The AutSide Podcast

“Today’s episode argues that capitalism's inherent pursuit of profit is fundamentally incompatible with addressing the climate crisis. The source article from Dr. Jaime Hoerricks uses Andreas Malm's Fossil Capital to support their claim that the fossil fuel economy was deliberately structured to maximise exploitation, and this logic continues to hinder the transition to renewable energy. Dr. Hoerr...

“Today’s episode examines the challenges faced by marginalised groups, particularly autistic and transgender individuals, in achieving liberation . Using historical liberation movements, such as the Black Panther Party and Indigenous resistance, as examples of successful community-building and cultural preservation, and contrasting them with the fragmented nature of current neurodivergent and tran...

“An author and researcher's fictional dystopia , exploring simulated relationships and the lack of genuine human connection, mirrors a real-world meta-analysis of 142 studies on human-robot interaction (HRI) and autism. The study reveals a disturbing trend in autism research, where robots are proposed as replacements for human interaction, reducing autistic individuals to subjects for “correction”...

“ Today’s episode playfully explores a scientific study on the interaction between cannabis and Adderall, using a humorous, stoner-centric narrative voice. The study, conducted on mice, reveals that cannabis significantly dampens the effects of Adderall on dopamine release in the brain. In their playful review of the study, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks emphasises the importance of considering this interact...

“Today’s episode argues that alexithymia, a difficulty in identifying, sourcing, describing, and expressing emotions, is a significantly overlooked factor contributing to classroom behavioral challenges. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, an autistic teacher with alexithymia, highlights the lack of alexithymia education in teacher training and proposes that this omission perpetuates ineffective behavioral manag...

“Today’s episode analyses the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), a proposed federal school voucher program in the United States. The ECCA would utilise Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) funded by tax-deductible donations to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs), effectively shifting federal funds towards private education. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, a California public school teacher, expre...

“Today’s episode discusses the concept of “wetiko,” a destructive spirit or force from indigenous American shamanism, interpreting it as a metaphor for societal greed and disconnection. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks connects wetiko to the experiences of autistic individuals, suggesting that societal “othering” of autistic people reflects wetiko's influence. Drawing parallels from various cultures and philos...

“Today’s episode, our 100th, critiques Western therapeutic practices, arguing that their foundations are rooted in colonial ideologies prioritising control and conformity over genuine healing. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, an autistic Gestalt Language Processor (GLP), shares personal experiences of feeling stifled by traditional talk therapy, highlighting its inadequacy for neurodivergent individuals and t...

“In today’s episode, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks explores their experience as an autistic person navigating a capitalist system that prioritises productivity over well-being. They argue that rest, often framed as a luxury, is a revolutionary act of resistance against this system's relentless demands. They connect their personal struggle for rest with broader systemic issues of oppression and extraction, d...

“Today’s episode argues that the current capitalist system, with its emphasis on individualistic competition and endless growth, disproportionately harms autistic individuals by neglecting their needs for support and inclusion. It proposes degrowth principles, as advocated by Hickel and Sullivan, as a solution. This approach prioritises meeting everyone's basic needs—housing, healthcare, and educa...

“Today’s episode critiques H.R. 5349, a bill presented as an educational initiative on communism but argued to be a tool for ideological indoctrination promoting capitalism. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, connects the bill to a broader history of U.S. interventionism against socialist movements and the CIA’s role in shaping narratives. Dr. Hoerricks, a public school teacher...

“In today’s episode, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, a trans woman and autistic person, describes experiencing cyclical emotional and physical changes after starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Their account highlights a significant lack of research on this phenomenon, emphasising the need for more inclusive studies into the lived experiences of trans women on HRT. Dr. Hoerricks’s research journey rev...

“ Today’s episode critiques Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBAs) used in schools, arguing that they focus on “fixing” the student rather than addressing systemic issues within the classroom environment that contribute to challenging behaviors. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, advocates for environmental audits as a more inclusive alternative, emphasising the importance of...

“Boxing Day, traditionally viewed as a day of charitable giving, is re-examined from the perspective of its recipients. In today’s episode, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks argues that the “Christmas boxes” given to servants and the poor were not acts of genuine generosity, but rather tools of social control used to maintain existing power structures and prevent unrest. This practice, they assert, persists in...

“Today’s episode critiques capitalism, arguing that it inherently disadvantages neurodivergent individuals and other marginalized groups by prioritising profit over human needs. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, supports this claim by examining various economic theories, highlighting those that critique capitalism's inherent inequalities and those that implicitly accept its pr...

“Today’s episode examines the complex debate surrounding Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for autism. Whilst many autistic advocates criticize ABA's harmful practices and its focus on compliance, today’s episode highlights how African American families often view ABA as a necessary survival strategy in a society hostile to both their race and neurodiversity. The author of the source article...

“ Today’s episode discusses Dr. Jaime Hoerricks’ journey from a traditional, teacher-centered approach to a student-centered, inclusive model. Dr. Hoerricks, an autistic educator, advocates for designing classroom instruction to meet the needs of the student requiring the most support, thereby creating a universally accessible learning environment. This approach, inspired by Paulo Freire's philoso...

“Psychology Today, once a respected resource, is criticised for its transformation into a commercial enterprise driven by native advertising. Today’s episode focuses on a specific example: a piece promoting expensive dyslexia software without disclosing the author’s financial stake. This exemplifies a broader trend of commodifying mental health resources and exploiting vulnerable individuals seeki...

“Autism Parenting Magazine, a publication aimed at parents of autistic children, is criticised in today’s episode for its consistently deficit-focused approach to autism. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, an autistic special education teacher, argues that the magazine’s articles pathologise autistic behaviours, framing them as problems needing correction rather than natural responses to environmental factors....

“Today’s episode critiques the capitalist practice of training marginalised groups, specifically those with intellectual disabilities, in soon-to-be-obsolete skills like programming, highlighting how this reinforces existing inequities rather than fostering true autonomy. It uses a case study involving the JClic software to illustrate this, arguing that a focus on technology over human empowerment...

“Today’s episode critiques the capitalist system's role in creating barriers to mental healthcare access, arguing that the high cost and lengthy process of formal diagnosis forces many to seek alternatives like TikTok. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks contends that the popularity of self-diagnosis videos on TikTok is not a sign of failure but a consequence of this systemic inaccessibility. Whilst acknowledging...

“ Today’s episode examines a personal essay reflecting on Dr. Jaime Hoerricks’ lifelong fascination with the character Jessica 6 from the film Logan’s Run. Dr. Hoerricks, a trans woman, explores how Jessica 6, viewed through a feminist and autistic lens, served as a powerful, proto-trans figure in their own journey of self-discovery. They use the character to examine themes of authenticity, societ...

“Today’s episode examines the potential impact of mass deportations on children with disabilities. It highlights the conflict between President Trump's proposed policies and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guarantees a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) for all children with disabilities regardless of immigration status. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks details the role of p...

“ Today’s episode uses the decline of the United States Postal Service (USPS) and the looting of former retail giants K-Mart and Sears as a case study to illustrate the detrimental effects of neoliberal policies on public services. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks argues that deliberate financial mismanagement and “efficiency” measures, implemented under the guise of fiscal responsibility, weakened the USPS, p...

“ Today’s episode examines a study linking slow improvements in childhood emotional regulation to later ADHD, internalising, and conduct problems. Dr. Jaime Hoerricks argues that the study overlooks alexithymia —difficulty identifying, sourcing, and describing emotions—as a significant contributing factor in some children with ADHD and autism. Alexithymia, Dr. Hoerricks contends, can explain varia...