1 00:00:10,705 --> 00:00:13,465 Speaker 1: You're listening to a MoMA Mia podcast. 2 00:00:13,945 --> 00:00:17,465 Speaker 2: Mama Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters 3 00:00:17,505 --> 00:00:25,905 Speaker 2: that this podcast is recorded on Hello future Builders, and 4 00:00:26,065 --> 00:00:29,625 Speaker 2: welcome to She Built That, the podcast where we discover 5 00:00:29,825 --> 00:00:33,945 Speaker 2: incredible women who didn't just dream big, they built their futures. 6 00:00:34,465 --> 00:00:38,665 Speaker 2: Every episode we'll explore how these amazing women stack their talents, 7 00:00:38,865 --> 00:00:43,465 Speaker 2: overcame obstacles, and created something spectacular that changed the world. 8 00:00:43,865 --> 00:00:47,545 Speaker 2: I'm your host, Annals Todd, MoMA MIA's lifestyle writer and 9 00:00:47,705 --> 00:00:52,905 Speaker 2: head of the Dreaming Department. Now, before we activate this episode, 10 00:00:53,185 --> 00:00:56,865 Speaker 2: can you guess who we're talking about today? Okay, Mom 11 00:00:56,865 --> 00:00:58,745 Speaker 2: and dad switch on now. You don't want to get 12 00:00:58,785 --> 00:01:02,825 Speaker 2: beaten here, think about your pride. Clue number one. This 13 00:01:02,945 --> 00:01:06,345 Speaker 2: young builder is an actress who portrays an autistic character 14 00:01:06,425 --> 00:01:09,545 Speaker 2: in a hit Netflix series and is proudly or Tis 15 00:01:09,705 --> 00:01:15,625 Speaker 2: stick herself. Clue number two. Her hair color has been 16 00:01:15,745 --> 00:01:19,825 Speaker 2: various forms of red, and she's a big one direction fan. 17 00:01:22,585 --> 00:01:26,425 Speaker 2: Clue number three. She wrote a book called Different Not 18 00:01:26,625 --> 00:01:29,785 Speaker 2: Less and has won an Audience Choice Award at the 19 00:01:29,825 --> 00:01:34,505 Speaker 2: Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards. Can you 20 00:01:34,545 --> 00:01:43,105 Speaker 2: guess who it is? How'd you go If you guessed 21 00:01:43,185 --> 00:01:48,265 Speaker 2: Chloe Hayden, You're spot on. Today we're talking about actress, author, 22 00:01:48,345 --> 00:01:52,505 Speaker 2: and disability rights activist Chloe Hayden, who's building a more 23 00:01:52,545 --> 00:01:58,425 Speaker 2: inclusive world by championing authentic representation for neurodivergent people one 24 00:01:58,585 --> 00:02:03,585 Speaker 2: conversation at a time. So get ready to embrace your individuality. 25 00:02:03,705 --> 00:02:12,305 Speaker 3: After this, the audition room. 26 00:02:12,145 --> 00:02:14,985 Speaker 2: Was bright and humming with nervous energy, But for Chloe, 27 00:02:15,265 --> 00:02:17,265 Speaker 2: the world seemed to shrink to the size of her 28 00:02:17,265 --> 00:02:22,505 Speaker 2: own heartbeat. Her hands trembled as she clutched the script. 29 00:02:23,225 --> 00:02:25,305 Speaker 2: This was the moment she dreamed of, but also the 30 00:02:25,305 --> 00:02:29,985 Speaker 2: one she feared most. Would they understand her? Would they 31 00:02:30,065 --> 00:02:33,465 Speaker 2: see her for who she truly was? As the casting 32 00:02:33,505 --> 00:02:36,425 Speaker 2: director called her name, Chloe took in a deep breath, 33 00:02:37,185 --> 00:02:39,745 Speaker 2: feeling the weight of every time she'd ever been told 34 00:02:39,785 --> 00:02:43,625 Speaker 2: she was too different, too much, not enough. And then 35 00:02:43,665 --> 00:02:52,985 Speaker 2: she stepped forward. Picture this a young girl in Australia 36 00:02:53,025 --> 00:02:56,425 Speaker 2: feeling like she's crash landed on an alien planet. That 37 00:02:56,585 --> 00:02:59,785 Speaker 2: was Chloe Hayden, And for real, everyone else may as 38 00:02:59,825 --> 00:03:02,705 Speaker 2: well have spoken alien, because that's how it felt at times. 39 00:03:04,705 --> 00:03:07,905 Speaker 2: From the very start, Chloe knew she was different. The 40 00:03:07,945 --> 00:03:12,225 Speaker 2: world around her felt loud and can fusing, eye contact, weird, 41 00:03:13,105 --> 00:03:17,025 Speaker 2: small talk even weirder. And why did everyone seem to 42 00:03:17,025 --> 00:03:19,345 Speaker 2: expect her to fit into a box that just didn't 43 00:03:19,345 --> 00:03:23,065 Speaker 2: feel natural. I mean, most adults spend half their lives 44 00:03:23,105 --> 00:03:26,545 Speaker 2: in meetings about thinking outside the box, but kids are 45 00:03:26,585 --> 00:03:30,785 Speaker 2: just expected to get in and stay there. But there 46 00:03:30,865 --> 00:03:33,985 Speaker 2: was one thing that Chloe discovered that made her feel 47 00:03:34,065 --> 00:03:37,225 Speaker 2: right at home, and that was acting. So she would 48 00:03:37,385 --> 00:03:41,305 Speaker 2: escape into film and so mister mcgorriam's wonder implorium would 49 00:03:41,345 --> 00:03:42,505 Speaker 2: always make her smile. 50 00:03:42,905 --> 00:03:46,985 Speaker 1: The store we can be upstairs immediately. 51 00:03:47,625 --> 00:03:50,305 Speaker 2: Now we all need something to make us dream and 52 00:03:50,385 --> 00:03:54,265 Speaker 2: feel good about ourselves. So I asked Chloe why performing 53 00:03:54,425 --> 00:03:55,585 Speaker 2: was so special to. 54 00:03:55,505 --> 00:03:58,665 Speaker 1: Her growing up. I always knew that I wanted to 55 00:03:58,745 --> 00:04:01,505 Speaker 1: do something in the entertainment space. I wanted to be 56 00:04:01,625 --> 00:04:04,465 Speaker 1: a singer. I wanted to be an actor. I wanted 57 00:04:04,745 --> 00:04:10,265 Speaker 1: to be on stage and perform and play pretend because weirdly, 58 00:04:10,545 --> 00:04:14,985 Speaker 1: by playing pretend, I felt more myself than I did 59 00:04:15,505 --> 00:04:16,505 Speaker 1: any other time. 60 00:04:18,585 --> 00:04:22,905 Speaker 2: Chloe found freedom in practicing characters behind closed doors. But 61 00:04:22,985 --> 00:04:25,905 Speaker 2: still her early years were anything but easy, and by 62 00:04:25,945 --> 00:04:29,505 Speaker 2: the time she was thirteen, She'd already attended ten different 63 00:04:29,545 --> 00:04:34,425 Speaker 2: schools yep Ten and eventually Chloe's parents decided to homeschool 64 00:04:34,465 --> 00:04:37,065 Speaker 2: her to protect her well being. It was at this 65 00:04:37,185 --> 00:04:41,305 Speaker 2: time Chloe got a diagnosis she was autistic. Now, autism 66 00:04:41,425 --> 00:04:44,825 Speaker 2: is a natural variation in how human brains work, not 67 00:04:44,865 --> 00:04:48,665 Speaker 2: a flaw, just a different way of experiencing and processing 68 00:04:48,705 --> 00:04:53,105 Speaker 2: the world. Later, she'd also learned she had ADHD. I 69 00:04:53,185 --> 00:04:55,305 Speaker 2: asked Chloe Worter, it was light getting this news and 70 00:04:55,345 --> 00:04:56,425 Speaker 2: how it made her feel. 71 00:04:56,905 --> 00:05:00,585 Speaker 1: Being diagnosed as autistic as a thirteen year old girl 72 00:05:01,025 --> 00:05:05,905 Speaker 1: was really scary in some ways and really validating in others. 73 00:05:06,425 --> 00:05:10,745 Speaker 1: Growing up in a really tiny country town, autism wasn't 74 00:05:10,785 --> 00:05:14,985 Speaker 1: really something that people knew about, and when they saw me, 75 00:05:15,385 --> 00:05:19,745 Speaker 1: they definitely didn't see what their expectation of autism was, 76 00:05:20,425 --> 00:05:25,185 Speaker 1: and that made being autistic feel somehow even more isolating. 77 00:05:27,225 --> 00:05:30,865 Speaker 2: But through it all, Chloe still dreamed of becoming a performer, 78 00:05:31,265 --> 00:05:34,505 Speaker 2: even as she struggled relating to people outside of the home. 79 00:05:34,865 --> 00:05:37,545 Speaker 2: She would watch her favorite performers and then try to 80 00:05:37,625 --> 00:05:42,345 Speaker 2: emulate their mannerisms, always building on her acting skills. Her 81 00:05:42,425 --> 00:05:45,465 Speaker 2: dad would drive her to acting lessons and community plays too. 82 00:05:46,065 --> 00:05:48,865 Speaker 2: This was the one place where Chloe could find her 83 00:05:48,945 --> 00:05:53,585 Speaker 2: own self expression. It lit her up inside. I wanted 84 00:05:53,625 --> 00:05:56,585 Speaker 2: to know what Chloe loves about acting and why having 85 00:05:56,625 --> 00:05:59,585 Speaker 2: someone else write the rules can sometimes be the most 86 00:05:59,745 --> 00:06:00,865 Speaker 2: freeing thing of all. 87 00:06:01,425 --> 00:06:06,545 Speaker 1: There's something about performing, whether it be on stage or 88 00:06:06,585 --> 00:06:09,025 Speaker 1: in front of a camera, that just takes me to 89 00:06:09,065 --> 00:06:11,545 Speaker 1: my happy play. I mean, I get to literally play 90 00:06:11,585 --> 00:06:14,425 Speaker 1: pretend as a job. Would that not be everyone's half 91 00:06:14,465 --> 00:06:18,185 Speaker 1: your plays? But there's just something so wonderful for me 92 00:06:18,345 --> 00:06:22,265 Speaker 1: as a neurodivergent person where the lines are written for me, 93 00:06:22,545 --> 00:06:25,305 Speaker 1: my emotions are written for me. I don't have to 94 00:06:25,465 --> 00:06:28,665 Speaker 1: play this game and figure out what I'm supposed to 95 00:06:28,665 --> 00:06:31,905 Speaker 1: be or how other people are expecting me to be. 96 00:06:32,505 --> 00:06:35,025 Speaker 1: I just get to do what the words on the 97 00:06:35,065 --> 00:06:39,345 Speaker 1: paper say and play pretend. And there's something so oddly 98 00:06:39,385 --> 00:06:40,705 Speaker 1: freeing about doing that. 99 00:06:43,465 --> 00:06:47,625 Speaker 3: So let's call a spade a spade here. Teenage short is. 100 00:06:47,625 --> 00:06:50,825 Speaker 2: Hard enough trying to find your identity, but Chloe's teens 101 00:06:50,865 --> 00:06:54,505 Speaker 2: were next level tricky, being isolated from her peers and 102 00:06:54,545 --> 00:06:57,385 Speaker 2: abandoned by some friends for not acting how others thought 103 00:06:57,505 --> 00:06:58,185 Speaker 2: was normal. 104 00:06:58,705 --> 00:07:01,105 Speaker 3: And for all you mums and dads out there, just 105 00:07:01,185 --> 00:07:05,225 Speaker 3: think back to that one year of truly questionable fashion 106 00:07:05,425 --> 00:07:10,225 Speaker 3: and blue eyeshadow. Perhaps that you survived and we salute you, but. 107 00:07:10,785 --> 00:07:14,785 Speaker 2: This was truly a time Chloe felt everything was stacked 108 00:07:14,825 --> 00:07:18,865 Speaker 2: against her, but she continued to stack on layers of 109 00:07:18,905 --> 00:07:25,145 Speaker 2: expression in any way possible, even outside of acting. Chloe 110 00:07:25,185 --> 00:07:28,905 Speaker 2: was embracing her own unique, if you will, magnetism, and 111 00:07:28,945 --> 00:07:31,745 Speaker 2: she decided to tell her own story to see if 112 00:07:31,785 --> 00:07:35,305 Speaker 2: anyone else out there could relate to her experiences, starting 113 00:07:35,345 --> 00:07:39,105 Speaker 2: an anonymous blog under the name Princess Aspian, hoping maybe, 114 00:07:39,305 --> 00:07:43,545 Speaker 2: just maybe someone out there would understand. To her surprise, 115 00:07:44,185 --> 00:07:48,505 Speaker 2: thousands of people did. Messages poured in from kids and 116 00:07:48,545 --> 00:07:52,865 Speaker 2: teens who felt just like her, different, alone and desperate 117 00:07:52,865 --> 00:07:57,985 Speaker 2: for acceptance. Chloe realized she wasn't alone after all. Soon 118 00:07:58,225 --> 00:08:03,025 Speaker 2: Chloe was building a community, and her difference was her superpower. 119 00:08:04,065 --> 00:08:06,705 Speaker 2: I asked her about the moment she discovered she wasn't 120 00:08:06,705 --> 00:08:10,385 Speaker 2: as alone as she thought, and how that changed everything. 121 00:08:11,745 --> 00:08:17,505 Speaker 1: When I started my online blog, I wasn't expecting people 122 00:08:17,585 --> 00:08:20,905 Speaker 1: to see themselves in me. I was hoping to see 123 00:08:20,945 --> 00:08:24,705 Speaker 1: myself in other people. I was desperately reaching out, desperate 124 00:08:24,745 --> 00:08:29,025 Speaker 1: to find one person who made me feel like I 125 00:08:29,225 --> 00:08:32,985 Speaker 1: wasn't from an alien planet and that I was supposed 126 00:08:33,025 --> 00:08:37,305 Speaker 1: to be here, and many, many people reached out and 127 00:08:37,425 --> 00:08:41,105 Speaker 1: responded to my blog, and the rest is history. But 128 00:08:41,305 --> 00:08:46,985 Speaker 1: that initial realization that if I was from an alien planet, 129 00:08:47,465 --> 00:08:50,305 Speaker 1: there was millions of people out there that were from 130 00:08:50,345 --> 00:08:54,025 Speaker 1: the same planet was instrumental in my growth and instrumental 131 00:08:54,065 --> 00:08:56,425 Speaker 1: in my understanding that I was supposed to be here 132 00:08:56,465 --> 00:08:58,545 Speaker 1: and that I was supposed to exist, And people like 133 00:08:58,625 --> 00:09:02,025 Speaker 1: me have existed for as long as humankind have and 134 00:09:02,065 --> 00:09:05,265 Speaker 1: they will exist for as long as human kind will. 135 00:09:05,345 --> 00:09:08,345 Speaker 1: It is so important for people to be able to 136 00:09:08,385 --> 00:09:11,745 Speaker 1: see themselves and to be a to have an understanding 137 00:09:12,345 --> 00:09:15,585 Speaker 1: that their brain is supposed to be here and that 138 00:09:15,625 --> 00:09:18,425 Speaker 1: they are supposed to exist, and that community and that 139 00:09:18,585 --> 00:09:23,705 Speaker 1: social aspect of being able to find that is life changing. Okay. 140 00:09:26,985 --> 00:09:30,385 Speaker 2: Her blog led her to YouTube, where she made videos 141 00:09:30,385 --> 00:09:32,265 Speaker 2: about her life as an autistic girl. 142 00:09:32,385 --> 00:09:34,705 Speaker 1: Hi guys, my name's Chloe. I know I've knowned princes 143 00:09:34,745 --> 00:09:36,425 Speaker 1: asking executive functioning, what's that? 144 00:09:36,545 --> 00:09:37,025 Speaker 4: Don't know her? 145 00:09:37,185 --> 00:09:37,585 Speaker 1: She looked. 146 00:09:37,665 --> 00:09:41,905 Speaker 2: She became a powerful voice for neurodiversity, showing the world 147 00:09:42,025 --> 00:09:46,905 Speaker 2: that being different wasn't just okay, it was amazing. As 148 00:09:46,905 --> 00:09:50,545 Speaker 2: her online momentum snowboard, Chloe grew more confident in who 149 00:09:50,625 --> 00:09:54,105 Speaker 2: she was. She embraced what made her different instead of 150 00:09:54,145 --> 00:09:56,865 Speaker 2: trying to fit in. As the years passed, her acting 151 00:09:56,905 --> 00:10:00,265 Speaker 2: career was moving slowly but still growing. She did roles 152 00:10:00,305 --> 00:10:03,065 Speaker 2: in theater, plays and short films, but was yet to 153 00:10:03,145 --> 00:10:07,345 Speaker 2: find her big break. But in twenty twenty one, at 154 00:10:07,385 --> 00:10:13,625 Speaker 2: age twenty four, something incredible happened. Chloe was invited to 155 00:10:13,665 --> 00:10:17,105 Speaker 2: audition for a role as an autistic team called Quinnie 156 00:10:17,465 --> 00:10:20,025 Speaker 2: on a new Netflix show called Heartbreak High. 157 00:10:20,305 --> 00:10:23,785 Speaker 1: I knew the second that I saw Quinnie's character that 158 00:10:23,905 --> 00:10:29,145 Speaker 1: she was mine. I was actually competing at a cowboy 159 00:10:29,225 --> 00:10:32,825 Speaker 1: event in Bonnie Doon when it got sent through to me, 160 00:10:33,025 --> 00:10:37,425 Speaker 1: and I knew I had to get this job. And 161 00:10:37,505 --> 00:10:41,025 Speaker 1: so there's actually a video of me circulating somewhere of 162 00:10:41,185 --> 00:10:45,025 Speaker 1: my mouth moving while I'm doing this competition, and my 163 00:10:45,065 --> 00:10:48,305 Speaker 1: mouth is moving practicing the script in the middle of 164 00:10:48,345 --> 00:10:52,465 Speaker 1: me competing. I sent it off and I was hounding 165 00:10:52,665 --> 00:10:56,545 Speaker 1: my manager almost daily being like, do you know anything yet? 166 00:10:56,545 --> 00:10:58,985 Speaker 1: Have I got the job? Is the next stage of 167 00:10:58,985 --> 00:11:02,265 Speaker 1: the audition coming like do you know anything? And lo 168 00:11:02,385 --> 00:11:05,385 Speaker 1: and behold, I got a second audition, and then I 169 00:11:05,425 --> 00:11:08,505 Speaker 1: got an audition in front of the cast and producers, 170 00:11:08,545 --> 00:11:10,705 Speaker 1: and the directors and the producers of the show. 171 00:11:11,625 --> 00:11:14,265 Speaker 2: This was a dream role for Chloe, and she knew 172 00:11:14,305 --> 00:11:17,585 Speaker 2: she had to nail the audition. But then, yes, Sue 173 00:11:17,585 --> 00:11:20,385 Speaker 2: turned up at the front door, all uninvited. 174 00:11:20,825 --> 00:11:21,665 Speaker 3: Self doubt. 175 00:11:21,745 --> 00:11:25,025 Speaker 2: Hello, just like that relative who shows up at Christmas 176 00:11:25,145 --> 00:11:29,825 Speaker 2: but never RSVPs. So arriving at the audition, questions arose 177 00:11:29,865 --> 00:11:32,745 Speaker 2: in her mind. Would they really get her? Would they 178 00:11:32,945 --> 00:11:36,945 Speaker 2: like her, love her for who she truly was? As 179 00:11:36,945 --> 00:11:40,505 Speaker 2: the casting director called her name, the blinding lights shone 180 00:11:40,505 --> 00:11:42,945 Speaker 2: in her eyes, just for some extra pressure if there 181 00:11:42,985 --> 00:11:47,545 Speaker 2: wasn't already enough, and everyone there began to murmur. Chloe 182 00:11:47,545 --> 00:11:50,305 Speaker 2: took a deep breath, and then, with a quiet confidence, 183 00:11:50,305 --> 00:11:57,105 Speaker 2: she stepped forward, letting her authentic self shine. 184 00:11:56,745 --> 00:11:59,625 Speaker 3: Through every word, every gesture. 185 00:11:59,545 --> 00:12:04,265 Speaker 2: Channeling years of feeling misunderstood into Quinnie's vulnerability and strength. 186 00:12:05,265 --> 00:12:08,105 Speaker 2: When she finished, the room was silent for a beat. 187 00:12:08,425 --> 00:12:13,825 Speaker 2: Everyone was in awe. Chloe had done it. She hadn't 188 00:12:13,825 --> 00:12:17,545 Speaker 2: just played the part, she owned it, turning her difference 189 00:12:17,585 --> 00:12:19,105 Speaker 2: into her greatest power. 190 00:12:19,425 --> 00:12:21,825 Speaker 1: This might seem naive to say, but I do truly 191 00:12:21,865 --> 00:12:25,105 Speaker 1: believe that everything happens for a reason, and if I 192 00:12:25,105 --> 00:12:28,265 Speaker 1: could go back in time and take away little Chloe's pain, 193 00:12:28,305 --> 00:12:30,545 Speaker 1: I would in a heartbeat. But I can't do that, 194 00:12:30,745 --> 00:12:32,705 Speaker 1: and so I have to believe that the pain that 195 00:12:32,745 --> 00:12:35,825 Speaker 1: I went through growing up made me the person that 196 00:12:35,865 --> 00:12:39,385 Speaker 1: I am today and gave me the opportunity and the 197 00:12:39,465 --> 00:12:41,745 Speaker 1: life experience to be able to perform Quinny the way 198 00:12:41,745 --> 00:12:42,225 Speaker 1: that I do. 199 00:12:42,625 --> 00:12:47,025 Speaker 2: Working with the director, Chloe helped shape Quinny's character, crafting 200 00:12:47,105 --> 00:12:51,945 Speaker 2: and stacking layer upon layer, making sure she was real, honest, 201 00:12:52,145 --> 00:12:55,425 Speaker 2: and nothing like the stereotypes she'd seen growing up. 202 00:12:55,745 --> 00:12:58,945 Speaker 1: When I got the role of Quinny, I knew straightaway 203 00:12:59,145 --> 00:13:05,865 Speaker 1: that she obviously was autistic. Originally she was just neurodivergent, coded, 204 00:13:06,025 --> 00:13:08,585 Speaker 1: I believe, And when I got the job, I had 205 00:13:08,665 --> 00:13:11,585 Speaker 1: discussions with the pre duces and the directors and told 206 00:13:11,625 --> 00:13:13,905 Speaker 1: them how important it was to me that Quinny wasn't 207 00:13:13,945 --> 00:13:17,905 Speaker 1: coded autistic, because we have enough coded characters. We need 208 00:13:17,945 --> 00:13:21,785 Speaker 1: to see an actual, real life underlined bold. I tell 209 00:13:21,825 --> 00:13:25,665 Speaker 1: a sized this person is autistic on screen, and so 210 00:13:26,105 --> 00:13:28,385 Speaker 1: I was really lucky to be able to work with 211 00:13:28,425 --> 00:13:32,265 Speaker 1: them to help create this character that we know and 212 00:13:32,305 --> 00:13:34,905 Speaker 1: that we love today, but we also had the most 213 00:13:34,905 --> 00:13:38,585 Speaker 1: incredible autism consultants. Quinny was written by an autistic person, 214 00:13:39,025 --> 00:13:43,625 Speaker 1: and I think she shows the importance of representation not 215 00:13:43,705 --> 00:13:46,105 Speaker 1: just in front of the camera, but behind the camera, 216 00:13:46,225 --> 00:13:49,465 Speaker 1: to make sure that experiences truly are and the characters 217 00:13:49,465 --> 00:13:53,905 Speaker 1: that we are seeing truly are a real version of 218 00:13:54,185 --> 00:13:56,985 Speaker 1: a person, and that real people can look at these 219 00:13:57,105 --> 00:14:00,385 Speaker 1: characters and go, oh my gosh, I see myself. And 220 00:14:00,905 --> 00:14:03,225 Speaker 1: I think Quinny is the perfect example of that. 221 00:14:04,345 --> 00:14:08,825 Speaker 2: The audience and critics loved Quinni. Chloe had made this 222 00:14:08,985 --> 00:14:12,145 Speaker 2: character so authentic and real, and for the first time, 223 00:14:12,425 --> 00:14:15,385 Speaker 2: kids like Chloe saw themselves on screen. 224 00:14:15,585 --> 00:14:17,225 Speaker 1: I don't want to be a burden, but I've never 225 00:14:17,225 --> 00:14:21,585 Speaker 1: given any time or wanting to prepare. It's just not fair. 226 00:14:22,185 --> 00:14:24,865 Speaker 2: Chloe won an Actor Award for her performance and was 227 00:14:24,905 --> 00:14:29,905 Speaker 2: nominated for a Logi Award. She made history, but more importantly, 228 00:14:30,545 --> 00:14:34,385 Speaker 2: she gave hope to thousands of neurodivergent young people who 229 00:14:34,465 --> 00:14:40,465 Speaker 2: felt invisible. After the success of Heartbreak High, it became 230 00:14:40,585 --> 00:14:42,625 Speaker 2: clear there was a void to be filled for a 231 00:14:42,625 --> 00:14:46,025 Speaker 2: neurodivergent voice to raise awareness so that people like her 232 00:14:46,185 --> 00:14:49,825 Speaker 2: would be better understood well Chloe stepped on into that 233 00:14:49,905 --> 00:14:54,905 Speaker 2: space like a perfectly cast lead. Word by word, page 234 00:14:54,945 --> 00:14:59,545 Speaker 2: after page, she poured her heart, experience, and knowledge into 235 00:14:59,625 --> 00:15:03,145 Speaker 2: her debut novel, and it was a best seller. If 236 00:15:03,185 --> 00:15:07,865 Speaker 2: you don't mind called different not less. Sharing her journey 237 00:15:07,865 --> 00:15:11,185 Speaker 2: and encouraging others to embrace who they are, she became 238 00:15:11,225 --> 00:15:15,945 Speaker 2: a motivational speaker, traveling the world to talk about autism, kindness, 239 00:15:16,225 --> 00:15:20,345 Speaker 2: and the magic of being yourself. Today, Chloe Hayden is 240 00:15:20,385 --> 00:15:23,665 Speaker 2: a role model for kids everywhere. She's shown that you 241 00:15:23,705 --> 00:15:26,865 Speaker 2: don't have to fit in to make a difference. In fact, 242 00:15:27,225 --> 00:15:29,985 Speaker 2: it's the people who stand out, who dare to be 243 00:15:30,065 --> 00:15:34,025 Speaker 2: themselves who changed the world. So what's Chloe's advice to 244 00:15:34,105 --> 00:15:36,745 Speaker 2: young people looking to embrace their individuality? 245 00:15:37,225 --> 00:15:40,305 Speaker 1: Learning that I was autistic and having that diagnosis was 246 00:15:41,105 --> 00:15:46,625 Speaker 1: so incredibly powerful, And I wish that I could go 247 00:15:46,785 --> 00:15:49,905 Speaker 1: back and tell thirteen year old Chloe, or even younger 248 00:15:49,905 --> 00:15:53,505 Speaker 1: than that, who wasn't diagnosed with anything, and be able 249 00:15:53,545 --> 00:15:56,425 Speaker 1: to tell her that she has got such an incredibly 250 00:15:56,465 --> 00:16:00,625 Speaker 1: bright future. And most importantly, what I want every young 251 00:16:00,665 --> 00:16:04,305 Speaker 1: person to know that has ever felt different is their 252 00:16:04,385 --> 00:16:07,385 Speaker 1: brain is exactly how it's supposed to be. 253 00:16:07,985 --> 00:16:13,865 Speaker 4: I've always seen dreams as you need to dream as 254 00:16:13,905 --> 00:16:16,745 Speaker 4: big as you possibly can, because everything that I am 255 00:16:16,825 --> 00:16:20,225 Speaker 4: currently living and doing was beyond. 256 00:16:20,425 --> 00:16:24,025 Speaker 1: What expectations were for me. But I dreamed for it 257 00:16:24,065 --> 00:16:24,905 Speaker 1: and it happens. 258 00:16:27,345 --> 00:16:30,185 Speaker 2: So the next time you feel out of place or 259 00:16:30,265 --> 00:16:33,705 Speaker 2: worried about what others think of you, remember Chloe Hayden, 260 00:16:34,025 --> 00:16:38,145 Speaker 2: the girl who turned society's walls into stepping stones, paving 261 00:16:38,185 --> 00:16:41,345 Speaker 2: her own way to become a performer and a voice 262 00:16:41,385 --> 00:16:42,545 Speaker 2: for change. 263 00:16:42,785 --> 00:16:44,185 Speaker 3: Yep, she built that. 264 00:16:47,505 --> 00:16:51,265 Speaker 2: Gosh. Thinking about Chloe's story, I know I've had many 265 00:16:51,385 --> 00:16:54,825 Speaker 2: times where I felt that urge to change myself just 266 00:16:54,865 --> 00:16:59,105 Speaker 2: to fit in with everyone else, don't stand out, particularly 267 00:16:59,185 --> 00:17:01,385 Speaker 2: at school. It can be hard to not go with 268 00:17:01,425 --> 00:17:05,345 Speaker 2: the flow. But this week, let's flip that like Chloe did. 269 00:17:05,705 --> 00:17:08,225 Speaker 2: Now it's your turn. I've got a challenge for you. 270 00:17:08,745 --> 00:17:12,905 Speaker 2: It's called the Celebrate your Difference Challenge. Bit of a mouthful, 271 00:17:12,945 --> 00:17:16,345 Speaker 2: isn't it, But I do think Chloe's right. Embracing what 272 00:17:16,425 --> 00:17:20,225 Speaker 2: makes you you is a far better path to happiness 273 00:17:20,585 --> 00:17:24,585 Speaker 2: than trying to follow others. Here's the challenge. Think of 274 00:17:24,665 --> 00:17:28,705 Speaker 2: one thing that makes you unique. Maybe it's a special interest, 275 00:17:28,905 --> 00:17:31,505 Speaker 2: a talent, or even just the way you see the world. 276 00:17:32,265 --> 00:17:35,185 Speaker 2: Maybe it's a thought or opinion that's a little bit different. 277 00:17:35,825 --> 00:17:38,665 Speaker 2: Write it down, draw a picture about it, or tell 278 00:17:38,705 --> 00:17:41,785 Speaker 2: a friend or family member. When I was at school, 279 00:17:42,065 --> 00:17:45,465 Speaker 2: I was told I was too much and I talk 280 00:17:45,625 --> 00:17:50,065 Speaker 2: too much. And now I'm talking on a podcast that's 281 00:17:50,065 --> 00:17:53,945 Speaker 2: a celebration of what I was told was a challenge. Remember, 282 00:17:54,145 --> 00:17:57,945 Speaker 2: your difference is your source of insight, just like Chloe's was. 283 00:17:58,585 --> 00:18:01,305 Speaker 2: Share it proudly and see how it makes you feel. 284 00:18:01,985 --> 00:18:04,385 Speaker 2: Of course, if you're comfortable doing so and in a 285 00:18:04,425 --> 00:18:08,945 Speaker 2: safe space, you might even inspire someone else to celebrate 286 00:18:08,985 --> 00:18:14,385 Speaker 2: what makes this unique too. Thanks for listening to She 287 00:18:14,545 --> 00:18:19,745 Speaker 2: Built That, And remember, incredible girls don't just dream, they built. 288 00:18:20,505 --> 00:18:23,505 Speaker 2: Today's episode was written by Tom Lyon, who also did 289 00:18:23,505 --> 00:18:27,545 Speaker 2: the sound design, and produced by Tina Mattiloff. The executive 290 00:18:27,585 --> 00:18:30,505 Speaker 2: producer of She Built That is Courtney Ammenhauser and my 291 00:18:30,665 --> 00:18:33,745 Speaker 2: name's Annalise Todd. I'll catch you next time when we 292 00:18:33,825 --> 00:18:36,305 Speaker 2: tell the story of an Ossie girl who's taking the 293 00:18:36,425 --> 00:18:38,145 Speaker 2: surfing world by storm. 294 00:18:38,425 --> 00:18:41,505 Speaker 3: Bye.