Unpacking Neuroqueerness

In this episode I talk about what we need the most from our friends and family members during Autism Acceptance month and how you can help us :)

In this episode I talk about how exhausting April can be for advocates like myself, as neurotypical led organizations such as "Autism Speaks" promote eugenics research and conversion therapies through their "Autism Awareness" campaigns, pretending to care about the wellbeing of autistic folks, while speaking over them and vilifying their disabilty, rather than focusing on making society more accom...

In this episode I talk with Ayelet Schrek, a fellow neurodivergent queer educator who is also physically disabled. Ayalet talks about the intersectionality of those identities and their personal experience living in a society that doesn't properly accommodate different ways of thinking and being.

In this episode I welcome back my sister Luana Gund, who is in the final year of her psychology studies at USC. Lu shares her experiences with GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder) and we have a conversation about how important it is to have awareness about anxiety and how prevalent it is in our society. We also recognize the value and importance of advocating for a world where we can have accessible...

In this episode I talk about the concept of "spoons" in terms of energy regulation for autistics and ADHDers and how being low on spoons can lead to increased sensitivity and being more prone to meltdowns.

In this episode I break down each subtype of ADHD and challenge the thought that ADHD represents only executive dysfunction or difficulty paying attention. I explain that there is so much more to ADHD than those more talked about traits.

In this episode I talk about similarities in between autistic people and cats, and how both are often misunderstood, misjudged and mistreated by society

In this episode I talk with late diagnosed autistic life coach Michelle Markman. We talk about early life experiences, getting diagnosed, and our mission to help other neurodistinct understand and accept themselves, as well as advocate for their needs. *Check out Michelle's website at https://michellemarkman.com/ :)

In this episode I break down why I feel like we shouldn't be judging people for advocating in their own ways, or we would be enforcing the very systems that we challenge every day.

In this episode I tackle how damaging it can be to assume someone is well based on a single observation of something they did or achieved, because we're not seeing all the effort and burnout behind that.

In this episode I acknowledge that ND people aren't perfect and can make mistakes as well.

In this episode I talk a little bit about RSD, what it is and why it is so common among autistics and ADHDers.

In this episode I honor Judy Heumann, known as the mother of the disability rights movement.

In this episode I explain why our strong sense of justice and hyperfocus traits lead many of us autistics become passionate advocates and activists after we discover how autistic people (especially multiply marginalized autistics) have been deeply misunderstood and mistreated by society.

In this episode I talk with fellow actor and MTS alum Precious Prado about her experience being diagnosed with ADHD in her early 20s and how it led her to better accept and understand herself, while also advocating for her support needs to be met.

In this episode my friend Faina and I share experiences around substance abuse, and talk about our experiences being misunderstood and mislabeled by society as neurodivergent individuals.

In this episode I break down why "hustle culture", which is basically the expectation of always being busy and working, can be very draining for most people, but can be especially damaging to folks with neurodistinct brains.

In this episode my friend X breaks down a recent problematic article published in the UK from the perspective of an ADHD journalist with a masters in digital culture and society at Kings College London. We also discuss possible new names for ADHD, using the term "attention regulation" rather than disorder. Our cats make brief appearances as well.

In this episode I ask my mom a few questions about what it was like raising an undiagnosed autistic child and advocating for accommodations in the late 1990s and early 2000s. We also talk about what it was like when I finally got diagnosed in 2010 at age 16.

In this episode I explain why many autistics like myself need to know as much detail as possible about an outing in order to feel safe and comfortable.

In this episode I explain the problems surrounding tokenism and why instead of drawing inspiration from disabled folks, allies should instead help us advocate for our needs, call out ableism and dissolve stigmas and stereotypes.

In this episode I explain how neurodistinct people like myself have essentially been conditioned throughout their lives to think outside the box and find strategies that work best for them, rather than trying to fit neuronormative molds and expectations.

In this episode I talk about one of the most relatable things among neurodistinct folks: hyperactivity related sleep troubles. I also give a few examples of certain strategies that may be helpful for some folks experiencing trouble sleeping. *Remember every neurodistinct person is different and has their own preferences and strategies that would best for them.

In this episode I discuss why no one should assume a persons level of support needs without knowing them, as this person may be masking and support needs can often fluctuate many times throughout one single day.

In this episode I explain the difference in between taking medication as a support for certain struggles and pathologizing an entire neurotype, which perpetuates negative stigmas and stereotypes about disabiltiy.