Atypical: The Podcast

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So, does taking ADHD amfetamines make you an addict?

Short answer: no.

Long answer: still no, but here is the evidence

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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 in autism: This paper will be very sad if you don't read it 
• LegalEagle - Lawyer who used ChatGPT

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. 

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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. 

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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 look for our contact details in your podcast app or via our website. 

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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 [email protected]. If phone calls aren't accessible for you, text SHOUT to 85258.

In the US, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. They also have a web chat. And there's the Crisis Text Line - text HELLO to 741741.

Elsewhere, the International Association for Suicide Prevention has a directory of crisis centres worldwide www.iasp.info 

Papers used in preparation of this episode include:

• Link to Roper et al. 2025 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13229-025-00693-x 
• Link to Chikaura et al. 2025 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/aur.70137 
• Link to 2023 meta-analysis: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13229-023-00544-7
• Link to DBT RCT: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/effectiveness-and-safety-of-dialectical-behavior-therapy-for-suicidal-ideation-and-behavior-in-autistic-adults-a-pragmatic-randomized-controlled-trial/4464CA3C0D3DDEF5F3A4BD45415B9B50
• Link to AASP download: https://research.ncl.ac.uk/neurodisability/leafletsandmeasures/autismadaptedsafetyplans/
• Link to UK Suicide Prevention Strategy: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/suicide-prevention-strategy-for-england-2023-to-2028
• Link to JAMA paper on autism/TGNC intersection: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2824667
• Autistic identity systematic review: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38334318/
• Interpersonal Theory in autism: https://molecularautism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13229-022-00495-5
• Camouflaging and suicide: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31820344/
• 988 autism resources: https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/if-youre-neurodivergent/
• Autistica suicide page: https://www.autistica.org.uk/what-is-autism/suicide-and-autism
• Trevor Project autism brief: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/mental-health-among-autistic-lgbtq-youth-apr-2022/
• Warning signs resource (988): https://988lifeline.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Warning-Signs-Resource-Sept-2021-2.pdf

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. 

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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-tylenol-experts-say-more-research-needed-2025-09-22/
• https://www.bmj.com/content/390/bmj.r2004
• https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2025/09/24/the-tylenol-paracetamol-autism-scare-poses-a-grave-challenge-for-science-communicators/
• https://abcnews.go.com/Health/sick-stomach-trump-distorts-facts-autism-tylenol-vaccines/story?id=125852331
• https://www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/researcher-behind-trump-tylenol-autism-expert-testimony-tossed/
• https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02876-1
• 
  

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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 our website. 

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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 look for our contact details in your podcast app or via our website. 

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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 shot rings out*

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. 

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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 

Most recent NHS England autism statistics: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/autism-statistics/january-2024-to-december-2024 

Live ND: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/research/projects/livend-live-music-inclusion-at-venues-and-events-for-neurodivergent-people 

My blog on the Live ND launch event: https://www.autistica.org.uk/blog/live-from-livend 

LSE report on economic case for prioritising autism: https://www.lse.ac.uk/News/Latest-news-from-LSE/2025/a-January-25/investment-in-services-for-autistic-individuals-will-create-economic-social-opportunities-UK

Follow Georgia @mindtheflap on socials and Susie @puddleuddle as well. 
Do not perceive Simon, it's probably for the best.

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.