Not to get too emo and Simple Plan lyrics on you, but have you ever felt out of place? Like somehow you just don't belong and no one understands you? Well you’re not alone. In this week’s episode, both our storytellers share stories of a time when they felt like the odd person out in science and in life.
Part 1: Kevin Allison’s ADHD diagnosis sheds new light on why he always feels like he’s left out of the loop.
Part 2: Diana Li feels isolated while studying squid in Mexico.
Kevin Allison is the creator and host of the live show and podcast RISK!, where people tell true stories they never thought they'd dare to share in public, since 2009, and the editor of the book RISK!, published by Hachette. He is also the founder of The Story Studio, a school for storytelling for performance, for business, and for personal growth. Kevin is a member of the legendary sketch comedy troupe, The State, known for their hit series on MTV, and has also appeared on Cobra Kai, High Maintenance, Comedy Bang Bang, Flight of the Conchords, Viva Variety! and in the movies Reno 911! Miami, The Ten, and Wedding Daze.
Diana Li is a science communicator and educator. Inspired by a t-shirt with a squid on it that she bought at a Shins concert in 11th grade, she went on to get her PhD from Stanford University where she studied the neurophysiology and biomechanics of how squid swim. As much as she loves cephalopods, Diana realized what she enjoyed most was helping others pursue opportunities in science and research. She now works at Columbia University’s Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute in New York City. There, she leads public engagement programs that share neuroscience with the local community, including research internships for high-school students and professional development for teachers across NYC. A skilled science communicator, Diana has spoken on Science Friday, performed at Caveat, and brought her research to local classrooms, aquariums, museums, and science expos since 2015. Her deep dark secret is that none of her hobbies are science related. She’s found making music and art, rock climbing, and enjoying Asian American culture to be the perfect complement to her sciencey side.
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