The Squarepeg Podcast

158 [S11 E13] Listening to myself at last: autistic midlife, grief and new beginnings Jul 25, 2026 01:05:39 Lucy Hogg was formally recognised as autistic in 2018. She describes her life as 'messy', impacted by PTSD from an accident and years of trying to convince therapists that she is autistic, as well as lifelong struggles with not feeling heard or seen, and difficulty making herself understood at work Now 55, Lucy lives in Norwich, where she works part time in the charity sector as a Director of Par

157 [S11 E12] Talking to strangers: podcasting my way into a late autism discovery Jul 18, 2026 01:06:41 Carolyn Kiel is the host of Beyond 6 Seconds, a multi-award-winning neurodiversity podcast. She started her podcast in 2018 as a general interest interview show, but in 2022 she shifted the focus to neurodiversity, after receiving an autism diagnosis in her mid-40s. Carolyn interviews neurodivergent people from around the world about their lives, identities and passions, with a focus on the inters

156 [S11 E11] Coming home to myself: feeling 'good enough', unmasking and moving towards self love Jul 11, 2026 01:06:19 Abs Lee is a carer, gardener and cleaner from Suffolk in the UK. Now 54, she was formally identified as autistic early in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic and lockdown. She's a parent to an AuDHD, queer adult human, and cares for her elderly mother. Abs has moved between multiple jobs throughout her life so far, full of potential but often finding it difficult to stay in roles due to sensory iss

155 [S11 E10] Unravelling: masking, personality adaptation and meeting my real self Jul 4, 2026 01:11:35 Toni Borneo was formally recognised as autistic two years ago, at age 42 - something that has saved and completely changed her life. For her, the process of unmasking uncovered complex, long term mental and emotional health issues. And more recently she realised that she has developmental trauma that has led to her having a personality disorder. Toni has spent her working life in health policy ad

154 [S11 E9] Finding a really cool rock: figuring out life and work without an 'autistic starter pack' Jun 13, 2026 01:13:36 Phoebe Taylor is a Canadian writer and artist whose work attempts to translate the experience of autism from the inside out. 'Fired from every job she ever had', she decided to explore self employment during the pandemic. Now 32, she was formally identified as autistic a couple of years ago, and has spent the last few years figuring out how to make a life that works better for her. Phoebe was a sh

153 [S11 E8] Creativity, small joys and redefining success: navigating the long-term impact of autistic burnout Jun 6, 2026 01:07:51 Phoenix* is 44 and from The Netherlands. She has a PhD in philosophy and worked in academia for several years, before experiencing a severe burnout in her early thirties. Phoenix started seriously considering that she might be autistic around two and a half years ago, after struggling for years with burnout, chronic fatigue and anxiety. She was formally recognised as autistic about a year ago, sho

152 [S11 E7] Sparkly things and heavy loads: autistic menopause, academia and lived experience May 30, 2026 01:08:36 Dr Rachel Mosely was halfway through her second postdoctoral job in autism research when she learnt that she herself had been suspected as being autistic as a child. After some investigation, she was assessed and diagnosed at the Lorna Wing Centre, aged 28. Ten years on, Rachel is Principal academic in Psychology at Bournemouth University, where her research focuses on understanding the challenges

151 [S11 E6] The same type of different: autistic identity, South Asian stories and the model minority myth May 23, 2026 01:00:24 Mrinal Gokhale is an author, writer, and speaker based in Wisconsin in the United States, passionate about all things psychology and wellness. Since becoming an author, Mrinal has written for and collaborated with platforms to discuss South Asian and Asian American mental health. She has a Bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Now 35, Mrinal is the author of tw

150 [S11 E5] A little candle burning: survival, healing, and the small nourishments of autistic life May 16, 2026 59:15 Su Scotting is a poet, writer and artist, and retired National Trust archivist, from Cornwall in the UK. Now 63, she was formally recognised as autistic at 58. Su excelled at school, going on to get a BA in Medieval English Studies, and later an MA in Art. After years as an archivist she worked in government administration. But her education and career were impacted by sensory issues, overwhelm an

149 [S11 E4] Going away to come home: From outward success to an authentic autistic life May 9, 2026 01:02:26 For years Emily Nyrop lived what looked on the outside like a 'perfect' life; after graduating from Harvard University, she spent over a decade in high-powered roles. But underneath her outward success she was quietly burning out, as she built a life and career inside systems that weren't built for her. Then Emily hit breaking point. Feeling like she was falling apart, she decided to rip open her

148 [S11 E3] Unexpected autism: art journalling, mental health and reframing eating distress May 2, 2026 01:09:52 Helen Shaddock was formally identified as autistic two years ago, after spending over 25 years in the mental health system. During the pandemic Helen was readmitted to mental health services for eating disorders, before receiving an unexpected autism diagnosis. Now 39, Helen is a multidisciplinary artist and PhD researcher. She lives in Newcastle in the UK, where her work as a multidisciplinary a

147 [S11 E2] Complex lives in a binary world: reflections on the autistic experience Apr 25, 2026 01:17:01 Hannah Breslin runs her own business, Coaching for Difference, offering neuroaffirming coaching support for late-identified neurodivergent professionals, and education and consultancy for organisations looking to deepen their understanding of neurodiversity. Originally from Dublin, she lives in London and was formally recognised as autistic in 2022, with dyscalculia following in 2023 and ADHD in 2

146 [S11 E1] The rhythm of nature is my natural rhythm: autism, conservation and being a 'tenacious comet' Apr 18, 2026 01:01:15 Emma Marsh works at the RSPB (the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), where she is Executive Director of Digital Technology, Campaigns and Communications. She lives in North Warwickshire in England. Emma was formally recognised as autistic in 2023, in her late 40s. She says that her autism has given her an innate connection to nature which drives her passion for conservation. She grew up o

145 [Bonus] "An overarching, big life project": interconnecting special interests, memory and mental health Mar 21, 2026 01:02:29 Laura Richmond is a writer, researcher and doll restorer from Southampton in the UK. She was my guest on the podcast in 2023. When we spoke then, it was just a year on from her autism diagnosis, and she was on the brink of publishing her memoir. So I was delighted to catch up with her three years on and find out what's been happening for her since then. Now 38, Laura was formally recognised as aut

144 [Re-release] From psychiatric trauma to autistic joy: a journey of healing and self discovery Mar 21, 2026 01:06:19 Laura Richmond is a writer, researcher and doll restorer from Southampton in the UK. This episode is from 2023 - I've re-released it because Laura just recorded a new episode with me, episode 145. At the time this re-released episode was recorded it was just a year on from Laura's autism diagnosis, and she was on the brink of publishing her memoir. Now 38, Laura was formally recognised as autisti

143 [Bonus] Beyond diagnosis: Self‑trust, masking, and the continuing autism journey Jan 24, 2026 01:11:31 I first met today's guest, Vera, nearly five years ago, when we recorded a podcast episode early in 2021. A lot has changed for Vera since then, so we decided it was time for a catch up. Now 46, when we last spoke Vera had very recently been formally identified as autistic. Over the years since, her initial excitement - that she describes as sounding 'practically giddy' after listening back to tha

142 [Re-release] Being an autistic extrovert, people watching and managing our energy Jan 24, 2026 58:11 This episode was recorded in early 2021 and originally released as part of the third season of Squarepeg. I was delighted to get to speak to Vera again recently, in 2026, and that new episode is now available for you to listen to. So I'm re-releasing my original conversation with Vera here, so that anyone who wants to can refresh their memory before listening to our more recent conversation in epi

141 [Bonus] A deeper dive into our experiences and attitudes around AuDHD - with Sam Brown (AKA Mrs AuDHD) Dec 20, 2025 01:17:28 After the Season 10 episode with Sam Brown, AKA Mrs AuDHD, was released in the summer, a lovely listener got in touch to share their feelings about being disappointed by some of the comments Sam and I made about how we felt about having ADHD. Sam and I thought it was worth discussing our responses and reflections to the email, as it raised some really interesting questions around internalised able

140 [S10 E12] Working with autism, not against: Mental health, masking and giving ourselves grace Nov 1, 2025 01:00:23 Kara Nash is a registered nurse and autism consultant who focuses on creating positive change in how the healthcare system treats people on the spectrum. Kara has over twenty years' experience working in the field of autism and mental health. Now 50, she was diagnosed autistic herself at 37. During her career Kara has supported autistic people across the lifespan in hospitals, residential program

139 [S10 E11] Creating space to show up without shrinking: how we can thrive at work as autistics Oct 25, 2025 51:28 Hassani Turner is an executive coach for neurodivergent professionals and the founder of MyNeuroCompass, a coaching service and app that helps neurodivergent people understand how their brains work, identify their strengths, stop masking and start leading authentically – as Hassani puts it, 'finding space to show up without shrinking'. Hassani has spent 15 years in the corporate world. She was fo

138 [S10 E10] Working with our ocean and our tides: the impact of autism self identification Oct 18, 2025 01:07:21 Lara Schaeffer taught high school English for 28 years until her autism identification at age 47 - and her school's resistance to her being open about her autism to her students. She waited three years for them to change their stance, before eventually leaving the secure, well paying job she thought she would one day retire from. Now in her early 50s, these days Lara works as a counselor to autis

137 [S10 E9] Meeting myself again: sensory needs, autistic joys and building stronger relationships after autism diagnosis Oct 11, 2025 01:03:50 Marian Schembari is an author and essayist whose first byline was at age eleven. It was a poem about dragons. Since then, her essays about travel, friendship, money, and love have appeared in many well known publications, including The New York Times and Marie Claire. Marian was formally recognised as autistic at 34, and spent the next couple of years writing a memoir about it, A Little Less Broke

136 [S10 E8] 'Undercover autistic': shaping a more just and inclusive future for autistic care users & practitioners Oct 4, 2025 01:02:58 Shazzy Tharby is a Disability & Neurodiversity Leader, Mental Health & Neurodivergence Consultant, counsellor and psychotherapist, the Founder of Positively Living, a worldwide therapeutic service, and Vice President of the Australian Clinical Supervision Association. Shazzy describes herself as "Autistic, disabled, a wheelchair user, and Muslim". They are 49, the parent of two autistic children,

135 [S10 E7] A blessing and a curse: autism, masking and miscommunication Sep 27, 2025 59:14 My guest this week is Clara Törnvall, an author and journalist who lives in Stockholm, Sweden with her two children. Clara was diagnosed autistic five years ago at age 42, leading her to write her first book, The Autists - Women on the Spectrum, a personal essay and cultural history of autism, which has been sold to 13 countries. In 2023, she published a second book, The Autist's Guide to the Gala

134 [S10 E6] Making your body a nicer place to live: autism and a different approach to physical fitness Sep 6, 2025 01:04:42 ** We're taking a 2-week mid-season break – new episodes will start again on Saturday 27 September ** Leighanne Stephens is a fitness and lifestyle coach for neurodivergent women and non binary people. Now 27, she was diagnosed autistic two years ago, with as she puts it, 'a surprise addition of ADHD'. Leighanne lives in London and has been self employed since leaving college, niching down to wor

133 [S10 E5] The Mess and the Magic: from the good girl narrative to autistic self compassion Aug 30, 2025 59:25 Dr Michelle McQuaid is a wellbeing researcher in her early 50s. She lives and works in Melbourne, Australia, where she is an honorary fellow at Melbourne University's Center for Wellbeing Science. Michelle was diagnosed autistic nearly ten years ago, after her then five year old son was diagnosed. By then, Michelle's autistic brain had turned perfectionism into an all-consuming mission, and by 34

132 [S10 E4] "Layers of unravelling": autism, leadership and belonging with Kirsty Cullen-Campanelli Aug 23, 2025 01:07:21 Kirsty Cullen-Campanelli is Head Of People Ops, Comms And Employee Engagement at Apple. She was diagnosed autistic two years ago at 38. Kirsty's story began on a council estate in southern England, where she grew up in a working-class family alongside foster siblings from the age of three. Her journey into mental health and self-understanding began early - navigating life with a narcissistic, psy

131 [S10 E3] Working at the edge of what we know: autism, trauma and identity Aug 16, 2025 01:05:20 My guest today is Dr Stephanie Aspin - a therapist, educator, and writer in her late 50s, based in Norwich, UK. Originally from Willesden in London, her background in a multicultural, working-class community has shaped how she thinks about ableism and intersectionality. After nearly 20 years at the University of East Anglia, where she ran an MA in Higher Education Practice, Stephanie moved into p

130 [S10 E2] "Whenever I fell, autism caught me": autism, intersex and gender Aug 9, 2025 01:01:49 Deborah discovered they were autistic in their 60s, after a lifetime of not fitting in anywhere. Their sense of difference was not just social, but physical, as in their teens they were diagnosed with CAUV – congenital absence of uterus and vagina. Because of their then-undiagnosed autism, Deborah says they "always felt different anyway – I wasn't upset when I was diagnosed [with CAUV]; I thought

129 [S10 E1] "I thought I was just disorders": navigating autistic and ADHD traits and challenges - with Mrs AuDHD Aug 2, 2025 01:04:35 Sam Brown, AKA Mrs AuDHD, is late-diagnosed AuDHD, a trustee of the ADHDadultUK charity and co-presenter of The ADHD Adults podcast, that deals with a different ADHD related topic each episode. On the podcast she is known as Mrs AuDHD, or the Queen of Chaos, because in her words "perimenopause has helped to transform her into the chaotic, emotionally dysregulated mess that she had mostly managed t

128. Art and autism math: healing and connecting after a late autism diagnosis May 3, 2025 58:44 Elinor Trier describes herself as a "Sparkly Champion of Neurodivergent and Queer Joy". She's a neuroqueer AuDHD artist, writer, podcaster, YouTuber, and founder of Elinor Trier Studio, where she creates artwork that reminds us that we're not the 'odd one out', we're 'one of a kind'. Elinor says, "It wasn't until I became a certified weirdo by getting an official autism diagnosis in my mid-thirtie

127. Autism's healing mechanism: an autism and OCD journey Mar 8, 2025 01:07:55 Anna has been on a real journey of self discovery, from refusing to entertain the idea that she might have a diagnosable condition, to devouring every book she could get her hands on that might help her understand her autism and OCD. Now in her thirties, Anna talks to me about her experiences of the autism diagnostic process, having OCD and receiving treatment in various forms, and becoming houseb

126. Letting go of self hatred: the impact of an autism diagnosis Mar 1, 2025 01:04:15 Hannah Brockway is a violinist in her thirties from Australia; music has been her lifelong special interest. Since discovering her autism Hannah has realised that many of the people she's gravitated towards in her life are neurodivergent too. In this episode Hannah shares some of her experiences around chronic fatigue, anorexia and panic disorder, needing to take two assessments before finally get

125. Autism is the easiest piece: starting over after years of misdiagnoses Feb 22, 2025 01:13:08 Malori talks about her experience of spending seven years being given various misdiagnoses and being medicated and treated for conditions that she didn't have. Now, with the knowledge that she is autistic, Malori reflects back on her journey through the mental health system, what she's learned, and what's changed for the better since she first sought help for the difficulties that she was experien

124 [Bonus] Autism and therapy: connection, validation and using our strengths to heal our lives Sep 21, 2024 58:02 This is the third and final in my miniseries of bonus 'revisit' episodes, in which I reconnect with guests from previous seasons. This week, I talk with psychotherapist Cloie Parfitt, who I first talked to a couple of years ago, in the summer of 2022. Cloie is originally from Tennessee in the United States, and now lives in Norwich in the UK, where she has a private practice working with mainly ne

123 [Re-release] Autism, psychotherapy and trauma: why many autistic people need a different approach Sep 21, 2024 56:11 I first released this episode in July 2022, as part of Season 6. And this week I've released a brand new episode with Cloie, as part of a miniseries of revisits, where I reconnect with some of my guests from previous conversations. So here's Cloie's original episode, for those of you new to the podcast, or in case you'd like to refresh your memory before listening to the new episode (that's episod

122 [Bonus Episode] Softening and bracing: autism, loneliness and how we can find connection Aug 31, 2024 01:04:52 I am thrilled to bring you this conversation with somatic therapist Aisha Edwards, in which we talk about autism and loneliness. This continues a short series of revisits, where I reconnect with some of my guests from previous episodes. I first met Aisha two years ago, in 2022, when we recorded the bonus episode at the end of Season 6. Aisha is a somatic trauma therapist, podcaster and writer from

121 [Re-release] Grief and validation: repairing the damage of autistic masking and finding a sense of self Aug 31, 2024 01:04:28 I first released this episode in the summer of 2022, at the end of Season 6. And this week I've released a brand new episode with Aisha, as part of a short series of revisits, where I reconnect with some of my guests from previous conversations. So here's Aisha's original episode, for those of you new to the podcast, or in case you'd like to refresh your memory before listening to the new episode

120 [Bonus Episode] A magic key? Deeper learnings 4 years on from a late autism diagnosis Aug 10, 2024 58:07 I recorded this special episode with former Squarepeg guest Sophie Longley. I last spoke with Sophie at the end of 2020, when she was working as an English teacher in Singapore and was about to start her Masters in Experimental psychology at the University of Sussex. (If you'd like to go back and listen to her original episode again to refresh your memory, that's episode 15 - Season 2, Episode 3).

119 [Re-release] Autism and work culture: masking, socialising and finding the right work Aug 10, 2024 45:47 This episode was recorded in the autumn of 2020 and originally released as part of the second season of Squarepeg. I was delighted to get to speak to Sophie again recently, in 2024, and that new episode is now available for you to listen to. So I'm re-releasing my original conversation with Sophie here, so that anyone who wants to can refresh their memory before listening to my update with Sophie,

118. Bonus: Building a happy and authentic autistic life May 4, 2024 17:17 In this bonus episode I share more about my own autism journey, and talk about my career-ending burnout and creating authentically autistic lives we don't want to escape from. Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be insp

117. S9 E12: Transcendence, reinvention and self discovery: reconnecting with our essential autistic self later in life Apr 6, 2024 01:09:22 Rose Matthews is an Autism Researcher, peer reviewer, consultant, presenter, trainer, and writer from Durham in the UK. Now 64, they first realised they might be autistic at 58 - and finally 'found the answer to a lifetime of confusion'. Their long journey to diagnosis included an extremely varied career, leaving their marriage, living apart from their children, and being arrested and detained in

116. S9 E11: Rekindling our dimmed spark and reclaiming autistic joy Mar 30, 2024 01:00:09 Dani Rodwell is a licensed Clinical Social Worker, therapist, and Co-founder of NeuroSpark Health. She lives in New Jersey, USA. She has worked in the field of autism and neurodevelopmental conditions for over 7 years - including working with neurodivergent youth, a brief period in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), then internships at The Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health, in m

115. S9 E10: An outcast in thick armour: from not fitting in to finding autistic pride and community Mar 23, 2024 01:12:12 Nigel Rising is the Founder and CEO of Autistic Women Emerging, a charity that aims to change the lives of undiagnosed and newly diagnosed autistic women. The charity was born out of her own personal struggle with depression and suicidal ideation, and it is her hope to help prevent autistic women taking their lives because they believe they are bad people, or a burden to others. Nigel says: "My p

114. S9 E9: Playing on 'hard mode': accepting our autistic challenges while anchoring to our brilliance Mar 16, 2024 01:06:28 Anissa Ljanta is a writer, a neurodivergent specialist coach, educator and equity and inclusion advocate living in the remote hills of a wild surf beach in West Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. She grew up in Samoa and South Auckland in Aotearoa New Zealand, where she was deemed a gifted child but was unable to deliver results. Her inability to live the expected 9-5 life led her to step out of life

113 [S9 E8] Making the invisible visible: getting comfortable with a late autism diagnosis Mar 9, 2024 01:10:14 Marisa Hamamoto is a leading voice in disability inclusion, professional dancer and founder of Infinite Flow, an award-winning dance company and nonprofit that employs disabled and nondisabled dancers with a mission to create a more inclusive world, one dance at a time. Marisa is a stroke survivor, and a proud fourth-generation Japanese American. She was diagnosed autistic in 2022, which she des

112 [S9 E7] Why the system is thwarting autistic people: reimagining neurodivergent health - with Dr Mel Houser Mar 2, 2024 01:05:53 Dr Mel Houser is a family physician in Montpelier, Vermont in the United States, with a clinical focus on providing medical care for neurodivergent patients across the lifespan. Now 40, she was diagnosed autistic two years ago, following a burnout - and at the same time was diagnosed as ADHD, dyspraxic, dyslexic, and dyscalculic. She is also the parent of an autistic 6 year old. Dr Houser is the F

111 [S9 E6] A magnet pulling me out of darkness: thinking through my body into autistic expression Jan 27, 2024 01:09:43 Dana Michel is a live performance artist and choreographer in Montreal, Canada, where she creates experiences based on a mixture of improvisation, choreography, hip-hop, cinematography, techno, poetry and social commentary. Now 47, she self identified as autistic in 2020. She also has a diagnosis of ADHD. Before graduating in Contemporary Dance in her late twenties, Dana was a marketing executive,

110 [S9 E5] 'My autism journey came out of my trans experience': Navigating gender and autistic identities Jan 20, 2024 01:03:54 Vic Weiner is a youth justice attorney and lifelong social justice activist in the USA. They were brought up by a college professor mother in an unconventional home without a TV, and as a child they always felt like an outsider. However, as they grew up and continued to struggle socially, they realised it wasn't just their unusual upbringing - there was something else going on. They were diagnose

109 [S9 E4] Little glimpses underneath the mask: unravelling people-pleasing and imposter syndrome Jan 13, 2024 01:05:39 Gemma Gray is a strategic marketing consultant from Edinburgh in Scotland. She left her long-term role following a burnout two years ago and became self-employed. She is a parent to an autistic daughter, and was diagnosed herself in March this year, aged 46. Still in the early days of her diagnosis, she says she is unravelling being a people-pleasing professional masker with chronic low self estee

108 [S9 E3] Told I couldn't be autistic: BPD misdiagnosis, mental health negligence and finally getting justice Jan 6, 2024 01:03:35 Naomi Ghafoor is a mental health activist who has spent over a decade battling the mental healthcare system and dealing with misdiagnoses, negligence and systemic abuse, which recently led to her suing her NHS mental health trust earlier this year. Now 26, she works as a Lived Experience Leadership Officer for a mental health charity in London, UK and is passionate about sharing her experiences a

107 [S9 E2] Autism deep-dive: examining the literature and ourselves, and reflections on burnout Dec 30, 2023 01:01:46 Dr Alexandra Johnston is an academic and social anthropologist from Melbourne, Australia. Now 49, she was diagnosed in March 2023. She lives with her wife, Cherie, who she describes as the first person she ever truly unmasked with. She has several degrees, including a Masters and PhD in Psychology, and her special interests include writing, writing and… writing! So much so, that she self-diagnos

106 [S9 E1] ND-affirming therapy: sensory regulation, integrating identity and understanding diffuse experiences Dec 23, 2023 01:09:38 Dr Megan Anna Neff is a neurodivergent Clinical Psychologist from Portland, Oregon, in the USA. She has a small private practice specialising in neurodivergent-affirming therapy and is the founder of Neurodivergent Insights, where she creates education and wellness resources for neurodivergent adults. She is also co-host of the Divergent Conversations podcast. Dr Neff is dedicated to educating th

105. Bonus: Eating disorder recovery, autistic self discovery and releasing ourselves from labels that limit us Jun 24, 2023 59:08 Livia Sara is an eating disorder survivor, mental health coach, autism advocate and author from the Netherlands. ** Listen ad-free by joining my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast ** Diagnosed autistic at 20, she now helps other neurodivergent people recover from disordered eating through learning to embrace their unique traits. She takes a holistic approach to health and healing,

104. S8 E12: Permission slip: embracing an authentically autistic life with no blueprint Jun 17, 2023 01:04:17 Gem Kennedy is a Coach and podcaster from Essex in the UK. They are non-binary and queer, and self identified as autistic and ADHD last year, at 35. ** Listen ad-free by joining my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast ** They are a Transformational Coach, facilitator and advocate, supporting neurodivergent and queer folk, present a podcast called Queers & Co., and are also co-parent

103. S8 E11: From feeling 'deficient' to self acceptance, research and advocating for autistic colleagues Jun 10, 2023 58:19 Kirstie Pickles is an equine vet, academic, mum and mental health advocate from Derbyshire in the UK. Now 49, she was diagnosed autistic at 47, following her daughter's diagnosis. She is passionate about sharing her story and raising the awareness of neurodiversity to allow for better self-advocacy and reduce the stigma associated with autism, and is currently researching autism within her profess

102. S8 E10: From ABA to understanding an autism diagnosis as a unique pathway to a fulfilling life Jun 3, 2023 58:27 Maisie Soetantyo is the founder of a nonprofit with a mission to improve employment prospects for autistic jobseekers and aspiring business owners. Now an openly autistic advocate and inclusivity trainer, she has been working with neurodivergent people since her undergraduate studies in 1991, but it would be many years before some of her clients started suggesting that she might be autistic, too.

101. S8 E9: From psychiatric trauma to autistic joy: a journey of healing and self discovery May 27, 2023 01:05:06 Laura Richmond is a writer and researcher from Southampton in the UK. Now 35, she was diagnosed autistic last year. She had an extremely difficult road to diagnosis. Social and emotional struggles in childhood led to her being in and out of the psychiatric system for 15 years, misdiagnosed and spending time in various psychiatric hospitals. The turning point came when her son was born: after a tr

100. S8 E8: A sense of purpose: finding our own path and place in the world as autistic adults May 20, 2023 57:45 Rosie Smith is the owner of a non-profit radical bookshop in Canton in Cardiff, just a couple of miles from where I live. Now 32, she grew up just outside Cardiff with her mum and sister. Leaving school at 16 due to anxiety, eating disorders and mental health issues, she found her people in music, joining bands and doing various different jobs until she decided to open the bookshop in 2019, after

99. S8 E7: Finding freedom after autism diagnosis and embodying the spirit of our unmasked selves May 13, 2023 55:38 Kay Louise Aldred is a writer, facilitator, teacher, mentor, and resource creator from North Yorkshire in the UK. Now 49, she was diagnosed autistic quite recently, last November. A former teacher, just like me she suffered burnout, left her career and became self employed before discovering her autism. Now she and her husband are co-authoring a book, Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Le

98. S8 E6: The fight for equity in education and work: an inspiring story of autistic self advocacy May 6, 2023 01:02:14 Rosie Weldon is a Senior Financial Analyst and author whose memoir, 'My Autistic Fight Song', tells the story of how she fought to get her accountancy degree and find her place in the world of work, despite her struggles with mental and physical health and the challenges that come with being autistic. Now 31, she was diagnosed aged 25. Since graduating from Chester University - where she received

97. S8 E5: Finding logic in chaos, burnout, and reconnecting with our internal compass and autistic joy Apr 29, 2023 01:01:31 Martine van Bijlert is a writer and researcher from the Netherlands. Now 52, she grew up in Iran and worked in places like Kabul, Grozny and Tehran as an aid worker, diplomat and researcher. She now divides her time between her own creative projects and her work for the Afghanistan Analysts Network, a Kabul-based think tank she founded with friends. She is self-identified autistic and ADHD, and s

96. S8 E4: Safety, community and representation for Black and minority ethnic / global majority autistic people Apr 22, 2023 01:00:42 Naomi Clarke is a freelance writer, community mentor, fundraiser and Human Design reader. She self diagnosed as autistic around two years ago, but due to inequality in the medical system has so far not been able to get a formal diagnosis. She describes herself as an autistic, queer, mixed race person with two children (one of her sons was diagnosed autistic 5 years ago). She wears a lot of hats

95. S8 E3: Shelving the quest for normal: reframing, regulating, and removing the stigma from autism Apr 15, 2023 01:04:22 Ebonie Allard is an award-winning International Master Coach, an author, and an artist. Now in her early 40s, she was mostly raised in the UK, but before she was seven years old she had lived in a house truck, on a commune, in France, New Zealand, Ireland, and England. She now lives in Spain. She says that she has never had a 'proper job' - she's been self-employed, a freelancer, a business owner

94. S8 E2: The sensory and social challenges of fitting into a new culture as an autistic adult Apr 8, 2023 01:09:18 Karawynn Long is an American writer and proofreader living in Mexico. Now 52, she had what she describes as her 'Autism epiphany' just over three years ago, a few months before her fiftieth birthday. She is self identified as autistic, partly due to formal assessments not being available in the Mexican system, and difficult and expensive to obtain in the American one. Karawynn moved to Mexico almo

93. S8 E1: Sport and fitness the autistic way: from not fitting in to feeling like a superhero Apr 1, 2023 01:07:38 Mandy Williams is a Volunteer Coordinator with Scottish Women's Autism and a competitive athlete. Originally from Manchester in the UK, she now lives in Stirling in Scotland. She was diagnosed autistic two years ago, aged 45. She is passionate about exercise, and her enthusiasm for this special interest shines out. She has achieved a bronze medal in mountain running, and recently qualified for the

92. S7, Ep12: Fern Brady: Compassion for my autistic self: gender expectations, troubleshooting traits, and unmasking on TV Dec 10, 2022 01:06:37 Fern Brady is a comedian and writer born and raised in Bathgate in Scotland. Now in her 30s, she lives in London with her partner. ** Listen ad-free by joining my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast ** Fern was a guest on the podcast back in the spring of 2021, soon after she was diagnosed autistic. Since then, she taken a deep dive into learning more about autism, toured her standu

91. S7, Ep11: Relaxing into the truth of who we are as late diagnosed autistic adults Dec 3, 2022 57:36 Angela Lauria is a CEO and author from Washington DC, USA. Now 49, she was diagnosed autistic 10 years ago, and initially underwent a form of the controversial ABA therapy in an effort to 'fix' the things about her that she had always felt were wrong. One burnout, some autism-positive therapy and ten years of processing later, she was able to fully accept and embrace her own autistic identity, and

90. S7, Ep10: Burnouts, breakdowns and anxiety: a journey towards more supportive and sustainable work Nov 26, 2022 01:01:54 Déa Neile-Hopton is a basketmaker and artist. She is of mixed Jamaican and English heritage and grew up in the 1970s and 80s in York, England. Now 47, she lives in Whitland in Wales, with her partner and three neurodivergent children. She is self diagnosed autistic and was diagnosed ADHD in 2021. ** Listen ad-free by joining my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast ** She has a passion

89. S7, Ep9: 'Outsider' identities: the intertwining of gender, sexuality and autism Nov 19, 2022 01:04:11 Kelly McCartney is a music journalist from Rhode Island, USA. She is 52 and self-diagnosed as autistic in April of 2022. She has turned a life-long special interest in music into an incredibly varied, 30-year career in almost every area of the music industry, including interning at Entertainment Tonight, working as personal assistant to various well known musicians, project managing independent ar

88. S7, Ep8: Making art out of darkness: self acceptance, resilience and radical unmasking as an autistic counsellor Nov 12, 2022 01:03:06 Audrey Mitchell is a counsellor with a private practise in Idaho, USA. She was diagnosed autistic in 2020, around the same time as her teenage daughter, and the last two years have been a time of processing and learning to accept herself as she is, and unmask in both her personal and professional lives. I first interviewed her two years ago, for the very first season of SquarePeg. Since that inter

87. S7, Ep7: Autism in mental health services: the experience of a late diagnosed autistic mental health nurse Nov 5, 2022 01:00:32 Jacqui O'Riordan is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner from Harrogate, North Yorkshire in the UK. She has worked as a mental health nurse for almost 20 years, including working in a secure unit with chronically ill patients. She has worked in crisis assessment with Accident and Emergency and the Police since 2008. Now 49, Jacqui was diagnosed as autistic and ADHD a year ago, and her two children are

86. S7, Ep6: Narrative therapy: reflections on an autistic experience of mental health inpatient services Oct 29, 2022 57:46 Alexis Quinn is a mother, author, educator and former teacher who spent three and a half years in inpatient services following a mental health breakdown in her mid twenties. 14 months into this period, aged 27, she was diagnosed autistic by chance, when an Autism Psychiatric Specialist happened to witness one of her meltdowns. I first discovered Alexis on Twitter, and I was compelled to read her

85. S7, Ep5: Autistic motherhood: working through the overwhelm of birth and parenting Oct 22, 2022 51:21 Sanna Östergren is a writer and literary translator from Sweden. She lives in the countryside with her husband and their two-year-old son, where she also runs a small independent publishing company. She realised she was autistic about a year ago, when the overwhelm of new motherhood started turning her life-long shutdowns into meltdowns, and she was diagnosed in April this year, aged 32. When we

84. S7, Ep4: Direct communication: navigating social and personal relationships as a highly sensitive autistic woman Oct 15, 2022 01:03:18 Janet Murray is a content strategist who lives near London in the UK. She was recently diagnosed autistic, after first getting a diagnosis of ADHD in 2020. ** Listen ad-free by joining my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast ** A former journalist and PR coach, Janet has written for many national publications, is the host of the Courageous Content podcast and founder of the Courageous

83. S7, Ep3: Psychology as a special interest: relationships, research and educational equity Oct 8, 2022 51:29 Janelle Johnson is an Inclusion Strategist, therapist and researcher from North Carolina, USA. She is self diagnosed and her son is also autistic. She has recently taken a step back from practising as a therapist to focus on her research as a PhD student and graduate research assistant at North Carolina State University's College of Education. Her work explores development for students with invisi

82. S7, Ep2: God as a special interest: deconstructing religious identity as a newly identified autistic Oct 1, 2022 01:03:26 D.L. Mayfield is a freelance writer from Portland, USA. She has written for Christian publications in the US for over 10 years, and is the author of several books, the latest of which, Unruly Saint, explores the life and work of the late American journalist, social activist and anarchist Catholic Dorothy Day. D.L. herself grew up highly religious in an evangelical family in the US. Now in her late

81. S7, Ep1: The challenge of creating the life you want when you diverge from the neurotypical 'norm' Sep 24, 2022 59:51 Dr Kate Tomas is a Spiritual Mentor who lives in mid Wales in the UK. Kate developed powerful psychic abilities from an early age, and by 22 had built a thriving international practice as a witch, healer and psychic for individuals, multinational brands, governments and CEOs. She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Theology from the University of Oxford, and is a world expert in Mysticism and Catho

80. Bonus: Grief and validation: repairing the damage of autistic masking and finding a sense of self Aug 13, 2022 01:03:14 Aisha Edwards is a somatic trauma therapist, podcaster and writer from Vancouver, Washington, USA, and was diagnosed autistic last year, aged 39. ** Listen ad-free by joining my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast ** Somatic trauma therapy is a body-centred approach to treating post-traumatic stress disorder that rather than focusing only on thoughts or emotions associated with a tra

79. S6, Ep12: Safety, success and shaping neurodivergent stories: reflections on intersectional autism Jul 30, 2022 01:07:37 Diane J Wright is an autistic advocate and the founder of Autastic, an online community that aims to help late diagnosed autistic adults, particularly those from minority communities, and is the only resource of its size founded by a woman of colour. Diane was diagnosed autistic in her early 40s. Her career has been in the entertainment industry, and she now provides diversity, equity, inclusion,

Episodes

Recommended