Episode 6: Jen Kerner

This here is take 2 of a FULL podcast featuring my friend Jen.  We recorded one the previous Wednesday evening and my computer ate it.  Jen was sooooooooooper accommodating, though, and agreed to come back and re-record it, and she even thinks take 2 was better than the first!

Jen is the president of the board of directors for Different Dynamics, a St. Louis music non-profit with the mission of championing access to the life-changing power of music for people of all neurotypes and abilities.  Ms. Kerner has worked in several roles at multiple disability services agencies since 2009, having been a job coach, pre-vocational trainer, and coordinator of a summer employment program for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She currently holds an administrative and intake position at Easterseals Midwest.

In this episode, Jen graciously communicates her own diagnosis of Autism which she received at the age of 34.  She goes in depth about how she sees and especially HEARS the world, and illustrates ways she has helped theater companies accommodate for audience members who may have sensory processing issues.

This is probably my most vulnerable episode, in that I go into a little of my personal history of traumatic events I've experienced in my life.  It is very interesting how Jen and I both noticed things happening with my demeanor when I was talking about particular events, and I am grateful to my friend for cuing me to do some box breathing and reminding me where my train of thought was.

I hope y'all enjoy listening to this podcast as much as we enjoyed producing it!