Show Notes

Discover what’s possible when all minds are put to use. 


Today we’re bringing back a special guest, Dr. Temple Grandin. My first interview with Dr. Grandin was almost two years ago. She has since released a new book, Visual Thinking: The Hidden Gifts of People Who Think in Pictures, Patterns, and Abstractions. 


Dr. Grandin is well known for both her pioneering autism advocacy and her lifelong dedication to animal welfare. Through groundbreaking research aimed at understanding her own autistic mind, Dr. Grandin propelled the awareness of autism during a time when very little was known of it. She is an incredible source of hope for children with autism, their parents, and, ultimately, anyone with a dream. 


Dr. Grandin became an internationally recognized leader in animal-handling innovations after developing a corral that improved the quality of life of cattle by reducing stress. She has consulted with the USDA and major corporations such as McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, Whole Foods, and Chipotle. Today, half of the cattle in North America are handled in facilities she designed. 


Dr. Grandin is also a prominent author, having written several books on autism and animal behavior. She has been featured on various media outlets and programs, including NPR, the BBC, Larry King Live, 2020, Sixty Minutes, and TED, to name a few. In 2010, HBO produced an Emmy Award-winning movie about her life, and later that year, she was highlighted in TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In 2016, she was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. These days, Dr. Grandin continues to write and teaches Animal Science at Colorado State University. 


In this conversation, we discuss:


  • Object visualizers vs visual-spatial thinkers

  • Temple’s ability to think in pictures

  • How to screen for visual thinkers at school

  • The loss of skilled workers

  • How complementary thinkers can work together

  • How to improve the school system and properly educate different thinkers

  • How can parents encourage the development of skills in visual thinkers

  • Executive functioning

  • Reading graphic novels

  • How to solve the world’s biggest problems

  • Advice for visual thinkers 


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