Send us a text What happens when a psychologist tries to do philosophy? Usually nothing good. Happily, we have a philosopher on hand to explain why this is not a good idea. Join Simon as Alexander dives in Simon Baron-Cohen's book "Zero Degrees of Empathy" and explains that, actually, autistic people can be empathetic. As ever we thank you, our loy…

Send us a text Simon has been reading again, this time a paper on autistic and non-autistic rapport: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/13623613251320444 Simon also makes reference to another paper https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613241252320 Do check them both out. More episodes soon and with more than just Simon rambling …

Send us a text Join Simon, returning champion Georgia and guest Susie as Georgia tells us all about doing FoI requests for every NHS trust in England and the astonishing results she found about autism and support. Links: Not A Priority report: https://www.autistica.org.uk/blog/not-a-priority Guardian coverage: https://www.theguardian.com/society/20…

Send us a text A mere two weeks late... Look, I got distracted ok? Anyway, Simon is joined once again by Filip and Sam and we take a *very* ADHD ramble through new years resolutions, how to complete a project, domestic bliss and gamifying your own life (Horse armour DLC extra). For more Filip find him on BSky at @ftw.bsky.social and Simon can be fo…

Send us a text Join Simon, Filip and Georgia as we consider Christmas, a quick discussion of where it came from and the modern experience for neurodivergent people. The answer is lists, quiet spaces, lists, think about the food, lists and of course lists. Oh and the Roman Empire. Find more Georgia and Filip here: Filip on BSky https://bsky.app/prof…

Send us a text Well it's the 3rd of December so join Alexander and Simon for a brief* discussion of disability and what it means in society. *Brief means don't check the timestamps. As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you and our Twitter is open @AtypicalThePod for messages and comments. Have a…

Send us a text join the gang as we discuss the late Steve Silberman, his impact on neurodiversity education and on being a record producer and mega fan for the Grateful Dead. He will be missed and music used under fair use in hour of a man who meant a lot to both the ND community and the Greateful Dead community. As ever we thank you, our loyal lis…

Send us a text Join Simon and Alexander as they slowly loose their minds watching the 2021 film "Music" by Sia. A film apparently about a non-verbal, autistic girl but mostly about Sia and a childrens book author trying to write a clumsy romance story. Strap in. As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear f…

Send us a text It's that time of the week/month/phase of the moons of Jupiter again when Simon actually gets round to delivering on a podcast. This week we talk about International Non-Binary Peoples Day and the neuroqueer theories with roots in the work of Nick Walker. Their book, Neuroqueer Heresies, is well worth a read or listen. I'd also sugge…

Send us a text Simon is joined this week by Georgia (@mind the flap) to discuss Autism Pride Day, masking and some of the work she is doing on autism campaigning and chasing the rather reticent British government to actually deliver on it's promises! Follow Georgia on social media or via her blog at https://mindtheflap.wordpress.com/ As ever we tha…

Send us a text Join Simon as this week we explore the concept of post festival slump, that crash you get after a great event. Fresh from only their second ever paying attendance at a festival, Simon explores some of the highs and lows of the festival and gives some tips of recovering afterwards. This is an expanded and deeper dive into these concep…

Send us a text Simon returns with another paper of interest and only a mild case of crushing guilt at loosing an entire episode and having an existential impostor syndrome driven personal crisis. Yay autism. Which is todays topic, can a fish have autism and if so, what does that tell us about people, dopamine and our own development. Papers as ever…

Send us a text This week, join Simon on a deep dive through time into the evolution and possible origins of neurodiversity. From the ancient wisdom of neurodivergent shamans to the brilliant minds of Einstein, Darwin, and van Gogh, we'll uncover the hidden stories of how neurodiversity has been shaping our world in unexpected ways. But it's not all…

Send us a text With the return of the erstwhile Kim we discuss travelling as a neurodivergent person, using social media and, in true ADHD style, we distract outselves for a lengthy (and now much edited down) discussion of which social media platform sounds like a K-Pop band. We did also discuss some of the latest news around autism diagnosis and t…

Send us a text Simon is back with season three of the Atypical podcast. A litle lonley in the recording suite, because neurodivergent people have a lot in common with cats when it comes to herding, Simon has some interesting discussions and a sneak peek at what we are hoping to bring you this year. Some more long form episodes and media reviews alo…

Send us a text Join Simon and some coffee friends as we explore dyslexia in a little more detail. A brief exploration of it's history, the impacts on education, society and even the media and how the road of dyslexia may have prefigured the wider neurodiversity movement. Simon use a lot of resources in preparing for this episode, alongside talking …

Send us a text Join Simon and special guest Danny for a discussion of autism, ADHD, the International Day of People with Disabilities and a moment for World AIDS day. We touch on work Danny is doing to make his university more accessible for students and whether neurodiversity is a disability or not. As an aside, friend Georgia has asked that we as…

Send us a text Join Simon and San as we discuss being trans allies, the disability history month and crumble. Also, don't ask Sam about hot thermometers. As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you and our Twitter is open @AtypicalThePod for messages and comments. Have a topic you would like us to …

Send us a text There are a few things in this weeks episodes - silly voice changers, some history, the wheel of privilege and dress up parties. Editing this week is a little more rough and ready - both Simon and Marianne who usually do this have had bereavements and we've tried to do the best we can. As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for st…

Send us a text Join Sam, Joey and Simon as we discuss International Mental Health Day, National Coming Out Day and some useful AI tools that could help you be a little more productive. Links as mentioned: https://www.manup.how/ https://andysmanclub.co.uk/ https://switchboard.lgbt/ https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/the-coming-out-hand…

Send us a text Join Joey and Simon as we discuss dyslexia and dyslexia awareness week, bringing some of our own stories and experiences to help try and explain what it is. As you may notice further in there is a bit about the history of it and that will of course follow soon. In the meantime, here are a couple of the links we mentioned! https://www…

Send us a text Welcome to another exciting episode of Atypical. This week join Sam and Simon as they talk about the world of unions and we explore the countless benefits unions offer. From protecting workers’ rights to ensuring fair wages, unions have been an integral part of shaping the work landscape into a more just and equitable space. Their in…

Send us a text Join Simon for a brief discussion of emotional regulation and people who might struggle with expressing or even identifying their own emotions. At the end I mention the Australian Government National Autism Strategy. Get those responses in! https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/national-autism-strategy As ever we thank you, ou…

Send us a text This week Simon finally gets his papers together and talks at the microphone about ABA. In the exploration of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), it's crucial that we trace its historical roots and the path it has taken in the realm of autism treatment. Initially hailed for its scientific validation, ABA's techniques and approaches hav…

Send us a text A few days late and the audio has a few... Issues. That's what happens when Simon moves house. But why not join Simon and Wott for a discussion of the autistic experience moving house and of going to a festival for the first time. As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you and our T…

Send us a text In this intriguing episode of Atypical, we're thrilled to welcome back our co-host Marianne, who opens up about her journey through the convoluted realm of autism diagnosis as a female. Women on the spectrum face a unique set of challenges in the diagnostic process due to pervasive gender biases and the often misunderstood, atypical …

Send us a text Yep, we are back, the people only you can hear and see... Or rather heard, because we are definitly real, you can trust me on this. Join Simon and returning co-host Watt for a discussion on imaginary friends, a trip into some odd conspiracies and whether it is healthy to stim. As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking wi…

Send us a text That got your attention didn't it! Join Simon for a short episode discussing demisexuality and autism. We made reference to several papers in today episode and will discuss these themes in greater depth in a future recording. https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/autistic-individuals-are-more-likely-to-be-lgbtq https://onlinelibrary.wi…

Send us a text On this week's solo episode, join Simon and he navigates the subject of post-event slump, a phenomenon often experienced in the wake of significant communal moments or big events. It is a psychological valley after the peak, an emotional downturn following the joyous high of the festivities. Diving into the history of Pride, we revis…

Send us a text In this week's episode, hosts Watt, Kuro, and Simon delve into the recent BBC Panorama documentary, focusing on ADHD and the burgeoning landscape of private clinics. The Panorama episode presented a somewhat contentious image of ADHD, placing a spotlight on private clinics allegedly offering speedy diagnoses and medications. This por…

Send us a text Join Simon this week as we discuss a few news items and then briefly take a look at autistic meltdowns and shutdowns. There is a lot more to say on this and we will do a episode with the rest of the podcast crew in the future, but for now we hope you enjoy this and have a very pleasant weekend! As ever we thank you, our loyal listene…

Send us a text As we continue in our second season, join Simon, Sam and Watt as we discuss some news articles that caught our eye. From the autism friendly train ticket guide to "woke" kids toys, we had a happy half hour looking at this from our usual atypical perspective. As Simon is off to San Francisco and didn't have time to plan, record, edit …

Send us a text Have you ever heard of Bicycle Day? It's the day that celebrates the discovery of LSD by Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman. In this episode of our podcast, join Simon and Watt as we delve into the story of Albert Hoffman and the profound impact his discovery had on society and culture. We start off by talking about Hoffman's initial disco…

Send us a text Welcome to Season 2! We return to our very first subject, Autism Acceptance Month! Alas Marianne was busy and so Simon called upon regular co-host Kuro and best friend Watt to come and talk about autism acceptance and our own interpretation of this. We made mention of several previous episodes, including our Spoons bonus, the Metatho…

Send us a text Almost everyone even vageuely aware of autism or neurodiversity in general has heard the term "Aspergers" banded about. But were they? This week, Simon delivers a short insight into the life and times of Hans Asperger. Is it as dark as some people believe or was he saving lives? Some of the many (many) resources used in preparation -…

Send us a text It's a short notice bonus for you today, Simon is joined by Dahlia and Sam as we talk about Neurodiversity Celebration Week and some of the positive things about being ND, some of the barriers and what people can do to support each other. We mentioned some articles in the episode and would highly recommend: The ADHD Foundation The In…

Send us a text Back for another week and we have Joey, Dahlia and Simon starting a conversation on labels - are they useful, what do they mean to us and should we use them? We also have the usual conversation as we wander through what we think of labels and as a result of some off recording conversation decided we should explore this further. Next …

Send us a text Join Simon, Kuro, Joey and guest Sam as we discuss a "cure" for autism, LGBT history and young people coming out, something Simon read about ancient Greek friendships and bad newspaper articles. We mentioned another podcast, Bad Gays, which discusses queer villains throughout history. We also recommended some books, Queer City by Pet…

Send us a text Well this is it, our first "After Dark" episode. Join regulars Simon, Kuro and Joey as we welcome guest Dahlia to talk about stripping, sex work and her researches into the intersectionality of this industry and neurodiversity. We do get a little bit explicit in this episode and if that's not for you, don't worry, we will have a regu…

Send us a text A new year dawns and the team at Atypical have been busy with life. Probably why we thought we ought to talk about FOMO - Fear of Missing Out. Joining Simon this week is co-host Joey and returning guest Sam, to discuss FOMO, social media, how it affects us and some ways to handle that fear. As usual, we do meander about a bit but sti…

Send us a text Hi all! It has been a good six weeks since we last spoke to you. After Episode 15 we all needed a little rest and then, well life happens. Kim is in India, Mysterious Voice is being mysteriously missing, Joey has been busy with work and the rest of us have been doing social stuff. Anyway, a short one with Marianne, Kuro and Simon cha…

Send us a text Well for episode 15 we thought it might be worth discussing the great Wakefield fraud, the MMR scandal, the lies and damage that were spread by that disgraced former doctor. Join Simon, Kuro and Marinne for what turned out to be the hardest episode we have ever recorded. It took two days and four attempts to get everything recorded. …

Send us a text Simon has been left alone with a microphone, a mostly recovered voice and no co-hosts. So of course they decided to talk about World Podcast Day and why you should be pleased to be called a Luddite. The crew will be back in a couple of weeks to talk about a medical scandal so keep your eyes and ears reeled for that. As ever we can be…

Send us a text Do you run an inner monologue or is your brain a peaceful and quiet place? Join hosts Simon and Kim and returning guest Kuro as we delve into our own brains and ask the big questions: why does Kuro hear no voices, has Kim dreamt of any lakes recently and should Simon go back to therapy? As ever we thank you, our loyal listener for st…

Send us a text Evening all, Slightly late to publish this weeks episode as we only recorded it on Thursday and then... Yes well. Simon has been given coffee and time to fix his computer after it ate the first draft of the edit. Anyway. Join Simon and Joey for a discussion of body image, how it has become all pervading, why Simon doesn't feel like h…

Send us a text We are back with another episode. Episode 11, who'd have thought we might make it this far. In the first of a set of episodes we hope to do throughout the season, we invited in an atypical person to talk to us about their interest and passion. Join us in the very first of these episodes and this week we are joined by friend of the sh…

Send us a text After our masking episode, someone asked Simon why we kept talking about spoons. Well dear listener, when someone asks a question like that, we answer! Join Kim and Simon for a short bonus episode where we outline Spoon Theory and how it helps explain a few things that neurodivergent people experience. Who knows, you might even want …

Send us a text Who would have beleived we would make it even this far. But we have, Episode 10 is here! And boy was it a whopper. We decided to try and talk about masking. Turns out even with tequila and two and a half hours we couldn't even begin to scratch the surface. This is such a massive and deeply emotive subject that I am sure we will retur…

Send us a text Yep, it's been a hot old week and we probably don't make much sense. But with the return of the Mysterious Voice, Simon and Marianne discuss heat, clothing choices, awkward video calls and being stubborn and wearing shorts to the office. As ever you can follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/AtypicalThePod and we will have our next…

Send us a text Just Simon today with a short piece on International Non-Binary Peoples day. I drew the list in the episode from Stonewall here: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/10-ways-step-ally-non-binary-people and recommend a blog they host here: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/being-non-binary-uk-today We will be back with …