On the Human Spectrum

"Did you know you could just do things?" I got to talk to Amber Stewart about her new book, In the Garden: An Almanac for Uprooting, a memoir in essays about doing just that - uprooting from her life in Tennessee and moving to Montevideo, Uruguay with her wife.  In addition to her memoir in essays, she's started a new magazine, Unbordered... https://substack.com/@unborderedmag for t...

It was great to talk with Priya about her move from the US to Spain, as well as her cookbook plans(!) :D Here is the link for the Nourish issue of On the Human Spectrum MiniZine I mentioned, where you can find Priya's article...  (link opens up to a little booklet with flip sounds:) https://simplebooklet.com/onthehumanspectrumnourish You can also find this issue (and others) on my website and...

A few minutes of just me talking about some updates, upcoming podcast guests and minizine issue, and moving to Vancouver for a publishing program:)  Link for the On the Human Spectrum Substack (with more info about all of the above plus photos of sweet doggie Felix and Strasbourg, France:) https://substack.com/@onthehumanspectrum Send a comment/question to On the Human Spectrum https://onthehumans...

For today's episode I got to speak with the wonderful Brenna Maag, an absolutely delightful person and artist, about her Camera Illumina: an invitation to notice, an invitation to connect, and about the Valley of Doubt that artists visit when creating and sharing their art. I know I'm going to be coming back to listen to her words frequently for excellent company.  You can find out more...

My husband and I talk about why we left the US.  I thought that we would focus on the more fun or positive aspects of the move, but of course the feelings of loss and the less fun parts showed up too. That's part of any adventure, isn't it?  Send a comment/question to On the Human Spectrum https://onthehumanspectrum.org/

For today's episode I got to ask a smart and thoughtful international student Maria Eduarda all about moving from Ecuador to France for college. (I've recently moved from the US to France myself and wonder about how other people make these sorts of decisions.)  I start off curious about the role of encouragement in her decision making, and realize that I was stuck on the role of specific...

My guest today is RAHELI HARPER .  Raheli is an artist, with a focus on fiber arts, and writer who lives in upstate New York, where she homesteads and homeschools. She’s the creator of The Snail’s Guide to Wandering, an awesome workshop on creativity.  You can find her on Instagram: @raheliharper  https://www.instagram.com/raheliharper/   and at https://raheli.com/about/     I got to talk to her a...

For today's episode I got to talk to Amy Hoffman about her new podcast with her husband- Work From Bed Friday, where they explore- well, I can't say it better than they do!  Here's their description:)  "A committed couple of 30+ years, Amy and Tommy get ready to launch their first podcast! Funny, spicy, and insightful, they discuss marriage, sex, and connection through the lens...

For today's episode, I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about the 100 DAY PROJECT and THE LIGHTMAKER'S MANIFESTO by Karen Walrond. And how both can be a source of support, and yes-  encouragement - for when you're feeling overwhelmed.    SiDEWAYS "100 days of encouragement" on SubStack (I try to avoid IG/FB) https://onthehumanspectrum.substack.com/      (or see my webs...

In today's episode, I chat with my nonbinary teenager about the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.   (This episode was originally recorded/posted in Sept 2023. I wanted to remove a phrase given recent events and when re-published, it time-stamped as today's. Update: my teenager is still doing very well!) Questions and/or comments?  Please email me at OntheHumanSpectrum@gmail.com Consider sharing this ep...

For today's episode, I got to talk to Stacy Greeter, a physician I met through Autistic Doctors International. She's a psychiatrist who realized she was autistic only AFTER her medical training. We talk about how that came about, why not sooner, and her work as an advocate for other autistic clinicians. Plus, I got to ask her about her Little Mermaid presentation at Dragon Con:)   On a s...

For today's episode, my husband and I talk about autistic parenting, from early fears to having a lot more fun these days, and what we would want to tell our younger selves. and holy moly- a big Thank you to Margaret(a), Quitiana and Palola as the kids called Paola, for getting us through the early years. And oops, a small correction - I said Gabriel Garcia Marquez, when I meant the poet Fede...

For today's episode, I got to talk again with one of my favorite people, Eileen:)  We've previously spoken about synesthesia and facial blindness, and about how her time in graduate school felt like an island getaway.   Today we talk about Following your bliss.  Send a comment/question to On the Human Spectrum https://onthehumanspectrum.org/

My guest today is my fabulous sister, Stacey.  I got to ask her about her experience with dyslexia as a child and now as an adult, (across three different continents – wait, four different continents, wow.) We also talk autism, labels and identity. She’s a therapist and her reflections are thoughtful and thought-provoking. I really enjoyed our conversation and I hope you do too.  Send a comment/qu...

It was a delight to talk with Dana Wheeles again about her fabulous Doofy Birds.  We talk about her upcoming tour of Australia and New Zealand for her Doofy Bird Travel Series and her Doofy Birds Book Project. I hope you enjoy hearing about how her plans are coming to fruition, or - ahem, are taking flight! (teehee.)  https://www.deerhawkhealing.com/   Link to woodpecker card! and other fabulous D...

My guest today is my wonderful friend Rachel.  We had such a great time talking about ALL THINGS GEEK and letting our joyous GEEK FLAG FLY high.  Starting with Rose City Comic Con and of course including a spirited discussion of Star Wars and Star Trek.  Plus how to translate to non-Geek folks in your life- everyone welcome;) We had a great time and I hope you do too! (And we might have gotten car...

My guest this week is Susanna from Spring Creek Blooms. I got to ask her about her flower farm and her creative writing. Such a delight! You can find her online at https://www.springcreekblooms.com/ https://www.instagram.com/springcreekblooms?igsh=MTEzOXFoNHlkMWR1NQ== Send a comment/question to On the Human Spectrum https://onthehumanspectrum.org/

For today's episode, I got to talk with the wonderful Susan McCulley  about her work, including her Nourishing Movement classes and  Age of Becoming group.  And about Flirting with Failure- yes, please!  Website: Classes, Balance course, Books & Art & Blog https://www.susanmcculley.com/ Age of Becoming: Embodied Practices Empowering Women Over 50 Private Facebook Group https://www.sus...

My twin Loulou and I got to ask Diane about her work at NASA and her word of the year- Surrender.  Super fun and I hope you enjoy as well:) Plus a little happy tangent about ads(!) Here's more information about the OSAM 1 project, and NASA in general:) https://www.nasa.gov/ https://etd.gsfc.nasa.gov/our-work/in-space-servicing/osam/ (and an update on OSAM 1: extended until Sept 2024 and then...

My guest today is Abigail, Owner and Chief Paper Folder at Yeiou™. I got to ask Abigail how she started her cool business, Yeiou Paper Objects, which offers intricate detailed house portraits, elegant silhouettes, and neat maps. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and I hope you will too. From Abigail's website, for a taste of how delightful she is(!) "Why yeiou? Because vowels are imp...

For today’s episode I got to talk to one of my favorite people about her time as a graduate student in Chemistry in the 1970s, and her route there, (literally and figuratively) including the wonderful story of how Eileen met her husband in Mesa Verde National Park when she drove cross country with a friend in October of 1960, camping outdoors along the way. Eileen is an absolute delight.   (We als...

Eileen is one of my favorite people and we chatted about her time in graduate school in chemistry and how she got there, figuratively and literally, and then also talked about face blindness and synesthesia. I divided our conversation into two episodes: the longer one is about graduate school (posted separately) and this one is about face blindness and synesthesia. We had a good laugh about it, ev...

Today's episode is about the book Goblin Mode: How to get Cozy, Embrace Imperfection, and Thrive in the Muck  by McKayla Coyle (illustrations by Marian Churchland.) https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/720150/goblin-mode-by-mckayla-coyle/ Apparently- "Goblin Mode" was Oxford's "Word of the Year" 2022 (I guess I was Goblining and missed that announcement!)   thank...

For today's episode, I got to talk to the delightful Miss Valley about how she turned her dreams of owning a coffee shop into a reality:)  You can find The Yellow Mug in Crozet, VA and online at... https://www.facebook.com/theyellowmugcrozet/ https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/101353539632783/the-yellow-mug/ Send a comment/question to On the Human Spectrum https://onthehumanspectrum....

In this episode I talk with my husband, John, about playing the guitar: my way of sneaking up on the bigger questions: failure, success, happiness. Life lesson relearned: I'm not good at being sneaky. Or grammar: i love the colon and semi-colon far too much. Send a comment/question to On the Human Spectrum https://onthehumanspectrum.org/