Most people talk about autism. Far fewer can tell you what it actually feels like to walk into a workplace while autistic and wonder if the rules are about to change without warning. We sit down with Sam Mitchell, executive director of Autism Rocks And Rolls, for a raw, practical conversation about fear, literal instructions, and why a job that “looks fine on paper” can become overwhelming the moment reality doesn’t match the written expectations.

Sam breaks down the hidden stressors many employers and co-workers never notice: the anxiety around management, the pressure of workplace social interaction, and the painful pattern of being misunderstood or mistreated. He explains why it’s often not getting hired that’s hardest, it’s keeping the job and surviving the unwritten social code. We also dig into the difference between quantity-driven workplaces and the autistic drive for quality, accuracy, and doing things the right way, even when the culture rewards speed over care.

We move from challenges to solutions: what kinds of roles can be a better fit, why clear direction and predictable routines matter, how online work can reduce social strain, and what it looks like to “bend” on schedules while still keeping healthy boundaries. Sam also shares how he built real leadership skills running a nonprofit, including the importance of surrounding yourself with a board that covers your weak spots.

If you’re autistic, love someone who is, or manage people for a living, this conversation will change how you think about hiring, retention, and human potential. Subscribe to Mind Shift Power Podcast, share this episode with a manager or educator, and leave a review telling us: what workplace change would make the biggest difference?

🔗 Connect with Sam Mitchell:

https://info@autismrocksandrolls.com/

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Every episode brings global perspectives and leadership insights. Click on the "Support the show" link above and keep the mission alive for free!

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I also have another podcast called The MindShifter Audio Blog!
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What would you do if the news you were producing no longer felt like the truth? We sit down with author and activist Susan Burgess Lent, who walked away from broadcast journalism and chose to learn firsthand what conflict and poverty do to people, from post-genocide Rwanda to Darfur and the slums of Nairobi. She doesn’t romanticize humanitarian aid or conflict reporting. She tells the story the way the field teaches it: through risk, relationships, and the realities you can’t “unknow” once you’ve witnessed them.

We talk about how real relief projects begin, not with grand plans, but with listening. Susan explains why the most ethical international development work is rooted in humility, cultural awareness, and local leadership, and why treating communities as “projects” is a fast path to harm. She also makes a strong case for trauma-informed care and mental health support in war zones and chronically under-resourced communities, where the psychological toll can be as devastating as the physical shortages.

For younger listeners who want to help, we get practical: the toolkit you need, the role mentors play, why language and geography matter, how safety decisions get made, and what people misunderstand about the UN, NGOs, and how humanitarian funding actually reaches the ground. Susan also shares where to find her books and the bigger idea she still believes in: women’s centers as safe resource hubs in refugee camps, displaced persons camps, and urban slums.

If this conversation challenges you, share it with someone who wants to make a difference, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, and leave a review to help more people find the show. What kind of advocate are you willing to be?

🔗 Connect with Susan Burgees-Lent:

https://susanburgesslent.com/

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Support the show

Every episode brings global perspectives and leadership insights. Click on the "Support the show" link above and keep the mission alive for free!

Search MindShift Power Podcast buy topic here: https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search

Explore more about my work beyond podcasting, check out the blog, share your thoughts, or become a guest! https://www.FatimaBey.com

I also have another podcast called The MindShifter Audio Blog!
Experience my written words like never before, as I personally narrate my blogs for a truly engaging audio journey. https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog

Follow me on social media: https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492

Thank you for listening!

“Aren’t you glad you’re free?” sounds like a celebration, but for many young men coming home from prison it lands like pressure, confusion, and a thousand urgent questions. We sit down with Tavon J. Partlow Sr. from Maryland, founder of Re-entry Recovery and Beyond, to talk about the real first moments after incarceration and the parts most people never think to ask about.

We get honest about the mental and emotional overwhelm of reentry, including how probation and parole can keep you feeling like you are still on trial. Tavon breaks down why communication matters so much when prison teaches a survival style of speaking and reacting, and why learning your triggers and building self-awareness can protect your relationships and your future. We also talk mental health support, therapy stigma, and how state insurance and benefits can make counseling possible when funding is tight.

Then we move into the systems that block progress: employment after incarceration, housing barriers, and the label that follows a criminal record. Tavon shares practical strategies like turning prison work into resume experience, building new networks, and choosing accountability without letting the past become a permanent address. We also speak directly to families, partners, and friends about what support looks like in real life: patience, sensitivity, and treating someone like fragile glass without taking away their dignity.

If you care about prison reentry, reducing recidivism, and helping returning citizens rebuild with purpose, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review. What’s one way you think we should treat people who are trying to change?

🔗 Connect with Tavon (Founder Low):

https://www.reentryrecoverybeyond.com/

Send us an anonymous text message

Support the show

Every episode brings global perspectives and leadership insights. Click on the "Support the show" link above and keep the mission alive for free!

Search MindShift Power Podcast buy topic here: https://www.fatimabey.com/podcast-search

Explore more about my work beyond podcasting, check out the blog, share your thoughts, or become a guest! https://www.FatimaBey.com

I also have another podcast called The MindShifter Audio Blog!
Experience my written words like never before, as I personally narrate my blogs for a truly engaging audio journey. https://www.fatimabey.com/audioblog

Follow me on social media: https://www.fatimabey.com/#1035650492

Thank you for listening!