This is a hard conversation to follow in many ways, and the fact that I am putting it up at all highlights the degree to which this podcast is a personal project rather than a commodity or consumer product. This episode is a conversation between me and my friend Luke, a discussion largely animated by my recent concerns over my young son's development and whether he may have an autism spectrum disorder. Regular listeners will note that, prior to my ever having such concerns, autism was a recurring topic on this podcast--partly due to my training as a speech therapist and partly because of what I take to be its theological implications. More than anything else, though, my lifelong fascination with autism probably owes to my own psychological affinities with that condition, affinities which I note despite never having received an official diagnosis of autism.

This episode begins with something like a voice message that I left on Luke's phone a few weeks prior to our actual conversation. In the message, I discuss different possible topics and struggle to express certain intuitions and concepts. Throughout the message and the conversation that follows, I sometimes fail to clarify the connections between my thoughts, and I do not always word topics sensitively or clearly distinguish my own views from ironic positions and/or caricatures. I hope that, whenever possible, listeners will give me the benefit of the doubt, assuming coherence and lack of intent to offend wherever my language may seem questionable. In that vein, I hope that listeners will also excuse my swearing in this episode's "introduction"--I considered editing it out, but couldn't find a smooth or graceful way to do so. With all that being said, I'd like to thank my listeners for their continued patience and support. Any messages, feedback, or prayers you'd like to send my way are highly appreciated. Video links are forthcoming.