Actually Autistic
48 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 17 ratingsFun and informative interviews and stories featuring fascinating Autistics who do cool stuff. Plus informational min episodes made for Autism Appreciation month.
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Episodes
Comforting Things - Final daily mini of 2022 - Crossover episode with Foolish Wits
April 23, 2022 13:21 - 33 minutes - 24 MBIt's been 4 weeks of daily mini episodes. For this last episode I wanted to talk about things that give us comfort and so I had on my comforting co-host from Foolish Wits, Jeff Richardson. Thank you all for sharing this Autism Appreciation month with me. There will likely be more episodes in the future but I'm not sure when. <3
Recognising and dealing with bullies and narcissists
April 22, 2022 14:44 - 16 minutes - 11.7 MBOne of the most difficult parts about being Autistic is the relentless bullying that starts in childhood and often continues for the rest of our lives.
Strategies for Autistic Burnout/Chronic Fatigue
April 21, 2022 14:08 - 13 minutes - 9.81 MBToday I am going to talk about strategies for dealing with Autistic Chronic Fatigue. I want to be clear at the start here that I have no idea what causes chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS. CFS may have multiple underlying causes. We don't know. However the symptoms do seem to be shared in a similar way by multiple people. My working hypothesis is that it seems like a different condition in Autistics for the same reason that everything else seems different in Autistics. It's because Allistics a...
What is POTS and what might it have to do with Autistic Burnout?
April 20, 2022 14:31 - 12 minutes - 9.04 MBPostural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and you or someone you know.
Autistic Hypermobility
April 19, 2022 13:19 - 9 minutes - 7.24 MBThere is such a thing as being too flexible.
Reading, writing, math, and physical coordination for Autistics with spiky profiles
April 18, 2022 14:48 - 9 minutes - 6.31 MBThe title says it all :)
Intense World Theory
April 17, 2022 16:02 - 9 minutes - 6.65 MBThe Intense World Theory is a hypothetical model of Autism that posits that Autistic traits are the result of heightened sensory sensitivity and that different Autistics have different sensitivities.
Autistic vs Allistic social styles
April 16, 2022 16:03 - 10 minutes - 7.36 MBSome of the many ways that Autistics and Allistics communicate differently.
Hyperphantasia, Anaphantasia, and face blindness (Prosopognosia)
April 14, 2022 14:57 - 5 minutes - 3.69 MBAutistic traits can include wide variations of how we process visual information internally
The perks and perils of being Autistic during a global pandemic
April 13, 2022 16:20 - 13 minutes - 9.05 MBI'm seeing a lot of people I love giving up on wearing a mask in public. It's breaking my heart and you can hear it in my voice on this episode. Covid is not over.
Functional Labels and ABA are much worse than useless
April 12, 2022 14:31 - 5 minutes - 3.54 MBIn this episode I talk about Functional Labels and Applied Behavioral Analysis. I don't go into a lot of grisly details so you should be able to listen to it if you want to without hearing anything traumatizing. It's just a very quick overview.
Working as an Autistic in an Allistic world
April 11, 2022 13:30 - 7 minutes - 4.94 MBSometimes the only way to win is not to play the game
Lists of Autistic traits and how they help with self diagnosis
April 10, 2022 14:35 - 10 minutes - 7.6 MBLists of Autistic traits on social media is one of the ways that many adult Autistics figure out who they are
Autistic passions aka Special Interests and Info Dumping
April 09, 2022 15:51 - 8 minutes - 5.93 MBHyper focus and dedication to learning everything about a particular topic are very common Autistic traits
Spikey Profiles
April 08, 2022 13:55 - 7 minutes - 5.19 MBAutistics are often said to have "Spiky Profiles."
The perils of an official Autism diagnosis CW - death
April 07, 2022 14:14 - 10 minutes - 7.22 MBGetting an official diagnosis can be difficult and expensive but is it even worth it?
Autistic Burnout
April 06, 2022 12:31 - 6 minutes - 4.72 MBAutistic Burnout is devastating and we know a lot about what can trigger it but very little about what causes it.
Empathic Autistics
April 05, 2022 15:14 - 5 minutes - 3.61 MBYes, Autistics are often highly empathic!
Sensory sensitivity and Meltdowns
April 04, 2022 15:58 - 6 minutes - 4.6 MBAutistics often have much higher sensory perception than Allistics do. This can lead to both pleasure and pain. When there is too much sensory input without enough time/space to process it that can lead to an Autistic meltdown
Know thyself! Self diagnosis in the autistic community
April 02, 2022 13:39 - 16 minutes - 11.8 MBSelf diagnosis is not only valid it's essential.
What fools these mortals be! Autism and the Court Jester
April 01, 2022 13:31 - 9 minutes - 6.92 MBA brief discussion about the connection between Autistic traits and jesters
Autistic masking - what is it and do all Autistics do it?
March 31, 2022 14:28 - 8 minutes - 5.9 MBAutistic masking - what is it and do all Autistics do it?
Surprise Autism - discovering your Autistic identity as an adult
March 30, 2022 14:32 - 9 minutes - 6.36 MBMany Autistics don't know they are Autistic until they are adults. It's a discovery that can be quite joyful but also has unique challenges.
Terminology in the Autistic community - a brief summary of a contentious topic
March 29, 2022 14:39 - 18 minutes - 12.8 MBTerminology in the Autistic community - a brief summary of a contentious topic
A guide to recognizing predatory organizations
March 28, 2022 14:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBIn this episode Rachel discusses how to spot predatory organizations
Autism Appreciation Month is coming!
March 22, 2022 17:01 - 2 minutes - 1.62 MBA brief announcement about the upcoming Autism Appreciation Month episodes
Rachel provides an update
February 22, 2022 16:04 - 27 minutes - 19 MBHullo peoples! Hope you are all doing as best as can be hoped under the circumstances. <3
Black Lives Matter
June 04, 2020 20:36 - 12 minutes - 11.6 MBJust a brief episode to say hi and declare what should be freaking obvious. Black Lives Matter.
Where I have been and where I am going
April 19, 2020 17:57 - 49 minutes - 45.4 MBRachel explains what she was doing last year and that the podcast will be moving to a new hosting service since Whooshkaa chose a global pandemic to start squeezing us for money
Hey everyone I missed you!
March 30, 2020 18:51 - 2 hours - 119 MBRachel says hi and has a chat about current events with herself. More interviews soon. <3
A brief hello from your host
August 23, 2019 18:09 - 3 minutes - 3.09 MBHullo lovely people's this isn't even really an episode. It's more of a message in a bottle to let you know what's going. Tl:dl - I had to take a short break but will be back soon. <3
Jane Meyerding On Being Differently Brained
August 05, 2019 17:43 - 46 minutes - 43 MBI read Jane's marvelous 1998 essay about discovering her Autistic identity. "Thoughts on Finding Myself Differently Brained" by Jane Meyerding http://www.planetautism.com/jane/diff.html
Anlor Davin wants us to just breathe
July 22, 2019 00:39 - 1 hour - 89.2 MBAnlor Davin - Actually Autistic Meditation Teacher and published Author and I talk about how her meditation practice reshaped her interior landscape and helped her survive her greatest challenges.
Kim Crawley wants us to practice safe cyber
July 07, 2019 22:04 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBKim Crawley, Actually Autistic Cyber Security Blogger, and I talk about her difficult road to an accurate diagnosis, school, cyber security, how we can make ourselves safer online, and how her Allistic Rock-n-Roll boyfriend rocks her world. I also spend sometime at the beginning of the episode talking about the podcast itself. Here is the FB group I mention. https://www.facebook.com/groups/358491291412349/
Tema Krempley always knew she was different
June 23, 2019 16:59 - 58 minutes - 53.8 MBTema Krempley, Actually Autistic Graduate student getting her Masters in Social Work, and I talk about Grad school, Beethoven, GoT, Burnout, Masking, tips for telling your family and coworkers about being Autistic, and tips for family members wanting to support Autistic adults.
BONUS EPISODE - Hilary Reyl and I have ALL THE FEELS
June 13, 2019 04:25 - 1 hour - 62.5 MBHilary Reyl, non-Autistic identified (Allistic) Author, of the YA book, "Kids Like Us" that features an Autistic protagonist. Not only is Hilary a talented writer, and a lovely human being, she's one of my oldest and dearest friends. We discuss her new book, the Autistic community, parenting, empathy, Echolalia, Autistic Burnout, Masking, her amazing family, and some of our shared childhood experiences.
Dr. James McGrath wants us to rewrite the Autistic narrative
June 09, 2019 12:05 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBDr. James McGrath, Actually Autistic Author and Poet, and I discuss his wonderful book "Naming Adult Autism: Culture, Science, Identity" where he focuses on how our culture perceives and defines Autism. We have a fun and free wheeling conversation that touches on The Beatles, Dr. Hans Asperger, the joys of having a favorite cafe', bullies, the importance of curiosity and more!
Samantha Craft thinks of you and your struggles more than you know.
May 26, 2019 17:50 - 1 hour - 83.8 MBSamantha Craft aka Marcelle Ciampi, Actually Autistic Advocate, Author, (and much much more) and I talk about her list Females with Asperger's Syndrome: An Unofficial List https://the-art-of-autism.com/females-and-aspergers-a-checklist/ and her Autistic journey. Masking vs not masking, the joys and perils of online Autistic communities, and her current focus on equality and inclusion in the workplace.
Mykola Bilokonsky had an epiphany during Les Misérables
May 12, 2019 10:38 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBRachel and @mykola , Master Tweeter, Software Engineer and Actually Autistic Activist, talk about how Les Misérables changed his life, his rocky road to accepting himself as Actually Autistic, and the epic viral Twitter thread that has helped thousands of people to see Autism in a new light.
Enthusiasm is Morénike Giwa Onaiwu's secret weapon.
May 05, 2019 13:35 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBRachel and Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Actually Autistic Activist, talk about Functioning Labels (and why we don't need them), Intersectionality, parenting, romantic gifts gone awry, Graduate school, Steven Universe and much much more!
Shona Davison loves a good mystery and great odds
April 28, 2019 11:02 - 43 minutes - 40 MBRachel and Shona Davison, Actually Autistic educator and advocate, talk about Aphantasia and Hyperaphantasia. The risks and benefits of coming out as Autistic, Parenting, Challenging Behavior, how to make money gambling, and Sherlock Holmes.
Sarai Pahla is fascinated by what she doesn't know
April 21, 2019 16:17 - 1 hour - 79 MBSarai Pahla MD, Actually Autistic medical translator, speaks 4 languages and can kick your video butt in first person shooters. We talk about Sarai's transatlantic journeyto find a place she could call home and we make an effort to demystify Allistic ways of talking. Mostly we laugh a lot at ourselves and the world we find ourselves in. Be sure to check out her TEDX Talk! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MA7o6FgPRU
Konstantine Anthony is Never Going to Give You Up
April 14, 2019 15:34 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBRachel and Konstantine Anthony, Actually Autistic Parent, Activist, Public Servant, Researcher, and Improv Comic and Trainer, talk about Autistic brains, Dendritic Pruning, Synesthesia, the home videos that helped him understand himself, and the magic of Yes And. Then he schools me on why you don't have to be Autistic to be funny (Although I think I may just be partial to Neurodiverse humor). Also he low key kind of announces that he might be running for political office in 2020. Konstantin...
Dr. Wenn Lawson and the fine art of saying "Oh well"
April 07, 2019 20:26 - 50 minutes - 46.8 MBRachel Aanstad and Dr. Wenn Lawson, Autistic Advocate and author of over 20 books, discuss being an Autistic parent, over-committing to projects, the advantages to aging as an Autistic, his experience transitioning to being a man at age 61, his love of birds and the art of saying "Oh well."
Sarah Hendrickx is not trying to make trouble
April 01, 2019 14:04 - 55 minutes - 50.5 MBHost Rachel Aanstad, and Sarah Hendrickx, Internationally recognized Actually Autistic Autism expert discuss diagnosis for Autistic women, spiky profiles, the art of stand-up comedy, imposter syndrome, anxiety, love, and the joys of making soup.
I get interviewed for my own show by guest host Callie Wright
March 20, 2019 00:24 - 39 minutes - 36 MBCallie Wright, from the Podcast Queersplaining interviews me, Rachel Aanstad, for my own show. We talk about labels, my obsession with Shakespeare, and how it felt for me to discover, as a middle-aged lady, that I'm Autistic.