In this intimate episode of Love Conquers, Kaz and Matt sit down to explore the layered, exhausting, and often invisible art of masking. Kaz offers a raw, honest look at what it feels like to constantly manage tone, expression, posture, and presence just to “pass” as okay—when in reality, the effort is anything but invisible.

From school drop-offs to work meetings, social interactions to simply standing in a crowded space, Kaz breaks down the micro-calculations she makes throughout the day to avoid overwhelm, confrontation, or even just being misunderstood. With Matt’s support and insight, they unpack how this impacts their relationship, parenting, and energy as a couple.

Whether you’re the one who masks or the partner who’s learning how to see through it, this episode is a revealing look at what it means to live behind the mask—and what it takes to safely take it off

In this week’s episode of Love Conquers, Kaz and Matt take a close-up look at what it really means to intervene in real time when your autistic partner (or loved one) starts to dysregulate. It's the stuff that doesn't get taught in diagnostic handbooks or relationship guides—what to do when someone you love is spiraling, shutting down, or quietly drowning in overwhelm.

With candid examples from their own lives, they explore the art of stepping in without stepping on—how to offer grounding, safety, and regulation while honoring autonomy and avoiding the dreaded “fixer” mode. From non-verbal cues to pre-agreed comfort rituals, this episode breaks down practical strategies for recognizing escalation, navigating the tension, and creating space for recovery without shame.

Kaz and Matt also reflect on what it takes to build trust in these moments—how to talk about needs before things go sideways, and how to debrief afterward without adding fuel to the fire. It’s part love language, part emotional first aid, and fully essential for anyone in relationship with an autistic partner.

If you’ve ever felt helpless in the face of a loved one’s meltdown or shutdown, or unsure how to actually help—this episode is for you.

In this deeply insightful episode of Love Conquers, Kaz and Matt reconnect with friend of the show and returning expert Nicole Ennis Oakes to unpack one of the most nuanced challenges in neurodivergent life: learning your way through a diagnosis while already deep into adult relationships, shared routines—and, in many cases, parenting.

Nicole brings her clinical expertise and lived empathy to the table as she explores what happens when a diagnosis drops into the middle of a marriage or long-term relationship. She guides listeners through the emotional recalibration that often follows—grief, identity shifts, communication cracks—and how couples can navigate this terrain without losing each other in the process.

But the conversation doesn’t stop at the couple. Nicole dives into how the presence of children adds layers of complexity, urgency, and sometimes unexpected clarity to the diagnostic journey. Parenting through this lens demands a radical reshuffling of expectations, boundaries, and often, self-worth.

This episode is both illuminating and validating for anyone who’s had to re-understand themselves or their partner while already doing the hard work of showing up for family life. Compassionate, clear-eyed, and deeply human—Nicole helps us name what so many are quietly navigating.