The Other Autism

Why I Don’t Do Trigger Warnings on My Podcast

March 26, 2024

Admin Update

Episode #33 is here: Why I Don’t Do Trigger Warnings on My Podcast.

Here’s a deep dive into the controversial topic of trigger warnings. I explore the ongoing debate surrounding the effectiveness and potential dangers of trigger warnings, particularly for those who have experienced complex trauma. I highlight the latest research on trigger warnings, their impact on emotional responses, learning outcomes, and more.

Don’t miss this episode where I challenge the common usage of trigger warnings and explore trigger warnings’ influence on those they’re supposed to protect most.

Watch this episode on YouTube.

If you’d like to know more about topics discussed in this episode, check out:

“Trigger Warning Efficacy: The Impact of Warnings on Affect, Attitudes, and Learning” by Guy Boysen et al.

“A Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy of Trigger Warnings, Content Warnings, and Content Notes” by Victoria Bridgland et al.

“I Was Wrong About Trigger Warnings” by Jill Filipovic

“Helping or Harming? The Effect of Trigger Warnings on Individuals With Trauma Histories” by Payton Jones et al.

“What Does It Mean to Be Triggered?” By Zawn Villines

Transcript

Kristen Hovet: 1:07

Today I’m doing something a bit different. I’m going to be discussing trigger warnings. While this topic isn’t directly related to autism or autism research, it does come up a lot in content related to autism and neurodiversity. It’s actually almost a given these days that any content that includes discussion of sensitive topics will have trigger warnings. But just because something is pervasive doesn’t make it best practice, nor does it make it safe, specifically psychologically safe in this case.
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Zoe, a Jiu Jitsu Instructor Diagnosed As Autistic at 38

February 23, 2024

After Autism Diagnosis, Autistic Experience, Interview With An Autistic Person, Late-Diagnosed Autism

Episode #32 is here: Zoe, a Jiu Jitsu Instructor Diagnosed As Autistic at 38.

Today, I’m speaking with Zoe Alexandra Glass, a Jiu Jitsu instructor and artist based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Zoe went from listening to The Other Autism while working in a warehouse to being a guest on the show almost a year after her own diagnosis. She shares the story of receiving her autism diagnosis after nearly losing her home and having considerable mental health challenges during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zoe also discusses her stance on going undiagnosed for nearly four decades, the types of pragmatic successes she’s experiencing in occupational therapy, and the disability assistance and tax credits that are available to autistic folks (with a focus on those in British Columbia and Canada).

Together, we talk about the overlap of autism and eating disorders, the problems with traditional sitting meditation for some autistics, and much more!

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Check out Zoe’s TikTok, Substack, and YouTube channel.

And links mentioned in this episode:

Disability Assistance (for British Columbians)

Disability Tax Credit (DTC) (for Canadians)

Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) (for Canadians)

Transcript

Kristen Hovet: 1:06

Hey everyone, welcome back to The Other Autism podcast. Today I’m speaking with Zoe, a martial arts instructor based in Vancouver, British Columbia, but before I share our conversation, I’d like to thank Carol and an anonymous donor, who both used the Buy Me a Coffee link to send in a one-time donation.
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Exclusive Content Coming Soon via Patreon

January 31, 2024

Admin Update
I’ve just launched a Patreon account, so you can soon have access to member-only content. As I prepare exclusive content, I’d love to hear from you. Please answer this quick poll: What exclusive content do you want?

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Neural Pruning, Synesthesia, and Autism

January 31, 2024

Autism and Co-Occurring Conditions, Autism News, Autistic Experience, Deficit Model of Autism

Episode #31 is here: Neural Pruning, Synesthesia, and Autism.

What aspects of the brain differ between autistic people and non-autistic people? Do these brain differences lead to things like synesthesia in autistic people? Synesthesia is when your senses or perceptions overlap, like when you think of a number and see waves of red or some other colour. Or when you can feel in your own body the sensations and physical pain of another, just by looking at them!

In this episode, I also talk about ableist perspectives in autism research, secondary autism, neurons, glial cells, early brain development, mirror-touch synesthesia as the basis of deep empathy, and much more!

Watch this episode on YouTube.

If you’d like to know more about topics discussed in this episode, check out:

“What Is Synaptic Pruning?” By Jacquelyn Cafasso

“Astroglia in Autism Spectrum Disorder” by Kinga Gzielo and Agnieszka Nikiforuk

“Regional Differences in Synaptogenesis in Human Cerebral Cortex” by Peter Huttenlocher and Arun Dabholkar

“Microglia in the Pathogenesis of Autism Spectrum Disorders” by Ryuta Koyama and Yuji Ikegaya

“Astrocytes and Microglia and Their Potential Link With Autism Spectrum Disorders” by Francesco Petrelli et al.

“Balancing Excitation and Inhibition in the Autistic Brain” by Charlotte Pretzsch and Dorothea Floris

“Synaptic Growth, Synesthesia and Savant Abilities” by Martin Silvertant

“Neuroinflammation, Mast Cells, and Glia: Dangerous Liaisons” by Stephen D. Skaper et al.

“Lack of Neuron ‘Pruning’ May Be Behind Many Brain-Related Conditions” by Clare Wilson

“Microglia and Astrocytes Underlie Neuroinflammation and Synaptic Susceptibility in Autism Spectrum Disorder” by Yue Xiong et al.

“Convergent Evidence for mGluR5 in Synaptic and Neuroinflammatory Pathways Implicated in ASD” by Daniela Zantomio et al.

Transcript

Kristen Hovet: 1:06

Today we’re talking about neural pruning and how it differs in the brains of autistics versus the brains of neurotypicals. I’ll also discuss synesthesia. I don’t know if I’m saying that right. I’m saying it. I think I tried getting Google Translate to help me and I’m still not saying it right. Actually, speaking of Google Translate, I think she’s going to help me in this episode, so I’m going to need her here. One sec, okay, synesthesia. Synesthesia, yeah, where one sensory or cognitive pathway activates a second or maybe even third sensory or cognitive pathway.
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Trissa, An Autistic Parent Raising Neurodivergent Children

November 13, 2023

Autistic Experience, Autistic Parenting, Interview With An Autistic Person, Late-Diagnosed Autism

Episode #30 is here: Trissa, An Autistic Parent Raising Neurodivergent Children.

Today, I’m speaking with Trissa, an autistic parent with ADHD based in Washington State. Trissa talks about ways to regulate yourself as a neurodivergent parent and give your neurodivergent children ways to self-regulate.

Trissa’s helpful tips and suggestions are particularly useful for autistic, ADHDer, and otherwise neurodivergent parents of children who are both dealing with sensory and cognitive overload.

Find out some of the best strategies for neurodivergent parents and kids who are dealing with the ongoing possibility of burnout and meltdown at the same time.

“She would melt down and then it would send me into a meltdown, and because I wasn’t thinking about how to regulate myself and what I needed to remain calm, we would cycle together frequently.” —Trissa

Watch this episode on YouTube.

Check out Trissa’s TikTok

And the Embrace Autism website mentioned in this episode

Transcript

Kristen Hovet: 1:06

Hey everyone and welcome back to The Other Autism podcast. I’m really excited to show you, or to play for you, this conversation. So a few days ago I spoke with Trissa, an autistic parent with ADHD based in Washington state.
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Kristen Hovet on the Autistic Tidbits and Tangents Podcast

September 30, 2023

Admin Update, Adult Autism, Autistic Experience, Interview With An Autistic Person
Kristen recently joined Dr. Kara Dymond and Bruce Petherick on the Autistic Tidbits and Tangents podcast. They discuss difficulties navigating medical care for autistic people, self-advocacy in medical settings and in general, what it means to be disabled, and much more. Check it out:

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