Exploring The Spectrum

What becomes possible when a mother decides to ignore what the experts said about her son’s future? In this episode, Cindy Rucker Trost joins us to share the twists and turns of her parenting journey with Hunter, highlighting the importance of choosing to believe that your child is capable of more. Cindy discusses the early years where the future was unknown and the present had no instructions, ho...

What becomes possible when an autistic child grows up with a mother who always believed he was capable?  In this episode, Hunter Trost joins us to share his perspectives on common myths about autism, the importance of support systems, and the impact of a mother who never gave up. Hunter makes it clear that every autistic individual has their own story, but also offers incredible insights about wha...

Why are so many young adults feeling stuck - and what actually helps them move forward?  In this episode, Andrew Taylor joins us to explore the hidden forces shaping this generation and how parents and young adults can work together to rebuild momentum, resilience, and a sense of direction.  We discuss the impact of technology on adolescent development, how overprotective parenting may unintention...

Where can families of neurodivergent children turn to when the structure and support of school systems fall away after graduation? Allison Kleinman, LCSW, and Alex LoPinto, LCSW of Future Centered Care join us to unpack the critical gaps families face when supporting adults with developmental disabilities—especially during major life transitions like “the cliff” after school. We explore the emotio...

There are countless books on parenting - but what happens when you’re raising a child who experiences the world differently and is often underestimated?  Deborah Winking, PhD joins us to share insights from her book Raising Capable Kids, which walks parents through 12 habits - using story, science and prompts for self reflection - that allow parents to understand and apply these habits in their da...

Are educators preparing autistic students for life, or just helping them survive school?  James Williams joins us to share his perspectives on school, work, and social connection as an autistic individual. An autistic self-advocate since age 11, James brings a rare wide-angle view shaped not only by speaking and advocacy, but by ongoing exposure to the full range of lived experiences of autistic p...

What if the emergence of agentic AI can help answer the question of what causes autism?  Elizabeth Horn joins us to share perspectives from a 30 year journey with her daughter Sophia, and how her experience inspired her to build new systems of support for autistic children at every step of the way. We discuss how behavioral interventions fail to address the underlying biological challenges which a...

Have you ever wanted to do something so perfectly that you ended up not doing it at all?  Dr. Greg Chasson is a leading authority on transforming compulsive and impulsive behaviors and the author of " Flawed: Why Perfectionism is a Challenge for Management. ” While it is true that many characteristics of perfectionism are often present in autistic populations, Dr. Chasson joins us to share mo...

Your child just received a diagnosis of autism, now what? Much of the information out there continues to be focused on fixing deficits, but ignores something more important that might actually unlock hidden potential: their strengths.  Clain Udy joins us to share his journey with his son Christian, which begins as many parents’ journeys do and transforms into a period of exploration that became th...

We often hear how a diagnosis of autism can be a relief, especially for those diagnosed later in life, but what happens when the treatment plan that follows the diagnosis actually makes you worse?  Dr. Angela Kingdon shares with us the winding journey following her diagnosis at age 39, including how traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy created new challenges, her experience with autistic burno...

As the conversation around autism gets mainstreamed, some people become more understanding when they recognize stereotypical behaviors in public, but what happens when autism is not as noticeable from the outside?   Dr. Dena Gassner shares what many families experience, simultaneously navigating school systems for her autistic child (who presented in a more classic way and diagnosed early) while a...

There is an outdated belief that autism is only a diagnosis of childhood, so what happens when the diagnostic systems that providers depend on cannot capture the reality of lived experience?  Dr. Sarah Wayland joins us to share her experience, both personally and professionally, as to how autism may present differently than expected and lead to misdiagnosis and delayed care. She shares her experie...