Autism Stories

Autism Personal Coach/Doug Blecher
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May 26, 2025 • 46min

Autism Stories: Anthony Leckie

"I'm hoping that what is happening with AI can go down a path that ultimately allows more people to tell their stories more effectively and with less limitations and with less gatekeeping than ever before", says Anthony Leckie. Anthony joins this episode to discuss being the editor for Autism Stories and ethical uses of AI. To learn more about Anthony visit https://www.anthonyleckie.com . Thank you to TR Sun for their song “All Good” on todays episode.  if you would like to follow along or if your like me and seeing the lyrics make listening to music more accessible to you then check them out here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=422b205cf8817bf1&rls=en&sxsrf=AHTn8zqGPy2sjBLlA11mfLQjk4Kzu84YGg:1743872297655&q=&si=APYL9btOMaxI48tKjOYdlPW3RyBplN8gAQzBdTKkB2IKbJ7kM9T8RmW6e56f40nA_2X21d9mSrGLngPcOpmhvjtg5XNYJPcy7w8VeuhHph_MUnX-m-Qx_E-UjzSrmaCq_EexvqEOSFsU&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMmtfGrsGMAxW-q4kEHc9KPP8Qv_UKegQIKRAD&biw=1428&bih=734&dpr=2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thank you very much to Amy Scurria for her opera piece "Inside" at the end of the episode. To learn more about Amy please visit https://www.amyscurria.com .If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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May 19, 2025 • 28min

Autism Stories: Carole Jean Whittington

"Autistic women, especially those of us who are late identified, have spent our entire lives performing outside of our comfort zones just to survive, just to pass, to feel safe. [...] And that caused us chronic burnout, sensory overload, and a disconnection from our authentic selves. So telling us to get out of our comfort zone, it's like pouring water on someone who's already drowning", says Carole Jean Whittington. Carole returns to Autism Stories to discuss her new book  Living Unmasked An Autistic Women's Guide to Get Into Your Comfort Zone .Thank you to TR Sun for their song “All Good” on todays episode.  if you would like to follow along or if your like me and seeing the lyrics make listening to music more accessible to you then check them out here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=422b205cf8817bf1&rls=en&sxsrf=AHTn8zqGPy2sjBLlA11mfLQjk4Kzu84YGg:1743872297655&q=&si=APYL9btOMaxI48tKjOYdlPW3RyBplN8gAQzBdTKkB2IKbJ7kM9T8RmW6e56f40nA_2X21d9mSrGLngPcOpmhvjtg5XNYJPcy7w8VeuhHph_MUnX-m-Qx_E-UjzSrmaCq_EexvqEOSFsU&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMmtfGrsGMAxW-q4kEHc9KPP8Qv_UKegQIKRAD&biw=1428&bih=734&dpr=2⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Thank you very much to Amy Scurria for her opera piece "Inside" at the end of the episode. To learn more about Amy please visit https://www.amyscurria.com .If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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May 12, 2025 • 17min

Autism Stories: Meg Eden Kuyatt

"[My book's] about the generational trauma that can come from masking for generations and the complexity of neurodivergence and the complexity of how it can manifest, how it can present, how we can all have this thing in common, but all treat it in really different ways", says Meg Eden Kuyatt. Meg joins us to discuss generational trauma, writing poetry, and her new book The Girl in the Walls. To learn more about Meg and The Girl in the Walls visit https://www.megedenbooks.com/girl-in-the-wall-mg. Thank you to TR Sun for their song “All Good” on todays episode.  if you would like to follow along or if your like me and seeing the lyrics make listening to music more accessible to you then check them out here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=422b205cf8817bf1&rls=en&sxsrf=AHTn8zqGPy2sjBLlA11mfLQjk4Kzu84YGg:1743872297655&q=&si=APYL9btOMaxI48tKjOYdlPW3RyBplN8gAQzBdTKkB2IKbJ7kM9T8RmW6e56f40nA_2X21d9mSrGLngPcOpmhvjtg5XNYJPcy7w8VeuhHph_MUnX-m-Qx_E-UjzSrmaCq_EexvqEOSFsU&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMmtfGrsGMAxW-q4kEHc9KPP8Qv_UKegQIKRAD&biw=1428&bih=734&dpr=2⁠⁠⁠⁠If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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May 5, 2025 • 31min

Autism Stories: Josselyn Crane

"I would go so far as to say that there is a distinct form of people pleasing that autistic people engage in[...]. [...] It's like, this is my personality because it's my mask.  I've created this person that whose worth is entirely dependent on how other people perceive me and how useful and how little needs I have, how much I can provide for other people, because [I feel] so strange and unacceptable", says Josselyn Crane. Josselyn joins this episode to discuss masking, fluctuating capacity, and building community. To learn more about Josselyn please visit https://josselync.com .Thank you to TR Sun for their song “All Good” on todays episode.  if you would like to follow along or if your like me and seeing the lyrics make listening to music more accessible to you then check them out here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=422b205cf8817bf1&rls=en&sxsrf=AHTn8zqGPy2sjBLlA11mfLQjk4Kzu84YGg:1743872297655&q=&si=APYL9btOMaxI48tKjOYdlPW3RyBplN8gAQzBdTKkB2IKbJ7kM9T8RmW6e56f40nA_2X21d9mSrGLngPcOpmhvjtg5XNYJPcy7w8VeuhHph_MUnX-m-Qx_E-UjzSrmaCq_EexvqEOSFsU&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMmtfGrsGMAxW-q4kEHc9KPP8Qv_UKegQIKRAD&biw=1428&bih=734&dpr=2⁠⁠⁠If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Apr 28, 2025 • 22min

Autism Stories: Dr. Megan Neff

"A huge part of my early discovery and then building a life that's more resilient to burnout has been understanding my sensory profile, getting to know what actually works for my sensory system, what soothes it, what comforts it, what triggers it", says Dr. Megan Neff. Dr. Neff joins this episode to discuss her Autistic Burnout Workbook. To learn more about Dr. Neff and her workbook visit https://neurodivergentinsights.com/autistic-burnout-workbook/For bulk order discount information: https://neurodivergentinsights.com/bulk-burnout/Thank you to TR Sun for their song “All Good” on todays episode.  if you would like to follow along or if your like me and seeing the lyrics make listening to music more accessible to you then check them out here: ⁠⁠https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=422b205cf8817bf1&rls=en&sxsrf=AHTn8zqGPy2sjBLlA11mfLQjk4Kzu84YGg:1743872297655&q=&si=APYL9btOMaxI48tKjOYdlPW3RyBplN8gAQzBdTKkB2IKbJ7kM9T8RmW6e56f40nA_2X21d9mSrGLngPcOpmhvjtg5XNYJPcy7w8VeuhHph_MUnX-m-Qx_E-UjzSrmaCq_EexvqEOSFsU&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMmtfGrsGMAxW-q4kEHc9KPP8Qv_UKegQIKRAD&biw=1428&bih=734&dpr=2⁠⁠If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Apr 21, 2025 • 19min

Autism Stories: Mitch Boucher

"But for me, at least, music has always emphasized my emotions with an internal soundtrack, if that makes any sense, it's as much a part of my brain and internal dialogue as anything else, really", says Mitch Boucher. Mitch joins this episode to discuss rejection sensitive dysphoria and his love of baroque music.  To learn more about Mitch and his music visit https://www.youtube.com/@MitchBoucherComposer .Thank you to TR Sun for their song “All Good” on todays episode.  if you would like to follow along or if your like me and seeing the lyrics make listening to music more accessible to you then check them out here: ⁠https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=422b205cf8817bf1&rls=en&sxsrf=AHTn8zqGPy2sjBLlA11mfLQjk4Kzu84YGg:1743872297655&q=&si=APYL9btOMaxI48tKjOYdlPW3RyBplN8gAQzBdTKkB2IKbJ7kM9T8RmW6e56f40nA_2X21d9mSrGLngPcOpmhvjtg5XNYJPcy7w8VeuhHph_MUnX-m-Qx_E-UjzSrmaCq_EexvqEOSFsU&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMmtfGrsGMAxW-q4kEHc9KPP8Qv_UKegQIKRAD&biw=1428&bih=734&dpr=2⁠If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Apr 14, 2025 • 23min

Autism Stories: Becca Lory Hector

"That's kind of where I stepped in with, yes, if I want to help people to improve their quality of life, I need to understand what quality of life looks like for autistic people", says Becca Lory Hector. Becca makes her return to Autism Stories to discuss the research from her and her team  regarding quality of life for autistic people.  To learn more about Becca and her research visit https://beccalory.com/publications-research/Thank you to TR Sun for their song “All Good” on todays episode.  if you would like to follow along or if your like me and seeing the lyrics make listening to music more accessible to you then check them out here: https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=422b205cf8817bf1&rls=en&sxsrf=AHTn8zqGPy2sjBLlA11mfLQjk4Kzu84YGg:1743872297655&q=&si=APYL9btOMaxI48tKjOYdlPW3RyBplN8gAQzBdTKkB2IKbJ7kM9T8RmW6e56f40nA_2X21d9mSrGLngPcOpmhvjtg5XNYJPcy7w8VeuhHph_MUnX-m-Qx_E-UjzSrmaCq_EexvqEOSFsU&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMmtfGrsGMAxW-q4kEHc9KPP8Qv_UKegQIKRAD&biw=1428&bih=734&dpr=2If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Apr 7, 2025 • 25min

Autism Stories: DeAndra Davis

"I think that's one of the things that's helped me [...], writing about it, right. Writing about these characters that are not afraid to advocate for themselves. [...] And think about how can I be more like my main character?", says DeAndra Davis. DeAndra joins this episode to talk about her new book All the Noise at once.  In this compelling, moving story about brotherhood, identity, and social justice, a Black, autistic teen tries to figure out what happened the night his older brother was unjustly arrested. To purchase All The Noise at Once visit https://www.deandradavis.com/all-books .https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&sca_esv=422b205cf8817bf1&rls=en&sxsrf=AHTn8zqGPy2sjBLlA11mfLQjk4Kzu84YGg:1743872297655&q=&si=APYL9btOMaxI48tKjOYdlPW3RyBplN8gAQzBdTKkB2IKbJ7kM9T8RmW6e56f40nA_2X21d9mSrGLngPcOpmhvjtg5XNYJPcy7w8VeuhHph_MUnX-m-Qx_E-UjzSrmaCq_EexvqEOSFsU&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjMmtfGrsGMAxW-q4kEHc9KPP8Qv_UKegQIKRAD&biw=1428&bih=734&dpr=2If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Mar 31, 2025 • 16min

Autism Stories: Dan Bird

"It was actually fascinating because going into [The Traitors], I thought the missions would be the thing that I would like the least. [...] But the missions for me in my season were actually great and really exciting because there was always an element of strategy involved in the sense that you could make choices to further your own game in our mission", says Dan Bird. Dan joins this episode to discuss The Traitors and how his autism impacted his experience. To learn more about Dan and The Traitors visit https://www.instagram.com/djzb100/If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Mar 24, 2025 • 20min

Autism Stories: Marilyn Roy

"That diagnosis when I got it, just really floored me, because I've always been verbal, very verbal, and I'm very outgoing, [...] I just have always been what I am, and things just didn't work out right, and I just kept trying", says Marilyn Roy. Marilyn joins this episode to discuss being diagnosed with autism in her sixties.If you could subscribe on your favorite listening platform we would really appreciate that. If you are looking for customized coaching by autistics for autistics then visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.  If you would be interested in being interviewed on Autism Stories or would like to be a sponsor send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠doug.blecher@autismpersonalcoach.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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