Show Notes
Christine. A. Jenkins joins Catherine in this episode to talk about her autistic self-discovery in 2008 and life since her eventual diagnosis in 2009. Christine has been an Autistic advocate for many years, most recently around issues related to late-in-life diagnosis, gender bias, and autistic ageing. She contributed a chapter to the anthology Spectrum Women: Walking to the Beat of Autism (2018), and has presented solo and on panels in Canada and the UK. Christine has been a peer reviewer and now co-author for the journal Autism in Adulthood, and edits other books and articles as a consultant. Her aim is to "include Autistic voices at every stage in true co-production of research.” Twitter/X @AutisticMatters LinkedIn: Christine A Jenkins tinyurl.com/cjAUsome https://linktr.ee/christineajenkins www.autisticmenopause.com Breast cancer article First paper from Bridging the Silos (2 more under review) Christine's heroes list: Michelle Dawson, Bev Leroux, Estee Klar, Diane J Wright (Canada) Julie Roberts, Therapist Neurodiversity Collective (US) Yenn Purkis, Donna Williams (Aus) Rose J Matthews, Clare Sainsbury, Ann Memmott (UK) Honorable mention: Chris Bonnello, ANW Connect with Catherine Buy Catherine's NEW Book 'Still Living' published April 2026 Buy Catherine's Book 'Rediscovered' Visit Catherine's website Contact Catherine Follow Catherine on Instagram Need Post Discovery Support? Join our next 6 week post discovery support circle Join our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle. Explore The Asta Community of Professionals NEW National Autism Peer Education Programme From December 2025, Catherine will be hosting the NHS commissioned and funded 'Autism Central Podcast' as part of the £6 million National Autism Peer Education Programme being delivered by Anna Freud over the next 3 years. Catherine & Caty will be teaming up once again to bring real stories, honest conversations, and shared wisdom. Read more here Support our work 3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do... Become a member or partner and join our growing community. Buy us a coffee. Rate & review the show or an episode Meet Uma Uma is the world’s first strengths-based self-identification service that helps adult women, non‑binary and AFAB people safely self-screen for autism, ADHD, and CPTSD. She also screens for commonly co-occurring health difficulties related to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Hypermobility EDS (hEDS), to build a complete brain-body picture. UMA are looking for people who are medically diagnosed or self-identify as ADHD or autistic, as well as those waiting on a diagnosis, to try the service. Join the Beta Tester Community Thank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing. Nordens Deborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy Mind The Growth Pod Hormones On The Blink MindThrive Coaching About the Podcast www.thelatediscoveredclub.com
More from The Late Discovered Club
In this episode, Catherine is joined by Wendy Minhinnett - a lived experience leader who co-created the Rollercoaster Parent Carer Support Project. Her work has been recognised with a Positive Practice in Mental Health Award and a *BEM in 2022 for services to parents of children with mental health needs. After over a decade of heart-led lived experience work, Wendy experienced a complete burnout that coincided with menopause and a difficult workplace experience. It was during this midlife unraveling that she was diagnosed as autistic, ADHD, and dyspraxic at 51 - a discovery that changed everything. Wendy shares her powerful story of late diagnosis, identity loss, and post-burnout rediscovery. She speaks openly about masking, boundaries, autistic burnout, and the creative healing process that included therapy, community, and even body painting. Now in a new chapter, she’s building inclusive spaces on her terms - including TRUE, a support group for late discovered women - and finding pride in who she is. Connect with Wendy: LinkedIn Instagram Head to Wendy's website TRUE Interested in Wendy’s TRUE group? Email: [email protected] for all the info. Connect with Catherine Buy Catherine's NEW Book 'Still Living' published April 2026 Visit Catherine's website Buy Catherine's Book 'Rediscovered' Contact Catherine Asta Need Post Discovery Support? Join our next 6 week post discovery support circle Join our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle. Explore The Asta Community of Professionals NEW National Autism Peer Education Programme From December 2025, Catherine will be hosting the NHS commissioned and funded 'Autism Central Podcast' as part of the £6 million National Autism Peer Education Programme being delivered by Anna Freud over the next 3 years. Catherine & Caty will be teaming up once again to bring real stories, honest conversations, and shared wisdom. Read more here Support our work 3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do... Become a member or partner and join our growing community. Buy us a coffee. Rate & review the show or an episode Meet Uma Uma is the world’s first strengths-based self-identification service that helps adult women, non‑binary and AFAB people safely self-screen for autism, ADHD, and CPTSD. She also screens for commonly co-occurring health difficulties related to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Hypermobility EDS (hEDS), to build a complete brain-body picture.
In this episode, Catherine is joined by Vicky Chapman, a gay autistic TV editor from Southampton, who had her late discovery at 26. Vicky shares how her journey began during the first lockdown, when her partner, who works in early years autism, first suggested she might be autistic. At the time, Vicky dismissed the idea, saying, “I can’t be autistic… I’m not Sheldon Cooper.” But a run-in with a blender (you’ll hear all about it) sparked a deeper reflection, and after ticking nearly every box, she pursued a formal diagnosis. We talk about the fast-paced world of TV, and how Vicky is still learning every day what will help her thrive as an autistic person in the industry. We talk about self-disclosure at work, an act that felt terrifying at first, but led to the creation of a “Vicky Guide” that helped her colleagues understand how best to support her. This conversation is a powerful reminder of why representation matters, and how one voice can help change the culture from within. Connect with Vicky on LinkedIn Connect with Catherine Buy Catherine's NEW Book 'Still Living' published April 2026 Visit Catherine's website Buy Catherine's Book 'Rediscovered' Contact Catherine Asta NEW National Autism Peer Education Programme From December 2025, Catherine will be hosting the NHS commissioned and funded 'Autism Central Podcast' as part of the £6 million National Autism Peer Education Programme being delivered by Anna Freud over the next 3 years. Catherine & Caty will be teaming up once again to bring real stories, honest conversations, and shared wisdom. Read more here Need Post Discovery Support? Join our next 6 week post discovery support circle Join our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle. Explore The Asta Community of Professionals Support our work 3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do... Become a member or partner and join our growing community. Buy us a coffee. Rate & review the show or an episode Meet Uma Uma is the world’s first strengths-based self-identification service that helps adult women, non‑binary and AFAB people safely self-screen for autism, ADHD, and CPTSD. She also screens for commonly co-occurring health difficulties related to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Hypermobility EDS (hEDS), to build a complete brain-body picture. Join the Beta Tester CommunityUMA are looking for people who are medically diagnosed or self-identify as ADHD or autistic, as well as those waiting on a diagnosis, to try the service. Thank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing. Nordens Deborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy Mind The Growth Pod Hormones On The Blink MindThrive Coaching About the Podcast www.thelatediscoveredclub.com Founder & Host Catherine Asta Podcast Editor Caty Ava Music by Allora Follow us on Instagram
“Creativity has always been my life force. Even when I didn’t know I was autistic, it was how I survived.” From being sent out of chemistry class for caricaturing her teacher, to being piled on by hundreds of angry Nicola Sturgeon fans online, Lorna Miller has sharpened her pencil and become one of the UK’s most successful editorial cartoonists - known for her satirical, political, and deeply personal work. The first woman to have a cartoonist role created for her in Private Eye, Lorna has also had her work featured in The Guardian and The Observer. Her 30-year career has continuously pushed boundaries in both art and advocacy. In this intimate and wide ranging conversation, Lorna shares how a late autism diagnosis at age 51 helped her reframe a lifetime of creative drive, chronic health challenges, and profound sensitivity - and how discovering Reiki became a powerful tool for healing. Lorna’s story is one of creativity and deep self-reclamation. A must listen for neurodivergent creatives, artists, and anyone on a journey of rediscovery. Follow Lorna on instagram https://www.instagram.com/mistressofline Follow Lorna’s Reiki Facebook https://www.facebook.com/share/18vCYkBjgR/?mibextid=wwXIfr Connect on Ko-fi https://ko-fi.com/lornamiller2025 Connect with Catherine Buy Catherine's NEW Book 'Still Living' published April 2026 Visit Catherine's website Buy Catherine's Book 'Rediscovered' Need Post Discovery Support? Join our next 6 week post discovery support circle Join our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle. Explore The Asta Community of Professionals NEW National Autism Peer Education Programme From December 2025, Catherine will be hosting the NHS commissioned and funded 'Autism Central Podcast' as part of the £6 million National Autism Peer Education Programme being delivered by Anna Freud over the next 3 years. Catherine & Caty will be teaming up once again to bring real stories, honest conversations, and shared wisdom. Read more here Support our work 3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do... Become a member or partner and join our growing community. Buy us a coffee. Rate & review the show or an episode Meet Uma Uma is the world’s first strengths-based self-identification service that helps adult women, non‑binary and AFAB people safely self-screen for autism, ADHD, and CPTSD. She also screens for commonly co-occurring health difficulties related to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Hypermobility EDS (hEDS), to build a complete brain-body picture. UMA are looking for people who are medically diagnosed or self-identify as ADHD or autistic, as well as those waiting on a diagnosis, to try the service. Join the Beta Tester Community Thank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing. Nordens Deborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy Mind The Growth Pod Hormones On The Blink MindThrive Coaching About the Podcast www.thelatediscoveredclub.com Founder & Host Catherine Asta Podcast Editor Caty Ava Music by Allora Follow us on Instagram
In this episode, Catherine is joined by Julie, a Canadian based writer, artist, and creator of “The Autistic Mum” on Substack. Julie shares her powerful late discovery story, receiving an autism diagnosis at age 44 after a decade of questioning and reflection sparked by her son’s own diagnosis. Together, they explore the emotional terrain of late discovery, generational autism, sensory differences, and the impact of masking and burnout. Julie speaks candidly about the challenges of navigating healthcare and disclosure, and the liberating journey of radical self-acceptance. They also discuss her upcoming book, Motherness, her forthcoming memoir about "generational autism, parenthood, and radical acceptance" (publication date 23 September, 2025) which traces her experience of raising an autistic child while rediscovering herself. Julie M Green is a Canadian writer whose work has been featured in the Washington Post, Globe and Mail, Healthline, Parents, Chatelaine, Today's Parent, The Mighty, and more. She has appeared on CTV, BBC Radio, Sirius XM, and CBC Radio. In 2024, she was a finalist for the CBC Nonfiction Prize. Connect with Julie Visit Julie’s website Follow Julie on Instagram Bluesky: @juliemgreen.bsky.social Substack: The Autistic Mom Connect with Catherine Visit Catherine's website Buy Catherine's NEW Book 'Still Living' published April 2026 Buy Catherine's Book 'Rediscovered' Need Post Discovery Support? Join our next 6 week post discovery support circle Join our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle. Explore The Asta Community of Professionals NEW National Autism Peer Education Programme From December 2025, Catherine will be hosting the NHS commissioned and funded 'Autism Central Podcast' as part of the £6 million National Autism Peer Education Programme being delivered by Anna Freud over the next 3 years. Catherine & Caty will be teaming up once again to bring real stories, honest conversations, and shared wisdom. Read more here Support our work 3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do... Become a member or partner and join our growing community. Buy us a coffee. Rate & review the show or an episode Meet Uma Uma is the world’s first strengths-based self-identification service that helps adult women, non‑binary and AFAB people safely self-screen for autism, ADHD, and CPTSD. She also screens for commonly co-occurring health difficulties related to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Hypermobility EDS (hEDS), to build a complete brain-body picture. UMA are looking for people who are medically diagnosed or self-identify as ADHD or autistic, as well as those waiting on a diagnosis, to try the service. Join the Beta Tester Community Thank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing. Nordens Deborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy Mind The Growth Pod Hormones On The Blink MindThrive Coaching About the Podcast www.thelatediscoveredclub.com Founder & Host Catherine Asta Podcast Editor Caty Ava Music by Allora Follow us on Instagram
Joining Catherine is Trudi Murray - an artist, illustrator, writer, and a wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, and proud granny. Diagnosed autistic at 47, Trudi now sees her lifelong creative work as a map of self-discovery, a visual language she was speaking long before she had the words to understand it. In this episode, Trudi reflects on how her art carried the essence of her autistic identity long before discovery and diagnosis. From paintings that unknowingly explored the concept of masking, to her deep love for telling the unsung stories of women in history, her creativity has always been a window into her inner world. Her late discovery was sparked by a move to a new city and the fresh reflections of new connections. With raw honesty and gentle wisdom, Trudi shares the grief and clarity that came with rediscovering herself and how that insight is helping her live more authentically, both in her creative work and in her part-time role coordinating social transformation projects. This is a conversation about identity, creativity, self-compassion, and the transformative power of being seen. Trudi’s website Trudi's Substack Instagram Connect with Catherine Buy Catherine's NEW Book 'Still Living' published April 2026 Visit Catherine's website Buy Catherine's Book 'Rediscovered' Contact Catherine Asta Need Post Discovery Support? Join our next 6 week post discovery support circle Join our Late Discovered Club Community & our FREE monthly Community Connection Circle. Explore The Asta Community of Professionals NEW National Autism Peer Education Programme From December 2025, Catherine will be hosting the NHS commissioned and funded 'Autism Central Podcast' as part of the £6 million National Autism Peer Education Programme being delivered by Anna Freud over the next 3 years. Catherine & Caty will be teaming up once again to bring real stories, honest conversations, and shared wisdom. Read more here Support our work 3 ways you can support the podcast and the work we do... Become a member or partner and join our growing community. Buy us a coffee. Rate & review the show or an episode Meet Uma Uma is the world’s first strengths-based self-identification service that helps adult women, non‑binary and AFAB people safely self-screen for autism, ADHD, and CPTSD. She also screens for commonly co-occurring health difficulties related to Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) and Hypermobility EDS (hEDS), to build a complete brain-body picture. UMA are looking for people who are medically diagnosed or self-identify as ADHD or autistic, as well as those waiting on a diagnosis, to try the service. Join the Beta Tester Community Thank you to our Community Partners who are supporting the work that we are doing. Nordens Deborah Bulcock Coaching & Consulting A Tidy Mind The Growth Pod Hormones On The Blink MindThrive Coaching About the Podcast www.thelatediscoveredclub.com Founder & Host Catherine Asta Podcast Editor Caty Ava Music by Allora Follow us on Instagram