Autistic Techie

Navigating the tech world as a neurodivergent professional comes with unique challenges and strengths. This podcast is a space for neurodivergent technologists to share their experiences, strategies, and successes. Whether you’re figuring out workplace communication, advocating for accommodations, or simply looking for a sense of community, we bring you real stories and practical insights to help you thrive in your career while staying true to yourself.

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Episodes 41

Interviews Are Conversations, Not Confrontations
4d ago · 17:02
Ever feel like you walk into an interview just to be interrogated? It's no fun, and you shouldn't feel like that's the norm. Job interviews are supposed to be back and forth conversations between you and the company you'd like to work for. Listen in on how to make interviews a two-way street, or to know if that's just not going to fly for a potential employer. Transcript available on https://www.autistic-techie.com/interviews-are-conversations-not-confrontations Follow us on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@autistic_techie https://www.instagram.com/autistic_techie
It Takes A Village, and Veronica Yao is a Welcoming Mayor
2mo ago · 25:14
Being neurodivergent on the job can sometimes feel alienating. Other times you'll find your tribe and think to yourself "Where was this my entire life?" Veronica Yao is the manager of the Neurodivergent Careers Facebook group, boasting more than eighty thousand neurodivergent folks all looking to help each other be more confident and supported in their jobs. Veronica is also a neurodivergent career coach, working with folks just like you to make the most out of their careers and find success no matter where they are! Follow Veronica Yao and join the Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/atyp
Art, Autism, and Wacky AI with Schuyler Dragoo
3mo ago · 30:06
What's it like to be a goose enthusiast at the intersection of art, autism, and AI creativity? I could think of no one better to answer these burning questions than Schuyler Dragoo. She is the Chief Strategy Officer of Kiingo AI, a recent graduate of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and a neurodiversity self advocate! Our conversation dove into the fusion of art with creative strategy, and how neurodivergent people such as ourselves have experimented with AI to help us figure out the neurotypical world around us. Connect with Schuyler Dragoo https://www.linkedin.com/in/schuyler-dragoo-mf
It's A [Boston] Marathon, Not A Sprint
4mo ago · 24:46
I'm back! I've been training for the Boston Marathon for the last few months. Preparing for this race has given me the opportunity to reflect on my own state of mind: Being prepared with the right tools to succeed, having to manage unknown and unpredictable situations, creating resilience when things go sideways, and developing a plan to ace the course. If this sounds familiar to your personal workplace journey, this is the episode for you. Discover insights on pacing, resilience, and preparation that apply to both running and overcoming workplace challenges. If you want to track me on the day
Empathic ADHD Therapy & Coaching with Jordan Schatz, the ADHD Guru
9mo ago · 36:33
Receiving therapy and coaching is good for the mind & soul! But what if the practitioner really knew what it was like to be you? Jordan Schatz is the ADHD Guru, a licensed therapist and coach helping neurodivergent people like us unpack their lives and take it all back. Jordan and I had the chance to talk about un-sticking our lives and getting out of those ruts we carve out of need. You have them too, right? Not just me? Whether you have a dozen special interests, a few hundred, or none at all, tune into this episode with Jordan as we talk about our unique ways of thinking - I even get some c
Accessibility Advocacy and Self-Expression with Meenakshi Das
10mo ago · 31:04
Software engineer and accessibility advocate Meenakshi Das joins Shea to talk about integrating accessibility into tech, regardless of your job title. As a Software Engineer 2 at Microsoft and vice chair of Teach Access, Meenakshi shares how she brings a disability lens to everything she works on, even when accessibility isn’t part of the formal job description. They discuss her journey with a speech disability, the gaps between tech and academia, and what real inclusion looks like beyond checklists. This episode highlights the power of lived experience and the impact of showing up, even quiet
Instructing the Instructors on Neurodiversity with Tracy King & InspireEd
10mo ago · 27:25
Learning strategist and neuroinclusion expert Tracy King joins Shea to explore how training, education, and professional development can be reimagined with cognitive diversity in mind. As CEO of InspireEd and chair of the IACET neuroinclusion working group, Tracy breaks down what it really means to design learning experiences that include neurodivergent people from the start, not just through accommodations. They discuss continuing education (CE), scalable program design, and how to create learning environments where every brain is not only welcomed but empowered. If you’ve ever felt excluded
Autistic Autonomy, Independence, and Flourishing with ASPIE-R
11mo ago · 38:20
Blake Baumann and Pickens Calhoun of ASPIE-R (pronounced "aspire") join Shea to talk about what it means to truly support autistic individuals; not just with accommodations, but with purpose and pride. Blake shares the personal journey that led him to found ASPIE-R, a coaching and mentoring platform built by and for the autistic community, while Pickens reflects on what it takes to be an authentic ally. Together, they explore identity, late diagnosis, parenting, and how to rise above one-size-fits-all expectations in both work and life. This episode is about rejecting shame and embracing the p
Be Honest With Your Needs - Not Just Your Wants
11mo ago · 17:02
What do you need - not just what you want? It's a challenge to unpack the often-messy intersection between personal needs, social expectations, and workplace dynamics. Don't force yourself to go to that event if you don't have the spoons for it. The LAST thing you want to do is crash and burn and stay at home the next day because you've got nothing left to give. Whether it's navigating sensory overload at an event or pushing through discomfort because you feel like you "have to," this episode challenges you to be radically honest with yourself. Learn how to distinguish between wants, needs, an
Square Pegs, Round Holes, and Honest ADHD Talk with Sue Day
1y ago · 30:36
You shouldn't have to fit a square peg through a round hole! Do you feel like a square peg constantly being forced into a hole you cannot fit through, no matter what? ADHD coach Sue Day joins us to explore how neurodivergent people can find structure, self-compassion, and success...without masking who they are. As the founder of Pathway Forward Coaching and a graduate of the ADHD Coaching Academy, Sue shares her personal journey with ADHD and how it shapes the way she works with clients across the neurodiversity spectrum. They dive into time blindness, executive function, and the emotional tol
Every Day a New Neurodivergent Mask with Author & Journalist Kristof Morrow
1y ago · 22:23
Author, filmmaker, and award-winning journalist Kristof Morrow joins Shea to talk about creativity, masking, and resilience as a multiply neurodivergent and disabled person. Kristof shares his journey through abuse, self-discovery, and artistic expression while living with autism, ADHD, and Tourette Syndrome. From bestselling books to film direction, he opens up about how his lived experience shaped his storytelling and advocacy. This powerful conversation explores how neurodivergent identity intersects with trauma, artistry, and reclaiming your narrative on your own terms. Transcript on https
Acing the Interview: Make Your Resume Reflect the Real You
1y ago · 16:55
Working on your resume can feel like watching paint dry. Neurodivergent brains have it even worse off than our neurotypical peers: Getting hung up on the words, formatting, it can take an hour just to jot down a paragraph or two. Then there's the impostor syndrome: What if recruiters don't like it, or the ATS just spits it out? This episode covers some actionable steps you can take to improve the content, formatting, and structure of your resume. If you're an autistic infodumper like me, have trouble focusing with ADHD, or struggle with formatting details or catching typos due to dyslexia, thi
Transitioning from User Experience Leadership to Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy with Dr. Alison Greco
1y ago · 31:40
Clinical psychologist and UX researcher Dr. Alison Greco joins Shea to talk about Parathera, her innovative platform that bridges the gap between “I’m fine” and full-scale therapy. With a background in anxiety treatment, user experience leadership, and parenting a neurodivergent son, Alison brings a multidimensional lens to mental health support. Together, they explore how neurodivergent professionals can create space for self-compassion while still holding themselves accountable. This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt like traditional therapy didn’t quite fit—and wants to understand a new
Allyship and Inclusion Are More Than A Two-Way Street with Dr. Victoria Mattingly
1y ago · 26:32
Organizational psychologist and workplace inclusion expert Dr. Victoria Mattingly joins Shea to explore what real allyship looks like - especially for neurodivergent professionals. From her early work in leadership development to launching "Men as Allies" training, Dr. V shares how data-driven empathy can transform workplace culture. They discuss her books Inclusalytics and the upcoming "Act Like an Ally, Work With an Ally", dive into psychological safety, and unpack how neuroinclusion goes beyond buzzwords. Whether you're leading a team or navigating your own career, this episode offers a can
Focus Bear App: Reclaim Your Productivity And Eliminate Distractions with Jeremy Nagel
1y ago · 30:00
Getting distracted can be one of the worst things to happen to neurodivergent folks trying to get work done. Fortunately, there's an app for that: Focus Bear! Designed and developed by AuDHD founder Jeremy Nagel, Focus Bear blocks distractions from biting you at the worst possible times so that you can get back to doing real work. With an incredible team of neurodivergent people behind him, Jeremy and I got to talk about his own AuDHD journey, ultramarathons, and his startup founder perspective. Focus Bear social media: https://www.focusbear.io/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/nageljeremy/ https:/
Let Me Process That: Communication on Your Own Terms
1y ago · 14:53
If you need a moment to take in a conversation before replying, you're far from alone. Figuring out the right kinds of styles for you to communicate in take time and effort. Let's talk about how to empower YOU to be more thoughtful about your own terms for meetings & communication. Whether you need a meeting agenda, captions, or just to ask people to slow down, I encourage you to reflect on what you NEED to have a productive and successful meeting! Transcript on https://autistic-techie.com/let-me-process-that-communication-on-your-own-terms Follow us on social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@au
You’re in the Hyperfocus Zone! How To Protect Yourself And Avoid Burnout
1y ago · 18:17
Hyperfocus - Sounds exciting and a bit scary, right? You might be familiar with the feeling of spending hours on a particular task, or accomplishing lots of little tasks. But what expense does hyperfocus incur on neurodivergent people? How can you protect yourself and recognize when you're on the tip of burning out from a hyperfocus streak? And how can people around you actually HELP you hyperfocus instead of getting in your way? Tune in to learn all about hyperfocus and how you can be thoughtful about your focus state. Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com Follow us on social me
From Chaos to Clarity: Jennifer Chou's ADHD Journey to 80K Followers And Owning Her Brain
1y ago · 35:10
What even is ADHD hacking? Is it possible to stick joysticks in your brain like Plankton did in that Spongebob episode and actually do everything that has to happen? Jennifer Chou has done that and more, cultivating more than 80 thousand social media followers across Instagram and TikTok. Sure we can all indulge in some doom scrolling, and to be honest, who doesn't these days? Jennifer has figured out the best strategies, plans, and methods to really get us out of bed and hit the books. Tune into this episode of Autistic Techie where we dive into her ADHD college journey, journaling our though
Deep Dive Into “Working With Me” Documents and How They Can Peel Back Your Brain
1y ago · 19:50
"Spelling it out" for people doesn't have to be hard. On the contrary, you can get into as much detail about your brain and working style as you want. The trick is to do so in a way that actually empowers your boss and team to help you, and not feel inundated with information. Enter the Working with Me document: An excellent method for communicating how to work with you. What helps you do your job? What gets in the way? Do you have any sensory needs? It's all about YOU. I go through my Working with Me document in today's episode, and you can follow along by checking out the link below! Working
Late Diagnosed AuDHD, Leadership, and What Masking Means To Me with Nicola Knobel
1y ago · 31:29
What's your internal "script" that you follow when dealing with troublesome situations? If you have to consciously remember to keep a straight face when confronted with something stressful, you are far from alone. Nicola Knobel spent most of her life masking, frustrated with having to defend her actions and expend significant amounts of energy just to be like everyone else. "But you're so extroverted!" people would say...Because everyone expected her to be that way. Having been diagnosed with autism and ADHD (also known as AuDHD) well into adulthood and parenthood, Nicola opens up on our lates
Crossover Episode with Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Don’t Just Survive - Thrive On The Job
1y ago · 34:51
Special crossover episode! I had the honor of joining forces Sean Gill from Neurodiversity in the Workplace for their podcast. Together, we dove deep into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by neurodivergent people in and out of the workplace. Landing a job isn't just about surviving and getting by - We talked about how to thrive, supporting both neurodivergent peers and their employers, including neurotypical peers who work with ND folks just as much as their managers do. And to us neurodivergent folks, some tips and tricks on what it means to feel like you belong, and not just exi
Building A Formula For Your Neurodivergent Mask
1y ago · 22:55
Do you want to build a mask? It's summer in the USA, so no snowmen here. But you're always going to be wearing a mask to get through tough situations. Interviews? Networking events? Parties? Snowman building parties with corporate matchmaking afterwards? Our newest episode talks about the process of building a mask thoughtfully, not just bruteforcing a social setting and hoping that you'll be OK afterwards. If you've ever gotten stuck on figuring out how you should be masking, this is the episode for you. Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/building-a-formula-for-your-neurodive
Autistic Empathy, Workplace Politics, and Saying The Right Things with Adam Compton
1y ago · 31:27
In this episode of Autistic Techie, I sit down with Adam Compton, a principal software engineer with over two decades of experience at top tech companies. We explore Adam's journey from a childhood fascination with computers to mastering complex systems at companies like Slack and Quantcast. Adam shares insights into navigating workplace politics and the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in tech. We delve into his experiences with autistic empathy, masking, and the intricacies of social interactions. Adam also discusses the importance of balancing technical expertise with p
Coding Interviews, ADHD, and Staying Focused with Mihai Todor
1y ago · 27:40
Coding interviews are one of the most difficult things a neurodivergent software engineer can go through. Whiteboarding, coding challenges, and explaining technical concepts are tough for everyone, especially for those whose don't express ideas in quite the same way as everyone else. Mihai Todor has gone through hundreds of coding interviews, and he has some incredible insights to share! We talked about self regulating during interviews, what kind of tech works and what doesn't, and setting specific boundaries for the kinds of interviews he can do. Transcript available on https://autistic-tech
Acing the Interview: Behavioral Questions "Tell Me About A Time When..."
1y ago · 22:16
Does your brain freeze up when you hear this question? "Tell me about a time when..." Yeah, mine too. And for many other neurodivergent people, having to come up with an answer to questions like this can feel like running into a brick wall. But there's good news: Providing a meaningful answer to this kind of question doesn't have to be as scary or impossible as you might think. Let's get the inside scoop on approaching this kind of question from the neurodivergent perspective. You'll be shooting for the STARs in no time! Transcript available on https://autistic-techie.com/acing-the-interview-b

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Autistic Techie

Episodes 41

Interviews Are Conversations, Not Confrontations

It Takes A Village, and Veronica Yao is a Welcoming Mayor

Art, Autism, and Wacky AI with Schuyler Dragoo

It's A [Boston] Marathon, Not A Sprint

Empathic ADHD Therapy & Coaching with Jordan Schatz, the ADHD Guru

Accessibility Advocacy and Self-Expression with Meenakshi Das

Instructing the Instructors on Neurodiversity with Tracy King & InspireEd

Autistic Autonomy, Independence, and Flourishing with ASPIE-R

Be Honest With Your Needs - Not Just Your Wants

Square Pegs, Round Holes, and Honest ADHD Talk with Sue Day

Every Day a New Neurodivergent Mask with Author & Journalist Kristof Morrow

Acing the Interview: Make Your Resume Reflect the Real You

Transitioning from User Experience Leadership to Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy with Dr. Alison Greco

Allyship and Inclusion Are More Than A Two-Way Street with Dr. Victoria Mattingly

Focus Bear App: Reclaim Your Productivity And Eliminate Distractions with Jeremy Nagel

Let Me Process That: Communication on Your Own Terms

You’re in the Hyperfocus Zone! How To Protect Yourself And Avoid Burnout

From Chaos to Clarity: Jennifer Chou's ADHD Journey to 80K Followers And Owning Her Brain

Deep Dive Into “Working With Me” Documents and How They Can Peel Back Your Brain

Late Diagnosed AuDHD, Leadership, and What Masking Means To Me with Nicola Knobel

Crossover Episode with Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Don’t Just Survive - Thrive On The Job

Building A Formula For Your Neurodivergent Mask

Autistic Empathy, Workplace Politics, and Saying The Right Things with Adam Compton

Coding Interviews, ADHD, and Staying Focused with Mihai Todor

Acing the Interview: Behavioral Questions "Tell Me About A Time When..."

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Episodes 41

Interviews Are Conversations, Not Confrontations

It Takes A Village, and Veronica Yao is a Welcoming Mayor

Art, Autism, and Wacky AI with Schuyler Dragoo

It's A [Boston] Marathon, Not A Sprint

Empathic ADHD Therapy & Coaching with Jordan Schatz, the ADHD Guru

Accessibility Advocacy and Self-Expression with Meenakshi Das

Instructing the Instructors on Neurodiversity with Tracy King & InspireEd

Autistic Autonomy, Independence, and Flourishing with ASPIE-R

Be Honest With Your Needs - Not Just Your Wants

Square Pegs, Round Holes, and Honest ADHD Talk with Sue Day

Every Day a New Neurodivergent Mask with Author & Journalist Kristof Morrow

Acing the Interview: Make Your Resume Reflect the Real You

Transitioning from User Experience Leadership to Neurodivergent Affirming Therapy with Dr. Alison Greco

Allyship and Inclusion Are More Than A Two-Way Street with Dr. Victoria Mattingly

Focus Bear App: Reclaim Your Productivity And Eliminate Distractions with Jeremy Nagel

Let Me Process That: Communication on Your Own Terms

You’re in the Hyperfocus Zone! How To Protect Yourself And Avoid Burnout

From Chaos to Clarity: Jennifer Chou's ADHD Journey to 80K Followers And Owning Her Brain

Deep Dive Into “Working With Me” Documents and How They Can Peel Back Your Brain

Late Diagnosed AuDHD, Leadership, and What Masking Means To Me with Nicola Knobel

Crossover Episode with Neurodiversity in the Workplace: Don’t Just Survive - Thrive On The Job

Building A Formula For Your Neurodivergent Mask

Autistic Empathy, Workplace Politics, and Saying The Right Things with Adam Compton

Coding Interviews, ADHD, and Staying Focused with Mihai Todor

Acing the Interview: Behavioral Questions "Tell Me About A Time When..."

Podcast 森辺一樹のグローバル・マーケティング〜すべてはアジアで売るために〜