The SUPER superpower of Diversity with Seamus Evans | The Guardian Network

Join us for an interesting conversation with Seamus Evans, a keynote speaker, media personality, and advocate for neurodiversity. With a career that includes hosting two kids' TV programs and breakfast radio, Seamus has transformed his own challenges with Tourette's Syndrome and ADHD into a powerful message of resilience and empowerment. In this episode, Seamus shares how he turned what some might see as flaws into his superpowers, using his experiences to inspire others.

At just 18, Seamus Evans found himself with an incredible career opportunity as a TV presenter. But with this opportunity came the stark realisation that if he wanted to keep his job, he needed to expand his skill set. Living with Tourette's Syndrome, Seamus knew (and was point blank told) that ticcing on national television could jeopardize his career, especially in 2009 when neurodiversity was far from accepted. Additionally, having struggled in school, he lacked the reading and comprehension skills needed to excel in research and other aspects of his job.

Seamus had to dig deep, reflecting on how to manage his Tourette's and build the skills necessary to thrive in the media industry. He realised that simply being given an opportunity doesn’t mean you automatically deserve it; you have to work for it. This mindset led him to fine-tune his abilities and manage his Tourette's symptoms, allowing him to stay in the game.

A key factor in Seamus’s success was the way his parents raised him. They never defined him by his condition, instead allowing him to decide how much or how little to share about his Tourette's. This approach helped Seamus take ownership of his life, separating his identity from his condition. He is Seamus first; Tourette's is just one aspect of who he is.

Seamus emphasises that while we can't control what happens to us, we can always control how we react. This philosophy isn’t just about neurodiversity—it applies to any adversity, whether it’s getting fired, going through a breakup, or facing a difficult diagnosis. His message is clear: everyone faces challenges, but how you respond defines whether you become a victim or a hero.

Seamus doesn't claim that his Tourette's is his superpower; rather, it's what he does with it that makes it powerful. He acknowledges the benefits of neurodiversity, like how his ADHD allows him to hyperfocus and how his Tourette's has made it impossible for him to hide, pushing him to the forefront where he's learned to embrace the spotlight. But it's not the condition itself that’s the strength—it's how you use it.

Throughout his career, Seamus has researched and taught confidence-building, likening it to a muscle that needs regular exercise. His coping strategies have evolved over time, with humor becoming a key tool, and now he’s turned that skill into a career.

Despite the incredible success he’s achieved, Seamus still cherishes the moment he found out he’d been chosen to host the kids’ TV show "Toasted." It was a turning point for him, a moment of validation after years of never being picked first for anything. That feeling of being chosen remains one of the highlights of his career.

However, after seven years in TV, Seamus faced a harsh reality when he was no longer treated like a celebrity. The transition back to a "normal" life was tough, and it took a toll on his mental health. He had to rebuild himself, adjusting his interactions with society and working hard on his own well-being.

Seamus is still busy with his keynote speaking engagements, especially his popular talk "Turn a Flaw into a Superpower," but he has also started a production company and creative agency that creates content for companies doing great things.

It was a wonderful chat that demonstrated and validated how receiving a neurodiverse diagnosis isn’t something to fear—it's how you frame it and what you do with it that truly matters. Listening to Seamus, someone so dedicated to championing this cause, was an absolute pleasure. If you're interested in booking Seamus for a speaking engagement, visit www.seamusevans.com.