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To round out this season's segment on representation in film and media, we speak with Domonique Brown, an actor best known for his work on the hit Netflix show, "Atypical". We talk to him about his autism diagnosis, his acting journey, his work on the show, what representation looks like to him and some of his plans for the future. To learn more about Domonique Brown, follow him on Instagram @d.cool19.

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In this episode, we extend our series into exploring representation in film by having a great conversation with Tal Anderson, an actually autistic actor who recently starred in the hit Netflix series, "Atypical". She spent time with me to discuss her acting journey, her autism diagnosis, her dreams and what representation in film means to her. To learn more about her, follow her on Instagram at @thetalanderson.

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In this week's episode, I have a great discussion with a sister filmmaking duo, Laura & Rachael Doukas, currently in the pre-production process of their upcoming feature, The Ryan Express. They sit down to speak with me about their filmmaking process, their decision to cast actually autistic actors and their personal connection behind why they chose to move in this direction. If you like what you hear, please leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts.

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In this episode of the Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, we feature Natasha Mynhier, award winning-director "In A Beat", a movie about a black mother, her autistic son and the dynamics underlying their relationship. I speak with Natasha about the reasons behind why she wanted to depict neurodivergent storytelling in a way that highlighted autism through a diverse lens.

We also speak about the decision process she underwent in making casting and personnel decisions and the importance of having a neurodiverse team on a project like this. Take a listen and let us know what you think. If you like what you hear and haven't done so already, please leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts.

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In this episode of the Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, I speak with Bobby Rubio, Pixar director of the 2019 animated short film, Float. Earlier this year, Bobby spoke with me about the movie and his son, Alex, the inspiration behind the film. We talked about how being a parent to a child on the autism spectrum sparked the idea behind the film, the importance of representation in media, cultural stigma attached to an autism diagnosis, family life and the evolution he made as a dad to embrace the fullness of who his son is.

For those who have not yet seen the short film, it is available on Disney + .

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In this NYMA episode, we speak to the President, CEO and Chairman of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, David Long, about his life as a CEO, a Dad and a husband. He and I had a very candid discussion about raising an autistic son in an age before modern day autism awareness and autism acceptance campaigns. He frankly discusses the isolation his family underwent in the early years of the diagnosis and how he channels those tough chapters of his life into pouring into community outreach efforts. We also talk about the way society has viewed brain differences through both his family's and my family's generational contexts.

To have a full appreciation of this conversation, please also check out the immediate previous episode, Season 3, Episode 2, where I interview Melissa MacDonnell, President of the Liberty Mutual Foundation, one of the leaders responsible for an all abilities playground built in Plano, Texas.

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When you think of a playground, what comes to mind? Do you think of corporate philanthropy or corporate social responsibility? Do you think of community engagement with intentionality? Do you think of universal design with accessibility at its core? The Liberty Playground is located in Plano, Texas with an aim toward catering to children of all abilities. It is a playground that is the fruit of a public-private partnership between the City of Plano, Texas and Liberty Mutual Insurance.

In this episode, I sit down with one of the leaders responsible for the success of this playground coming to fruition, Melissa MacDonnell, the President of the Liberty Mutual Foundation. We discuss the evolution of corporate philanthropy and corporate social responsibility over time, how projects get assessed for impact, lessons learned and what drives her.

For context, please see the links below to the following information that highlights the playground grand opening.

Liberty Playground Grand Opening in September 2019

Liberty Mutual Insurance Announcement

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Our first episode of our third season starts with a look into hiring practices at a global financial institution already known for its award winning autism and disability inclusion hiring practices. This episode looks into a relatively new set of business practices known as the Business Solutions Team ("BeST") program, an initiative with a mission to match intellectually and developmentally disabled employees with roles that fit their skill sets.

In this episode, I interview BeST Program leaders Bryan Gill, Celia Rodee and Danielle Meadows, who all share their experiences on the program's origin, challenges with running the initiative as a start-up within an established institution and where they see the future of the program going along with others like it.

Please visit the following for reference as to the statistics highlighted in this episode.
World Health Organization
Mentalhelp.net

If you like what you hear, please leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts or any other podcast platform you may be listening to this episode on!

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In our final episode of the season, we round out our segment on women on the spectrum through the illustrative eyes of Marcelle Ciampi, autistic writer, author, neurodiversity advocate and diversity and inclusion leader. She talks about masking, the behaviors used to conceal true behavior in order to conform to what is considered acceptable by the greater society. She also details her perspective on getting a later in life autism diagnosis, the hurdles she jumped to obtain it in the first place and what she thinks a normal brain likely looks like.

We appreciate her willingness to share and the many takeaways she provided through her vulnerability. For more information on Marcelle's writing, check out the link to Everyday Asperger's. For more information on the company mentioned in the episode, check out Ultranauts, Inc.

If you like what you hear, please leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts or any other podcast platform you may be listening to this episode on!

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For years, the face of autism took on a male form. It is only in the recent era that more women have come forward with their stories in hopes to slowly change the narrative and highlight the beauty of the full range of neurodivergence that exists in society. As we close out our second season, we will hear from two different autistic women who have so graciously shared their journeys, including how society reacts to them when they tell people they are on the spectrum.

This episode, the next to last one of the season, features Ayanna Davis, a multi-faceted artist from New York who is an autistic, black woman. She talks about her later in life autism diagnosis, her initial reaction and how she feels today and how her art brings her joy. We hope you enjoy the richness of this episode.

I reference research in the episode that references data and statistics that relate to women on the spectrum. The CDC statistic is available here and the British Psychological Society article is available here. Also, for those who wish to follow Ayanna Davis on Instagram, you can follow here @phenomallyautistic.

If you like what you hear, please leave a five star review on Apple Podcasts or any other podcast platform you may be listening to this episode on!

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