The Late Discovered Club

In this episode, Catherine is joined by Wendy Minhinnett - a lived experience leader who co-created the Rollercoaster Parent Carer Support Project. Her work has been recognised with a Positive Practice in Mental Health Award and a *BEM in 2022 for services to parents of children with mental health needs. After over a decade of heart-led lived experience work, Wendy experienced a complete burnout t...

In this episode, Catherine is joined by Vicky Chapman, a gay autistic TV editor from Southampton, who had her late discovery at 26. Vicky shares how her journey began during the first lockdown, when her partner, who works in early years autism, first suggested she might be autistic. At the time, Vicky dismissed the idea, saying, “I can’t be autistic… I’m not Sheldon Cooper.” But a run-in with a bl...

“Creativity has always been my life force. Even when I didn’t know I was autistic, it was how I survived.” From being sent out of chemistry class for caricaturing her teacher, to being piled on by hundreds of angry Nicola Sturgeon fans online, Lorna Miller has sharpened her pencil and become one of the UK’s most successful editorial cartoonists - known for her satirical, political, and deeply pers...

In this episode, Catherine is joined by Julie, a Canadian based writer, artist, and creator of “The Autistic Mum” on Substack.  Julie shares her powerful late discovery story, receiving an autism diagnosis at age 44 after a decade of questioning and reflection sparked by her son’s own diagnosis.  Together, they explore the emotional terrain of late discovery, generational autism, sensory differenc...

Joining Catherine is Trudi Murray -  an artist, illustrator, writer, and a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and proud granny.  Diagnosed autistic at 47, Trudi now sees her lifelong creative work as a map of self-discovery, a visual language she was speaking long before she had the words to understand it. In this episode, Trudi reflects on how her art carried the essence of her autistic iden...

Joining Catherine in S4 Episode 6 is Louise Fox is a former GBR Elite triathlete (representing GBR 5 times at World and European championships), self-employed web developer, environmentalist, and Nordic-obsessed adventurer.  Louise shares her late autism discovery and her journey from competitive sports to motherhood, from quitting her job in her early 30’s to follow her Pro athlete dream, and the...

Joining us in S4 Episode 5 is Dr Catriona Stewart OBE MCPP where we explore Catriona’s own late autism discovery, her lifetime of learning, and her lifetime of work - it’s a deeply emotional episode. Catriona founded autistic-led charity SWAN: Scottish Women’s Autism Network in 2012, on completion of her PhD research into the experiences of autistic girls, to provide peer support, build on the kno...

Joining Catherine & Pete in S4 Ep4 is stand-up comedian, writer, radio host and podcaster - Pierre Novellie. Pierre is co-host of The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio, and his television appearances include World’s Most Dangerous Roads (Dave), The Mash Report (BBC2), and Stand Up Central (Comedy Central). Pierre’s first book Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things?: A Comedian’s Guide to Autism was...

Catherine's much awaited and anticipated book 'Rediscovered' was published 21st February 2025. In this special episode, Catherine is interviewed by S4 guest (and friend) Dr Helen Lawal about the book. We talk everything from Mountains, Metaphors, Monotropism, Masking, Manifestos for Change - and so much more. *This recording is from the live online launch which took place on 24th Febru...

Joining Catherine and Pete in S4 Episode 3 in this powerful, and deeply moving episode is Tristan Kluibenschadl. Content Warning : In this episode we talk about sensitive content relating to mental health, suicide, trauma and grief. Tristan comes on the show to share his story of late autism discovery, which came at a time in his life when he was a working as a (former) Senior Police Officer where...

Joining Catherine & Pete in this episode of our new season is Dominique Bowler-Brown. CW: We discuss sexual abuse and trauma She is a thirty-five-year-old from South London, home-schooling mother of two and a half children (pregnant at time of recording). Dominique studied at BRIT performing arts college and then Goldsmiths University of London, and over the past several years she has worked i...

Joining Catherine & Pete in the first episode of our new season - Nigerian born and Yorkshire bred, Dr Helen Lawal is Black African- White British, Medical Doctor, Nutritionist, Coach, TV Presenter  and Mum of 2.  She’s dedicated 20 years studying, training and working in the field of health care with degrees and qualifications in Sport & Exercise Science (Bsc),  Medicine, Sexual & Rep...

Season 4 is almost here!! We have a brand new season coming Friday 17th January 2025 with a new co-host joining Catherine in some of the episodes, author Pete Wharmby. About Pete After being diagnosed as autistic at the age of 34 in 2017, Pete has immersed himself in working to improve autistic awareness, acceptance and making the world a more suitable place for the neurodivergent community. He ha...

In our final episode of Season 3 Catherine talks (unscripted!) to Andrea Anderson about 'Rediscovered Realities' because the reality is that accepting you are autistic is just the very beginning. Catherine & Andrea talk about: - Getting caught up in the 'should's'- Painful lessons when it comes to living in the shadows of burnout.- Somatic Self-Compassion.- Doing it our way...

Sue is 69 and was diagnosed autistic less than a year ago at the age of 68. Ironically, her working life was spent with autistic children and young adults; coincidence? Probably not.  In 2018, when Sue’s own children were in their mid and late twenties, they suggested to her that she might be autistic - after both realising that they were autistic. Before they could explore this further together,...

Dr. Dionna Williams is an Autistic and first-generation academic and martial artist. Dionna received their MSc and PhD from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed her postdoctoral training at Johns Hopkins University. While Dionna amassed academic and professional accomplishments they struggled with what she once considered to be a collection of seemingly unrelated quirks and social...

Christine. A. Jenkins joins Catherine in this episode to talk about her autistic self-discovery in 2008 and life since her eventual diagnosis in 2009. Christine has been an Autistic advocate for many years, most recently around issues related to late-in-life diagnosis, gender bias, and autistic ageing. She contributed a chapter to the anthology Spectrum Women:  Walking to the Beat of Autism (2018)...

Sophie Cartledge joins Catherine in this episode to talk about her autism discovery via an ADHD diagnosis in perimenopause at the age of 44.  After researching why so many women were being diagnosed ADHD in perimenopause, for her work and simultaneously really starting to struggle with a number of things in her own life, she put two and two together and sought a diagnosis. Looking back now, she ca...

This is a memorial episode, to honor the life and legacy of Mary’s 90 year old late discovered autistic mum who sadly passed away in April 2023. Mary wanted to record an episode about how the 'mystery' that was the spikeyness of her profile gave Mary the motivation to turn detective on why they were both so misunderstood and misrepresented.  Mary was eventually formally diagnosed autistic...

In this S3 Bonus Episode S1 guest Laura Kerbey joins Catherine to talk about her new book ‘The Teens Guide to PDA’  - which published 21st June 2024 with JKP and is illustrated by Sunday Times Best Selling author Eliza Fricker. Buy the Book Connect with Catherine Connect with Catherine Buy Catherine's NEW Book ⁠'Still Living'⁠ published April 2026 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Catherine's Book⁠⁠⁠ &#3...

Dr Rebecca (Becci) Jackson is also known as The Quirky Brain Coach. Becci is an autistic and ADHD positive psychology coach who works with ADHD/autistic adults on zest, self-regulation and executive functions. Having been misdiagnosed with an anxiety disorder and depression, Becci discovered her neurodivergence towards the start of the pandemic. Once she got the user manual to her brain, she turne...

Catherine speaks to Lauren Fernandez a trainer, speaker, advocate, content developer and Founder & Director of Mask Off CIC and a fellow trainer on the NHS National Autism Trainer Programme. Through her work with ‘Mask Off’ she educates minds, challenges attitudes and promotes equality through the 'Invisible' Black autistic Female's perspective. Lauren was diagnosed autistic at age...

Catherine speaks to Faye Twinn about her late autistic discovery. Faye discovered she was autistic in her late 30’s and this discovery changed her entire outlook on life itself. She spent her teens in Devon and it was there within her secondary school that she was identified as ‘dyslexic’. Struggling to fit in, she quickly self identified as arty and found that within the creative subjects she cou...

Catherine speaks to Anita Patel about her late autistic discovery. Anita received a late diagnosis of Autism and ADHD in 2023, after recovering from breast cancer and also burnout, through many years of masking. Anita’s life has totally changed since her late discovery and she is keen to raise awareness about the role intersectionality can also play, when seeking answers and accessing support. Bei...

Catherine speaks to Sofia Akbar about her late autistic discovery. Sofia is a late diagnosed AuDHD single mum and secondary maths teacher. Her self discovery journey started from the trials of her oldest son's autism diagnosis, impacted by the trauma of (TW) domestic abuse and racial discrimination. She was recognised for her Support for Inclusive Learning by Scottish Asian Minority Ethnic Edu...