Autism Knows No Borders

Discover what’s possible when relationships are strengthened by listening.  Vanessa Lista's autistic older brother, Billy, has been her inspiration her whole life. Currently studying kinesiology and psychology in college, Vanessa’s goal is to become a pediatric physical therapist. In this conversation, we discuss: How Vanessa’s relationship with her brother has evolved over the years Why she admir...

Discover what’s possible when you stick to healthy habits. The start of a new year usually motivates people to realign priorities and establish new routines. Some even pick a guiding word for the year to provide focus. What intentions did you set at the beginning of 2025? Are you staying on track to reach your goals? If you’d like to learn about creating and maintaining habits, stick around for to...

Discover what’s possible when skills are transferred off the court.  Lisa Pugliese-LaCroix is a Speech-Language Pathologist, a former collegiate tennis player, and the Founder and CEO of Love Serving Autism , a non-profit organization that provides specialized therapeutic tennis instruction for individuals with autism. Love Serving Autism’s mission is to expand life skills, increase community incl...

Discover what’s possible when the world says no, but mothers say yes.  Our guests today are Catherine Verhoeff Shauf, Enesa Muratovic, and Moji Swartjes. These three strong and determined women are mothers of children on the autism spectrum. Another thing they all have in common is that they are ex-pats living in the Netherlands. Catherine is from the US, Enesa is from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and...

Discover what’s possible when a butterfly spreads her wings.  Cassidy Hooper is a 27-year-old autistic self-advocate from Mississippi who also has a rare genetic condition called Turner Syndrome. As the President of The Arc of Northeast Mississippi Autism Now Division, she mentors other autistic people and connects them with resources in their area. Some of her other advocacy work includes volunte...

Discover what’s possible when every change brings a new opportunity. Do you struggle with social engagements during the holiday season? What boundaries do you set in order to preserve your mental well-being? If you’d like to learn how to navigate the challenges of seasonal shifts, stick around for today’s episode. The following roundtable was facilitated by Global Autism Community moderator Hattie...

Discover what’s possible when everyone has a place they belong.  David Bodanis is a father to three young men, two of which are on the autism spectrum. David and his wife Irene are the founders of Jake’s House , a charitable organization based in Canada whose mission is to support individuals on the spectrum throughout their lifespans. They offer four core initiatives: annual holiday parties, the...

Discover what’s possible when inclusion is animated.  Dani Bowman is an autism self-advocate, animator, illustrator, teacher, and public speaker from California. Dani founded her company, DaniMation Entertainment LLC , at age 11, and has worked professionally in the animation industry since age 14. Her company has produced nine award-winning animated shorts, a PSA for Autism Society of America, an...

Discover what’s possible when social engagement and self-care are balanced. Do you find it challenging to be surrounded by too many people? What do you prefer: spending time alone or with others? Or do you just struggle to make deeper connections?  If any of this resonates with you or anyone you know, stick around for today’s episode. The following roundtable is about Isolation vs Community. It wa...

Discover what’s possible when innovative technology empowers parents to interact with their children in new, creative ways.  Michael Huang is the president and co-founder of UPlus Academy, an autism center in Nanjing, China.  With a background in IT, Michael describes the moment when he discovered he could utilize his multi-media technologies to help children with autism. It was fascinating to lea...

Discover what’s possible when instead of teaching someone to fish, you ask them what they like to eat.  The CEO and Founder of the Global Autism Project , Molly Ola Pinney, is back on the show to talk about the motto that drives our work: #DoWithNotFor.  For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers...

Discover what’s possible when taking care of yourself lets you take care of others.  This week's guest is Maggie Nunez. Originally from Dominican Republic and currently living in New Jersey, Maggie is a mother of three, two of whom are autistic. Her sons Dariel and Alvin are 16 and 13 years old. As a cancer survivor, Maggie hopes to encourage other parents to prioritize their own health in order t...

Discover what’s possible when we build bridges together.  ----more---- This week’s episode is part 2 of our 2024 Highlights. Today we’ll continue to review some of our favorite moments from this year’s episodes, specifically from 177 to 192. Related episodes:  Highlights of 2023: Part Two, with the Global Autism Community Highlights of 2023: Part One, with the Global Autism Community Highlights of...

Discover what’s possible when we build bridges together.  ----more---- We’ve reached the end of 2024! To celebrate, we’ll be reviewing some of our favorite moments from this year. Part 1 will highlight episodes 161 through 176, and Part 2 highlights episodes 177 through 192.  Since we started working on this podcast almost five years ago, we’ve brought on a wide range of guests, including prominen...

Discover what’s possible when you focus your lens beyond the surface.  Alfie Bowen is an autism self-advocate, wildlife photographer, author, and activist based in Suffolk, England. He uses his art to highlight animal emotion and connect people with the natural world.  At just 23 years old, Alfie was recently signed by the UK’s biggest art gallery network, Castle Fine Art . His debut collection Ca...

Discover what’s possible when you give to transform lives. This episode is being released a day early in observance of Thanksgiving in the US.  ----more---- Each year our team reflects on what we’re grateful for. First of all, we’re grateful for you, our listeners, and your continued support. We’re also grateful for our podcast guests and their willingness to share their story with us. And of cour...

Discover what’s possible when community outreach begins with empowerment.  Our guests today are two members of our Global Autism Project family: Cassie Harden Scott and Russel Hornig-Rohan, or Rusty for short.  Cassie and Rusty have been involved with the Global Autism Project for over 6 years. Both of them began as volunteers on SkillCorps trips to several of our partner sites – including Centro...

Discover what’s possible when music unlocks hidden strengths.  Pamela Fisher is a Registered Music Therapist from Sydney, Australia. She is skilled in voice, guitar, piano, improvisation, and clinical supervision. With over 15 years of experience specializing in groups and individuals with autism, Pam provides music therapy services both in-person and online.  In today’s conversation, Pam gives us...

Discover what’s possible when you embrace your true identity.  Are you a late-diagnosed autistic person, or do you know someone who is? If this resonates with you, you’ll want to listen to today’s conversation, where we touch on how acceptance of one’s autism can change over time.  The following Global Autism Community roundtable was facilitated by community moderator Hattie-Angelys Fox, and it fe...

Discover what’s possible when you engage your inner leader.  Do you want to learn how to communicate and collaborate effectively, identify the root causes of roadblocks in your life, and embrace your role as a leader?  Everyone has the potential to be a leader in their own lives. If you’re interested in personal and professional growth, stick around for this episode with the CEO and Founder of the...

Discover what’s possible when your environment fits your needs.  Do you struggle with organizing your physical space? Or have you found systems that work well for your needs? Organization can be a sensitive topic, especially if you feel any shame for not being as organized as you’d want to be.  If you’re looking for tips on how to design a space that works for you, stick around, because today’s ep...

Discover what’s possible when every child is given a voice.  In many countries around the world, autistic students are effectively excluded from the education system, as schools often lack adequate resources to accommodate their needs.  The work that our Global Autism Project Partners are doing around the world is fundamental to overcoming these challenges. By presuming competence, we can avoid se...

Discover what’s possible when you show up better for the world.  In today’s episode, we’re highlighting our recent SkillCorps® trip to Peru. Our SkillCorps® volunteer program is an opportunity for self-advocates, family members, and professionals to travel to Global Autism Project’s international partner sites and collaborate with local stakeholders on outreach initiatives in their communities.  T...

Discover what’s possible when you make lifelong connections.  For almost 20 years, the Global Autism Project has been providing sustainable clinical, administrative, and leadership training to autism centers around the world seeking guidance. We’ve also hosted global and regional summits over the last several years, but we were forced to pause these projects during the pandemic.  Last July, we wer...

Discover what’s possible when behavioral science is creatively broadcasted. Have you ever heard of Applied Behavior Analysis? Have you ever wondered how it came to be used in autism services? If you’re curious about the true story behind the origins of Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA for short, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Ryan O’Donnell, where he shares his passion for disseminati...