In this Thriving Neurodivergent Adults episode, hosts Jessica Patay and Susanna Peace Lovell sit down with artist, advocate, and neurodivergent creative Alexis Brygider for a deeply personal and unforgettable conversation about communication, creativity, disability justice, and finding belonging. On this episode, Alexis is joined on this episode by Anthony Rivello, a personal mentor on her support staff and a founding board member of We Are Brave Together.

Alexis shares memories from early childhood, including growing up nonverbal and experiencing the world through intense sensory and emotional awareness. She reflects on how art became her first language and how watching expressive performers and comedians helped her learn communication and human connection. 

Throughout the conversation, Alexis speaks candidly about frustration, emotional overwhelm, and the internal experience of being misunderstood while desperately wanting connection. She offers compassionate insight into emotional dysregulation and explains how patience, support, and understanding can help neurodivergent individuals build communication skills and self-awareness over time.

Alexis also honors the people who shaped her life, especially her mother Barbara, whose steady love and belief in her became a foundation for growth and resilience. The episode explores the importance of support staff, community, disability advocacy, and creating environments where disabled adults can thrive authentically.

Listeners will also hear Alexis discuss her artistic work, disability justice communities, and her dream of creating meaningful art and animation that helps others feel understood and connected.

This conversation is equal parts insightful, emotional, philosophical, and joyful—and serves as a beautiful reminder that every person deserves to be seen, heard, supported, and valued exactly as they are.

Find more information about Alexis Brygider here. 

Find more information about Life Coach, Susanna Peace Lovell here.

Find Susanna’s book, Your True Self is Enough here.

Find our first book from We Are Brave Together, Becoming Brave Together here.

Find our second book from We Are Brave Together, Suddenly Brave Together here. 

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Brave Together is the podcast for We are Brave Together, a not-for-profit organization based in the USA. The heart of We Are Brave Together is to strengthen, encourage, inspire and validate all moms of children with disabilities and other needs in their unique journeys. 

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Feel free to contact Jessica Patay via email: jpatay@wearebravetogether.org 

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