Left of Normal with Scott Sery

This podcast is all about Autism Spectrum Disorder.  But there are many traits that are similar to ADHD - despite these two being seemingly at odd with each other. Recently the idea of AuDHD started to pop up more and more.  While ADHD and Autism comorbidity aren't new concepts, they're being understood more and more.  And from what I've found out, ADHD doesn't necessarily manifest as hyper and ou...

In our family we have two Left of Normal and one normie.  Sometimes the dynamics can get a little weird. Over the years it has been a learning curve to understand different communication styles.  But as we all grow together we learn what we are trying to say and how to say it. Jessica and Holden come on as guests in this family episode of Left of Normal.

We all have some of those little things that we love to get lost in.  For those with autism, however, our reasons can be a little different. Hyperfixations are short-term dives into topics, activities, or something that can completely distract us from real life.  Fixating on them allows the body and mind to reset and calm down. Today's episode looks at what they are, how the present themselves, th...

Many people wonder if it's okay to ask someone if they're autistic.  So, I decided to tackle this question and take a look at motives, reasons, and methods of asking. Today, I'll share some of the tips how you can approach the subject, and some of the reasons why you might not want to go there.  I'll lay it all out there on how I would feel if you asked if I was autistic today, 10 years ago, or 20...

Social expectations are (largely) unwritten rules created by a society to help keep everything flowing properly and helping everyone get along. The problem is they assume a specific skill set - a set that the majority of people have. Most people don't need training for it, they just intuitively know how to navigate following these expectations or norms. For some, such as those on the autism spectr...

Episode 118 talked about why the jobs suck.  This episode we get into why entrepreneurship is often a better idea for those who are on the spectrum. I'll go through the five considerations of what happens at a traditional job, and how being self-employed circumvents those sucky situations. There are, however, some parts of being entrepreneur that are difficult, and some of those difficulties are c...

This was going to be an episode on how those with autism manage the world of being an entrepreneur, running a business, and lead teams or groups... but setting the stage took a bit longer than expected, so entrepreneurship will come next week. In this episode we take a gander at a variety of jobs that I had, and why they all sucked.  Why I bombed interviews if I could even get an interview, and wh...

There are a ton of myths out there around autism (not dissimilar to most, well, everything in the world).  The myths are about what causes the condition, how do you "cure" it, and more. Why do they persist?  Why do people continue to perpetuate them?  And better yet, what's the truth? This episode we talk about vaccines and autism, how to discover if you (or a child) are on the spectrum, as well a...

Nature is a fantastic way to help neurodivergent minds navigate the world.  For me, it's because nature is safe, predictable, and exciting. Studies show that being immersed in nature is great for everyone - it's the Japanese concept of Shinrin Yoku - but especially for those with ASD and ADHD. Today, we're talking about an upcoming adventure: climbing Granite Peak - Montana's highest point.  Holde...

A lot of people love to bemoan how hard parenting is.  Yes, it can be difficult at times. If you're on the Autism Spectrum, and you're a parent, do you feel there are certain challenges to overcome? As a Left of Normal parent, I found some aspects were quite easy - especially the parts where I just played with a baby all day long.  Other aspects are quite difficult - such as where processes and ru...

Those on the spectrum can be really annoying sometimes.   And we often know that we're annoying.  The problem arises with the fact that we can't really control it - many of those annoying traits and quirks for those on the autism spectrum are largely outside of their control.   So what do you do when a Left of Normal is annoying you?  Let's talk about that.

A listener chimed in recently and asked about boundaries, especially with children on the spectrum.  I pondered it a bit, and realized that for a long time my own boundaries were rubbish. The problem was that trying to please too many people meant not caring for myself. Of course, now that I have set those boundaries, I tend to come off as rude, standoffish, and arrogant. Today we'll look at how L...

Today we have a guest on the podcast who really knows his stuff when it comes to leadership.   Dave Nordel spent 30 years in the Air Force.  During that time he learned a ton of valuable lessons on leading others, investing in people, and helping everyone grow and do better.  He has a passion for mental health and ensuring that people who need a little boost get the boost they're looking for.   Wh...

Lack of impulse control plagues a number of neurodivergent people.  ADHD folks are especially prone to following the impulse to get that little dopamine hit. Left of Normal people are prone to impulses as well.  Often our impulses are less manic and crazy outbursts, and more stim activities. Today, we're looking at impulsivity, impulse control, and how to help our impulsive children on the autism...

Today we have a guest on the show, Genie Love is a Neurodiversity coach.  She helps businesses and individuals create a better, safer, and more productive workplace for everyone - those who are left, normies, and right.  With a Master's degree in educational leadership, as well as degrees in physical therapy and teaching, she has plenty of experience with those on the spectrum and across a wide sw...

We have a split podcast today.  I host part of it, Holden hosts part of it.   We'll talk about friendships, some of the struggles to make friends, what happens when friends aren't around.   We don't get into too much of the psychology behind having friends, why everyone needs some, and the benefits of it all, that's certainly something worth pursuing in a later episode that talks about autism and...

There are some things that normies do... or rather don't do... that don't entirely make a lot of sense.  It's not that hard to understand these concepts, and not hard to "do it the right way" but there's an insistence on a different way.   This episode is a bit discombobulated.  Please don't downvote it even though it might be the worst episode I've uploaded yet.   Love you, mean it.

As a Left of Normal, I find myself being more logical in decision making.  This means that money money management has never really been much of an issue.  Not all of us are like that, some tend to get a bit more confused with things like money. Today we'll go through how my brain processes money decisions, and how a recent money event tried to disrupt that. Fortunately, I overpowered my emotional...

I recently came across a meme (I posted it in the Facebook group Left of Normal on May 11th) that talked about walking on tiptoes, or toe walking, and how that's an autism trait.  This got me thinking about how often I walk on my toes, and started to realize I do it a lot... way more than a normal adult anyway. So I dug a little deeper to find out why Left of Normal folks walk on tippy toes.  And...

Nearly 1.5 million people in the US die from heart disease and cancer every year.   There are new studies showing strong correlations between our mindsets and why these issues have become so prevalent (our terrible diet isn't helping either).   Today we are looking at some of the ways our bodies and minds are not separate, but part of one overall organism, and why those on the spectrum can suffer...

Today we get to get a bunch of little snapshots into the mind of the Left of Normal. This episode is all about reviewing excerpts from official diagnoses for those on the Autism Spectrum.  I give my insights into why they happen, and share stories on how they have affected me throughout my life. Plus a mini book review.

One of the defining characteristics of those with ASD is difficulty navigating social situations.  Often it takes a lot of observation to fully understand what the appropriate behavior is. Today we look at why, some annoying things normies say, and a little bit more. There's also a story in there that includes 7 slugs.

We all know that social media can damage your mental health.  There are a ton of studies that show despite what we think, it's just not good for us. Those who are on the autism spectrum can, however, find benefit in it since there is less pressure than in-person socializing. Today's episode goes through the handful of social accounts I maintain, what I like and dislike about them.  Toward the end...

Today we get to hear from a guest!  Alexander Clark, who has his own podcast and radio show, is a man of many talents.  He shares some insight into what makes him tick and how he interacts with the Left of Normal community.   After listening, check his podcast Xander Speaks, and make sure to check out his radio show that launches on April 10th.

Holden joins us as we talk about a recent road trip we went on.  He shares what he likes and dislikes about the trip, and we get a glimpse into these adventures through the eyes of a child. While I did try to steer the conversation to have him talk more about emotions, feelings, and what goes on in his mind, I don't think he's quite there to recognize those things... or maybe it's the ADHD that hi...