21andsensory Podcast

Hi everyone! Welcome to today’s episode, I have special guest Sara Gibbs. Sara is a UK-based comedy writer, author and notorious cat lady. She is a graduate of the National Film and Television School's Writing & Producing Comedy course and her comedy writing credits include the Daily Mash, Dead Ringers, the News Quiz, the Now Show, Sketchtopia, the Mash Report, Greatest Ever TV Blunders, Greatest Ever Movie Blunders and Have I Got News for You amongst many others.

Sara was recently diagnosed as Autistic and has a new book out called 'Drama Queen: One Autistic Woman and a Life of Unhelpful Labels' which is described as a 'memoir of a woman's life that didn't make a lot of sense until she was a third of the way through it'. We chat about so much in this episode including:

• The journey and process behind her autism diagnosis
• Autism in women, being late diagnosed and imposter syndrome
• Sara's experience with chronic pain, her support needs and we mention independent living
• The timeframe between Sara getting her diagnosis and then deciding to write a book and her experience of beginning to write her book and writing through the pandemic
• The PR work such as articles and interviews she has done to promote the book and accommodations that have helped along the way
• Sara's adult life, interests, and finding a comedy course and her book being a No.1 Bestseller on Amazon!
• Sara's new Aut Hour podcast and what to expect
• Social media and protecting yourself from burnout

Sara's social media:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sara_rose_g/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sara_Rose_G
• Sara's website: https://saragibbs.com
• Sara's 'Drama Queen' Book: smarturl.it/Drama-Queen

Sara's Aut Hour Podcast links:

• Apple: https://tinyurl.com/6mdymcxs
• Google: https://tinyurl.com/2yeapde4
• Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3e6s4hxx
• Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/399vvby5
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authourpod/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AutHourPod

My 21andsensory links:

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

On today's episode I have special guest Luke Poulton who some of you may know as @veganluke across social media. Luke is (as his username suggests) vegan, he is 30 years old and is an Autistic stand-up comedian who was awarded Essex Comedian of the Year in 2019. At the time of recording Luke has over 60,000 followers on TikTok which is insane and I'm going to be asking him more about his brilliant videos in this episode!

We chat about:

• Luke's Autism diagnosis and support within education
• His university experience, what he studied and accommodations for autistic people at university
• What life was like after uni, and his experiences working as a postman, in a supermarket and at a law firm
• How Luke got into comedy and the stand-up scene
• Luke's TikTok page - when and why he started it and managing with it's amazing growth!
• Luke's (fascinating) special interests 
• How he copes with daily life and through the pandemic
  

In this episode we mentioned:

• The tiktok video with the handshake
• explore.org for the live animal cameras!
  

Luke's Links:

• Luke's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/Veganluke

My 21andsensory links:

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

My guest on today's episode is Jane Green. Jane is an educationalist and adviser on Autism, Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and hypermobility (HSD). Jane is autistic, and is a single parent of two, one with severe medical issues and one autistic. Jane was diagnosed as autistic aged 54 and we chat a bit about autism in women and late diagnosis. 

Jane has volunteered with all ages to gain experience and study for her degrees. Jane worked in all phases of education, including epilepsy and autism schools. Unfortunately, her illness worsened, and she had to retire “medically unwell” in 2015. Following this, she finally received diagnosis of Ehlers Danlos Syndromes (EDS), but sadly had no support as her illness was not officially recognised at that time. She started volunteering for the national EDS charity, but wanted to do more, so founded SEDS (Sussex Ehlers-Danlos and Hypermobility Support) in 2018. 

Outside SEDS, Jane also volunteers her skills as a carer trustee for a local carers charity, and is an “expert patient” for various other committees, patient ref. groups, clinical commissioning groups, NICE advisory committees, and social care round tables. She has sat on various guidance on autism from child to adult transitions, and has overseen new co-production autistic led social care tool kits to embed the NICE capabilities. 

Jane's links: 

• Janes Twitter: https://twitter.com/JGjanegreen 
• More about Sussex EDS Group: https://www.sussexeds.com 

My 21andsensory links:

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

I am super excited for today's episode as I have special guest Holly Smale on to chat! Holly is the author of Geek Girl, Model Misfit, Picture Perfect, All That Glitters and Head Over Heels and Forever Geek as well as two seasonal Geek Girl supplements, Sunny Side Up and All Wrapped Up.

Geek Girl was the no. 1 bestselling young adult fiction title in the UK in 2013 and was shortlisted for several major awards and has been translated into a whopping 28 languages worldwide!

Holly was recently diagnosed with Autism and has written some fab articles on her diagnosis for The Times and The Sun as well as being interviewed on multiple radio and TV shows. I reached out to her to ask if she might like to come on my podcast to chat a little more about her diagnosis.

We chat about: 

• Her Autism diagnosis, the process leading up to it and the 'relief and grief' that comes with knowing
• Late diagnosis in women
• Holly's experience of masking
• More about Holly's work as an Author and we chat about the Geek Girl series she wrote. We also discuss how she copes with book PR and promotion
• What daily life is like for Holly and how she has managed during the pandemic
• Holly's hobbies and special interests

Holly's links:

• More info on Holly: https://www.harpercollins.com/blogs/authors/holly-smale
• Holly's Twitter: https://twitter.com/HolSmale
• Holly's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holsmale
• Holly's article for The Sun: https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/15102713/found-out-i-was-autistic-at-39/
• Holly's article for The Times: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/geek-girl-author-holly-smale-on-being-diagnosed-with-autism-at-39-tvhcktxn0

My 21andsensory links:

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

In this episode I was joined by special guest Lydia Wilkins. This is the second time I've had Lydia on my podcast (she was the special guest on Episode 21). Lydia is back on the podcast today to chat about the new book she is writing called 'The Autism Friendly Cookbook' with Jessica Kingsley Publishers. I am super excited to chat to Lydia about the book (particularly because she has asked me to be the book's illustrator!!!). Also we chat about her new podcast she is working on called The Disability Collab with journalists Eloise Barry and Izzie Jani-Friend.

Lydia is a freelance NCTJ qualified journalist, with bylines in The Independent, Readers Digest, The Metro, Refinery 29, Debut Careers, BN1 Magazine, and more. Lydia was diagnosed as being on the Autistic Spectrum in January 2015, two months shy of her sixteenth birthday.

We chat about:

• The very beginnings of the book and how she came up with the idea
• The process of writing the book and tackling incorporating around 100 recipes into it
• How the book will be ordered and categorised and how you can potentially be involved with the book and contribute
• What she has been baking recently including some fudge and deadly brownies!
• Her new podcast she is working on called 'The Disability Collab' https://open.spotify.com/show/1dlyy9O68jdkqirTxjJI08

Lydia's Links:

• Lydia's Blog: https://lydiawilkins.co.uk
• Contribute to Lydia's book here: https://mademoisellewomen.com/contribute/
• Lydia's Newsletter: https://lydia.substack.com
• Lydia's Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/lydiawilkins
• Lydia's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journo_lydia/
• Lydia's Twitter: https://twitter.com/Journo_Lydia

My 21andsensory links:

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

On today's episode I have special guest Daisy Shearer. Daisy is a PhD candidate in experimental condensed matter physics at the University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute. Her PhD research focuses on semiconductor spintronics for quantum technology applications.

You might know Daisy from her amazing Instagram page @notesfromthephysics lab. She is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion in STEM with a focus on disability and neurodiversity as she is autistic herself.

We chat about:

• Daisy's journey to getting her Autism diagnosis and the process she went through contacting university disability support
• Her uni experience as a PhD candidate and what her day-to-day looks like (including a mention of her scientific equipment and awesome Magnet called Emily!)
• The accommodations Daisy has been offered as an Autistic person studying at university and some experiences she has had at university where a range of accommodations have really benefitted her
• When she started up her @notesfromthephysicslab Instagram account and how she documents her life across her social media platforms and blog
• When she began the @Neurdivergent_in_STEM visibility project which shares the stories of neurominorities working in STEM and encourage accessibility in STEM fields
• How she is coping with daily life and how the pandemic affected her and her studies
• Daisy's range of hobbies including knitting and gardening!

Daisy's links:

• Social media & outreach: https://linktr.ee/notesfromthephysicslab
• Professional links (research & writing): https://linktr.ee/DaisyShearer
• Neurodivergent in STEM: https://linktr.ee/Neurodivergent_in_STEM

My 21andsensory links:

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Hi everyone! Welcome to another episode of the 21andsensory podcast. On today's episode I have special guest Jake Steiner. Jake established Endmyopia.org as a resource to offer people the opportunity to explore the science behind our eyesight.

Jake advocates for an evidence-based approach to understanding myopia (which is a word that means Nearsighted-ness)and he explores methods to potentially reverse it, he has his own experience reversing his -5 diopter myopia. He has helped over 1.2million people reduce their dependence on corrective lenses through his website, popular YouTube, Twitter, Facebook group, Discord and Forum. Jake stresses that he is not a medical doctor or optometrist, he just set out to solve a problem he encountered. So yeah i'm super interested to have a chat with Jake as I actually wear glasses 24/7!

We chat about:

• What myopia is
• A bit about Jake, his background and his journey to improve and reverse his own eyesight
• When Jake started endmyopia.org to document his findings and how he slowly developed an extensive set of tools to help others
• My own eyesight and my journey with glasses
• His YouTube channel where he shares tips and advice through his (almost) daily beard videos!
• We wrap up with some general tips

DISCLAIMER from Jake's website 

We see myopia as a refractive state. Not an error, and certainly not an illness or medical condition. We explore scientific ideas here, not medical ones. Any advice and suggestions provided by Jake or @endmyopia is 100% unlicensed, unsanctioned, un-endorsed by the optometry establishment - because we discuss science and not medicine  Everything we discuss is also highly experimental, and you should absolutely always seek a sanctioned opinion if you are experiencing health issues or medical concerns. Lens use specific comments are for discussion only, and should not be considered medical advice, nor any of other suggestions provided herein. Depending on your local laws you may need to consult a local optometrist for prescriptions and medical advice. When driving, or any activity requiring full 20/20 vision, you should always wear your glasses that provide the full correction necessary for the task. If you have symptoms that might require medical attention, please visit an ophthalmologist or hospital!

My 21andsensory links:

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On today's episode I have special guest Amy Chrissy. Amy is a 21 year old autistic homous enthusiast (which I'll definitely be asking her more about!) she is an Autism advocate who creates amazing and really informative educational videos on her TikTok @amuwamu where she has over 40,000 followers!

We chat about:

• Amy's autism diagnosis and other diagnoses she has
• Her experiences with ABA therapy as a child
• Her journey through primary and secondary school
• Amy studying sociology and psychology at university and how her first year on the course has been
• Her special interests and creative hobbies a
• Amy's TikTok journey
• Getting back out in the world, socialising and the struggles of eye contact!
• ...and Homous!

Amy's social media and other links are all here: https://linktr.ee/Amycws

My 21andsensory links:

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

On today's episode it's just me! I thought I'd do a catch-up episode, I will be chatting about:

• Feedback on my last episode with my sister
• What I've been up to recently, freelance work, projects and life updates
• Being asked to illustrate a real-life actual book?!
• Why my dog has been driving me crazy
• Medication struggles
• The anxiety and sensory issues surrounding getting back out into the world after lockdown
• ...and I generally just ramble!

Things I mentioned on the podcast:

Sensory Street info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sensory-Street-104013958390266
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sensory_street
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensory_street/

The Autism Friendly Cookbook info:

• Lydia Wilkins: https://www.instagram.com/journo_lydia/
• Spotlight on FASD podcast (episode I was on): https://youtu.be/TcQNRbq7FdM

My 21andsensory links:

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

My special guest on today's episode is...my sister!

We chat about: My sisters career as primary school teacher and what Masters course she is studying Her heart condition and how she manages it GCSE's and ALevels and the stresses of exams Special needs and mental health within Schools Understanding the role of School's SEN departments and the process that it takes to become a Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO) What it was like growing up with me... Questions from my listeners (taken from my Instagram Stories) for my sister And some bloopers to look forward to at the end!My 21andsensory links:

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