Adulting With Aspergers by Ryan Somers

Episode 31: Zoh is 29 years old and lives in Indiana. She is self-diagnosed Autistic, and is a creative musician, photographer and jewellery maker. In this conversation, we discuss how Autistics kids are often misdiagnosed growing up, comorbidities, the legitimacy of self-diagnosis in the Autistic community, the barriers to late-diagnosis, therapy, Beastie Boys, discovering being Autistic, famous Autistic people (Elon Musk, Dan Aykroyd), Autism in media and movies, Sia, Atypical, stimming, support systems for Autistic people, creative expression, playing music, and we end it with a terrible joke. Zoh can be foud on instagram at @Kueen.ZohIf you would like to become a supporter of The Life Autistic podcast, you can sign up at Patreon.com/TheLifeAutistic The Life Autistic Podcast w/ Ryan Somers can be found on Instagram and Facebook at @TheLifeAutistic and Twitter at @LifeAutisticPodThanks for listening and for your support.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 30 -- Julie (Austria)This week, we welcome Julia, 27, from Austria, for a conversation touching on a variety of things, including moving from the Dominican Republic to Austria at the age of 5, the differences between living in a city and a small town, travelling, special interests, self-diagnosing with Autism at the age of 20, job interviews, working with a job coach, family dynamic, "coming out" as Autistic to family and friends, support networks, support groups, starting a local support group, masking, how Autism is viewed culturally in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, versus England, the USA, and Canada, Autism awareness and acceptance, viewing Autism as an illness, Autistic people in history, and if you were a fruit or vegetable, what kind of fruit or vegetable would you be? (Ha! Ha!) This is the link to the study on Autistics and job interviews that Julia mentioned in the show:https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10114129/1/Job%20interview%20paper_FINAL%20ACCEPTED%20AUTHORS%20VERSION.pdfThank you for listening. If you would like to contact us to appear on the show or to ask any questions or suggest topics, please email us at: thelifeautisticpodcast@gmail.com or find us on instagram @thelifeautistic, twitter @lifeautisticpod, and facebook @thelifeautistic.Please support this show by subscribing, leaving a rating and review, and sharing on your own social media.If you would like to support our show further, you can find us at patreon.com/thelifeautistic and buymeacoffe.com/ryansomersThank you,Ryan and DrewThe Life Autistic PodcastSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 29 -- Michael Tanzer (Ontario, Canada)This week, Ryan and Drew have a chat with Michael, who is 29, and was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 3. We talk about his self-published book "Michaelism: My POV on Life with Autism," his childhood development, therapy, special interests, learning Japanese, independence, social media, not giving up, how Autistic people are portrayed in movies and television, and the Beastie Boys.Michael's book can be found here: https://www.amazon.ca/Michaelism-My-POV-Life-Autism/dp/1777146909He can also be found on Instagram at @michaeltanzerThanks for listening, and if you'd like to support this podcast, please find us at https://www.patreon.com/TheLifeAutistic or https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ryansomers Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we have a pleasant chat with Dave, age 45, who lives in San Diego, California, USA.Dave was late-diagnosed Autistic, has an Autistic spouse, and an Autistic son. In this conversation, we discuss a number of things, including ABA Therapy, Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), the Love & Autism Conference, "famous" people in the Autistic space (such as John Elder Robison, Barry Prizant, David Finch, Anita Lesko, Amy Sequenzia), driving white Autistic, eye contact, sensory input, parenting with Autism, masking, "unlearning" patterns of thinking and behaviour, growing up as an undiagnosed Autistic, family dynamics, Dyspraxia, ignorance about Autism, and more.We enjoyed this conversation very much, and look forward to having Dave back on the show.Dave can be found on Instagram at @drivingwhileautistic and also has a great video here: https://youtu.be/eTG-6DKRmBoSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Well, as you all surely know, it's AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH! Our friend Rose returns (third time!) to discuss some of the things that she thinks are important, for Autistic people to guide the conversation about us! We talk about what it takes for Autistic people to find happiness, be seen and heard, and to feel safe! What kind of therapies are out there for Autistic people, both the good (mindfulness, occupational, speech/communication) and the bad (ABA, shock, seclusion, etc.), and the necessary (nurturing, options in communication, autonomy). We also discuss support, parental/caregiver training, self-advocating, and adjusting the overall view of Autism in the medical and educational community. Rose is an absolute pro at distilling these ideas down to their essence, communicating them in a way that can be understood by all, and doing it all with a big open heart and a sense of humour. We hope you enjoy this episode! #AutismAwarenessMonth #TheLifeAutistic Thanks for listening to The Life Autistic Podcast with Ryan Somers. If you would like to support the show, you can make donation or become a monthly supporter at BuyMeACoffee.com/TheLifeAutisticSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I grew up in a family of racecar drivers -- both my mom and dad (that's how they met!) and all of my uncles raced cars. When I heard about an Autistic racecar driver named Armani Williams, I knew I simply had to have him on the show! Armani is awesome! He's 20 years old, diagnosed Autistic at the age of 2, and lives in Grosse Point, Michigan. He knew he wanted to be a racecar driver since the age of 8, and he was not going to let Autism get in the way. In this conversation, we talk about racing and Autism, family support, the Autistic Community, being "open" about being Autistic, and so much more! This conversation was so much fun, and by the end of it, Drew and Ryan had decided that once Covid is over, we are going to plan a road trip to Michigan to see Armani race in person!Check him out at: TeamArmaniRacing.com and @TeamArmaniRacing! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On this episode, Rose is back for another round! This time, the focus is on Autism Myths! Are Autism cases on the rise? Do people outgrow Autism? Is there for a cure for Autism? Do vaccines cause Autism? Are there differences in Autism between males and females? Do we prefer to say "Autistic people" or "people with Autism?" Is Autism a form of brain damage? Can Autistic people make friends? Can Autism people express themselves? Is everyone a little bit Autistic? We love Rose. She is brilliant, articulate, and a ton of fun to hang out with and discuss these topics!Thanks for listening, and, as always, if you'd like to support the podcast, you can make a donation at: BuyMeACoffee.com/TheLifeAutisticWe would also appreciate it if you give us a rating and a review on your podcast app, and share the podcast on social media.The show is hosted by Ryan Somers, produced by Drew Skitt. Reach us at: @TheLifeAutistic or thelifeautisticpodcast@gmail.comSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we chat with Hunter Hansen, who was diagnosed Autistic at the age of 16, is a husband and father, works at a large tech company, and is also an Autism advocate, posing videos to Instagram at the account @The_Life_Autistic, which is how we first discovered each other last year! We enjoy a fun and insightful conversation, sharing our experiences as "Public Autistics" in the social media space, and talking about work life, writing about Autistic experiences, connecting with other Autistic people, challenges, supports, masking, job interviews, disclosure in the workplace, accommodations, marriage, small talk, friendships, the different mannerisms and social customs in Canada and the USA and how Hunter is living THE LIFE AUTISTIC.As always, thanks for listening. If you'd like to support this show, you can BuyMeACoffee.com/TheLifeAutisticSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sam is an awesome dude, in his early 30s, who was diagnosed with Aspergers (ASD) at the age of 14. In this conversation, we talk about all kinds of things, like The Beatles, the prevalence of Autistic minds in technology and the arts, Autism as a gift, positive energy, socializing, stimming, masking, meditation, working with Autistic children, Autistic humour, Autism myths, empathy, religion, and the question we've all been wondering for the longest time: was Jesus Autistic?The Life Autistic Podcast with Ryan Somers is a weekly podcast featuring long-form conversations with Autistic adults.The show is created and hosted by Ryan Somers, and produced by Drew Skitt.If you would like to support this show, we appreciate donations at BuyMeACoffee.com/TheLifeAutisticPlease also like, share, and leave a 5-star rating and a review on whatever podcast app you use to listen to the show.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we have a conversation with John, who lives in Texas, and was diagnosed with Autism at the age of 39. He is a librarian, and we discuss a number of topics including the challenges Autistic people face in the work environment, relationships, executive functioning, anxiety, drinking, invisible differences, empathy, anime, Star Trek, and a number of other things.As always, if you find value in this podcast, we would appreciate some support!Please like and share, leave a review and a rating, and if you would like to support this show financially, you can find us on BuyMeACoffee.Thank you,RyanSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we have a chat with Phil, who was diagnosed as Autistic in his 40s. We have a wide-ranging talk about a number of topics, including executive function, working memory, the journey to diagnosis, the diagnosis process, gender stereotypes, sports, friendships, self-acceptance, Autistic burnout, spoon theory, and much more! Phil is a great guy, very knowledgable, and a pleasure to talk to. We hope you enjoy this episode! If you find value in The Life Autistic Podcast with Ryan Somers, we would appreciate it if you can support the show by leaving a rating and review, sharing on social media, giving us feedback, and you can also support us financially on Patreon or BuyMeACoffee. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/TheLifeAutistic. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 20: Ryan's conversation with Jessica West.Our first episode of 2021! We are now back, and have a bunch of episodes recorded, and will be posting a new episode every week! This one features a very enjoyable conversation we had with Jessica West, who lives on the west coast, and is an Autistic woman who is an executive coach and a mom. We had a great talk about living our authentic Autistic selves, raising kids, coaching, anxiety and depression, masking, and her work as an executive coach. Please enjoy this conversation and look out for Jessica to return this Spring for another episode specifically around Autism and Coaching. Thanks for tuning in, and hearing our friend Jessica talk about her experience living #TheLifeAutistic! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Episode 19: Q&A -- In this episode, the final episode of 2020, I read some letters and answer some questions on a variety of topics, including Autism and sex, living with undiagnosed Autism, seeking help from a psychiatrist or psychologist, parenting with Autism, how Autism affects jobs, family, and friendships, "coming out" as Autistic to family and co-workers, dealing with death and loss, and functioning labels. #TheLifeAutistic

This is a very special episode of The Life Autistic.. Recently, I was contacted by Joyce, who has been listening to the podcast in Kenya! We started chatting back and forth, and we ended up talking on the phone one night and I said "Wait, this is so great, can I record this?" We talked about all kind of things, and I cried a couple of times, and I now refer to Joyce as the "Aspie Whisperer!" I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did, and stay tuned for part 2 that we will be recording in person in Kenya -- just as soon as enough people start donating to our Patreon!

Drew is a dude I've known for many years. We worked together a few times, years ago, when he was hosting and producing a TV Show, and brought me in a few times to do some different segments. We recently reconnected after he heard the podcast and reached out to offer to help, which is great, because I can certainly use some help! This is a conversation we recorded after recording the previous episode, and I thought it would be worth sharing... a little bit of a "behind the scenes" I guess, I don't know. I have no idea what I'm doing but I just felt like this was worth sharing. I hope you dig it. If you this show and you think it has value, please help support me by buying me a coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ryansomers

Welcome to Episode 17! For this one, we I had an awesome conversation with my new favourite person, Rose! Rose lives in the province of Quebec, was diagnosed with Autism as an adult, and has Neurodiverse children as well. She was an absolute joy to speak with, and I felt like we could have talked all day. My only regret is that I tend to be long-winded and I should have just shut my mouth and let her speak for the entire hour. We hope to have her back to do just that! As always, thanks for listening, and if you'd like to support this podcast, you can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ryansomers

I've known Shane since back in the late 90s Toronto hip-hop scene, when we were both involved in promoting events. We've recently linked up again when he invited me to appear on his Shower for the Soul podcast. He agreed to let me know post that conversation here as well. I hope you enjoy our wide-ranging chat. Find him on instagram @famefriends

Some thoughts I recorded while driving, the day after receiving a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1. (ASD1) #TheLifeAutistic

On this episode I have a conversation with Samantha Dirk about discovering her Autism in her late 20s, growing up not knowing she was Autistic, differences in how Autism can present in boys and girls, functioning labels, advocacy, stimming, and other topics. Please check the comments on the Facebook page for links to books and videos we discussed in this conversation.

We’re back! It’s been a few months, but we’re back, and with a new name: The Life Autistic. On this episode, I spoke with Bruce Petherick (Calgary, Alberta, Canada), about his Life Autistic, being a musician and teacher, how he came to a diagnosis in his early 50s, the challenges of Autism with work and family, and his positive outlook on Autism and Neurodiversity! As always. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @TheLifeAutistic, and please help us spread the word by sharing the podcast! Peace Love & Autism

Episode 11: Driving. Update on my adult diagnosis process. Thoughts on the TV show Atypical and my own troubled teenage years. Thoughts on support I need in my life.

Episode 10 — catching up with my diagnosis journey, and a bit of discussion about a CBC online video called “You Can’t Ask That,” dealing with autism. New name! @aspietribe #aspietribe

Hey all! Sorry it’s been a month since the last episode! Life has thrown a few curveballs my way. This is recorded today in the car - a little update on what I’ve been up to and thinking about. The only chance I had to record was in the car today, so my apologies for the audio!

Hey folks! I saw a counsellor and a psychologist today. I talk about that a bit, and answer some questions.

My conversation with JF in Montreal, about his depression and Asperger’s, the night before he is going to meet his psychiatrist and psychologist about getting an autism diagnosis.

It’s Autistic Pride Day! On this episode Ryan talks to Jerry in Texas, who was diagnosed one year ago in his late 20s. Jerry’s an awesome dude who is living in the spectrum and discusses his challenges and how he is able to live. Thanks Jerry!

Ryan and Jennifer sit down to chat over a glass of wine and a beer, while Jennifer takes the AQ (Autism Quotient) Test, and they discuss her results.

Q&A episode, topics include understanding a husband with Asperger’s, how to support people in your life with Asperger’s, and seeking a diagnosis at age 50 after 20 years of being treated for bipolar disorder.

In this episode I talk a little bit about the book “I Think I Might Be Autistic” by Cynthia Kim, review some questions from one of the chapters, and answer two questions from listeners.

More about how I arrived at knowing I had Asperger’s / ASD, symptoms, anxiety issues, friendships, and autistic people in movies.

Introduction to who I am and why I’m starting this podcast — a 43-year-old father facing head-on the reality of living with Asperger’s (ASD) and sharing my experiences and discoveries.