Uniquely Human: The Podcast

Episode 167
Chefs on the Spectrum: An Innovative Employment Program for Autistic and Neurodivergent People, with Chef Franklin Becker and Chef Joseph Valentino

This episode features Chef Franklin Becker and Chef Joseph Valentino discussing their work with the Chefs on the Spectrum program at Chef Franklin’s restaurant Point Seven in New York City. Chef Franklin explains how his personal experience as a father of an autistic son inspired him to create the program, which connects autistic adults with meaningful careers in professional kitchens while helping restaurants become more inclusive workplaces. Chef Joe shared his journey from facing job rejections and difficult work environments to thriving as a chef at Point Seven, where he has developed important skills like managing ticket orders and preparing mise en place properly. The discussion highlighted how Joe’s presence has positively impacted the entire kitchen team by teaching tolerance, acceptance, and compassion, while also breaking down stigma about autism in the culinary industry.

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Dr. Mel Houser, MD, physician and founder of the All Brains Belong health care community, explains how current healthcare systems fail neurodivergent people. Dr. Mel explains how traditional healthcare settings create barriers that don’t accommodate neurodivergent needs, and how practices in All Brains Belong, guided by universal design principles, emphasize the importance of elevating lived expertise by telling patients “you are the expert in your body.” The discussion also covered how neurodivergent people often present with intertwined neuroimmune conditions that traditional 10-15 minute medical visits cannot properly address. Dr. Mel concluded by outlining three concrete changes needed in American healthcare systems.
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Episode 165
Pathological Demand Avoidance: The Lived Experience, with Kendahl Damashek
Barry and Dave speak with Kendall Damashek, a parent coach and expert on the topic of PDA. Kendall shared her personal and professional insights into PDA, explaining it as a survival drive for autonomy and equality rather than a pathology. She discussed the physiological and nervous system responses that individuals with PDA experience, emphasizing that these are not conscious choices but reactions to perceived threats to autonomy. Kendall addressed common misconceptions, such as labeling PDA behaviors as oppositional or defiant, and highlighted the importance of understanding the internal experience of those with PDA, and she provided practical strategies for parents and caregivers, including giving more autonomy, fostering equality, providing nervous system safety, and lowering demands.
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Episode 164
Autism Outdoors Utah:
An Innovative Nature-based Family Support Program
with Damon and Tarah Bryan

Damon and Tarah Bryan, founders of Utah Autism Outdoors, discuss how they created their nature-based program for autistic individuals and their families after their son's autism diagnosis. They discuss how their organization started with simple parent support groups and has grown to include outdoor activities like hiking, river rafting, paddleboarding, and yoga classes in nature. The conversation covered the therapeutic benefits of outdoor activities for regulation and sensory processing, the importance of creating safe spaces for families to connect without judgment, and how they incorporate siblings into their programming.

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Episode 163
ALL ABOUT NONSPEAKERS: REFLECTIONS ON AUTISM SPECTRUM NEWS ISSUE WITH AMY LAURENT AND JEN LEPAPE

The discussion focused on the recent issue of Autism Spectrum News dedicated to non-speaking individuals. Topics in the issue included common misunderstandings about supporting non-speakers, including the concept of presuming competence, the role of neuromotor issues, and concerns about communication authenticity and influence. The discussion highlighted that many non-speaking individuals can learn to communicate effectively through methods like spelling and typing, though it requires time and proper support. The guests emphasized that the issue contains 40 articles, including 17 authored or co-authored by non-speakers, covering topics from mental health to legal issues to practical support strategies, demonstrating the complexity of supporting non-speaking individuals beyond simple debates about authenticity.
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