NeurOlympics

NeurOlympics

Welcome to the NeurOlympics podcast, brought to you by the award-winning company BrainsFirst, where we believe that every brain's got talent! Join us as we sit down with our in-house neuroscience experts to discuss the cognition behind talent, as well as other hot neuroscience topics, that we envision to help you and your team to enhance productivity, performance, and well-being. Whether you're a talent cultivator and managing a team, coaching athletes, or seeking personal growth- tune in to unlock your and your team's full cognitive potential! www.brainsfirst.com/podcast

  1. Psychologist Explains: Why Mental Health Struggles Are Rising in the 21st Century | Komay Nguyen (AllEars Initiative)

    OCT 22

    Psychologist Explains: Why Mental Health Struggles Are Rising in the 21st Century | Komay Nguyen (AllEars Initiative)

    Feel free to book a demo call for the NeurOlympics today: click here Why are mental health struggles increasing, even in an age more connected than ever? In this episode, psychologist and recruiter Komay Nguyen reflects on her experience with AllEars, a student-run listening initiative at the University of Amsterdam. She opens up about loneliness, digital overload, and the growing “listening gap” in today’s world. From the science of attention and sleep to lessons learned from her time in South Africa, Komay reveals what truly helps people heal — connection, community, and compassion. 0:00 Introduction 02:02 Why Mental Health Issues Keep Rising in the 21st Century 09:01 Why I Chose to Become a Psychologist 10:33 Why I Joined All Ears and Chose to Truly Listen 14:49 What University of Amsterdam Students Needed All Ears to Hear 19:00 Are We Getting Lonelier or Just More Aware of Being Lonely? 24:12 How to Care for Your Mental Health Every Day 29:14 What South Africa Taught About Community and Healing 33:38 What the Netherlands Can Learn from South Africa About Mental Health 37: 56 What Everyone Should Understand About Mental Health Today 🔗 Learn more about BrainsFirst: click here 📍 Follow us on social media: • LinkedIn: click here • Instagram: click here • TikTok: click here • Podcast Website: click here 👥 Follow our guest: click here 🎙️ Follow our host: click here

    45 min
  2. Neurodiversity Expert: The Workplace Mistake That’s Excluding Neurodivergent Talent

    APR 16

    Neurodiversity Expert: The Workplace Mistake That’s Excluding Neurodivergent Talent

    Feel free to book a demo call for the NeurOlympics today: click hereVivian Acquah, a leading DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) consultant, joins us to break down the often misunderstood topic of neurodiversity at work. She shares her personal journey, the harmful stereotypes neurodivergent people face, and why companies are still falling short in creating truly inclusive workplaces.We also discuss how organizations can move beyond surface-level DEI efforts — and how Vivian uses Virtual Reality and her innovative Amplify DEI tools to unlock empathy and drive real change.00:00 Introduction01:10 Why Discuss Neurodiversity?01:36 Vivian Recognizes Her Neurodiversity04:22 How Self-Awareness Transformed Life with Neurodiversity06:09 Harmful Stereotypes of Neurodiverse Individuals in Media08:11 The Struggle of Hiding Who You Are12:57 Neurodiversity is Undervalued at the Workplace14:46 Vivian's Personalized Approach to Work and Neurodiversity16:32 Building an Inclusive Workplace with Virtual Reality19:46 The Impact of Virtual Reality in Neurodiversity Training22:33 Neurodiversity in Media: Representation vs. Reality25:42 Neurodiversity Is a Spectrum, Not an Extreme26:56 Vivian: "You Are Not Crazy. You Are Unique."📢 Learn more about Vivian’s Neurodiversity VR Training here: click here🔗 Learn more about BrainsFirst: click here📍 Follow us on social media:• LinkedIn: click here• Instagram: click here• TikTok: click here• Podcast Website: click here👥 Follow our guest: click here🎙️ Follow our host: click here

    30 min
  3. EMERGENCY CALL: 54% of Autistic Individuals Are Unemployed—Why Businesses Are Missing Out on Top Talent

    APR 2

    EMERGENCY CALL: 54% of Autistic Individuals Are Unemployed—Why Businesses Are Missing Out on Top Talent

    Feel free to book a demo call for the NeurOlympics today: click here Saskia Meeuwessen, General Manager at ITvitae—a social enterprise providing ICT training, coaching, and job placement for young people with autism or giftedness—and Dr. Ilja Sligte, a neuroscience professor, break down the alarming 54% unemployment rate among autistic individuals and why businesses are missing out. Traditional hiring processes and rigid workplace structures fail to support autistic and neurodivergent professionals, causing companies to overlook highly skilled talent. In this discussion, we explore the real challenges neurodivergent individuals face in the job market and provide actionable solutions for businesses to foster inclusive, high-performing workplaces. 00:00 Introduction 01:24 My Mission to Help 54% of Autistic Adults Struggling to Find Jobs 03:02 What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? 5:51 Why Autistic Individuals Struggle in Traditional Systems 15:16 How ITVitae Supports Autistic Individuals Beyond the Traditional System 19:00 How Companies React to ITVitae’s Initiatives & Impact 19:47 Common Misconceptions About Neurodivergent Individuals 21:10 How Does ITVitae Train Autistic Individuals for the Workplace? 26:34 A Remarkable Success Story from ITVitae 28:38 How ITVitae and BrainsFirst Align in Their Mission 34:38 The Future of Neurodiversity Support Amid Shifting DEI Efforts 40:01 The Change Needed to Empower Neurodivergent Individuals 🔗 Learn more about BrainsFirst: click here 📍 Follow us on social media: • LinkedIn: click here • Instagram: click here • TikTok: click here • Podcast Website: click here 👥 Follow our guest: click here 🎙️ Follow our host: click here

    47 min

About

Welcome to the NeurOlympics podcast, brought to you by the award-winning company BrainsFirst, where we believe that every brain's got talent! Join us as we sit down with our in-house neuroscience experts to discuss the cognition behind talent, as well as other hot neuroscience topics, that we envision to help you and your team to enhance productivity, performance, and well-being. Whether you're a talent cultivator and managing a team, coaching athletes, or seeking personal growth- tune in to unlock your and your team's full cognitive potential! www.brainsfirst.com/podcast