Staring Down the Storm: Autism Advocacy in America

Today, I am going deep with Kimberly Bowman, who brings more than 45 years of combined professional and lived experience in mental health to our conversation. She shares with me how her journey started as a teenager when she encountered severe bipolar disorder in her then-partner’s family and explains how, later on, her younger son showed concerning symptoms early in childhood, around 18 months old. She explains why her family initially struggled to differentiate what was “normal” and what behaviors needed intervention, as so many of us do in the beginning, before lived experience provides clarity. 

We talk about the long and difficult process of getting the right diagnosis for her son, including multiple misdiagnoses such as ADD, ADHD, and major depressive disorder before bipolar disorder was even recognized. Kimberly had to learn to advocate for her child in a complicated and convoluted system where even the professionals would not agree on what was clearly the correct diagnosis. Things went from bad to worse, as her family navigated medication changes, side effects, and shifting symptoms while her son grew older. Is it surprising that he would eventually also experience psychosis, homelessness, and repeated cycles of incarceration and hospitalization? No, because those are the “solutions” available in our non-existent support structure. 

After years of working in administration at a state psychiatric hospital and later at NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness), Kimberly could see very clearly that the problem was not just a broken mental health system, but, in fact, that this country never intentionally designed one in the first place. So, she has committed to building America’s ideal mental health system through a national design commission that includes clinicians, law enforcement, judicial voices, crisis responders, and lived-experience advocates. Her work provides coordinated, upstream prevention and more options than just the hospital or jail when someone is in crisis.

You are not alone on this journey. Kimberly has made it her mission to provide knowledge, resources, and support to anyone struggling with their mental health or that of a loved one. Read her books, listen to her speak.

How do we go about building a better framework? How do we take a proactive approach to crisis intervention? How do we get the people calling the shots to hear our demands for reform before another life is lost to the “system”?

Learn more about Kimberly Bowman below:

Insight to Impact website 

Purchase No One Told ME - What Every Family Needs to Know About Mental Illness in America HERE

Purchase The System We Never Built - Severe Mental Illness, Criminalization, and the Fight to Create Real Care HERE

Chapters

0:16 Navigating Mental Health Challenges in Family
6:13 The Struggles of Diagnosis and Treatment
11:11 Advocacy and the Role of a Parent
16:06 Understanding the Mental Health “System”
23:57 Building a Better Mental Health Framework
25:51 Insight to Impact: A Journey of Advocacy
32:09 The Role of Lived Experience in Mental Health
36:22 Innovative Approaches to Crisis Response
41:24 Preventing Crises: A Proactive Approach
45:00 Books as Tools for Change

Contact Tabitha:

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https://tabithazeigler.com

This week, I connected with Jamie Hill, an openly trans non-binary candidate who ran for Congress in Michigan’s second district. Growing up in a rural community on the state’s east side, Jamie, a “dirt road farm kid,” has a family history of subsistence farming stretching back generations. When you are raised in a conservative, church-centered environment, with no visible queer communities to learn from or positive trans role models to look up to, what do you do when you realize something is different inside but you don’t have the language to describe it? 

Jamie speaks candidly about reaching a point where transition or suicide felt like the only options available. How heartbreaking that so many people feel ending their own lives is a less painful choice than seeking acceptance for who they truly are from the people around them. It was only after receiving gender-affirming care that Jamie felt allowed to thrive as their authentic self. 

Determined to become the adult they needed as a teenager, Jamie earned EMT and paramedic credentials, degrees in public safety studies, healthcare, and emergency management, and a PA education from Yale School of Medicine. But when rural hospital systems would not call them back once they were openly non-binary and actively job seeking, it became very clear that bigotry pushes out well-qualified individuals looking to serve the communities they love. 

After settling in rural western Michigan, Jamie decided to run for their local congressional seat because candidates should be grounded in lived experience, not just polished resumes or Washington credentials. Refusing to run on the model of only speaking to wealthy donors and not individual voters, Jamie insists that real change happens when ordinary people show up, participate, and donate as little as $5 to home-grown candidates that need their support. 

When the seats at the table are bought and sold to the highest bidder with the wealthiest friends, when the players in the game are only straight white men, who is looking out for the rest of us? When we tolerate intolerance, EVERYBODY loses. We must do better. We must be better. 

Learn more about Jamie Hill below: 

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Chapters

00:16 Growing Up in Rural Michigan

12:23 Navigating Identity and Acceptance

20:30 Confronting Misconceptions and Stereotypes

24:25 The Changing Political Landscape

28:52 Advocacy and Activism in Faith Communities

33:47 Challenging the Status Quo

37:13 The Role of Money in Politics

43:01 The Dynamics of Political Engagement

48:56 Pushing for Progressive Change

52:11 The Importance of Standing Firm on Principles

56:07 Future Aspirations and Community Involvement

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

What happens when you stop yelling at the television and decide to actually run for Congress? That’s where my conversation with Nicole Locklin begins. Nicole is an attorney, a late-diagnosed neurodivergent woman, a survivor, and now a candidate for Florida’s 26th Congressional District. She didn’t set out to become a politician. She reached a point where she decided somebody had to step up.

We talk about what it means to live under political systems that can feel increasingly disconnected from the people they’re supposed to serve. Gerrymandering, campaign money, corporate influence, government accountability—these aren’t abstract political talking points when they shape whether people can afford housing, access healthcare, feel safe, or have control over their own lives.

And then we get personal. Nicole and I talk about ADHD, autism, late diagnosis, sexual violence, domestic violence, and what happens when survivors are failed by institutions that are supposed to protect them. How much are we willing to tolerate from people in power? And why do we keep treating accountability like an optional feature of government?

We also talk about immigration, human rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and the responsibility of allies to speak up—especially when it would be easier to stay quiet.

Because democracy doesn’t survive on spectators. At some point, somebody has to decide: "I’m not sitting this one out."

Learn more about Nicole Locklin:

Website: Locklin For Congress

Email: [email protected] 

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Chapters

00:00 Nicole Locklin’s Journey to Politics

10:15 The Importance of Community and Roots

20:19 Navigating Neurodiversity and Advocacy

24:13 The Journey of Advocacy and Activism

27:47 The Impact of Government Actions on Communities

32:46 Confronting Societal Issues and Historical Context

37:47 Addressing Child Protection and Justice

44:58 The Rise of Extremism and Its Consequences

47:00 Navigating the Justice System

50:28 Racism and Political Accountability

57:37 The Importance of Representation

63:10 A Call for Accountability and Change

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

What happened to the idea that loving your neighbor, caring for your community, and wanting a better life for everyone were simply… good things? Why have we allowed compassion to become a political position? I sat down with Dr. Melissa Bird for a conversation about Indigenous sovereignty, Christian nationalism, racism, faith, and what it really means to lead from the heart.

Melissa is a descendant of the Chivwitz Band of Southern Paiutes, an author, preacher, pagan, mother, and former congressional candidate. But more than anything, she is deeply committed to building communities differently. We talk about her approach to intuitive leadership and her belief that dismantling white supremacist, patriarchal, colonizing structures requires us to stop telling people what they need and start listening to one another.

We also have to reckon with history. The United States did not exist here 500 years ago. Indigenous nations did. And if we refuse to understand the genocide, land theft, religious suppression, and erasure woven into our national story, how can we possibly understand where we are today?

Melissa and I talk about the “graceful revolution”—self-love, self-compassion, and self-reflection as foundations for changing the world. We talk about why we need accomplices, not just allies, why talking to people who disagree with us matters, and why connection may be one of our most powerful tools against fascism and Christian nationalism. Are we willing to get uncomfortable enough to actually change?

Learn more about Dr. Melissa Bird below: 

Visit her WEBSITE

To purchase her book, Leading From The Heart, CLICK HERE!

Visit her Instagram

Visit her YouTube

Further links: 

The Rediscovery of America by Ned Blackhawk 

Fresh Banana Leaves by Jessica Hernandez

Bad Indians: A Tribal Memoir by Deborah A. Miranda  

Reconstruction: The Unfinished Promise podcast with Malcolm Gladwell

Chapters

00:00 Heart-centered leadership

05:09 Why being called “radical” is part of the problem

09:59 Native sovereignty and the meaning of “first Americans”

13:45 How Indigenous ideas shaped the Constitution

17:31 Building community in a hyperconnected but isolated country

23:56 Challenging Native identity myths with DNA and history

37:04 Coming out, maternal rejection, and identity

42:36 Midwestern respectability, race, and immigrant bias

47:11 Why younger generations are pushing for something better

57:57 Why crisis can shock people into action

65:46 Calling Congress to account and the upcoming festival appearance

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

What happens when the people making decisions about our lives have never had to worry about making rent, paying for healthcare, or watching student debt grow despite making every payment? I sat down with Dr. Mariah Lancaster, a veterinarian, former federal employee, and congressional candidate in Massachusetts, to talk about why she believes our political system is fundamentally failing working people.

Mariah and I get into the issues that politicians often try to separate: healthcare, education, student debt, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, foreign policy, and the economy. Are these really separate issues—or are they all symptoms of a system that puts money and power ahead of people?

We also talk about trans rights, Palestine, and the responsibility we have to stand up for people who are being scapegoated or pushed to the margins. Mariah is unapologetic about where she stands: protecting vulnerable people isn't a "culture war" issue. It's a question of whether we actually believe in equal rights.

And then there's democracy itself. Who gets heard? Who gets elected? Who is buying influence? We talk about publicly funded elections, expanding the House, getting money out of politics, and what it would take to make government genuinely representative again.

What kind of country could we build if we stopped accepting broken systems as inevitable?

Learn more about Dr. Mariah Lancaster below:

Website: http://www.MariahLancaster.com 

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SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN HERE! 

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/ml-web 

Chapters

00:00 - Dr. Mariah Lancaster and her run for Massachusetts' 6th district

02:44 - Why Congress should be made up of working people

04:51 - Replacing a politician who sold out trans kids

12:50 - Palestine, Semitic identity, and the case for coexistence

17:45 - What being non-binary means to her

23:22 - Family conversations, coming out, and the limits of old labels

28:07 - Autism, eugenics, and why she sees warning signs in current politics

34:33 - Social isolation, school experiences, and higher risk for queer youth

38:00 - Why parents should prioritize a child's safety over conformity

45:17 - How safe blue seats still shape the future of the Democratic Party

50:54 - Rebuilding the House through reform and public financing

55:23 - Private equity, essential industries, and rising costs

60:53 - Why debt and policy failure pushed her into the race

62:18 - Why she refuses a return to 1850-style politics

64:40 - Mariah Lancaster's platform and how to support the campaign

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

In this conversation, I sat down with Mike Stringham of Cefore X. Plosives, to tackle a question that feels more urgent than ever: what happens when ordinary people stop speaking up? We dug into corruption, political manipulation, systemic injustice, and why so many of us have been conditioned to accept things as they are. But should we? Or is the real danger believing we're too small to make a difference?

Mike challenged me to think beyond outrage. It's easy to point fingers. It's harder to build something better. We talked about why critical thinking matters, why questioning authority shouldn't be controversial, and why our communities desperately need people willing to lead with courage instead of fear. If we're constantly waiting for someone else to fix the problem, aren't we becoming part of it?

What struck me most was the reminder that hope isn't passive. It's contagious. Every conversation, every act of kindness, every protest, every uncomfortable question plants a seed for something bigger. We also explored our responsibility to teach the next generation to think for themselves rather than blindly accept the stories they're handed.

If humanity really does hinge on what we choose to do today, then silence isn't neutral anymore. So what's it going to take before we decide enough is enough? What kind of world are we creating for our children—and what are we willing to do to make it better? Maybe creating more heaven on earth starts with each of us choosing to show up.

Learn more about Mike at Cefore X. Plosives below: 

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LinkTree 

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Stuff mentioned in this episode: 

Bernard Taylor for Congress 

Coconut Justice Podcast 

Monte Mader Bible Study Class 

Chapters

00:00 Local Politics and Community Challenges in Florida

08:17 Impact of Violence on Kids and Families

11:32 Educational and Vocational Opportunities for Disabled Youth

16:10 Personal Stories of Resilience and Overcoming Challenges

22:23 The Role of Unity in Social Movements

25:34 The Importance of Courage and Speaking Out

30:18 Addressing Systemic Inequities and Disenfranchisement

33:51 The Power of Hard Conversations and Awareness

36:30 The Urgency of Collective Action and Resistance

39:43 Call to Action: Uniting for Change

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

As parents, we're told to trust the education system. But what happens when that system isn't built for your child? And worse—what happens when advocating for your child comes with legal threats and financial consequences? That's exactly what I unpack with Kay Anderson, a mom of two incredible neurodiverse daughters who argued that "good enough" wasn’t good enough.

Kay shares the deeply personal journey of navigating dyslexia, autism, public schools, private schools, and the exhausting reality that parents often have to become educators, therapists, advocates, and legal experts all at once. We talk about the impossible choices families face, why early intervention matters so much, and how schools can either build confidence—or destroy it.

But this conversation goes far beyond one family's story. Why are we still treating neurodiverse children like exceptions instead of designing systems where they can thrive? Why does inclusion still feel optional? And why does money so often determine whether a child gets the support they deserve?

I believe diversity is one of humanity's greatest strengths—not something to accommodate as an afterthought. If we're serious about preparing the next generation, we have to stop asking children to fit broken systems and start building systems that recognize every child's potential. Because this isn't just about education, it's about the kind of society we're choosing to create.

Learn more about Kay Anderson and what she's doing below: 

Prana Play - A Sensory Haven 

Waves of Change Foundation for Neurodiversity 

Kay on LinkedIn

Chapters

00:00 Kay Anderson's Background and Personal Story

02:24 Diagnosing Dyslexia and Challenges in Support

04:37 Experience with Public and Private School Support

08:54 Decision to Move Children to Public School

12:34 Legal and Systemic Issues in Private Schools

19:11 Legal Framework and ADA Compliance for Schools

21:26 Discrimination and Privilege in Private Education

24:27 Advocacy and the Need for Systemic Change

27:25 Personal Reflection on Education and Autism

39:03 The Nordic Model and Education Success

43:19 Proposed Pilot Programs for Education Reform

55:43 Understanding Sensory Regulation and Support Tools

58:55 Science Behind Meltdowns and Regulation

01:00:39 Call to Action and Advocacy for Change

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

What pushes someone to run for Congress?

For Chelsey Hockett, it wasn't ambition - it was reaching a point where staying silent was no longer an option. We talk about immigration, racism, political division, and why so many mothers are stepping into leadership because they're tired of watching the next generation inherit broken systems. When did compassion become controversial? And why are we so afraid of having the hard conversations that actually matter?

Chelsey shares how her family's civil rights legacy, her experiences growing up in diverse communities, and years of traveling shaped the way she sees the world. We dig into global human rights, the devastating impact of war on children, climate change, and the uncomfortable reality that where you're born often determines the opportunities you'll ever have. Shouldn't we be asking bigger questions about the kind of society we're building?

We also dive into Texas politics, energy infrastructure, corporate influence, education, worker rights, and why she believes billionaires and career politicians have gained far too much control over everyday lives. Is corruption inevitable - or have we simply accepted it? From term limits to affordable healthcare and stronger public education, Chelsey challenges us to imagine what government could look like if people came before profits.

At the heart of this conversation is something bigger than politics. It's about humanity. If we want stronger communities, safer families, and a better future, we have to stop waiting for someone else to fix it. What would happen if more of us chose courage over comfort?

Learn more about Chelsey Hockett below: 

Chelsey Hockett for Congress website

DONATE HERE!

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Chapters

00:00 Immigration and Diversity in Texas

06:06 Racism, Bigotry, and the Current Political Climate

09:05 The Role of Mothers in Politics

11:58 Personal Journey and Family History

18:01 Views on Israel and Global Human Rights

24:57 Travel Experiences and Climate Awareness

32:24 Energy Infrastructure and Green Initiatives in Texas

36:35 The Impact of Billionaires on Local Resources

41:43 Corruption and the Need for Term Limits

46:48 Education Reform and the Future of American Schools

51:12 Corporate Influence and Worker Rights

57:00 Justice for Victims of Abuse and Trafficking

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

What happens when we stop seeing people as diagnoses, case numbers, or "clients"—and start seeing them as human beings again? That's exactly the conversation I wanted to have with Melissa Fisher and Erica Pearson, the co-founders of New Wave Wellness. Their stories are deeply personal, but what they're building goes far beyond disability services. They're challenging the way we think about care, community, and what real advocacy actually looks like.

We talked about why disability advocacy can't exist in a silo. Mental health, homelessness, developmental disabilities, struggling families—they're all connected. So why do we keep trying to solve them separately? If nearly half of Americans are one unexpected crisis away from losing everything, shouldn't we all be paying attention?

Melissa and Erica refuse to accept a system that treats people like paperwork. Their approach is rooted in compassion, dignity, and the belief that every person deserves to be seen before they're assessed. It sounds simple, but somewhere along the way we've made humanity optional. Why?

This conversation challenged me to ask a bigger question: What kind of community are we actually building? One that waits for people to fall through the cracks, or one that shows up before they do? Real change doesn't begin with another program—it begins with choosing to care about the person standing right in front of us.

Learn more about New Wave Wellness below: 

New Wave Wellness - Hope in Motion website

Facebook 

Email: [email protected] 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to New Wave Wellness and Its Founders

05:00 Personal Journeys into Disability Advocacy

09:57 Challenges Facing the Disability Community

15:07 The Importance of Advocacy and Community Support

20:01 Humanistic Approaches in Service Delivery

24:57 Opportunities for Involvement and Conclusion

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/

I sat down with Rocky Roggio, filmmaker, advocate, and someone who isn’t afraid to challenge deeply held assumptions about faith, identity, and power. We talked about her work exposing misinformation surrounding the Bible—particularly the ways scripture has been used, and often misused, against LGBTQ+ people. If the Bible wasn’t originally written in English, why are so many modern interpretations treated as unquestionable truth?

Growing up in Indiana, Rocky experienced firsthand the tension between religion, politics, and belonging. Her story of deconstructing faith wasn’t about rejecting spirituality—it was about asking harder questions. Questions many of us were taught not to ask. What happens when authority figures get it wrong? And why are so many people punished simply for seeking honest answers?

Our conversation also explored advocacy, community engagement, and the growing need for people to step into leadership. Rocky shared why she left the safety of a traditional career path to pursue political activism and how personal relationships often serve as catalysts for meaningful change. Real change rarely starts in institutions—it starts with people.

At its core, this episode is about challenging systems that rely on silence. Whether we're talking about religion, politics, or social justice, progress requires curiosity, courage, and dialogue. Are we willing to question what we've inherited? And if we discover we've been told only part of the story, what responsibility do we have to do something about it?

Learn more about Rocky Roggio here: 

1946 The Movie 

Sharon 'Rocky' Roggio Instagram 

Rocky Recommends: 

Forging a Sacred Weapon: The 1946 Bible Mistranslation Behind Anti-Gay Theology  By Kathy Baldock  

Chapters

00:00 The Impact of Religion and Culture in Indiana

05:57 Personal Stories of Deconstruction and Identity

12:10 Running for Office and Political Activism

15:07 Intersectionality and Marginalized Communities

17:52 The Role of the Bible in LGBTQ+ Issues

21:04 Challenging Authority and Questioning Norms

24:16 The Importance of Open Dialogue

29:57 The Future of Advocacy and Activism

Contact Tabitha:

[email protected]

https://tabithazeigler.com/