All Episodes
The Squarepeg Podcast — 159 episodes
158 [S11 E13] Listening to myself at last: autistic midlife, grief and new beginnings
157 [S11 E12] Talking to strangers: podcasting my way into a late autism discovery
156 [S11 E11] Coming home to myself: feeling 'good enough', unmasking and moving towards self love
155 [S11 E10] Unravelling: masking, personality adaptation and meeting my real self
154 [S11 E9] Finding a really cool rock: figuring out life and work without an 'autistic starter pack'
153 [S11 E8] Creativity, small joys and redefining success: navigating the long-term impact of autistic burnout
152 [S11 E7] Sparkly things and heavy loads: autistic menopause, academia and lived experience
151 [S11 E6] The same type of different: autistic identity, South Asian stories and the model minority myth
150 [S11 E5] A little candle burning: survival, healing, and the small nourishments of autistic life
149 [S11 E4] Going away to come home: From outward success to an authentic autistic life
148 [S11 E3] Unexpected autism: art journalling, mental health and reframing eating distress
147 [S11 E2] Complex lives in a binary world: reflections on the autistic experience
146 [S11 E1] The rhythm of nature is my natural rhythm: autism, conservation and being a 'tenacious comet'
145 [Bonus] "An overarching, big life project": interconnecting special interests, memory and mental health
144 [Re-release] From psychiatric trauma to autistic joy: a journey of healing and self discovery
143 [Bonus] Beyond diagnosis: Self‑trust, masking, and the continuing autism journey
142 [Re-release] Being an autistic extrovert, people watching and managing our energy
141 [Bonus] A deeper dive into our experiences and attitudes around AuDHD - with Sam Brown (AKA Mrs AuDHD)
140 [S10 E12] Working with autism, not against: Mental health, masking and giving ourselves grace
139 [S10 E11] Creating space to show up without shrinking: how we can thrive at work as autistics
138 [S10 E10] Working with our ocean and our tides: the impact of autism self identification
137 [S10 E9] Meeting myself again: sensory needs, autistic joys and building stronger relationships after autism diagnosis
136 [S10 E8] 'Undercover autistic': shaping a more just and inclusive future for autistic care users & practitioners
135 [S10 E7] A blessing and a curse: autism, masking and miscommunication
134 [S10 E6] Making your body a nicer place to live: autism and a different approach to physical fitness
133 [S10 E5] The Mess and the Magic: from the good girl narrative to autistic self compassion
132 [S10 E4] "Layers of unravelling": autism, leadership and belonging with Kirsty Cullen-Campanelli
131 [S10 E3] Working at the edge of what we know: autism, trauma and identity
130 [S10 E2] "Whenever I fell, autism caught me": autism, intersex and gender
129 [S10 E1] "I thought I was just disorders": navigating autistic and ADHD traits and challenges - with Mrs AuDHD
128. Art and autism math: healing and connecting after a late autism diagnosis
127. Autism's healing mechanism: an autism and OCD journey
126. Letting go of self hatred: the impact of an autism diagnosis
125. Autism is the easiest piece: starting over after years of misdiagnoses
124 [Bonus] Autism and therapy: connection, validation and using our strengths to heal our lives
123 [Re-release] Autism, psychotherapy and trauma: why many autistic people need a different approach
122 [Bonus Episode] Softening and bracing: autism, loneliness and how we can find connection
121 [Re-release] Grief and validation: repairing the damage of autistic masking and finding a sense of self
120 [Bonus Episode] A magic key? Deeper learnings 4 years on from a late autism diagnosis
119 [Re-release] Autism and work culture: masking, socialising and finding the right work
118. Bonus: Building a happy and authentic autistic life
117. S9 E12: Transcendence, reinvention and self discovery: reconnecting with our essential autistic self later in life
116. S9 E11: Rekindling our dimmed spark and reclaiming autistic joy
115. S9 E10: An outcast in thick armour: from not fitting in to finding autistic pride and community
114. S9 E9: Playing on 'hard mode': accepting our autistic challenges while anchoring to our brilliance
113 [S9 E8] Making the invisible visible: getting comfortable with a late autism diagnosis
112 [S9 E7] Why the system is thwarting autistic people: reimagining neurodivergent health - with Dr Mel Houser
111 [S9 E6] A magnet pulling me out of darkness: thinking through my body into autistic expression
110 [S9 E5] 'My autism journey came out of my trans experience': Navigating gender and autistic identities
109 [S9 E4] Little glimpses underneath the mask: unravelling people-pleasing and imposter syndrome
108 [S9 E3] Told I couldn't be autistic: BPD misdiagnosis, mental health negligence and finally getting justice
107 [S9 E2] Autism deep-dive: examining the literature and ourselves, and reflections on burnout
106 [S9 E1] ND-affirming therapy: sensory regulation, integrating identity and understanding diffuse experiences
105. Bonus: Eating disorder recovery, autistic self discovery and releasing ourselves from labels that limit us
104. S8 E12: Permission slip: embracing an authentically autistic life with no blueprint
103. S8 E11: From feeling 'deficient' to self acceptance, research and advocating for autistic colleagues
102. S8 E10: From ABA to understanding an autism diagnosis as a unique pathway to a fulfilling life
101. S8 E9: From psychiatric trauma to autistic joy: a journey of healing and self discovery
100. S8 E8: A sense of purpose: finding our own path and place in the world as autistic adults
99. S8 E7: Finding freedom after autism diagnosis and embodying the spirit of our unmasked selves
98. S8 E6: The fight for equity in education and work: an inspiring story of autistic self advocacy
97. S8 E5: Finding logic in chaos, burnout, and reconnecting with our internal compass and autistic joy
96. S8 E4: Safety, community and representation for Black and minority ethnic / global majority autistic people
95. S8 E3: Shelving the quest for normal: reframing, regulating, and removing the stigma from autism
94. S8 E2: The sensory and social challenges of fitting into a new culture as an autistic adult
93. S8 E1: Sport and fitness the autistic way: from not fitting in to feeling like a superhero
92. S7, Ep12: Fern Brady: Compassion for my autistic self: gender expectations, troubleshooting traits, and unmasking on TV
91. S7, Ep11: Relaxing into the truth of who we are as late diagnosed autistic adults
90. S7, Ep10: Burnouts, breakdowns and anxiety: a journey towards more supportive and sustainable work
89. S7, Ep9: 'Outsider' identities: the intertwining of gender, sexuality and autism
88. S7, Ep8: Making art out of darkness: self acceptance, resilience and radical unmasking as an autistic counsellor
87. S7, Ep7: Autism in mental health services: the experience of a late diagnosed autistic mental health nurse
86. S7, Ep6: Narrative therapy: reflections on an autistic experience of mental health inpatient services
85. S7, Ep5: Autistic motherhood: working through the overwhelm of birth and parenting
84. S7, Ep4: Direct communication: navigating social and personal relationships as a highly sensitive autistic woman
83. S7, Ep3: Psychology as a special interest: relationships, research and educational equity
82. S7, Ep2: God as a special interest: deconstructing religious identity as a newly identified autistic
81. S7, Ep1: The challenge of creating the life you want when you diverge from the neurotypical 'norm'
80. Bonus: Grief and validation: repairing the damage of autistic masking and finding a sense of self
79. S6, Ep12: Safety, success and shaping neurodivergent stories: reflections on intersectional autism
78. S6, Ep11: The challenges of being autistic at work, and exploring the link between autistic trauma and our health
77. S6, Ep10: Burnout, survival and feeling stuck: the intersection of autism, privilege and poverty
76. S6, Ep9: Autism, psychotherapy and trauma: why many autistic people need a different approach.
75. S6, Ep8: Unlearning the script: coming to terms with a late autism diagnosis and finding a voice in the community
74. S6, Ep7: Finding the right fit: autism, health and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria
73. S6, Ep6: Building a more authentic autistic life and relationships, and managing health and energy.
72. S6, Ep5: Autism, energy and the body: somatic healing for autistic trauma
71. S6, Ep4: Resculpting our lives post-diagnosis: autism, art and connecting with ourselves and each other
70. S6, Ep3: Not autistic enough: disability discrimination and intersectionality
69. S6, Ep2: Finding the right adventure: autism, resilience, sport and support
68. S6, Ep1: Writing it out: autism and shame, memory, sexuality and self expression
67. S5, Ep12: The vibrant neurodiversity movement: marginalisation, diversity and equity in the autistic community
66. S5, Ep11: A life-saving autism diagnosis: BPD, eating disorders and an autistic experience of the mental health system
65. S5, Ep10: Equity for autistic people in recruitment and the workplace - and hearing the voices of all autistic people
64. S5, Ep9: Autism and epilepsy, shutdown and dissociation
63. S5, Ep8: Intersecting identities, neurodivergent families, and inclusion, leadership and representation at work
62. S5, Ep7: Autism assessment and diagnosis, and ungendering the diagnostic process
61. S5, Ep6: Empowering labels, navigating relationships and advocating for neurodivergent and disabled people
60. S5, Ep5: Autism and the intersection of culture, race and gender
59. S5, Ep4: Getting an autism diagnosis while doing a PhD in autism and parenting an autistic child
58. S5, Ep3: Women's health, intergenerational autism and giving language to the autistic experience
57. S5, Ep2: Dancing with differences: autism and disability empowerment
56. S5, Ep1: Sara Gibbs: From not fitting in to finding a place in the world as an autistic woman
55. S4, Ep12: The PDA profile, social justice and being an openly autistic CEO - with Helen Evans
54. S4, Ep11: Autism, victimisation and trauma, and the journey to healing
53. S4, Ep10: Getting a teen autism diagnosis, social and sensory issues, and finding success at school and college
52. S4, Ep9: Dropping the mask and finding your core self after autism diagnosis
51. S4, Ep8: Diagnosis difficulties, toxic workplaces and discovering joyful and purposeful work
50. S4, Ep7: Autism, feminism and sexuality: reflections on an undiagnosed life
49. S4, Ep6: Out of place everywhere: communication, community and coming to terms with autism
48. S4, Ep5: Fatigue, hypnotherapy and getting in tune with your own energy as an autistic person
47. S4, Ep4: Self acceptance, autism and gender - and how sharing your story can change your life
46. S4, Ep3: Hormones, reproductive and mental health and stepping into our sensory selves
45. S4, Ep2: Ability and disability: getting the right support to thrive in academic settings
44. S4, Ep1: Holly Smale: Synaesthesia, hyperlexia and accidentally writing an autistic book-child
43. S3, Ep12: Workplace challenges, burnout cycles and why autistic business owners are thriving online
42. S3, Ep11: Getting an autism diagnosis later in life, finding support and preparing for others' reactions
41. S3, Ep10: Sustainable activism, autistic burnout and redefining success
40. S3, Ep9: Body, brain and gender: an autistic experience
39. S3, Ep8: Autistic women, health and the healing power of nature
38. S3, Ep7: Raising and educating an autistic child as an autistic single parent
37. S3, Ep6: Synaesthesia, autism research and navigating employment
36. S3, Ep5: Making your own path: finding passion and purpose in work through special interests
35. S3, Ep4: 'Coming out' as autistic, coping with meltdowns and telling autistic stories through drama
34. S3, Ep3: Dealing with the sensory issues of childbirth and parenthood as an autistic mother
33. S3, Ep2: Being an autistic extrovert, people watching and managing our energy
32. S3, Ep1: Fern Brady: autistic meltdowns, understanding emotions and being the 'black sheep'
{BONUS} Amy Richards: giving myself permission, reframing past failures and achievements, and finding people I can relate to.
{BONUS} Sarah Boon: being kinder to myself, having better boundaries and finding a new purpose in life
{BONUS} Alyssa Washington: clarity on the physical side of autism, language for my emotional experiences, and validation
{BONUS} Hannah Smith: better boundaries, getting more comfortable with my comfort zones, and dealing with change.
{BONUS} Stephanie Silvan: getting therapy, starting a mindfulness practice and figuring out what to do with my life
{BONUS} Beth Rees: finding an explanation, questioning my BPD diagnosis, and learning from the autistic community
{BONUS} Audrey Mitchell: Meeting my needs with family and friends, dating again, and advocating for my daughter
24. S2, Ep12: Turbulent teen years, autistic relationships and finding your purpose
23. S2, Ep11: Autistic adults and children in therapy: attitudes and approaches
22. S2, Ep10: The interplay between physical health, diet and autistic traits
21. S2, Ep9: Getting the right diagnosis: from borderline personality disorder to autism
20. S2, Ep8: Releasing the pressure: home schooling autistic daughters
19. S2, Ep7: Empathy, feeling 'alien' and being fluent in Neurotypical: being an autistic counsellor
18. S2, Ep6: Behind the mask: being true to your autistic self and finding your tribe
17. S2, Ep5: Getting the skills and support to navigate life and work
16. S2, Ep4: Autism and disordered eating: an experience of treatment and recovery
15. S2, Ep3: Autism and work culture: masking, socialising and finding the right work
14. S2, Ep2: Being autistic at work: reasonable adjustments and working with others
13. S2, Ep1: The physical side of autism: health, hormones and hypersensitivity
12. S1, Ep12: Building a new post-diagnosis life after bullying and substance misuse
11. S1, Ep11: Autism, anxiety and the power of telling our own stories
10. S1, Ep10: Childhood misdiagnosis and autism and ADHD
9. S1, Ep9: Female presentation, autistic counsellors and dealing with depression
8. S1, Ep8: Is autism a disability? And how does it relate to mental health?
7. S1, Ep7: Friendships, masking and getting counselling
6. S1, Ep6: Self diagnosis, burnout and mental health
5. S1, Ep5: Misdiagnosis and being autistic at home and work
4. S1, Ep4: Finding yourself through diverse communities
3. S1, Ep3: Creating opportunities from your special interests
2. S1, Ep2: Building a business that fits around autistic needs and disabilities
1. S1, Ep1: Discovering you're autistic in adulthood - and finding work that fits you, when you don't fit work
Welcome to the Squarepeg podcast