Everett J Cody
@always-ever-joy.bsky.social
I help Autistic and ADHD business owners get over their fear of "imperfect" public speaking without masking
I deserve to be happy.
I have been too afraid to do the things that would allow me to be happy, because I'm still afraid of people reinforcing those painful points from when I was a kid.
That all the pain in your life is your own fault, because you “chose” to be fat.
20/20
I have been too afraid to do the things that would allow me to be happy, because I'm still afraid of people reinforcing those painful points from when I was a kid.
That all the pain in your life is your own fault, because you “chose” to be fat.
20/20
August 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I deserve to be happy.
I have been too afraid to do the things that would allow me to be happy, because I'm still afraid of people reinforcing those painful points from when I was a kid.
That all the pain in your life is your own fault, because you “chose” to be fat.
20/20
I have been too afraid to do the things that would allow me to be happy, because I'm still afraid of people reinforcing those painful points from when I was a kid.
That all the pain in your life is your own fault, because you “chose” to be fat.
20/20
I deserve a successful business.
I deserve to thrive monetarily instead of just surviving.
Everybody does, regardless of what you look like.
Being fat is not a moral failing.
19/
I deserve to thrive monetarily instead of just surviving.
Everybody does, regardless of what you look like.
Being fat is not a moral failing.
19/
August 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I deserve a successful business.
I deserve to thrive monetarily instead of just surviving.
Everybody does, regardless of what you look like.
Being fat is not a moral failing.
19/
I deserve to thrive monetarily instead of just surviving.
Everybody does, regardless of what you look like.
Being fat is not a moral failing.
19/
One of the things that has gotten me repeat clients time after time is that I'm very personable.
I WILL make this business a success.
But not if I continue to be terrified to put myself out there.
18/
I WILL make this business a success.
But not if I continue to be terrified to put myself out there.
18/
August 18, 2025 at 6:57 PM
One of the things that has gotten me repeat clients time after time is that I'm very personable.
I WILL make this business a success.
But not if I continue to be terrified to put myself out there.
18/
I WILL make this business a success.
But not if I continue to be terrified to put myself out there.
18/
This has been my biggest fear and the biggest thing holding me back from succeeding in my business because I am talented.
I know I am good at what I do.
I am smart, and I am charismatic.
17/
I know I am good at what I do.
I am smart, and I am charismatic.
17/
August 18, 2025 at 6:56 PM
This has been my biggest fear and the biggest thing holding me back from succeeding in my business because I am talented.
I know I am good at what I do.
I am smart, and I am charismatic.
17/
I know I am good at what I do.
I am smart, and I am charismatic.
17/
But I was going out to paint anyway. There's no point in changing my shirt because that's reality.
Sometimes you spill tomato sauce on yourself, everybody does it! 16/
Sometimes you spill tomato sauce on yourself, everybody does it! 16/
August 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
But I was going out to paint anyway. There's no point in changing my shirt because that's reality.
Sometimes you spill tomato sauce on yourself, everybody does it! 16/
Sometimes you spill tomato sauce on yourself, everybody does it! 16/
So I filmed myself painting, and you can see my entire body.
You see everything that I don't want you to see.
You see me sweaty, gross, and doing manual labor.
Just for fun, there’s a little stain on my shirt at the top from when I was eating dinner and I spilled tomato sauce on myself.
15/
You see everything that I don't want you to see.
You see me sweaty, gross, and doing manual labor.
Just for fun, there’s a little stain on my shirt at the top from when I was eating dinner and I spilled tomato sauce on myself.
15/
August 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
So I filmed myself painting, and you can see my entire body.
You see everything that I don't want you to see.
You see me sweaty, gross, and doing manual labor.
Just for fun, there’s a little stain on my shirt at the top from when I was eating dinner and I spilled tomato sauce on myself.
15/
You see everything that I don't want you to see.
You see me sweaty, gross, and doing manual labor.
Just for fun, there’s a little stain on my shirt at the top from when I was eating dinner and I spilled tomato sauce on myself.
15/
The patterns I noticed? All your failures are your fault and you deserve to be unhappy and unsuccessful.
I didn't feel like I deserved to have a successful business.
I didn't feel like I deserved anything good in life.
That's something I still struggle with.
14/
I didn't feel like I deserved to have a successful business.
I didn't feel like I deserved anything good in life.
That's something I still struggle with.
14/
August 18, 2025 at 6:53 PM
The patterns I noticed? All your failures are your fault and you deserve to be unhappy and unsuccessful.
I didn't feel like I deserved to have a successful business.
I didn't feel like I deserved anything good in life.
That's something I still struggle with.
14/
I didn't feel like I deserved to have a successful business.
I didn't feel like I deserved anything good in life.
That's something I still struggle with.
14/
But doctors didn’t care enough about me to look at my symptoms and see the problem. They saw my body and decided they had the answers.
As an adult, I’ve had to push my doctors to get diagnosed for ADHD and Autism. When you are neurodivergent, you notice patterns.
13/
As an adult, I’ve had to push my doctors to get diagnosed for ADHD and Autism. When you are neurodivergent, you notice patterns.
13/
August 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
But doctors didn’t care enough about me to look at my symptoms and see the problem. They saw my body and decided they had the answers.
As an adult, I’ve had to push my doctors to get diagnosed for ADHD and Autism. When you are neurodivergent, you notice patterns.
13/
As an adult, I’ve had to push my doctors to get diagnosed for ADHD and Autism. When you are neurodivergent, you notice patterns.
13/
There was a very real chance that when I would go to sleep at night, I wouldn't wake up. Or worse, that one day my heart would just beat so fast it would completely stop.
12/
12/
August 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
There was a very real chance that when I would go to sleep at night, I wouldn't wake up. Or worse, that one day my heart would just beat so fast it would completely stop.
12/
12/
All he said, without even examining me, was “Put her on a diet,” and walked right out.
Anyone unfamiliar with WPW, the important thing to know is there's an extra electrical pathway in your chest, which over-stimulates your heart. 11/
Anyone unfamiliar with WPW, the important thing to know is there's an extra electrical pathway in your chest, which over-stimulates your heart. 11/
August 18, 2025 at 6:52 PM
All he said, without even examining me, was “Put her on a diet,” and walked right out.
Anyone unfamiliar with WPW, the important thing to know is there's an extra electrical pathway in your chest, which over-stimulates your heart. 11/
Anyone unfamiliar with WPW, the important thing to know is there's an extra electrical pathway in your chest, which over-stimulates your heart. 11/
My mother, who thankfully was a nurse, fought tooth and nail to find an answer, going from doctor to doctor.
I remember specifically one doctor, followed by an entourage of residents he was instructing, came in and just looked at me. 10/
I remember specifically one doctor, followed by an entourage of residents he was instructing, came in and just looked at me. 10/
August 18, 2025 at 6:51 PM
My mother, who thankfully was a nurse, fought tooth and nail to find an answer, going from doctor to doctor.
I remember specifically one doctor, followed by an entourage of residents he was instructing, came in and just looked at me. 10/
I remember specifically one doctor, followed by an entourage of residents he was instructing, came in and just looked at me. 10/
Fun fact: medical fatphobia almost killed me as a kid because I had a rare heart defect called Wolf Parkinson’s White Syndrome that took countless doctors to finally diagnose.
From three to six years old, I had chest pain a lot because my heart rate would go from normal to 200 beats a minute. 9/
From three to six years old, I had chest pain a lot because my heart rate would go from normal to 200 beats a minute. 9/
August 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Fun fact: medical fatphobia almost killed me as a kid because I had a rare heart defect called Wolf Parkinson’s White Syndrome that took countless doctors to finally diagnose.
From three to six years old, I had chest pain a lot because my heart rate would go from normal to 200 beats a minute. 9/
From three to six years old, I had chest pain a lot because my heart rate would go from normal to 200 beats a minute. 9/
Back to my original point: my whole life, I was told I could not be successful.
Eventually, I was so worn down by people pounding that into me, including doctors telling me that my size had to be my fault instead of looking further into it.
8/
Eventually, I was so worn down by people pounding that into me, including doctors telling me that my size had to be my fault instead of looking further into it.
8/
August 18, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Back to my original point: my whole life, I was told I could not be successful.
Eventually, I was so worn down by people pounding that into me, including doctors telling me that my size had to be my fault instead of looking further into it.
8/
Eventually, I was so worn down by people pounding that into me, including doctors telling me that my size had to be my fault instead of looking further into it.
8/
I’m painting the interior walls of my shed that we are converting into an office space. I'm doing a fun art deco vibe, including copper ceiling tiles. The floor is black with copper striping in a diamond pattern.
It’s going to be dark, cozy, like an English Pub without the colonialism. 7/
It’s going to be dark, cozy, like an English Pub without the colonialism. 7/
August 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I’m painting the interior walls of my shed that we are converting into an office space. I'm doing a fun art deco vibe, including copper ceiling tiles. The floor is black with copper striping in a diamond pattern.
It’s going to be dark, cozy, like an English Pub without the colonialism. 7/
It’s going to be dark, cozy, like an English Pub without the colonialism. 7/
She was often passed over for some of our skinnier classmates, even though she had ten times the talent.
You are told your entire life that you can't succeed in a bigger body.
So a few days ago, I decided to put myself out there while I’m painting. 6/
You are told your entire life that you can't succeed in a bigger body.
So a few days ago, I decided to put myself out there while I’m painting. 6/
August 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
She was often passed over for some of our skinnier classmates, even though she had ten times the talent.
You are told your entire life that you can't succeed in a bigger body.
So a few days ago, I decided to put myself out there while I’m painting. 6/
You are told your entire life that you can't succeed in a bigger body.
So a few days ago, I decided to put myself out there while I’m painting. 6/
In fact, she went on to eventually teach the theater program for a while at the high school we went to.
She was so talented, but she didn't always get the leading part because she–and I would hesitate to even put her in the plus size category–but she was curvy. 5/
She was so talented, but she didn't always get the leading part because she–and I would hesitate to even put her in the plus size category–but she was curvy. 5/
August 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
In fact, she went on to eventually teach the theater program for a while at the high school we went to.
She was so talented, but she didn't always get the leading part because she–and I would hesitate to even put her in the plus size category–but she was curvy. 5/
She was so talented, but she didn't always get the leading part because she–and I would hesitate to even put her in the plus size category–but she was curvy. 5/
I was overlooked for other people who were, frankly, not as talented as I was, but they were skinnier.
And these unfair standards didn't just affect me. It affected another person in my high school who was incredibly talented. 4/
And these unfair standards didn't just affect me. It affected another person in my high school who was incredibly talented. 4/
August 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
I was overlooked for other people who were, frankly, not as talented as I was, but they were skinnier.
And these unfair standards didn't just affect me. It affected another person in my high school who was incredibly talented. 4/
And these unfair standards didn't just affect me. It affected another person in my high school who was incredibly talented. 4/
I've shared before how much I love being in front of people, but I was never chosen as the leading character.
I didn't have “that” body.
During my high school theater productions, I was usually cast as a side character. 3/
I didn't have “that” body.
During my high school theater productions, I was usually cast as a side character. 3/
August 18, 2025 at 6:47 PM
I've shared before how much I love being in front of people, but I was never chosen as the leading character.
I didn't have “that” body.
During my high school theater productions, I was usually cast as a side character. 3/
I didn't have “that” body.
During my high school theater productions, I was usually cast as a side character. 3/
I have been fat my entire life. And when you are fat your whole life, you end up absorbing certain “truths” about yourself. One of the biggest ones is that you can never be “the face” of anything.
When I was a kid, I loved acting and I loved performing. 2/
When I was a kid, I loved acting and I loved performing. 2/
August 18, 2025 at 6:46 PM
I have been fat my entire life. And when you are fat your whole life, you end up absorbing certain “truths” about yourself. One of the biggest ones is that you can never be “the face” of anything.
When I was a kid, I loved acting and I loved performing. 2/
When I was a kid, I loved acting and I loved performing. 2/
Even though I look the way I look, even though I have the diagnoses that I have, I am still a fucking FABULOUS speaker.
I cannot wait to help more people like me realize that they are, too!
It's not as terrifying and it's not as scary as you think. 13/13
I cannot wait to help more people like me realize that they are, too!
It's not as terrifying and it's not as scary as you think. 13/13
August 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Even though I look the way I look, even though I have the diagnoses that I have, I am still a fucking FABULOUS speaker.
I cannot wait to help more people like me realize that they are, too!
It's not as terrifying and it's not as scary as you think. 13/13
I cannot wait to help more people like me realize that they are, too!
It's not as terrifying and it's not as scary as you think. 13/13
I also founded a nonprofit that I have spoken about with other organizations.
I’ve been really well received each time I’ve spoken.
I don't have any formal training.
I don't have a TED Talk, but I know how to engage an audience. 12/
I’ve been really well received each time I’ve spoken.
I don't have any formal training.
I don't have a TED Talk, but I know how to engage an audience. 12/
August 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I also founded a nonprofit that I have spoken about with other organizations.
I’ve been really well received each time I’ve spoken.
I don't have any formal training.
I don't have a TED Talk, but I know how to engage an audience. 12/
I’ve been really well received each time I’ve spoken.
I don't have any formal training.
I don't have a TED Talk, but I know how to engage an audience. 12/
Humor is the most effective tool for public speaking. It helped me not only through my period presenting the Cash Flow game and teaching people the basics of real estate investing, but I was invited to speak at multiple real estate investing networking events. 11/
August 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Humor is the most effective tool for public speaking. It helped me not only through my period presenting the Cash Flow game and teaching people the basics of real estate investing, but I was invited to speak at multiple real estate investing networking events. 11/
I am naturally funny and naturally sarcastic. Combine that with my internal pattern recognition? It (figuratively) kills.
I can tell when a joke is going to land or when a joke is not going to work out.
And you know what? Sometimes I screw up. 10/
I can tell when a joke is going to land or when a joke is not going to work out.
And you know what? Sometimes I screw up. 10/
August 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
I am naturally funny and naturally sarcastic. Combine that with my internal pattern recognition? It (figuratively) kills.
I can tell when a joke is going to land or when a joke is not going to work out.
And you know what? Sometimes I screw up. 10/
I can tell when a joke is going to land or when a joke is not going to work out.
And you know what? Sometimes I screw up. 10/
Then, I would just… talk directly at them and forget everybody else for a little bit. Periodically, I would look around and go, “Oh, people are laughing. I can use this!”
That's how I like to present: by making my audience bust out laughing. 9/
That's how I like to present: by making my audience bust out laughing. 9/
August 11, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Then, I would just… talk directly at them and forget everybody else for a little bit. Periodically, I would look around and go, “Oh, people are laughing. I can use this!”
That's how I like to present: by making my audience bust out laughing. 9/
That's how I like to present: by making my audience bust out laughing. 9/