Tourette's Podcast

Let's crack into a mystery. Scientists began to notice it as the pandemic revised our lives -- young people, almost all of them women, started showing up to the doctor in surprising numbers with what looked like Tourette Syndrome. Out of nowhere. No such prior symptoms. The common denominator? They'd all been watching Tourette content on the social media video-making-and-sharing app TikTok. Is the TS stuff on TikTok somehow bringing out some dormant, previously undocumented tic disorder in its viewers? Are they faking it? What's going on? We bring on a couple scientists -- Drs. Tamara Pringsheim and Davide Martino of the University of Calgary -- to investigate. And, yeah, it gets interesting.

Plus: Revisiting a question from a struggling parent. And Tourette Awareness Month continues.

Going Viral: Social Media May Be Increasing Cases of New-Onset Tics

Work from Drs. Tamara Pringsheim and Davide Martino

Tourette's Podcast is made possible by the Tourette Association of America, tourette.org. Support!

You can give Tourette's Podcast individual support at https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast

Tourette's Podcast Discussion Group on Facebook

What better way to celebrate Tourette Awareness Month (May 15-June 15) than to open up about having the disorder? For the first time, ever, we mean (to whom it applies).

Just a few days before this episode's conversation took place, our guest, 26-year-old Jhonelle, spoke up for the first time publicly about her life with Tourette Syndrome. To classmates, everyone.

Which came with self-questioning. Would people treat her differently? Would they doubt her? Take her seriously?

Plus: A parent of a 13-year-old with TS is doubting her ability to help. And a few science facts that Touretters should know.

Jhonelle on Instagram

Dr. Christine Conelea (TS scientist) on Twitter

Tourette's Podcast is made possible by the Tourette Association of America, tourette.org. Support!

You can give Tourette's Podcast individual support at https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast

Tourette's Podcast Discussion Group on Facebook

This is a milestone of sorts; we're talking with the first guest Tourette's Podcast ever had -- Maddie -- to hear how life has been since she opened it up to the world on Season 1, Episode 1. This is one of those roaming, casual-paced conversations that covers so much -- from self-evaluation to relationships to Elon Musk and cyborgs to transition points to openness with one's employer and so much more. Lots of laughing.

Hope you enjoyed the Tourette Association of America's virtual conference last weekend. We catch up on it in the episode's intro.

Tourette's Podcast is made possible by the Tourette Association of America, tourette.org. Support!

You can give Tourette's Podcast individual support at https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast

Tourette's Podcast Discussion Group on Facebook

Episode 1 of Season 7, "Whispering For Too Long," is one of the best conversations Tourette's Podcast has ever recorded. Our guest is Gogo. She's lived with TS her entire life, but didn't know it as such until much later in adulthood -- and that's a big factor for her. When she finally got the diagnosis, it was like the world turned different colors. One thing to know about Gogo -- she speaks her mind. With that, you get some of the funniest takes ever; but there's a lot of raw stuff here, too (with uncensored language, if you need such notice). Seriously, it doesn't get any more honest than this.

Gogo White on Instagram

Tourette Association of America 2021 Virtual Conference

Tourette's Podcast is made possible by the Tourette Association of America, tourette.org. Support!

You can give Tourette's Podcast individual support at https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast

Tourette's Podcast Discussion Group on Facebook

Popping with Tourette Awareness Month (May 15-June 15), here's your entry to lucky number Season 7 of Tourette's Podcast with, as always, a twofer. Episodes 0 and 1 are out simultaneously.

Episode 0 of Season 7, "Launch," captures a super solid conversation between podcast host Ben and two giants in the Tourette advocacy world -- TV presenter and wine/spirits expert Aidy Smith; and advocate, author and YouTuber Britney Wolf. This conversation, recorded live with a big online audience, kicked off the Tourette Association of America's 2021 virtual conference (May 14-16). Funny, sharp, serious, emotional -- we hit all the strings when it comes to life with Tourette and take some great audience questions.

Past Tourette's Podcast conversation with Aidy Smith

Past Tourette's Podcast conversation with Britney Wolf

Aidy Smith on Instagram

Britney Wolf on Instagram

Tourette Association of America 2021 Virtual Conference

Tourette's Podcast is made possible by the Tourette Association of America, tourette.org. Support!

You can give Tourette's Podcast individual support at https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast

Tourette's Podcast Discussion Group on Facebook

Folks! Season 7 is here, and just ahead of Tourette Awareness Month (May 15-June 15), kicked off PROPERLY by 2021 Virtual Conference with the Tourette Association of America. Here we catch up with Meghan Burns from TAA to talk about why this one is so significant. And just drops some cool breaking news on us. Listen! Check in! Lots coming up and we couldn't be more excited.

https://www.touretteconference.org/

https://tourette.org/

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https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast

On the finale episode of Season 6, we close out an important ticket with a parent who wanted to know how to tell his young son he'd been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome; we start up a book list; we urge your participation in National Advocacy Day (for U.S. residents); and then we get to the perfect guest to close out the season, Calvin Ramirez. This one feels like it answers a lot about where we've been and why we are the way we are at this point in our lives, and questions how it could be any different -- in a non-cheesy way, we promise. This one's power fun. Ben and Calvin even bring Gossip Girl into it. XOXO - Tourette's Podcast

THANKS, EVERYBODY!

Apply for scholarships for Tourette Students (thanks to Scholastic Tourette Supporters for supporting Tourette's Podcast!)

Virtual National Advocacy Day 2021 (Get on board now!)

Tourette's Podcast is made possible by the Tourette Association of America, tourette.org. Support!

You can give Tourette's Podcast individual support at https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast

On this (great) episode, we have Eli, who works in American politics and campaigning. Lots of "yeah, me too!" talk about anxiety and fear and how it influences our behavior and, often, inaction, even on things we'd love to do. Also: a question -- with lots of answers -- from a parent on how to tell his young son he's been diagnosed with Tourette Syndrome. Plus: correcting the spelling of "scholastic."

Apply for scholarships for Tourette Students (thanks to Scholastic Tourette Supporters for supporting Tourette's Podcast!)

Virtual National Advocacy Day 2021 (Get on board now!)

Tourette's Podcast is made possible by the Tourette Association of America, tourette.org. Support!

You can give Tourette's Podcast individual support at https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast

Things that Ben and this week's guest, Becky of London, have in common: Both were young rebels. Both had a frustrating school experience. Both are creativity-driven. Both totally immerse themselves in specific interests in short blasts before moving onto the next total immersion. Both are learning how to slow down and take breaks. Becky is a barber. And Ben badly needs a haircut. But it's Becky in the chair on this episode, with a great story of how she arrived at a late Tourette diagnosis and how it applies looking back through earlier life. Ben also shares a ridiculous story from his young schoolboy days involving a number-two pencil. A chance to get a Tourette scholarship. And a listener question about the intersection of colored lighting and emotion.

Apply for scholarships for Tourette Students (thanks to Scholastic Tourette Supporters for supporting Tourette's Podcast!)

Becky on Instagram

Jim Jams Resin

Virtual National Advocacy Day 2021 (Get on board now!)

Tourette's Podcast is made possible by the Tourette Association of America, tourette.org. Support!

You can give Tourette's Podcast individual support at https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast

By request, this is the audio of Ben's remarks at the 2021 Virtual Teen Summit, which the Tourette Association of America held Jan. 9, 2021. With full remarks and some Q&A with the many teenagers on hand, the focus here is on self-acceptance and the power ingredient of vulnerability.

Tourette's Podcast is made possible by the Tourette Association of America, tourette.org. Support!

You can give Tourette's Podcast individual support at https://www.patreon.com/tourettespodcast