"Fabulously Candice": The Sexiest Podcast About Neurodivergence

We are wrapping up the final episode of Fabulously Candice with a very special guest… Meg Martinez! Meg has worked alongside Candice for nearly a decade and is the Chief Program Officer at Namaste Center for Healing. This episode gives a look into their neuroinclusive approach to the internal family systems model and their co-authored chapter in the book Altogether Us by Jenna Riemersma. We also get a look into the current happenings at Namaste Center for Healing and get excited for what is next to come. Thank you to the fabulous global community for three seasons of love and support! Until the next something… Connect with Meg YouTube Video Closed Captions

Welcome back Renee Rosales, founder of Theara! We start the episode with a beautiful story honoring Renee's maternal grandfather and the divine gifts we receive from past generations. Next, Candice and Renee address some current challenges within the neurodiversity movement (infighting, “meltdown”, etc.) and offer examples of what neuroinclusion can look like within loving relationships. They also take a deep dive into the concept of bridging (another one of Renee's fabulous acronyms!), energy contagion, mindfulness, and more. Connect with Renee YouTube Video Closed Captions

Nel and Bex are back to update us on life since their international move to Montana! While there have been a fair number of logistical and familial struggles, they describe how the relationship has actually strengthened throughout the big transition. Candice guides us through what feels like a live therapy session in which they cover blended families, cohabiting with teenagers, sex, clashing neurodifferences, and the beauty in simply getting curious about the different parts of ourselves. Bex LinkedIn Bex IG: @bexcanner YouTube Video Closed Captions

Renee Rosales is a mother, wife, educator, advocate, transformational leader, and founder of Theara: a business designed to support the Neurodiverse from cradle to grace. In this episode, we learn the beautiful origin story behind Theara as well as examples from Renee's acronym-based system that leads the way to a brighter future with Neurodiversity. Candice and Renee have a fabulous, flowing conversation about their plethora of shared passions, how neurodistinctions can show up in relationships, and the empowerment that comes with recognizing Neurodiversity as its own culture. Connect with Renee Follow: @thearaway YouTube Video Closed Captions

Welcome back, Aly Dearborn! In today's episode, Candice and Aly reflect on their presentation from the 2023 IITAP Symposium: Love Addicted or Seeking Safety: Accurately Screening, Diagnosing, & Treating Autistic Females with Symptoms of Trauma, Sex, & Love Addiction In Both Inpatient and Outpatient Settings. We also get an introduction to their updated assessment tool for diagnosing Autistic females, including how and why they decided to “ditch the D's” of the DSM! Connect with Aly YouTube Video Closed Captions

We are back with our FINAL, FABULOUS lineup of guests! Today, Candice is joined by master's student Ben VanHook to discuss advocacy for policy reform that would make hiring processes and educational environments more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals. They also share personal stories about relationships, fantasize how lovely having a ‘dating instruction manual' would be, and give tips such as sensory-friendly places to meet potential partners and friends! YouTube Video Closed Captions

CONTENT WARNING: child sexual abuse, sexual assault, intimate partner violence Aly Dearborn is back to help break down the similarities between Autism and Borderline Personality Disorder as it relates to confusion among clinicians and the too-often misdiagnosis of Autistic females. This professional take is sprinkled with personal examples of how this gap in knowledge has impacted Candice and Aly throughout their lives. They also give a sneak peek into the content of their upcoming presentation for the 2023 IITAP Symposium! Connect with Aly Information for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Counselors Closed Captions References: 1) Cazalis, et al - Evidence that 9 of 10 Autistic Females Victims of Sexual Violence. Front. Behav. Neurosci., 26 April 2022; Sec. Pathological Conditions, Volume 16 - 2022 |  2) Bargiela, S., Steward, R., and Mandy, W. The experiences of late-diagnosed women with autism spectrum conditions: an investigation of the female autism phenotype. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2016; 46, 3281–3294. doi: 10.1007/s10803-016-2872-8 3) Fusar-Poli, L., Brondino, N., Politi, P. et al. Missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses of adults with autism spectrum disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022.; 272, 187–198 ;https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01189-w 4) Pecora LA, Hancock GI, Mesibov GB, Stokes MA. Characterising the Sexuality and Sexual Experiences of Autistic Females. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 5) Pecora LA, Hooley M, Sperry L, Mesibov GB, Stokes MA. Sexuality and Gender Issues in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2020 Jul;29(3):543-556. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2020.02.007. Epub 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 32471601.

Jennie Meadows is a neurodiverse photographer and visual artist who has experienced the full spectrum of romantic relationships! She shares what she learned through marriage, procreation, divorce, and the “minefield” of post-divorce dating in her fifties… all prior to asking the question: “Who am I?” Candice and Jennie dive deep into online dating, menopause, synesthesia, hyperawareness in the bedroom, and how to curate a more sensuous sexual experience. Click here to view the Sexual Sensory Profile E-Book!   Connect with Jennie: https://www.jenniemeadows.com/ IG: @jenniemeadows   YouTube video Closed Captions    

Welcome back to Fabulously Candice: The Sexiest Podcast About Neurodivergence! Candice kicks off Season 3 welcoming back none other than her fabulous husband and Chief Mindfulness Officer of Namaste Center for Healing, Chris Kishiyama. They update the global audience on their individual lives, how their relationship has recently evolved, and what's on the horizon for Namaste Center for Healing. Want closed captioning or a visual for this episode? Check out the YouTube video here!

Paul and Ronnie are a mixed neurotype couple who have been together for the past 10+ years. With Paul being Autistic and Ronnie bilingual, they share how they learned to communicate more effectively, meet in the middle, and resolve conflict. They also chat about social scripts, the double empathy problem, and how to make time for sexual intimacy with two young children at home. Have a fabulous New Year and we will return in 2023 for Season 3!

Aly Dearborn is an Autistic feminist and psychotherapist with expertise in the treatment of women with complex trauma and addictive behavior. She joins Candice to break down the female presentation of autistic spectrum conditions, how stereotypes often lead to misdiagnoses, and what clinicians need to know to help combat the pathologizing of Autistic females. You do not want to miss this fabulous episode! Click here to visit Aly's website.  

Michael John Carley is an Autistic author, speaker, and former Executive Director. In this episode, he and Candice explore the inspiration behind his most recent book, ‘The Book of Happy, Positive, and Confident Sex for Adults on the Autism Spectrum…and Beyond'. His sex-positive approach focuses on healthy sexuality and advocates pleasure for all! Click here to read Michael John's full bio.    

Albert Jersey was diagnosed with autism at age three and now, at 30 years old, describes himself as an autistic self-advocate. He shares with us his journey towards self acceptance and hopes his message can encourage listeners to be more kind, authentic, vulnerable, and honest. He and Candice also talk relationships, boundaries, and compare their experiences of being diagnosed with autism early versus later in life. Connect with Albert: Facebook LinkedIn

Today Candice talks with James Murphy, sustainability enthusiast and founder of StoryX. James tried out a plethora of jobs before a clarifying ADHD diagnosis last year. In this episode, he and Candice cover conflict-seeking behavior, rejection sensitive dysphoria, relationship struggles through the COVID-19 lockdown, personal routines, and more! StoryX LinkedIn Twitter

Candice welcomes to the podcast Dr. Samantha Hiew! Following her ADHD diagnosis at age 40, as well as identifying as autistic, Sam founded ADHD Girls to empower girls and women with ADHD to thrive in society. Listen as they dispel stereotypes about neurodiverse women, share their experiences with cooccurring diagnoses, and prove that there truly is ‘diversity within neurodiversity'.

In this episode Candice is joined by Amanda Hebert Hughes, an openly autistic painter, author, and founder of Sensory Gated Art. After discovering her autism in adulthood, Amanda was inspired to create art that strategically removes sensory overload and, as a result, has a calming effect on its viewers. She and Candice discuss this “visual form of autistic bluntness”, as well as their experiences as females with autism in mixed-neurotype marriages. Enjoy!

Raquel Borras is the founder of RAQVISION (of XXO Connect) and creator of ‘Raq the Boat', her fabulous YouTube channel that hosts candid conversations with youth guests. Raquel's inspiration for amplifying youth voices stems from her own experiences with depression and OCD early in life. In this episode, she and Candice discuss mental health trials, their takes on the concept of ‘toxic positivity', parenting, and how Raquel ultimately got better at not sweating the small stuff.

Today Candice is joined by the incredible Quinn Dexter. Quinn was diagnosed with autism in the early 1980's, preceding its inclusion in the DSM and ICD. He shares with us his rare perspective as someone who intimately witnessed autism gain public awareness and understanding over the past three decades. Today, Quinn is the chief creator of Autistamatic and has been happily married for 14 years. You don't want to miss this fabulous episode full of history, lived experience, and unique insights on intimacy.

Ric Clark is a data modeller and self-employed video producer from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. As a neurodiversity advocate, he is also an ambassador for My XXY Chromodiversity Foundation and a founding member of The Octopus Movement! On this episode, Candice and Ric dive promptly into deep conversation about intimacy, including the hurdles and surprises that Ric overcame throughout life as a person with autism, ADHD, and dyspraxia. They also cover arduous small talk, being a multipotentialite, sexual sensory profiles, and all things sexy!  

Join Candice in an inspirational discussion with Dr. Lulu a.k.a. “the Momatrician”! Dr. Lulu is a retired pediatrician, author, LGBTQ+ parent coach, and mom of a nonbinary young adult. She shares with us her passion for youth suicide prevention, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and how parents can be a #parentally to their queer children. To learn more, visit Dr-lulu.com and check out her Facebook neighborhood: “Accepting, Affirming & Supporting Your LGBTQ*

Melly Moore is an ADHD advocate and host of The ADHD Melly Show, a weekly show focusing on mental health awareness and tips for living and working with ADHD. Candice and Melly discuss the struggles Melly experienced as a child as it relates to her ADHD diagnosis, as well as how she is navigating the dating world as an adult! Click here to register for the Neurodiversity Awareness Event on September 12, 2022!

Bex and Nell are a mixed-neurotype couple who experienced something resemblant to love at first sight when they met eyes at a convention in 2018. In this episode, they and Candice explore their electric connection as the relationship evolved, including an Autism diagnosis down the road. Melt into an intimate conversation which includes the concept of setting “agreements” for arguments, how direct communication (in and outside of the bedroom) can be not only useful but freeing, and so much more.

On this episode of Fabulously Candice, we welcome Ron Kerns. Ron is an autistic, award-winning Graphic Designer, Art Director, and operates his own design consultancy, StudioKerns. After living in Detroit and Dallas for many years, he left big-city life to live in rural Arkansas, in the middle of the Ozark Mountains. Ron was diagnosed as Autistic at age 46, which had various impacts on his career and relationship with wife, Ronda, who passed away after a 4-year long battle with a rare, progressive lung disease. We discuss late diagnosis, "functioning" labels, stereotypes about Autism, the loss of his wife, and more. 

Candice chats with Jason Lebowitz, founder of XXO CONNECT- a platform built to accelerate human connection, save intimacy from becoming extinct, reinvent online dating, and SO much more! Listen as they share in a curious and fabulously unfiltered (swearing disclaimer!) conversation about connection, intimacy, vulnerability, and the ins and outs of XXO CONNECT. Visit xxoconnect.com to connect!

Carole Jean Whittington, also known as the ‘Social Autie', is a late-identified ADHD-Autistic woman and Host of the Mind Your Autistic Brain Talk Show. She uses a NeuroDistinct perspective to educate on Autistic accommodations in the workplace, relationships, burnout, masking, and more! In this episode, Candice and Carole Jean cover a variety of sexy and inspiring topics including sexuality myths and realities of Autistic women, misidentified emotions and alexithymia, knowing (and loving) ourselves completely, and how what goes on outside the bedroom will impact what goes on in the bedroom! There is also talk of mental health, autistic burnout, and finding oneself after hitting rock bottom. The episode is wrapped with Candice and Carole Jean reading and answering some Neurodiverse Love Conversation Cards! Click here to get a FREE copy of the Top 20 Warning Signs You May Be in Autistic Burnout!

Candice chats with Scotty from the UK who has ADHD and is self-diagnosed Autistic. Scotty is the co-creator of ‘Misunderstood' Mini Series, a short comedy centered around neurodiverse characters. Listen as they discuss the film, the concept of self-diagnosis becoming more common (as we are our own best experts), first-hand experiences with rejection sensitivity, navigating parenting & intimate relationships, and suicidal ideation & prevention. (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255)

Mona was married for 30 years and at year 29 her partner was diagnosed Autistic. Their years of struggles prior to his diagnosis resulted in divorce. Mona and Candice talk candidly about mishaps in communication in mixed neurotype (or any) relationships, Affective deprivation, how to stay out of the “victim-villain” dance, & beautiful tips for celebrating differences in one's most intimate relationships. Have a listen! www.neurodiverselove.com neurodiverselove4u@gmail.com IG: @neurodiverse_love

Scott Frasard is an experienced learning executive and has worked in government, academic, and corporate organizations in a global context. Scott has an M.Ed. and PhD in Adult Education from The University of Georgia and a M.Ed. in Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment from the University of Illinois – Chicago. At age 48, Scott was formally identified as being autistic. Since then, he has expanded his research to include increasing instructor acceptance of neurodiversity issues in corporate and higher education and evaluating the impact of teaching strategies in the neurodiverse learner population. Click here to connect with Scott on Linkedin.

On this episode of Fabulously Candice, Candice has the privilege of interviewing the fabulous Angela Loynd, who Candice considers to be a soul sista. Angela is Founder & Managing Director at Umbrella Alliance, Author at Opendau, Proud ÂûDHD Woman. Passionate about supporting and empowering my neurodivergent community.   Candice and Angela have a raw and real, unmasked conversation about autism, neurodivergence, relationships, intimacy, communication, and DEI in the workplace! This is a MUST listen!!! umbrellaalliance.org  

Sara-Louise Ackrill (Sara) is a social impact entrepreneur based in London in the UK. Her company Wired Differently creates products and services for neurodivergent people. Sara is autistic with ADHD and first found out she was neurodivergent at the age of 38. She is a therapist, coach and trainer with an app in development, specialist VA service and more...

Hannah is a non-autistic partner in a mixed neurotype relationship. She is also a big advocate of people on the Autism Spectrum. She is currently working on becoming a counselor and wants to help others free themselves from the pain triggered by past traumas by thinking outside the box.  In today's episode she and Candice will discuss her personal passion of bringing hope to people in mixed neurotype relationships by talking about her own experience in her relationship with her autistic spouse. 

On this episode, Candice talks with trauma and marriage and family relationship expert, Angie Cella, LMFT about her adult diagnosis of ADD, her relationship with her Autistic spouse, and the similarities between Autism and ADD/ADHD. Have a listen! 

In today's episode, Candice talks to Dr. Stormy, a sexuality coach and the creator of Love Deep Lab. They explore all things sexual including how autistic people can explore our bodies, embrace fantasy, identify issues related to sexual aversion, and more!   Information about Dr. Stormy's work: She combines the knowledge from her medical degree, and certification as a sex, love & relationship coach with her experience as an occupational therapist and with her 15 year practice in tantra, breath work, yoga, meditation and sacred sexuality. Stormy offers coaching with women, men, or couples to help them more deeply connect to self, the beloved, and sexuality as a source of power. Dr. Stormy helps people to find more passion and vibrancy in life and in the bedroom. Stormy has always been fascinated with the brain and neurodivergence. She has the honor of being the mom of an amazing 17 year old son with autism who is her greatest teacher in both the joys and the challenges that accompany parenting. To learn more about Dr. Stormy and Love Deep Lab check out her website at www.lovedeeplab.com or follow along on IG/FB @lovedeeplab. You can also tune in to her podcast Love Deep Lab Podcast every Thursday for topics of sex, science and sacredness.

In Episode #5, Candice shares about her recent bout of autistic burnout that stifled her productivity (among other things) and Chris offers some useful mindfulness tools for managing stress, anxiety, and helping to alleviate symptoms of autistic burnout. Listen! 

In this episode, Candice and Chris have an honest, vulnerable conversation about how Chris has experienced Affective Deprivation Disorder as a result of Candice being on the spectrum. They also share ways they have improved their communication and offer simple tools for supporting each other's needs. Listen to their light-hearted discussion about real relationship stuff that NS/AS couples navigate! 

In this episode, Candice and Chris talk to John Truitt, an autistic man and brilliant entrepreneur who was diagnosed with autism in his 40s. We discuss his life-long struggles with social camouflaging and anxiety, knowing that he was different growing up but not knowing why, his sensory sensitivities and how it's impacted his marriage at times, the importance of learning flexibility around rules, and how his diagnosis saved his marriage. 

Candice interviews the lovely Daniel Durany, an insightful married autistic man who shares what he has learned about himself, his wife, women, relationships, and sex over the years and how he navigates through all of these as an autistic man and advocate for other autistic individuals. Have a listen!    

In our first episode of the Autism and Intimacy podcast, Candice shares the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum including what symptoms are often expressed but not in the DSM V. She and her husband Chris also talk about a recent communication issue they had and how they have learned to effectively tackle her issues with both sensory overload and communication mishaps. Enjoy!