A TRAILBLAZER
IN NEURODIVERGENT CULTURE
& OG INFLUENCER
She is best known as the founder of the website TALK NERDY TO ME®, where she has established herself as a prominent voice in the neurodivergent community. As a TV (and digital) producer, she has captivated audiences at conferences and universities, sharing her unique insights and way of life.
The fabulously inspiring entrepreneur and always entertaining …
Jen Friel is a genius.
Only recently, did she find out that her “unique-ness” is a series of medical conditions … (that when regulated … work out in her favor) including autism, ADHD, stealth dyslexia, and prosopagnosia (aka facial blindness).
Jen is on a mission to raise awareness about these conditions, advocating for better understanding and diagnosis, particularly among women. Her very personal commitment to this cause is fueled by her own experiences, as she aims to prevent the mental health challenges that often accompany undiagnosed neurodivergence (such as her own suicide attempts and a 5150 call that she placed on herself).
Blending humor and honesty, Jen’s journey has not been without challenges. She has faced stalking and violence, yet she has transformed these experiences into powerful narratives that inspire others. Her legal battles have set legal precedents, and her ability to navigate complex situations showcases her strength and determination. After regaining control of her intellectual property, she has successfully sold additional TV shows to the History Channel, and MTV further solidifying her status as a creative force in the industry. Her innovative approach to storytelling and advocacy continues to resonate with audiences, making her a leading figure in the conversation around neurodiversity.
Jen has facilitated impactful discussions with esteemed organizations. On Social Platform Clubhouse, TALK NERDY TO ME®, hosted over 350 compelling discussions to 285K people with brands including: Stanford, The Science Channel, Atlasssian, NASA, IBM, Linktree, Sotheby’s Phillips, Time Magazine, and more.
Jen Friel exemplifies the power of resilience and creativity, using her platform to educate, inspire, and empower others to embrace their unique perspectives.
She’s now PROUDLY neurodivergent AF
but spent most of her life misdiagnosed.
She was wrongfully prescribed
dangerous drugs
like
lithium, seroquel, prozac, zoloft, riserpdal.
She didn’t just get “mad” … She took her literal geniusness and took action.
Her intellectual property, she discovered, is still relevant as it “sold” again to the same network who purchased it as a put pilot.
Let’s let Jen speak for herself …
I see auras,
animated them
& went viral
six separate times
over six months
to 4.3 million people (FB and IG).
“Coincidentally” the Friday before the
second Deadline announcement.
I took an idea and bartered social media to survive for an entire year—starting with just $10 in my pocket and making it to 12 states. Back then, “influencer marketing” wasn’t even a thing. So, I taught businesses and celebrities how to use social media in exchange for food, water, clothes, or a place to stay.
Along the way, I documented everything: from crashing the Grammy Awards (and actually meeting the person I crashed it for), to dancing on stage with Prince and Halle Berry, accidentally going on 103 dates in 9 months (thanks, OkCupid algorithm), and flying cross-country with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
I’ve been a guest of the family who hosted the Queen of England. I’ve met Jack Dorsey and Rick Rubin—while wearing a skeleton onesie, outside a teepee. I’ve even had dinner (and moonshine) with Pablo Escobar’s surgeon. Multiple times.
The road wasn’t easy, but I’m proud of how I handled each curve. I testified in court three times before the age of 30.
At 17, I set a legal precedent in Connecticut as the first person to be granted a restraining order in a same-sex stalking case. I was stalked by four of my closest friends, and the situation was so serious the orders are still active—20 years later. I was also randomly attacked and hit in the head with a brick. The man was sentenced to 19 years; he served 10.
TALK NERDY TO ME®, Lover had a live stage show just 24 hours after that attack—and not only did I host it, I wrote, produced, and directed the next eight. There’s a force inside me that kicks in when things get tough. I call it “dog with a bone” mode. That same drive is what convinced a doctor to discharge me from a 5150 in just 48 hours.
At the time, I thought I was having a nervous breakdown. What I now know: it was an autistic meltdown, paired with a sensory overload and a ton of unprocessed trauma.
(Also, I fight crime in my spare time—just one of the casual side effects of my magical neurodivergent brain.)
In 2017, I was stalked again. I hired a private investigator, who confirmed that one of my suspects had recently been arrested for attempted murder, extortion, and kidnapping. While I couldn’t prove the connection legally, I uncovered that I was being tracked through an exploit in Find My iPhone. I countered it by setting the default location to a stationary decoy device.
Oh, and I’ve also outed two con-men using synesthesia. I even got $1,400 back from one of them.
On top of that? I helped plan a community safety meeting after my friend and neighbor was murdered. I brought the community together and invited our Senior Lead Deputy to speak on staying safe.
I also gave a TedX talk (pre-diagnosis) …
I spent a year preparing it—then tossed the script the night before. Not to make a statement, but to stay true to myself… and to the rules of TEDx.
If I had told the CEO of AOL that I used his platform to set legal precedent in the state of Connecticut, I MIGHT have gotten the job.
Instead, I was honest, and shared what I knew to be true.
I have been blessed with a beautiful mind … I just had to learn how to embrace it, and not be so overwhelmed by it.
