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- Beany Brain #93: ND Job Seekers + Sir David Attenborough's 100th
Beany Brain #93: ND Job Seekers + Sir David Attenborough's 100th
Abigail Munday
May 13, 2026
Beany Brain: loving our jumping-bean brains!
Welcome to this issue of the Beany Brain! I hope today’s newsletter will bounce us up as we contemplate the upsides and challenges of being neurodivergent, a little beauty, some creativity, and just general yeehawesomeness.
Table of Contents
Photo by Abigail Munday
Neurodivergent Job Seekers
Visiting the Wycombe Museum this week (it’s also called the Chair Museum, and I’m sure you can see why), I learned more about the bodgers—the old name here in Buckinghamshire for chairmakers who used local wood to build lovely chairs.
It was really hard work, of course.
I’m also always thinking of how work works for ND folks like myself.
This Windsor chair was flippable—if it was outside in the garden and got wet or bird poopy, you could flip it upside down and sit on the dry, clean side.
How flexible, flippable, are workplaces for NDs? Are workplaces set up to support us? How accommodating are employers in interviews and work settings?
Photo by Abigail Munday
Matt Boyd has dyslexia and struggled to find work after the supportive scaffolding he had in school and uni.
So Boyd started Exceptional Individuals in 2015, a recruitment company that supports neurodivergent job-seekers. It offers impartial workplace needs assessments, mentorships, neurodiversity career programmes and a jobs listing board for common types of neurodivergence such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and autism.
Here’s a list of resources supporting neurodivergent people that I’ve compiled if you’re job seeking yourself, know someone who is, or want to learn more:
Enna (UK)
Nickel Support CIC (UK)
Big Issue Recruit has job coaches to help those who’ve faced inequality (UK)
Genius Within (UK)
Mentra (US)
Auticon (US)
Specialisterne (in 26 countries)
Ha Ha Haiku
A funny haiku for you every week in every newsletter, whether it’s one of my own or one I curate for you. HA. Ha. Haiku.
(Thank you to my friend Ms. V for this one)
From The BBC
Sir David Attenborough Turns 100!
Our family has been big fans of David Attenborough for years, including owning many DVDs of his various nature series. Can you believe he just turned 100 on May 8, 2026? My in-laws and I watched the BBC birthday celebration—he was there in a balcony box seat looking spry and loved.
He’s still working, doing what he loves and obviously really enjoys.
David Attenborough studied natural sciences at Cambridge—he’s not just a talking head!
What amazes me is that this storied career of his has gone on for many decades; he’s written all of the scripts that he reads over the nature scenes. The man knows his stuff.
So naturally his birthday means that I’ve done a deep dive into his life:
Shares a birth year with Queen Elizabeth II.
His parents fostered two young Jewish girls from Germany during WWII.
The BBC told him at first that his teeth were too big for him to appear onscreen.
When he was controller at the BBC, he commissioned Monty Python’s Flying Circus.
He speaks up for preserving our environment.
Have you heard of The Big Issue? It’s a magazine that people experiencing homelessness can sell to earn money. There’s a wonderful young lady here in Marlow named Sarah from whom I buy The Big Issue every week, and this week’s edition is all about…you guessed it…
And the article is written by Chris Packham—I just wrote about him last week in Beany Brain! (I forgot to add last week that in addition to all the other cool work he does, Chris Packham is also an ambassador for The Big Issue.)
Photo by Abigail Munday
Here’s a 4-minute video showing how the King sent his 100th birthday message to David Attenborough, which involved some special friends along the way. Happy birthday, Sir David!
Yeehawesome!
Yeehawesome! is a happy-brain roundup in each issue of Beany Brain. What’s happening that’s good in brain land? What’s bringing me joy?
A beautiful display of artwork by adults with learning disabilities in Hull, UK.
An absolutely brilliant 4-minute animation from 2010 that we used to watch with our boys when they were younger: The Windmill Farmer.
The genius musician Jon Batiste interviewed by The Guardian entitled “‘I don’t believe in song shaming!’: Jon Batiste’s honest playlist.”
Quote of the Week
Some birds sound like they’re trying to connect to the internet.
(my husband)
Beany Brownie Points and Extra Bonus Funniness
Wonderful Wednesday
Wonderful Wednesday was a day once a year in college when they would suddenly and surprisingly call off all classes and we’d play all day. The cafeteria provided special fun food and we’d do stuff outside like slip ‘n slides and jello wrestling in sumo suits. This segment of Beany Brain is dedicated to that memory of silliness and fun—no words, just a photo from the week that I’ve taken or found that reminds me to let the joy in. Since Beany Brain is published on Wednesday every week (at least, Wednesday in Japan), I hope you enjoy this Wonderful Wednesday.
Photo by Abigail Munday
Today’s Beany-full Summary:
A list of job recruitment orgs that support neurodivergent workers.
Happy 100th birthday, Sir David Attenborough!
Go forth in Beany joy. What will help you feel yeehawesome this week?
Thank you for reading this installment of Beany Brain! You’re very welcome to hop on by any old time.
If you’re enjoying Beany Brain, please share with a friend or seventeen at www.beanybrain.com. Cheers big time!