Atypical: The Podcast
A podcast by atypical people looking at the world from a different point of view. Primarily neurodivergent, but we also have a scattering of LGBTQ+ people and thoughts. New episode every fortnight and occasional "After Dark" episodes when we find them!
Episodes
Ever had one of those messages that just doesn't seem quite right? A piece of writing that feels almost human?
Some of the links for this episode include
- The Caelen Conrad video about the Florida University shooting
- ChatGPT is Bullshit from the University of Glasgow
- The Uncanny Valley - MIT Thesis
- Eroding the Uncanny Valley - BPS
- The uncanny valley effect in embodied conversational agents
- Object personification ...
Well it's that time of year again. Time to talk awareness and acceptance - and some history because someone left me alone with a microphone.
I'd recommend reading Herwig Czech on Asperger, Steve Silberman on Kanner and Brian Deer on Wakefield.
As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you so look for our contact details in your podcast app or via our website...
Ok. So. ADHD is a thing and this episode got delayed, but it is before the New Year. The Lunar New Year but anyway. Gong xi fa cai and enjoy this episode from late 2025.
Please check out Georgia's "Age of Diagnosis" video, it is very good.
You can find us all on Bluesky: Simon, Alexander, Georgia & Filip
As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you so...
Content warning: There is a discussion of suicide and self-harm during this episode. It is important and contextualised but this is a content warning nonetheless.
If you are struggling, there is help available. In the UK, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, You can also email jo@samaritans.org. If phone calls aren't accessible for you, text SHOUT to 85258.
In the US, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Cri...
Sigh. Ok, paracetamol DOES NOT cause autism. Here is why it's dangerous to say so.
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38592388/
- https://pharmasource.global/content/policy-briefing/trump-administration-draws-autism-acetaminophen-link-despite-scientific-skepticism/
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx20d4lr67lo
- https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/trump-expected-link-autism-with-ty...
Simon got annoyed and took to the mic to talk about IQ testing. Health warning, it's not a great subject. IQ testing has been used to justify racism, classism and genocide. But we need to face up to this stuff to make sure it is left in the dustbin of history.
As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you so look for our contact details in your podcast app or via...
What happens when a psychologist tries to do philosophy? Usually nothing good. Happily, we have a philosopher on hand to explain why this is not a good idea. Join Simon as Alexander dives in Simon Baron-Cohen's book "Zero Degrees of Empathy" and explains that, actually, autistic people can be empathetic.
As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you so ...
Simon has been reading again, this time a paper on autistic and non-autistic rapport: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10.1177/13623613251320444
Simon also makes reference to another paper https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13623613241252320 Do check them both out.
More episodes soon and with more than just Simon rambling into a microphone in some sort of avant-garde expressionist *a single sho...
Join Simon, returning champion Georgia and guest Susie as Georgia tells us all about doing FoI requests for every NHS trust in England and the astonishing results she found about autism and support.
Links:
Not A Priority report: https://www.autistica.org.uk/blog/not-a-priority
Guardian coverage: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/oct/27/positive-assessment-rates-for-autism-vary-widely-between-parts-of-england
A mere two weeks late... Look, I got distracted ok?
Anyway, Simon is joined once again by Filip and Sam and we take a *very* ADHD ramble through new years resolutions, how to complete a project, domestic bliss and gamifying your own life (Horse armour DLC extra).
For more Filip find him on BSky at @ftw.bsky.social and Simon can be found at @simon.insanity.tube We have yet to tempt Sam over to th...
Join Simon, Filip and Georgia as we consider Christmas, a quick discussion of where it came from and the modern experience for neurodivergent people. The answer is lists, quiet spaces, lists, think about the food, lists and of course lists. Oh and the Roman Empire.
Find more Georgia and Filip here:
Filip on BSky https://bsky.app/profile/ftw.bsky.social
"Filip Wieland" artist profile on Sp...
Well it's the 3rd of December so join Alexander and Simon for a brief* discussion of disability and what it means in society.
*Brief means don't check the timestamps.
As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you so look for our contact details in your podcast app or via our website.
join the gang as we discuss the late Steve Silberman, his impact on neurodiversity education and on being a record producer and mega fan for the Grateful Dead.
He will be missed and music used under fair use in hour of a man who meant a lot to both the ND community and the Greateful Dead community.
As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you so look for ou...
Join Simon and Alexander as they slowly loose their minds watching the 2021 film "Music" by Sia. A film apparently about a non-verbal, autistic girl but mostly about Sia and a childrens book author trying to write a clumsy romance story.
Strap in.
As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hear from you so look for our contact details in your podcast app or via...
It's that time of the week/month/phase of the moons of Jupiter again when Simon actually gets round to delivering on a podcast.
This week we talk about International Non-Binary Peoples Day and the neuroqueer theories with roots in the work of Nick Walker. Their book, Neuroqueer Heresies, is well worth a read or listen.
I'd also suggest both Abi Thorn and Alexander Avila videos on both Ju...
Simon is joined this week by Georgia (@mind the flap) to discuss Autism Pride Day, masking and some of the work she is doing on autism campaigning and chasing the rather reticent British government to actually deliver on it's promises!
Follow Georgia on social media or via her blog at https://mindtheflap.wordpress.com/
As ever we thank you, our loyal listeners for sticking with us. We would love to hea...
Join Simon as this week we explore the concept of post festival slump, that crash you get after a great event. Fresh from only their second ever paying attendance at a festival, Simon explores some of the highs and lows of the festival and gives some tips of recovering afterwards. This is an expanded and deeper dive into these concepts, building on a subject we have spoken about before.
Some of the sources...
Simon returns with another paper of interest and only a mild case of crushing guilt at loosing an entire episode and having an existential impostor syndrome driven personal crisis.
Yay autism.
Which is todays topic, can a fish have autism and if so, what does that tell us about people, dopamine and our own development.
Papers as ever:
https://ajp.amjpathol.org/action/showPdf?pii=S000...
This week, join Simon on a deep dive through time into the evolution and possible origins of neurodiversity. From the ancient wisdom of neurodivergent shamans to the brilliant minds of Einstein, Darwin, and van Gogh, we'll uncover the hidden stories of how neurodiversity has been shaping our world in unexpected ways.
But it's not all sunshine and rainbows. We'll also explore the dark side of how societ...
With the return of the erstwhile Kim we discuss travelling as a neurodivergent person, using social media and, in true ADHD style, we distract outselves for a lengthy (and now much edited down) discussion of which social media platform sounds like a K-Pop band.
We did also discuss some of the latest news around autism diagnosis and touch on a few issues around this.
As promised, some links for yo...
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