21andsensory Podcast

I am really excited to chat to today's special guest which is the lovely Chloe Tear. Chloe is an award winning disability blogger and freelance writer with 10 years experience. On her blog she documents her lived experiences as a disabled young woman and she currently works as a senior content designer for GOV.UK.

Chloe has had Cerebral Palsy from birth, but became visually impaired during her first year of university. Chloe's sight-loss continues to deteriorate and she has been registered as severely sight impaired (formally known as blind). 

Now some listeners might recognise Chloe because she has been on the podcast before - it was Episode 62 in October 2022. You might also remember that Chloe had been accepted onto a list in 2020 for a guide dog and was still waiting to hear back…..

But now… we are back…. and CHLOE HAS MUCH NEWS!

Chloe's Links:

• Twitter: ⁠twitter.com/chloeltear⁠
• Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/chloe_tear⁠
• YouTube: ⁠www.youtube.com/chloetear⁠
• Chloe's Website: ⁠chloetear.co.uk⁠

My 21andsensory links:

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Dr Alex Smalley is a researcher and communicator aiming to understand more about how experiences in nature can impact people’s wellbeing. Alex is based at the University of Exeter's European Centre for Environment and Human Health and holds a PhD in environmental psychology. Since 2017 he has been investigating the cognitive and emotional impacts of virtual encounters with the natural world.

 Most recently, he partnered with the BBC Natural History Unit and Audible to create the Healing Power of Nature, an immersive 8-part audio series, written and narrated by Alex, that introduces key concepts from the field of environmental psychology.

Alex has worked with the BBC on several research collaborations, including the award-winning Radio 4 series Forest 404, the cross-platform BBC Music initiative Soundscapes for Wellbeing and the BBC Four series Mindful Escapes.

Alex also has a background in the physical sciences and science communication – he spent over a decade communicating complex concepts to a range of national and international audiences.

Alex's Links:

Alex's website⁠⁠

Alex's University of Exeter Profile

Dr Jack Reed Profile | University of Exeter (https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/42856-jack-reed)

Alex mentioned: 'russell's circumplex model of affect'

My 21andsensory links:

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Grab a hot drink and a snack because it's time for a huge 2024 catch-up episode with Emily! (who only realised as she was recording that it’s been an entire YEAR since she did a solo episode?!)

Things I cover (with timestamps):

• ​0:00 Intro + Spotify Wrapped Stats
• ​5:00 A wrap up of 2024’s podcast guests
• ​23:20 Life Update and Instagram Questions
• ​40:34 Portal App!
• ​52:45 Books I've read this year (open link!)

Things I mentioned:

• ​Emily’s Lego: https://amzn.to/3ZQZmJb
• ​Portal app link: Access a free One Month Premium Membership: https://portal.app/?offer=21andsensory

Brilliant books from lovely 2024 guests:

• ​‘Ramping Up Rights An Unfinished History of British Disability Activism’ By Rachel Charlton Dailey (Out in 2025, Preorder): https://www.hurstpublishers.com/book/ramping-up-rights/
• ​‘Girl Unmasked: The Sunday Times Bestseller: How Uncovering My Autism Saved My Life’ By Emily Katy: https://www.authenticallyemily.uk/book
• ​‘All Tangled Up in Autism and Chronic Illness: A guide to navigating multiple conditions’ By Charli Clement: https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/charli-clement/all-tangled-up-in-autism-and-chronic-illness/9781839975240/
• ​’Some Like It Cold’ By Elle McNicoll: https://ellemcnicoll.com/books/some-like-it-cold
• ​‘University: The Autistic Guide: Everything You Need to Survive and Thrive’ By Dr Harriet Axbey: https://pavpub.com/catalogue-2024/university-the-autistic-guide-everything-you-need-to-survive-and-thrive

My 21andsensory links:

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I am super excited for today's episode as I have special guest Dr Harriet Axbey on the show. Harriet Axbey is an autistic early career researcher at Swansea University. She is a research assistant on the “Autism from Menstruation to Menopause” Wellcome Trust Funded project within the Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science. This project aims to look at the reproductive health experiences of autistic people with wombs across the lifespan.

Harriets areas of expertise include:

• ​Autism
• ​Neurodivergence
• ​Neurodiversity
• ​Diffusion Chains
• ​University Accessibility

Harriet is on the show today to share more about her recent book that’s been published which is called: University: The Autistic Guide. This informative and friendly handbook is a guide to starting university for autistic young people, covering the entire process from applying, packing and financial admin to mental health support, dealing with burnout, finding your people and experiencing new opportunities. 

• ​Harriet Axbey (@axbey) / X
• ​Jonathan Raiseborough ✏✨ (@jo_raiseborough) / X
• ​Home | portfolio (jonathanraiseborough.wixsite.com)
• ​University: The Autistic Guide: Everything You Need to Survive and Thrive - Pavilion Publishing (pavpub.com)
• ​Understanding Others in a Neurodiverse World: A Radical Perspective on Communication and Shared Meaning - Pavilion Publishing (pavpub.com)
• ​University – The Autistic Guide: Everything You Need to Survive and Thrive: Amazon.co.uk: Harriet Axbey: 9781803882543: Books
• ​My Brother Tom Has Superpowers : Axbey, Harriet: Amazon.co.uk: Books
• ​My Brother Tom Has SuperpowersHarriet Axbey | YouCaxton Publications

My 21andsensory links:

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On today’s show I have the lovely Esme Jay, who is also known by the nickname Pixie. Esme is a queer autistic writer-turned-content creator living with PTSD and anxiety.

They run @pixiesbigwhy over on Instagram which has almost 18,000 followers at time of recording (now over 19k as the podcast goes live!).

Esme shares their life including content around lifestyle, fashion, autism, mental health and chronic illness. 

Trigger warning: mention of domestic violence, homelessness and abuse

Things mentioned:

• Yasmin Benoit Instagram: instagram.com/theyasminbenoit
• End Teen Economic Abuse

Esme's Links:

• zez.am/pixiesbigwhy

My 21andsensory links:

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I am super excited for today's episode as I have the wonderful special guest Elle McNicoll on the show. Elle is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and screenwriter. She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, as an autistic and dyspraxic novelist. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, won the Overall Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2021. It was also voted number 75 in The 100 Greatest Children's Books of All Time in 2023.

She is a three-time Carnegie-nominated author and was also honoured in the US with the Schneider Award, 2022. Her first novel has also been adapted for television by the BBC, and McNicoll was head writer on the project. The adaptation was described in the press as 'groundbreaking' for its inclusion of autistic actors and crew (and you might remember when Ella Maisy Purvis was on the podcast, who played Elinor/Bonnie in the show!)

I reached out to ask if she might like to come on my podcast to chat a little more about her latest book which is Elle’s YA debut 'Some Like It Cold'. I was kindly sent a copy to review and read earlier this year by the lovely team at Pan Macmillian so I have been very fortunate to have read the book. It will be published on October 1st (US) and October 3rd (UK), which is today!

Buy Elle’s new book ’Some Like It Cold’:

• Indie bookshop editions: linktr.ee/somelikeitcold

• Preorder signed Waterstones editions: https://www.waterstones.com/book/some-like-it-cold/elle-mcnicoll/2928377278267?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabdFYqMgatGwJuIgBTZD65RubhPkHDQAHZR_1iY5Q2RplaIgyGbaTUmnAk_aem_irZ80J1Fbj5FcufVoBwFoA

See Elle on tour:

• Tour dates: https://linktr.ee/SLICromancetour
• Young Adult Literature Convention (YALC): https://londoncomicconwinter.com/YALC/guest/elle-mcnicoll/
• Cheltenham festival: https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/events/some-like-it-cold-with-elle-mcnicoll

Elle’s social links:

• Elle’s website: ellemcnicoll.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellemcnicollofficial
• X: twitter.com/BooksandChokers
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ellemcnicoll
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@ellemcnicollofficial

Watch ‘A Kind of Spark’ on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0f7q3rv/a-kind-of-spark

My 21andsensory links:

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On today’s show I have the lovely Jess Chandler. Jess is an advocator and activist in the Neurodivergent and Disabled Community. Jess also spreads awareness about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and educates others on the impact that invisible illnesses can carry.

Now you might know Jess from her fab instagram and TikTok accounts @thejesschandler (where she has almost 34,000 followers and @the.neurodivergent.witch which has almost 13,000 followers! So I’m very excited for this chat!

Links to find Jess:

• Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thejesschandler⁠
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thejesschandler⁠
• YouTube:⁠https://www.youtube.com/@JessChandler⁠
• ⁠the.neurodivergent.witch | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree⁠

My 21andsensory links:

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Today I have special guest Professor Janet Harbord on the show. Janet is a professor of film studies at Queen Mary, University of London. Recently she has worked as a principle investigator (alongside Steven Eastwood) on a five year Wellcome Trust funded project called  ‘Autism through Cinema’.

Autism Through Cinema was a collaborative investigation into the relationships between neurodivergent thinking and cinematic creation. Janet is on todays episode to chat about her work directing a video essay called ‘Autism plays Itself’ where she asks how films made in clinical settings have contributed to how autism has been medically imagined and defined across the past seventy years. Janet takes one such clinical film and works in collaboration with autistic respondents to reframe the footage from an autistic perspective. 

Mentioned:

• ​Edinburgh Festival link: https://www.edfilmfest.org/film/out-of-competition-shorts/
• ​Toronto hot docs BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT DOCUMENTARY: https://hotdocs.ca/industry/conference/awards
• ​Trailer link: https://vimeo.com/919231648
• ​BBC Shortcuts hosted by Josie Long: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00224h3

Autism Plays Itself, Credits:

• ​Director: Janet Harbord - https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sllf/film-studies/people/academic/profiles/harbord.html
• ​Editor: Sasha Litvintseva - https://www.sashalitvintseva.com
• ​Sound Designer: Tom Fisher - https://tomfishersoundportfolio.com

Respondents: 

• ​Ash Loydon: https://x.com/AshtonLamont
• ​Sophie Broadgate: https://pikaiafilms.co.uk
• ​Ethan Lyon: https://letterboxd.com/dz1ga

My 21andsensory links:

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On today’s episode I have the lovely Zara Beth as my special guest, she's back on the podcast for a catch-up episode! Zara is an 18 year old content creator, writer, musician and disability advocate from the UK. She shares her experiences as a neurodivergent, queer adult navigating life with neurological disabilities and chronic illness.

Zara dedicates her time to raising awareness for disabilities and mental health, creating a safe space for neurodivergent people, disabled people, and also for the LGBTQ+ community.

Last time I spoke to Zara was on Episode 32 of the podcast which was in March 2021. She was 15 at the time and had over 378,000 followers on TikTok and had a new YouTube channel. So just to update you on those stats…She now has 2 million followers on TikTok with over 40 million likes…on YouTube over 400,000 subscribers and over on Instagram over 60k followers!

Link to everything Zara mentioned and her social media: https://portaly.cc/zarabeth

My 21andsensory links:

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On todays show I have the lovely Louise and Fiona. Both Louise and Fiona work for the Wilf Ward Family Trust - they are part of a wider team of 900 people that support almost 300 individuals with learning disabilities across Yorkshire. It was founded in 1986 by Wilf and Phyllis Ward to give relief to carers through the provision of residential respite units and day facilities. 

Since then they have grown providing more than 70 residential and supported living services for adults with profound learning and physical disabilities. Louise works as Head of Co Production and Fiona as the Interim Head of Complex Care.Wilf Ward trust links: Website: https://wilfward.org.uk Facebook: The Wilf Ward Family TrustLinks to other things mentioned:Lasting Power of Attorney and Power of Attorney: Giving someone power of attorney - Social care and support guideDeprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS): Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) at a glanceCare Quality CommissionMy 21andsensory links:

⁠Illustration Portfolio⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠Podcast⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Blog⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠X⁠ | ⁠⁠Bluesky⁠ | ⁠Patreon