Shows
The Squarepeg Podcast128. Art and autism math: healing and connecting after a late autism diagnosisElinor Trier describes herself as a “Sparkly Champion of Neurodivergent and Queer Joy”. She’s a neuroqueer AuDHD artist, writer, podcaster, YouTuber, and founder of Elinor Trier Studio, where she creates artwork that reminds us that we’re not the 'odd one out', we’re 'one of a kind’. Elinor says, “It wasn’t until I became a certified weirdo by getting an official autism diagnosis in my mid-thirties that my life started to actually make sense.” In this conversation we talk about the power of art to heal and connect us, the relationship between her art and her au...2025-05-0358 min
The Squarepeg Podcast127. Autism's healing mechanism: an autism and OCD journeyAnna has been on a real journey of self discovery, from refusing to entertain the idea that she might have a diagnosable condition, to devouring every book she could get her hands on that might help her understand her autism and OCD. Now in her thirties, Anna talks to me about her experiences of the autism diagnostic process, having OCD and receiving treatment in various forms, and becoming housebound following the Covid pandemic. She also shares her fascinating internal world of synaesthesia, and the solace she finds in her many intense interests. Squarepeg i...2025-03-081h 07
The Squarepeg Podcast125. Autism is the easiest piece: starting over after years of misdiagnosesMalori talks about her experience of spending seven years being given various misdiagnoses and being medicated and treated for conditions that she didn't have. Now, with the knowledge that she is autistic, Malori reflects back on her journey through the mental health system, what she's learned, and what's changed for the better since she first sought help for the difficulties that she was experiencing back in 2015. Content warning: in this episode, Malori shares some of her experience of getting treatment for an eating disorder. Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late...2025-02-221h 13
Mighty Blue On The Appalachian Trail: The Ultimate Mid-Life CrisisEpisode #472 - David Alan Lane (Squarepeg)We meet David Alan Lane, aka Squarepeg, today. David has been sharing his trail experience extensively over the past few years on Facebook. He helps with all sorts of advice, including gear and what to eat out on trail. It’s a cherished resource for hikers. Now, David has put together another Facebook page that is ambitious in its scope. He has formed Slackpack the Appalachian Trail with Squarepeg, and will shortly be heading north on a big slackpack that will have members drop in and drop out along the way. St...2025-02-201h 18
Rec Tech: the Recruiting Technology PodcastParadox Acquires, Deel, Squarepeg Get FundingSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Paradox, the conversational AI platform helping global employers like Chipotle, 7-Eleven, General Motors, Nestlè, and nearly 1,000 clients automate recruiting and hiring work, announced today the acquisition of people analytics platform Eqtble. https://hrtechfeed.com/paradox-acquires-people-analytics-platform-eqtble/ CareerArc announced the launch of HireSocial, a reimagined social recruiting platform.HireSocial replaces CareerArc Social Recruiting, offering two tailored subscriptions: HireSocial Enterprise and HireSocial Growth. https://hrtechfeed.com/careerarc-unveils-new-social-recruiting-platform/ Leading payroll and HR company Deel today announced that new anchor investors, including General Catalyst and a sovereign investor, have purchased close to $300 million in Dee...2025-02-0507 min
The Tuesday Review#227 RIP Greg (Feat. Jack Squarepeg)This week we talk to Jack "Squarepeg" O'Brien about being a professional dungeon master, memorable campaigns, horror, our favourite films, the trouble with being a movie critic, and much more!
You can find Jack here -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JacksquarepegDungeon Master For Hire: https://www.dungeonmasterforhire.com.au/Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/jacksquarepeg
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, Newsmast, Bluesky & YouTube: @tuesdayreviewau
Rate, review and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
Letterboxd:nathanb_90callumtuesdaychanneldrifteralam202024-11-061h 57
The Squarepeg Podcast121 [Re-release] Grief and validation: repairing the damage of autistic masking and finding a sense of selfI first released this episode in the summer of 2022, at the end of Season 6. And this week I’ve released a brand new episode with Aisha, as part of a short series of revisits, where I reconnect with some of my guests from previous conversations. So here’s Aisha’s original episode, for those of you new to the podcast, or in case you’d like to refresh your memory before listening to the new episode (that’s episode 122). Aisha Edwards is a somatic trauma therapist, podcaster and writer from Vancouver, Washington, USA, and was diagnosed autistic last year...2024-08-311h 04
The Squarepeg Podcast120 [Bonus Episode] A magic key? Deeper learnings 4 years on from a late autism diagnosisI recorded this special episode with former Squarepeg guest Sophie Longley. I last spoke with Sophie at the end of 2020, when she was working as an English teacher in Singapore and was about to start her Masters in Experimental psychology at the University of Sussex. (If you’d like to go back and listen to her original episode again to refresh your memory, that’s episode 15 - Season 2, Episode 3). Since graduating, Sophie has done a lot of things, trying out different career paths while processing her 2020 autism diagnosis in a deeper way. Some of her work is in ac...2024-08-1058 min
The Squarepeg Podcast119 [Re-release] Autism and work culture: masking, socialising and finding the right workThis episode was recorded in the autumn of 2020 and originally released as part of the second season of Squarepeg. I was delighted to get to speak to Sophie again recently, in 2024, and that new episode is now available for you to listen to. So I’m re-releasing my original conversation with Sophie here, so that anyone who wants to can refresh their memory before listening to my update with Sophie, episode 120. Sophie Longley is an English teacher and reading specialist. She was diagnosed autistic in 2020, aged 28 and is based in Singapore, where she works with children with re...2024-08-1045 min
The Squarepeg Podcast118. Bonus: Building a happy and authentic autistic lifeIn this bonus episode I share more about my own autism journey, and talk about my career-ending burnout and creating authentically autistic lives we don't want to escape from. Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. I...2024-05-0417 min
The Squarepeg Podcast110 [S9 E5] ‘My autism journey came out of my trans experience’: Navigating gender and autistic identitiesVic Weiner is a youth justice attorney and lifelong social justice activist in the USA. They were brought up by a college professor mother in an unconventional home without a TV, and as a child they always felt like an outsider. However, as they grew up and continued to struggle socially, they realised it wasn’t just their unusual upbringing - there was something else going on. They were diagnosed autistic at 34. Vic attended Warren Wilson College, a unique university where the students work and undertake community service in addition to their studies. After struggling to...2024-01-201h 03
The Squarepeg Podcast108 [S9 E3] Told I couldn’t be autistic: BPD misdiagnosis, mental health negligence and finally getting justiceNaomi Ghafoor is a mental health activist who has spent over a decade battling the mental healthcare system and dealing with misdiagnoses, negligence and systemic abuse, which recently led to her suing her NHS mental health trust earlier this year. Now 26, she works as a Lived Experience Leadership Officer for a mental health charity in London, UK and is passionate about sharing her experiences and using her voice to uplift and empower others. She was diagnosed autistic at 24. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Being misdiagnosed with BPD and told she couldn't be aut...2024-01-061h 03
The Squarepeg Podcast107 [S9 E2] Autism deep-dive: examining the literature and ourselves, and reflections on burnoutDr Alexandra Johnston is an academic and social anthropologist from Melbourne, Australia. Now 49, she was diagnosed in March 2023. She lives with her wife, Cherie, who she describes as the first person she ever truly unmasked with. She has several degrees, including a Masters and PhD in Psychology, and her special interests include writing, writing and… writing! So much so, that she self-diagnosed by conducting a literature review of autism, and writing a 45,000 word report on her findings. I found Alexandra really interesting to talk to. I hope that you enjoy this epis...2023-12-301h 01
The Squarepeg Podcast106 [S9 E1] ND-affirming therapy: sensory regulation, integrating identity and understanding diffuse experiencesDr Megan Anna Neff is a neurodivergent Clinical Psychologist from Portland, Oregon, in the USA. She has a small private practice specialising in neurodivergent-affirming therapy and is the founder of Neurodivergent Insights, where she creates education and wellness resources for neurodivergent adults. She is also co-host of the Divergent Conversations podcast. Dr Neff is dedicated to educating the mental health field on non-stereotypical presentations of autism and ADHD. Now 39, she was diagnosed autistic over two years ago, and also has ADHD. She is also a parent to two neurodivergent children. She regularly provides trainings on n...2023-12-231h 09
The High Flyers Podcast with Vidit Agarwal#144 Piruze Sabuncu: Stripe's first hire in South East Asia, turkish influences, partner at SquarePeg!Piruze Sabuncu is a Partner at the Venture Capital firm Squarepeg. She was born in Turkey and currently lives in Singapore. Piruze built and scaled the startup that's now a global juggernaut, Stripe -- in Southeast Asia as employee #1 in the region, following a stint as a founder and working at companies including Dell and Mckinsey.***Episode guiding points: Learn about Piruze’s sunrise in Turkey, the influences of her big family and the beauty of Turkish culture including reflections on stories from her childhood walking her own path and questioning the status quo...2023-09-211h 10
The Squarepeg PodcastBonus: Eating disorder recovery, autistic self discovery and releasing ourselves from labels that limit usLivia Sara is an eating disorder survivor, mental health coach, autism advocate and author from the Netherlands. Diagnosed autistic at 20, she now helps other neurodivergent people recover from disordered eating through learning to embrace their unique traits. She takes a holistic approach to health and healing, supporting each individual on their own journey to recovery and living life to their fullest potential. She shares autism and eating disorder related content on her popular YouTube and Instagram accounts, hosts her own podcast, the Liv Label Free podcast, and is publishing three books in 2023 - on...2023-06-2459 min
The Squarepeg Podcast104. S8 E12: Permission slip: embracing an authentically autistic life with no blueprintGem Kennedy is a Coach and podcaster from Essex in the UK. They are non-binary and queer, and self identified as autistic and ADHD last year, at 35. They are a Transformational Coach, facilitator and advocate, supporting neurodivergent and queer folk, present a podcast called Queers & Co., and are also co-parent to two home educated autistic children. They are passionate about body liberation, queering things, spirituality, children's rights and playing the ukulele! We covered a lot in this conversation! But a few of the things we talk about are: ➡ Gem’s early experi...2023-06-171h 04
The Squarepeg Podcast103. S8 E11: From feeling 'deficient' to self acceptance, research and advocating for autistic colleaguesKirstie Pickles is an equine vet, academic, mum and mental health advocate from Derbyshire in the UK. Now 49, she was diagnosed autistic at 47, following her daughter’s diagnosis. She is passionate about sharing her story and raising the awareness of neurodiversity to allow for better self-advocacy and reduce the stigma associated with autism, and is currently researching autism within her profession, and is involved in an autism awareness training programme for medical professionals as an expert by experience. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Her lifelong special interest and determination to become a vet...2023-06-1058 min
The Squarepeg Podcast102. S8 E10: From ABA to understanding an autism diagnosis as a unique pathway to a fulfilling lifeMaisie Soetantyo is the founder of a nonprofit with a mission to improve employment prospects for autistic jobseekers and aspiring business owners. Now an openly autistic advocate and inclusivity trainer, she has been working with neurodivergent people since her undergraduate studies in 1991, but it would be many years before some of her clients started suggesting that she might be autistic, too. A former Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) practitioner, she moved away from ABA after realising that supporting her client's authenticity as autistic individuals should be the goal. She set up Autism Career Pathways in San...2023-06-0358 min
The Squarepeg Podcast101. S8 E9: From psychiatric trauma to autistic joy: a journey of healing and self discoveryLaura Richmond is a writer and researcher from Southampton in the UK. Now 35, she was diagnosed autistic last year. She had an extremely difficult road to diagnosis. Social and emotional struggles in childhood led to her being in and out of the psychiatric system for 15 years, misdiagnosed and spending time in various psychiatric hospitals. The turning point came when her son was born: after a traumatic birth she developed PTSD and spent time in a psychiatric mother and baby unit. Her positive experience there, so unlike her previous time in hospital, led her to begin w...2023-05-271h 05
The Squarepeg Podcast100. S8 E8: A sense of purpose: finding our own path and place in the world as autistic adultsRosie Smith is the owner of a non-profit radical bookshop in Canton in Cardiff, just a couple of miles from where I live. Now 32, she grew up just outside Cardiff with her mum and sister. Leaving school at 16 due to anxiety, eating disorders and mental health issues, she found her people in music, joining bands and doing various different jobs until she decided to open the bookshop in 2019, after quitting her 27th job. Rosie’s wonderful shop, Shelf Life, works with independent publishers to stock a range of fiction and nonfiction books centering neurodiversity, disability and...2023-05-2057 min
The Squarepeg Podcast99. S8 E7: Finding freedom after autism diagnosis and embodying the spirit of our unmasked selvesKay Louise Aldred is a writer, facilitator, teacher, mentor, and resource creator from North Yorkshire in the UK. Now 49, she was diagnosed autistic quite recently, last November. A former teacher, just like me she suffered burnout, left her career and became self employed before discovering her autism. Now she and her husband are co-authoring a book, Embodied Education: Creating Safe Space for Learning, Facilitating and Sharing, which will be available late autumn 2023. She has worked with children and adults in educational, retreat and wellness settings throughout her career, has taught 11-18 year old neurodiverse students...2023-05-1355 min
The Squarepeg Podcast98. S8 E6: The fight for equity in education and work: an inspiring story of autistic self advocacyRosie Weldon is a Senior Financial Analyst and author whose memoir, ‘My Autistic Fight Song’, tells the story of how she fought to get her accountancy degree and find her place in the world of work, despite her struggles with mental and physical health and the challenges that come with being autistic. Now 31, she was diagnosed aged 25. Since graduating from Chester University - where she received some incredibly supportive accommodations - she became an account, finding her first job with Bank of America. But she found herself having to make the decision to leave after developing a neur...2023-05-061h 02
The Squarepeg Podcast97. S8 E5: Finding logic in chaos, burnout, and reconnecting with our internal compass and autistic joyMartine van Bijlert is a writer and researcher from the Netherlands. Now 52, she grew up in Iran and worked in places like Kabul, Grozny and Tehran as an aid worker, diplomat and researcher. She now divides her time between her own creative projects and her work for the Afghanistan Analysts Network, a Kabul-based think tank she founded with friends. She is self-identified autistic and ADHD, and says she feels like she has always been surrounded by neurodivergent people, as a child, during her studies and in her work abroad, and perhaps because of that she thought things w...2023-04-291h 01
The Squarepeg Podcast96. S8 E4: Safety, community and representation for Black and minority ethnic / global majority autistic peopleNaomi Clarke is a freelance writer, community mentor, fundraiser and Human Design reader. She self diagnosed as autistic around two years ago, but due to inequality in the medical system has so far not been able to get a formal diagnosis. She describes herself as an autistic, queer, mixed race person with two children (one of her sons was diagnosed autistic 5 years ago). She wears a lot of hats in her life; she writes for work and for personal interest, and is passionate about building lives outside of the system of mainstream schooling. Un...2023-04-221h 00
The Squarepeg Podcast95. S8 E3: Shelving the quest for normal: reframing, regulating, and removing the stigma from autismEbonie Allard is an award-winning International Master Coach, an author, and an artist. Now in her early 40s, she was mostly raised in the UK, but before she was seven years old she had lived in a house truck, on a commune, in France, New Zealand, Ireland, and England. She now lives in Spain. She says that she has never had a 'proper job' - she’s been self-employed, a freelancer, a business owner and an entrepreneur all her life. Ebonie was diagnosed autistic fairly recently, but has always drawn neurodivergent people to her, and he...2023-04-151h 04
The Squarepeg Podcast94. S8 E2: The sensory and social challenges of fitting into a new culture as an autistic adultKarawynn Long is an American writer and proofreader living in Mexico. Now 52, she had what she describes as her ‘Autism epiphany’ just over three years ago, a few months before her fiftieth birthday. She is self identified as autistic, partly due to formal assessments not being available in the Mexican system, and difficult and expensive to obtain in the American one. Karawynn moved to Mexico almost 10 years ago for economic reasons, and unlike many autistic people who find living in other cultures freeing and less fraught with social expectations, she has found many aspects of life...2023-04-081h 09
The Squarepeg Podcast93. S8 E1: Sport and fitness the autistic way: from not fitting in to feeling like a superheroMandy Williams is a Volunteer Coordinator with Scottish Women’s Autism and a competitive athlete. Originally from Manchester in the UK, she now lives in Stirling in Scotland. She was diagnosed autistic two years ago, aged 45. She is passionate about exercise, and her enthusiasm for this special interest shines out. She has achieved a bronze medal in mountain running, and recently qualified for the World Championship Hyrox event, a global fitness race. I’m delighted to share my conversation with. I loved this conversation so much - Mandy has such good energy and she was a jo...2023-04-011h 07
The High Flyers Podcast with Vidit Agarwal#121 Mayuresh Patole: Breaking news! Announcing Squarepeg's investment in Chronicle, helping unleash your inner storyteller, guest hosted by James TynanGlobal tech investor Squarepeg announces investment in Chronicle. Hear from James Tynan and Mayuresh Patole! In this special episode #121, learn about:▪️ 02:09 - James’ memories of first meeting with Mayuresh @ Chronicle▪️04:04 - Mayuresh’ memories of early interactions with Squarepeg ▪️06:15 - Where was Mayuresh born and lives now?▪️07:20 - Most profound experience in childhood▪️10:38 - Ultra HD vision only at age 12▪️13:07 - Parents influences and high performance▪️16:00 - Living up to family expectations▪️17:56 - The global significance of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)▪️20:13 - 800 students from...2023-02-2157 min
The Squarepeg Podcast91. S7, Ep11: Relaxing into the truth of who we are as late diagnosed autistic adultsAngela Lauria is a CEO and author from Washington DC, USA. Now 49, she was diagnosed autistic 10 years ago, and initially underwent a form of the controversial ABA therapy in an effort to ‘fix’ the things about her that she had always felt were wrong. One burnout, some autism-positive therapy and ten years of processing later, she was able to fully accept and embrace her own autistic identity, and wider autistic culture. Realising she didn’t fit into traditional workplaces, Angela started her own publishing company, providing consulting, editing, design, and book launch marketing for authors who have a messa...2022-12-0357 min
The Squarepeg Podcast90. S7, Ep10: Burnouts, breakdowns and anxiety: a journey towards more supportive and sustainable workDéa Neile-Hopton is a basketmaker and artist. She is of mixed Jamaican and English heritage and grew up in the 1970s and 80s in York, England. Now 47, she lives in Whitland in Wales, with her partner and three neurodivergent children. She is self diagnosed autistic and was diagnosed ADHD in 2021. She has a passion for arts and crafts, and for teaching circus skills, but has struggled to find a place in the world of work, finding job seeking and workplaces traumatic and experiencing repeated breakdowns, depression and lack of confidence around work, leading to her surviving o...2022-11-261h 01
The Squarepeg Podcast89. S7, Ep9: ‘Outsider’ identities: the intertwining of gender, sexuality and autismKelly McCartney is a music journalist from Rhode Island, USA. She is 52 and self-diagnosed as autistic in April of 2022. She has turned a life-long special interest in music into an incredibly varied, 30-year career in almost every area of the music industry, including interning at Entertainment Tonight, working as personal assistant to various well known musicians, project managing independent artists, and hosting music podcasts and radio shows, including Record Bin Radio on Apple Music. In 2018, she co-founded the Rainey Day Fund, which provides assistance to BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled and other marginalised artists who add to...2022-11-191h 04
The Squarepeg Podcast88. S7, Ep8: Making art out of darkness: self acceptance, resilience and radical unmasking as an autistic counsellorAudrey Mitchell is a counsellor with a private practise in Idaho, USA. She was diagnosed autistic in 2020, around the same time as her teenage daughter, and the last two years have been a time of processing and learning to accept herself as she is, and unmask in both her personal and professional lives. I first interviewed her two years ago, for the very first season of SquarePeg. Since that interview was recorded she has finished writing her first, soon-to-be-published memoir, Polishing Marbles, a book intended, in her words, for ‘all the generations of women who ever asked, “What...2022-11-121h 03
The Squarepeg Podcast87. S7, Ep7: Autism in mental health services: the experience of a late diagnosed autistic mental health nurseJacqui O’Riordan is an Advanced Nurse Practitioner from Harrogate, North Yorkshire in the UK. She has worked as a mental health nurse for almost 20 years, including working in a secure unit with chronically ill patients. She has worked in crisis assessment with Accident and Emergency and the Police since 2008. Now 49, Jacqui was diagnosed as autistic and ADHD a year ago, and her two children are also autistic. Since learning more about autism, she has begun to question the lack of proper training in neurodiversity that mental health professionals in the UK are currently given. She...2022-11-051h 00
The Squarepeg Podcast86. S7, Ep6: Narrative therapy: reflections on an autistic experience of mental health inpatient servicesAlexis Quinn is a mother, author, educator and former teacher who spent three and a half years in inpatient services following a mental health breakdown in her mid twenties. 14 months into this period, aged 27, she was diagnosed autistic by chance, when an Autism Psychiatric Specialist happened to witness one of her meltdowns. I first discovered Alexis on Twitter, and I was compelled to read her first devastating but incredible first book, Unbroken, which tells the story of her breakdown, her years trapped in the mental health system, and her courageous break for freedom. Now 38, she l...2022-10-2957 min
The Squarepeg Podcast85. S7, Ep5: Autistic motherhood: working through the overwhelm of birth and parentingSanna Östergren is a writer and literary translator from Sweden. She lives in the countryside with her husband and their two-year-old son, where she also runs a small independent publishing company. She realised she was autistic about a year ago, when the overwhelm of new motherhood started turning her life-long shutdowns into meltdowns, and she was diagnosed in April this year, aged 32. When we recorded this episode she was on a break from work, to allow her to focus on parenting, gardening and preparing for the imminent birth of her second child. In our...2022-10-2251 min
The Squarepeg Podcast84. S7, Ep4: Direct communication: navigating social and personal relationships as a highly sensitive autistic womanJanet Murray is a content strategist who lives near London in the UK. She was recently diagnosed autistic, after first getting a diagnosis of ADHD in 2020. A former journalist and PR coach, Janet has written for many national publications, is the host of the Courageous Content podcast and founder of the Courageous Content Live Event - an annual content marketing event for creative businesses/brands - and is also a keynote speaker who has spoken on big stages all over the world. She says that she has a strong desire for order and routine, but is...2022-10-151h 03
The Squarepeg Podcast83. S7, Ep3: Psychology as a special interest: relationships, research and educational equityJanelle Johnson is an Inclusion Strategist, therapist and researcher from North Carolina, USA. She is self diagnosed and her son is also autistic. She has recently taken a step back from practising as a therapist to focus on her research as a PhD student and graduate research assistant at North Carolina State University’s College of Education. Her work explores development for students with invisible disabilities, the intersection of mental health and other marginalised identities, and systemic change in education. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Being socially awkward, solitary and living in her o...2022-10-0851 min
The Squarepeg Podcast82. S7, Ep2: God as a special interest: deconstructing religious identity as a newly identified autisticD.L. Mayfield is a freelance writer from Portland, USA. She has written for Christian publications in the US for over 10 years, and is the author of several books, the latest of which, Unruly Saint, explores the life and work of the late American journalist, social activist and anarchist Catholic Dorothy Day. D.L. herself grew up highly religious in an evangelical family in the US. Now in her late 30s, she is currently in the process of being assessed for autism, after she reached out to an autistic therapist in order to better parent her autistic...2022-10-011h 03
The Squarepeg Podcast81. S7, Ep1: The challenge of creating the life you want when you diverge from the neurotypical ‘norm’Dr Kate Tomas is a Spiritual Mentor who lives in mid Wales in the UK. Kate developed powerful psychic abilities from an early age, and by 22 had built a thriving international practice as a witch, healer and psychic for individuals, multinational brands, governments and CEOs. She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Theology from the University of Oxford, and is a world expert in Mysticism and Catholic women mystics. In 2018 she started a program called The Spiritual Life Upgrade to give women and non-binary people access to the core teachings of her spiritual tradition. First...2022-09-2459 min
The Squarepeg PodcastBonus: Grief and validation: repairing the damage of autistic masking and finding a sense of selfAisha Edwards is a somatic trauma therapist, podcaster and writer from Vancouver, Washington, USA, and was diagnosed autistic last year, aged 39. Somatic trauma therapy is a body-centred approach to treating post-traumatic stress disorder that rather than focusing only on thoughts or emotions associated with a traumatic event, expands to include the natural bodily responses. I’m delighted to bring you this special bonus episode of the Squarepeg Podcast. This was recorded as a collaboration with the Emergent Liberation Collective podcast, a podcast about somatics and spirituality as instruments for personal healing and collective transformation. ...2022-08-131h 03
Emergent Liberation CollectiveS3 E3: A Spectrum of Rupture and RepairIn this special episode, ELC partners with the SquarePeg Podcast, hosted by Amy Richards. Square Peg gives autistic adults the opportunity to hear the lives and stories of other autistic adults. In her conversations, she explores life, love, work, health and relationships with later in life diagnosed folks identifying as femme, trans or nonbinary. Aisha and Amy explore Aisha’s own story of being diagnosed autistic and exploring how this has shaped xer own experiences of rupture and repair. TOPICS: Aisha talks about the process of xer diagnostic experience The moving of...2022-08-0655 min
The Squarepeg Podcast79. S6, Ep12: Safety, success and shaping neurodivergent stories: reflections on intersectional autismDiane J Wright is an autistic advocate and the founder of Autastic, an online community that aims to help late diagnosed autistic adults, particularly those from minority communities, and is the only resource of its size founded by a woman of colour. Diane was diagnosed autistic in her early 40s. Her career has been in the entertainment industry, and she now provides diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility consultation to film and television producers and writers, focusing on neurodivergence and communities of colour, drawing on her lived experience as an Afro-Caribbean, biracial, invisibly disabled Canadian-American. In o...2022-07-301h 07
The Squarepeg Podcast77. S6, Ep10: Burnout, survival and feeling stuck: the intersection of autism, privilege and povertyAlma is an unemployed forager, food designer, artist, craftswoman and permaculture gardener from the Netherlands. She was diagnosed autistic in 2019 after self identifying the year before; she has also since been diagnosed with ADHD. When her then undiagnosed autistic and ADHD traits meant that she wasn’t able to finish her degree, she was offered a management position at the student café she had worked at while at university, staying there until she suffered a burnout in 2016 and found herself unable to work. Her life since then has been about survival, and she wanted to com...2022-07-161h 03
The Squarepeg Podcast76. S6, Ep9: Autism, psychotherapy and trauma: why many autistic people need a different approach.Cloie Parfitt is a psychotherapist, originally from Tennessee in the United States, now living in Norwich in the UK. A former nurse, she switched to psychotherapy when she realised that she found the hospital environment and long shifts too much of a sensory challenge. She now works with many neurodivergent clients, and is currently undertaking a professional doctorate in counselling and psychotherapy at the University of Edinburgh, where she works collaboratively with autistic women to explore their experience of psychological trauma and trauma therapy. In our conversation we talk about ➡ Her experiences of socia...2022-07-0955 min
The Squarepeg Podcast75. S6, Ep8: Unlearning the script: coming to terms with a late autism diagnosis and finding a voice in the communityNadia Dillon is a software engineer and entrepreneur from London in the UK. Diagnosed autistic at 27, after experiencing a burnout, she is now 30, and her brilliantly insightful - and beautiful - Instagram account about her post-diagnosis journey has grown to over 25K followers (you may know her by her Instagram handle, @autisticblackgirl). She started her Instagram as an outlet to express her frustrations with navigating a neurotypical world, and she is also keen to highlight the particular experiences of Black autistic people. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Burnout, sensory overload and eye con...2022-07-0252 min
The Squarepeg Podcast74. S6, Ep7: Finding the right fit: autism, health and Rejection Sensitive DysphoriaElizabeth Williams is an acupuncturist from South Carolina, USA. She is 43 and was diagnosed autistic just a few months ago, in February this year. Like me, she started out her career as a teacher, before switching to acupuncture, which she says is a much better fit for her. Since her career change she has been on a journey of self discovery, exploring everything she could find about personality theories and physical and mental health. But she says that it wasn’t until she figured out she’s autistic that all the pieces fell in to place. In...2022-06-2553 min
The Squarepeg Podcast73. S6, Ep6: Building a more authentic autistic life and relationships, and managing health and energy.Solgunn is a life coach from Oslo in Norway. She is 45 and was diagnosed autistic very recently, in April, following her husband's diagnosis last year. She has spent most of her working life in IT, web design, project management and consultancy, but after an unusual adverse reaction to medical treatment, which she believes is linked to her autistic physiology, she found herself suffering from ME and unable to work. She now works part time as a coach, doing as much as her energy levels allow. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Th...2022-06-1854 min
The High Flyers Podcast with Vidit AgarwalJames Tynan: Energy management post auto immune illnesses, scaling Khan Academy to the world's biggest EdTech, Venture capital unknowns & climate tech thesisThank you for rating / reviewing this podcast on iTunes and Spotify, it helps others find us and convince guests to come on the show! Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn or TwitterEmail Vidit directly at vidit@curiositycenter.xyz or contact us via www.curiositycenter.xyz to discuss sponsorship opportunities, recommend future guests and share how we can improve. ***Welcome to episode #88 w James Tynan! Here are 5 key takeaways you will learn from this episode:1. Growing up in an ambitious household, being very driven from day 12. Why James felt th...2022-06-141h 00
The Squarepeg Podcast72. S6, Ep5: Autism, energy and the body: somatic healing for autistic traumaDr Vanissar Tarakali is a Somatic and Intuitive Trauma Coach from British Columbia in Canada. She was diagnosed in 2017, when she was in her mid 50s. She describes herself as ‘a queer autistic mystic misfit’, and says she loves to work with people who embody contradictions of identity and community. She has a Ph.D. in Psychology, and she offers coaching to transform trauma and sustain social change, integrating somatics, energy medicine, bodywork, neurodivergent wisdom, social justice practice and restorative yoga to heal personal, ancestral and oppression trauma. In our conversation we talk about: ➡...2022-06-1155 min
The Squarepeg Podcast71. S6, Ep4: Resculpting our lives post-diagnosis: autism, art and connecting with ourselves and each otherHeather Peak is an artist who lives near Hay on Wye in the UK. She came from a working class background, and was discouraged from making a career as an artist, but decided to go to art school in Brighton where she found a place she finally felt she fit. Now 48, she has established an art practice over the past two decades that combines art, architecture, theatre and social practice. She is co-director of Studio Morison along with Ivan Morison, creating work that is focused on human spaces and the communities that occupy them, and t...2022-06-041h 01
The Squarepeg Podcast70. S6, Ep3: Not autistic enough: disability discrimination and intersectionalityAishah-Nyeta is an advocate for climate, race, and disability justice from Virginia in the USA. She says she grew up feeling ‘stupid’ and different from her peers due to her dyscalculia and the social challenges of her undiagnosed autism. Now 25, she was diagnosed autistic in 2020, when she began using her Instagram account to educate her friends and community – and the wider world – about autism and her particular experience as a Black autistic woman. She recently graduated with a BA in Climate Change and Society, and hopes to bring awareness and innovation to the environmental challenges and injustices of the wo...2022-05-2856 min
The Squarepeg Podcast69. S6, Ep2: Finding the right adventure: autism, resilience, sport and supportAllie Mason is a talent coordinator and author from Cheltenham in the UK. She has a keen interest in sports – especially solo sports – and her children’s non-fiction debut, The Autistic Guide to Adventure, is due to be published in 2023. Allie is 25 and was diagnosed autistic in 2020, whilst studying for her MA. She is currently training to rollerskate the Berlin Marathon to raise money for the charity Ambitious About Autism. In our conversation Allie and I talked about: ➡ How we shared our autism diagnoses with friends and family ➡ Why autistic people often strug...2022-05-2157 min
The Squarepeg Podcast68. S6, Ep1: Writing it out: autism and shame, memory, sexuality and self expressionAmy Lee Lillard is co-host of a feminist book podcast, and also an author; her first book, Dig Me Out, a collection of short stories, was published in 2021. Now 44, she lives in Des Moines, Iowa in the USA and was diagnosed autistic just last year. She wrote her book before she was aware of her autism, and found afterwards that she had essentially written a collection of autistic characters, without intending to. She says: “I write about the intersections of gender, sexuality and the patriarchy, and how it makes rage the only logical option. Once I u...2022-05-141h 01
The Squarepeg Podcast67. S5, Ep12: The vibrant neurodiversity movement: marginalisation, diversity and equity in the autistic communityRhonda Moore is a medical anthropologist in her early 50s. After self diagnosing as autistic in 2019, she was formally diagnosed the following year. She spent her childhood in Chicago, USA, and now lives in Bethesda, Maryland, where she is Program Director in Global Mental Health at NIH (the National Institutes of Health, the main US government agency responsible for public health research). She has a PhD in Cultural Anthropology from Stanford University and postdoctoral fellowships from Stanford Medical School and the University of Texas, and has published four books, with a fifth – about mental health equ...2022-03-2654 min
The Squarepeg Podcast65. S5, Ep10: Equity for autistic people in recruitment and the workplace - and hearing the voices of all autistic peopleNesceda Blake is a performing arts producer and creative energiser from Melbourne, Australia. In a bit of a departure from my usual guests, she was diagnosed very early, at just three years old. I found her insights as an early diagnosed woman fascinating - and I was struck by how familiar and relatable her experiences still were. We met on LinkedIn, after I came across a post about her experiences with recruiters which had gone viral. After leaving a job with an autism organisation, she had started looking for a new role, and quickly found herself clashing...2022-03-1259 min
The Squarepeg Podcast63. S5, Ep8: Intersecting identities, neurodivergent families, and inclusion, leadership and representation at workKira Young is a Native American poet, philosopher, activist and singer from Virginia, USA. She is 52 and was formally diagnosed very recently, after self diagnosing last year. She has held various different roles, both in corporations and the US Government, but her direct communication style and personal and professional integrity have often led to clashes with authority. She is now in the process of transitioning to making a living from her many passions. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Meltdowns and masking ➡ Neurodiverse families and relationships ➡ Autism, gender and the Na...2022-02-2655 min
The Squarepeg Podcast62. S5, Ep7: Autism assessment and diagnosis, and ungendering the diagnostic processVictoria is an autistic blogger and PhD student from Manchester in the UK. Diagnosed autistic aged 25, she started an Instagram account and blog called ‘Actually Aspling’ the same year, in 2017. Victoria also has dyslexia, dyspraxia, epilepsy and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. She has an MSc in Psychology and is currently a PhD student in autism research. In our conversation we talked about: ➡ Masking, mirroring and empathy ➡ Friendships and bullying ➡ Getting accommodations as a uni student ➡ Autism assessment and diagnosis, and ungendering the diagnostic criteria ➡ Whether autism is a disability or a superpower Squarepe...2022-02-1953 min
The Squarepeg Podcast60. S5, Ep5: Autism and the intersection of culture, race and genderSuzanna Chen was born in China and raised in Vancouver, Canada from the age of 9. She was diagnosed autistic in her final year of high school. She is now 18 and an undergraduate student at University College London in the UK. Standing at the intersection of gender, racial, and ability minorities, she is passionate about advocating for the overlooked intersectionality of social justice issues. She writes for popular student magazine The Tab, and is a staff writer at the youth-led advocacy publication Detester Magazine, a non-profit platform dedicated to amplifying Black, Indigenous, and People of Color youth activism o...2022-02-0541 min
The Squarepeg Podcast58. S5, Ep3: Women’s health, intergenerational autism and giving language to the autistic experienceLucy Pearce is an author, artist and publisher from East Cork in Ireland. She is 41, and when she was 37 she, her mother and her daughter were all diagnosed autistic within 6 months of each other. Lucy is the author of ten non-fiction books for women, focusing on women’s healing, and founded her own publishing company in 2014 to offer support to new women authors whose books are often ignored by the mainstream publishing industry. Not knowing at the time that she was autistic, she has since realised that she and her books attract a neurodivergent audience. We...2022-01-221h 03
The Squarepeg Podcast57. S5, Ep2: Dancing with differences: autism and disability empowermentAmanda Harrinauth is a disability empowerment coach and poet from California, USA. She was born premature, weighing just 1 pound 7ounces. She had hydrocephalus and other health problems, and her parents were told she was unlikely to survive beyond a few days, and that if she did, she would need to be institutionalised. But against all the odds she survived - and her parents made the decision to raise her at home. She is now 32. She spent her childhood in and out of hospitals, suffered seizures and is now vision impaired as a result of Retinopathy of Immaturity...2022-01-1558 min
The Squarepeg PodcastS4, Ep12: The PDA profile, social justice and being an openly autistic CEO - with Helen EvansHelen Evans is Chief Executive of the PDA Society. She was diagnosed autistic aged 39 in October 2020, two years after her son, who has a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile. She grew up in South London, and now lives in Oxfordshire. From 2012 to 2015 Helen was Global Head of Safeguarding at Oxfam, and tried to get the organisation to tackle issues of systemic sexual abuse perpetrated by Oxfam workers. After speaking publicly about the issue and giving evidence to MPs and the Charity Commission, she was awarded Whistleblower of the Year in 2019. Since leaving Oxfam in 2015 she has been C...2021-11-1350 min
Neurodivergence and Mental Health Podcast5. S1, Ep5. Amy Richards talks autism, teaching, burnout and the Squarepeg PodcastFor anyone who wants to learn more about autism, Amy Richards shares her captivating journey from undiagnosed autistic high school teacher to becoming self employed and publishing 53 podcast episodes for our wonderful Autistic Community.
From being the good, quiet girl at school Amy ended up using alcohol as a coping strategy through university. A teaching career led to repeated burnouts, until Amy forged a new successful career working for herself in the world of coaching, web design and marketing.
Be inspired and educated as you hear how this dedicated advocate learned how to survive and t...2021-11-0454 min
The Squarepeg Podcast52. S4, Ep9: Dropping the mask and finding your core self after autism diagnosisAnn Mølgaard is a teacher at a sixth form college in Copenhagen in Denmark. She is 34 and was diagnosed autistic and ADHD in May this year, after being told that her initial referral had been declined because she was “too high functioning”. Since her diagnosis, she has chosen to be open about her neurodivergence with her colleagues and students. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Getting a diagnosis in Denmark ➡ Childhood bullying and feeling left out at school ➡ Losing herself through a lifetime of masking, and the ongoing process of...2021-10-2357 min
The Squarepeg Podcast51. S4, Ep8: Diagnosis difficulties, toxic workplaces and discovering joyful and purposeful workSuzi Payton is a life coach, stand-up comedian, comedy improvisation teacher and autism trainer from Brighton in the UK. She is 46 and has been diagnosed with ‘clinically significant autistic traits’, but believes that her lifelong masking has prevented her from receiving a full diagnosis. She does have a diagnosis of inattentive ADHD. When her 17-year teaching career ended after she experienced workplace bullying and gaslighting she became self employed, and she now coaches other neurodivergent adults and delivers autism training to organisations. She is passionate about supporting other autistic people to identify and celebrate their streng...2021-10-1649 min
The Squarepeg Podcast50. S4, Ep7: Autism, feminism and sexuality: reflections on an undiagnosed lifeCarolyn Gage is a American playwright, performer, director, and activist. She was diagnosed autistic last year, at the age of 68. She is the author of twelve books and close to 90 lesbian and feminist themed plays, and her work is widely published and performed. Carolyn toured for 22 years in her internationally-acclaimed one-woman show, The Second Coming of Joan of Arc. She has won numerous awards, including the Lambda Literary Award in Drama for best LGBT books in the US. She was born in Virginia and currently lives on Mount Desert Island, off the coast of...2021-10-0958 min
The Squarepeg Podcast49. S4, Ep6: Out of place everywhere: communication, community and coming to terms with autismSophie Adamkiewicz was born in Poland, but was brought up in Germany after her mother emigrated there when the Berlin wall fell, and she says that she has felt like an outsider all her life. At the time of our rerecording she was living in Ireland, but was about to move to London. She is 37, and is currently self-diagnosed and on the waiting list for her autism and ADHD assessments. She has worked in freelance video and CGI production, as a producer at a Fortune 500 company and been Head of Studio. She is now a p...2021-10-0259 min
The Squarepeg Podcast48. S4, Ep5: Fatigue, hypnotherapy and getting in tune with your own energy as an autistic personKathy Carter is a writer and neurodiversity-affirming hypnotherapist. She was diagnosed autistic herself in 2017, after realising that her son was probably autistic. She in her 40s and lives in Kent in the UK. She works with neurodivergent, highly sensitive and anxious clients and her hypnotherapy is adapted to autistic needs. She has recently been appointed Neurodivergence Advisor to Therapy Today, the journal of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Their Advisory Board is a new initiative launching in September 2021 made up of a hand-picked range of counsellors and psychotherapists from marginalised groups across the black and...2021-09-2559 min
The Squarepeg Podcast46. S4, Ep3: Hormones, reproductive and mental health and stepping into our sensory selvesBecky Beasley is an award winning visual artist, receiving the highest UK award for Visual Arts in the country, a Paul Hamlyn Artists Award, in 2018, and also teaches Fine Art part time at Goldsmiths College. But alongside her career success she has battled with mental health and hormonal problems, prompting her to go on a research journey that ultimately lead to her autism diagnosis in February this year. Becky is in her mid 40s, lives and works in Hastings in the UK and describes herself as a women’s health gap warrior. In ou...2021-09-1157 min
The Squarepeg Podcast44. S4, Ep1: Holly Smale: Synaesthesia, hyperlexia and accidentally writing an autistic book-childHolly Smale is a multimillion-bestselling and award-winning author of young adult fiction, famous for her Geek Girl and The Valentines series of books. Geek Girl heroine Harriet Manners is a 15 year old, socially awkward girl, and Holly says that it was only after being diagnosed autistic herself at 39 that she realised that her character Harriet is also autistic - and that she had actually been writing about neurodivergence for a decade. Holly lives in Hove, in East Sussex in the UK. Holly and I talked about all sorts of things, including: ➡ Mel...2021-08-281h 00
Dirtwalker Outdoors PodcastTrail Talk with SquarepegIn this episode of Trail Talk, I talk with David Alan Lane, or Squarepeg by trail name, about his current SOBO thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. I chose Squarepeg because of his genuine love for the AT, as well as the people on it. At fifty one years of age, he is on his fourth thru hike of the AT and continues to return, not only for the magnificent views, but to share with the community of people.2021-08-0414 minThe Squarepeg Podcast41. S3, Ep10: Sustainable activism, autistic burnout and redefining successLuize is self diagnosed. She’s 26 and lives in Latvia, where an autism diagnosis is not available for adults. She briefly studied medicine at university, before switching to Sociology. She has spent time volunteering abroad with animal rights and environmental organisations, where for the first time she felt a sense of belonging, despite the challenges of living and working in a group situation in a different country. While abroad she gradually realised she is autistic. In my conversation with Luize we talk about ➡ Sensory issues at school and work ➡ Attitudes to autism in her cou...2021-06-261h 00
The Squarepeg Podcast38. S3, Ep7: Raising and educating an autistic child as an autistic single parentLottie Jones was diagnosed as a result of her son being identified as autistic PDA in 2018, when he was eight. She is a single parent in her late thirties, and lives in Pembrokeshire in Wales, where she home educates her son, makes macrame and sells vintage items. This conversation came out of a discussion we had on one of my Instagram posts about parenthood and autism, and the particular challenges of being an autistic single parent of an autistic child. In our conversation we talk about ➡ Her son’s difficulties at school, having to ad...2021-06-051h 06
The Squarepeg Podcast37. S3, Ep6: Synaesthesia, autism research and navigating employmentVictoria Evans is a linguist and liberal politician from London. She received her autism diagnosis shortly after graduating university and now regularly takes part in autism and synaesthesia research studies. Victoria believes that diversity of thought brings both social and economic benefits and wants to work to ensure that more autistic people have the opportunity to progress in work. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Her experience of being at university as an undiagnosed autistic woman ➡ Some of the research she’s taken part in ➡ Our experiences of synaesthesia (a real mo...2021-05-2957 min
The Squarepeg Podcast36. S3, Ep5: Making your own path: finding passion and purpose in work through special interestsCorinne Cariad is self diagnosed autistic and currently waiting for her assessment, but already has a diagnosis of ADHD. She’s 40 and lives in Pembrokeshire in Wales, where she is a consultant with a focus on third sector, food and education. Food has been a special interest for most of her life, and she’s worked in catering, run her own cookery workshops, and been a Food Technology teacher in high schools. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ The overlap of ADHD and autism ➡ Autistic burnout ➡ Her teen years, fitting in and findin...2021-05-2255 min
The Squarepeg PodcastS3, Ep4: ‘Coming out’ as autistic, coping with meltdowns and telling autistic stories through dramaSamantha Grierson Schwartz is a playwright and businesswoman, born in Yorkshire in the UK. She now splits her time between Glasgow, Rugby and London. Since being diagnosed autistic at 42, she has written a series of audio plays which deal with late autism diagnosis and motherhood - the first of which, Crocodile, stars LGBT icon Heather Peace, and tells the story of a bisexual woman dealing with her recent Autism and ADHD diagnosis and the start of a new relationship. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ ‘Coming out’ as autistic in adulthood, and when and ho...2021-05-1551 minThe Squarepeg Podcast34. S3, Ep3: Dealing with the sensory issues of childbirth and parenthood as an autistic motherSquarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. My guest today is in her mid twenties and is currently awaiting her autism assessment after seeking help with her mental health following childbirth and the sensory challenges of parenting a small baby. She lives in Baglan, Port Talbot in South Wales where she works in a secure children’s home for youth offenders and extremely vulnerable young people and is also studying for a psychology degree. Today I’...2021-05-0852 minThe Squarepeg Podcast33. S3, Ep2: Being an autistic extrovert, people watching and managing our energySquarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. My guest today was diagnosed autistic very recently. She is originally from the Czech Republic, and now lives in Bristol in the UK. She is a life coach in her 40s, with a background in mathematics and computer science, and describes herself as an extrovert whose special interest is people watching. Today I’m delighted to share my conversation with Vera. In our conversation we talk about: ...2021-05-0158 min
The Squarepeg Podcast32. S3, Ep1: Fern Brady: autistic meltdowns, understanding emotions and being the ‘black sheep’My guest today is Scottish comedian Fern Brady. Fern is in her 30s and was diagnosed autistic in January this year, after a series of meltdowns caused her to seek answers. She has been open about her diagnosis from the start, when a throwaway tweet about it went unexpectedly viral! Fern started out as a journalist before moving into stand-up comedy in 2010. As well as touring, she has appeared on shows such as Live at the Apollo and the BBC Radio 4 News Quiz, and her live show, Power and Chaos, is currently available on BBC iPlayer. She...2021-04-241h 08
The Squarepeg Podcast{BONUS} Amy Richards: giving myself permission, reframing past failures and achievements, and finding people I can relate to.This special Squarepeg miniseries celebrates the great things that start to happen in our lives when we discover in adulthood that we’re autistic. In a bit of a change from the usual format, in this episode I share some of the things that have changed for the better in my own life since I was diagnosed autistic, including feeling able to give myself permission to live and work the way I want to and need to, without feeling guilty, reframing my past failures and achievements, and finding a group of people I can truly relate to. Sq...2021-04-0421 min
The Squarepeg Podcast{BONUS} Sarah Boon: being kinder to myself, having better boundaries and finding a new purpose in lifeThis special Squarepeg miniseries celebrates the great things that start to happen in our lives when we discover in adulthood that we’re autistic. Seven of my previous guests have returned to each share the three most important things that have changed for the better in their lives since they were diagnosed, or realised they were autistic. My guest today is Sarah Boon, an MA graduate and autism advocate from Surrey in the UK. I first talked with Sarah about her experiences being autistic at work and university in Series 1, Episode 10. In this bonus recording Sarah talks to me abo...2021-04-0324 min
The Squarepeg Podcast{BONUS} Alyssa Washington: finding clarity on the physical side of autism, language to talk about my emotional experiences, and validation that I’m not broken or dysfunctional.This special Squarepeg miniseries celebrates the great things that start to happen in our lives when we discover in adulthood that we’re autistic. Seven of my previous guests have returned to each share the three most important things that have changed for the better in their lives since they were diagnosed, or realised they were autistic. My guest today is Alyssa Washington, a coach, speaker and author from Canada, who now lives in South East Asia. I first talked with Alyssa in Series 2, Episode 1 about the connection between autism and physical health conditions. In this bonus recording she ta...2021-04-0224 minThe Squarepeg Podcast{BONUS} Hannah Smith: better boundaries, getting more comfortable with my comfort zones, and dealing with change.This special Squarepeg miniseries celebrates the great things that start to happen in our lives when we discover in adulthood that we’re autistic. Seven of my previous guests have returned to each share the three most important things that have changed for the better in their lives since they were diagnosed, or realised they were autistic. My guest today is Hannah Smith, a business owner from Hertfordshire in the UK. I first talked with Hannah about homeschooling her autistic daughters in Series 2, Episode 8. In this bonus recording Hannah talks to me about having better boundaries, getting mor...2021-04-0125 minThe Squarepeg Podcast{BONUS} Stephanie Silvan: getting therapy, starting a mindfulness practice and figuring out what to do with my lifeThis special Squarepeg miniseries celebrates the great things that start to happen in our lives when we discover in adulthood that we’re autistic. Seven of my previous guests have returned to each share the three most important things that have changed for the better in their lives since they were diagnosed, or realised they were autistic. My guest today is Stephanie Silvan, who lives in Finland and is an animal behaviourist, linguist and biologist. I first talked with Stephanie about burnout and mental health in Series 1, Episode 6. In this bonus recording I catch up with what’s hap...2021-03-3124 min
The Squarepeg Podcast{BONUS} Audrey Mitchell: Meeting my needs with family and friends, dating again, and advocating for my daughterThis special Squarepeg miniseries celebrates the great things that start to happen in our lives when we discover in adulthood that we’re autistic. Seven of my previous guests have returned to each share the three most important things that have changed for the better in their lives since they were diagnosed, or realised they were autistic. My guest today is Audrey Mitchell, a counsellor from Idaho, USA. I first talked with Audrey in Series 1, Episode 9, about raising a daughter when you’re both autistic, and why autistic people make great counsellors. In this bonus recording she talks...2021-03-2924 minThe Squarepeg PodcastS2, Ep10: The interplay between physical health, diet and autistic traitsTara was diagnosed autistic last year, after a conversation with her husband prompted some research into autism. She is 49 and lives in the northern United States, where she works as an visual artist and online education coordinator. Her childhood was unusual, and she now believes that her parents were probably both undiagnosed neurodivergent, and that this impacted on their behaviour and her own upbringing. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ Her childhood, and why she believes her parents were neurodivergent ➡ Having a difficult relationship with food ➡ Autism and a lack of spacia...2021-03-061h 01The Squarepeg Podcast18. S2, Ep6: Behind the mask: being true to your autistic self and finding your tribeNoheli Rosas is 28 and was recently diagnosed, after first recognising she might be autistic two years ago. She lives in Puerto Rico in the Caribbean, where she runs her own eco salon specialising in henna body art, ayurvedic hair care and incense making. Her salon allows exposure space for over 30 artists, including many queer and neurodivergent people. Through her business she has found a way to explore her special interests, work to her strengths, meet her needs and make a living - while creating a vibrant and supportive community of like minded people. In our...2021-02-0652 minThe Squarepeg Podcast17. S2, Ep5: Getting the skills and support to navigate life and workSquarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. My guest today is 30 and was diagnosed autistic about five years ago. She is Indian-American and lives in the US, where she works full time in tech and also as a freelance writer, after spending years moving quickly between different jobs. She has experienced various forms of counselling and other interventions, including medication, and says “I don’t allow my diagnosis to stop me from doing things that one may not expect of s...2021-01-3040 min
The Squarepeg Podcast13. S2, Ep1: The physical side of autism: health, hormones and hypersensitivityAlyssa Washington is 31 and was diagnosed autistic in November. Originally from Canada, she now lives in South East Asia, where she runs her own business as a coach, speaker and author. Growing up, she suffered with numerous health conditions, anxiety and depression - that she believes were all linked to her undiagnosed autism. She has spent years learning about health and nutrition in order to improve her own health and wellbeing - something she now helps others to do. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ The connection between autism and physical health conditions, including disordered eati...2021-01-0259 min
The Squarepeg Podcast12. S1, Ep12: Building a new post-diagnosis life after bullying and substance misuseHannah Cross is a writer and a student at York St John University, studying Creative Writing and Media. She is 29 and was diagnosed autistic very recently, just last month. Her writing includes novels, short stories, memoir, articles, and poetry. She has resumed her education a little later in life, after experiencing struggles at school and in her early adulthood, including substance misuse and being expelled from school. She says that her life has felt “like a muddle of misunderstandings” and that she now wants to “get involved in unveiling autism, particularly among women”. In our conversa...2020-12-0542 min
The Squarepeg Podcast11. S1, Ep11: Autism, anxiety and the power of telling our own storiesArtist and writer Charlotte Amelia Poe says they were diagnosed autistic ‘by complete fluke’ when they were 21, after suffering for years with anxiety. In 2018, they won the inaugural Spectrum Art Award with their video piece, How To Be Autistic, and they went on to publish their first book under the same title in 2019. Charlotte is from Suffolk, UK, and says they’ve wanted to be an author their entire life, and believe autistic people have a place in the arts. They are nonbinary and bi/ace. In our conversation we talk about Whether autism is a disabili...2020-11-2837 min
The Squarepeg Podcast9. S1, Ep9: Female presentation, autistic counsellors and dealing with depressionAudrey Mitchell discovered she was autistic while in the process of getting a diagnosis for her teenage daughter. She lives in Idaho, USA, where she works in private practice as a counsellor. She’s also a writer. She’s experienced plenty of adversity in life, and struggled to establish herself in adulthood due to her undiagnosed autism. She says that when she was starting her path to diagnosis, she was hungry for information that was relatable and relevant, and in talking to me today she wants to help provide that for some other woman that is searching for c...2020-11-1449 minThe Squarepeg Podcast6. S1, Ep6: Self diagnosis, burnout and mental healthStephanie Silvan is self diagnosed. Originally from Germany, she now lives in Finland with her teenage daughter, who is also autistic. She has worked in many different fields: she has run her own business as a dog behaviourist, she is a linguist and biologist, has trained as a teacher and also spent several years as a farmer. Her most recent role saw her travelling all Asia, Europe, and the USA managing global teams. She is currently focusing on reprioritising her life and practicing self care after having to leave employment due to autistic burnout. In o...2020-10-2456 minThe Squarepeg Podcast5. S1, Ep5: Misdiagnosis and being autistic at home and workMy guest today has insights into life as an autistic person both personally and professionally: she works in a Local Authority Children's Home for autistic young people with high support needs, and received her own diagnosis at the age of 27. She was initially misdiagnosed, and it took years - and an unusual approach from a psychologist - to help her finally find an explanation for the things the medical profession hadn’t been able to find answers for. Despite being a bright and articulate person, and having plenty of academic ability, problems related to undiagnosed autism led to...2020-10-1729 minThe Squarepeg Podcast4. S1, Ep4: Finding yourself through diverse communitiesMy guest today blew me away with their energy and drive to help marginalised communities flourish. Still only 25, they work full time in autism advocacy for an organisation in Washington, USA, and they are a writer, musician and playwright, as well as serving on the board of the Plus One Foundation, an organisation that funds life changing experiences for people with neurological disorders. They are also Executive Director and Co-Founder of a brand new inclusive theatre project, Rainy Day Arts Collective. In this conversation I talk with Jack Conley about going through school and university with undiagnosed...2020-10-1048 min
The Squarepeg PodcastS1, Ep3: Creating opportunities from your special interestsMadge Woollard is a musician and teacher from Sheffield in the UK. A Cambridge graduate, she has run her own piano teaching business for the last 25 years, teaching privately and in schools. She was diagnosed autistic at the age of 44, and has since gone on to win an Autism Friendly Business Award from the National Autistic Society, for her work teaching music to autistic students. She has taken part in autism research, is involved with the autistic theatre group, Spectrum Theatre, and has played on stage with actress and singer Heather Peace. She identifies as...2020-10-0725 minThe Squarepeg Podcast1. S1, Ep1: Discovering you're autistic in adulthood - and finding work that fits you, when you don't fit workWelcome to Squarepeg, the podcast in which neurodivergent women, trans and nonbinary people explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. Lis Parsons is an Open University tutor from North Wales who describes herself as ‘the classic gifted student with no social skills’. Diagnosed autistic in her 40s, she says that in some ways she’s a ‘slow learner’, but despite experiencing interruption in her education, she has gone on to achieve a BSc in Psychology and an MA in Creative Writing. In this conversation I talk with Lis Parsons about growing up...2020-10-0349 minThe Squarepeg PodcastWelcome to the Squarepeg podcastWelcome to the Squarepeg podcast! This is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. I’m Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I’m now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issu...2020-10-0302 min
The Chad & Cheese PodcastFiring Squad: SquarePeg CEO Claire McTaggartMatching sites in the early days sucked. Now they're kinda good, thanks to AI and a bunch of online profiles, which wasn't the case in 2006, for example. So here comes SquarePeg. Does this matching contender have what it takes, or are they gettin' the guns? You'll have to checkout this Talroo exclusive to find out.2019-01-1537 min
Open the Pod Bay DoorsE09 - VC Panel with Paul Bassat (Squarepeg), Craig Blair (Airtree) and Kara Frederick (Reinventure)We held an Innovation Bay event in Melbourne recently where we hosted Partners from three of the country's best VCs (Airtree, Reinventure and Squarepeg). Between them they represent almost $750m of Venture Capital and have made around 60 investments between them. Fascinating discussion covering the background of Australia's VC sector, where it has got to now, some of the upcoming trends and what the future holds. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2017-07-271h 06