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  • How Julie Discovered Her Autism Through Burnout and Books

    How Julie Discovered Her Autism Through Burnout and Books
    Feb 20 2026
    In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Julie Farrell, a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD writer, activist, and co-founder of The Inklusion Guide, a resource dedicated to making literature events accessible to disabled people.Julie shares her slow, layered journey toward understanding her neurodivergence — from burnout, migraines, and chronic illness labels, to finding herself mirrored in Autistic writers like Katherine May, to sobbing through the documentary Seeing the Unseen and finally knowing in her bones.Together, Angela and Julie explore masking, shutdowns mislabelled as anxiety, CPTSD, creative identity, freelance work as nervous system regulation, and the relief of receiving a diagnosis in a supportive, affirming environment. They also talk about ADHD medication, menstrual cycle titration, EMDR therapy, and what it feels like to “precipitate out of the hot goo” and become solid for the first time.This episode is also about Autistic joy — about stars, navigation, grief, and how Julie’s late father taught her to look up at the night sky and find her way.🪑 AttendeesChair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocateGuest: Julie Farrell — Writer, activist, and late-diagnosed Autistic & ADHD womanYou: The Listener!🗒️ Meeting AgendaOpening remarks from the ChairMember introduction: Burnout, writing communities, and slow recognitionDiscussion: Masking, shutdowns, and anxiety misdiagnosisChronic illness labels, brain fog, and nervous system overwhelmSelf-identification, late ADHD discovery and medicationCreativity, rejection sensitivity, and publishing Someone Like MeKey learningsClub announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting1️⃣ Opening RemarksAngela introduces Julie as a writer whose work reclaims Autistic narrative and centres accessibility, creativity, and late discovery. The conversation begins with the power of anthologies — reading other Autistic women’s work and realising, “Oh. That wasn’t just me.”2️⃣ Member Introduction: Julie’s StoryJulie traces her recognition back to 2018, when she ran a co-writing group in Edinburgh and befriended an openly Autistic man who spoke about burnout cycles. At the time, she didn’t see herself in autism — she was high masking and had internalized generalized anxiety and fibromyalgia diagnoses.Reading Wintering by Catherine May and later reviewing the documentary Seeing the Unseen became turning points. She describes sobbing at the end of the film and knowing, finally, that she was Autistic.3️⃣ Discussion HighlightsMasking & shutdowns: Nonverbal shutdowns misinterpreted as panic attacksMisdiagnosis: Anxiety and fibromyalgia concealing Autistic burnoutBurnout at 30: Months unable to leave the sofa; repeated medical dismissalSelf-ID vs formal diagnosis: The emotional weight of bothBeing believed: “Are you telling me I’m not stupid?”ADHD discovery: Hyperactivity, career misalignment, and paid assessmentMedication: Titration and menstrual cycle adjustmentsPublishing: Invited to contribute to Someone Like MeGrief & stars: Writing about her father, navigation, and expansive belonging4️⃣ Key LearningsBurnout cycles can be mistaken for anxietyMasking can delay self-recognition for yearsDiagnosis can dissolve lifelong shameMedication can reshape creative capacityFreelance work can be nervous system careAutistic joy often lives in special interests📌 Notice BoardInkulsion GuideSomeone Like Me AnthologyJulie’s Website Wintering by Katherine May📣 Club Announcements🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, ...
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    1 Std.
  • How Helen Learned She Was Autistic After a Lifetime of Misdiagnosis

    How Helen Learned She Was Autistic After a Lifetime of Misdiagnosis
    Feb 13 2026
    In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Helen Shaddock, a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and PhD researcher whose work explores autism, eating distress, OCD, and healing through creativity.Helen was diagnosed with anorexia at 13 and spent the next 25 years moving through eating-disorder pathways that never fully explained her experience. It wasn’t until her late 30s — after years of treatment, physical injury, and burnout — that an occupational therapist recognised what others had missed: Helen was Autistic.Helen and Angela explore the long overlap between eating distress, OCD, and autism, how Autistic regulation was repeatedly misread as pathology, and how late diagnosis reframed decades of self-blame. Helen shares her experiences around interoception, stimming, routine, sensory regulation, and the difference between Autistic eating and eating disorder treatment.This episode is also about creative becoming — how art, writing, and storytelling can be tools for survival, meaning-making, and identity reconstruction. 🪑 AttendeesChair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocateGuest: Helen Shaddock — Autistic multidisciplinary artist, writer, and PhD researcherYou: The Listener!🗒️ Meeting AgendaOpening remarks from the ChairMember introduction: Autism missed across treatment pathwaysCBT, clinical harm, and misinterpretation of Autistic regulationAutistic eating vs eating disorder frameworksBurnout, grief, and late autism recognitionCreative becoming through art and storytellingKey learningsClub announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting1️⃣ Opening RemarksAngela welcomes Helen as a long-standing member of the LDC community and frames the conversation around storytelling, creativity, and late recognition. This meeting emphasises intimacy and pacing — meeting one another “one at a time,” in a way that feels distinctly Autistic.2️⃣ Member Introduction: Helen’s StoryHelen was diagnosed with anorexia at 13 and spent her adolescence and adulthood navigating eating-disorder treatment, CBT, and medical surveillance.Many Autistic traits, including routine, stimming, sensory sensitivity, and the need for predictability, were interpreted as pathology rather than regulation.She experienced chronic fatigue in early adolescence, missed significant periods of school, and was bullied. Later injuries, stress fractures, and physical complications were consistently attributed to anorexia, obscuring the role of autism and interoceptive differences.3️⃣ Discussion Highlights25 years missed: Autism identified at 38 after decades of eating-disorder treatmentMisinterpretation: Autistic stimming and regulation framed as calorie-burning or compulsionInteroception: Pain, hunger, and bladder signals go unnoticed until extremeRoutine & safety: The difference between Autistic eating and eating distressGrief: Mourning the support that could have existed earlierLanguage shift: Choosing “eating distress” over “eating disorder”Creative becoming: Identity as fluid, evolving, and reconstructed through artArtEd: Digital storytelling, visual diaries, and community zines4️⃣ Key LearningsEating distress can mask autism — and vice versaLate diagnosis can dissolve decades of self-blameAutistic regulation is often misunderstood as a disorderCreativity is not a luxury — it is a survival toolCommunity reduces isolation and restores dignity📌 Notice BoardArtED WebsiteHelen’s Website📣 Club Announcements🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, ...
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    53 Min.
  • How Tara Survived Without Knowing She Was Autistic

    How Tara Survived Without Knowing She Was Autistic
    Feb 6 2026
    In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Tara for one of the most difficult and important conversations the Club has held.⚠️ Content notice: This episode includes discussion of violence, sexual abuse, child harm, and coercive control. Listener discretion is strongly advised. Please pause or skip as needed and take care of yourself.Tara is a late-diagnosed Autistic woman, a mother, and a survivor of severe childhood abuse, abduction, and exploitation. She shares her story not for shock, but to illuminate how Autistic girls and women are uniquely vulnerable — especially when they grow up without protection, language, or recognition of their neurodivergence.Together, Angela and Tara explore survival as an Autistic trait, truth-telling as both a strength and a liability, vulnerability to cults and exploitative systems, and the long road to healing through prolonged exposure therapy. Tara’s story is harrowing — but it is also a testament to resilience, instinct, and the life-saving power of being believed.🪑 AttendeesChair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocateGuest: Tara — late-diagnosed Autistic woman, mother, and survivorYou: The Listener!🗒️ Meeting AgendaOpening remarks from the ChairMember introduction: Abuse, abduction, and survivalDiscussion: Autistic vulnerability and coercive control, misdiagnosis, and being labelled a liarCults, self-help movements, and exploitationProlonged exposure therapy and Late autism self-recognitionKey learningsClub announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting1️⃣ Opening RemarksAngela opens the meeting with a clear trigger warning and an explanation of the safeguards taken to ensure this conversation was shared safely and consensually. This episode is framed as difficult — but necessary — for Autistic people, particularly women and girls, whose experiences of abuse are often misunderstood or erased.2️⃣ Member Introduction: Tara’s StoryTara describes knowing she was different from early childhood — hyperlexic, highly intelligent, sensory-sensitive, and deeply compliant. As a CODA, she was placed in adult responsibilities far too young, acting as her mother’s ears while navigating an unsafe home environment.Family members responded to her Autistic traits with punishment and violence rather than protection. Tara was repeatedly locked away, beaten, and labelled with slurs — experiences that primed her for later exploitation.At 14, Tara was abducted by adults known to her family. She was held, tortured, and left for dead. No search party was launched. No justice followed. Tara survived through instinct, dissociation, and an extraordinary will to live.3️⃣ Discussion HighlightsAutistic vulnerability: How isolation, compliance, and literal trust increase riskSurvival instincts: Autism as a tool for endurance and escapeMisdiagnosis: Repeatedly labelled with personality disordersCults and self-help: Seeking safety and meaning in exploitative systemsProlonged exposure therapy: Ten years of structured trauma processingLate autism recognition: Finding language after decades of harmMotherhood: Love, rupture, and intergenerational neurodivergenceJustice: Living without it — and learning how to go on4️⃣ Key LearningsAutistic girls are especially vulnerable when their differences go unprotectedBeing articulate does not prevent exploitationTruth-telling can be punished in unsafe systemsMisdiagnosis can cause as much harm as no diagnosisSelf-diagnosis can be life-saving📣 Club Announcements🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, ...
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    1 Std. und 7 Min.
  • How Abbey Realised She Was Autistic After Decades of Masking

    How Abbey Realised She Was Autistic After Decades of Masking
    Jan 30 2026
    In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Abbey Thompson — a librarian, classically trained vocalist, prize-winning baker, gamer, social justice bard, and self-described random fact machine.Abbey is a fat, queer, neurodivergent woman living in Los Angeles with two orange cats and a deep commitment to creativity without perfection.Diagnosed with ADHD in her 40s and later recognising she was also Autistic, Abbey describes how finally naming her neurodivergence didn’t just bring understanding — it brought permission. Permission to be loud, to be big, to be joyful, to be mediocre, and to exist without apology.Together, Angela and Abbey explore late identification, fatness and bullying, perfectionism, burnout, AuDHD, creativity as regulation, and the radical act of letting go of shame. This episode is an invitation to stop fixing yourself — and start living.🪑 AttendeesChair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocateGuest: Abbey Thompson — AuDHD librarian, vocalist, baker, and creator of the Mediocre Arts and Crafts ClubYou: The Listener!🗒️ Meeting AgendaOpening remarks from the ChairMember introduction: Masking, bullying, and being “too much”Discussion: Late diagnosis, burnout, friendship, fatness, queerness, and shameSensory processing, burnout, animals, justice sensitivity, and belongingKey learningsClub announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting1️⃣ Opening RemarksAngela introduces Abbey as someone whose life defies neat categories — librarian, opera singer, baker, gamer, and cat enthusiast — all in one person. From the outset, this conversation sets aside productivity and leans into permission: to be multifaceted, messy, and fully yourself.2️⃣ Member Introduction: Abbey’s StoryAbbey describes growing up as a high-achieving, compliant student who internalised bullying and othering — largely attributing friendship difficulties to being fat in a culture that relentlessly punished difference.Early signs of neurodivergence, including hyperfocus, rigidity, gullibility, sensory sensitivity, and being “too loud,” were reframed for decades as personal flaws. Only later did Abbey come to understand these traits through an Autistic and ADHD lens — one that offered compassion instead of criticism.3️⃣ Discussion HighlightsLate diagnosis: ADHD and autism identified in Abbey’s 40sBurnout: Years of overachievement, graduate school, and unrecognised exhaustionMasking: Being capable on the outside while struggling internallyFatness & bullying: How body stigma obscured neurodivergenceCreativity as regulation: Singing, baking, crafting, and making for joyMediocre Arts and Crafts Club: Creating without perfection or monetisationShame: Letting go of self-policing and internalised judgmentCommunity: Belonging as protection and healing4️⃣ Key LearningsCompetence can hide profound struggleShame is not a motivator — it’s a barrierCreativity doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningfulLate diagnosis can offer forgiveness, not just answersCommunity helps return shame to where it belongsYou don’t need permission to exist — but it helps when you finally give it to yourself📌 Notice BoardAbbey’s InstagramMediocre Arts & Crafts Club📣 Club Announcements🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    51 Min.
  • How Sarma Realised She Was Autistic After Everything Fell Apart

    How Sarma Realised She Was Autistic After Everything Fell Apart
    Jan 23 2026
    In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Sarma Melngailis, a late-identified Autistic woman whose life unfolded in public long before she had language for her neurodivergence.Sarma was once a celebrated New York restaurateur and entrepreneur. Years later, she became the subject of global scrutiny following a highly publicised documentary that framed her story through scandal rather than context. She was not diagnosed as Autistic until age 51, after everything had already happened.In this conversation, Sarma speaks candidly about sensory overwhelm, being misread as cold or suspicious, vulnerability to coercive control, and how not knowing she was Autistic shaped her relationships, business decisions, and sense of self. This episode is not about scandal — it’s about what happens when a life is interpreted through the wrong lens, and what becomes possible when the right one finally arrives.🪑 AttendeesChair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocateGuest: Sarma Melngailis — late-identified Autistic author and entrepreneurYou: The Listener!🗒️ Meeting AgendaOpening remarks from the ChairMember introduction: Public success without private understandingDiscussion: Late diagnosis, vulnerability, and coercive controlBeing misread: affect, communication, and media narrativesSensory processing, burnout, leadership, animals, justice sensitivity, and belongingKey learningsClub announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting1️⃣ Opening RemarksAngela introduces Sarma as a member whose story was widely told before it was widely understood. While the public narrative focused on spectacle and suspicion, Sarma’s lived experience was shaped by sensory overwhelm, misinterpretation, and deep vulnerability — all without the context of an autism diagnosis.2️⃣ Member Introduction: Sarma’s StorySarma describes growing up feeling different without knowing why, gravitating toward misfits and animals, and navigating adulthood with intense sensory sensitivity and a strong drive toward justice and care.Her autism was first suggested not by clinicians, but by viewers of a documentary who recognised themselves in her, many of them late-diagnosed Autistic adults.3️⃣ Discussion HighlightsLate diagnosis at 51: Recognition after public life and collapseMisinterpretation: Flat affect, pauses, and Autistic communication framed as guilt or deceptionCoercive control: How Autistic trust and literal thinking increase vulnerabilityBeing “seen”: Why manipulative attention can feel like understandingPublic narratives: Harm caused by edited stories and missing contextSensory overload: Sound, scent, and cumulative exhaustion in high-pressure environmentsAnimals and connection: Deep attachment as regulation and groundingSafeguards: Learning to listen to trusted outsiders and name red flags4️⃣ Key LearningsNot knowing you’re Autistic can increase vulnerability to exploitationBeing articulate and successful does not protect against harmAutistic affect is often misread through a moral lensClarity does not erase the past — but it can soften self-blameCommunity and outside perspective are protective factorsHaving language for your nervous system changes what you tolerate📌 Notice BoardPeople Magazine — Sarma Melngailis on Autism DiagnosisSarma Melngailis on InstagramThe Girl with the Duck Tattoo — Book WebsiteSarma Raw — Personal Website📣 Club Announcements🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...
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    1 Std. und 9 Min.
  • How George Realised They Were Autistic While Studying Autism

    How George Realised They Were Autistic While Studying Autism
    Jan 16 2026
    In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes George Watts, a neurodivergent researcher, parent, and PhD candidate whose path into autism research began before realising they were autistic themselves.George first studied autism from the outside, absorbing dominant behavioural frameworks and evidence-based models that promised to “help” Autistic people. It wasn’t until they encountered Autistic voices, community, and their own reflection in the literature that their understanding — and their life — fundamentally shifted.Together, Angela and George explore late identification, burnout, childbirth, internalised deficit models, the harm of behaviourism, and what becomes possible when Autistic people stop being studied in isolation and start building community together. This episode centres Autistic quality of life — not as an abstract metric, but as a lived, relational experience grounded in belonging, autonomy, and joy.🪑 AttendeesChair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocateGuest: George Watts — Autistic researcher, PhD candidate, and parentYou: The Listener!🗒️ Meeting AgendaOpening remarks from the ChairMember introduction: Childhood signs without diagnosisDiscussion: Burnout, childbirth, late identification, unlearning behaviourism and deficit-based modelsAutistic parenting and education research shaped by lived experienceKey learningsClub announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting1️⃣ Opening RemarksAngela introduces George as a researcher whose academic path into autism began long before they understood their own neurodivergence. Early training framed autism as a problem to be fixed — with behavioural intervention positioned as the solution.This episode traces what happens when that framework begins to crack.2️⃣ Member Introduction: George’s StoryGeorge returned to university as a mature student, studying autism after years of precarious work, burnout, and unrecognised neurodivergence. As they immersed themselves in autism literature, moments of resonance accumulated — until self-recognition became unavoidable.Childbirth, sensory overload, and years of misattributed mental health struggles came into focus through a new lens. What had once been framed as personal failure or psychological fragility was re-understood as the cost of navigating a world not built for Autistic nervous systems.3️⃣ Discussion HighlightsLate identification: Studying autism before recognising it in yourselfBurnout and childbirth: Sensory overwhelm and unmet support needsUnlearning behaviourism: Letting go of ABA as “help”Community as intervention: Autistic people supporting each otherQuality of life: Shifting research focus from causes and cures to belongingAutistic parenting: Reducing unnecessary demands and honouring regulationResearch from the inside: Autistic-led questions shaping the field4️⃣ Key LearningsUnderstanding autism can reframe decades of self-blameBehavioural compliance is not the same as well-beingQuality of life looks different for Autistic people — and should be defined by themCommunity and belonging are not extras; they are foundationalAutistic-led research changes what we ask — and what matters📌 Notice BoardGeorge Watts — YouTube talkAutism Studies (FutureLearn course)Research paper: A Certain MagicGrove Neurodivergent Mentoring and EducatingAutistic Quality of Life Measure (ASQoL)📣 Club Announcements🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...
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    50 Min.
  • How Julie Understood Herself After Raising an Autistic Child

    How Julie Understood Herself After Raising an Autistic Child
    Jan 9 2026
    In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Julie M. Green, a writer, Autistic mother, and late-identified Autistic woman whose self-recognition unfolded through parenting. Julie’s story begins not with her own diagnosis, but with her son’s. As she learned how to support an Autistic child, she slowly began to recognise familiar patterns in herself — sensory sensitivity, rigidity, perfectionism, chronic illness, and lifelong shyness that had always been framed as personality flaws rather than neurodivergence.Together, Angela and Julie explore maternal guilt, masking across decades, self- and formal diagnosis, and what changes — and what doesn’t — when you finally have language for your nervous system.🪑 AttendeesChair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocateGuest: Julie M. Green — Autistic writer, Author, and motherYou: The Listener!🗒️ Meeting AgendaOpening remarks from the ChairMember introduction: Childhood signs without diagnosisDiscussion: Parenting an autistic child while recognising autism in yourselfMasking, perfectionism, and decades of mislabelingSelf-diagnosis, formal diagnosis, and imposter syndromeKey learningsClub announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting1️⃣ Opening RemarksAngela introduces Julie as a member whose story begins in a paediatrician’s office — not for herself, but for her son. What started as advocacy and research quickly became a mirror, reflecting traits Julie had carried since childhood but never had language for.2️⃣ Member Introduction: Julie’s StoryJulie grew up in the 1970s and 80s as a highly anxious, perfectionistic, and extremely shy child. Changes in routine triggered meltdowns, collections were rigidly organised, and sensory sensitivities shaped daily life — all framed at the time as personality flaws or the result of being an only child.In school, Julie was quiet, compliant, and high-achieving. Anxiety and perfectionism were invisible to teachers, while internal distress went unnamed.Years later, as a first-time mother, Julie struggled with sensory overload, shutdowns, and intense guilt. When her son was diagnosed with autism at age three, Julie immersed herself in research — first to support him, and eventually to understand herself.3️⃣ Discussion HighlightsMasking and mislabeling: Shyness, rigidity, and perfectionism framed as flawsMaternal guilt: Internalising blame for sensory overwhelm and burnoutSelf-recognition: Seeing autistic traits through parenting without immediately claiming identityDiagnosis decisions: Self-diagnosis, formal assessment, and imposter syndromeDisclosure: Navigating silence, validation, and scepticism from othersAutistic parenting: Modelling boundaries, regulation, and self-advocacy4️⃣ Key LearningsAutism can become visible through caregiving before self-recognitionCompliance and quiet achievement often hide distressFormal diagnosis may change nothing — and everythingSelf-diagnosis is valid; seeking assessment is a personal choiceModelling boundaries is a powerful form of parentingUnderstanding yourself can reduce shame across generations📌 Notice BoardLink for Julie’s book: Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical AcceptanceJulie’s Substack: https://theautisticmom.substack.com/📣 Club Announcements🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    46 Min.
  • How Becca Reclaimed Her Voice as an Autistic Adult

    How Becca Reclaimed Her Voice as an Autistic Adult
    Jan 2 2026
    In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Becca Engle, an Autistic educator, author, and advocate whose early disability was recognised, but whose autism was not fully named until adulthood.Becca was identified as disabled at age three and was once non-speaking. She was repeatedly told she would never be independent, never succeed academically, and never become a teacher. Instead, she grew up navigating education systems that focused on compliance over understanding — systems that demanded silence, masking, and endurance rather than support.Together, Angela and Becca explore early childhood diagnosis without clarity, the harm of behaviour-based interventions, masking in higher education, autistic anger as a catalyst for advocacy, and what it means to design learning environments that support regulation rather than control.🪑 AttendeesChair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocateGuest: Becca Engle — Autistic educator, author, and disability advocateYou: The Listener!🗒️ Meeting AgendaOpening remarks from the ChairMember introduction: Early childhood diagnosis and being “almost autistic”Discussion: Masking, compliance, and exclusion in education systemsRegulation, classroom design, and alternatives to seclusionKey learningsClub announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting1️⃣ Opening RemarksAngela introduces Becca as someone whose autism was visible early but never fully acknowledged. Despite being labelled with multiple developmental diagnoses, Becca’s needs were misunderstood, and expectations for her future were set painfully low.What followed was not support, but pressure to conform.2️⃣ Member Introduction: Becca’s StoryBecca was diagnosed at age three with conditions that stopped short of autism and was repeatedly told she would never speak, learn independently, or attend school. Early intervention included speech therapy, occupational therapy, and exposure to behaviour-based systems that relied on control and seclusion.Years later, in college, Becca was told she was “too autistic” to teach. She graduated anyway — and later pursued further credentials outside traditional pathways.Becca formally received an autism diagnosis in adulthood, bringing clarity, legitimacy, and permission to name what had always been true.3️⃣ Discussion HighlightsEarly diagnosis without clarity: Being labelled disabled but not autistic shaped expectations and access to supportCompliance over care: Behaviour systems prioritised obedience rather than regulation or understandingMasking in higher education: Silence was rewarded; authenticity was punishedAnger as fuel: Advocacy emerged not from inspiration, but from injusticeRegulation-focused classrooms: Becca describes her three-zone regulation model as an alternative to calm corners, seclusion, and PBISStimming and creativity: Writing, knitting, and movement as regulation — not distraction4️⃣ Key LearningsEarly identification without understanding can still cause harmCompliance systems teach masking, not self-regulationSilencing autistic communication is often framed as professionalismAnger can be an appropriate and productive response to injusticeWhen environments change, people don’t have to disappear to succeed📌 Notice BoardBecca’s Social Media:• Instagram: @StitchesStanzas• Facebook: Becca Engle / Stitches & StanzasBecca’s Books:• Step Into My Shoes: https://a.co/d/hJRVXSG• Through Our Lens series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3XQZ8KV📣 Club Announcements🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka ...
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    48 Min.