Episode 107: Unpacking Normal: Are Neurotypical Behaviors Worth Performing?
Handshakes. Eye Contact. Small Talk. Hierarchies. There are so many social customs that we’re expected to know and to perform in any given social interaction. Chances are that the customs aren’t going to change anytime soon, but what if they could? Would any of them be worth keeping? Join us for an exploration of common social customs and some of the merits and flaws within them.
106: Reflexive Reactions: Fear on a Fork: Trying New Foods When Your Brain Says “No!”
This time around we’re exploring avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. Join us as we delve into this fascinating and complex battle between brain, body, and food. We’ll explore the general concept of ARFID and then bring the topic a little closer to home as Autumn discusses her own relationship with food and attempts to try a few new things.
105: Games for People Like Us: This or That: Coping Skills Edition
Who doesn’t love a good coping skill? We thought we’d play a little game where we look at different coping skills from a randomized list, without any context at all, and pit them against each other to judge which one we think would be the most versatile in a pinch. Join us for this battle of the coping skills and see if you have feelings about them that are as strong as the ones we had.
Episode 104: Try This, Maybe: Flirting with Disclaimers: 15 Neurodivergent Pickup Lines Just in Time for Valentine’s Day
There are plenty of fish in the sea, so they say. That may be true, but the actual sea is full of poisoned fish and, from what we hear, the fish in the digital dating pool aren’t much better off. So, how about going back to the basics and meeting people in the real world? Join us as we scour the internet for some neurodivergent-friendly pickup lines to help you break the ice, find your people, and weed out the undesirables this Valentine’s Day.
Episode 103: Coping Case Files: Welcome to the Plateau: Navigating the Flat Lands of the Healing Journey
If you’re on a healing journey, you know the struggle of the steep and perilous upward climb. You likely also know the sense of accomplishment and pride you feel when you reach the summit of a challenge and can see how far you’ve come. But if you’ve been on your journey for a very long time, we bet you’ve encountered something no one warned you about or prepared you for: the plateaus.
Episode 102: Pet (& Feral) Theories: Making Friends with My Symptoms: From Self-Criticism to Self Curiosity
It’s a couple of weeks into the new year, which means many of us are probably starting to feel just the faintest resurgence of those old struggles and habits we had confidently declared that we would conquer this time. If you find yourself on the struggle bus right now, we hope you’ll join us for a discussion about personal growth through integration rather than through eradication.
Episode 101: Reflexive Reactions: Yuletide Beasts: Holiday Folklore and Finding Cheer in Our Own Way
Join us as we indulge in a hilarious exploration of some of the legendary and iconic characters behind Yule folklore. Hide your children and your sheep, tidy up your house, get some new clothes, grab your colander for home defense, and let’s go!
Episode 100: Try This Maybe: Gifts That Won’t End Up In The Doom Pile: The Neurodivergent Gift Guide No One Asked For
We can’t guarantee you’ll want any of these gifts or that you’ll know someone who will but there’s probably a pretty good chance we’ll at least get those gears turning. This episode is for the neurodivergent folks who procrastinated their shopping and now feel overwhelmed about what to get that you can actually afford.
Episode 99: Reflexive Reactions: Sick Day! Reactive Reflections on Illness
It’s that time of year when bugs and viruses and bacteria skulk around and infect the unsuspecting. Grab a box of tissues and join us as we spill the tea on 90s sick day nostalgia, our tips and tricks, embarrassing moments, and some good old-fashioned complaints.
98: Games for People Like Us: Finding the Bright Side: A Playful Take on Shifting Perspective
Things have been rough for so long that it’s hard to remember when they weren’t. Walking through the world feels a bit like getting a scrub down with coarse grit sandpaper. If you’re feeling a little raw too then join us for a cognitive restructuring game where we look for the silver linings and seek out some meaning in the misery.
Episode 97: Coping Case Files: Ghosted by Halloween: Where Has the Spirit of the Season Gone?
Is it just us or has Halloween ghosted everyone this year? Join us as we talk about where the spirit of the season may have disappeared and how we can get it back before the candles in the jack-o-lanterns burn down and flicker out completely.
Episode 96: Reflexive Reactions: Living by My Cycle: My Experience with Hormone Regulation and Cycle Awareness
If you’ve ever been curious about what it might look like to live according to your cycle, we hope you’ll join us for this discussion. We break down what’s supposed to be happening with your hormones at different stages of your cycle and how that can manifest in your body and mood. We also explore some of the diet and activity recommendations for each week. And finally, we discuss Ivy’s personal experience with living this lifestyle.
Episode 95: Games for People Like Us: Taking Off the Mask: A Neurodivergent Tabletop RPG
If you’re an OG listener, you’ll remember a couple of years ago when we played a game we made to encapsulate the neurodivergent social experience. Well, for our first installment of Games for People Like Us, we decided to revisit this game and see if it was just as fun as it was the first time. We had a blast, and we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we did.
94: Try This Maybe: Reality Checks: Cognitive Tools to Break the Spiral
In this episode, we’re discussing the concept of cognitive restructuring, a valuable tool that can help you hit the pause button on anger, fear, and rumination so that you have the opportunity to positively shift your perspective and your responses to daily life stressors.
Episode 93: Pet (& Feral) Theories: Too Tired to Relax: Why Rest is Exhausting
If you find it easier to multi-task a dozen projects than to relax for even 10 minutes then this episode is for you. Join us as we discuss: why rest can be so difficult; how to take the pressure off with a shift in perspective; and possible solutions that address some of the root causes of restlessness.
Episode 92: Coping Case Files: Mindfulness: Does It Suck or Am I Just Doing It Wrong?
In this episode, we’re exploring the idea of mindfulness on a personal level as we try to understand why Autumn has such a contentious relationship with it, and we seek to troubleshoot ways that the practice could be adapted to be more user-friendly for an individual.
Episode 91: Reflexive Reactions: Stayin’ Alive: When Pollyanna and Spite Just Aren’t Enough
Join us as we react to some of the advice the internet has to offer about how to find a reason to keep going and give our opinions on whether or not it’s actually effective. There will be some serious discussion, some heartfelt moments, and a little bit of gallows humor, and we hope it will help you feel less alone and less stigmatized.
Announcement
It's time for a candid talk about where the podcast has been and where it's headed. We'll be taking off the month of July so that we can reset, recalibrate, and make some important changes happen.
Episode 90: Too Bright, Too Loud, Too Much: A Neurodivergent Tour of the 5 Senses
Join us for a romp and a rant through the five senses and explore with us all of the various ways we can become overloaded by our sensory experience of the world. If you’ve ever been treated like a crazy person for feeling overwhelmed by sights, sounds, and textures that other people don’t even seem to notice then this is the episode for you.
Episode 89: The Movement Mindset: Choosing Fitness Activities That Fit You
Join us as we discuss some answers to physical fitness questions; and explore a few different types of exercise, along with their various benefits and warning labels. If you’ve ever been overwhelmed, confused, or possibly even triggered by the mere idea of exercise, we’re here to help make it all a little less daunting.