43. S3, Ep12: Workplace challenges, burnout cycles and why autistic business owners are thriving online

Jo Casey is a business coach for quirky, artisanal business owners (think coaches, healers and makers) who want to build a sustainable online business without any shiny, shouty nonsense.

Jo is 49, lives in Manchester in the UK and was diagnosed autistic just a few weeks before our conversation, having self identified in February this year - so this is really new territory for her. But she has a really interesting take on autism and how it’s helping shape the online business world.

Jo and I met on Twitter and I knew immediately that I wanted to chat with her. As you may know I’m a little bit obsessed with coaches and coaching, I work almost exclusively with coaches in my business, and I’m really interested in online working, self employment and self development. But even if you don’t share my obsession, you’ll find lots to love in this conversation.

In our conversation we talk about:

➡ Sensory challenges in childhood and adulthood

➡ Workplace challenges for autistic people

➡ Her journey from employee to business owner as an undiagnosed autistic person

➡ Why being autistic makes her good at what she does, and why self employment can be a good fit for us

And Jo gives some great advice for autistic people wondering if self employment is a good option for them.

Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes.

I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences.

I’m Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I’m now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn’t quite fit.

EPISODE LINKS:

Jo’s website: www.jocasey.com 

Her podcast: https://www.jocasey.com/unshiny-podcast/ 

Her Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jocaseyb/

Her Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoCaseyB 

The TED talk Jo mentions: https://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement

If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/ 

Or on my website: https://squarepeg.community/ 

THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS!

A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast:

Caroline, Cat Preston, Corinne Cariad, Elise, Kate Faust, Katharine Richards, Katherine Lynch, Laurie Green, Lea Li, Lilli Simmons, Pete Burke, Sarah Hardy, Vera Cady

If you’re enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from just £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast