Show Notes
Are emotions felt differently in Autistic people? What is Code Switching? Is logic superior to emotion?
Paul Micallef (Autism From The Inside) is a popular autistic creator, speaker, and coach on YouTube, recently becoming the largest Autism-related channel at 238k subscribers in March 2023. Born out of Melbourne Australia, he seeks to make Autism education and personal development more accessible to autistic individuals, their partners, parents, and professionals.
Paul's Links - https://autismfromtheinside.com.au/ // My Links - https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK
Thomas starts the episode by diving into Paul's history, making his mark on YouTube with a charity video where he shaved off his signature dreadlocks. Autism From The Inside explains the strange rise in social invitations, conversations, and connections during his dreadlock phase… the two share a similar experience, with Thomas' story of improving his fashion sense, grooming, and physique.
Many autistic people believe logic is KING, especially when compared to seemingly illogical emotions. Thomas and Paul share that they tried to think their way into understanding the social/emotional aspects of life through careful observation from the sidelines… realising that many people do things that feel good, just for the sake of feeling good, and not necessarily following contemplation by weighing up the pros and cons!
Emotional needs are difficult to meet as an Autistic person, with Alexithymia, social issues, and a lack of cognitive empathy… it's easy to see why we tend to focus on logic and 'blanket approaches' to dealing with negative emotion. The two agree that socialising is the primary way most humans go about managing complex emotions and events, making it difficult for autistic people to meet those needs independently.
Autism From The Inside explains the concept of Code Switching, whereby complex social interactions with neurotypicals can be navigated through learning about our cognitive/emotional differences and finding ways to relate to and socialise successfully with neurotypicals. Whilst navigating neurotypical communication is useful for daily life, workplaces, and socialising, Thomas highlights that there are a lot of situations where neurotypicals can and should meet us halfway.
Paul talks about the utility of fast emotional VS slow logical thinking, and how many autistic people will run into issues with executive functioning, social anxiety, and overwhelm when they don't use their emotional brain for smaller tasks.
They end their podcast by speaking about the strange positive of Alexithymia in crisis situations, but also the issues when it comes to placing boundaries, building verbal trust, and navigating the social world.
Song Of The Day (Listen Here) - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5UDIyN5TSYN4zMcRoQPrG8?si=9255ed3480d840b5
Interview me, 1:1 Autism coaching, public speaking for events, workplace training - https://www.thomashenley.co.uk [https://www.thomashenley.co.uk/]
More from Thoughty Auti - The Autism Podcast
Autistic host Thomas is joined by Ben Schatzel, a human behaviourist and disability labour reformist, to confront the harsh reality of employment for autistic adults — and why it keeps failing us (spoiler, it's not you).
Host Thomas Henley is joined by psychologist Laura Gwilt to explore the complexities of the manosphere — the digital world influencing millions of young men and autistic adults.
Dr. Margaret Price and Thomas Henley discuss divorce, parenthood, and family court through an autism-focused lens; a raw, vital talk on support, stigma, and systemic failure.Thomas's Links: https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUKPegi’s Book: https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-margaret-pegi-price-pid-204569Code HENLEY25 : https://neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergent-store/We discuss the challenges faced by families with autistic children in the context of family law. Pegi shares her personal journey as a single parent of an autistic child and critiques traditional legal frameworks that inadequately address the unique needs of these families. She advocates for customised legal solutions, crisis planning, and systemic changes to better support special needs families. The episode emphasises the need for specialised legal considerations and a cultural shift to foster understanding and support for children with autism.In this episode, we discuss:• The difference between typical and special needs family law: why the old playbook often falls short.• Court-approved parenting plans and how they often miss the mark for families with an autistic child.• Crisis planning lessons from COVID-19 school closures: what happens when support systems suddenly vanish.• Labelling and stigma: how institutional bias shows up in court and what it means for our kids.• The importance of individualised support, realistic respite care, and financial planning for special needs.• Raising awareness in law, policy, and everyday life: change happens when we all get informed.🎥 WATCH NEXT: https://youtu.be/lEs4sMH5OnM#thoughtyauti #thomashenley #autismpodcast 👽 Remember that Autism is a spectrum, and your experiences/opinions will likely differ from mine based on your background, traits, location, other diagnoses, personality, life experience, and much more. So PLEASE share your experiences and thoughts in the COMMENTS!➡️ Remember to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more content, and hit the notification button 🔔 to be notified of new podcasts ahead of the crowd!👾 JOIN the Discord Community - https://discord.com/invite/XMYbAd9u5D❗️IMPORTANT NOTE: I am NOT, and neither is my guest, a professional,l and you should consult a registered psychologist and doctor before taking any action📙 FREE Glossary For All The Autism Terms You Need - https://youtu.be/Z8FIdO1nzA8 🎧 Audiobook Adventure - https://youtu.be/GmQfmIlgjqc💫 My Autism Journey Documentary - https://youtu.be/j3Xox7vN2NM🚀 RECOMMENDATIONS:🎧 My Favourite Earphones - 1. https://amzn.to/3OfWrUW2. https://dbud.io/thoughtyautipodcast (20% OFF)🛁 Sensory Friendly Self-Care - https://amzn.to/3V2sUSm🎥 My YouTube Equipment - https://amzn.to/3OjsinW💪🏻 My Gym Equipment - https://amzn.to/4eKHHrY🧑🚀 Sensory Input and Fidgets - https://amzn.to/3ZbWRSx📚 Book Recommendations - https://amzn.to/40Ylx2a👓 Sensory Supports and Reduction - https://amzn.to/3CLV5i8PS: Any purchases made through these affiliate links will give me a small commission :)📲 My Socials:All Links: https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomashenleyuk/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thomashenleyukDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/XMYbAd9u5DOSRS: Rubywizard11Website: https://www.thomashenley.co.ukEmail: [email protected]
New age spirituality brought us star seeds and indigo children, but are autistic people truly spiritual beings? Autistic athiest Thomas Henley talks to Emily Robyn Clark about the links between Autism and spirituality, diving deep into fringe cross-over groups within the Autistic communities online.
Romance, chemistry, gut feelings and communication; today we dive into the complexities of dating as an autistic adult. Thomas's Links: linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK Daniel's Insta: lnk.bio/nohandshakemusic Thomas produces weekly videos, livestreams and video versions of the podcast episodes you can view for free on YouTube. Join the 100+ members for only £0.99, support Thomas’ work, interact with him and receive all the perks! 🎵 Song Of The Day - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5UDIyN5TSYN4zMcRoQPrG8?si=9255ed3480d840b5 🗣️ My Socials and YouTube Channel - https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK 💻 My Amazon Store Recommendations (Sensory items, gym gear, YouTube set-up) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thomashenleyuk