Adulting with Autism

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Join Adulting with Autism host April Ratchford as she welcomes Dr. Alain Salas — chiropractic physician, #1 Amazon best-selling author, and creator of the Goal & Success Clearing System. Discover how to break limiting beliefs, unlock the power of your subconscious mind, and achieve business and personal transformation without endless therapy or overhyped events.

Connect with Dr. Salas at themindclearing.com — mention Adulting with Autism for 20% off your first session!

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James Rojas Taylor is a U.S. Marine veteran, actor, and author of All Your Best Selves who believes emotional and mental literacy can be taught—using the tools of the actor. In this episode, we talk about his journey from trauma to transformation, how acting helped him regulate emotion and build empathy, and how his "suits and bubbles" concept became a powerful tool for social navigation, especially for neurodivergent youth.

🎭 Topics include:

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Evan Marc Katz is the world’s first dating coach for smart, strong, successful women—and today, he joins Adulting with Autism to talk dating, love, and what actually makes a healthy relationship work.

Since 2003, Evan has coached over 13,000 women through his program Love U, authored four books, and built a wildly successful platform by helping high-achieving women stop wasting time on the wrong men.

We talk love bombing, dating while autistic, why chemistry isn’t compatibility, and how to become the CEO of your love life.

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What if your past didn’t define you—but refined you? 💬 In this powerful episode of Adulting with Autism, psychotherapist, author, and speaker Judith Belmont, MS shares practical Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies to break free from rumination, reframe painful memories, and transform self-talk.

With over 40 years of clinical experience and a specialty in mental wellness, Judith equips you with actionable tools to heal emotional wounds, manage stress, and move forward—maybe bruised, but not broken.

✨ Learn how to:

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Certified high-performance coach Stacie Shifflett joins April Ratchford to talk grief, reinvention, and emotional resilience. From losing her son to rebuilding life after divorce, Stacie shares real tools for navigating trauma, redefining success, and creating joy. For parents of autistic adults and anyone in transition, this is your reminder: you can reinvent your life.

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In this empowering episode of Adulting with Autism, we're joined by Madelaine Weiss—Harvard-trained psychotherapist, mindset master, and author of Getting to G.R.E.A.T.. With decades of experience helping high performers reclaim clarity and calm, Madelaine dives deep into how neurodivergent individuals can stop self-sabotaging, manage stress, and finally thrive—both professionally and personally.

Whether you're wrestling with imposter syndrome, emotional overload, or simply want to unlock greater potential, Madelaine shares proven tools and actionable insights to reshape your thought patterns and build a life you love.

🎯...

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Are your beliefs holding you back? In this transformative episode of Adulting with Autism, host April Ratchford sits down with international coach, speaker, and human behavior expert Anna Shilina—author of Habit Freedom—to unpack how neurodivergent adults can shift from limitation to liberation.

🎯 Learn how to:

🌐 Get Anna’s groundbreaking book: HabitFreedom on relatingacademy.com
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What if you could stop self-sabotaging and start thriving—on stage and off?

In this transformative episode of Adulting with Autism, host April Ratchford sits down with Dr. Albert Bramante, a powerhouse talent agent with over 20 years in the entertainment industry and a Ph.D. in Psychology. A certified hypnotist and NLP practitioner, Dr. Bramante shares how actors and creatives can silence imposter syndrome, rewire their thinking, and perform at their peak—even under pressure.

You’ll learn how to detach from toxic outcomes, build a “happy file” for moments of...

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🎉 Birthday shoutout to my sister Heather and OT school BFF Ashley—thank you for cheering me on every step of the way!

In this deeply moving episode of Adulting with Autism, I sit down with Susan Snow—author, coach, speaker, and daughter of slain LAPD Detective Thomas C. Williams. At just 17, Susan witnessed the aftermath of her father’s ambush, sparking a decades-long battle with PTSD, depression, and emotional isolation. But that’s only where her story begins.

We talk raw tr...

In this powerful episode of Adulting with Autism, I’m joined by Clain Udy—corporate leader, autism dad, speaker, and author of Rebranding Autism. Clain shares how a strengths-based approach transformed his own son’s path and sparked the creation of First Ascent, a groundbreaking 12-week program helping autistic young adults align their careers with who they really are.

🎧 We unpack:

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In this powerful episode of Adulting with Autism, I’m joined by Clain Udy—corporate leader, autism dad, speaker, and author of Rebranding Autism. Clain shares how a strengths-based approach transformed his own son’s path and sparked the creation of First Ascent, a groundbreaking 12-week program helping autistic young adults align their careers with who they really are.

🎧 We unpack:

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Feeling stuck in your head? It might be time to listen to your body. In this powerful episode of Adulting with Autism, we’re joined by Ellen Slater, somatic therapist, author, and founder of the Head & Heart Healing Model. Ellen takes us on a gentle but transformational journey through somatic therapy, helping us understand how trauma, especially in autistic and neurodivergent bodies, lives not just in memory—but in our nervous systems.

We unpack trauma bonding, emotional shutdown, and the real reason talk therapy alone often isn't enough. Ellen also shares acce...

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Hey guys, hey—happy Wednesday! Welcome back to Adulting with Autism, the podcast where we say goodbye to “normal” and hello to neurodivergent brilliance. This week, we’re diving deep into the power of self-talk—not the scary, spiraling kind, but the kind that unlocks real transformation.

We’re joined by David Alan Brown, a spiritual teacher, identity coach, and truth-teller who helps people move from stuck to soul-powered. In this episode, David shares how reclaiming your inner dialogue can lead to emotional clarity, freedom from perfectionism, and finally stepping into your purpose...

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🔥 Ever dreamt of quitting the 9-to-5 grind and radically rewriting your life? Meet Jamie Gantt — former corporate climber turned world-traveling coach, speaker, and soon-to-be author of Becoming Myself. In this soul-stirring episode of Adulting with Autism, Jamie unpacks what it means to burn it all down to build a life rooted in purpose, especially as a neurodivergent woman reclaiming her voice.

🧠 We talk:

Why burnout is your body’s wisdom, not failure

Redefining success outside neurotypical expectations

Why journaling is one of the most powerful tools for...

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Hey guys, hey! It’s April—your favorite autistic OT and host of Adulting with Autism, the podcast that believes life skills are sexy and your home should feel like peace, not pressure.

In today’s heart-expanding episode, we’re joined by Helen Sanderson, the UK’s leading clutter therapist and author of The Secret Life of Clutter. Helen brings years of therapeutic insight to explore how our outer environments reflect our inner worlds—especially for those with autism, ADHD, and trauma.

Whether it’s the laundry chair judging you or a garag...

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Hey there, beautiful soul! 🌟 Ready for a raw and powerful conversation that will inspire you to show up as your authentic self?

In this episode of Adulting with Autism, we sit down with Reverend Jocelyn Jones—author, speaker, ordained minister, and founder of Faith on the Journey—as she takes us on a transformative journey through faith, identity, emotional healing, and the courage to remove the mask.

💬 Topics We Cover:

Breaking free from societal and cultural masking

Navigating life as a Black woman with autism

Heali...

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Hey guys, hey – happy Wednesday! I’m April, your favorite autistic OT and host of Adulting with Autism – the podcast where life skills are sexy, healing is real, and neurodivergent voices finally get the mic. Whether you're a parent guiding your autistic young adult or you're that young adult figuring it out one meltdown and meme at a time, this is your judgment-free zone to laugh, learn, and level up. 🧠💬

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep with Frank Healy, one of only 100 people on the planet diagnosed with hyperthymesia—aka he remembers e...

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Feeling stuck in fear? You're not alone — and this episode with life coach Eric Simpson will help you break free. After leaving a high-powered corporate job in the U.S., Eric took a leap of faith (literally — he skydives!) and rebuilt his life in the U.K., helping others conquer fear and design bold, fulfilling lives.

If you're autistic, ADHD, or neurodivergent, and fear keeps blocking your next step, this episode is your permission slip to dream bigger. We unpack how to reframe fear, shift your mindset, and take bold action—even i...

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Hey guys, hey! 💛 It’s the final day of our 30 Days of Content celebrating Autism Awareness and OT Month, and we’re closing things out with a true pioneer in the field: Dr. Robert Melillo.

Dr. Melillo is the author of Disconnected Kids, co-founder of Brain Balance Achievement Centers, creator of the Melillo Method®, and host of the Everything Brain podcast. With over 35 years of experience as a clinician, researcher, and professor, he’s helped transform how we understand and support neurological development in both children and adults.

🎧 In this episode...

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Hey friend! 🌟 Ready to see how technology is transforming autism support from the inside out? In this episode of Adulting with Autism, we’re joined by Amanda Ralston—award-winning behavior analyst, international speaker, and founder of NonBinary Solutions and Noetic.ai.

After 25 years in traditional ABA therapy, Amanda made a bold shift—trading clinics for code to build tech-driven, data-informed, neurodivergent-affirming tools that actually meet people where they are.

🧠 What we cover in this episode:

Why Amanda left the ABA field to pursue something radically different

The proble...

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Hey there, friends! 💛 Pull up a chair and get comfy, because today’s episode of Adulting with Autism is packed with inspiration and real-world advice!

We’re thrilled to welcome Ed Roe, Program Director at CIP Bloomington. With over two decades in K-12 education—and a personal connection to autism through his own son—Ed brings a deep, heartfelt understanding to the journey of building independent, confident lives for autistic young adults.

🎓 In this empowering conversation, you’ll discover:

The 40-year legacy of the College Internship Program (CIP)

How C...

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Hey there, friends! 💛 Welcome back to Adulting with Autism! Today, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Sylvia Moore Myers—the powerful voice behind GoldScars.com and author of Gold Scars.

After enduring unimaginable trauma, including the heartbreaking loss of her teenage son, Sylvia embarked on an 18-year healing journey that’s nothing short of inspiring. Her mission? To show us that healing isn’t about “getting over” pain—it’s about growing through it and transforming our scars into pure gold. 🌟

🎧 In this powerful episode, we dive into:

How tr...

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Hey friend! Ever worked in a place that felt more like survival than success? You’re not alone—and today’s guest, Kelsey Neff, is here to flip the script.

Kelsey is the founder of By Design Consulting, author of 52 Weeks of Impact, and a former nonprofit professional who left the burnout hamster wheel to help leaders actually lead. After years of navigating toxic workplaces filled with favoritism, gaslighting, and burnout, Kelsey realized something big: she didn’t need to play the game—she could create a better one.

🎧 In this episo...

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Hey there, friend! 💃 In today’s inspiring episode of Adulting with Autism, we step into a space where movement meets neurodivergent empowerment—the incredible Autistic Wings Dance Company, a nonprofit studio founded by mother-daughter duo Amanda and Leta in Colorado Springs.

Autistic Wings isn’t your average dance program—it’s a trauma-informed, sensory-aware space built by and for autistic dancers. From ballet to hip-hop, every class is designed with neurodivergent communication, learning styles, and sensory needs in mind—no masking, no pressure, just expression.

🩰 What we talk about:

Why tradition...

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Hey there, friend! 🌟 Ever feel stuck in cycles of rumination, avoidance, or emotional shutdown—and wonder why you can’t just “snap out of it”? In this powerful episode of Adulting with Autism, we sit down with Dr. Foojan Zeine—renowned psychotherapist, international speaker, and the creator of Awareness Integration Theory (AIT) and the Foojan App.

Whether you’re autistic, neurodivergent, or simply navigating your own healing, Dr. Foojan offers science-backed insights into how trauma, negative self-talk, and masking affect our minds—and what we can do to reclaim peace and clarity.

🧠...

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Hey there, friend! 🦋 In this powerful episode of Adulting with Autism, we’re talking all things parenting, identity, and transitioning into adulthood—with a twist.

Meet Hannah Bankier, career transition coach, mama of two, and founder of Birdie Launcher™, a movement that’s redefining what it means to be an “empty nester.” Because the truth is—the nest isn’t empty… you’re still in it.

💡 In this episode, we explore:

Why “empty nesting” feels outdated and disempowering

How to embrace the Birdie Launch™ phase with joy, not dread

Tips f...