Candid conversations between autistic off-hour professionals! Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kara Dymond, Maja Toudal, and Bruce Petherick. It is centered around topics relevant to autism and the lives of autistic people. We are autistic professionals with a passion for broadening and advancing accessibility for autistic people and understanding of autism and neurodiversity. We approach our work with the combination of our personal and professional experiences.
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Ep. 39 - [Outer] Space, [Spiritual] Space, & [Cultural] Space! (with Pugal Sivasankar)
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Ep. 39 - [Outer] Space, [Spiritual] Space, & [Cultural] Space! (with Pugal Sivasankar)Bruce, Kara, and guest Pugal Sivasankar, a doctoral student in aerospace engineering, talk about a wide range of subjects, from the big bang, the Big Bang Theory, another big bang (the atom bomb), bottom-up thinking, and much more! Pugal shares his personal discov…
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Season 3 Bonus - Autistic Tidbits & Tangents!
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Bonus Episode! We tried recording an episode and got into too many tangents that we decided to release it as a bonus! Bruce, Kara, and Maja discuss genealogy, creepie crawlies, zombie apocalypse plans, and much more!__________ Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kara Dymond, Maja Toudal, and Bruce Petherick. It is center…
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Ep. 38 - Comedy, Confusion, & Communication Differences
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Ep. 38 - Comedy, Confusion, & Communication DifferencesIn this episode, Bruce, Kara, and Maja discuss contemporary use of language, visuals, and symbols in internet communication and how that can be exlusive to those without the contextual knowledge. This conversation extends to in person communication, humour, and the elements that can impact whet…
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Ep. 37 - Neurodivergent Exercise Myths, Motivations, & Joyful Movement (with Micaelah Barb)
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Ep. 37 - Neurodivergent Exercise Myths, Motivations, & Joyful Movement (with Micaelah Barb) Kara and Maja are joined by our guest, ADHD habit & wellness coach Micaelah Barb, to talk about neurodivergence, exercise, and long-term motivation -- and why it doesn't always work the way you've probably been told. We discuss why starting and sticking to e…
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Ep. 36 - Changing the Normative Narrative with Nuance
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Ep. 36 - Changing the Normative Narrative with NuanceKara and Bruce dream of better ways of talking about autism, including autistic voices, and embracing our differences. We specifically examine the notion of black and white thinking and consider its broader implications. Tangents include: time machines, DnD, and postmodernity. Thing of the Day: A…
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Ep. 35 - Cathartic Consumption, Capacity for Consumption, & K-Pop!
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Ep. 35 - Cathartic Consumption, Capacity for Consumption, & K-Pop!The third episode of Season is the second part of our look at artistic expression. In this episode, Kara, Maja and Bruce talk about the consumption of Art(s) of all types, and how an autistic consumption may (or may not) differ from a neurotypical consumption. In this wide-ranging di…
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Ep. 34 - Sleep, Synchronicities, & How to End a Podcast? (with Dr. Megan Anna Neff)
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Ep. 34 - Sleep, Synchronicities, & How to End a Podcast? (with Dr. Megan Anna Neff)Inspired by a conversation between Bruce and Kara around Kara’s horrible sleeping patterns, the Autistic Tidbits & Tangents team invited guest Dr. Megan Anna Neff, a neurodivergent psychologist and co-host of the Divergent Conversations podcast, to deep-dive into com…
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Ep. 33 - Autism, Artistic Expression, & Appreciation
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Ep. 33 - Autism, Artistic Expression, & AppreciationThe first episode of Season 3! In this episode, Kara, Maja, and Bruce talk about the creation of Art(s) of all types, and how this can be a therapeutic activity for many autistics. They also consider what an autistic perspective can do to enhance our artistic creations and what type of unique pers…
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Ep. 25 - Music, Medicine, & the Meaning of Disability (with Kristen Hovet)
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Ep. 25 - Music, Medicine, & the Meaning of Disability (with Kristen Hovet) - Bruce, Kara, and guest Kristen Hovet discuss difficulties navigating medical care for autistic people, self-advocacy in medical settings and in general, what it means to be disabled, Kristen's podcast, and Frooty Loops. GUEST BIO: Kristen Hovet is a late-diagnosed autistic…
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Ep. 32 - Motherhood, Transitions, & Muddling Through
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Ep. 32 - Motherhood, Transitions, & Muddling ThroughIn this season's finale, Maja is back to celebrate the end of 2023 and to look forward to the year ahead with Bruce and Kara. We review life changes over the past year and discuss many tangents around pregnancy difficulties; challenges in adulthood; the weirdness of cultures; nudist beaches; and d…
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Ep. 31 - Agency, Biowearables, & Grizzly Bears (with Rozarina Md Yusof Howton)
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Ep. 31 - Agency, Biowearables, & Grizzly Bears (with Rozarina Md Yusof Howton) Bruce, Kara, and guest Rozarina Md Yusof Howton talk about Roza's research to improve health outcomes (with an eye toward helping autistics); surprising doctors; sensory needs and how these can change with burnout, stress, or chronic health conditions; hyperacuity; and t…
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Ep. 29 - Special Schools, Segregation, & Supports
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Ep. 29 - Special Schools, Segregation, & Supports - In this episode, Kara and Bruce discuss the pros and cons of special schools and special education in general. Oh, and Maja sends an update!Thing of the Day: Why closing special schools is such a complex topic important to so many families by national disability affairs reporter Nas Campanella, wi…
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Ep. 28 - Compromise, Communication, & Community
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Ep. 28 - Compromise, Communication, & Community - In this episode Bruce and Kara discuss the role of compromise in Advocacy, and how sometimes things need to be celebrated for the greater community even if you don't fully agree with all the methods. They also talk about the importance of communication and community for advocacy work, and the prime …
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Ep. 27 - Trust/Safety, Regulation, & Participation (Oh, and Bubble Wrap! - with Greg Santucci)
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Ep. 27 - Trust/Safety, Regulation, & Participation (Oh, and Bubble Wrap! - with Greg Santucci) - Kara, Bruce and guest Greg Santucci talk all about neuronormative expectations in schools, changes we'd like to see, and approaches to supporting children. Greg illuminates us on The Model of Child Engagement, a helpful framework for parents, teachers a…
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Ep. 26 - Shutdowns, Meltdowns, Burnout (and Inertia!)
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Ep. 26 - Shutdowns, Meltdowns, Burnout (and Inertia!) - Kara and Bruce share personal experiences with shutdowns and get meta as they talk about perception. They cover limbic braking, the Triune Brain (somewhat), imposter syndrome, and feeling stuck when you desperately want to move. Things of the Day: Phung, J., Penner, M., Pirlot, C., & Welch, C.…
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Ep. 24 - Autistic Strengths, Creativity, and the Fallacy of the Weekend
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Ep. 24 - Autistic Strengths, Creativity, and the Fallacy of the Weekend - Bruce and Kara discuss the positive aspects of autism and how we need to reframe conversations for families, autistic people themselves, and society. They share their own strengths and examples of their lived experiences. Tangents include Hamilton, playwrighting, and Bohemian…
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Ep. 23 - Buildings, Language, and Running out of Time!
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Ep. 23 - Buildings, Language, and Running out of Time! - Bruce and Kara discuss societal conversations around what it means to be autistic and the need for change to existing narratives; moving from stereotypes to getting curious about others' lived experiences; and autistic culture and community as a protective factor. Kara also reflects on time b…
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Ep. 22 - Exploding Trucks, Chuck Berry, & a Lifetime of Autistic Traits Revealed (with Peter O'Neil)
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Ep. 22 - Exploding Trucks, Chuck Berry, & a Lifetime of Autistic Traits Revealed (with Peter O'Neil) - Bruce and Kara interview author and lawyer, Peter O'Neil, who was late identified as autistic at 65. We reflect on living autistically without knowing it, and how autistic thinking is an asset in the legal field -- and how central it is to our pas…
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Ep. 21 - What is Fun, Anyway (and What’s It Gotto Do with Jazz and Godzilla?!)?
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Ep. 21 - What is Fun, Anyway (and What’s It Gotto Do with Jazz and Godzilla?!)? - Bruce Petherick steps in as co-host while Maja adjusts to motherhood! Bruce and Kara discuss how subjective a term “fun” is and how notions of fun are tied into the concept of normalcy. They debate what things are merely enjoyable versus actually fun, and much more. L…
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Ep. 20 - Finding Community (with Karen Timm)
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Ep. 20 - Finding Community (with Karen Timm) - In this episode we speak with Karen Timm about the importance of an autistic community, diversity in autistic voices and empowerment of everyone in the community. We also tackle topics related to education and late diagnosis.GUEST BIO: Karen Timm is a perpetually reflective educational leader, an autho…
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Ep. 19 - Deep Dive into Diagnostic Criteria
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Ep. 19 - Deep Dive into Diagnostic Criteria - In this episode, we discuss diagnostic criteria of autism in the DSM-5 (and the ICD-10 diagnostic manual). We talk about things that, according to us, should or should not be a part of the criteria. There is also a brief discussion about ABA and teaching methods near the end, which is not properly in de…
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Ep. 18 - AAC, Aphantasia, & Cross-Cultural Communication (with Dr. Alyssa Hillary Zisk)
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Ep. 18 - AAC, Aphantasia, & Cross-Cultural Communication (with Dr. Alyssa Hillary Zisk) - In this episode, Kara and Maja ask Alyssa about all sorts of accommodations: from their experiences as an sometimes AAC user (Assistive & Augmentative Communication) navigating university accommodations, to their thoughts on how folks make certain accommodatio…
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Ep. 17 - Autism & Pregnancy - Wherein Kara has finally talked Maja into having a chat about her pregnancy on the podcast (Kara interjection: I suggested it as a possible topic once!!). We talk about how pregnancy might be different for autistic people, including the sensory and social aspects, as well as interoception, body dysmorphia, and contact …
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Ep. 16 - Hyperfocus & Rabbit Holes!
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Ep. 16 - Hyperfocus & Rabbit Holes! - In this episode we talk about how our interests can change and evolve, jump around, and how the rabbit holes that our hyperfocus drives us into are not necessarily pleasant or connected to our special interests. Thing of the Day: not clearly defined today ;) so many things! __________ Autistic Tidbits & Tangent…
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Ep. 15 - Neuroplurality in the Workplace
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Ep. 15 - Neuroplurality in the Workplace - In this episode we speak with Dr. Mekki MacAulay about being autistic in the workplace and how he believes companies can benefit from employing and utilizing the strengths of people of all neurotypes.GUEST BIO: Mekki MacAulay (he/they) is the IBM CIO Red Hat OpenShift and IBM Z Mainframe Strategy Guy who s…
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Ep. 14 - Autistic Communication - In this episode we discuss the autistic preferences and styles of communication and the differences between autistic and non-autistic communication. Thing of the Day: Crompton, C. J., Ropar, D., Evans-Williams, C. V., Flynn, E. G., & Fletcher-Watson, S. (2020). Autistic peer-to-peer information transfer is highly e…
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Ep. 13 - Autism Acceptance Month?! - In the Season 2 premiere, we discuss issues related to Autism Awareness/Acceptance Month, how our understandings have changed over time, and how we’d like society’s understandings to continue to evolve. Thing of the Day: Autistic Acceptance vs. Autism Awareness by bneal89, NeuroClastic __________ Autistic Tidbit…
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Ep. 12 - Autistic Joys & Victories - For the last episode of the season, we discuss autistic joy and victories. Often, autistic people are not believed when we express happiness or fulfillment, or we are told we can’t be autistic then. Autism and happiness are seen as opposites. For this episode, we talk about how everyone needs to have their needs…
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COMING JANUARY 2, 2023 - Ep. 12 - Autistic Joys & Victories - For the last episode of the season, we discuss autistic joy and victories. Often, autistic people are not believed when we express happiness or fulfillment, or we are told we can’t be autistic then. Autism and happiness are seen as opposites. For this episode, we talk about how everyone …
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Ep. 11 - Changes in the Autism Discourse (with Prof. Tony Attwood)
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Ep. 11 - Changes in the Autism Discourse (with Prof. Tony Attwood) - We had a chat with Tony about the changes in autism advocacy, education, and perspectives during his career. We also discuss changes in how autism has been viewed diagnostically, and how people could have been missed earlier and who would receive a diagnosis now. GUEST BIO: Profes…
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Ep. 11 Trailer - Changes in the Autism Discourse (with Prof. Tony Attwood)
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COMING DECEMBER 19, 2022 - Ep. 11 Trailer - Changes in the Autism Discourse (with Prof. Tony Attwood) - We had a chat with Tony about the changes in autism advocacy, education, and perspectives during his career. We also discuss changes in how autism has been viewed diagnostically, and how people could have been missed earlier and who would receive…
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Ep. 10 - Autistic at the Holidays - Today is all about holidays! We talk about difficulties, strategies and a few personal experiences. We touch on different support needs, how small accommodations can have a big effect, and as always, there may be a tangent or two. We hope everyone has a good time during their holiday celebrations. Thing of the Da…
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COMING DECEMBER 5, 2022 - Ep. 10 - Autistic at the Holidays - Today is all about holidays! We talk about difficulties, strategies and a few personal experiences. We touch on different support needs, how small accommodations can have a big effect, and as always, there may be a tangent or two. We hope everyone has a good time during their holiday cel…
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Ep. 9 - Autistic Burnout (with Carole Jean Whittington)
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Ep. 9 - Autistic Burnout (with Carole Jean Whittington) - Today we interview Carole Jean about her take on autistic burnout, recovery, and tips for self-care and compassion. She uses the phrase Firm Ground to explain each part of her approach, The Unveiling Method. GUEST BIO: Carole Jean Whittington is Founder and Principal of Mind Your Autistic Br…
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Ep. 9 Trailer - Autistic Burnout (with Carole Jean Whittington)
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COMING NOVEMBER 21, 2022 - Ep. 9 - Autistic Burnout (with Carole Jean Whittington) - Today we interview Carole Jean about her take on autistic burnout, recovery, and tips for self-care and compassion. She uses the phrase Firm Ground to explain each part of her approach, The Unveiling Method. GUEST BIO: Carole Jean Whittington is Founder and Princip…
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Ep. 8 - Autistic Masking - We discuss the motivations for masking, what it is like for us, how our masks developed over time, and importantly, the consequences of masking! Thing of the Day: Pretending to be Normal by Liane Holliday Willey (book) __________ Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kara Dymond & Maja Toudal, ce…
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COMING NOVEMBER 7, 2022 - Ep. 8 - Autistic Masking - We discuss the motivations for masking, what it is like for us, how our masks developed over time, and importantly, the consequences of masking! Thing of the Day: Pretending to be Normal by Liane Holliday Willey (book) __________ Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kar…
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Ep. 7 - Parenting & Autism (with Maddy Dever)
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Ep. 7 - Parenting & Autism (with Maddy Dever) - In this episode, we discuss topics like competing needs, matching vs mismatched profiles in the home, the need for patience, challenges as a disabled parent, and the need to put on your own (metaphorical) oxygen mask before helping others. GUEST BIO: Maddy Dever (they/them) is a non-binary, wheelchair…
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Ep. 7 Trailer - Parenting & Autism (with Maddy Dever)
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COMING OCTOBER 24, 2022 - Ep. 7 - Parenting & Autism (with Maddy Dever) - In this episode, we discuss topics like competing needs, matching vs mismatched profiles in the home, the need for patience, challenges as a disabled parent, and the need to put on your own (metaphorical) oxygen mask before helping others. GUEST BIO: Maddy Dever (they/them) i…
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Ep. 6 - How on Earth Were We Missed!?
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Ep. 6 - How on Earth Were We Missed!? - A fun chat sharing stories from our childhoods and adolescence which very much were hints of autism, but which were not recognized at the time. Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kara Dymond & Maja Toudal, centered around topics relevant to autism and the lives of autistic people.…
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Ep. 6 Trailer - How on Earth Were We Missed!?
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COMING OCTOBER 10, 2022 - Ep. 6 - How on Earth Were We Missed!? - A fun chat sharing stories from our childhoods and adolescence which very much were hints of autism, but which were not recognized at the time. Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kara Dymond & Maja Toudal, centered around topics relevant to autism and the…
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Ep. 5 - Autistic Special Interests (with Pete Wharmby)
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Ep. 5 - Autistic Special Interests (with Pete Wharmby) - We discuss when special interests become obsessions or impede functioning in daily life, special interests as strengths and career paths, as a coping tool and a recharger, and much more! GUEST BIO: After being diagnosed as autistic at the age of 34 in 2017, I have immersed myself in working t…
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Ep. 5 Trailer - Autistic Special Interests (with Pete Wharmby)
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COMING SEPTEMBER 26, 2022 - Ep. 5 - Autistic Special Interests (with Pete Wharmby) - We discuss when special interests become obsessions or impede functioning in daily life, special interests as strengths and career paths, as a coping tool and a recharger, and much more! GUEST BIO: After being diagnosed as autistic at the age of 34 in 2017, I have …
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Ep. 4 - Supporting Families through Diagnostic Discoveries (with Dr. Garth Smith)
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Ep. 4 - Supporting Families through Diagnostic Discoveries (with Dr. Garth Smith) - For this episode, we had a chat with Developmental Pediatrician Dr. Garth Smith, diving into the diagnostic process, barriers and myths, and general advice for parents. GUEST BIO: Dr. R. Garth Smith is a Developmental Pediatrician and the Medical Director of KidsInc…
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Ep. 4 Trailer - Supporting Families through Diagnostic Discoveries (with Dr. Garth Smith)
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COMING SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 - Ep. 4 - Supporting Families through Diagnostic Discoveries (with Dr. Garth Smith) - For this episode, we had a chat with Developmental Pediatrician Dr. Garth Smith, diving into the diagnostic process, barriers and myths, and general advice for parents. GUEST BIO: Dr. R. Garth Smith is a Developmental Pediatrician and the…
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Ep. 3 - What We Wish Parents Knew - In this episode, we discuss the information often given to parents when their child is diagnosed, myths that may still linger, and what information we hope parents are able to access. Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kara Dymond & Maja Toudal, centered around topics relevant to auti…
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Trailer for Ep. 3 - What We Wish Parents Knew
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COMING AUG 29, 2022 - Ep. 3 - What We Wish Parents Knew - In this episode, we discuss the information often given to parents when their child is diagnosed, myths that may still linger, and what information we hope parents are able to access. Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kara Dymond & Maja Toudal, centered around t…
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Ep. 2 - Getting a Late Autism Diagnosis (with Bruce Petherick)
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Ep. 2 - Getting a Late Autism Diagnosis (with Bruce Petherick) - Kara, Maja and Bruce talk about their different experiences with late diagnosis, barriers to diagnosis, preparation tips, their reactions, and other tangentially related topics (as per usual). GUEST BIO: Bruce Petherick is a autistic advocate, a sound designer and musician. Born in Me…
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Ep. 2 Trailer - Getting a Late Autism Diagnosis (with Bruce Petherick)
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Coming Aug. 15, 2022 - Ep. 2 - Kara, Maja and Bruce talk about their different experiences with late diagnosis, barriers to diagnosis, preparation tips, their reactions, and other tangentially related topics (as per usual). GUEST BIO: Bruce Petherick is a autistic advocate, a sound designer and musician. Born in Melbourne, Australia and now living …
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Ep. 1 - Autistic at School - Autistic Tidbits & Tangents
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Ep. 1 - Autistic at School - features Kara and Maja discussing being autistic at school and the ways in which being diagnosed or undiagnosed can have consequences. Autistic Tidbits & Tangents is a biweekly podcast, co-hosted by Kara Dymond & Maja Toudal, centered around topics relevant to autism and the lives of autistic people. We are both autisti…
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