In April, our Director of Communications Dr. Jessica Schonhut Stasik, was featured as a guest on The Anxious Achiever podcast with Morra Aarons-Mele.
In the episode, Dr. Schonhut Stasik reflects on what it can take to build a meaningful, sustainable career when your brain does not align with the systems around them. She shares her experience as a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD astrophysicist, and describe how cycles of overwork, burnout, and rejection can shape a professional path, including moments when continuing in science felt impossible.
The conversation also explores what support can look like when it is practical and specific, including being recognized for strengths that can be difficult to see during periods of overwhelm, and learning to design workflows and environments that fit the way a brain actually works. Dr. Schonhut Stasik and Aarons-Mele discuss the emotional labor many high achievers carry, and how self-understanding can be a step toward building a life and career that is more accessible, more honest, and more sustainable.
Listen to the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF-N0wAoZuQ&list=PLb3J-NAyOBZC7T7lhw9g0o-M9nLOl4HRa&index=9
Director Dr. Keivan Stassun was also featured on this podcast in September 2025. Listen to this and other podcasts featuring our staff here.