Let's Talk Autism

Hello! We are back at last after a months break while we had a little bit of time out (as well as Meesh losing her voice!) 
So happy to be back with a new season full of wonderful guests and interesting topics. 
This week Louise from insta account @neurodivergent_lou is back to talk to us about her experiences in regards to holidays and travel. Lou describes what holidays were like for her as a child and teen and shares with us some top tips for travel and holidays from her point of view as an autistic adult. 
Fantastic chat as always with Louise!

This week Meesh and Chrissy welcome back Casey from instagram account and small buisness @sensorial_sensoryboxes and @caseys|_asd_journey 
Casey is back to talk to us about "Burnout" or autistic overload as other autistic guests have said they call it. Casey tells us what happens to her during burnout, what can help and the relationships between herself and her family during a burnout. 
We also discuss mental health, antidepressants, anxiety and depression. 
An amazing young lady who speaks honestly and openly about her experiences. Thank you Casey. 
@letstalkautismpodcast
@thecockneybloggirl
@chrissybaby_10

This week we have a full panel. Meesh and Chrissy are joined by Tom, Malin and Lou to talk Interoception. 
Interoception is described as the internal state of the body. Interoceptive signals travel to the brain via a diversity of neural pathways which allow for sensory processing and a prediction of the internal bodily state.... sounds really complicated and scientific we know....Luckily autistic cinematographer @tomwattsdop, @neurodivergent_lou and parent of an autistic teen @sensationallearningwithpenguin are here to help us understand interoception.
A fascinating discussion!
Let us know what you think of our podcast via apple reviews or on our instagram page @letstalkautismpodcast

This week Meesh and Chrissy are hacking away at the DLA form which many parents complete in regards to their children's needs. 
Join the girls as they discuss top tips, helpful advice when completing the form and the emotions that can come alongside it.
@letstalkautismpodcast
@thecockneybloggirl
@chrissybaby_10

This week Meesh and Chrissy revisit PDA but this time we are speaking to mum Rosie who is autistic with a PDA profile as well as her daughter. 
Rosie talks openly and honestly about PDA and autism and how the diagnosis has changed hers and her daughter's lives. 
We talk about their relationship, similarities and differences and coping strategies. A fascinating chat with a remarkable guest. 
@pdagirls

Today Meesh and Christelle celebrate the podcast's 1 year birthday!
Dan is on to speak all things ADHD. Diagnosed aged 19, Dan talks us through his diagnosis journey, what ADHD means to him and his fight to have his son diagnosed also. 
Dan talks about life growing up undiagnosed with ADHD, schooling and working in the hospitality sector. 
Amazing chat with an amazing young man! 
Find dan at @aka__hunter

This week Chrissy and Meesh speak to Detective Inspector Lynsay about autism awareness within the police force.
Lynsay, who has an autistic teenage son, explains the National Police Autism Association and the work it does. We also speak about "Autism Alert" cards which can be applied for and used by the autistic community if they were ever to come into a situation where the police were involved. We discuss breaking down barriers in the community and how the police force are making themselves more open to vulnerable members of the community. 
We talk arrests, interviews, being a victim of crime or a witness and how adults with additional needs are helped with the process by the police and what measures are put in place.
We ask about situations where adults and children with additional needs become vulnerable to organised crime and what can be done in these instances. An insightful chat with lots of information. 

This week's panel line up consisted of Emily, mum Lisa with her 14 year old daughter Ayla.
Emily has spent her life being diagnosed with depression, anxiety and mental health conditions. It wasn't until she was 26 that somebody asked if she had ever considered she was autistic. During the start of the first lock down Emily received her autism diagnosis. She speaks about the relief the diagnosis brought to her, how her life has changed since and her work going forward to aid acceptance and inclusion for the autistic community. 
Joining Emily and ourselves was Lisa and Ayla who have began the journey to diagnosis. 

We speak inclusion in the workplace, exams and mainstream schooling. 
@emilyautism
@no_moretwo4
@_.i_can_draw
@thecockneybloggirl
@chrissybaby_10
@letstalkautismpodcast

Our first episode with our panel of guests discussed previously with Brian Dooley. 
Today's panel consisted of Shane Stoneley, Casey from @sensorial_sensoryboxes and @theoneandonlysia

Shane and Casey are autistic adults sharing their experiences with Chrissy, Meesh and Sia who are parents of autistic children. 
Together we talk through sensory processing, covering diet/food, clothing, masks and lockdown and recognising emotions. 

We absolutely loved this episode and hope you do too!

The last week has marked the start of major changes to our podcast. Christelle and Meesh shared a post after the podcast marathon stating that we will be editing our textual context removing all harmful phrases and language which we had not understood to be harmful at the beginning of our journey on this podcast. 

We were approached by the amazing Brian Dooley @brian.dooley95 who joins us today to talk about the autistic community and the changes we can make and should be making to be better advocates and using our podcast to include all members of the autistic community. Brian gave us some fantastic insights into the power of words and the reasons why terminology and language changes as well as talking about the best places to learn about autism which of course is the autistic community. 

An amazing guest and informative and thought provoking chat.