ADHD and the Black neurodivergent community – with Rickey Z

ADHD and the Black neurodivergent community – with Rickey Z

Author: Carolyn Kiel January 23, 2023 Duration: 26:35

Rickey Z is a Pre-K Special Education teacher who started her podcast management business in 2020. She is a co-host on Woe Nelly Media's "Geekin' Out" and is in partnership with ADHD + Black, an up-and-coming organization whose mission is to provide support and resources for the Black neurodivergent community. Rickey Z was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 30 while in the process of coming to terms with untreated depression and anxiety.

During this episode, you will hear Rickey Z talk about:

  • How she discovered that had ADHD at the age of 30
  • What it was like growing up as a Black girl with undiagnosed ADHD
  • Why she thinks boys are identified as neurodivergent at younger ages than girls are
  • How realizing she has ADHD impacts how she views and manages her depression and anxiety
  • Managing her life as a special education teacher, mother and owner of a podcast management business
  • How her partnership with ADHD + Black creates resources to support Black neurodivergent people

You can find out more about Rickey Z and her work on:

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube!

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes!

Support this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds and get a shout-out on a future episode!

Read the episode transcript.

*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.*


Hosted by Carolyn Kiel, Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people moves past the snap judgments that so often define how neurodivergent people are perceived. Each conversation here is an invitation to listen deeply, exploring the nuanced realities of entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and other neurodivergent individuals as they share their own experiences in their own words. You’ll hear personal accounts that challenge stereotypes, not through abstract arguments, but through the vivid details of lived experience-the unique pathways to creativity, the challenges navigated in work and relationships, and the personal definitions of success and well-being. This podcast creates a space where identity is explored with authenticity, highlighting the strengths and perspectives that arise from thinking differently. Tuning in means connecting with stories that are as diverse and dynamic as the neurodivergent community itself, offering genuine insight into mental health, societal norms, and the richness of human cognition. Carolyn guides these discussions with a focus on depth and connection, ensuring every episode goes far beneath the surface to celebrate the vibrance of neurodiversity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Podcast Episodes
Disability Community for Democracy – with Nieta Greene [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:09
Nieta Greene is the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Disability Community for Democracy, Inc., an organization focused on safeguarding the rights of individuals within the disability community and providing a platf…
2025 year-end episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:12
In this year-end solo episode, I celebrate some big milestones that Beyond 6 Seconds achieved in 2025, highlight the variety of topics that my guests and I discussed on my podcast, and share what podcasting-related thing…
The Introverted Misfit – with Caroline Smith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:06
Caroline Smith founded her business, The Introverted Misfit, to help shy, awkward introverts become socially confident versions of themselves so they can have healthy, manageable social lives. Because of her experience w…
Deafness, Disability and Mental Health – with Kellina Powell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:54
Kellina Powell, known as the Deaf Queen Boss, is a podcast speaker, best-selling author, and passionate advocate for the deaf and disability communities. She empowers young adults with disabilities to chase their dreams,…
Advocating for dyslexic students – with Sabrina Fandell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:03
As a dyslexic child, Sabrina Fandell had to sit in her school's book closet for her reading lessons. Now she sits on the Board of Directors of the International Dyslexia Association - Dallas Branch. She is passionate abo…
Living with schizoaffective disorder – with Sally Littlefield [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:18
Content note: This episode describes my guest's experience with psychosis, delusions, and suicidality / suicide attempts. Sally Littlefield is a national speaker and mental health advocate dedicated to changing how the w…
Identity, horror and artistic expression – with Tas The Artist [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:06
Content note: This episode discusses abuse in a religious cult, gender dysphoria, body dysmorphia, and the negative impact of U.S. current events on marginalized people. Tas The Artist is an autistic, queer, disabled and…