The Late Discovered Club
Catherine Asta
The Late Discovered Club is a social impact podcast and community that gives late discovered autistic women and marginalised groups a voice.
Hosted by autistic Psychotherapist & Author Catherine Asta and edited by her daughter, Caty Ava.
In each episode we bring you real and empowering stories of late discovered autistic women and people, from all walks of life - through an intersectional lens - helping to deconstruct stereotypes, and give visibility to the next generation.
*We are a gender non-conforming inclusive space*
Hosted by autistic Psychotherapist & Author Catherine Asta and edited by her daughter, Caty Ava.
In each episode we bring you real and empowering stories of late discovered autistic women and people, from all walks of life - through an intersectional lens - helping to deconstruct stereotypes, and give visibility to the next generation.
*We are a gender non-conforming inclusive space*
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 26, 2025 • 52min
S4 Ep11 - True To Me
In this episode, Catherine is joined by Wendy Minhinnett - a lived experience leader who co-created the Rollercoaster Parent Carer Support Project. Her work has been recognised with a Positive Practice in Mental Health Award and a *BEM in 2022 for services to parents of children with mental health needs.After over a decade of heart-led lived experience work, Wendy experienced a complete burnout that coincided with menopause and a difficult workplace experience. It was during this midlife unraveling that she was diagnosed as autistic, ADHD, and dyspraxic at 51 - a discovery that changed everything.Wendy shares her powerful story of late diagnosis, identity loss, and post-burnout rediscovery. She speaks openly about masking, boundaries, autistic burnout, and the creative healing process that included therapy, community, and even body painting. Now in a new chapter, she’s building inclusive spaces on her terms - including TRUE, a support group for late discovered women - and finding pride in who she is.This episode is a deeply moving conversation about starting over, honouring your neurodivergence, and finally feeling seen.*A British Empire Medal is an honour awarded by the UK government to recognise meritorious civil or military service, often at a local or community level. People who receive a BEM have typically made a significant difference in their communities, often through volunteering, charity work, public service, or lived experience leadership like Wendy’s.Connect with Wendy:LinkedInInstagramHead to Wendy's website TRUEInterested in Wendy’s TRUE group? Email: wendy.truespaces@gmail.com for all the info. Connect with CatherineVisit Catherine's website Order Catherine's NEW Book 'Rediscovered: A Compassionate and Courageous Guide for Late Discovered Autistic Women (and their allies) which was published 21st February 2025 by JKP The SENSE Retreat 10-14th October 2025, Yorkshire, UKCome and join Catherine and team at the first of its kind retreat at the beautiful Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire, designed for people who experience the world in a deeply sensitive and profound way. Booking and information. Use code CA10OFF for a 10% discount.Contact Catherine AstaNeed Post Discovery Support?Join our next 6 week post discovery support circleJoin our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle.Explore The Asta Community of Professionals Support our work3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do...Become a member or partner and join our growing community.Buy us a coffee.Rate & review the show or an episodeThank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing.NordensDeborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy MindThe Growth PodHormones On The Blink MindThrive CoachingAbout the Podcastwww.thelatediscoveredclub.comFounder & Host Catherine AstaPodcast Editor Caty AvaMusic by AlloraFollow us on Instagram
Jun 8, 2025 • 52min
S4 Ep10 - Representation Matters
In this episode, Catherine is joined by Vicky Chapman, a gay autistic TV editor from Southampton, who had her late discovery at 26.Vicky shares how her journey began during the first lockdown, when her partner, who works in early years autism, first suggested she might be autistic. At the time, Vicky dismissed the idea, saying, “I can’t be autistic… I’m not Sheldon Cooper.” But a run-in with a blender (you’ll hear all about it) sparked a deeper reflection, and after ticking nearly every box, she pursued a formal diagnosis.We talk about the fast-paced world of TV, and how Vicky is still learning every day what will help her thrive as an autistic person in the industry. We talk about self-disclosure at work, an act that felt terrifying at first, but led to the creation of a “Vicky Guide” that helped her colleagues understand how best to support her.Now, Vicky is having more open and honest conversations across her industry and recently became a neurodiversity champion in her workplace. She says:“It was important to me to share my story, not only to help inform, educate and raise awareness for neurodiversity in the TV industry for non autistic people, but also to provide a safe environment and relatable voice for other neurodivergent people, so they don’t feel the need to fear judgment or suppress their support needs.”This conversation is a powerful reminder of why representation matters, and how one voice can help change the culture from within.Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Connect with CatherineVisit Catherine's website Order Catherine's NEW Book 'Rediscovered: A Compassionate and Courageous Guide for Late Discovered Autistic Women (and their allies) which was published 21st February 2025 by JKP The SENSE Retreat 10-14th October 2025, Yorkshire, UKCome and join Catherine and team at the first of its kind retreat at the beautiful Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire, designed for people who experience the world in a deeply sensitive and profound way. Booking and information. Use code CA10OFF for a 10% discount.Contact Catherine AstaNeed Post Discovery Support?Join our next 6 week post discovery support circleJoin our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle.Explore The Asta Community of Professionals Support our work3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do...Become a member or partner and join our growing community.Buy us a coffee.Rate & review the show or an episodeThank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing.NordensDeborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy MindThe Growth PodHormones On The Blink MindThrive CoachingAbout the Podcastwww.thelatediscoveredclub.comFounder & Host Catherine AstaPodcast Editor Caty AvaMusic by AlloraFollow us on Instagram
May 24, 2025 • 1h 7min
S4 Ep9 - A Creative Force
Lorna Miller, a renowned editorial cartoonist and Reiki practitioner, shares her journey of creativity and self-discovery. In this engaging conversation, she discusses the profound impact of her late autism diagnosis at 51 and how it reframed her creative drive. Lorna highlights the emotional challenges of invisible disabilities and the liberation of unmasking. She also delves into the healing power of Reiki, emphasizing its role in alleviating pain and fostering joy. Her story celebrates resilience and the strength of neurodivergent creativity.
May 9, 2025 • 56min
S4 Ep8 - Radical Acceptance
In this episode, Catherine is joined by Julie, a Canadian based writer, artist, and creator of “The Autistic Mum” on Substack. Julie shares her powerful late discovery story, receiving an autism diagnosis at age 44 after a decade of questioning and reflection sparked by her son’s own diagnosis. Together, they explore the emotional terrain of late discovery, generational autism, sensory differences, and the impact of masking and burnout. Julie speaks candidly about the challenges of navigating healthcare and disclosure, and the liberating journey of radical self-acceptance. They also discuss her upcoming book, Motherness, her forthcoming memoir about "generational autism, parenthood, and radical acceptance" (publication date 23 September, 2025) which traces her experience of raising an autistic child while rediscovering herself.Julie M Green is a Canadian writer whose work has been featured in the Washington Post, Globe and Mail, Healthline, Parents, Chatelaine, Today's Parent, The Mighty, and more. She has appeared on CTV, BBC Radio, Sirius XM, and CBC Radio. In 2024, she was a finalist for the CBC Nonfiction Prize.Connect with JulieVisit Julie’s websiteFollow Julie on InstagramBluesky: @juliemgreen.bsky.socialSubstack: The Autistic MomConnect with CatherineVisit Catherine's website Order Catherine's NEW Book 'Rediscovered: A Compassionate and Courageous Guide for Late Discovered Autistic Women (and their allies) which was published 21st February 2025 by JKP The SENSE Retreat 10-14th October 2025, Yorkshire, UKCome and join Catherine and team at the first of its kind retreat at the beautiful Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire, designed for people who experience the world in a deeply sensitive and profound way. Booking and information. Use code CA10OFF for a 10% discount.Contact Catherine AstaNeed Post Discovery Support?Join our next 6 week post discovery support circleJoin our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle.Explore The Asta Community of Professionals Support our work3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do...Become a member or partner and join our growing community.Buy us a coffee.Rate & review the show or an episodeThank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing.NordensDeborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy MindThe Growth PodHormones On The Blink About the Podcastwww.thelatediscoveredclub.comFounder & Host Catherine AstaPodcast Editor Caty AvaMusic by AlloraFollow us on Instagram
Apr 24, 2025 • 58min
S4 Episode 7 - A Kinder World
Joining Catherine is Trudi Murray - an artist, illustrator, writer, and a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and proud granny. Diagnosed autistic at 47, Trudi now sees her lifelong creative work as a map of self-discovery, a visual language she was speaking long before she had the words to understand it.In this episode, Trudi reflects on how her art carried the essence of her autistic identity long before discovery and diagnosis. From paintings that unknowingly explored the concept of masking, to her deep love for telling the unsung stories of women in history, her creativity has always been a window into her inner world.Her late discovery was sparked by a move to a new city and the fresh reflections of new connections. With raw honesty and gentle wisdom, Trudi shares the grief and clarity that came with rediscovering herself and how that insight is helping her live more authentically, both in her creative work and in her part-time role coordinating social transformation projects.This is a conversation about identity, creativity, self-compassion, and the transformative power of being seen. Masking less, belonging more, and creating a kinder world for ourselves, and for the generations coming after us.Trudi’s websiteTrudi's SubstackInstagram Connect with CatherineVisit Catherine's website Order Catherine's NEW Book 'Rediscovered: A Compassionate and Courageous Guide for Late Discovered Autistic Women (and their allies) which was published 21st February 2025 by JKP The SENSE Retreat 10-14th October 2025, Yorkshire, UKCome and join Catherine and team at the first of its kind retreat at the beautiful Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire, designed for people who experience the world in a deeply sensitive and profound way. Booking and information. Use code CA10OFF for a 10% discount.Contact Catherine AstaNeed Post Discovery Support?Join our next 6 week post discovery support circleJoin our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle.Explore The Asta Community of Professionals Support our work3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do...Become a member or partner and join our growing community.Buy us a coffee.Rate & review the show or an episodeThank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing.NordensDeborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy MindThe Growth PodHormones On The Blink About the Podcastwww.thelatediscoveredclub.comFounder & Host Catherine AstaPodcast Editor Caty AvaMusic by AlloraFollow us on Instagram
Apr 4, 2025 • 59min
S4 Episode 6 - ND Girl in a NT World
Joining Catherine in S4 Episode 6 is Louise Fox is a former GBR Elite triathlete (representing GBR 5 times at World and European championships), self-employed web developer, environmentalist, and Nordic-obsessed adventurer. Louise shares her late autism discovery and her journey from competitive sports to motherhood, from quitting her job in her early 30’s to follow her Pro athlete dream, and the challenges of balancing personal identity with family, to how endurance—both in sport and life—has shaped her path. This is a powerful late discovered story about resilience, determination, loss, adventure, passion, motherhood, exercise as essential self-care and lessons learned along the way.Follow Louise on instagram Connect with CatherineVisit Catherine's website Order Catherine's NEW Book 'Rediscovered: A Compassionate and Courageous Guide for Late Discovered Autistic Women (and their allies) which was published 21st February 2025 by JKP The SENSE Retreat 10-14th October 2025, Yorkshire, UKCome and join Catherine and team at the first of its kind retreat at the beautiful Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire, designed for people who experience the world in a deeply sensitive and profound way. Booking and information. Use code CA10OFF for a 10% discount.Contact Catherine AstaNeed Post Discovery Support?Join our next 6 week post discovery support circleJoin our Late Discovered Club CommunityExplore The Asta Community of Professionals Support our work3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do...Become a member or partner and join our growing community.Buy us a coffee.Rate & review the show or an episodeThank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing.NordensDeborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy MindThe Growth PodHormones On The Blink About the Podcastwww.thelatediscoveredclub.comFounder & Host Catherine AstaPodcast Editor Caty AvaMusic by AlloraFollow us on InstagramRead more about our impact over the last 2 years here
Mar 21, 2025 • 58min
S4 Episode 5 - A Lifetime of Learning
Joining us in S4 Episode 5 is Dr Catriona Stewart OBE MCPP where we explore Catriona’s own late autism discovery, her lifetime of learning, and her lifetime of work - it’s a deeply emotional episode.Catriona founded autistic-led charity SWAN: Scottish Women’s Autism Network in 2012, on completion of her PhD research into the experiences of autistic girls, to provide peer support, build on the knowledge-base, and raise levels of understanding. Advisor to a number of high level national enquiries and campaigns, including the 3 year National Autism Project, and the 2 year Independent Review of the Mental Health Act (Scotland) in relation to Autism and Learning Disability, she ran an 18 month Employment Project for Scottish Government, and was an Ambassador to their Improving Understanding of Autism #DifferentMinds campaign, 2019-2023. She was a member of John (Lord) Scott KC’s human-rights focused COVID-response Independent Advisory Group to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) in 2020-21 and has since been a member of the SPA Board, where she is regarded as a Champion for Disability and the Neurominorities. She has delivered numerous papers and plenary presentations, training and workshops, in the UK and abroad. Most recent was the AETAPE bi-annual congress in Cadiz to which she presented on Independent Living for Autistic Adults, the barriers and enablers, from a Human Rights perspective. Her work is focused on community engagement, participatory action research, equality, diversity and inclusion, and Human Rights. It is informed by her research, her years of professional experience and her lived experience as a late-diagnosed autistic woman and mother.To Catriona and all the autistic women who have paved the way before us, the trailblazers who have prepared the ground in this new world for others to follow. We see you and we give you our gratitude for opening the door to this brave new rediscovered world.Explore SWAN Connect with Catherine & PeteVisit Catherine's website Order Catherine's NEW Book 'Rediscovered: A Compassionate and Courageous Guide for Late Discovered Autistic Women (and their allies) which was published 21st February 2025 by JKP The SENSE Retreat 10-14th October 2025, Yorkshire, UKCome and join Catherine and team at the first of its kind retreat at the beautiful Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire, designed for people who experience the world in a deeply sensitive and profound way. Booking and information. Use code CA10OFF for a 10% discount.Pete's WebsiteFollow Pete on InstagramBuy UntypicalNeed Post Discovery Support?Join our next 6 week post discovery support circleJoin our Late Discovered Club CommunityExplore The Asta Community of Professionals Support our workThank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing.NordensDeborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy MindThe Growth PodHormones On The Blink About the Podcastwww.thelatediscoveredclub.comFounder & Host Catherine AstaPodcast Editor Caty AvaS4 Guest Co-Host Pete WharmbyMusic by AlloraFollow us on InstagramRead more about our impact over the last 2 years here
5 snips
Mar 7, 2025 • 1h 5min
S4 Episode 4 - Pierre Novellie
In this episode, stand-up comedian and writer Pierre Novellie shares his journey navigating autism and comedy. He talks about how humor can bridge connection while addressing the challenges of public performance. The conversation dives into the complexities of socialization in gaming, particularly Warhammer, and how these hobbies shape interpersonal skills. Pierre also reflects on the impact of 'masking' in autistic individuals, the weight of harsh communication, and the intriguing ways neurodiversity influences comedic expression, offering a fresh perspective on humor.
Feb 26, 2025 • 1h 17min
Rediscovered (S4 Bonus Episode)
Catherine's much awaited and anticipated book 'Rediscovered' was published 21st February 2025. In this special episode, Catherine is interviewed by S4 guest (and friend) Dr Helen Lawal about the book.We talk everything from Mountains, Metaphors, Monotropism, Masking, Manifestos for Change - and so much more.*This recording is from the live online launch which took place on 24th February.The book is out now in paperback, audio and EbookThe SENSE Retreat 10-14th October 2025, Yorkshire, UKCome and join Catherine and team at the first of its kind retreat at the beautiful Broughton Sanctuary in Yorkshire, designed for people who experience the world in a deeply sensitive and profound way. Booking and information. Use code CA10OFF for a 10% discount.Connect with Catherine & Dr HelenVisit Catherine's website Contact Catherine AstaVisit Dr Helen's website Follow Dr Helen on instagramNeed Post Discovery Support?Join our next 6 week post discovery support circleJoin our Late Discovered Club CommunityExplore The Asta Community of Professionals Support our work3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do...Become a member or partner and join our growing community.Buy us a coffee.Rate & review the show or an episodeThank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing.NordensDeborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy MindThe Growth PodHormones On The Blink About the Podcastwww.thelatediscoveredclub.comFounder & Host Catherine AstaPodcast Editor Caty Ava S4 Guest Co-Host Pete WharmbyMusic by AlloraFollow us on Instagram
Feb 14, 2025 • 58min
S4 Episode 3 - Acts of Kindness
Joining Catherine and Pete in S4 Episode 3 in this powerful, and deeply moving episode is Tristan Kluibenschadl.Content Warning: In this episode we talk about sensitive content relating to mental health, suicide, trauma and grief.Tristan comes on the show to share his story of late autism discovery, which came at a time in his life when he was a working as a (former) Senior Police Officer where he spent 32 years working in strategic, operational, and tactical levels within the criminal justice system. A subject matter expert in Serious & Organised Crime, Homicide and Kidnap investigation for The Investigation Academy, he also served as the Kent Police lead for autism and as a regional representative for the National Police Autism Association, yet as we hear in the episode Tristan didn’t "feel safe to come out and disclose his late autism diagnosis because there was too much at risk.”Tristan also talks in this episode about his ‘beautiful, kind and funny' autistic son, Stefan who tragically died by suicide in March 2022 at just 15 years old, due to relentless bullying and compounded by failures from the very statutory services meant to protect him.On 14th February 2024, Stefans Acts of Kindness, STAK life was born, founded by Tristan and his wife Emma out of love to honour their son, which is dedicated to supporting neurodivergent young people & their parents and carers, & providing professionals training to help change the narrative for autistic people in our society. We are dedicating this episode today to Stefan, and these words that Tristan shares in this episode, for anyone who needs to hear them today:“You are enough just the way you are, and the world is a better place with you in it”Find out more about STAK LifeFollow STAK Life on InstagramLink to the book we were talking about that is dedicated to Stefan.Connect with Catherine & Pete Visit Catherine's website Order Catherine's NEW Book 'Rediscovered'Contact Catherine AstaPete's WebsiteFollow Pete on InstagramBuy UntypicalNeed Post Discovery Support?Join our next 6 week post discovery support circleJoin our Late Discovered Club CommunityExplore The Asta Community of Professionals Support our work3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do...Become a member or partner and join our growing community.Buy us a coffee.Rate & review the show or an episodeRead about our 10 Year PlanThank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing.NordensDeborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy MindThe Growth PodHormones On The Blink About the Podcastwww.thelatediscoveredclub.comFounder & Host Catherine AstaPodcast Editor Caty AvaMusic by AlloraFollow us on InstagramRead more about our impact over the last 2 years here
