This week on the show, I’m hyperfocusing not on a topic or a question, but a person: the neurodivergent comedian and actor Emma Willmann. 

You might know Emma from her comedy (she’s done stand-up on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) or her acting (she played “Beth” on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend).

But I didn’t want to know about any of that. I wanted to spend some time with the person who has made a career out of smart, inclusive humor and understand how she does it. Plus, we talk about her ADHD and dyslexia diagnoses.

Related resources

• Emma’s website
• Emma on Instagram
• Listen: How to manage ADHD at work
• ADHD and creativity

Timestamps

(1:58) Breaking up with your phone

(5:39) Comparing and contrasting ADHD types

(9:53) If you could get rid of your ADHD, would you?  

(15:04) Is ADHD good for a stand-up comic?

For a transcript and more resources, visit the Hyperfocus page on Understood.

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Understood.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give