That's Me! Autistic Lives. Unfiltered.

Kory Andreas
  • 5.0 (7)
  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

You know that moment when someone describes your exact experience and something in you goes - wait. That's ME? That's where this podcast begins. Hosted by Kory Andreas, a late-diagnosed AuDHD therapist and advocate, That's Meeee: Autistic Lives Unfiltered explores the lives of late-diagnosed, high-masking autistic adults. They say if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person...and these are the ones who aren't in the textbooks, the movies, or the diagnostic criteria. We bring you real stories about burnout, masking, misdiagnosis, and what happens when you finally recognize yourself. Featuring autistic adults and the professionals who actually get it. This podcast is for autistic adults, people who love them, and anyone looking to come into our world with curiosity. New episodes weekly!

  1. 1d ago

    The Magic Glasses: What Binocular Vision Dysfunction Has to Do With Autism

    Dr. Tamara Mendez is an optometrist who specializes in binocular vision dysfunction and she has been quietly transforming the lives of autistic people who had no idea their eyes were part of the problem! Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) is what happens when your eyes aren't working together as a team. Your brain is constantly compensating, all day long. And for autistic people already dealing with sensory overload, that compensation is exhausting in ways that show up as anxiety, headaches, neck pain, reading difficulty, feeling overwhelmed in crowds, and mood dysregulation by the end of the day. In this episode, Dr. Mendez breaks down what BVD actually is, why standard eye exams completely miss it, and what microprisms can do that regular glasses can't. Kory shares her own experience getting diagnosed and fitted including the daily 2pm headaches that stopped within 1 day, the nail polish aisle that looked like it was full of tiny minis, and what it felt like to give a presentation without memorizing every slide for the first time in her life. We also talk about the VR headset that measures 12,000 data points in three minutes, why the appointment takes two to four hours, what it looks like to do this work in a way that's actually safe for autistic patients, and why so few providers are connecting the dots between BVD and the autistic experience. This one might change your life. Or at least your prescription. Find Dr. Tamara Mendez: Website: chevychaseeyecare.com Phone/Text: 301-242-3927 Located in the DMV area Search "BVD near me" her website will pop up Online screening available on her website to see if BVD might apply to you Mentioned in this episode: Binocular vision dysfunction (BVD) Microprisms Dr. Debbie Feinberg / NeuroVisual Medicine Institute VR headset screening (12,000 data points in 3 minutes) POTS and EDS connection to BVD Dry eye / ocular surface disease Visual field testing Eye tracking / reading test Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Instagram.com/neurokoryous Unmasking Retreats: koryandreas.com/retreats YouTube: youtube.com/ThatsMePod

  2. Jul 20

    The Gut-Brain Connection, ARFID, and Why Autistic Tummies Are So Complicated

    Dr. Ellen Joseph is a counseling health psychologist at GI Psychology, a practice dedicated entirely to the gut-brain connection. And if you're an autistic person who has ever been told your lab work is normal while feeling anything but, this episode is for you. In this episode, Dr. Ellen explains why autistic and ADHD brains are particularly vulnerable to GI distress, from the way interoception turns the volume way up on pain and way down on hunger, to the vicious cycle that forms when your nervous system starts treating your own gut like a threat. Dr. Ellen breaks down what ARFID is and why it's completely different from other eating disorders, why intuitive eating advice can be counterproductive for autistic people, and how clinical hypnosis is used to literally turn the dial on sensory sensations in the body. We also talk about PDA and the gut, grief after GI diagnoses, why "you must finish your plate" is one of the most counterproductive things you can say to an autistic child, and what it looks like to be treated by providers who actually listen. This one is for every autistic person who has spent years being told their gut issues are just anxiety, and every provider who wants to do better! Find Dr. Ellen Joseph: Website: gipsychology.comInstagram: @gipsychusaLinkedIn and Facebook: GI PsychologyFree Brain Bytes video series (6 videos) available on their websiteTeam of 15+ clinicians available for matchingOut of network provider:single case agreements and superbills availableContact their team to discuss provider matching and logistics Mentioned in this episode: Gut-brain axis / gut-brain connectionClinical hypnosis (evidence-based treatment)ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)Disorders of gut-brain interaction (33 diagnoses for adults, 24 for kids)Inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, refluxInteroception and sensory processing in the gutPDA profile and GI distressIntuitive eating and why it doesn't always work for autistic people Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Instagram @neurokoryousUnmasking Retreats: koryandreas.comYouTube: @ThatsMePod

  3. Jul 6

    I Love You Exactly As You Are: Why Neurodivergent People and Their Animals Are Everything

    Jess Kwerel LPC, LCPC is a psychotherapist who specializes in pet grief and she became the person she needed. When she couldn't find a therapist who truly understood the depth of losing an animal, she built that practice herself. Since 2018, she's been doing the work most therapists won't touch: sitting with people in the most untethered, disorienting, portal-walking grief there is. In this episode, Jess explains why the brain doesn't differentiate between skin and fur, it's the same attachment system, the same oxytocin, the same neural pathways as our deepest human bonds. She talks about why "at least" is one of the most harmful things you can say to a grieving person, why "moving on" is the wrong framework entirely, and what it actually looks like to move forward with your animal instead. We also talk about why neurodivergent people have especially deep bonds with their animals, why dogs just make sense to autistic people in a way humans often don't, and what happened when Jess had to take a step back after unexpectedly losing her own senior hound, Daisy earlier this year. This one is for everyone who has ever loved an animal with their whole heart. Which, if you're listening to this podcast, is probably all of you. So grab your favorite furry friend, and enjoy the laughs and tears with Jess Kwerel! Instagram: @PetLostDCWebsite: https://jessicakwerel.com/Resources, articles, podcast recommendations, and books available on her website Mentioned in this episode: Attachment theory and the neurobiology of bondingOxytocin and pair bondingThe difference between sympathy and empathy ("at least" vs "I'm right here")Buford and Daisy (Jess's dogs)Harvey (Herby) Pickles (The dog Kory will compare all dogs to forever)Senior dog adoption Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: IG: @neurokoryousUnmasking Retreats: koryandreas.com/retreatYouTube: @ThatsMePod

  4. Jun 22

    Nobody Taught Us This: A Psych NP on Medicating Autistic Brains

    Lindsey Burd is a psychiatric nurse practitioner who specializes in neurodivergent care. About 70-80% of her caseload is neurodivergent. She came to this work the hard way: a autistic sister with high support needs, two family members lost to suicide, her own misdiagnosis with bipolar disorder, and years of navigating a psychiatric system that didn't have the language for what she was actually experiencing. In this episode, Lindsey breaks down what it actually looks like to prescribe medication for autistic brains: why she goes low and slow, why paradoxical reactions are so common, and why she schedules 90-minute intakes when everyone else does 15. Lindsey talks about what BPD and bipolar misdiagnoses have in common (both are wildly overused with neurodivergent women), why she always asks "why" when a patient doesn't take their medication, and why the psychiatric community has a long way to go when it comes to high-masking autism. We also talk about her own story, reading alone in kindergarten, sensory overload in overcrowded hallways, walking into the woods instead of going to class, her dad sitting on the electrical box with the "bad kids", and POTS and EDS making an already hard world harder. This is the episode to send to anyone who has ever had a bad experience with a prescriber. And to anyone who is still carrying a diagnosis that doesn't fit. Find Lindsey Burd: Website: burdmentalhealth.com/TikTok: @LindseyburdInstagram: @LindseybpsychnpPrivate practice in Florida and MarylandMeds course with Lindsey and Kory coming soon Mentioned in this episode: Paradoxical reactions to medicationBPD and bipolar misdiagnosis patternsPOTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)EDS (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome)PDA profileAccommodations being denied in the current political climate Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Instagram @neurokoryousUnmasking Retreats: koryandreas.comYouTube: @ThatsMePod

  5. Jun 8

    Sex, Desire, and the Neurodivergent Brain: A Sex Therapist Gets Real

    Dr. Emma Smith is a sex therapist, trauma specialist, and host of the Intimate Philosopher podcast. She has a PhD, a practice full of Type A++ overachievers, and a very low threshold for false pretense... which, as she says, might be autism, might be trauma, or might just be that she's from New Jersey. In this episode, Emma breaks down what sex therapy actually looks like, why desire gets squashed in the highest-achieving people, and what happens to intimacy after military trauma. She talks about relationship agreements, why polyamory is more like AP Physics than the "easy way out," and why neurodivergent people are actually wired for designing relationships that make sense. We also talk about the moment Emma nearly fell out of her front-row seat at one of Kory's presentations, when she realized she doesn't walk into rooms the way other people do. And what it means to live in a different reality than you thought you were in. This conversation is funny, real, and will make you think differently about desire, intimacy, and what your relationship could look like if you actually designed it on purpose. Find Dr. Emma Smith Instagram: @EmmaSmithPhDPodcast: The Intimate PhilosopherSubstack: The Intimate Philosopher — Things Left UnsaidWorkshops and masterclasses coming soon Mentioned in this episode: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (book)Relationship anarchyRelationship agreement intensivesWindow of tolerance Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Instagram @neurokoryousUnmasking Retreats: koryandreas.comYouTube: @ThatsMePod

  6. May 4

    "If I Could Do It, I Would": Executive Dysfunction and Late-Diagnosed ADHD

    Jessica Hazard is a therapist in New York City who spent years working in public health before working for her own private practice. She worked at school-based health centers, and community health clinics. She was also the clinical director at an agency serving young people who had been commercially sexually exploited. She got diagnosed with ADHD at 41, after spending years working with ADHD clients and thinking, "Wait, why do I relate to everything they're saying?" In this episode, Jessica talks about the grief that came with late diagnosis ("What would my life have looked like if I had known this?"), the "lazy" narrative and executive dysfunction, ADHD piles and moral failure, the overlap between ADHD and autism, why therapy boundaries were designed to protect therapists (not clients), and how her own neurodivergence makes her a better therapist for neurodivergent clients. We also talk about the harm of evidence-based models that weren't tested on neurodivergent people, why she tells all her teenage clients about her own ADHD, and why self-esteem is the real issue, not the way neurodivergence shows up. Find Jessica Hazard: Alma profile: Jessica HazardPrivate practice in New York City (licensed in NY)Works with adolescents and adults who have experienced traumaInsurance accepted Mentioned in this episode: ADHD pilesThe "lazy" narrativeRejection sensitivityThe overlap between ADHD and autismResources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Instagram @neurokoryousUnmasking Retreats: koryandreas.comYouTube: @ThatsMePod

  7. Apr 27

    Anorexia Autistica: Rewriting Everything We Know About Autism and Eating Disorders

    Livia Sara is writing what she calls her "m**********r book!" Over 100,000 words on anorexia and autism, complete with the entire history of both conditions and how their storylines are deeply intertwined. It's called Anorexia Autistica, and she wants it in the DSM one day. She writes on this topic from both lived and professional experiences and is changing the world of eating disorders for autistic people! In this episode, Livia breaks down everything we get wrong about eating disorders in autistic people, from the "eating disorder is a separate entity" model to forced compliance in treatment centers. She explains why it's not about body image, why weighing food actually helped her eat MORE, and why the word "recovery" can be so dangerous. We also talk about her book Rainbow Girl, the adaptive eating spectrum, why "the eating disorder talking" is gaslighting, and what it means to live label-free while honoring that labels can save your life. Kory and Livia gush about autistic joy and their shared love for writing, learning, and helping people through their lived experience. Hearts crack open as we share our transformative experiences within deliberately created autistic community. Livia's Books and Programs: Livia Sara's website Livia's books: "Rainbow Girl "(memoir), "How to Beat Extreme Hunger: A Neurodiversity-Affirming Guide to Food Freedom" "How To Get Out of Quasi Recovery" Autistically ED Free Academy: 8-week group coaching program combining autism and eating adaptations Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Instagram.com/neurokoryous Kory's Unmasking Retreats Online Neuro-affirming care course for therapists

  8. Apr 20

    "Not Smart Enough": Three Failed Autism Assessments and a Comedy Career That Finally Fits

    Janet McNamara is a professional comedian whose 45-minute special "Not Smart Enough" went viral with over 130,000 views on YouTube. She quit corporate America after 15 years of panic attacks, got passed at the Comedy Cellar (with a little help from Amy Schumer), and is moving to New York to pursue comedy full-time. She's also been assessed for autism THREE times and rejected every time based on outdated criteria...because she's "coordinated," because "people with autism have high IQs," because she "doesn't have sensory issues" (she only wears one brand of socks and didn't notice until a friend pointed it out), and because she "makes appropriate facial expressions" (learned in social skills class as a kid). Her final diagnosis? Social anxiety disorder. Not autism. In this episode, Janet talks about sabotaging tests because she doesn't want to find "something else wrong with me," building a comedy career that works for her brain, the neurotypical scripts that feel fake, corporate sensory overload (seven people talking at once in meetings), and her best friend Emily saying, "That's because you're autistic." This conversation will make you laugh and cry. Janet's story is proof that sometimes you have to build your own life when the world won't accommodate you. A note from a neuro-affirming, AuDHD therapist/diagnostician: It doesn't have to be this way. If you've had negative healthcare experiences like Janet's, you're not alone. There are providers out there who listen and who "get it." Please connect with the resources below if you need support. Sharing this podcast helps get autistic voices into the world telling their stories. Please share with anyone who needs to hear they're not alone. Your story matters. Find Janet McNamara: YouTube: Janet McNamara (45-minute special "Not Smart Enough") Instagram: @janet.mcnamara Performing at the Comedy Cellar in NYC soon! Get more Janet at a town near you on Punchup Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Instagram @neurokoryous Neuro-affirming autism assessments Unmasking Retreats: koryandreas.com YouTube: @ThatsMePod Online Neuroaffirming care course for therapists Want to tell your story on this podcast?

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About

You know that moment when someone describes your exact experience and something in you goes - wait. That's ME? That's where this podcast begins. Hosted by Kory Andreas, a late-diagnosed AuDHD therapist and advocate, That's Meeee: Autistic Lives Unfiltered explores the lives of late-diagnosed, high-masking autistic adults. They say if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person...and these are the ones who aren't in the textbooks, the movies, or the diagnostic criteria. We bring you real stories about burnout, masking, misdiagnosis, and what happens when you finally recognize yourself. Featuring autistic adults and the professionals who actually get it. This podcast is for autistic adults, people who love them, and anyone looking to come into our world with curiosity. New episodes weekly!

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