PODCAST · society
The Atypical Rainbow
by Paul Nguyen and Grant Evans
We want this podcast to be a community of people sharing their stories about being gay, being parents, having autism, raising kids with autism and, in our case, all of the above. In this world, it's easy to feel alone and feel like no one understands you. Sometimes all you need to hear is someone else complain about their kids or struggle with anxiety and suddenly, you're not so alone. That's what we want to offer. We're not here to give advice. We may be a GP and a high school teacher between us, but that doesn't mean we know everything. That's not the point. We're not here to judge or teach. We are just here to be with you and hopefully, you'll hang out with us too. Please hang out with us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
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AR AV Club: Sailor Moon
In between fan-girling over Sailor Moon, Paul talks about the recent update, Sailor Moon Crystal, and the inclusion of a non-binary character, and two homosexual relationships. They also veer into the world of Japanese Role Playing Games, and the fetishisation of lesbianism and the female form in...
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AR AV Club: It's A Sin
We review It's A Sin, written and created by Russel T Davies. We talk about how the show could be perceived as perpetuating old fears about HIV without balancing it with up to date facts, how it depicts real situations that gay people of that era had to face, and the importance of sexual…
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His & His-tory: Adding A Dog
Time for a fun story about getting our new Jack Russell Terrier, Zack! We talk about how Coronavirus helped us save enough money to buy him, how Matt chose him name by staring into his eyes, why we feel guilty for not adopting a dog instead (but also why it totally wasn't out fault), and how…
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The Rainbow Dissection: Dave Chappelle
We talk about the recent, but really not that recent, controversy around Dave Chappelle's new Netflix special, The Closer, particularly as it pertains to being anti-trans, pro-TERF, and homophobic. We explore the nature of cancel culture, what might be the best way to meter out the justice, and...
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The Rainbow Dissection: Misinformation
In what has to be our boldest discussion yet, we tackle the misinformation being spread about trans people, gay marriage, abortion, and COVID vaccines, and take a run at the Australian Christian Lobby and pointing out their hypocrisy. As always, we throw in random pop culture references to Parks...
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AR AV Club: Talking To Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
Though Paul badly explains the book, he does his best to present the key issues raised in Talking To Strangers: the very human behaviour of default to truth, the illusion of transparency and the importance of context. We broaden the discussion to talk about why we remember bad things better than...
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Spectrum Analysis: The Uncomfortable Thing
We've been avoiding talking about COVID too much in Season 2, but now we're facing it head on by talking about things that make us feel uncomfortable in this COVID era, like vaccines and wearing masks. We talk about how a country's culture has impacted their perspective on COVID, the parallels…
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Atypical Philosophy: Death (Part 2) - Family and Death Walkers
In this 2nd episode on death, we talk about how to have the conversation with your parents and your children, and whether or not the family left behind get to decide what your funeral looks like. It's a surprisingly lighthearted episode, so we hope you enjoy it. Hosted on Acast. See...
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Atypical Philosophy: Death (Part 1) - Obligation and memory
In a much delayed episode release, for reasons that should be clear, we talk about the recent death of a family member. We process how it affected us, how we feel about funerals, and how to manage the conflicting feelings of mourning someone that you're not sure you know all that well, or no…
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AR AV Club: The Mitchells Vs. The Machines
In another example of Paul over-relating to the content, we discuss parent-child relationships, how autism can affect one's familial interactions and argue about whether or not the queer representation in The Mitchells Vs. The Machines was obvious enough. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…
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Spectrum Analysis: Exam Anxiety
Inspired by Puzzle Rush, an episode of Malcolm Gladwell's Revisionist History podcast, we take the autistic perspective on exam performance and ask whether or not all the anxiety around it actually equates to anything of value. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Atypical Philosophy: Adulting
Do you ever wish you were 16 again? Is it because of your good looks? Your group of friends? Me, I like the idea of having no responsibility. I miss having no responsibility. That's what we talk about in this episode - what does it take to be an adult, and why can't we treat adults like kids,...
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Atypical Philosophy: Medical Discrimination
Medical discrimination is everywhere and creates barriers for LGBTQIA+ people and people with a disability, reducing access to services, and reducing the likelihood that medical assistance will be sought in times of need. Why is it there and how do we overcome it? Let us try and solve that with…
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Atypical Philosophy: How To Be A Good Person
What does it take to be a good person? What entitles a person to forgiveness? Where is the line beyond which redemption is not achievable? We superficially answer these questions, while namedropping The Drum, The Good Place, New Girl and other TV shows, on this week's episode of The Atypical...
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His & His-tory: Travel Tales
Travelling with kids is hard enough. Try travelling with autistic twins. We spent time building up their resilience, getting them used to being away from home and equipping ourselves with every piece of electronic entertainment imaginable in preparation for our first overseas trip, which turned…
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Spectrum Analysis: Diagnosis
We talk about our personal experiences with the diagnostic process, plus Paul throws in some of the more clinical aspects for a peek behind the medical curtain. If you ever wondered whether you or someone else had autism but weren't sure what to look for, this is the episode to listen to. Hosted…
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The Rainbow Dissection: The Tokenism Trap
Inclusion and diversity in media: people talk about it, but how do you go about doing it? We talk about good examples (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) and bad examples (The Little Mermaid), and whether you need to represent the entire spectrum of personality archetypes within the rainbow in order to be...
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AR AV Club: Music
Look, you can watch Music if you like, but we only did it so we could comment on it, and there's a lot to comment on. From the use of physical restraint, to the difference between autism and Intellectual Disability, to the idea of the "magical disabled person", to casting autistic people in...
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AR AV Club: The Prom
In our first ever AR AV Club, we talk about The Prom, directed by Ryan Murphy based on the Broadway musical, and explore the issues around it in a very Atypical way. We talk about James Corden's "gay-face" portrayal, gay representation, and spend an awful lot of time debating about whether we...
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Spectrum Analysis: Hell Is Other People
We apologise for the lengthy conversation about telehealth in Australia. You might find it interesting. Maybe. We're sorry. Otherwise, there is far more interesting discussion about how to navigate office relationships, and how autism can affect how we expect our co-workers to behave. Hosted on...
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Atypical Philosophy: Identity
We explore our own personal identities, what defines us, and how it influences the way we view the world. We talk about how neither of us feel like we meet the gay standard, how porn skews not only your view of sex, but your view of yourself, and the reasons behind why we chose to, or chose not…
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His & His-tory: Family Celebrations
In this, our final episode for 2020 and the end of our very first season of podcasting, we reminisce about family occasions that have exhausted and occupied us, including birthdays, Christmases and Chinese New Years. We talk about how we use our children to escape family occasions, how to…
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Gay-ly Life: Work-family-life balance
In the wake of a new puppy causing us sleepless nights, we talk about the responsibilities of being a parent and how the room it takes up in your life requires you to give up something. We talking about the myth of "having it all", how having a family influences the career choices you make, how…
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Spectrum Analysis: The Answer
Using the jumping off point of The Good Place, Season 4, Episode 9, "The Answer", we talk about why the search for answers is never-ending and, invariably, unsatisfying. We talk about how why we receive advice differently from our parents than we do others, how we would want to build a healthy...
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His & His-tory: Extra-curricular (toddler and child) activities
In the toddler years, Grant and I explored a variety of different kid-based activities to help increase their exposure to new things, to add more structure to our week and so that Grant didn't feel like a hermit anymore. In this episode, we talk about our adventures through toddler classes,...
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Gay-ly Life: Honesty
CONTENT WARNING: in this episode, we mention suicide, euthanasia, gun violence, war, cancer and domestic violence, but do not discuss it in great detail. If any of these topics cause you distress, we recommend you do not listen to this episode. If you are experiencing any trauma, family violence…
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Spectrum Analysis: Neurotribes and autistic history
In our "History" double-header, we were inspired by Neurotribes, a book we've mentioned a few times in previous episodes, to talk about Nazis (always a fun topic), how an early diagnosis can positively and negatively influences your choices, why diagnosing Albert Einstein with autism is…
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The Rainbow Dissection: The Influence of History
We dive back into the political cesspool, starting with our personal coming out experiences and how society's perception of homosexuality defined our choices. We then broaden out to the history of gay rights, the importance of finding your people in the 1960s and our fears and hopes for the…
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Spectrum Analysis: Does accommodation become problematic?
Is giving children with autism a blue pail for Halloween discrimination or is it a kindness? We talk about how labels and accommodation can be viewed as either a tool of exclusion or inclusion, depending on the action and the intent. We talk about Cerebral Palsy and the Paralympics, the...
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Gay-ly Life: Who's Responsibility Is Your Happiness?
The simple answer is that happiness is a shared responsibility. The real answer is far more complicated, and requires every individual to acknowledge their role in someone's life and to recognise how they influence another person's happiness. Whether it's by supporting their needs or accepting...
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The Rainbow Dissection: Australian Altruistic Surrogacy
In our very first interview, we talk to Terry about his experience with Australian altruistic surrogacy. He talks about having a baby in the time of COVID (particularly in light of Melbourne's lockdown), how altruistic surrogacy is like group dating, the different ways that he and his partner…
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Spectrum Analysis: Relationships and ASD, Episode III
In the final episode of the "Relationships" trilogy, we talk about how ASD affects your relationship with your family, and the cultural obligations that are often placed upon you, whether it's a refugee mentality or from being stereotypically white. We talk about puberty and the combination of...
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Spectrum Analysis: Relationships and ASD, Episode II
In the 2nd episode of the "Relationships" trilogy, we discuss the challenges that people with ASD face when considering, or being already in, a romantic relationship. We talk about the idea of a practice girlfriend, how to establish the rules of a relationship, why the small things genuinely do...
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Spectrum Analysis: Relationships and ASD, Episode I
In the first episode of our "Relationships" trilogy, we talk about the importance of friendships and how difficult it is for someone with ASD to both start and maintain friendships. We discuss our disastrous experiences with socialising, the paralysis that comes with the fear of rejection, the...
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His & His-tory: Neonatal twin life
In this long overdue episode, we randomly talk about life with twins, including potty training, off-set feeding schedules, the luxury of able-bodied grandparents, dummy-obsessions and the overall feeling of exhaustion you get from having two babies demand your attention. Hosted on Acast. See...
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The Rainbow Dissection: Anti-Straight Discrimination
In what is, arguably, our most intense and socially conscious episode, we talk about the concept of "anti-straight discrimination" in relation to the recent Jeremy Roenick lawsuit. We explore the ideas of privilege, power dynamics, sexual harassment and bullying and explore whether commenting on...
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Gay-Ly Life: Depictions of Bigotry In Media
In the final episode of the "Representation" trilogy, we talk about how depictions of bigotry have evolved over time, with 80s sitcoms and movies using "gay panic" as a comedic device, to the association of bigotry with villainy. We talk about Hamilton, Sex Education, Locke & Key, Cheers, Murphy...
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Spectrum Analysis: Autistic Representation
In the 2nd episode of the unplanned, unintended "Representation" series, we talk about Autistic representation in media. In this episode, we mention Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes, Rain Man, Parenthood and Max Braverman, Jason Katims, Atypical, The A Word, The Big Bang Theory…
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The Rainbow Dissection: LGBTQI+ Representation In Kids Media
This is another nerd-tastic episode, so be fair warned. We will discuss the TV shows Arthur, She-Ra and The Princesses of Power, The Legend of Korra, Onward, Game of Thrones, Will & Grace, Friends, Ellen, The Dragon Prince, Brave New World, Better Off Ted, Locke and Key and Faking It. Phew! We...
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Spectrum Analysis: Equality Versus Fairness (in the time of COVID)
With Victoria going into Stage 4 lockdowns, we talk about how neuroatypical people can sometimes struggle with differentiating between Equality and Fairness, with a common attribute being an overwhelming sense of justice. We talk about the subjective nature of "justice", how it applies on small...
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Gay-ly Life: What To Do If Your Children Are Boring
How do you spend time with the children? Doing what they want, or doing what you want? In this episode, we talk about pushing young children on swings for 45 minutes, YouTube monologuing, how to teach children with autism how to smack talk and the dangers board-game-flipping family members.…
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Spectrum Analysis: Loneliness Vs. Being Alone
With COVID forcing all of us into our homes, particularly us unlucky Victorians and our second-wave-not-a-second-wave, we explore the difference between being alone versus feeling lonely. We branch out into the impact of yelling, how to meet different autistic siblings needs to be either alone or...
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Spectrum Analysis: Gaming-Where Life Follows The Rules
This is, quite possibly, the nerdiest thing that we have ever done, and we've been to the Nintendo Store in Japan, so that's a very high bar. Throughout this episode, we drop the following nerd-culture references: Pokemon (both Go and original), Civilization Revolution (yes, it's the American...
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The Rainbow Dissection: The Only Gays In The Village
Is it reasonable to form a relationship based off only one feature of your identity, like your sexuality or if you have a sibling with a disability? We discuss the idea of social engineering our children's lives, the mechanics of Dungeons and Dragons groups and, most important, what makes a good...
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Spectrum Analysis: The Upside of Autism
Thanks to @aspergerssyndromeawareness on Facebook for a list of the positives of autism. We discuss the benefits of brutal honesty, creative problem solving and an attention to detail, focussing on how any personality trait, when channeled the right way, can be a positive for individuals with...
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Gay-ly Life: May Contain Inappropriate Language
Language is a minefield and choosing the right words is as much about cultural knowledge as it is about intent. In this episode, we analyse the words "normal", "f****t" and "same-sex attracted", amongst many others, to determine whether inappropriate words are born that way or made that way. So…
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His & His-tory: India and Back Again
Another episode in the chronicles of Jake and Matt. This time, we talk about spending a month in India, the piles of red tape involved in bringing your own children home, and why doctors can make the worst parents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Spectrum Analysis: Expectations and Perfectionism
What started out as a conversation about what to expect of a child with autism broadens out into talking about being considerate to one another, stimming, Individual Learning Plans and anxiety management in general. We give some advice at the end too, but don't take us too seriously. We have...
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The Rainbow Dissection: Gender Roles
There are things we automatically attribute to men and women, some innocuous, some more restrictive than it may seem on the surface. In a same-sex couple, you'd think those roles would be thrown out the window, but it's remarkable how often we fall back onto men's business and women's business.…
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Spectrum Analysis: What Does Atypical Mean?
Does anyone else find that their favourite stories to tell about their children are where it all goes comically awry? If you don't, then this episode isn't for you. Let us teach you about being "atypical" and how it changes your perspective on the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
We want this podcast to be a community of people sharing their stories about being gay, being parents, having autism, raising kids with autism and, in our case, all of the above.
In this world, it's easy to feel alone and feel like no one understands you. Sometimes all you need to hear is someone else complain about their kids or struggle with anxiety and suddenly, you're not so alone. That's what we want to offer.
We're not here to give advice. We may be a GP and a high school teacher between us, but that doesn't mean we know everything. That's not the point. We're not here to judge or teach. We are just here to be with you and hopefully, you'll hang out with us too.
Please hang out with us.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
HOSTED BY
Paul Nguyen and Grant Evans
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Atypical Rainbow have?
The Atypical Rainbow currently has 54 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Atypical Rainbow about?
We want this podcast to be a community of people sharing their stories about being gay, being parents, having autism, raising kids with autism and, in our case, all of the above. In this world, it's easy to feel alone and feel like no one understands you. Sometimes all you need to hear is someone...
How often does The Atypical Rainbow release new episodes?
The Atypical Rainbow has 54 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Atypical Rainbow?
You can listen to The Atypical Rainbow on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Atypical Rainbow?
The Atypical Rainbow is created and hosted by Paul Nguyen and Grant Evans.
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