Meet My Autistic Brain

The Autistic Woman™
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Mar 23, 2026 • 59min

Best of 2025: Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum

Step into the complex world of Women and Girls on the Autism Spectrum with author Sarah Hendrickx. She talks about why autism is often missed in women and girls and how traits can differ. You’ll hear her own personal story of late diagnosis and how it has impacted her life.Sarah's websiteSarah's bookSupport the showRATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.2 million downloads!If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at info@theautisticwoman.com.InstagramKo-fi, PayPal, PatreonLinktreeEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsiteJune 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together
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Mar 16, 2026 • 27min

Publishers Rejected This Autistic Detective. Readers Loved Him.

Can being autistic make a person a great detective? According to writer Tim Sullivan the answer is yes. He’s created a main character, Detective Sergeant George Cross, whose sense of justice, attention to detail and systematic approach to crime-solving gives him a distinct advantage. In an authentic portrayal of an autistic character Tim reveals why he writes about George and tells how George has become an endearing character in his books. This Cambridge-educated, screenwriter-turned-novelist demonstrates the importance of acceptance and the qualities that make autistics shine.Tim Sullivan's Websites: US  UKTim's booksSupport the showRATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.2 million downloads! If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at info@theautisticwoman.com. InstagramKo-fi, PayPal, PatreonLinktreeEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsite June 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together
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Mar 9, 2026 • 8min

Replay: An Unmasking Story

Have you thought about unmasking, i.e. telling people you’re autistic, by advocating for diversity? Here’s one story about how unmasking played out, including:The blank looks, the self-doubt, and the mental replay afterwardWhether advocacy is worth the emotional costThe tension between staying safe behind the mask… or speaking plainlyIf you’ve ever left a room and replayed every word, wondering if you revealed too much — this conversation is for you!Link to the story about Justice Kevin Dougherty of Pennsylvania who advocates for training judges about autism: https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/03/pa-supreme-court-justice-eyes-reforms-to-serve-those-on-autism-spectrum.htmlSupport the showRATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.2 million downloads!If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at info@theautisticwoman.com.InstagramKo-fi, PayPal, PatreonLinktreeEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsiteJune 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together
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Mar 2, 2026 • 24min

An Autism Diagnosis Rewrites the Story

In this conversation, author, screenwriter and teacher Claire McGowan shares what it’s been like to receive an autism diagnosis at 43 — and how that discovery is reshaping her understanding of her life, identity, and creative work.In this episode, we discuss:Claire’s late autism diagnosis and the path that led to itThe mix of grief, anger, relief, and curiosity that followedGrowing up in Northern Ireland in the 80s and why autism wasn’t on the radarSensory overwhelm — from public transport to event spacesHyperfocus, productivity, and writing 28 books in 14 yearsWhat Claire hopes will change in how society supports autistic adultsClaire also shares about the importance of talking about neurodiversity.Claire McGowan website https://www.clairemcgowan.co.uk/Claire’s book The Other Couple  https://www.clairemcgowan.co.uk/booksClaire on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/clairemcgowanwriterSupport the showRATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.2 million downloads!If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at info@theautisticwoman.com.InstagramKo-fi, PayPal, PatreonLinktreeEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsiteJune 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together
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Feb 23, 2026 • 19min

Replay: Why Autistics Pick the Wrong Partner

Autism affects how autistics experience relationships by definition. Some of the best traits can either lead to problems or support us in succeeding. In this episode you’ll learn about why autistics pick the wrong partner and how you can change it. It’s a thoughtful episode about relationships, compatibility, and learning what to notice.Support the showRATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.2 million downloads!If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at info@theautisticwoman.com.InstagramKo-fi, PayPal, PatreonLinktreeEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsiteJune 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together
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18 snips
Feb 16, 2026 • 47min

Unmasking: What We Lose by Pretending and How to Get It Back

Essy Knopf, therapist, coach, and author who discovered his autism at 25 and later ADHD. He talks about masking and how it delays recognition. Short takes on burnout, conditional self-worth, lost authenticity, and gradual unmasking strategies. Conversations on forming real connection, internalized ableism, and the strengths that emerge when people stop pretending.
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Feb 9, 2026 • 42min

The Autistic Adult's Toolbox: Real Tools for Real Life-Because Just Try Harder Isn't a Strategy

In this episode I chat with Natalie Diggins, technologist and author of The Autistic Adult's Toolbox. Natalie gives step-by-step strategies and tools that work for autistics. From parties to friendships to doctor’s appointments Natalie shares the toolbox she developed using her systems approach to problem solving. You’ll learn how to have a plan before socializing, how to save energy for what matters and how to recognize your limits. Using checklists, questionnaires, planners and scripts Leslie helps you find out what you really want and how to get there. Get all the details from the ingenious Natalie Diggins.Some of what you'll learn about:*How to prepare for a doctor's appointment or medical procedure*How to comfortably handle social situations*Three key strategies to make friendships easier Natalie's book: The Autistic Adult's ToolboxSupport the showRATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.2 million downloads!If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at info@theautisticwoman.com.InstagramKo-fi, PayPal, PatreonLinktreeEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsiteJune 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together
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Feb 2, 2026 • 6min

Do I Tell? A Question We Wrestle With Every Day

Every day autistic people face the big question. We can stay hidden or we can be real. There’s no right or wrong answer…except maybe this one time?When have you been in a situation like this and what did you choose? Write to me at info@theautisticwoman.comSupport the showRATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.2 million downloads!If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at info@theautisticwoman.com.InstagramKo-fi, PayPal, PatreonLinktreeEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsiteJune 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together
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Jan 26, 2026 • 30min

The Genius of How Sensory Processing Regulates the Nervous System

Ever notice how nature calms you, music shifts your mood and soft textures make you feel amazing?Sensory processing plays a role in how autistic adults experience the world—yet it’s often misunderstood. In this episode, Donna Redman and occupational therapist Cindy Duffy unpack what sensory processing really is, how it affects emotional regulation and behavior, and why so many autistic adults spend years masking sensory discomfort.We talk about:What sensory processing is and how it works in the nervous systemHow sensory differences show up in autistic adultsMasking sensory discomfort and the emotional cost of “looking fine”The connection between sensory overload and anxiety, agitation, and burnoutHow environment, nature, and art support sensory well-beingWhy awareness alone can dramatically reduce stress and self-blameThe Secret Genius of Sensory Processing website The Secret Genius of Sensory Processing Quick Start Guide  Support the showRATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.2 million downloads!If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at info@theautisticwoman.com.InstagramKo-fi, PayPal, PatreonLinktreeEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsiteJune 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together
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Jan 19, 2026 • 54min

Allow Me to Interrupt: The Emotional Truth Behind Women's ADHD

Have you been told you’re “too sensitive?” Do you struggle to complete tasks or projects? Have you given up trying to find out why life seems hard?In this episode, clinical psychologist Dr. Gilly Kahn reveals why many women with ADHD are stressing themselves to appear normal and how the clinical world’s focus on young boys has left millions of women without answers.We talk about:The "Double Burden" of Success: Why high IQ and degrees often act as a barrier to diagnosis, leaving women to struggle in secret.RSD vs. Reality: Understanding Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria—not as a personality trait, but as a neurological response to a lifetime of negative feedback.Hormonal Interference: A look at how hormones affect ADHD and ADHD medicationsCreative Survival: Why habits labeled “quirky” might actually be high-level executive function workarounds.Dr. Gilly Kahn’s websiteBook: Allow Me To Interrupt: A Psychologist Reveals the Emotional Truth Behind Women’s ADHD  Dr Gilly Kahn on Instagram Support the showRATED IN THE TOP 0.5% GLOBALLY with more than 1.2 million downloads!If you are an autistic person who has written a book about autism or if you have a guest suggestion email me at info@theautisticwoman.com.InstagramKo-fi, PayPal, PatreonLinktreeEmail: info@theautisticwoman.comWebsiteJune 24-28, 2026 In Rewilding Together

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