Left of Normal with Scott Sery

We're about in the middle of Autism Awareness Month, and there's a bit more of a buzz this year than I've seen in years past.  Perhaps more people are vocal online. So, we'll take a look at what this month means to actually autistic people, and we'll challenge, head on, the "symbol" of autism - the puzzle piece. In this episode I look at where it came from, what it means, and why a lot of people i...

I don't always overthink things, but when I do, I catastrophize. Just kidding, it's almost always overthinking.  Today's episode looks into the typical pattern of how the overthinking turns into catastrophizing. I relay some quotes I read earlier this week, tell a couple of stories about what my brain has come up with recently (including a shout out to my Turo account - if you need a nice truck to...

Today we get to hear from an expert in the field of Autism. Dr. Cravens has a PhD with an autism focus.  Her training has allowed her to help with those all across the spectrum.  Today, she has a therapy practice where she, and other neurodivergent therapists, help people no matter what they're struggling with. Through the years she has found that one thing stands out: increased compassion and emp...

Today we're diving into the world of emotions.  We'll take a look at why Left of Normal people tend to come across as having no empathy.  We'll also take a peek at the difference between the two different kinds of empathy. We'll get into a little bit on what it's like to feel emotions but not understand, or be able to describe, what's being felt.  It gives a bit of an insight into what those on th...

Our guest today has one simple message: don't be stagnant. Whatever happens in life, no matter if you feel down or up, keep learning, keep reading, and keep moving forward.  Joshua Smith grew up on the spectrum, but didn't know he was on the spectrum.  Looking back he no sees all of the different aspects that were thought to be impairments as signs that he is Left of Normal. Today, he's helping ot...

There's a whole lot of information out there about how to parent an autistic child. There's not a lot of information out there about parenting as someone on the autism spectrum. Even when you try to find information about parenting while autistic, you come across parents of autistic children. Today, we look at what it's like to be a parent while on the spectrum. The Left of Normal parent has a num...

Today's 'cast has a guest: Amy Taylor. Amy's daughter was diagnosed with autism, but not until many years after she was suspected.  The reason is, in my opinion, rather ridiculous. But it brings up a bigger issue: why are girls less likely to be diagnosed? Tune in and let's ponder it. You can follow Amy on her social media accounts, or check out her website and podcast. Facebook LinkedIn Advancing...

After a couple of busy weeks, this episode wasn't going to happen... but then it did. Today we look at the unmasked college years.  Times when I could just be weird, and be me, and not worry about trying to fit into what the world thought I should be like.  It was an era of painted fingernails, different hair colors, strange clothing, no shoes, and more. So, let's take a look back at the college d...

Today's episode has a guest joining us. Kadin was diagnosed as autistic when he was 2 years old.  Throughout his life he was told his "disability" was going to set him back and he would never amount to much.  Time and again, he was able to prove everyone wrong. Today he shares insights on how he has found success, the challenges he sees, and tells us all about how the power of positivity is the on...

Many Left of Normal individuals prefer to be alone the majority of the time.  There are some obvious reasons, and some others that we'll explore in this episode. While we wrap things up with the benefits of intentional solitude, the opposite is true too.  If isolation and being alone comes easy, then shake things up with intentional socialization. Parents of autistic children, discover how to make...

Autistic meltdowns, as portrayed by Hollywood, involve what look like toddler temper-tantrums. But that's not always how reactions to being overstimulated occur.  Some meltdowns are quiet, some are passive, and some come across as a lot of anger. The difference is that the rage from a tantrum is targeted and manipulative; the rage from a meltdown is (to an extent) uncontrollable and the brain reve...

Some Left of Normals are great planners.  Some are terrible planners.  I love planning.  I love planning to make plans.  My plans include planning other plans and organizing and systematizing. One of the areas where I love plans and organization is in travel.  I'll even create mock travel plans for vacations I know I will never take. Today's episode looks at the link between #autism and making the...

Among the neurospicy folks, there are many that struggle with executive functioning skills. These skills are the decision making processes, the ability to stay on task, remember what needs 'membered, and the ability to be self-driven. When the skills are lacking, it's called executive dysfunction.  This episode looks into what that dysfunction looks like among the #autism community and how to (sor...

Often those who are Left of Normal are labeled as "gifted."  In my case it was the result of just doing the work as told - I was told to get the work done, so I put my head down and got the work done.  As a result, I learned a bunch of stuff. After school, and into adulthood, however, things got less clear.  They weren't as easy as "put your head down and get the work done."  Struggles ensue, and...

Running a business can be difficult.  But it's considerably easier than working for someone else. Finding a job as a Left of Normal is excruciating.  Landing a job is even harder.  Creating your own job has a whole different set of hurdles, but some that can be overcome with the right resources in place. Today's episode talks about what it takes to run a business as a Left of Normal, and what thos...

Today's 'cast dives into three phrases that many of us hear quite often.  The intention behind them is to help inspire, or to encourage one to do better, but the words given are really not that good. Many of these are nonsensical to not just those on the Autism Spectrum, or with some other neurospicy divergency, but also to those who are normies.  I believe the difference is that the normies someh...

I recently had knee surgery.  I don't see it so much as going through surgery, but upgrading from factory defaults. Today's episode goes through the badassery that led to this current surgery.  How the injury started, how it progressed, and where I am today. Through it all I have maintained my awesomeness - likely even increased awesomeness considerably.

Resolutions are whack. This episode looks at why those resolutions are whack, what you can do to make better resolutions, goals, commitments, etc. etc. and all of that New Year New Me stuff. We'll also spend some time on New Year's parties.  Why those on the Autism spectrum don't care for them, and what some of us Left of Normal's like to do this time of year.

Compassion has to be learned.  Those on the Autism spectrum, however, have a little harder time learning it.  While normies can often just pick things up, it's a conscious effort for those that are Left of Normal. Does that struggle give the LoN a pass to not have to show as much compassion?  If they fail to learn it, do they deserve less compassion coming to them? How about siblings, should paren...

Let's take a look back and identify some of the spectrum traits that went unnoticed.  From lining items up, to uncomfortable clothing, to making and keeping friends, today's episode picks out some things from my childhood that I now see as early identifiers of being Left of Normal. Recognizing these traits early on can help create a better living environment for your child that may be on the Autis...

Often, those who are Left of Normal prefer to communicate in writing.  There are a number of reasons, not the least of which it's easier to know when it's your turn to "talk." For me, it spills out into other areas of my life in addition to merely communication.  I turned my ability to write clearly into a career. In this episode I give a shout out to my friend Shane Fichter.  Shane used journalin...

It's Thanksgiving-ish time!  This 'cast was posted the day after Turkey Day, so it's a little untimely. But the concepts are still there, the stories still applicable, and the ideas can flow from Thanksgiving into Christmas. These times can be stressful on a lot of people, whether they are on the Autism spectrum or not.  For those who do live with ASD, they can be especially stressful as routines...

Today we have a guest on the 'cast.  I met Suzie DeBar a number of years ago through a networking group I was part of.  She was starting a new business around the same time I started mine, and we were able to support each others' growth. A few years ago I had the opportunity to write her family story in a magazine that I was helping with run by Aubrey Kincaid - whom I call "obnoxious" in this epis...

There's a myth out there that autistic people don't feel empathy.  That's not quite true, it's really that most Left of Normal folks don't know how to express empathy. Then, there's the idea of sympathy.  Where often sympathy is shown, when empathy is needed. Wrap those up together with an action plan, and you get compassion. Now, how does self-compassion play into this empathy, sympathy, compassi...

I have never been hugely into sports - not organized stuff anyway.  But today's guest is all about them.  Possibly the sportsiest nut I know.  Mitch Bohn, however, has a unique perspective due to his situation.   Today's episode gets into Mitch's positive view on life, how he ended up in the broadcast/podcast world, where he hopes to go in life, and why he's into sports.  We talk about his interac...