EPISODE 46: Nick Ruiz — Discover the Organisation Flying Refugees to Safety Using Donated Airline Miles
Amanda is the founder of DISTRACTD, a brand new Gold Coast organisation connecting communities, delivering information, education, panel discussions, mingles and advocacy, all about ADHD.
Diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, she became hyper-focused on ensuring that there was a local organisation where people could come together and support one another, learn and break down some of the stigma around this hugely misunderstood disorder.
An eternal optimist, Amanda is the epitome of the term a ‘people person’. Driven by a passion to connect, promote, inspire and elevate those around her, Amanda has been nurturing partnerships for the Gold Coast Music Awards for the past decade.
As a passionate creative, Amanda has also spent many years working behind the scenes in stage productions, where she learned from an early age that side of stage and not centre stage was where her heart lay. She is the Co-founder and Business Development Director of the Gold Coast Music Network, as well as Blank Street Press.
Amanda has always been endlessly creative and draws inspiration constantly from the world around her. She creates works from contemporary ink pieces, along with children's illustrations to fine art sketches.
Amanda loves sharing a pot of Earl Grey or a cheeky G & T with the city’s bustling businesses who share a love of our unique and dynamic region’s ever growing creative scene.
In this episode, Amanda and I — in true ADHD fashion — bounce all over the place talking about our own personal challenges living with ADHD. Some of the topics we discuss include:
- ADHD in the workplace and how we can create a culture of belonging and equality for those with ADHD.
- The education system and how ADHD affects children and how we can create environments for everyone to learn.
- Insights into the brain of someone with ADHD.
- Starting DISTRACTD and the community and empowerment that is forming.
- Her TEDx Talk "Unleashing the artist within" — https://youtu.be/2AB0NBeTIjY
You can find Amanda on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-gorman-a7170987 or follow her on Instagram @amandagormanartist.
This podcast was produced by the master, himself, Jose Biotto… with a little help from me. The featured music is from the song “Turning Over Tables” by The Brilliance.
Lastly, to my Patreon Community out there… thank you so very much for your support and generosity, without you this podcast would not be possible. If you’d like to become a Patreon and get exclusive access to behind the scenes content visit www.Patreon.com/JusticeMatters, to start your “give-what-you-can” monthly contribution today and join me in creating a world where everyone belongs.
Justice Matters acknowledges and pays respect to the past, present and future Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation, now known as Australia, and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Until next time, thank you for subscribing and sharing this podcast with your friends.
Learn More — https://timothybuxton.com/podcasts
Support the Show — https://patreon.com/justicematters