Autistic Techie

You've heard about coaches before, but for people who have ADHD? Is that even a thing? 100% it is, and Brittany Smith is one of the best. An ADHDer herself, Brittany is the mastermind behind Conquer Consulting, whose mission is to help you un-suck your brain and get you back to doing the things you enjoy. She also runs the ADHD Guild, a place for neurospicy people to find community, support each o...

You've said this to yourself: "I need a friend! Someone who gets it!" Enter ND Connect, a website whose mission is to connect neurodivergent people with friends, mentors, and other like-minded folk who actually understand what it means to be neurodivergent. You don't have to go into the world alone all the time. If you could meet people who've gone through similar struggles as you, whose brains op...

Nicholas Solter is an incredible parent of a dyslexic daughter, and his advocacy has completely transformed his engineering management approach. He has a storied tech career that has been shaped by his daughter's struggles, triumphs, and personal epiphanies. Join us as we talk about how inclusion and accessibility inform Nicholas' approach to building teams, working on projects, and the history th...

Mat Hultquist has spent most of his life tinkering with technology in some way, messing with his family computer and working his way up to doing IT work at his high school. Who else could be a more accurate description of an "autistic techie"? Mat is a former colleague of Shea's at Mentra and is now a software engineer at Lattice. Join us as we talk about his self discovery of autism & ADHD, how h...

In this episode of Autistic Techie, I chat with Sheldon Gay, the National Vice Chair of Umbrella US, founder of Techano Solutions, and neurodivergent self advocate. Sheldon is also the host of his own podcast, "I Must Be BUG'N" where he talks about neurodiversity too! Sheldon's story is one of late diagnosis, navigating career changes from mechanical engineering to product management, and running...

We live in a AI dominated world, whether we like it or not. The variety, complexity, and difficulty of these tools is intimidating for everyone, neurodiverse folks especially. Elias Kouloures has figured out how to take the best of AI tools and support his work and lifestyle, while being aware of its shortcomings and what to look out for. Join us for a deep dive on how AI can support neurodiverse...

Adaptive fashion is a burgeoning industry, and neurodivergent people are in need of sensory friendly clothing. Sense-Ational You is a clothing line whose mission is to address the sensory and accessibility needs of kids and adults everywhere. Julia DeNey joins Autistic Techie to talk about the journey to founding Sense-Ational You, how her studies and experiences led her to this career path, and h...

Burnout affects everyone at some point in their careers, and neurodivergent people are no exception to this. Because of how much it takes to mask, we burn out more than neurotypical people do! Jared Williams, a former Mentra colleague of mine and now the General Manager of Florecita Panadería bakery, talks about his journey in the startup world, venture capital, knowing when he'd hit his limit, an...

Jobseeking is a painful process, and that's even more true for neurodiverse people. How can you tell if a company is inclusive and can support you? Surprisingly, there are many ways you can figure out whether a potential employer supports neurodiversity or not. Some of these things can even be done before you start working on an application! Today's episode talks through all the ways you can evalu...

Join me as I sit down with Cat Contillo, a cybersecurity expert and multidisciplinary artist who is also a passionate advocate for autism and accessibility. Cat shares her journey from studying social work to becoming a cybersecurity professional, driven by her desire to help others and her love for technology. We discuss her late autism diagnosis and how it transformed her understanding of hersel...

How should you respond if someone says that you don't "look" neurodivergent? Does neurodiversity actually have a "look"? In this episode, we unpack the meaning of this question, where it might come from, and how you can stand up for yourself when confronted with this. Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/but-you-dont-look-autistic-how-should-you-respond Follow us on social media: ht...

What does it mean to belong? How do you know when you've found a place where you can thrive? Is it a job, a club, group, something else? This episode unpacks that strange fuzzy feeling when you're just vibing with the people around you. They welcome you with open arms. And if that space doesn't exist, nothing's stopping you from making it. Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/what-b...

The age old question: Should I tell my boss that I'm neurodivergent? The answer has a surprising amount of nuance beyond a simple "yes" or "no" response. Let's unpack why it's a complicated question with an even more nuanced answer. Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/should-i-tell-my-boss-team-that-im-neurodivergent Follow us on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@autistic_techi...

The first day of a new job can be a scary thing. It's OK to feel overwhelmed in the beginning, but what if you could feel more prepared? And find your sense of comfort along the way? This episode unpacks your first day or so to help you hit a great stride when everything around you is brand new. Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/your-first-day-on-a-new-job-and-youre-freaking-out...

Welcome to the Autistic Techie podcast! Join host Shea Belsky as he introduces the podcast, learn more about his background, discusses the topics he'll be covering, and sets the scene for what's to come.