That's Me! Autistic Lives. Unfiltered.

Kory Andreas
  • 5.0 (8)
  • 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. 2d ago

    That's a Food Ritual: What Eating Disorder Treatment Gets Wrong About Autistic Brains

    Jenna Stone is a therapist, founder of SideQuest Psychotherapy and an Autistic adult who went through eating disorder treatment without knowing she was neurodivergent. Marissa Adams is a recovery coach with SideQuest Psychotherapy and also neurodivergent, also someone who was told she would "never get better." And now they're doing the work nobody else was doing. In this episode, Jenna and Marissa break down what eating disorder treatment gets catastrophically wrong for autistic and ADHD clients from forcing salad dressing on someone with sensory issues to dropping mystery meals on PDAers to calling predictive processing "restriction." They talk about what a recovery coach actually does, why peer support is the thing that helped them both, why psilocybin research is giving them hope, and why the push toward doctor-assisted suicide for people with "severe and enduring" anorexia makes them both furious. We also talk about hoarding sugar packets to survive inpatient, info dumping on medical students, crafting with a friend as genuine recovery, and why "get out there and build community" is the least helpful advice you can give an autistic person in recovery. This is the episode for everyone who has ever been told their autistic needs were "eating disorder behavior" or that they'll never get better. Find Jenna Stone & Marissa Adams: WebsiteInstagramJenna Stone: therapist specializing in eating disorders, OCD, neurodivergent and queer clientsMarissa Adams: recovery coach with lived experienceRecovery coaching program available: structured support between sessionsMarissa's Research: "Reimagining Social Connection" — co-authored paper in the Journal of Eating DisordersMentioned in this episode: The PEACE model (UK — first eating disorder treatment designed specifically for autistic people with anorexia)Psilocybin research in eating disorder recoveryPANDAS/PANS and eating disordersPalliative care and "severe and enduring" anorexia — and why Jenna and Marissa push backLivia Sara's episode on Anorexia AutisticaPDA and eating disorder treatmentPredictive processing and meal unpredictabilityResources:Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism:Kory's websiteInstagram @neurokoryousUnmasking RetreatsYouTube

  2. Oct 5

    A Rogerian...as in Mr. Rogers, Inspired Therapist on Doing It Differently

    Kathy Speights is a licensed clinical professional counselor, former special ed teacher, autistic AuDHD therapist living in Appalachia with a goth garden, an army of trained blue jays, and a lot of feelings about dandelions. She works primarily with neurodivergent adults, especially people who've been told they "don't meet criteria", who've been shamed out of their most authentic traits, or who walk into her office and say for the first time: "You mean it's not my fault I'm like this?" In this episode, Kathy and Kory talk about why CBT often lands as "just think positive and you'll be happy" for neurodivergent clients, how she adapts therapeutic approaches to actually work, and what it looks like to treat the person in front of you instead of the diagnosis on the chart. She talks about the A-DAR (autistic radar) that keeps drawing the right clients to her practice, why sensory criteria isn't even technically in the DSM definition of autism. We also talk about her goth garden, weeding while apologizing to the dandelions, training blue jays with peanuts, and why autistic joy looks like going outside every morning to check if your little plant got a little bit bigger. This is the kind of therapist you've been looking for. And if she doesn't have openings, she will find you someone who does. Find Kathy Speights: Psychology TodayBased in Cumberland, MDSpecializes in neurodivergent adults, depression, anxiety, ADHD, autismLimited openings, but will connect you with trusted referrals when full Mentioned in this episode: Carl Rogers and person-centered therapyMr. Rogers ("I like you exactly the way you are")CBT and its limitations for neurodivergent clientsA-DAR (autistic radar)Anthropomorphizing paper: "This paper will be sad if you don't read it"Goth garden, blue jays, dandelions, flame violets Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Kory's websiteInstagramUnmasking RetreatsOnline courses for therapistsYouTube

  3. Sep 28

    "You Have to Be a Writer, Abi:" A Neurodivergent Author on Writing, Unmasking, & Finding Your Voice

    Abi Yardimci is a British author, mindfulness teacher, and neurodivergent creative coach living on the southwest coast of Devon, England. She's published five novels, a poetry collection, self-care journals, and a mini app called "Your Body Knows Your Truth" ...and years ago, she was sitting on a mountain in Turkey having a heartbreak-fueled epiphany that changed everything. In this episode, Abi talks about what it was like to receive her autism diagnosis two years ago and how it unlocked something she'd been searching for her whole life: self-compassion. She talks about unmasking for the first time in front of her sons, including the moment she told her fifteen-year-old exactly why she won't get in the sea ("there are things in there and they could cling to my legs and I don't like it") and what it feels like when someone finally just gets it. We also talk about how writing brought her voice back after years of performing "proper adult," how creative writing can be the most powerful unmasking tool a neurodivergent person can use, what the UK is doing differently than the US when it comes to neurodivergent awareness, and why her app lets you tap on "sweaty hands" or "knot in throat" and get a personalized writing prompt to process what your body is already telling you. This is a conversation about finding your voice! Find Abigail Yardimci: Abi's Website Abi's Instagram Abi's Facebook Abigail's Offerings: Follow Your Heart, Find Your Voice Masterclass Wednesday, October 7th — 7pm BST Online (2pm EST) 90 minutes of writing, mindfulness, and heart-led wisdom for neurodivergent brains who want to drop the mask and reclaim their voice. With a neurodivergent author who gets it from the inside. •Tickets: £7 / ~$9.30 USD • That's Me! listeners get 30% off with code THATSME (~$6.50 USD) • hello.abigailyardimci.com/follow-your-heart-masterclass Your Body Knows Your Truth: Free Mini App A free interactive mini-app for when you're in the middle of a challenging moment and your brain refuses to help you out. Tap on what you're feeling in your body, get a personalized writing prompt, and trust yourself going forward. Abigail's Books The Life Is Yours series (4 novels) Murder mystery novels Poetry collection Self-care journals Mentioned in this episode: Devon, England (southwest coast) Turkey — where Abigail had her writing epiphany 20 years ago Perinatal mental health and neurodivergent awareness (UK) Cold water swimming (and the things in the sea) Mindfulness teaching Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Kory's Instagram Kory's Unmasking Retreats Online courses for therapists That's Me! Podcast on Youtube

  4. Sep 21

    Sex, Spirituality, and the ADAR: A 23-Year Private Practice Gets Real

    Shervon Laurice is a licensed therapist with 23 years in private practice, a pastoral counseling degree, a yoga teaching certification, five years of Tantra yoga study, a background in religious studies, and a special interest in spirituality, mysticism, metaphysics, and Eastern philosophy that she has been pursuing since she was a teenager listening to Dr. Ruth on Monday nights in New York City. She also thinks she's autistic. And she isn't going to spend thousands of dollars finding out. In this episode, Shervon talks about how the pandemic cracked everything open, including the realization that she'd spent 20 years accidentally accommodating herself without knowing it. She talks about the A-DAR that's drawn neurodivergent clients and friends into her orbit her entire career, the kink community's surprising overlap with autism, what it means to work with sex, sexuality, spirituality, and neurodivergence all in the same room, and how yoga nidra changed everything for a client with PTSD who didn't want to change her medication. We also talk about growing up Pentecostal and confused, the trans autistic client who built entire game worlds for their friends, fibromyalgia as a missed autism diagnosis, and what happens when you finally stop hiding the parts of yourself that might not be "acceptable" to clients. This is the kind of conversation that goes in twelve unexpected directions and lands somewhere true every single time. Find Shervon Laurice: Shervon's Website Shervon's Practice website: Instagram YouTube TikTok LinkedIn: Shervon Laurice Mentioned in this episode: Dr. Ruth Westheimer Yoga nidra (and how it helped a PTSD client) Tantra yoga (5 years of study) Pastoral counseling degree Religious studies and sociology (undergrad) The kink community and autism overlap Fibromyalgia as a missed autism diagnosis Tabletop game worlds built by an autistic client The A-DAR (autistic radar) Psychotherapy Networker Symposium Livia Sara episode (eating disorders and autism) Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Kory's website Kory's Instagram Unmasking Retreats Online courses for therapists

  5. Sep 14

    Team MD Goes to the PDA North America Conference: What We Learned, Felt, & Are Still Processing

    Four Maryland therapists walk into the PDA North America Conference into Chicago. They take up an entire row, pass around bone broth and fidgets, effortlessly solve a "coffee situation", and spend a weekend pondering their own PDA. Kory is joined by Rachael Stern (board president of PDA North America), Jenna Stone (eating disorders and OCD therapist who brought her husband), and Jennifer Zwarich (clinical social worker specializing in queer and neurodivergent clients). All three are PDAers. All three came to the conference as clinicians and left having learned something very personal. In this episode, they talk about what it was actually like to be in a room full of PDA people: the magical moment when a mom broke down and within seconds had a teenager, a rabbi, and a doctor all rushing over to help. They talk about what the conference is getting right, what PDA looks like in adults vs. children, and what it's like to go home and try to explain demand avoidance to a partner who just wants you to walk the dog. We also talk about lists that become demands, the autonomy high of waking up at 4am, chasing your family's car down the street because you couldn't commit to going until they were already leaving, and what it means to be a PDA clinician finally seeing yourself clearly. This is one of those episodes that makes you feel less alone. Find the PDA Crew: Jennifer Zwarich: Website: windingroadcounseling.comEmail: jennifer@windingroadcounseling.comSpecializes in queer and neurodivergent clients Jenna Stone: WebsiteInstagramSpecializes in eating disorders, OCD, queer and neurodivergent clientsRecently added a recovery coach to her team Rachael Stern: WebsiteEmailInstagramBoard President, PDA North America Mentioned in this episode: PDA North America ConferenceRabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman (PDA Safe Circle)Zach's presentation on schools and PDAPDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance / Pervasive Drive for Autonomy)IFS (Internal Family Systems) / parts workSchool refusal and PDAUnschooling and homeschooling for PDA kids Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism:Kory's websiteInstagram @neurokoryousUnmasking RetreatsYouTube

  6. Sep 7

    The Future of This Field Is in Good Hands: A Neurodivergent Therapist in Training

    Max Eisenman is a grad student at the College of New Jersey finishing his master's in counseling, and he might be the most self-aware, thoughtful therapist-in-training you've ever met. He was diagnosed autistic at a young age, and found out at age 10. Max found his people through running track, became a Survivor superfan, and showed up to a psychotherapy symposium as a first-semester intern because his site manager signed him up and he said yes. In this episode, Max talks about what it was like to grow up knowing he was autistic, how his best friend Ryan taught him what friendship was, and how running gave him a structure for social connection that nothing else could. He reflects on what he's already learning in the therapy room, what the training programs are finally getting right about neurodivergence, and what it means to be a neurodivergent counselor working with neurodivergent clients. We also talk about IFS, special interests (Survivor, Friends, Stranger Things... he has thoughts), the first autistic contestant on Survivor in 48 seasons, and what it looks like when a kid who was terrified of social situations becomes someone who chooses to spend his life sitting with other people in theirs. This one will make you feel really good about the future of this field. Find Max Eisenman: LinkedInInterning at New Hope Center (New Jersey)College of New Jersey counseling program Mentioned in this episode: IFS (Internal Family Systems)Survivor Season 48: Eva, the first openly autistic contestantPsychotherapy Networker SymposiumNew Hope Center internship siteMental Health Association (undergrad peer support)Object-based communication and social connectionMonologuing Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism:InstagramUnmasking RetreatsYouTube

  7. Aug 31

    Find Me an Autistic Person Over 30 Who Doesn't Have Trauma. I'll Wait.

    Rachael Stern is a trauma therapist, rule breaker, and resource aggregator who came to autism sideways, through a caseload full of queer women with religious trauma who all made her wonder the same thing: are they autistic? Spoiler: they were. Almost every single one of them. In this episode, Rachael talks about how religion functions as a social script for autistic people, why the eating disorder field has a long way to go for neurodivergent clients, what it was like to go through eating disorder treatment herself, and why she recovered despite the treatment, not because of it. Rachael also talks about the PDA discovery that changed everything for her family, why she's been quietly putting herself together alongside her clients, and why she will absolutely spend too much time fighting insurance companies on your behalf because they should at least follow their own rules. We also talk about the DSM as a political document, why autism in the DSM was written for autistic trauma not autistic people, what it means to stand on the shoulders of people who chose to be human, and why the real numbers on autism and eating disorders have to be through the roof. This conversation is sharp, funny, and completely unfiltered. Rachael is the therapist you didn't know you needed. Find Rachael Stern: Instagram: @breaktheframetherapySubstack: Breaking the Frame TherapyGoogle her, she's widely findablePrivate practice in Maryland Mentioned in this episode: Religious trauma and autism connectionPDA profileEating disorder treatment and neurodivergenceThe DSM as a political documentInsurance parity lawLGBTQ affirming care Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism: Instagram @neurokoryousUnmasking Retreats: koryandreas.comYouTube: @ThatsMePod

  8. Aug 24

    The Story I Told Myself: Relational Life Therapy, Neurodivergence, and Learning to Fight Better

    Caron Starobin is a clinical social worker with nearly 25 years of experience, a group practice of eight clinicians in Maryland, and a specialty in neurodiverse couples therapy using Relational Life Therapy. She's also a trainer for the Relational Life Institute and the person who convinced Terry Real himself that the field desperately needs training on neurodivergent brains in couples work. In this episode, Caron breaks down what RLT actually is and why it works so well for neurodivergent couples , from the feedback wheel (the most beloved tool in her neurodiverse caseload) to doing relational trauma and inner child work in the presence of a partner. She talks about loving accountability without shame, what happens when two very different neurotypes try to build a life together, and why 50/50 in a relationship is a myth. We also talk about neurodiverse relationship stances (social butterfly meets socially awkward, boundary-less meets walled-off), why helping a couple uncouple well is sometimes the work, what it's like to be a neurotypical-leaning therapist who gets depleted by rigid thinking, and the moment an autistic client cried in session and his partner said "I've never seen that part of you before." And Caron's new, FABULOUS course through the Relational Life Institute on integrating RLT with neurodivergent brains is starting this week. Don't miss the free webinar. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the intersection of RLT and Neurodiverse couples straight from Caron! Find Caron Starobin: Group practice based in Maryland couples, families, teens, young adults, parent-child work, trauma specialistsParent support group and sibling support group availableCaron's WebsiteNewsletterReplay of Caron's free webinar with Terry RealSignup for Caron's full course with RLT that starts this week:No Ordinary Love: Neurodiversity, Intimacy, and Relational Life Therapy The course will feature the authors of Is This Autism? (Dr. Henderson, Dr. Whalen, Dr. White) Mentioned in this episode: Terry Real and the Relational Life InstituteThe feedback wheelRelational mindfulness and inner child workIs This Autism? (Henderson, Whalen, White)Brené Brown and the "story I told myself" concept Resources: Learn more about high-masking, late-diagnosed autism:Kory's websiteInstagramUnmasking Retreats: our next one starts on October 1st!Online courses for therapistsThat's Me! Podcast on YouTube

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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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