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Neurodiversity, AI, Pickleball + Podcast Opportunities
Your roundup of topics that matter—and people you’ll want to connect with.
Mike Zeinfeld
June 04, 2025
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Let’s explore what matters—and what doesn’t—in today’s world. This newsletter surfaces the topics people care about along with curated news, fresh opinions, and interesting people worth connecting with.
We’d love to invite you to be considered for a Matters.com Podcast, a rapid video interview where you share what matters most to you and why. Your story may be featured on our website, in our newsletters, on our podcast and/or in our 38,000+ member Facebook group. Just fill out the form here.
Speaking of interview opportunities, we just wrapped our first round of Matters.com podcast interviews. One of our interviews was with Chris Singel, Agency Founder/AI Enthusiast, in a fantastic discussion about AI and why it matters to him — and, he expertly handled the Matters.com speed round.
Why AI Matters to Chris Singel, Agency Founder and AI Enthusiast
Okay, on with this week’s Matters Topics: Neurodiversity, Artificial Intelligence, Theatre, Video Games and Pickleball.
Neurodiversity
Everybody at some point in their lives is going to either have a disability or will be very close to somebody who is… becoming more inclusive and more accessible is a universal problem.
— Shea Hunter Belsky
Autistic self-advocate and leader ready to talk about inclusion & acceptance for autistic people
🗞️ NEURODIVERSITY in the news...
How Curiosity Culture Turns Neurodiversity Into an Advantage [www.forbes.com]
Organizations like SAP and HPE found that neurodivergent professionals excel when supported by curiosity-driven management, leading to improved processes and innovations that benefit entire teams, not just neurodiverse employees. [Visit Link]
Artificial Intelligence
"[Artificial intelligence] is really helpful for autistic people and neurodivergent people. If we think about ADHD brains, which are typically more creative, then I think AI has its place in terms of allowing the creative minds to flourish and using AI to help those minds flourish."
— Francesca Percival
I'm a late-diagnosed autistic executive coach, supporting and developing understanding of autism and neurodivergence more widely.
🗞️ AI in the news...
Does AI Make Technology More Accessible Or Widen Digital Inequalities? [www.forbes.com]
A new open-source tool, AIMAC, was launched to benchmark and compare the accessibility of code generated by large language models. Developed by the GAAD Foundation and ServiceNow, it aims to improve AI-generated digital accessibility. [Visit Link]
Theatre
"Theater is a place where people...are exploring new ways of being. That's why I call it the Dress Rehearsal...a place where we can be like, okay, what would it look like to try some stuff on, try some new ways of being and see what actually feels good."
— Veronica Dress
Bringing pleasure + play to the most intimate parts of life: on + off the stage
🗞️ Theatre in the news...
In Ukraine's Kharkiv, Ballet Offers 'Rebirth' After Bombs and Bullets [www.usnews.com]
Kharkiv's ballet company revived 'Chopiniana' in an underground theatre, marking the first full classical ballet performance since Russia's 2022 invasion. The venue was adapted for safety amid frequent attacks, allowing audiences to attend. [Visit Link]
Video Games
"[Video games] can be quite soothing, particularly for autistic brains. I do video games myself in the evening as a way to decompress and regulate."
— Francesca Percival
I'm a late-diagnosed autistic executive coach, supporting and developing understanding of autism and neurodivergence more widely.
🗞️ VIDEO GAME in the news...
The 7 most iconic video game characters of all-time [www.xda-developers.com]
The article identifies and discusses seven of the most iconic video game characters, detailing their origins, cultural significance, and lasting influence on gaming and broader pop culture. [Visit Link]
Pickleball
We’re all missing that sense of community and belonging. I like [pickleball] for that.
— Chris Singel
AI Optimist, TEDx Speaker, and Comedic Storyteller Helping Businesses Embrace AI Without Losing Their Humanity
🗞️ PICKLEBALL in the news...
My pickleball journey: How a tennis player learned to stop worrying and love pickleball [eu.cincinnati.com]
The Eastern Hills Indoor Tennis Club in Cincinnati is being converted into a pickleball facility, illustrating the rapid rise of pickleball and prompting local players to seek venues that support both tennis and pickleball. [Visit Link]
That’s all for now. What’s on your MATTERS topic list? Would you add any of the above to your own “consideration set”?
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