In this episode, we sit down with author and activist Jonathan Mooney to explore the myth of "normalcy." Jonathan shares his personal journey navigating the education system with ADHD and dyslexia and discusses the powerful influence of the people who championed his differences. We also delve into the dark history of eugenics and its lingering impact on society's perception of disability. Finally, Jonathan introduces the Divergent Impact Fund, a new initiative aimed at supporting neurodivergent innovators.

Key Topics:

• Redefining Normal: Why the concept of a "normal" person is a harmful abstraction and how we can move toward a more inclusive design for society.
• The Power of Support: Jonathan reflects on how his mother and a transformative third-grade teacher, Mr. R, helped him see his challenges as strengths.
• The Dark History of Eugenics: A look at the US Eugenics movement and its shocking influence on global policies, including those in Nazi Germany.
• The Divergent Impact Fund: Jonathan’s mission to support innovators solving real-world problems for the neurodivergent community.
• Parenting and Technology: Navigating the unique challenges of raising children in a hyper-connected, digital world.

Notable Quotes:

• "The only normal people are people you don't know very well."
• "Our design principle for our world should be the reality of human difference, not the myth of the normal human."

Resources Mentioned:

• Jonathan's website: https://www.jonathanmooney.com/
• Jonathan's books: Normal Sucks, The Short Bus, and Learning Outside the Lines.
• The Divergent Impact Fund: divergentimpactfund.com

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