Episode 184: Unchosen - a Memoir of Defiance and Self-Belonging

“Dr. Jaime Hoerricks’s “Blast Radius: Epicentre of a Thousand Memories” explores the profound impact of a simple online meme, which triggered a flood of lifelong memories of feeling unchosen as an autistic, trans, and queer individual. This experience led to the creation of the poem “Unchosen,” a powerful expression of defiance and self-acceptance. Dr. Hoerricks reflects on past experiences of not belonging, contrasting them with rare moments of genuine connection and acceptance. However, this personal reflection is juxtaposed with the harsh realities of current political and social climates, which actively threaten the existence and safety of marginalised groups. Despite these challenges and feelings of being trapped, they find strength in creative expression and solidarity, choosing to resist erasure through writing. Ultimately, the piece is a testament to self-affirmation in a world that often refuses to choose those who are different.”Here’s the link to the source article and poem: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/blast-radius-epicentre-of-a-thousandI’m wondering at the mispronunciation of my name by NotebookLM’s virtual hosts in this episode, perhaps ironic …Let me know what you think.The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit autside.substack.com/subscribe