https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autism-awareness-making-sense-of-it--7076323
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autism-awareness-making-sense-of-it--7076323/support.]]>enMental Health© 2026 Let's Work This Sh*t Outhttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/8371e6e6aea15dffc0b1dd59fd92b42d.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autism-awareness-making-sense-of-it--7076323Wed, 05 Aug 2026 09:26:20 +0000RileyLet's Work This Sh*t Outautism@senseofthisshit.comThis show serves parents, educators, and adults exploring autism who want clear, neurodiversity-affirming explainers without cure narratives, stigma, or doom framing. We own autism spectrum, ASD signs, sensory processing, masking, late diagnosis,...
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autism-awareness-making-sense-of-it--7076323/support.]]>falseepisodicSupport the podcast!https://www.spreaker.com/episode/autism-supportive-language-say-this-skip-that-at-home--72968777
We’re breaking down the messy middle ground—no sugarcoating the daily sensory warfare, the exhausting masking game, and the late-diagnosis curveballs that flip entire identities upside down. You’ll hear straight talk on the strengths nobody mentions (hello, hyperfocus and pattern recognition) alongside the societal BS that still treats autistic people like broken versions of “normal.”

If you’re ready to trade stigma for straight answers, hit play, subscribe, and drop your own unfiltered story in the comments. Let’s actually make sense of this shit together.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autism-awareness-let-s-make-sense-of-this-sh-t--7076323/support]]>26892b01-ebb1-4c41-9fe3-675e7dea63c3Tue, 14 Jul 2026 14:44:05 +0000RileyIn this episode, think autism is just rainbows, puzzles, and inspirational quotes? Buckle up, because this episode rips the filter off and gets brutally honest about what autism actually looks like in real life. We’re breaking down the messy middle...
We’re breaking down the messy middle ground—no sugarcoating the daily sensory warfare, the exhausting masking game, and the late-diagnosis curveballs that flip entire identities upside down. You’ll hear straight talk on the strengths nobody mentions (hello, hyperfocus and pattern recognition) alongside the societal BS that still treats autistic people like broken versions of “normal.”

If you’re ready to trade stigma for straight answers, hit play, subscribe, and drop your own unfiltered story in the comments. Let’s actually make sense of this shit together.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autism-awareness-let-s-make-sense-of-this-sh-t--7076323/support]]>342accommodations,autism,diagnosis,educators,efficiency,focus,goals,habits,neurodiversity,parents,planning,productivity,routines,sensory,spectrum,strategies,time-management,tips,tools,workflowfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/autism-iep-basics-goals-meetings-and-parent-prep-steps--72968672
We unpack the daily chaos of sensory overload, the exhausting art of masking, and the surprising superpowers that often come with neurodivergence, while calling out the well-meaning but clueless advice that makes things worse. From late diagnoses to workplace struggles and the beauty of stimming in peace, you'll walk away with a clearer map of what "making sense" actually looks like for autistic folks and their allies.

Ready to ditch the confusion and show up better? Hit play, then drop a review or share this episode with someone who needs it.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autism-awareness-let-s-make-sense-of-this-sh-t--7076323/support]]>4efaef73-04fb-4889-9660-99fef773947fTue, 14 Jul 2026 14:38:13 +0000RileyIn this episode, think autism is just a checklist of quirky behaviors or tragic stereotypes? This episode blows up the myths and dives headfirst into the raw, unfiltered reality of life on the spectrum, with zero sugarcoating. We unpack the daily...
We unpack the daily chaos of sensory overload, the exhausting art of masking, and the surprising superpowers that often come with neurodivergence, while calling out the well-meaning but clueless advice that makes things worse. From late diagnoses to workplace struggles and the beauty of stimming in peace, you'll walk away with a clearer map of what "making sense" actually looks like for autistic folks and their allies.

Ready to ditch the confusion and show up better? Hit play, then drop a review or share this episode with someone who needs it.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/autism-awareness-let-s-make-sense-of-this-sh-t--7076323/support]]>344consistency,deep-work,discipline,efficiency,energy-management,execution,focus,goals,growth-mindset,habits,motivation,organization,planning,pomodoro,prioritization,productivity,self-improvement,task-management,time-management,workflowfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/autism-sensory-processing-overload-seeking-and-what-helps--72750344
Welcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many autistic people notice the world through stronger sensory channels than others do. Lights can feel too bright or sounds too sharp in ways that build quickly into overload. At the same time some seek out movement or pressure because those inputs help them feel settled. The thing is these patterns often show up in everyday routines like school transitions or grocery trips. However they also connect to how the nervous system processes information rather than any single cause. In other words what looks like avoidance or seeking reflects real differences in sensory regulation. Here's the thing though. Understanding overload versus seeking gives us clearer ways to adjust environments without trying to change the person. For example dimming lights or offering a weighted lap pad can make a difference in the moment. Mean

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📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>838872d6-7c60-433f-8966-75e3cb894ab6Tue, 30 Jun 2026 02:08:55 +0000RileyWelcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense Of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many autistic people notice the world through stronger sensory channels than others do. Lights can feel too bright or sounds too sharp in ways that build quickly into overload. At...
Welcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many autistic people notice the world through stronger sensory channels than others do. Lights can feel too bright or sounds too sharp in ways that build quickly into overload. At the same time some seek out movement or pressure because those inputs help them feel settled. The thing is these patterns often show up in everyday routines like school transitions or grocery trips. However they also connect to how the nervous system processes information rather than any single cause. In other words what looks like avoidance or seeking reflects real differences in sensory regulation. Here's the thing though. Understanding overload versus seeking gives us clearer ways to adjust environments without trying to change the person. For example dimming lights or offering a weighted lap pad can make a difference in the moment. Mean

Subscribe for weekly explainers — no guru fluff, just tactics you can apply this week.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>306101,accommodations,advice,audio,autism,autism-101,diagnosis,educators,guide,howto,insights,listen,neurodiversity,parents,podcast,sensory,show,spectrum,support,tipsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/autism-stimming-explained-why-it-s-communication-not-bad--72743918
Welcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many families and teachers notice repetitive movements like hand flapping or rocking and wonder if they signal a problem that requires correction. However, these actions often represent stimming, a natural part of autistic experience. Because the behavior looks unusual to outsiders, it frequently gets labeled as disruptive or inappropriate. In fact, research from autistic advocates shows stimming serves clear purposes such as managing sensory input or conveying feelings when speech proves difficult. The thing is, treating it as something bad creates unnecessary stress for everyone involved. Instead, understanding stimming as communication changes how support gets offered. For example, a child might rock to ease anxiety during transitions at school. Therefore, pausing to observe the context helps reveal what the movem

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📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>1729a671-bf7d-4f4b-8f11-8b9b1dbfe28bMon, 29 Jun 2026 16:44:57 +0000RileyWelcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense Of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many families and teachers notice repetitive movements like hand flapping or rocking and wonder if they signal a problem that requires correction. However, these actions often...
Welcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many families and teachers notice repetitive movements like hand flapping or rocking and wonder if they signal a problem that requires correction. However, these actions often represent stimming, a natural part of autistic experience. Because the behavior looks unusual to outsiders, it frequently gets labeled as disruptive or inappropriate. In fact, research from autistic advocates shows stimming serves clear purposes such as managing sensory input or conveying feelings when speech proves difficult. The thing is, treating it as something bad creates unnecessary stress for everyone involved. Instead, understanding stimming as communication changes how support gets offered. For example, a child might rock to ease anxiety during transitions at school. Therefore, pausing to observe the context helps reveal what the movem

Subscribe for weekly explainers — no guru fluff, just tactics you can apply this week.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>450101,accommodations,advice,audio,autism,autism-101,diagnosis,educators,guide,howto,insights,listen,neurodiversity,parents,podcast,sensory,show,spectrum,support,tipsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/autism-meltdown-vs-shutdown-what-each-looks-like-and-means--72742767
Welcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many parents and educators notice sudden changes in autistic people but struggle to tell the difference between a meltdown and a shutdown. Because these experiences can look intense it helps to understand what each one actually means. However the key difference lies in how the nervous system responds to overload. A meltdown often shows up as outward expressions while a shutdown turns inward instead. Therefore we will break down the signs so you can support someone better during these moments. Meanwhile adults exploring their own diagnosis sometimes wonder which one they experience more often. In other words knowing the distinction brings practical next steps like adjusting the environment before things escalate. Because support starts with recognition rather than reaction the distinction matters for everyone involved

Subscribe for weekly explainers — no guru fluff, just tactics you can apply this week.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>0230f80e-4e0b-4620-9d19-c1de8d5a63c5Mon, 29 Jun 2026 15:52:30 +0000RileyWelcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense Of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many parents and educators notice sudden changes in autistic people but struggle to tell the difference between a meltdown and a shutdown. Because these experiences can look...
Welcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many parents and educators notice sudden changes in autistic people but struggle to tell the difference between a meltdown and a shutdown. Because these experiences can look intense it helps to understand what each one actually means. However the key difference lies in how the nervous system responds to overload. A meltdown often shows up as outward expressions while a shutdown turns inward instead. Therefore we will break down the signs so you can support someone better during these moments. Meanwhile adults exploring their own diagnosis sometimes wonder which one they experience more often. In other words knowing the distinction brings practical next steps like adjusting the environment before things escalate. Because support starts with recognition rather than reaction the distinction matters for everyone involved

Subscribe for weekly explainers — no guru fluff, just tactics you can apply this week.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>405101,accommodations,advice,audio,autism,autism-101,diagnosis,educators,guide,howto,insights,listen,neurodiversity,parents,podcast,sensory,show,spectrum,support,tipsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/autism-in-adults-late-diagnosis-signs-women-report-most--72378888
Autism hits different when you spend thirty years not knowing you have it. That sentence lands hard for a lot of people who are only now, as adults, starting to understand why certain things always felt off. The thing is, autism has historically been understood through a very narrow lens, one built mostly around young white boys who fit very specific stereotypes. That means millions of people, especially women and girls, slipped through the cracks entirely. They developed coping strategies, they masked their struggles, they learned to perform normalcy so well that nobody, including themselves, ever thought to look deeper. Now, as adults, they're finally asking the questions that have been haunting them for decades. I want to talk about this today because getting diagnosed later in life is more common than people realize, and the signs often look different than what we've been taught to e

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📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>8181a3af-71d0-4285-b652-dc706f4a8409Sat, 06 Jun 2026 01:21:58 +0000RileyAutism hits different when you spend thirty years not knowing you have it. That sentence lands hard for a lot of people who are only now, as adults, starting to understand why certain things always felt off. The thing is, autism has historically been...
Autism hits different when you spend thirty years not knowing you have it. That sentence lands hard for a lot of people who are only now, as adults, starting to understand why certain things always felt off. The thing is, autism has historically been understood through a very narrow lens, one built mostly around young white boys who fit very specific stereotypes. That means millions of people, especially women and girls, slipped through the cracks entirely. They developed coping strategies, they masked their struggles, they learned to perform normalcy so well that nobody, including themselves, ever thought to look deeper. Now, as adults, they're finally asking the questions that have been haunting them for decades. I want to talk about this today because getting diagnosed later in life is more common than people realize, and the signs often look different than what we've been taught to e

Subscribe for weekly explainers — no guru fluff, just tactics you can apply this week.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>457101,accommodations,advice,audio,autism,autism-101,diagnosis,educators,guide,howto,insights,listen,neurodiversity,parents,podcast,sensory,show,spectrum,support,tipsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/autism-signs-in-toddlers-what-parents-often-miss-early-on--72378822
Hello and welcome back to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many parents first notice differences in their toddler because certain behaviors stand out during daily routines. However a child might avoid eye contact while playing or seem uninterested in simple games with others. These moments can feel confusing at first since every child develops at their own pace. Meanwhile some toddlers show strong reactions to sounds or textures that others barely register. Since these responses happen in ordinary settings they often get overlooked instead of explored further. The reality is that early awareness helps families connect with supports sooner rather than later.

Subscribe for weekly explainers — no guru fluff, just tactics you can apply this week.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>ff390f78-e2d8-4f7f-bf5b-40519e72615aSat, 06 Jun 2026 01:14:27 +0000RileyHello and welcome back to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense Of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Hello and welcome back to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many parents first notice differences in their toddler because certain...
Hello and welcome back to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley. Many parents first notice differences in their toddler because certain behaviors stand out during daily routines. However a child might avoid eye contact while playing or seem uninterested in simple games with others. These moments can feel confusing at first since every child develops at their own pace. Meanwhile some toddlers show strong reactions to sounds or textures that others barely register. Since these responses happen in ordinary settings they often get overlooked instead of explored further. The reality is that early awareness helps families connect with supports sooner rather than later.

Subscribe for weekly explainers — no guru fluff, just tactics you can apply this week.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>442101,accommodations,advice,audio,autism,autism-101,diagnosis,educators,guide,howto,insights,listen,neurodiversity,parents,podcast,sensory,show,spectrum,support,tipsfalsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/autism-101-understanding-the-spectrum-what-to-know-first--72378772
Hello and welcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley and today we are kicking off our spectrum primer crash course. Many people hear the word autism and picture a single fixed set of traits. The reality is much more varied than that. Autism shows up differently in each person because it involves how the brain processes information from the world around us. Some autistic people notice patterns others miss. Others experience strong reactions to lights or sounds. These differences form a spectrum of experiences rather than a straight line from one end to another. Understanding this helps parents and educators offer better support without assumptions. It also helps adults who wonder about their own traits. In this episode we will break down what the spectrum actually means in practical terms. We will look at common areas like sensory processing and social communic

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📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>abbe54bb-4948-4c13-b628-d23c4d29bd72Sat, 06 Jun 2026 01:07:14 +0000RileyHello and welcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense Of This Sh*t. I'm Riley and today we are kicking off our spectrum primer crash course. Many people hear the word autism and picture a single fixed set of traits. The reality is much more varied...
Hello and welcome to Autism Awareness : Let's Make Sense of This Sh*t. I'm Riley and today we are kicking off our spectrum primer crash course. Many people hear the word autism and picture a single fixed set of traits. The reality is much more varied than that. Autism shows up differently in each person because it involves how the brain processes information from the world around us. Some autistic people notice patterns others miss. Others experience strong reactions to lights or sounds. These differences form a spectrum of experiences rather than a straight line from one end to another. Understanding this helps parents and educators offer better support without assumptions. It also helps adults who wonder about their own traits. In this episode we will break down what the spectrum actually means in practical terms. We will look at common areas like sensory processing and social communic

Subscribe for weekly explainers — no guru fluff, just tactics you can apply this week.

📩 Have questions or want to share your experience? Reach out at autism@senseofthisshit.com.
💛 Join Our Supporters Club ($3 a month) 💛 Ad-free listening + early episodes — help keep independent media alive. Click Here: https://www.spreaker.com/podca...]]>399101,accommodations,advice,audio,autism,autism-101,diagnosis,educators,guide,howto,insights,listen,neurodiversity,parents,podcast,sensory,show,spectrum,support,tipsfalsefull