Adulting with Autism

ADULTING WITH AUTISM A movement for neurodivergent adults, created by autistic occupational therapist April Ratchford, OTR/L. Adulting with Autism is a global community for autistic and ADHD adults navigating independence, relationships, college life, careers, emotional regulation, and real-world executive-function challenges. With over 2.7 million downloads, April blends lived experience, clinical insight, and honest conversation to guide neurodivergent adults into their next chapter of growth. Each episode brings practical tools, mental-health strategies, autistic storytelling, and real talk about boundaries, burnout, sensory needs, finances, friendships, and the messy parts of becoming an independent adult. Featuring leading experts in autism, mental health, neuroscience, accessibility, and creative industries — along with deeply human stories from autistic adults around the world. If you’re a late-diagnosed autistic adult, a college student trying to survive executive-function chaos, or a neurodivergent person trying to build a life that actually fits — you are in the right place. 🎙️ Hosted by: April Ratchford, OTR/L — autistic occupational therapist, autism advocate, author, and executive contributor to Brainz Magazine.

Unemployable” to In-Demand: How Aspiritech Built a $6M Autistic-Led Tech Company 02/02/2026

Music Therapy for Autistic Adults: Brain Waves & Calm | Dr. Barb Minton 01/31/2026

Music Therapy for Autistic Adults: Brain Waves & Calm | Dr. Barb Minton Living with anxiety spikes, focus fog, or constant sensory overload as an autistic, AuDHD, or ADHD adult—and wondering if music could actually help your brain calm down? This episode of Adulting With Autism explores music therapy for autistic adults with Dr. Barb Minton, a psychologist and neuroscientist who started as a pipe organ major and went on to create the Calm the Storm album with guitarist Peppino D’Agostino. Dr. Barb explains how music can entrain brain waves—how tempo, rhythm, and sound textures can gently guide the nervous system toward calmer or more focused states. She shares how specific choices (like slower tempos around 60–80 beats per minute for calm, or slightly faster tempos around 110–120 for focus) may support sleep, pain management, migraines, and attention, and why the body “hears” vibration through mechanoreceptors as well as through your ears. You will hear stories of how music has been used to support neurodivergent adults, including those with autism and ADHD, and how to experiment safely: choosing tracks that feel regulating rather than overwhelming, adjusting volume, and noticing your own responses instead of following rigid rules. Dr. Barb also talks about why music is still underused in mainstream care despite promising research and real-world results. This episode is especially helpful if you: Feel overstimulated or shut down and want non-medication tools to try Are curious whether specific music choices could help with anxiety, focus, or sleep Want a more science-informed understanding of why certain music “works” for your brain If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on Podbean, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it. Merch for your calm and focus journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Brainwave Harmony”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the shop ( ). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community. Resources mentioned: Calm the Storm and more music at musicandhealing.net Dr. Barb’s work and workshops at drbminton.com /episode/index/show/8af5e873-6c65-4b08-8efe-73963fcbd7d4/id/39861410

Self-Love for Autistic Adults: Break Trauma Loops & Set Boundaries | Christina Ketchen 01/28/2026

Self-Love for Autistic Adults: Break Trauma Loops & Set Boundaries | Christina Ketchen Caught in “not enough” or “too much” loops as an autistic or AuDHD adult—stuck in old patterns, feeling like your needs are a burden, or burning out trying to keep everyone else okay? This episode of Adulting With Autism dives into self-love for autistic adults with Christina Ketchen, a certified life and relationship coach trained in HeartMath®, Gottman, and the Hoffman Process, who brings both neuroscience and hard-won personal wisdom to healing. Christina talks about trauma loops—those familiar patterns and relationship dynamics that feel terrible but somehow also “normal”—and how they can quietly drain self-worth over time. She shares compassionate tools like heart-focused breathing to support the nervous system, “kind no’s” that protect your energy (“This doesn’t work for me—thank you”), and gentle self-talk that shifts you from “I am broken” to “I am human and learning.” You will hear how patterns often started as protection, how faith/meaning can reframe pain without dismissing it, and why embracing your “messy” humanity is part of building real self-love, not a sign of failure. Christina also offers guidance for neurodivergent adults who feel guilty setting boundaries or fear that saying no will make people leave. This episode is especially helpful if you: Keep ending up in the same painful situations or relationships Struggle to hold boundaries without intense shame, fear, or backlash inside your own mind Are learning what self-love looks like for you as an autistic or AuDHD adult, beyond clichés and quick fixes If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it. Merch for your self-love journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Self-Love Alchemist”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the shop ( ). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community. Resources mentioned: Coaching and masterclasses with Christina at Her podcast The Self Love Shift /episode/index/show/8af5e873-6c65-4b08-8efe-73963fcbd7d4/id/39861400

Self-Love for Autistic Adults: Root to Rise Framework | Chandra Lynn 01/26/2026

Self-Love for Autistic Adults: Root to Rise Framework | Chandra Lynn Feeling stuck in survival mode as an autistic or AuDHD adult—checking all the boxes on paper but still burned out, unfulfilled, or unsure what you actually want? This episode of Adulting With Autism explores self-love and life direction with Chandra Lynn, a certified transformation coach, former Apple/Mercedes marketing leader, and author of Root to Rise: How to Love Life When It’s Messy, When It’s Hard. Chandra breaks down her Root to Rise framework, which looks at key areas of life—like career, relationships, health, and creativity—and helps you line them up with core emotional needs such as security, variety, growth, connection, and contribution. She shares simple journaling prompts like “What do I want? Why? What am I willing to try?” to help you get out of autopilot and start making choices that actually fit you, not just what others expect. You will hear how her own path from high-pressure corporate roles into more aligned, heart-centered work unfolded in zigzags, not straight lines—and why that is normal, especially for neurodivergent adults. Chandra offers practical tools for exploring purpose through experiments and “try-ons,” building authentic relationships, and practicing self-love in the middle of messy, imperfect life rather than waiting to “fix everything” first. This episode is especially helpful if you: Feel like you are surviving but not really living Are questioning your career, relationships, or direction as a late-diagnosed autistic or AuDHD adult Want a grounded framework to check in with your needs and make kinder, more aligned choices If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it. Merch for your Root to Rise journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Root Your Rise”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the shop (). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community. Resources mentioned: Root to Rise: How to Love Life When It’s Messy, When It’s Hard Chandra’s quiz, courses, and coaching at /episode/index/show/8af5e873-6c65-4b08-8efe-73963fcbd7d4/id/39861385

Emotion Regulation for Autistic Adults: Unmask & Embrace Feelings | Jenn Veilleux 01/24/2026

Emotion Regulation for Autistic Adults: Unmask & Embrace Feelings | Jenn Veilleux Growing up with labels like “too emotional,” “overreacting,” or “ice queen,” and now struggling to understand what you actually feel as an autistic or AuDHD adult? This episode of Adulting With Autism dives into emotion regulation for autistic adults with Jenn Veilleux, clinical psychologist, professor, and author of Open to Emotion, who blends her theater background with science to support authentic emotional expression. Jenn shares her own journey from being called “too emotional” to seeing emotional intensity as a form of being a “super-taster” of feelings. She talks about the difference between awareness and attention—how you can notice emotions without getting completely swept away—and offers metaphors like watching emotions move through like wind instead of something you have to hold onto forever. You will hear practical tools for: Unmasking your emotions after years of pushing them down or performing what others expect Using body signals (interoception) as early warning signs so you can regulate sooner Sitting with emotions long enough to understand them without drowning in them Challenging myths about ADHD and “overreacting” so you can embrace your full range This episode is especially helpful if you: Struggle to identify what you feel until you are already overwhelmed Have been told your emotions are “too much” or “not enough” your whole life Want language and tools to unmask emotionally at a pace that feels safe If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it. Merch for your emotional journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Emotional Range Journal”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the (). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community. Resources mentioned: Open to Emotion by Jenn Veilleux Workshops and more at /episode/index/show/8af5e873-6c65-4b08-8efe-73963fcbd7d4/id/39861335

Core Transformation for Autistic Adults: Unlock Inner Peace & Self-Acceptance | Tamara Andreas 01/21/2026

Core Transformation for Autistic Adults: Unlock Inner Peace & Self-Acceptance | Tamara Andreas Stuck in limiting beliefs as an autistic or AuDHD adult—thoughts like “I am not good enough because of autism” or feeling like different “parts” of you are constantly fighting each other? In this episode of Adulting With Autism, Tamara Andreas joins to talk about Core Transformation, a gentle inner-work process she co-developed that has been taught worldwide for over 30 years. Tamara explains the idea of “parts” in a grounded way: the part that wants to keep you safe, the part that is scared of change, the part that believes you have to mask. She walks through how to acknowledge these parts with respect, ask what they are trying to do for you, and then guide them toward deeper “core states” such as peace, love, or OK-ness—without forcing yourself to “think positive.” You will hear a guided example of the process, how Core Transformation grew out of her and Connirae Andreas’ work, and why this approach can be especially supportive for autistic and ADHD adults who have been shamed, gaslit, or told to “fix” themselves. We also talk about pacing, safety, and why it is okay to pause or come back to the process as needed. This episode is especially helpful if you: Carry a lot of shame or harsh self-talk tied to autism or being “too sensitive” Feel fragmented, like different parts of you are pulling in opposite directions Want a structured, yet compassionate way to explore inner peace and self-acceptance If this conversation supports you, follow/subscribe to Adulting With Autism on YouTube, Apple, or Spotify and leave a 5-star review so more neurodivergent adults can find it. Merch for your inner work journey: Get 20% off journals, tees, and “Core Self Guide”–style merch with code PODCAST26 at the shop (). Your support helps keep this podcast free for the community. Resources mentioned: Core Transformation® book and materials Free micro-book and videos at andreasnlp.com Trainings and more at coretransformation.org /episode/index/show/8af5e873-6c65-4b08-8efe-73963fcbd7d4/id/39861365