Autistic Small Talk

In a succinct conclusion to Vanessa's interview with Brett Heasman, they talk about ways in which flow can be negative, the challenges around measuring flow, stimming as an aid to focus, flow in education settings, and the importance of sharing research outside of academia. For the second half she is joined by Jan Goh and they discuss a paper by Catherine Caldwell-Harris on autistic interests. Bre...

This brief two episode interview with Dr. Brett Heasman starts with a conversation about his views on human flourishing, neurodiversity and flow, and public perceptions of autism. Brett Heasman Heasman Flow Lab Brett Heasman’s ResearchGate profile Sensory Street Autistic Flow Heasman, B., Williams, G., Charura, D., Hamilton, L. G., Milton, D., & Murray, F. (2024). Towards autistic flow theory:...

Vince and Vanessa review, in a trice, research about who self-identifies as Autistic and why, followed by a state-of-the-art paper on why terms like "profound autism" and functioning labels (i.e.: high-functioning or low-functioning) end up causing harm. Ahuvia IL, Gurbuz E, Cuda J, et al. Identifying as Autistic Without a Formal Diagnosis: Who Self-Identifies as Autistic and Why? Autism in Adulth...

Vince and Vanessa race through a discussion of Autistic Burnout by going through a paper that describes it and its causes. Masking is a big contributor so they also talk about Devon Price's book Unmasking for Life. They open with describing implicit bias. Show notes

Vince and Vanessa talk with some alacrity about how Mad Studies and Neurodiversity can work together, as well as about Mad History and Politics. Show Notes

Vince and Vanessa zip through 2 papers on hypercuriosity as a framework for ADHD. The first lays out the theory, and the second is a survey-based study on curiosity and ADHD traits. They then discuss a paper making a call for the establishment of Critical ADHD Studies as a field. Show Notes Spoon Theory The original spoon theory essay: https://web-wp.archive.org/web/20251002173043/https://www.buty...

Vince and Vanessa discourse expediently upon 2 papers about Autistic Flow. The first describes a proposed theory of Autistic Flow and the second is a qualitative study of Autistic people transitioning in and out of flow. We also talk about anarchist callisthenics. Anarchist Callisthenics Anarchist Callisthenics video https://www.tiktok.com/@jonjon.jpeg/video/7597533190965808398 The Happy Urbanist...

Vince and Vanessa concisely review 9 different models of disability and a chapter in "Conversations on Empathy",authored by Damian Milton, Krysia Emily Waldock, and Nathan Keates, and titled: Autism and the ‘double empathy problem’. Odd Pride (Astrid) https://oddpride.com/ Shanidar 1 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/06/17/878896381/ancient-bones-offer-clues-to-how-long-ago-humans-care...

Vince and Vanessa efficiently finish their discussion of Nick Walker’s dissertation (Transformative Somatic Practices and Autistic Potentials: An Autoethnographic Exploration). They talk about ParaTheatrical ReSearch, autistic aptitudes, reconnecting with stimming, and autistic wellbeing. Nick Walker’s doctoral dissertation Walker, Nick (2019) Transformative Somatic Practices and Autistic Potentia...

Vince and Vanessa dash through part 2 of their discussion of Transformative Somatic Practices and Autistic Potentials: An Autoethnographic Exploration by Nick Walker. This includes stories of Nick Walker's experiences with aikido, how he came to start training, how it changed his embodiment, and how his autistic traits benefitted not only him but his students. Nick Walker’s doctoral dissertation W...

Vince and Vanessa fly through part 1 of excitedly describing Nick Walker’s doctoral dissertation, which is entitled: Transformative Somatic Practices and Autistic Potentials: An Autoethnographic Exploration. As you can imagine, Vanessa is completely delighted. Nick Walker’s doctoral dissertation Walker, Nick (2019) Transformative Somatic Practices and Autistic Potentials: An Autoethnographic Explo...

Vince and Vanessa have a brisk chat about Dyslexic Strengths and Complimentary Cognition. Professor Chesko: “You Can’t Blame Everything on Your Autism” A Response to a Critique I Never Asked For By the excellent Professor Chesko https://open.substack.com/pub/thespeechprof/p/you-cant-blame-everything-on-your?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web Dyslexic Strengths and Complementary Cognition: Taylor...

Vince and Vanessa cruise through Elliot Wassell's paper Experiences of Autistic Joy. Then they discuss glimmers, and share 2 field recordings containing stories of Autistic Joy. Wassell, E. (2025). Experiences of autistic joy. Disability & Society, 1–26. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687599.2025.2498417 Autistic Girls Network: https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/ Glimmers https:/...

Vince and Vanessa talk fleetingly about contradictory research on autistic neural connectomes and swiftly cover 2 papers on strengths-based approaches to identifying and working with Autistic people. Autistic Connectomes Summary at Embrace Autism: https://embrace-autism.com/autistic-brain-differences-connectivity/ Human Connectome Project: https://www.humanconnectome.org/ Nick Walker forever The es...

Vince and Vanessa zoom through a chat about stimming followed by a speedy discussion of the Farahar & Foster Three Dimensional Autistic Space Framework. There may be a passing mention of the connection between mushrooms and ancient calendar systems.. Farahar & Foster three dimensions Autistic space framework Video by Chloe Farahar and Annette Foster explaining their framework:: https://vim...

Vince and Vanessa rapidly review 2 papers about autistic identity and connect them to the concept of neuroqueer, then sprint through Vince’s project of inviting people to consider their neurotype. Show notes

The episode opens with a great story from Sarah Willard. After which Vince and Vanessa have a speedy exchange about monotropism and the concept of neuroqueer. Show notes

Vince and Vanessa glance at Rachel Cullen’s Autistic Pragmatic Language Hypothesis, and demonstrate some autistic joy by discussing their love of plants. Show notes

Vince and Vanessa have a quick chat about masking, identity-first language, and institutionalized prejudice and bigotry against Autistic people within research that is not led by us. Things get dark. And then they get even darker. But at the very end you hear us laughing a lot while we semi-chaotically attempt to end the episode. Show notes

In their first episode, Vince and Vanessa briefly talk about the Double Empathy Problem, the Social Model of Disability, Autistic representation and Autistic spaces. They discuss the importance of Autistic researchers, and talk through some examples of what accommodation can look like, while sharing stories of their personal experiences within these topics. Warning: Somewhere in the middle, with h...