Advertise on podcast: Meet My Autistic Brain

Sol Smith, author of The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery, returns to the show to share what he’s learned from his own late diagnosis, more than two decades in the classroom, and years of coaching neurodivergent adults. His new book, The ADHDer’s Guide to Self-Discovery: Thriving with Your High-Energy Mind, is packed with real-world strategies. This episode helps you put them to work. What you’ll hear more about in this episode: Making sense of the overlap between ADHD and autismWhy you feel lazy when you know you’re not and what you can do about itBuilding relationships and support that work for youGetting a lot done in a way that fits how your brain worksCreating a schedule that supports your natural energyWhy habits are harder for ADHDers and a better way to approach themHow to get out of the trap of perfectionism and overworking  Also in this episode: How Sol’s years of teaching shaped his coachingWhat to say when people brush it off with “everybody does that”What good support from friends, family, and therapists can look likeA question Sol wishes more people would askAbout the guest: Sol Smith, PhD, is an author, coach, and former professor who taught for more than 25 years. He is autistic and ADHD, and he reaches a wide audience through his YouTube channel and an online support community. Connect with Sol: Sol’s website https://www.professorsol.com/ Book: The ADHDer’s Guide to Self-Discovery: Thriving with Your High-Energy Mind  Book: The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery: Flourishing As A Neurodivergent Adult  Sol’s YouTube Channel  Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

There’s a reason routine appeals so strongly to some autistic minds while feeling like the enemy for others.  Learn the surprisingly powerful rituals many neurodivergent people rely on, the everyday tasks that are worth putting on autopilot, and the parts of life better left wide open. And you might want to know why a routine you choose feels entirely different from one imposed on you. Whether routines are a lifeline, a struggle, or a bit of both, this episode offers fresh ways to think about them. Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

When she started her medical practice, Dr. Mel Houser quickly realized there was a lack of healthcare that addressed the needs of neurodivergent people. She set out to challenge traditional norms to make care accessible. Along with her success came something she never expected—a new way of growing a community built around more than just medicine. From chronic illness to employment support and beyond, that kind of healthcare exists and in this episode you’ll learn about the resources that will guide you toward getting it. Dr. Houser, author of A Failure of Imagination: How the Healthcare System Fails Neurodivergent People—And What We're Doing Instead, tells how you can be empowered to recognize how your body feels and trust your intuition about your health. She provides the tools for you and for your healthcare provider to understand each other’s language. She explains how involving her community of patients defines how she practices neuroinclusive medicine.  In a world of growing isolation, Dr Houser reveals the serious health implications of loneliness and offers a solution. It’s time for a change and this is where you can make a difference in your own life. Find out how in this conversation with Dr. Melissa Houser. Website: All Brains Belong  Book: A Failure of Imagination: How the Healthcare System Fails Neurodivergent People—And What We're Doing Instead  Resources: All Brains Belong Digital Resource Library  Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

Menopause touches almost everyone eventually, whether you're the one going through it, supporting someone who is, or know it's coming someday. Most of us walk into it with almost no real information. This episode is here to change that especially if you're autistic or love someone who is. This conversation, with information drawn from a recent study and the book Dr. Rachel Moseley wrote with her co-author Dr. Julie Gamble-Turner, Autistic Menopause: A Guide to the Menopausal Transition for Autistic People and Those Supporting Them gives you the information that’s important to know for this significant time of our lives, including: why menopause can hit autistic people harder; the double impact on memory and executive function;why masking often becomes impossible to sustain;what it does to communication while managing eye contact, tone, and content all at once.Rachel talks about something rarely discussed—the genuine upsides many autistic women report once they're through it. This is an enlightening conversation with researcher and psychologist Dr. Rachel Moseley. Check the link below to learn how you can participate in a study about menopause and its treatment. About the guest: Rachel Moseley, PhD, Principal Academic in Psychology at Bournemouth University (PhD in cognitive neuroscience) co-author of Autistic Menopause: A Guide to the Menopausal Transition for Autistic People and Those Supporting Them. Rachel’s website: Science on the Spectrum  Contact Rachel  Get the book here: Autistic Menopause: A Guide to the Menopausal Transition for Autistic People and Those Supporting Them   *You’re invited to participate in a new study on menopause symptoms, treatment and neurodiversity. Use this link to get started.  This is an online survey about menopause and menopause treatment. The researchers are particularly interested in how experiences of menopause treatment might differ between neurotypical and neurodivergent people and need to hear from people of all neurotypes. Thank you for listening! Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

Occupational therapy can empower autistics in our every day lives. Carolyn Gillen, an autistic occupational therapist working with neurodivergent women, breaks down how occupational therapy for autistic adults can help with:  recognizing hunger, thirst, and nervous system signals your body may not flag clearly; navigating sensory processing that can swing between overwhelming and numb; advocating for yourself in a doctor's office when your pain doesn't match your expression;making small, practical shifts you can actually use;breaking burnout into function, not willpower;how OT treats these as functional, fixable friction points in daily life, not personality flaws to correct.She tells how to recognize a safe, supportive therapeutic space. She explains why coaching, burnout, and meditation might be worth a second look from an OT perspective.  Find Carolyn at her website  Contact page  Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

You did everything you were supposed to do — showed up, did the homework, tried the techniques. And it left you feeling worse…or definitely not better. This episode gets into why standard talk therapy often misses autistic people and what a version built for our brains actually looks like. Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

We autistics have a type of wealth, or capital, as a result of adapting, coping and growing as individuals with neurodivergent challenges. Essy Knopf, a therapist and author, has developed the Neurodivergent Cultural Wealth Framework, a valuable way to look at our neurodivergence. In this episode he explains what makes up the framework and how it enriches our lives with: Self-Knowledge CapitalAdaptation CapitalPattern Recognition CapitalCommunity CapitalResistance CapitalEmbodied CapitalPassion CapitalIdentity CapitalMeaning-Making CapitalThis framework goes beyond deficit views of autistics and neurodivergents and explains how we have developed forms of knowledge, adaptation, perspective, and wisdom that are often overlooked when attention is focused solely on those deficits. This framework gives us a whole new way of looking at our lives. Website: https://www.essyknopf.com Check out Essy's YouTube channel  Essy on Instagram New book: Unscramble Your Brain: A Neurodivergent Guide to Getting Things Done, Your Way   Other books by Essy Knopf available at https://www.essyknopf.com and book retailers:  Book: Unmasking: What We Lose by Pretending and How to Get It Back  Neurodivergent Game Plan Neurodivergent Game Plan: The Workbook The Neuroaffirming Therapy Handbook Unmasking Nepo Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

Season 12 is here with new episodes! Listen for a preview of what’s to come.  Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

Self-help fails autistics but why? This episode reveals the not-so-obvious reason it can do more harm than good and provides some tips for what you can do instead. Hear it again. Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

This is a replay of an episode from 2024 where I talk to Jackie Schuld, author of What is Autism? Jackie shares her insights and knowledge about autism, how it affects her and what it was like learning she’s autistic. Listen and meet the autistic brain of author, artist and therapist, Jackie Schuld. The information is just as relevant as it was before and is a great refresher! Get the book! https://www.jackieschuld.com/books Find Jackie on Medium:  https://medium.com/@jackieschuld Website: https://www.jackieschuld.com Resource page: https://www.jackieschuld.com/artactivities Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

The regions of the brain that play a role in resilience are the areas of the brain most affected by autism. Is it possible for an autistic person to be resilient? The answer may surprise you. Resilience assessment tool: https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/resilience/get-your-resilience-score/ Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

There’s a key to connection that unlocks the door of isolation and loneliness. Truly connecting is not possible without it. What is it? The answer is in this episode. Remastered Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

When you can’t respond to an email or phone call, when you don’t move forward on a project, when you feel stuck in any area of your life you’re facing a “Wall of Awful.” Brendan Mahan, author of Overcoming The Wall of Awful; Why It's Hard to Get Things Done with ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety (and How to Do Them Anyway) has uncovered the reasons we face the wall. He offers solutions and tips that will get you going. He shares helpful insights and stories that you haven’t heard before. You’re not “lazy” and you don’t lack willpower. Find out what the wall is really about so you can finally do the things you want to do.  What we talk about in this episode includes: Why everyday tasks can feel overwhelmingHow to recognize the Wall of AwfulWhy thinking you’re “lazy” is a dead endWhy the ways people respond to the Wall of Awful don’t work How to reduce the barrier to getting startedHow to meet your brain's basic needs to create lasting changePreorder/buy the book (out September 1, 2026): Overcoming The Wall of Awful; Why It's Hard to Get Things Done with ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety (and How to Do Them Anyway)  Brendan Mahan’s website  Twitter  LinkedIn  Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

If you missed this one be sure to listen now. Or if you remember how great it was, how about another listen? In this episode you’ll hear author Jaime A. Heidel, The Articulate Autistic, talk about her book What Did I Do Wrong? An Accessible Guide to Preventing Traumatic Misunderstandings Between You and Your Autistic Loved One. Jamie has great insight into what it’s like to be autistic and how/why people misunderstand us.  This episode has been remastered. Jaime’s website: thearticulateautistic.com Direct link to book on Amazon Jamie's Instagram Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website

This is probably not the first time you’re hearing that many autistic and ADHD adults struggle on the job and not just due to sensory issues, although that’s a factor for sure. The bigger problem may be something else entirely. Something that has a solution.  In this episode David Raynor tells his own story about a career path of jobs frequently won then lost and how he tired of hearing he had “so much potential.” After getting lots of failed advice from people who meant well, David turned inward and found answers. And he knows you can, too and that you don’t have to do it alone. David talks about Professionally Neurospicy, a community for neurodivergents to get the support they need in their jobs and careers. You’ll hear David’s advice about the one thing we can do to get the satisfaction we want. In this episode you’ll also learn: Why many neurodivergent careers follow a cycle of success, burnout, and starting overHow to make better career decisionsWhy workplaces benefit when neurodivergent employees are supported to thriveHow accommodations are actually workplace upgradesManaging hyperfocus without relying on willpowerA different way of thinking about imposter syndromeBuilding the confidence to advocate for yourself at workWhat you'll find inside the Professionally NeuroSpicy community, including its Discord events, practical resources, and peer support for neurodivergent professionalsDavid’s website: Professionally Neurospicy  Substack  Discord  LinkedIn  Support the show Ranked #1 in FeedSpot's 41 Best Adult Autism Podcasts  RATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.3 million downloads! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help me continue making new episodes, you can support the show on Patreon, PayPal or KoFi. You can also give a gift to someone who can benefit from learning more about autism.  If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at [email protected]. Instagram Ko-fi, PayPal, Patreon Linktree Email: [email protected] Website