What if the world believed you couldn’t understand it—while inside, your mind was full of thoughts, poetry, and frustration you had no way to express?

In this episode of Top of Mind, host Julie Rose sits down with Emily Grodin, who spent 25 years unable to speak, and her mother Valerie Gilpeer, to share the extraordinary story of the moment Emily finally found her voice through typing after a devastating meltdown on a transatlantic flight.

Emily’s poems and reflections challenge long-held assumptions about autism, communication, and intelligence. Her story is paired with insights from journalist Eric Garcia, psychologist Dr. Monique Botha, and nonprofit executive Sarah Nannery, each offering perspective on what life is really like for autistic individuals in a world not built for them.

GUESTS

Emily Grodin and Valerie Gilpeer, co-authors of “I Have Been Buried Under Years of Dust.”

Eric Garcia, journalist for The Independent and author of ‘We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation.”

Monique Botha, community psychologist and researcher at the University of Stirling

Sarah and Larry Nannery, co-authors of “What to Say Next: Successful Communication in Work, Life and Love with Autism Spectrum Disorder.”

CHAPTERS

(0:00) A Turbulent Flight

(1:58) Introduction to Top of Mind

(2:45) Emily's Journey

(4:39) Emily's Reflections on Communication

(6:42) Valerie's Belief in Emily's Potential

(10:41) Emily's Breakthrough

(17:32) Eric Garcia: Autism and Advocacy

(26:52) University Challenges

(27:21) Universal Design for Disabilities

(28:11) Accommodations?

(30:37) Cure Research?

(32:58) Mental Health and Autism

(34:34) Challenges for Autistic Researchers

(38:38) Workplace Dynamics and Autism

(42:13) Personal Experiences and Coping Strategies

(53:17) Conclusion