Living with Dyscalculia – with Ivy Rizzo

Living with Dyscalculia – with Ivy Rizzo

Author: Carolyn Kiel March 9, 2026 Duration: 42:59

Psychotherapist Ivy Rizzo has a master's degree, speaks multiple languages, and owns her own business... but she struggles with doing basic math, remembering important dates, and recalling events in chronological order. Dyscalculia is often dismissed as just being "bad at math," but for Ivy, it has a wide-ranging effect on her life. 

In this episode, Ivy talks about:

  • How the severity of her dyscalculia impacts her math, memory and sequencing skills
  • What it was like for her growing up with dyscalculia in the 1980s-1990s
  • How dyscalculia impacts her adult life, including work, parenting and friendships
  • Her viral post about how she visualizes the months of the year
  • The shame of being misunderstood by educators and supervisors, who misinterpreted her dyscalculia in traumatic ways
  • How her neurodivergence helps her support and strengthen her client relationships
  • Using her strengths and tech tools to help accommodate her dyscalculia

To find out more about Ivy and her work, visit her website and follow her on Threads.

If you enjoyed this episode about dyscalculia, you may also enjoy my episode about dyscalculia education and advocacy with Elena Chambers (episode 190).

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

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

*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. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*


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
Dyscalculia education and advocacy – with Elena Chambers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:47
Elena Chambers is a disability advocate, writer, poet and photographer. On her blog, Dyscalculia Community, she writes about disability in a social context, societal-level ableism, and her personal experience of growing…
Autism in Black – with Maria Davis-Pierre [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:31
Maria Davis-Pierre is a licensed mental health counselor, autism awareness advocate and founder of the organization Autism in Black. As the parent of two autistic children, and being autistic herself, she uses her profes…
Fragile X and ADHD – with Sarah Brown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:53
Sarah Brown is a New York City based podcast producer and editor. She has worked on shows such as Minority Korner, Get on Up, #Matter and Fixing the Future. She also produces her own show called The Queerience, which is…
Autism, community and the DataFam – with Adam Mico [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:43
Adam Mico is the Principal of Data Visualization and Enablement at Moderna. He is a Tableau Visionary, 3x Tableau Ambassador, an Advisory Board Member of the Data Leadership Collaborative, and a member of the Tableau Spe…