Conversations About Autism

Sam Loprete

Conversations About Autism is a guest-centered podcast hosted by Sam Loprete, featuring open-ended conversations with autistic people, professionals, researchers, and others about autism and the things that affect people’s lives. Guests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and mine are mine. Appearing on Conversations About Autism does not mean I endorse everything a guest believes, says, or does. samloprete.substack.com

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    Episode 9 : Autistic Employment, Job Interviews, and Clear Communication with Karina Gaudier

    UPDATE : As of October 27th, 2026 I am officially diagnosed autistic, not ADHD and not OCD.Karina Gaudier once got criticized at work for starting a meeting by… starting the meeting. No introductory small talk. No warm-up conversation. She simply got straight to business. That experience illustrates how unwritten workplace expectations can disadvantage autistic employees, even when they’re perfectly capable of doing their jobs. In this conversation, Karina, an autistic entrepreneur and author, discusses her journey from being a non-speaking child to working in finance and founding Autism Workforce Solutions. We explore how vague job postings, unexpected interview questions, and judgments about communication styles can exclude qualified autistic applicants—and what employers can do differently. GUEST LINKS : Website: https://autismworkforcesolutions.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autismworkforcesolutions/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AutismWorkforceSolutions Spotify: Book: https://a.co/d/0cNsbYsqGuests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and appearing on Conversations About Autism does not imply endorsement. Get full access to Sam Loprete at samloprete.substack.com/subscribe

  2. Oct 24

    Episode 8 : Trauma-Informed Autism Support, Consent, and Social Empowerment with Simone Arnold

    Update: As of October 27th, 2026 I am officially diagnosed autistic, not ADHD and not OCD.Autistic counselor and doctoral student Simone Arnold explains what trauma-informed support looks like when consent, communication, and client autonomy guide the work. They discuss disability justice in counselor education, sensory overwhelm as a possible source of trauma, dissociation, and why autistic support needs can change with health, hormones, aging, and life demands. Simone also contrasts compliance-based social-skills training with social empowerment built around boundaries, mutual respect, and relationships that work for everyone involved. GUEST LINKS Website: https://www.herosjourneycounseling.net/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@herosjourneycounseling7933 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@simonearnoldmc Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/dessicanuvellGuests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and appearing on Conversations About Autism does not imply endorsement. Get full access to Sam Loprete at samloprete.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode 8 : Trauma-Informed Autism Support, Consent, and Social Empowerment with Simone Arnold

  3. Oct 17

    Episode 7 : Autism, Schizophrenia, and Questioning Reality with Naoki Ellis

    Update: As of October 27th, 2026 I am officially diagnosed autistic, not ADHD and not OCD.Naoki Ellis describes receiving an autism diagnosis after years of living with schizophrenia and explains how the two diagnoses affect his self-understanding differently. He distinguishes psychosis from psychopathy and dissociative identity disorder, then describes his experience of controllable and uncontrollable hallucinations, lucid dreams, and using logic to question what his brain presents as real. The conversation also covers medication, therapy, stigma, and the limits of generalizing from one person’s experience with schizophrenia.Guests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and appearing on Conversations About Autism does not imply endorsement. Get full access to Sam Loprete at samloprete.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode 7 : Autism, Schizophrenia, and Questioning Reality with Naoki Ellis

  4. Oct 11

    Episode 6 : School Supports, Masking, and Autistic Adulthood with Kelci Eaton

    Update: As of October 27th, 2026 I am officially diagnosed autistic, not ADHD and not OCD.Speech-language pathologist and therapy director Kelci Eaton explains what happens when autism support is concentrated in childhood and then withdrawn as expectations increase. She discusses IEPs, 504 plans, masking through the school day, and the difference between appearing functional and genuinely thriving. Kelci also describes combining speech therapy with neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed behavioral support and why understanding your own brain can matter even without a formal diagnosis.Guest Links : Exploration Kids Therapy — Website [https://explorationkidstherapy.com/](https://explorationkidstherapy.com/) Kelci Eaton — Professional Biography [https://explorationkidstherapy.com/about-us/](https://explorationkidstherapy.com/about-us/) Swann Clinic for Behavioral Health [https://www.swannclinic.com/](https://www.swannclinic.com/) Testing and Evaluations [https://explorationkidstherapy.com/testing-and-evaluations/](https://explorationkidstherapy.com/testing-and-evaluations/) Guests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and appearing on Conversations About Autism does not imply endorsement. Get full access to Sam Loprete at samloprete.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode 6 : School Supports, Masking, and Autistic Adulthood with Kelci Eaton

  5. Oct 7

    Episode 5 : Masking, Sensory Overload, and Self-Compassion with Mila Bassett

    Update: As of October 27th, 2026 I am officially diagnosed autistic, not ADHD and not OCD. Late-diagnosed autistic coach Mila Bassett describes appearing highly successful while privately experiencing depression, sensory overload, and repeated difficulty remaining in corporate jobs. She discusses the energy cost of masking, deciding which situations are worth that cost, and replacing self-criticism with experimentation and self-compassion. Mila also explains why strengths-based coaching should acknowledge real abilities without reducing neurodivergence to a gift or superpower.GUEST LINKS : Website: https://milabassettcoaching.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milabassett/ Weekly Reset newsletter: https://milabassettcoaching.com/newsletter/Guests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and appearing on Conversations About Autism does not imply endorsement. Get full access to Sam Loprete at samloprete.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode 5 : Masking, Sensory Overload, and Self-Compassion with Mila Bassett

  6. Oct 5

    Episode 4 : Late Autism Diagnosis, Friendship, and Autistic Community with Dorothy Jolly

    Update: As of October 27th, 2026 I am officially diagnosed autistic, not ADHD and not OCD. NeuroVoices Network founder Dorothy Jolly describes recognizing herself in autistic students and pursuing an autism diagnosis in her twenties. She discusses previously being labeled shy, anxious, and bipolar, the grief of realizing that adults had noticed signs years earlier, and the relief of understanding why she needed different kinds of friendship and recovery time. Dorothy also connects her lived experience to her work as an RBT and to building autistic-led mutual-support groups for adults. GUEST LINK : NeuroVoices Network: https://neurovoicesnetwork.com/Guests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and appearing on Conversations About Autism does not imply endorsement. Get full access to Sam Loprete at samloprete.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode 4 : Late Autism Diagnosis, Friendship, and Autistic Community with Dorothy Jolly

  7. Sep 30

    Episode 3 : Self-Advocacy, Independence, and Autism Support with Becca Brennan-Luna

    Update: As of October 27th, 2026 I am officially diagnosed autistic, not ADHD and not OCD.Registered behavior technician Becca Brennan-Luna discusses building trust with autistic children and young adults before introducing demands. She explains how special interests can support communication, how AAC devices can strengthen self-advocacy, and why coping strategies must fit the individual rather than merely appear on a treatment plan. The conversation also examines parental involvement, client agency, and Becca’s attempt to practice ABA without forced eye contact, suppressed stimming, or unnecessary distress. GUEST LINKS : ASPIRE (Autism Spectrum Instructional Resources): https://www.aspireaustin.com/Guests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and appearing on Conversations About Autism does not imply endorsement. Get full access to Sam Loprete at samloprete.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode 3 : Self-Advocacy, Independence, and Autism Support with Becca Brennan-Luna

  8. Sep 30

    Episode 2 : ABA, Communication, and Independence with Katie Lamar

    Update: As of October 27th, 2026 I am officially diagnosed autistic, not ADHD and not OCD. Former registered behavior technician Katie Lamar explains what early-intervention ABA looked like in her work with autistic children ages two to five. She discusses communication through speech, sign language, and AAC devices, why sensory overload can be mistaken for a behavior problem, and how meltdowns require patience and de-escalation rather than force. Katie also addresses restraint, independence, and her criticism that ABA can impose neurotypical ways of doing things even when an autistic child’s approach works. GUEST LINKS : Grave-Troll Games: https://gravetrollgames.com/Guests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and appearing on Conversations About Autism does not imply endorsement. Get full access to Sam Loprete at samloprete.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode 2 : ABA, Communication, and Independence with Katie Lamar

  9. Sep 30

    Episode 1 : Conversations About Autism

    Conversations About Autism is a guest-centered podcast hosted by Sam Loprete, featuring open-ended conversations with autistic people, professionals, researchers, and others about autism and the things that affect people’s lives.Guests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and appearing on Conversations About Autism does not imply endorsement. Get full access to Sam Loprete at samloprete.substack.com/subscribe

    Episode 1 : Conversations About Autism
  • 9 Episodes

About

Conversations About Autism is a guest-centered podcast hosted by Sam Loprete, featuring open-ended conversations with autistic people, professionals, researchers, and others about autism and the things that affect people’s lives. Guests speak for themselves. Their views are their own, and mine are mine. Appearing on Conversations About Autism does not mean I endorse everything a guest believes, says, or does. samloprete.substack.com

Information