The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum

I recently had the honor and privilege to interview Brant Hansen, host of the radio show The Brant Hansen Show and author of books such as Unoffendable, Blessed Are the Misfits, and The Men We Need. We talk about life and marriage on the autism spectrum, and even get a little deep in the middle about some of our personal struggles and self doubt. I loved having this conversation with him and didn't want to cut a second out of it! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

I talk about the future of this show and why I need a short break from producing episodes… Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest discusses a big change coming in his life and how this has impacted him. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

I talk about my ‘chronic indecisiveness' and explain that this is common for people on the autism spectrum. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

The third draft of my first novel The Captain's Pride (subject to change) is now complete and work on the fourth draft has already begun! Updates to follow over the next few months! Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Just listen. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest (sort of) talks to his middle brother about what it was like for him finally moving away from the parents and settling into a place of his own. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

I will never trade the joy I see on my wife's face for anything. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Sometimes people don't experience anxiety over a specific reason. Sometimes it's just there. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Part 2!Forrest and Kay have a lengthy and in-depth conversation about this video game they recently beat and never really talked about. You want to know what a nerdy conversation between two people on the autism spectrum sounds like, this is pretty close to what you'd hear. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest and Kay have a lengthy and in-depth conversation about this video game they recently beat and never really talked about. You want to know what a nerdy conversation between two people on the autism spectrum sounds like, this is pretty close to what you'd hear. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

I delve into the importance of sustaining goals and staying focused even when routine changes beyond our control come and why this is beneficial for people on the autism spectrum. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Due to a cripplingly busy schedule and a less-than-stellar recording of the new episode, this week is a flashback all the way to Season 1 where we revisit one of my favorite past episodes. I promise next week is a new episode! Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast returns with my wife Kay and I trying to stay warm in below-zero temps as we catch up with you and reflect on what the weather was like on our wedding day! We love telling that story… Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

For us on the autism spectrum, we reside in our own private world and we're the only occupant. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest talks about how he faces more than just one battle, more than just autism, just like the rest of us. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

KG is back and we take a breather to talk video games! Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

I talk about a particular struggle I have in order to highlight the fact that not all spectrumites' imperfections are directly tied to being autistic, but rather some are tied to being simply human just like everyone else. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

I reflect on my grandfather's life, the kind of impact he had on me, and what I learned from him. He was also probably on the spectrum. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

I have a bit of a passionate geek speech about how great the video game The Last Of Us is and how it impacted my life and my perspective on the art of storytelling and character-driven narratives. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

So I recorded an episode at the last minute on the fly because the script for the real next episode didn't get done. I explain why in this episode. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest and KG discuss the movies that meant the most to them growing up and how they influenced them. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

I talk about my love for films, how I got into the passion of filmmaking and storytelling, and how autism played a part. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

My wife KG comes on the podcast to discuss the impact the band BTS has had on her and why she prefers to keep her hyper fixations to herself, thus creating a private world of her own. Warning: there are side-tangents. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

I explain, in the best way possible through my grogginess, how music plays a role in my mind, my hyper fixations, and my autism-isms. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

This is more or less my love letter to The Fray, a band that achieved the impossible and broke through my 'autistic barriers' in a way that almost no other band has done, and despite the band leader having moved on, the band's music still impacts me to this day. In this episode, I explain how The Fray managed to punch a hole in my autistic wall and make me actually FEEL something. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

The podcast returns with Season 3 for Fall 2023! In this season, I will be sharing more of my history, how parts of the culture have influenced my views, and how much exactly autism plays a part in my own identity. Identity is the major theme of this season and I hope this season will help other spectrumites feel less alone in the world. I know a thing or two about loneliness, in the past, and the present. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Hi, it's Forrest. I've got some personal reflections to rant about for a little bit. Some things to get off my chest. My goal isn't to discourage anyone though, and I'm not discouraged myself. Hope this episode helps you and leaves a good lasting impression as this season wraps and you wait impatiently for the next season (which will be BIG). See you all again in August! Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest, KG, and Blade recap what was covered in this season of the podcast and expands on the topics! Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Who is John Elder Robison and how did he become a big name in the autism community? Forrest explains! Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest discusses what parents can do to help their children on the autism spectrum and how better to connect with them. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest talks about who Temple Grandin is and why she's such an icon in the autism community. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest talks about the struggle between neurotypical people and spectrumites when it comes to nonverbal communication and explains how the former can work with a spectrumite's facial expressions (or lack thereof) Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Check out the first review for Extraordinary Attorney Woo for free! If you like what you hear, upgrade to the paid subscriber level in the link below to hear the new review each week! Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest talks about the story of Hans Asperger and his role in introducing the science of the autism spectrum, but also his involvement with the Nazi Party in Germany. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thepancakeking.substack.comJoin Forrest and his wife KG for their discussion of the Korean drama series Extraordinary Attorney Woo, a show about a young woman on the autism spectrum who works as a practicing attorney. Become a paid subscriber on Forrest's Substack to listen to the full shows every week!

Forrest details some of the rockier parts of moving to a new home and what it was like dealing with the anxiety that followed some terrible storms. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest and Blade discuss if the post-diagnosis life of a spectrumite really means a new normal for them or if life can just go on as usual. This is Part 2 of the discussion. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest and Blade discuss if the post-diagnosis life of a spectrumite really means a new normal for them or if life can just go on as usual. This is Part 1 of the discussion. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest and KG sit down and talk about how they deal with differing interests, making compromises, and how they grapple with emotion. This is Part 2 of the discussion. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest and KG sit down and talk about how they deal with differing interests, making compromises, and how they grapple with emotion. This is Part 1 of the discussion. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest talks about his relationship with his Christian faith and how his place on the autism spectrum impacts it. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

In a recent episode of the animated series, Star Wars: The Bad Batch, we're introduced to a new side of one of the main characters, a side that would feel very familiar to people on the autism spectrum. Forrest analyzes this and gives his thoughts on how he feels the show runners portrayed a character with a potentially autistic mind. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

KG and I ask ChatGPT what it knows about autism and dating. Listen to find out what it told us! Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

Forrest shares what his homeschool life was like and how his autistic mindset interfered with it. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit thepancakeking.substack.comI couldn't get a post done this weekend BUT I have some bonus content here for Paid Subscribers following the conversation I had with Blade in the latest podcast episode! If you aren't already a Paid Subscriber, now is the time to upgrade your subscription so that you can get bonus articles and bonus audio content. Thank you for being a part of this c…

Forrest and Blade discuss the ways in which spectrumites deal with communication with others, how they share their hyper fixations with others, and what it's like when two spectrumites are communicating with each other. Get full access to The Pancake King: Life and Marriage On the Spectrum at thepancakeking.substack.com/subscribe