Jonathan Mooney — dyslexic, neurodivergent writer and advocate who didn't learn to read until age 12 — discusses his groundbreaking work reframing neurodivergence from deficit to asset. From his mother's 50-year nonprofit teaching him service and healing, to his upcoming book Divergent Nation, Jonathan reveals why the right to be different is an inalienable human right, why spiky teams outperform uniform ones, and how society is being reshaped by neurodivergent humans who have always driven innovation from the edges of the bell curve.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Why neurodivergence is a natural and valuable human variation
The dangerous myth of "normal" and the Norma and Norman statues
Why innovation always comes from the edges, not the middle
How deficit thinking marginalizes neurodivergent people
Why the best teams are spiky, not uniform
The right to be different as an inalienable human right
LEARN MORE
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February 20, 2025
Jonathan Mooney
Divergent Nation
"Social innovation and innovation in all its forms doesn't come from the middle of the bell curve. It always comes from the edges of the bell curve."
TIMESTAMPS
00:04:33 – Purpose and finding a way to contribute
00:08:00 – His mother's 50 years of service
00:12:55 – Defining neurodivergence
00:14:42 – Deficit lens and cultural marginalization
00:15:07 – Innovation from the edges of the bell curve
00:18:35 – How culture creates disability
00:28:10 – The right to be different
00:31:09 – Spiky teams vs. flat lines
00:32:38 – The myth of normal: Norma and Norman
00:34:26 – Building teams with continuum of skill sets
SHOW NOTES
Dan reunites with Jonathan Mooney, an award-winning writer, activist, and friend. Their conversation is an intensely personal and rich discussion about purpose, service, disability, difference, and ultimately, humanity.
Jonathan is a Neurodiversity and Disability Advocate with dyslexia and ADHD who did not learn to read until he was twelve years old. He shares intimate stories about his parents, his challenges, and his deep purpose to change the world’s view of differences. Dan and Jonathan challenge us all to collectively work towards equity by focusing on asking “What is right with you?” and not “What is wrong with you?” because every individual has value intrinsically. Every. Single. Human.
LINKS & RESOURCES
Jonathan Mooney
Divergent Nation — upcoming book exploring how society is reshaped by neurodivergent humans
Normal Sucks: How to Live, Learn, and Thrive Outside the Lines — book
The Short Bus — book
Learning Outside the Lines — book
Divergent Impact Fund — social venture fund supporting neurodivergent individuals and families
GUEST BIO
Jonathan Mooney is a dyslexic, neurodivergent writer, advocate, and social entrepreneur who did not learn to read until he was 12 years old. He holds an honors degree from Brown University in English Literature, is a Harry S. Truman Scholar for Public Service, and was a finalist for a Rhodes Scholarship. He is the author of Learning Outside the Lines, The Short Bus, and Normal Sucks, and is co-founder and managing director of Divergent Impact Fund. Jonathan has spoken in all 50 states and 8 countries on disability and neurodiversity rights and inclusion.
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