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Gladness & Hunger with Leanne W. Smith
Author/Professor Leanne W. Smith sits down with key individuals to mine the magic of their vocational stories. Inspired by Frederick Buechner who said the key to a career satisfying to both soul and pocketbook was to find “where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet," this podcast is geared to writers, students, story lovers, and anyone seeking inspiration for their own vocational journey.
As a fiction writer and business professor at Lipscomb University with a heart to teach students how to build sustainable careers that actually feed their soul, Smith's deep gladness is in sharing messages of hope and inspiration like these.
Gladness & Hunger with Leanne W. Smith
Barry Wortz: “Lost Potential – Unmasking the Autism Employment Crisis”
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The underemployment of people with extraordinary minds is not just a personal loss — it’s a collective one.
In this episode of Gladness & Hunger, I sit down with filmmaker Barry Wortz to talk about his powerful documentary, Lost Potential: Unmasking the Autism Employment Crisis.
Barry was diagnosed with autism at 41 years old. Like many adults today, he spent decades navigating the world without language for his experience. In our conversation, he shares his personal journey, the misconceptions surrounding autism, and why the workplace is missing out on extraordinary talent because of misunderstanding and stigma.
We explore how autism doesn’t “look” the way many people expect. Autistic individuals can be successful, gifted, creative, and deeply empathetic — yet still misunderstood. Barry makes a compelling case: when employers place people where they are strongest, especially those on the spectrum, they often outperform expectations.
Together, we discuss:
- Why autism is frequently misunderstood
- The power of storytelling to shift stigma
- Late diagnoses and changing awareness
- Masking, sensory overload, and emotional misinterpretation
- How managers, teachers, and leaders can better support neurodivergent individuals
The hope emerging from greater awareness and open conversation
This episode is both personal and practical — a call to see differently, hire differently, and love differently.
0:00 Intro
1:01 Meet Barry Wortz
3:02 "Lost Potential: Unmasking the Autism Employment Crisis" Documentary
6:25 Diagnosed at 41: Barry’s Personal Journey
12:09 Hire the Person for Their Strengths and Watch Them Excel
14:43 Creating Environments Where Autistic Individuals Can Thrive
17:23 Midroll On Mentorship
18:34 Masking, Anxiety & The Hidden Work of Autism
24:14 Finding a Calling in Film & Education
28:33 Words of Hope for Families & Individuals on the Spectrum
Read more about Barry Wortz here; and watch his documentary, Lost Potential, here.
Follow Leanne on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leanne.w.smith/
Visit Leanne's Website: https://www.leannewsmith.com/
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