Last summer, Minneapolis entrepreneur and activist Sheletta Brundidge made national news for gifting nearly 1,000 interior combination locks to families with autistic children. Traveling across eight cities on her own dime and time, Brundidge’s only goal was to help these families keep their loved ones safe.
This, however, was not the first time the Emmy award-winning podcast host made a name for herself as an advocate for marginalized communities. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, Brundidge hosted a WCCO radio segment with members of the Black community and law enforcement where the two groups discussed their experiences and how to move forward together. The conversation sent ripples across Minneapolis and beyond, and soon Brundidge become not only a trusted advocate in the Black community, but also saw her newly created media production company—Sheletta Makes Me Laugh—catapult into the success it is today.
Courtesy of Sheletta Brundidge
“For years I wanted to be the first Black woman to host a primetime show on a radio station, but it wasn’t going to happen,” Brundidge says. “So I decided, ‘You know, I am going to make my own podcast and talk about what I want to talk about.”
And that she did. Known for platforming BIPOC experts, Brundidge’s media group features several podcast shows covering an array of topics—from financial and physical health to DEI and travel.
“I am all about light, love and laughter,” Brundidge says. “There are so many communities out there who need advocates and so many experts who are not getting the coverage they should.”
Brundidge’s crown jewel, ultimately, is her podcast “Taking Authority Over Autism”—one of the first shows she produced and one that is near to heart as a parent to three children with autism.
Courtesy of Sheletta Brundidge
“I describe myself as a bulldozer in the autism community,” Brundidge says. “What I have learned is that I must work 10 years ahead for my kids. There are thousands of children out there who are going to be adults someday and will need jobs and higher education opportunities, so I am constantly urging businesses and schools to accommodate them in whatever way they can.”
From working with corporate HR teams to sitting down with college presidents and deans, Brundidge has the difficult conversations and asks the direct questions—how do our social and cultural spheres fail individuals with autism, and how can we better serve this community?
“I recently sat across from the president of the University of St. Thomas and asked, ‘Are you ready for 1 in 36 of your students to have autism?’ Because most colleges are not ready for the onslaught of young people with autism coming through their doors,” Brundidge says.
Brundidge is also committed to giving parents tools to help their children find these schooling opportunities via financial aid.
Courtesy of Sheletta Brundidge
“Parents do not always know there are grants and scholarships out there that they can apply for,” she says. “I still get calls from organizations asking me to use my voice and help them get the word out about scholarships that nobody has applied for.”
The education sphere is not the only place where Brundidge recognizes holes and helps try to fill them; the business and corporate spaces present challenges for the autism community as well, thus inspiring Brundidge’s media production company to start hosting job fairs during Autism Acceptance Month and Disability Awareness Month. Comcast, the University of Minnesota Fairview Medical Center, and Anderson Windows—these are just a few of the entities sponsoring and attending these job fairs that, today, bring in hundreds across the region.
“It’s not only giving people with autism employment opportunities, but it helps them practice speaking with strangers which gives them hope,” Brundidge says. “Once, we had a mother in tears because she watched her son with autism speak to a stranger for the first time.”
In 2022 Brundidge added “author” to her resume after publishing four children’s books on autism awareness. Three of the books tell the story of her children with autism—Brandon, Cameron, and Daniel—and their experiences overcoming adversity and finding their paths. The fourth highlights her oldest son Andrew’s story of being a neurotypical sibling to neurodivergent siblings.
Courtesy of Sheletta Brundidge
“No child with autism is the same, and I want the books to help readers understand how people in this community find comfort and joy in a world that does not always see them,” she says.
Brundidge emphasizes how her faith has been the ultimate rock in her journey, guiding her through the ups and downs of parenting. “Relying on my faith and not just myself has been paramount as a parent to multiple children with autism,” Brundidge iterates. “My faith is unwavering, and it has given me an immense amount of strength and courage to do what I do.”
In addition to prayer and reflection, Brundidge emphasizes that a successful journey for children with autism must include finding good behavioral therapy centers, implementing speech and occupational therapy programs, and directly connecting your child’s therapist(s) with their teachers.
“Early action and intervention are key,” Brundidge states. “If you see your child is not getting the support they need, take action and find a place where the community will truly advocate for and help your child.”
As Brundidge’s on-the-ground campaigning and podcast continue to make a monumental impact in autism community, Brundidge is proud to watch her two children Brandon and Cameron also become a part of the movement as hosts of their own podcast, “Simply Autastic Siblings.” Every week, the duo sits down to discuss movies, books, hobbies, and much more.
“They have the most popular of all of my shows,” Brundidge says. “It has received 100,000 downloads and has thousands of listeners every month because they are an inspiration to other children with autism.”
One thing that is clear to whoever encounters Brundidge—whether it be parents looking for resources or organizations interested in advocacy—is that her work is purely altruistic.
“I am not a politician. Much of my work is done on my own time,” she says. “I just want to see everybody win. I want everyone to be successful. I want to see children healed and happy. That is my goal.”
Courtesy of Sheletta Brundidge
Brundidge’s podcast “Taking Authority over Autism” and her children’s podcast “Simply Autastic Siblings” can be found on ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, Apple, and Spotify. Her published works can also be found on ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com, as well as local bookstores.
