy in destigmatizing conditions like epilepsy.

TAKEAWAYS

• Finding the right epilepsy medication can be challenging.

• Epilepsy can positively impact and shape family dynamics.

• Unique strengths are created in challenging situations.

• Stigmas surrounding epilepsy are an ongoing challenge.

• Uniqueness is just a difference, not a weakness.

Join us for our free event, Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools, a learning and continuing education opportunity. The event is Tuesday, September 9th at 8pm Eastern/5pm Pacific. It will feature a presentation by Emily Kircher-Morris and Amanda Morin, and you'll hear from a panel of experts about the future of education. Register now!

Lake Bell is an award-winning actress, writer, and director known for her work across film, television, and audio storytelling. She stars in HBO’s upcoming series The Chair Company opposite Tim Robinson and recently received the Hollywood Critics Association Award for her directing work on the Emmy-nominated limited series Pam and Tommy. Bell is also the author and narrator of Inside Voice: My Obsession With How We Sound, an acclaimed audiobook produced by Malcolm Gladwell’s Pushkin Media.

Bell made her directorial debut with In a World…, which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival and earned the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award along with widespread critical praise. Her second feature film, I Do... Until I Don’t, showcased her talents as a writer, director, and lead actress. Her acting credits include roles in Mother Couch, No Escape, Man Up, It’s Complicated, Home Again, and the Harley Quinn and Marvel’s What If animated series. A graduate of The Rose Bruford College in London, Bell is also a dedicated advocate, serving on the board of Women in Film and as a global ambassador for Women for Women International, championing the voices of women survivors of war.

BACKGROUND READING

Instagram, Wikipedia, All About Brains: A Book About People

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