You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)

Episode 41: The Art of Self-Reflection

Episode 40: Sensory Issues, Stimming and Self Advocacy

Episode 39: #actuallyautistic - Now What?

In this episode Blake and Rachelle discuss what it means to discover you're actually autistic and what to do with that information. We also cover an article on Depression and how best to manage your depression whether you're a man or woman.

Episode 38: The Autism Dilemma - Hiding in Plain Sight (PART 2)

Episode 37: The Autism Dilemma - Hiding in Plain Sight (PART 1)

Episode 36: What Exactly is RSD? (Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria)

Episode 35: Vocational Rehab & Transitions (First Steps)

Episode 34: Depression vs Autistic Burnout

Episode 33: Dating On The Spectrum

Episode 32: How Often Do We Suffer In Silence?

Episode 31: Just Say Yes To Saying No

Episode 30: Energy, Motivation, and Focus

Episode 29: Taking Smaller Bites of Big Goals

Episode 28: Fire, Ready, Aim... ADHD in Women

Multitasking should be called multi-firing especially when describing the neurological crossfires women find themselves dealing with every day. Still boxed in by gender roles, childbearing, child rearing and household management on top of working to afford today's climbing costs of living, women with ADHD are repeatedly missed and misdiagnosed due to improper evaluation of women's cycles, hormones and scripted coping mechanisms. Women with ADHD and Autism, as Blake describes from his own experie...

Episode 27: High Anxiety and High Functioning Autism

Anxiety is a familiar feeling. How is anxiety different when you're on the spectrum struggle a bit extra with social interactions, attending entertainment or sporting events (even if it's something you want to do). That's the thing about nervous energy. It's in the nerves and the nerves pick up on EVERYTHING. Then you add in sensory sensitives to lights, sounds, crowds, smells and chaos... even a trip to the grocery store on a crowded afternoon can take a Neurodiverse family down a quiet isle to...

Episode 26: Getting Stuck in Big Feelings

Big feelings need a safe place to be expressed and supported by people who understand our unique life. After Rachelle joined a few "Mom's Autism" support groups on Facebook, we realized the importance of providing a safe place for Dad's too. The world we live in as parents is unique and often misunderstood. Dad jokes welcome at ADHD and Autism Dad's Group . Then we review Blake's first week on his 6 month journey to lose 85 lbs and all the ups, downs and obstacles that come with starting a physi...

Episode 25: Goal Setting with ADHD and Autism

Making small daily decisions while navigating ADHD and Autism are difficult enough without adding the need to make a pivotal life change too! Just the thought of that is overwhelming. Blake found himself in this exact position this week and facing the same fork in his mental/emotional road that either goes left towards another round of procrastination... or right, towards the choice he's been masterfully avoiding. How do you motivate a neurodivergent mind whose brain is fueled by urgent, importa...

Episode 24: Is There A Cure For Autism?

It's a question we're seeing a lot in various groups lately and feelings are mixed about the concept. Life on the spectrum is still largely misunderstood and conditionally judged. Many aspects of daily life, parenting, and thriving come with a very different owner's manual and one that's still be written for all age groups. Blake discusses his feelings as someone with ASD and we look for potential core reasons prompting discussions about a "cure". We also discuss our experience with autism genet...

Episode 23: Has Anyone Told You..."You're Autistic?"

What was your light bulb moment when you realized you might be Autistic? Did you stumble across the connections or did someone help illuminate the idea? We high-level review our understanding and awarenesses of autism spectrum disorder over time and discuss the perspective changes and research advancements that continue to help adults find their own missing life puzzle piece. Adults receiving a diagnosis as an adult face challenges that often receive little to no support and remain largely unrec...

Episode 22: How to Stay Afloat

Daily life is full of unexpected twists and turns which often clash with our expectations and expectations of routines. Staying afloat and learning to stay out of a place of feeling anger and rigidity takes practice and a dedication to find the laughter and the joy of the moment. Moving our physical bodies is also a key component of managing emotions, physical and mental energy, sensory sensitivities, sensory integration, promoting healthy sleep and keeping our brains firing and wiring towards a...

Episode 21: The Evolution of ADHD and Autism

Welcome 2022! ADHD and Autism didn't just appear on the planet overnight. The Night Watchman Theory offers an interesting perspective that many agree with that align the unique traits of ADHD to the same traits that our earlier social structures valued to keep us safe at night. Rachelle believes Autism may have evolved from generations of depression or freeze-centered responses to stress. Today, we live in a world that has evolved poorly from a socio-emotional standpoint creating traumatic exclu...

Episode 20: The Holiday Battle of Needs

How do you successfully reconcile and find the middle between family members with sensory, dietary, emotional profiles on opposite sides of the fight/flight vs freeze Neuro-biodiversity scale?? We've spent 10 years researching this very topic and finally this year managed to pull all the pieces together to create a Happy Holiday experience for everyone. Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @blakefertig Join the Group. Join the Conversation. ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private) You Don't Sound Au...

Episode 19: The Reality of Life

Has anyone told you "You're too tangential for me"?? For individuals with ADHD/ADD (with or without Autism, Anxiety and Depression) the reality of life is a tangential stream of consciousness. Listen in to discover if you, or someone you love, can relate to Blake while he transparently describes the brilliance and chaos of his mental health routines. Join the Group. Join the Conversation. ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private) You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA) Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @b...

Episode 18: Do You Have a Selective Learning Disorder?

Intuitively, we know when we're struggling with mental, physical or emotional aspects of life and when we don't have the words (or diagnosis) to explain the details to friends and family. Sometimes, we invent terms like Blake did when he said he had a Selective Learning Disorder as a kid as an attempt to explain his teacher's scoldings over his behavior, attention span and chattiness to his mother. We also explore Rachelle's curiosity in the same realm after discovering many of her habits might ...

Episode 17: Women Living with Neurodiversity

Not only do women live in a highly interuptable environment when raising kids but today, there are still millions of women living with undiagnosed, unrecognized and unsupported neurodiversity. We dig deeper into the complex social and emotional ways that mirroring and masking can unintentionally keep women from discovering their true mental health owners manual for life. Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @blakefertig Join the Group. Join the Conversation. ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private) ...

Episode 16: Transitions and Transformations

We're back from a two-week marathon of transitions, transitions and more transitions that led to some exciting breakthrough's and transformations. During this week we also journey back to the start of our relationship 10 years ago, before we had any idea Autism, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression or Hyper Empathy were part of our relationship dynamics and we examine the transitions, strategies, obstacles and friendship that led to where we are today. Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @blakefertig Join ...

Episode 15: We All Melt Down

This week we adventure out to a family breakfast and get served with a double platter of public meltdowns. Reflecting on our experiences prior to Blake's ASD diagnosis, we breakdown the similarities and differences in meltdowns for Dad and Son and provide multi-generational strategies for Neurodivergent families. Follow Blake's journey on TikTok at @blakefertig Join the Group. Join the Conversation. ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private) You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)...

Episode 14: Wings Beneath My Wind

This week we review the process and results of our son's evaluation and eligibility process for creating a preschool IEP (Individual Education Plan). Taking a step farther, we answer critical questions to distinguish medical and educational evaluations that every parent or caregiver of a child with ASD or Neurodiversity needs to know. Join the Group. Join the Conversation. ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private) You Don't Sound Autistic (YDSA)...

Episode 13: Technical Difficulties

A MUST-LISTEN EPISODE for EVERYONE, Neurodivergent or Neurotypical. Emotional Regulation is not an easy task for neurodivergent individuals. Blake opens up about a recent conversation with friend and shares the deeply crushing impact of her ignorance when she brushed off and flat out denied belief that Blake has ASD. Listen in and make sure you don't cause the same emotional harm to another person. Join the Group. Join the Conversation. ADHD and Autism Dad's Group (Private) You Don't Sound Autis...

Episode 12: Decoding Mimicking vs. Mirroring

Today we venture out to the Georgia Aquarium putting our sensory parenting to the test to maximize enjoyment and mitigate sensory overload, meltdown and shutdown potential for autistic Dad and Son. Together we learn about mammalian "mimicking" from the dolphin show and compare that neuro-biodiverse "mirroring" social go-to's. Finally, inspired by a visit to the ENT to retest hearing and smelling sensory nerve function post-COVID for the little one, we explore olfactory nerve support like Lavende...