I was a guest on the Disability Rap radio show in April. Please check it out: Exploring Late-Diagnosed Autism
Category: Autistic Experience
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Episode #39 is here: The Story Behind the Self-Advocacy Guide for Cancer Patients on the Autism Spectrum.
If you’re autistic and you’re diagnosed with cancer, will your care be impacted by your unconscious wish to be the perfect patient? Or will it be impacted by an abusive spouse or partner, the kind so many of us on the spectrum find ourselves with? We explore these questions and much more.
In this episode, we honour the life and legacy of Lindsey Carla Holmes, a late-diagnosed autistic woman, who passed away from metastatic ovarian cancer earlier this year.
Joining me is Dr. Paula Holmes-Rodman — Lindsey’s sister, caregiver, and collaborator — to discuss aspects of Lindsey’s life and the sisters’ co-development of the Self-Advocacy Guide for Cancer Patients on the Autism Spectrum.
We explore Lindsey’s journey of self-discovery, her resilience and sunshiny disposition, advance care planning, and some of the issues that may leave many autistic folks vulnerable to abusive relationships.
Dr. Holmes-Rodman shares stories from The Lindsey Interview Project, the cat- and snack-filled Sunday afternoon chats that sparked the development of the Self-Advocacy Guide for Cancer Patients on the Autism Spectrum — a Guide uniquely positioned to help autistic cancer patients everywhere.
This episode celebrates Lindsey’s hopes for the autistic community, the continued importance of self-advocacy, and the ways listeners can help support Lindsey’s vision for a better future.
Watch this episode on YouTube.
Find the Self-Advocacy Guide for Cancer Patients on the Autism Spectrum on Autism Canada.
Watch The Lindsey Interview Project.
Transcript
Kristen Hovet
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Hey everyone, welcome back to The Other Autism podcast. I have a bit of a cold today, but I wanted to make sure to get this out as I’ll be away next month. Today I’m speaking with Dr. Paula Holmes-Rodman, an anthropologist, consultant, writer, and practitioner of narrative-based medicine, based in British Columbia, Canada. But before I share our conversation, I’d like to say a huge thank you to Pam and Sanna for each buying me three coffees through the Buy Me a Coffee link. Thank you both so, so much. If you would also like to buy me a coffee, please check out the link in the show notes that says, buy me a coffee. And with that, please say hello to my guest for today, Dr. Paula Holmes-Rodman. -
Episode #38 is here: Autistic Hispanic Personal Trainer in New York
Meet Dennis Bourne, a late-diagnosed autistic and ADHD personal trainer and martial arts instructor. Dennis shares his journey growing up undiagnosed in New York with immigrant parents, recounts his experiences as a Hispanic neurodivergent person, and describes how ADHD and autism diagnoses reshaped his worldview.
Dennis also offers fitness and dietary tips for neurodivergent individuals and emphasizes the importance of adaptable routines. Tune in for insights on self-discovery, embracing neurodiversity, and finding strength in both body and mind.
Watch this episode on YouTube.
Follow Dennis Bourne on Instagram and on YouTube.
Transcript
Kristen Hovet
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Today I’m speaking with Dennis, who is based in New York. Before I share our conversation, just a reminder, if you’re interested in joining the Patreon for The Other Autism, you can head on over to patreon.com/theotherautism. That’s all one word. If you’re listening and watching on YouTube, you’ll notice I changed the background just a little bit. I moved The Other Autism sign. It was kind of bothering me to have it behind me because I would often, my big head would cover part of it and my lights would reflect off the acrylic part of the sign. I’ll leave it for now and see how it goes. And without further ado, please say hello to my guest for today, Dennis. -
Episode #37 is here: Former Teacher Finds the Diagnosis Her Therapists Missed
Today, I’m speaking with Sarah, a musician, gardener, and former teacher based in Pennsylvania. Sarah spent much of her life in therapy and struggling with others’ misunderstandings and insensitivities. Now, in her 60s and with a handful of mental health diagnoses behind her, she is finding that autism might explain so many of her experiences.
A series of back-to-back crises set the stage as Sarah wrestles with her newfound autistic identity.
Watch this episode on YouTube.
Transcript
Kristen Hovet
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Today I’m speaking with Sarah, a gardener, musician, and former teacher in Pennsylvania. But before I share our conversation, I’d like to thank Roberta for buying me a coffee through the buy me a coffee link. Roberta, I really appreciate it. I’d also like to thank the Patreon patrons who sponsor the show and in return get some bonus content. There’s also a link in the show notes to Patreon. For a few dollars a month or any custom level that you set, you can become a patron of the show. Speaking of a few dollars a month, I have a correction to make from the last episode. When I was promoting The Other Autism’s Patreon, I said for a few dollars a day, you can support the show. Obviously I meant for a few dollars a month, maybe some wishful thinking on my part. And with that, please say hello to my guest for today, Sarah. -
Episode #35 is here: Helena, Diagnosed As Autistic and Schizophrenic
Today, I’m speaking with Helena, a retail worker and soon-to-be college student and fiction author. Helena came to Canada as a child, but wasn’t assessed for autism or schizophrenia until her 20s. She talks about who the biggest bullies were in school and shares some activities that have helped her.
Watch this episode on YouTube.
Check out Helena’s Instagram.
Transcript
Kristen Hovet: 1:06
Today I’m speaking with Helena, a late-diagnosed autistic and schizophrenic individual. I’d like to thank David for your one-time show of support to The Other Autism podcast. David used the Buy Me a Coffee link not once but twice to send in a donation. Thank you so much, David. If you’d like to do the same, please check out the link in the show notes that says Buy Me a Coffee. I’d also like to thank the patrons over on Patreon who sponsor the show and, in return, get some bonus content. I really appreciate their ongoing support and interest in the show. If you’re curious to see what’s going on over there, head on over to patreon.com/TheOtherAutism all one word. For a few dollars a month, you can become a patron of The Other Autism as well. And with that, please say hello to my guest for today, Helena.
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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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The Other Autism 