Meet My Autistic Brain

If you've ever felt that you were doing your actual job perfectly well but somehow failing at the social expectations that come with it, in this episode you’ll hear the reasons, how bosses see you and what you can do to be understood. The Articulate Autistic, Jaime Heidel, discusses her new book Before You Fire Them: A Practical Guide to Understanding Your Autistic Employee's Traits, Int...

Sol Smith, author of The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery , returns to the show to share what he’s learned from his own late diagnosis, more than two decades in the classroom, and years of coaching neurodivergent adults. His new book, The ADHDer’s Guide to Self-Discovery: Thriving with Your High-Energy Mind , is packed with real-world strategies. This episode helps you put them to work. What you...

There’s a reason routine appeals so strongly to some autistic minds while feeling like the enemy for others.  Learn the surprisingly powerful rituals many neurodivergent people rely on, the everyday tasks that are worth putting on autopilot, and the parts of life better left wide open. And you might want to know why a routine you choose feels entirely different from one imposed on you. Whether rou...

What if you had a doctor who supported you in all the ways you need help? From chronic illness to employment support and beyond, that kind of healthcare exists and in this episode you’ll learn about the resources that will guide you toward getting it. Dr. Melissa Houser, author of A Failure of Imagination: How the Healthcare System Fails Neurodivergent People—And What We're Doing Instead, tel...

Menopause touches almost everyone eventually, whether you're the one going through it, supporting someone who is, or know it's coming someday. Most of us walk into it with almost no real information. This episode is here to change that especially if you're autistic or love someone who is. This conversation, with information drawn from a recent study and the book Dr. Rachel Moseley w...

Occupational therapy can empower autistics in our every day lives. Carolyn Gillen, an autistic occupational therapist working with neurodivergent women, breaks down how occupational therapy for autistic adults can help with:  recognizing hunger, thirst, and nervous system signals your body may not flag clearly;  navigating sensory processing that can swing between overwhelming and numb;  advocatin...

You did everything you were supposed to do — showed up, did the homework, tried the techniques. And it left you feeling worse…or definitely not better. This episode gets into why standard talk therapy often misses autistic people and what a version built for our brains actually looks like. Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 40 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY w...

We autistics have a type of wealth, or capital, as a result of adapting, coping and growing as individuals with neurodivergent challenges. Essy Knopf, a therapist and author, has developed the Neurodivergent Cultural Wealth Framework, a valuable way to look at our neurodivergence. In this episode he explains what makes up the framework and how it enriches our lives with: Self-Knowledge Capital Ada...

Season 12 is here with new episodes! Listen for a preview of what’s to come.  Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 40 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can become a member of the community on Patreon at patreon.com/theautisticwoman...

Self-help fails autistics but why? This episode reveals the not-so-obvious reason it can do more harm than good and provides some tips for what you can do instead. Hear it again. Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 40 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue maki...

This is a replay of an episode from 2024 where I talk to Jackie Schuld, author of What is Autism? Jackie shares her insights and knowledge about autism, how it affects her and what it was like learning she’s autistic. Listen and meet the autistic brain of author, artist and therapist, Jackie Schuld. The information is just as relevant as it was before and is a great refresher! Get the book! https:...

The regions of the brain that play a role in resilience are the areas of the brain most affected by autism. Is it possible for an autistic person to be resilient? The answer may surprise you. Resilience assessment tool: https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/resilience/get-your-resilience-score/ Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 40 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLO...

There’s a key to connection that unlocks the door of isolation and loneliness. Truly connecting is not possible without it. What is it? The answer is in this episode. Remastered Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 40 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue makin...

When you can’t respond to an email or phone call, when you don’t move forward on a project, when you feel stuck in any area of your life you’re facing a “Wall of Awful.” Brendan Mahan, author of Overcoming The Wall of Awful; Why It's Hard to Get Things Done with ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety (and How to Do Them Anyway) has uncovered the reasons we face the wall. He offers solutions and tips that...

If you missed this one be sure to listen now. Or if you remember how great it was, how about another listen? In this episode you’ll hear author Jaime A. Heidel, The Articulate Autistic, talk about her book What Did I Do Wrong? An Accessible Guide to Preventing Traumatic Misunderstandings Between You and Your Autistic Loved One. Jamie has great insight into what it’s like to be autistic and how/why...

This is probably not the first time you’re hearing that many autistic and ADHD adults struggle on the job and not just due to sensory issues, although that’s a factor for sure. The bigger problem may be something else entirely. Something that has a solution.  In this episode David Raynor tells his own story about a career path of jobs frequently won then lost and how he tired of hearing he had “so...

We’ve waited for decades for an autism assessment tool that reflects the experiences of adult women. The older diagnostic tools based on research of autistic boys left many of us misdiagnosed, overlooked, or completely missed.  Dr. Rebecca Evanko set out to change that. After her own diagnosis at age 47, she used her background in cognitive linguistics, clinical practice and research to create an...

In this episode you’ll hear from Tanya Roberts about Mindfulness Done Differently. For those of us who find meditation and mindfulness difficult Tanya has a solution. She teaches a method that works for autistic people by taking sensory needs into account. She also created a supportive community of other autistics who are learning and practicing these skills. Next, Tanya answers four unique questi...

The medical system wasn't built for women who ask too many questions, need more time, or leave an exam still wanting answers. As a result many women have learned not to trust their bodies and their needs. Nikki Vinckier, a Physician’s Assistant, spent a decade working in medical care before she decided to write the manual it didn’t come with. This conversation is not just about what's br...

Allie Memery never imagined that a late autism diagnosis at age 57 could be the launching pad for a whole new, satisfying life. In this episode she talks about the thing that became her special interest, the path to self-regulation and the social life that she couldn’t have expected. She did it all while handling menopause, taking care of her aging mother and facing her own personal challenges.  A...

What does thriving actually look like for a late-diagnosed autistic adult? Alexis Kruel gives a pretty specific answer from a life of contradictions. Alexis is a commercial model and actor who was diagnosed autistic at 53 and ADHD shortly after. But this isn't really a diagnosis story. It's a story about what happens when your whole life suddenly plays back differently, and every awkward...

Have you ever felt like the world's volume is turned all the way up — and no one else seems to notice? For autistic people, sound sensitivity isn't just a quirk or an overreaction. It's a daily, exhausting reality. In this episode, you’ll hear what it actually feels like when everyday sounds become unbearable — and learn the science behind why it happens. In this episode: Why betwee...

Did you know that AuDHD is its own unique experience, not just autism plus ADHD co-existing? In this episode Megan Griffith, author of Welcome to AuDHD: How to Survive and Thrive as an Adult with Autism and ADHD, gives us the inside look at AuDHD from her lived experience. Some of the things Megan talks about:  Why AuDHD is its own unique experience, not just autism plus ADHD stacked on top of eac...

Something a little different this week! Natalie Diggins, former guest and author of the Autistic Adults Toolbox, reached out with a guest suggestion for the show — and that guest was me. So we turned the tables, and Natalie took over the hosting chair. In this episode, Natalie pulls back the curtain and asks the questions I usually ask everyone else. We talk about how and why I started this podcas...

Let’s be honest. You’re tired of friendships not working out and convinced they never will. Maybe you don’t try anymore and who could blame you? But don’t give up before you hear this episode with Caroline Maguire, author of the just-released book, Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults. This is not the same old advice we hear. These are step-by-step details about how to make it happen. From...