Stephen Waddell takes us on a powerful journey of self-discovery as he shares how he uncovered his autism in adulthood after building a successful modeling career.
Despite being naturally introverted and struggling with social interactions, Stephen found himself thrust into a profession that demanded social fluency – forcing him to systematically develop scripts and strategies that masked his autistic traits.
A near-fatal accident on the New York subway at age 21 became Stephen's turning point. After surviving contact with the third rail, he emerged with a renewed determination to engage with life, methodically teaching himself social skills and transforming physically – losing nearly 200 pounds before unexpectedly entering the modeling world.
This brutal forcing of social interaction became both his challenge and eventual strength.
What makes Stephen's perspective particularly valuable is his insight into the exhausting nature of social masking. "It's been 15 years of doing the same kind of thing over and over again," he explains, describing how his carefully constructed public persona differs dramatically from his private self.
He demonstrates how simple tools like his collection of stimming rocks provide essential sensory regulation when overwhelm hits.
Now focused on nonprofit accounting, Stephen offers a fascinating perspective on how artificial intelligence can level the playing field for neurodivergent individuals.
By automating social communications that would typically require significant emotional energy, AI helps him bypass the need for masking in many situations.
His vision for technology as an equalizer offers hope for creating more accessible professional environments.
For young autistic people struggling with that "social confusion fog," Stephen's message is clear: "Take your time, it does get better."
His journey from confusion to clarity demonstrates how understanding your neurodivergent mind can transform perceived limitations into unique strengths and open unexpected paths forward.
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intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild
Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
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