“Yes Chefs!” premieres Monday, August 31, 2026 on PBS KIDS
JERSEY CITY, N.J. Dr. Kerry Magro, an autistic professional speaker, best selling author and entertainment consultant, is adding television writer to his growing resume with the August 31 premiere of “Yes Chefs!,” an episode he helped write for PBS KIDS’ Carl the Collector.
The episode marks Magro’s first television writing credit and represents the latest chapter of an entertainment career spanning more than a decade.
Magro’s journey in entertainment began with the feature film Joyful Noise, starring Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton. His IMDb credits now include Joyful Noise, Jane Wants a Boyfriend, HBO’s Mrs. Fletcher, Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum U.S., Ezra and The Present.
Much of his work has focused on helping productions portray autism authentically and include autistic lived experience in the creative process.
“With Carl the Collector, I had an opportunity to take another step and help write an episode for the show,” Magro said. “As an autistic person, being able to help create television featuring autistic characters is incredibly meaningful. My goal is to hopefully expand to highlight even more people with disabilities as well.”
In “Yes Chefs!,” Lotta and Forrest work together in their school’s Student Super Chef competition. Lotta is autistic and experiences sensory sensitivities involving sounds, smells and certain food textures. Forrest is an energetic, impulsive neurodivergent character.
Their contrasting approaches become central to the episode as Lotta communicates when she is becoming overwhelmed and the two eventually realize they have not been truly listening to one another. The story explores sensory preferences, communication, compromise and learning to respect how another person experiences the world.
Outside entertainment, Magro’s full time work is professional speaking. He presents 100+ times a year to schools, businesses, universities, nonprofits and conferences on autism, neurodiversity, disability inclusion, bullying prevention and employment. Organizations interested in booking Magro for a keynote, professional development program or student presentation can learn more at KerryMagro.com or submit an inquiry at KerryMagro.com/contact.
Magro is also continuing to pursue acting opportunities. In recent years, he has auditioned for projects including Good Time, Bugonia and Apple’s Radical. Although he was not ultimately cast, he plans to continue pursuing opportunities both behind and in front of the camera.
“Hopefully this is only the beginning,” Magro said. “I want to continue growing as a speaker, writer, consultant and actor.”
“Lotta and the Watch Party/Yes Chefs!” premieres Monday, August 31, 2026 on PBS KIDS (check local listings).
Kerry Magro: https://kerrymagro.com/
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7338713/
Carl the Collector: https://pbskids.org/carl
Fuzzytown Productions: https://www.fuzzy.town/
Spiffy Pictures: https://spiffypictures.com/
Speaking inquiries: https://kerrymagro.com/contact/
