Staring Down the Storm: Autism Advocacy in America

I’m deep in my own origin story right now, so this conversation with Jennifer David landed hard. Jennifer is a board-certified behavior analyst, an autistic woman, and an advocate who understands—intimately—the cost of being the one who speaks up. We talk genealogy, identity, and the uncomfortable truth that autism didn’t suddenly appear in the modern era. It’s always been here. We just didn’t hav...

We say we value communication — but do we really? Or do we only value it when it looks, sounds, and feels the way we expect it to? In this episode, I sit down with Andy Fitzenrider, a passionate advocate for people who stutter, to talk about what happens when society decides there’s only one “acceptable” way to speak. Andy shares his lived experience of growing up with a stutter in a world that tr...

When Mary Pat Torbeck first heard the word autism , the statistic she was given was one in thirty thousand. That was 1989. What happens when you raise children with autism before there were services, language, or even a willingness to say the word out loud? And what happens when, decades later, we start hearing whispers about bringing institutionalization back? This conversation is about memory, p...

Did you know that Tabitha, our dear host and guide, grew up in rural Indiana, attended both University of Southern Indiana and Indiana State, learned French, considered the military, and then stumbled into the field she would end up working in for 17 years: a flight attendant in the airline industry? Today we present an "episode swap" - where a conversation appears on two podcasts: The MultiPod ,...

The word gratitude gets thrown around a lot. But gratitude without action is just a performance. In this episode, I sat down with KT White and Brenda Killeen of Allies for Humanity to have an honest, necessary conversation about what real service actually looks like — especially when it comes to our unhoused neighbors. This isn’t a feel-good discussion. It’s a reality check. We talk about trust, t...

I grew up on a homestead, so I’ve always understood the value of growing your own food — not as a trend, but as a way of life. That’s why this conversation with Tad Streepey of Gypsy Rain Organics hit such a nerve for me. At its core, this episode isn’t just about organic farming. It’s about power, control, and who gets to decide what’s “safe” enough for our families. Tad is doing everything right...

Growing up in a neurodivergent family doesn’t come with a manual — it comes with chaos, humor, grief, resilience, and a crash course in empathy. In this conversation, Charlie Biluck and I get honest about what it really means to live inside a “neurospicy” family system, where love is fierce, advocacy is non-negotiable, and emotional regulation is a daily practice, not a buzzword. We talk about why...

In this episode of Staring Down the Storm , I sit down with the incredible team from JD Angel’s Family Care to talk about what it really means to support individuals with intellectual disabilities—and why so many systems keep failing them. We dig into the origin of the organization, which started simply to meet a pressing housing need, but quickly grew into something much bigger: a place where cli...

I’ll be honest: the conversation we should be having about financial literacy is so much bigger than budgets and bank accounts. It’s about values, agency, and the courage to question systems we treat as inevitable. That’s why I wanted to talk with David Delisle — because he’s not just teaching kids about money, he’s trying to reshape how families think about consumption, curiosity, and what actual...

I’m struck by how much of Caleb Banks and Amy Betzold’s journey began with one radical choice: taking Caleb’s ideas seriously. A single painted horse sparked The Gypsy King , and together they built an entire world from it. Why do we treat kids’ creative instincts as optional instead of worthy of real investment? What moves me most is how committed they are to doing this right. Historical fiction...

In this episode, I sit down with Erin Geddes to explore the emotional and often overlooked experience of growing up neurodivergent without a diagnosis. She shares what it feels like to move through childhood and adulthood believing you’re “not trying hard enough,” when the real issue is that the world isn’t built to recognize or support different ways of thinking. And I have to ask—how many kids a...

We continue our conversation with TK & KT of Allies for Humanity, focusing on the importance of advocacy for autism and the need for community engagement to create meaningful change. We explore the impact of foster care on children, particularly those with autism, and emphasize the collective responsibility of humanity to support vulnerable populations. We also look at the role of music and co...

In the first of a two-part episode, I am so pleased to welcome my friends TK and KT to the podcast. They are the co-founders of Allies For Humanity in Indianapolis, an organization dedicated not just to housing those in need but to building strong, healthy communities. In part one, we explore the themes of autism advocacy, humanity, and the importance of creating safe spaces for individuals, parti...

Kari Sheward of the Tangram organization in Indianapolis joins me today to talk about their coaching and support work for people with disabilities, but also her perspective on advocacy and choosing the battles that are necessary. We get pulled in many directions, but this is what brings us back to the collective responsibility to defend rights and advocate for those less able to do so themselves....

In this week's episode, I travel to Oklahoma to meet N'Kiyla Jasmine Thomas, candidate for US Senate, who shares her journey as an autism mom, nurse, and military spouse. Jasmine and I discuss the importance of indigenous rights, environmental stewardship, and the role of matriarchy in her culture. She also opens up about her personal experiences with motherhood, navigating healthcare systems, and...

Jennifer Wiese joins me to talk about the importance of including people with disabilities in the workforce, addressing the stigma and barriers that still exist. Jen is well placed to have a keen perspective on this, as she is the owner with her husband of BeeFree, producers of gluten-free snacks and a true Indiana success story. Through their non-profit arm, BeeFree Bakes, they provide jobs and r...

My friend Phoenyx Powell joins me to share her journey as an advocate for accessible travel, discussing her personal experiences with chronic illness, neurodivergence, and the impact of a traumatic brain injury. Phoenyx emphasizes the importance of pacing oneself while traveling, the need for disability awareness, and the significance of educating children about acceptance and differences. Through...

I have a bonus episode for you this week (in addition to my upcoming conversation with my friend Phoenyx), which features my friend Moulay Hicham Aamalki and his wife Kenia, who lead wellness retreats to Morocco. In fact, they have an upcoming trip that runs from October 26-31 and there is one spot left! If you think you can jump on it, visit the site here and let them know! https://easehealingret...

With the unfortunate and completely unnecessary "announcements" over the past couple weeks, trying to link Tylenol with autism, scaring mothers and pregnant women, and perhaps worst of all, dragging the stigma of shame and doubt back into families with autism - we need to talk. And that's what this podcast is for, to be able to respond and react to these kinds of events, and encourage our communit...

My friend Christina McGairk joins me to share her the multifaceted journey of autism advocacy, and we focus focusing on our personal experiences as single mothers of autistic children. As always, there's so much to think about, things that people often forget, and the scale of it is immense. Hair care, dietary preferences, potty training, communication devices, educational experiences and school d...

In Part 2 with Ellerie, we address the importance of multiculturalism and diversity in the United States, reflecting on her personal experiences from military service to higher education. Ellerie is a deep believer in the power of curiosity. She puts a passionate emphasis on the value of being curious about others' lived experiences, and the need to address unconscious biases. We also share our th...

My friend Ellerie Rollins joins me for a conversation about autism, the neurodiverse community, diversity, empathy, and curiosity, all from a lens of a recently retired United States Air Force Reservist. Ellerie spent years in the reserve as an airplane mechanic, and so can speak to the experience of being a different or unique person within a larger group or community. We chat about the historica...

In the final part of my conversation with College Internship Program (CIP) Program Director Ed Roe, we look at different practical situations where our children with autism can function and thrive, and Ed shares his experience observing the "autistic burnout" - when newly-arrived college students face too many life tasks all at once, and after about six weeks start to shut down. CIP's focus goes b...

Ed and I talk in part 3 about the emotional release of parents and caregivers arriving at CIP, and realizing that there are indeed others who care about their kid just as much as they do, and in the same way. Because they get it, the understand. You are no longer on an island unto yourself, support is here. We chat about understanding the "rules and norms" of society and how most of the CIP studen...

Ed Roe and I continue our conversation about the College Internship Program (CIP), and in part two talk about life in Bloomington, Indiana. Bloomington thus far remains an island of safety and acceptance for people of all different backgrounds and situations. But as we know, that status quo is constantly under threat, particularly in a red state such as ours. We've seen the University of Indiana b...