Shifting the Narrative on Everything Autism
by Everything Autism
”Shifting the Narrative” is a podcast that seeks to dispel the myths, misconceptions, and fears around Everything Autism. Stacy Badon is an Autism Education specialist, Sensory Enrichment Therapist, and Parent Coach, with previous experience as a Speech Therapist and Early Intervention teacher for public schools. She has 20+ years of professional experience supporting families in the Autism community, as well as global experience volunteering with nonprofit organizations. Torrin Kearns is an Autistic screenwriter, blogger, and neurodiversity advocate. Each week, they’ll deep-dive into a different autism-related topic in a quest to provide answers, skills, and strategies for parents, caregivers, teachers, and therapists.
Episodes
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EP 11: An Interview w/ Autistic Children's Author Pastiche Graham
On this episode, Stacy interviewed Pastiche Graham, a children's author, who is herself, autistic. Pastiche is the author of Pia Pistachio Gets A Job, a tale of a young autistic woman who enters the work force for the first time and learns a lot along the way. The women spoke about: -The...
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EP 117: Why Does Your Autistic Child Love Trains?
We're back (at least for this week), and we're here to talk about Monotropism? -What is it? -Is it like having a one-track mind? -What is its relationship to autism? *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/vqlibrary If you are looking...
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EP 116: How To Help Your Autistic Child Speak When He Doesn't Talk
On this episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss Augmented Alternative Communication (AAC). -What is it? -What are AAC devices? -Does using an AAC device stunt an autistic child's potential to use mouth words? -If finances are an issue, how can you obtain an AAC device? *** Help marginalized youth get…
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EP 115: Your Autistic Child Was Learning To Speak. Now They Don't. Now What?
On this episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss what to do when an autistic child seemingly starts to regress in various skill sets. -How to deal with this issue. -Is it even an issue at all? -What are the causes? *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee:...
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EP 114: What Exactly Is "Parent Empowerment?"
Stacy and Torrin speak a lot about parent empowerment, but what exactly is it? On this episode, they explain what it is, what it looks like when applied to parenting, and easy ways to implement it. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee:...
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EP 113: "Systemic Incompetence" w/Santana Ficken
On this episode, Stacy and Torrin speak with Mental Health Practitioner, Educator, and Disability Justice Advocate Santana Ficken. Santana came on to discuss autism in adults, the kinds of trauma they often deal with, and how to avoid it. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they…
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EP 112: The Link Between Tylenol and Autism (There Isn't One) w/Julia Lee Barclay-Morton
We were going to wait a couple more weeks to start releasing the latest season of the podcast, but President Trump and RFK forced our hands... On this episode, Julia Lee Barclay-Morton returns to help us unpack the mother of all autism misinformation dumps: the recent claim--made by the President...
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EP 111: Helping Autistic People Overcome Trauma w/Alicia Diesch
On this episode, Stacy flies solo and talks with musician, therapist, and yoga instructor Alicia Diesch. Alicia specializes in using music therapy to help neurodivergent people overcome trauma. They discussed the different kinds of trauma often seen in autistic and neurodivergent people and how...
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EP 110: How Rachelle Vartanian Is Helping Autistic Adults Find Their Dream Jobs
On this episode, Stacy and Torrin are joined by Rachelle Vartanian to talk about the services available to adults with autism. Rachelle is the founder of the Living and Learning Enrichment Center in Northville, Michigan. There, they offer job skills training, support groups, and social programs...
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EP 109: What We Have Learned About Autism
On this episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss what they've learned over the years about autism and working with autistic people. (Stacy has had more years than Torrin). TL;DR: Stacy has always led with compassion and understanding of the autistic perspective, even when there was a lack of information...
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EP 108: One Mom's Struggle To Protect Her Autistic Daughter: The Chantelle Hyde Story
On this episode, Stacy and Torrin are joined by Chantelle Hyde, an anti-restraint advocate and mother of an autistic daughter. Chantelle is the Lead Canadian Volunteer with Alliance Against Seclusion & Restraint, an organization whose mission is to raise awareness and ultimately end the use of...
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EP 107: A Message For Autism Parents
On this episode, Stacy and Torrin talk about a variety of topics that all relate to the overarching theme of communicating with autism parents. -What is the best way to talk to autism parents? -Why some autistic social media influencers struggle to connect with parents of autistic children -Why…
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EP 106: Free to Be Me w/Christina Schmidt
On this episode (unfashionably late), Stacy and Torrin were joined by autistic Speech Pathologist Christina Schmidt to discuss therapy for late-diagnosed individuals. What does a neuro-affirming therapeutic approach look like for adult clients? How does it differ from strategies used for…
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EP 105: If Your Child Has Autism, You Must Act!
On this episode, Stacy and Torrin talk about the importance of having a sense of urgency as an autism parent. If your child has autism, they might need supports, therapies, and treatments for co-occurring conditions. The you act to secure the things your child needs to thrive, the better. ***…
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EP 100: The 100th Episode! (Also, Stacy Is Starting Her Own School)
Stacy's new Micro-School: https://autism4home.com/taki-wa-tanga Thanks for listening to the first hundred episodes. Hope to see you for the next hundred. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/vqlibrary If you are looking for...
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EP 104: The Department Of Education Is Going Away; What Now?
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss what will happen if the Department of Education is dissolved. (As the new presidential administration has promised to do). What can parents do? What should they do? *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a…
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EP 103: From Late-Diagnosed To Becoming An Autistic Therapist The Dr. Alondra Rodgers Story
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin are joined by autism therapist, parent, and author Dr. Alondra Rodgers. She spoke with us about her therapy work with autism parents and autistic adults, along with her role as a caregiver for an autistic child. She also touched on her own late autism...
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EP 102: Creating An Autistic Children's Show w/Dr. Stephen Shore
Dr. Stephen Shore is an autistic professor of special education at Adelphi University. He has written books that include: College for Students with Disabilities, Understanding Autism for Dummies, Ask and Tell, and Beyond the Wall. Currently, he serves on the board of Autism Speaks, and is one of...
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EP 101: Why Does Your Autistic Child Repeat What You Say?
We are SO back! This week's episode is all about Echolalia. What is it? Is it a good/bad thing? How do you deal with the annoyance of your child repeating what you say? (TL;DR it's a form of communication). *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee:...
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EP 99: Tough Decisions Autism Parents Are Forced To Make
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss some of the hard decisions autism parents have to make while trying to do what's best for their children. Stacy is a parent of two. Torrin is autistic himself but doesn't have kids. It was an interesting discussion... *** Help marginalized youth…
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EP 98: Steve Silberman Was the G.O.A.T. w/Julia Lee Barclay-Morton
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin were joined again by Julia Lee Barclay-Morton to talk about the life and times of the late, great Steve Silberman, author of the groundbreaking book on autism Neurotribes. We spoke about the effect Neurotribes had on Stacy's therapy practices and Julia's...
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EP 97: How to Support Autistic Teens Part 1
On this week's episode, Torrin and Stacy discuss ways parents, caregivers, teachers, and therapists can help support autistic teens. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/vqlibrary If you are looking for one-on-one coaching with…
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EP 96: What They Don't Tell You About ABA w/Julie Roberts
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin are joined by speech therapist, author, and public speaker Julie Roberts. Julie is the founder of the Therapist Neurodiversity Collective, an international neurodiversity-affirming therapy, education, and advocacy organization. She is also the author of…
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EP 95: What is Ableism w/Ande Quercus
Ande Quercus returned this week, this time, for a discussion about ableism. What exactly is ableism? How can we identify it? How can we fight it? *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/vqlibrary If you are looking for one-on-one...
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EP 94: Keep Your Hands Off Autistic Kids w/Ande Quercus
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin speak to autism advocate Ande Quercus about systemic physical abuse of autistic children. In schools and group homes, physical restraint and abuse is commonplace; either legal or ignored. Ande is fighting to end these practices. *** Help marginalized youth...
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EP 93: The Hard Talks About Autism
On this week's (very late) episode, Stacy and Torrin talk about autism. Yes, that's what we do every episode, but today, we discussed the shame and fear people have when talking about autism. Often, parents and family members are hesitant to reveal their child's autism diagnosis, even if doing so...
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EP 92: It's Never Too Late To Come Out As Autistic w/Gloria Jackson-Nefertiti
On this episode, Stacy was joined by poet, public speaker, panelist, singer, photographer, performance artist's, and long-time artist's model Gloria Jarkson-Nefertiti. Gloria was diagnosed later in life with ADHD and later, autistic. She spoke with Stacy about her experiences going through life…
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EP 91: What Is Mental Age?
You've heard the line before. So and so with autism has a mental age of 2 or 4 or 6 years old. But what is mental age? On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss mental age and why it may not be an accurate descriptor of an autistic child's support needs. Hell, it might not even exist at...
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EP 90: What Effects Does Autism Have On Children's Self-Esteem?
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss the effects being autistic can have on a child's self-esteem and what parents, teachers, and autism professionals can do to help. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/vqlibrary If…
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EP 89: Julia Was 57 When She Discovered She Was Autistic w/Julia Lee Barclay Morton
This week, Stacy and Torrin are joined by author, artist, and teacher Julia Lee Barclay-Morton. Julia was diagnosed as autistic at the age of 57, but she felt she was different her entire life. Strap in as the three of them discuss topics ranging from Julia's (and Torrin's) struggles with…
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EP 88: Why We Need To Talk About Autism w/Gerald Parrish
This week, we did things a little differently. Stacy had a conversation with autistic advocate Gerald Parrish. It slapped. So Torrin decided to make it a podcast episode. Stacy and Gerald discussed a wide range of autism-related topics. -the necessity for autistic-led organizations -issue with...
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EP 87: Parenting Autism
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss autism parenting, in particular, they talk about some of the harder parts of parenting a child with autism. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/vqlibrary If you are looking for...
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EP 86: Being Autistic and Black w/Kala Allen Omeiza
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin spoke with autistic author Kala Allen Omeiza. Kala is an accomplished academic and former track star who writes about the intersection of autism and blackness. Her latest book Autistic and Black focuses on the autistic experiences of black individuals from...
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EP 85: The Father's Perspective On Autism w/Jamiel Owens
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin speak with radio host, advocate, and autism parent Jamiel Owens. Jamiel talked about being a father to an autistic child and his inspiring personal story. We also discussed his role as Family Relations Coordinator for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia,...
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EP 84: Why Doctors ARE NOT always right
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss the reasons why doctors and "autism experts" often disregard, misdiagnose, and gaslight autism parents and their children. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/vqlibrary If you are...
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EP 83: Navigating I.E.P.s w/Destiny Huff
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin speak with I.E.P coach and mother of two neurodivergent children, Destiny Huff. Destiny explains the pitfalls of the I.E.P. process, how to avoid them, and how to better advocate for your child. You can find Destiny on her website:...
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EP 82: How To Breathe Raising Autistic Children w/Darria Boyd
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin spoke with autism mom, businesswoman, and author Darria Boyd. Darria--the mother of two autistic children--is known for her can-do attitude towards parenting (what she encapsulates in the phrase "Keeping It Real"). In her new book It Just Got Real: 9 1/2...
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EP 81: Writing A Book For Dyslexic Children w/Jon and Lynn Greenberg
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin speak with author/illustrator and mother/son duo Lynn and Jonathan Greenberg about their new children's book Robby the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport Adventure. We spoke about the book's protagonist, a dyslexic Taxi named (you guessed it), Robby, who due to...
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EP 80: Overcoming Challenges and fighting For Inclusion w/Dominic Gordon
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin are joined by Dominic Gordon, a recent graduate from Georgetown University, to discuss issues with inclusion in higher education, as well, as his inspiring personal story. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee:...
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EP 79: Gendered Autism, HSP, Aspie Supremacy and Other Autism Myths
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss some of the pseudo-disorders that are often used to avoid diagnosing a child with autism. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee: https://ko-fi.com/vqlibrary If you are looking for one-on-one coaching…
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EP 78: Autism In Third World Countries
On this week's episode, Stacy discusses her recent trip to Guatemala to help rural families with their autistic children. What did she learn? What different challenges do these families face? What can be done to help these people? *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ...
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EP 77: The Autism
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss fear-mongering, misinformation, confusion, and despair which often accompany a child's autism diagnosis. Torrin refers to this as The Autism. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee:...
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EP 76: Having Friends As An Autistic Adult (Autism and Friendship Part Three)
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin wrap up their series on Autism and friendship by discussing the ways in which friendships among autistic adults often differ from neurotypical friendships. *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy VQ Library a coffee:...
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EP 75: Helping Autistic Teenagers Make Friends (Autism and Friendship Part 2)
Last week, Stacy and Torrin discussed autism and friendship among children. This week, they discuss what friendships look like between autistic adolescents. Do the dynamics change as they get older? How are they different from non-autistic teenagers? *** Help marginalized youth get the education...
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EP 74: Autism and Friendships (Part One)
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin begin a three-part series about autism and friendship. This first episode centers around elementary-aged children. -How can autistic children make friends? -Do autistic children even need to make friends? -If you are holding a birthday party for your...
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EP 73: If You Think Inclusion Doesn't Work, You Haven't Seen REAL Inclusion
Y'all read the title. This week, Stacy and Torrin discussed the issues with situations were are commonly referred to as "inclusive" but are often times not at all. In many of these cases, autistic children either experience exclusion with extra steps or are being forced to conform for the benefit...
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EP 72: Shifting the Narrative On Everything Dyslexia
On this week's episode, Stacy discusses Torrin's recent realization that he might be Dyslexic and how that learning disability has affected his life thus far. They also discussed how learning disabilities interact with Autism and how an autism diagnosis might mask these other disabilities. ***…
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EP 71: Your Autistic Young Adult Needs A Job, Now What?
On this week's episode, Stacy and Torrin discuss the finer points of employment for autistic young adults. -Why is finding the right job is important? -What are workplace accommodations? -Why Do Autistic People Struggle To Keep Jobs? *** Help marginalized youth get the education they deserve. Buy...
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EP 70: Virtual Autism: The Fake Disorder With Real Consequences
This week, Stacy and Torrin have some fun discussing a fake disorder known as Virtual Autism. Basically, some doctor in Romania constructed a theory, backed up by zero scientific research, that screen time was giving toddlers autism-like symptoms. While the idea of Virtual Autism is BS, the...
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EP 69: Why We Need to Make Speech Therapy Accessible w/Karina Saechao
Karina Saechao is a speech therapist and PhD candidate focusing on language understanding and use in the Black and African American population. Karina joined us to discuss the difficulties many autism families, especially autism families of color have accessing therapy and appropriate supports,...
About this show
”Shifting the Narrative” is a podcast that seeks to dispel the myths, misconceptions, and fears around Everything Autism. Stacy Badon is an Autism Education specialist, Sensory Enrichment Therapist, and Parent Coach, with previous experience as a Speech Therapist and Early Intervention teacher for public schools. She has 20+ years of professional experience supporting families in the Autism community, as well as global experience volunteering with nonprofit organizations. Torrin Kearns is an Autistic screenwriter, blogger, and neurodiversity advocate. Each week, they’ll deep-dive into a different autism-related topic in a quest to provide answers, skills, and strategies for parents, caregivers, teachers, and therapists.
Hosted by
Everything Autism