Today’s Autistic Moment: A Podcast for Autistic Adults by An Autistic Adult

Go to https://todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.  Carole Jean Whittington joins me to talk about how Autistic women define success.  Carole is a burnout strategist who helps Autistics work through their burnout.  Carole Jean Whittington is the director and host for Mind Your Autistic Brain. Her company helps with education and supports for late diagnosed Autistics and other Neurodivergents.  Carole is recognized as one of the top 50 Neurodiversity Evangelists by Theo Smith and Neurodiversity World.

Michelle Markman is a Neurodivergent relationship coach and a late diagnosed Autistic woman.  Michelle was aware of social differences and experienced the social challenges in her  childhood, but was unclear on their explanation until college.  MIchelle has been through spinal fractures, chronic pain, an autoimmune disease and through it all has refused mediocrity. Michelle's greatest personal accomplishment was climbing Kilimanjaro the world's tallest free standing mountain in Africa.  Michelle is a mother, world traveler, foodie, bibliophile and bon vivant.  Don't miss this great show as Michelle will talk about her greatest pleasure in helping others form and nurture social relationships.

Oluwatobi Odugunwa works with the Autistic People of Color Fund will be my guest for The Strengths and Achievements of Black Autistic Adults. The news and media tends to focus on the difficulties of having Autism, and black people are sadly classified as troubled and/or inferior to white people. In keeping with the theme for this year, my guest Oluwatobi Odugunwa and I are going to talk about the great work that Black Autistics are doing to foster a society of anti-bias towards Autistic Black individuals with disabilities.

Autistic Adults are pioneers on their own journeys. Lisa Morgan is a pioneer as part of a family with a history of suicide because of Autistic needs that were not being met. Lisa is an example of someone who met their tragedies and used them to build herself up and founded her own company to support Autistics in moments of crisis. Lisa’s story will move and inspire you in whatever situation you find yourself in, to work with and through it as an Autistic Adult to create and live your own life as you are. Don’t miss this special show.

Today's Autistic Moment is recognizing Black History Month with this special show. The movement for Neurodiversity like many others has it's own version of systemic racism.  Many of the programs, classes, presentations and schedules are created by and for the white majority.  If the movement for Neurodiversity is to be inclusive, then we must listen to the stories of Autistic people of color and learn from them how we can address the issue of racism.  Precious Lesley is a black Autistic Adult who will be talking about this sensitive topic.  In keeping with the theme for 2023, Precious will talk about the strengths and Achievements of Black Autistic Adults.

Today's Autistic Moment reaches a major milestone with the 50th show.  The podcast began in 2021 with a goal of creating some real social changes for the Autistic Adult Community.  The past two seasons have brought Autistic Adults and professionals who work with Autistics together to talk about the topics that matter most to us. Today's Autistic Moment and Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussions are giving Neurodivergent the chance to use their voices that are so often left out of the conversations about us and having our say.  It is having an impact.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Ana Aragon is my special guest for this premier to discuss the context of the theme for Today's Autistic Moment in 2023.  The Strengths and Achievements of Autistic Adults.   The guests and topics during 2023 on Today’s Autistic Moment’s podcast and Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussions will do more than talk about our many challenges; we will talk about how so many amazing Autistic Adults are using their challenges to build up their strengths so that we can set reasonable goals and achieve them successfully. There are so many talented and skillful Autistic Adults that are authors, educators, mathematical geniuses, advocates, who are using their tenacity to help the movement for Neurodiversity create community to support and encourage one another. In 2023, you will be meeting and hearing from many of them on Today’s Autistic Moment and Autistic Voices Roundtable Discussions.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript Autistics are stereotyped as not knowing how to communicate appropriately. As each Autistic is unique from another, each of us communicates differently. Some of us communicate verbally. Some of us communicate nonverbally. Some of us are non-speaking, but we still communicate. While Grace Ogden-Parker and I will not be speaking for every Autistic, we will be advocating for the diversity of Autistic Adults communicating with others in our own Autistic languages and styles of communicating. Are Neurotypicals really listening?

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript For many Autistic Adults the holidays are a time of sensory distress, seasonal depression, with social demands and all the music and holiday advertising that can stress us out. Becca Lory Hector who was my guest for the Summer of Self-Care Series will give us some of her ideas about managing holiday stress to help us all enjoy them as much as we can.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Autistic Adults are often stereotyped as children that never matured properly. Autistic Adults are infantilized by neurotypicals who feel that they know better as to who we should be and how we should behave and therefore should teach us to be more like neurotypicals. Robert Allan Claus III is an Autistic Adult who is here to talk about how being infantilized has affected him, and why he feels it is important that Autistic Adults be respected as Adults.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Nicky Collins is Autistic.  Nicky and her partner are parents of Autistic Children.  Nicky joins Philip to talk about what learning about her own Autism from her Autistic child was like. Nicky will talk about how Autistic Parents are different in how they work with their children and their challenges with schools and educational professionals that dismiss their concerns and advice.   Enjoy the show.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript Autistics and those with ADHD intersect as Neurodivergents.  We have issues with executive dysfunctioning, attention to detail and social challenges.  Pete Wharmby was diagnosed as Autistic at the age of 34 in 2017. At this point, he is a self-diagnosed ADHD because getting diagnoses in England is still complicated because of COVID-19. Pete has immersed himself in working to make the world a better place for the Neurodivergent community. Pete is an author, a former teacher and father.  Pete joins me to talk about this intersectionality to assist us with community organization and mutual support.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. In the DSM-5 in 2013 Attention Deficit Disorder Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was added to the family of neurological developmental disorders.  Neurodiversity includes ADHD.  Many Autistics have ADHD.  What are the similarities and differences between Autism and ADHD? Tas Kronby will be back on Today's Autistic Moment to give their insights about Autistics who have ADHD.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com to listen to the show and/or find the transcript. The convenience of the internet might seem like a great way to that perfect person to date. However, many Autistics find it difficult not to fall into certain social traps that can include but not be limited to dating someone who is abusive, and/or finding someone who does not respect our boundaries, or just rejects us. Come hear Candice’s important advice to help you stay safe when you use apps for online dating.

The new website todaysautisticmoment.com is now available

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com and follow the instructions to read the transcript. The Autism Society of Minnesota has been organizing an Autism Community Summit for the past 4 years and will have their 5th on September 17th. The Autism Community Summit has been a wonderful occassion during which Autistics collaborate with other Autistics. When Autistics come together to collaborate, we help each other find acceptance, community and some assistance as we work through the many challenges we deal with. During this episode, Zephyr James will share some of their ideas about how Autistics can collaborate with other Autistics not only in Minnesota, but all throughout the world.

Yesterday I received a request from someone who wanted to be part of my network on LInkedIN.  Their request came with a statement that was troubling.  Listen to this brief episode about what is the problem with what they said and what many Autistic Adults really want.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com to the episode and follow the instructions to get the transcript. Election years bring with them a lot of stress to add on to our stressful lives. Newspaper and/or blog articles, social media ads, television ads, emails are coming at us one after another with negative messages that bombard our senses. We become so overwhelmed, frustrated and burned out. Each effort to turn things off, leads us to another source that adds more informational overload, like people expressing their opinions when you are already tired. The Summer of Self-Care Series will conclude with some helpful ideas of how you can look after yourself during an election year.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript Crises for Autistic Adults comes from things like not getting hired for a job.  Getting rejected by someone you were dating. Maybe you got a notice that your support services were cancelled.  Your pet needs to go to the Vet.  Maybe you are facing the real threat of homelessness.  Autistics face more crises for various reasons, and it adds more stress on top of our challenging lives.  When people around you try to minimize the impact of those crises on you it worsens our situation.  Becca and I will give more advice on what you can do to take care of yourself in those moments.

Please go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript Zephyr’s understanding of their own sensory limitation needs makes Zephyr a fantastic guest to talk about this topic.  Many non-autistic people just cannot grasp that sensory overload/meltdown is a very painful and traumatic episode that wipes out our energy to a point where we must rest and become better regulated.  Zephyr will share with us some suggestions, so we take care of ourselves.

Please go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Why should we talk about seasonal depression at the beginning of the summer and the 4th of July? Because the 4th of July can be one of the worst days for Autistics. A lot of Autistics are the opposite of the general population in that our seasonal depression is worse during the summer and better during the winter. Regardless of the season you experience the worst depression, Autistic Adults can benefit from planning some good self-care strategies. My guest Becca Lory Hector and I will share our insights about seasonal depression for Autistic Adults and what we can do for ourselves to get through our worst times of the year.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.   Today’s Autistic Moment continues the celebration of Pride Month on this episode The Intersection of LGBTQIA+ Pride & Disability & Autistic Pride that will take a slightly different turn. I will be joined by Andrew Gurza who is a gay queer person with cerebral palsy, and an exceptional advocate for all disabled people through his own podcast Disability After Dark and social media presence on several platforms. Andrew and I will talk together about what is happening with disabled people who are LGBTQIA+, as well as Autistic people. Andrew is going to talk about what is happening with disabled people in general, while I will be talking about what is happening with Autistic people. Andrew will share a heart wrenching story with you all about an incident of abuse that he experienced from a professional caregiver. I am making a one-time exception for him with regards to his use of language as he tells this particular story. It is important that people hear what is truthfully happening to disabled people. The content may not be suitable for all audiences. Listener discretion is advised.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.  It's June which means we are celebrating Pride for LGBTQIA+ people.  June 18th is Autistic Pride Day.   It is no accident that both Pride celebrations fall during the same month.   LGBTQIA+ Pride and Autistic Pride share an intersectional relationship as people who experience similar issues. Yenn Purkis, a Queer, Nonbinary and Autistic advocate and author from Australia will talk about the extraordinary intersection June is for LGBTQIA+ people and Autistic people.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.  There are many unavoidable consequences to being Autistic in an ableist society.  One of those consequences is internalized ableism.  Autistic Adults tend to doubt ourselves to the point that ableism takes over our own attitudes towards ourselves.  Eric Garcia the author of the book We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation returns to Today's Autistic Moment to talk about how Autistic Adults can overcome our internalized ableism.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. One of the reasons many Autistics find it difficult to celebrate Autism Acceptance is because of having to mask our Autism because of a society that has not accepted us. What is masking? How does burnout happen? Listen to this exceptional conversation between Lyric and myself and get the answers with some tips about what you can do to live a healthier life.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Ben Levin is the author of the book In The Hole. Ben’s novel is a story depicting a child’s experience with homelessness. Ben has been in love with stories ever since he was a little boy. Ben is also proud to be Autistic and wants to use his status as an author to be an example of how Autism is not a setback, but a gift. “Autism is Not A Curse” is one of Ben’s favorite sayings. Ben will share with us his personal story of accepting his Autism and how his writing is an important piece of self-acceptance.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. On this special edition episode on Autism Acceptance Day April 2, 2022, I talk with Eric Garcia who is the author of the book We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.  Eric is an outstanding journalist and author.  Eric talks with me about why Autism Acceptance is so important and that we need to encourage changing the negativity towards Autistic people as part of our advocacy.  

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.  Michele Newman joins Philip to talk about her experiences as an Autistic Woman.  Michele was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 54, after 35 years of psychiatric misdiagnosis and medications that were harmful.  Michele will share with us about the enormous challenges of being an Autistic Post-Menopausal Woman that includes communicating with doctors about how her brain has changed and how Autism affects her response to certain medications and other treatments.  Michele's story is powerful and will touch your heart.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Today's Autistic Moment begins Women's History Month with Rose Carreiro as we discuss Adult Autistic Women.  There is a myth that Adult Autistic Women do not exist.  Rose explains how the stereotypes about women being caregivers for children, with the expectations of how women "are supposed to be" plays a role in the myth.  

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Social stigmas. Sensory processing disorder(s). Abusive relationships. Rejection. Unemployment. Ableism. All of these and many more than can be mentioned means that trauma is an unavoidable consequence for Autistic Adults. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is among the most common forms of trauma. Benjamin Christmass is 29 years old and lives in Queensland, Australia. Benjamin is a queer, neurodiverse, cardiac scientist. Benjamin was diagnosed as Autistic just over a year ago. Benjamin has studied and written about trauma as part of his Master's Degree thesis.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.   According to researchers, Autistics are at a 4-9 to 22.9% higher risk of developing an eating disorder.  Sensitivity to food textures, digestive issues, and interoception play a significant role that impacts Autistic Adults experiencing eating disorders. Tas Kronby joins me to talk about what eating disorders can affect Autistics, the challenges with finding doctors who understand the dual diagnosis of Autism and an eating disorder, and what we can do to help others understand how eating impacts the lives of Autistics. 

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript. Erin Brandel Dykhuizen is a licensed social worker who specializes in helping Autistics to deal with Chronic Pain Management.  Autistic people have very different responses to pain in large part due to our sensory processing disorders.  Some Autistic Adults may be hypo-sensitive to pain in that they do not know how much pain they are actually in.  Other Autistic Adults who are hypersensitive have pain that is so intense that managing day to day activities is almost impossible.  There are many Autistic Adults who live with chronic pain due to conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, physical injuries, and of course trauma. Erin will join me to talk about how Autistic Adults can manage their pain in ways that work for them.

Go to todaysautisticmoment.com for the transcript.   In the medical model, Autism is a neurological developmental disorder. In order to receive disability benefits, support services and social supports, Autistics are known by a medical pathology. A pathology that makes us second class citizens. In the social model we have the movement for Neurodiversity. Autistics and other individuals with conditions like ADHD are capturing our diversity as Neurodivergents to work towards a society of equality and equity. Dr. Scott Frasard will talk with me about why the medical and social models are important, and how the Neurodiversity movement is helping Autistics reach for our full potential in life.

Program Scripts and Interview Transcripts can be found on the Episode Index Page of todaysautisticmoment.com.   There is no doubt about it, the internet is a lot of fun. Social media, chat rooms, texting, dating, and gaming can make social connections easier. However, the internet is full of predators who know more about us than we know about them. Tas Kronby will join me to give us some helpful advice about watching out for risky emails, chat or text contacts, sales schemes, and social media posting.  As this is episode 24 and the final show of 2021, please be sure to hear my tribute to everyone who helped out at the end of the show. 

Program Scripts and Interview Transcripts are available at The Episode Index Page. David Gray-Hammond returns to talk about his journey of Substance Abuse Recovery.  

Tap or click for the Program Script and Interview Transcript. Substance abuse addiction is a dire problem for Autistics.  Autistics can be nine times more likely to become addicted to alcohol, prescription and recreational drugs than non-autistic people. David Gray-Hammond joins me to share his moving story about how addiction has affected his life as an Autistic Adult.  

A brief look at what the first season of Today’s Autistic Moment. The topics covered. Announcing the last three episodes of 2021. What’s coming up in 2022.

Program Scripts and Interview Transcripts are available at the Episode Index Page.  The biggest holidays of the year are only weeks away.  Everyone must be so excited for the holiday season to arrive right?  Actually, many Autistics dread the arrival of the end of the year holidays.  The combination of lights, food smells, crowded homes or halls with many people at one time, extra socialization can be a sensory nightmare for many Autistic Adults. Zephyr James returns to Today's Autistic Moment to talk about these sensory unfriendly holidays, with some helpful tips of how Autistic Adults can prepare for them.  Zephyr will also talk about what are some helpful ways to manage our sensory needs during the holiday season.

Program Scripts and Interview Transcripts can be found by going the New Podcast Episodes page or the Episode Index page at the website for Today's Autistic Moment. The most important, and challenging quote to remember is "If you have met one Autistic Person, you have met one Autistic Person."  Autistic Adults are not immune from struggling with the diversity among other Autistic people.  George Williams joins me to talk about how Autistic Adults can manage our relationships with other Autistic individuals.

Go to https://todaysautisticmoment.com/podcast-episodes/ein/ for the Program Script and Interview Transcript. Discovering that we are Autistic and of a diverse sexual orientation or gender identity, can be a coming out process.  As we begin October as National Coming Out Month for LGBTQIA+ people, it is only fair that we talk about coming out as Autistic too.  My very special guest Yenn Perkis joins me to talk about their life experience of coming out as Autistic, Asexual, Queer and Nonbinary.  Enjoy the show. 

Program scripts and Interview Transcripts are available at todaysautisticmoment.com.  My guest Leah Bauman-Smith and I will have a frank conversation about the matter of consent and sexuality, with very sensitive content that may be triggering and therefore not appropriate for all audiences.  Listener discretion is advised.  Consent is more than just saying yes or no to sexual activity.  Consent for many Autistic Adults applies to being asked if someone can shake their hand, give them a hug and having their decisions respected without the fear of coercion or exploitation. Autistic Adults regardless of their ability to verbalize have just as much right to give their consent as anyone else. Yet, too many Autistic Adults regardless of the level of their support needs have had their right to consent violated.  On the other hand, too many Autistic Adults unfortunately have a sex offender violation to their name, because of a lack of sex education and a healthy social environment to help them make better choices. Leah Bauman-Smith joins me for this very upfront discussion about consent for Autistic Adults.   

My guest Leah Bauman-Smith and I have a very frank conversation about dating, romantic relationships and sexuality in this installment, with very sensitive content that may not be appropriate for all audiences.  Listener discretion is advised. There is a myth that all Autistic people are asexual and not interested in dating or having romantic relationships.  The truth is Autistic Adults really do want to have healthy relationships and sex life. Leah Bauman-Smith joins me to talk about how Autistic Adults can have health and safe relationships, and be sexually active in ways that meet their needs.  

Hear the achievements of the first nine months of Today’s Autistic Moment.

Don't miss listening to my commentary about a recent article that appeared about Autistic Adults.  Zephyr James joins me to talk about Autistic Adults and Interdependence.  Interdependence is best understood as relying on each other for a sense of community belonging.  Zephyr is working with The Autism Society of Minnesota to begin helping Autistics seek and find interdependence through healthy relationships, building strong families, connected communities and independence and interdependence.  

A Program Script and Interview Transcript for this show can be found on https://todaysautisticmoment.com/podcast-episodes/ein/. Gaslighting is a form of manipulation and abuse by which the abuser makes the individual being abused doubt their own reality.  Gaslighting occurs by lies and cover ups designed to suggest that the person experiencing the abuse has no understanding of themselves, who they are, what they need and how to manage relationships and their everyday lives.  Autistic Adults experience gaslighting with regards to their sensory processing, questioning whether they are Autistic at all, and spoken to as if they are incompetent at living their lives.  Lyric Holmans, the Neurodivergent Rebel joins Philip to talk about what gaslighting is, and how to self advocate to do some self healing and protect themselves. 

Regardless of what group of people you are from that has a history of being “othered,” the media plays a powerful role in that it reflects what society looks like. The media is well known for getting everyone’s attention by whatever sensations they create. Autistic people are one group of people that are portrayed and betrayed by the media.  Nicola Whiting, an Autistic Adult and Amazon best-selling author from the United Kingdom joins me to talk about Autistic Adults: Media Portrayal or Betrayal?

Today's Autistic Moment continues our celebration of Pride 2021 with my guest Enzi Tanner as we talk about Autistic Adults: Our Diverse Gender Identities.  Enzi Tanner is a recently diagnosed Autistic Adult, who is a trans man, black and Jewish.  Enzi joins me to talk about what being an individual who is part of many diverse communities.  

Listen to why I am so excited and committed to producing and promote Today’s Autistic Moment.

June is LGBTQIA+ month.  June 19th is Autistic Pride Day.  On this episode, I talk a little about my own experiences as an Autistic gay man in my introduction to the show.  Later in the show, I talk with Heidi, Luke and Benjamin about their experiences and stories as Autistic Adults of various sexual orientations and gender identities.  

Employment is one of the key issues that impact Autistic Adults. Far too many Autistic Adults face discrimination when applying for a job, getting interviewed and getting hired. If and when Autistic Adults do get hired, they meet so many obstacles that make remaining employed becomes impossible. Samuel J. Levine joins me to talk about what is so wrong and why employers fail to value the abilities of Autistic Adults.

Living independently gives Autistics a way to stay in their own homes and receive in home supports.  GT Independence gives Autistic Adults and others with varying disabilities the opportunity to be their own employers in deciding who they hire or terminate and gain some control over their care.  Dan Carmichael is an Autistic Adult who is also a parent of an Autistic son, and is the co-owner of GT Independence.  Dan is my guest to talk about the work GT Independence does and share his thoughts about being an Autistic business manager and what that journey has meant for him.

Some great episodes coming in May 2021. Listen to this trailer.

Many Autistic Adults need supportive service to help with day to day self-care.  During this episode, I will be talking with Sara Swan the Owner and Founder of Looking Forward Life Coaching.  Sara and I will talk together about how difficult obtaining such services is in Minnesota and elsewhere.  We will reveal the results of the survey through which Autistic Adults told us of their experiences with applying for supports and what they experienced with service providers.  

April is Autism Acceptance Month. Ellie Wilson, the Executive Director at The Autism Society of Minnesota joins me to talk about the importance of Autism Acceptance.

Autistic Adults have a lot of challenges with executive functioning, self-care management and dealing with the unexpected.  There is one tool that can be very helpful for Autistic Adults to manage their lives and that is social narratives.  Eric Ringgenberg the Director of Educational Programs at the Autism Society of Minnesota joins me to talk about what social narratives are and how Autistic Adults can use them.  

Each autistic adult is unique. Our individual neurology is why every autistic adult has abilities and challenges that differ from other autistic adults. The word for those differences is neurodiversity. My dear friend Robyn DeCourcy talks about the history of neurodiversity and how it brings a greater acceptance of the diversity among people with neurological differences.

Autistic adults age differently because of our unique neurology.  Our bodies and brains have challenges such as communicating our needs to others more challenging.  As we age, our needs for medical help as well as our daily self care increases.  However the information as to what to understand as we age, and how to communicate our needs to medical professionals is more difficult. Dr. Theresa Regan joins me to talk about Aging Autistic Adults: What We Needed Yesterday.  Thank you for listening to Today's Autistic Moment: A Podcast for Autistic Adults by An Autistic Adult.

While great strides for people with disabilities have been made through the Americans with Disabilities Act, and research have brought great advances for autistic adults: there remains one common stigma: Ableism. Ableism often comes in the form of micro-aggression and/or very good intentions. Sue Swenson joins me to talk about ableism in terms of human rights and respect for the dignity of disabled individuals.  

COVID-19 has changed the world as we once knew it.  Autistic Adults have experienced routine changes that challenges our social support networks, therapy options and self-care more than they were before the pandemic.  On this episode of Today's Autistic Moment, Philip is joined by Olivia James from the Office for Communications and Marketing at the Autism Society of Minnesota to discuss how COVID-19 affects autistic adults.  Olivia offers great information, describes the barriers and strengths for autistic adults during this time, and gives crucial advice for self-advocacy.  Join us for this important conversational podcast.

Pilot: Introduction to Today's Autistic Moment.   Why a podcast for Autistic Adults?  During the pilot, Philip tells of why he is making the podcast, his goals, the topics and questions.  Hear the list of do's and don'ts for the podcast.  Hear more about who Philip is and why producing this podcast is so important to him.  Click to download and listen.  Enjoy the show