Becoming You - The Podcast with John Fleming S2E3: Unmasking Autism: Kieran Rose on Stigma, Masking & Rediscovering Identity
In this episode of Becoming You - The Podcast, John Fleming welcomes autistic author, researcher, and international speaker Kieran Rose to explore autism, masking, identity, and how we start to uncover who we are.
Kieran is a published mainstream and academic author, international public speaker, trainer, researcher and consultant to organisations worldwide. His work focuses on Autistic Masking, Burnout and Identity. Diagnosed as autistic in 2003, he’s also a proud dad to three autistic children.
Together, John and Kieran dive into what masking really means, how it differs from everyday context switching, and why unmasking isn’t as simple as taking something off.
It's about years of survival, stigma, and learning to feel safe in your own identity, especially within the current education systems and environments.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
• The hidden ways autistic masking begins unconsciously and why it’s wired into survival
• How stigma, invalidation, and other people’s expectations shape your identity as an autistic person
• The meaning of unmasking and why it’s not as simple as “just be yourself”
• John’s experience of growing up in the Irish education system and its flaws in recognising
• How education systems are built one way and what happens to autistic people who don’t fit that mould
• Why professionals must question their frameworks and what becoming a reflective practitioner really means
Would you like to explore the idea of uncovering your authentic self?
Join Our Next Online Workshop: https://www.becomingyou.ie/workshops/
Download your free self led workbook: https://www.becomingyou.ie/#workbook
Follow Becoming You on Social Media:
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Share Your Story:
John would love to hear from you! If this episode resonated with you, send an email to john@becomingyou.ie
Visit the website at www.becomingyou.ie
Check out Kieran's Course: The Inside Of Autism: https://kmrtraining.teachable.com/a/aff_sc33dh6r/external?affcode=903653_mwf27ja9
Connect with Kieran Rose:
Visit his website: theautisticadvocate.com
Disclaimer: The content shared in this podcast represents the personal experiences, opinions, and insights of the host, guests, and contributors. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, whether medical, psychological, therapeutic, legal, or financial.
If you are experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, or require professional support, we strongly encourage you to seek guidance from a qualified professional or relevant support services.
Disclaimer: The content shared in this podcast represents the personal experiences, opinions, and insights of the host, guests, and contributors. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, whether medical, psychological, therapeutic, legal, or financial.
If you are experiencing mental health challenges, emotional distress, or require professional support, we strongly encourage you to seek guidance from a qualified professional or relevant support services.