Hyperfocus - Sounds exciting and a bit scary, right? You might be familiar with the feeling of spending hours on a particular task, or accomplishing lots of little tasks. But what expense does hyperfocus incur on neurodivergent people? How can you protect yourself and recognize when you're on the tip of burning out from a hyperfocus streak? And how can people around you actually HELP you hyperfocus instead of getting in your way? Tune in to learn all about hyperfocus and how you can be thoughtful about your focus state.

What even is ADHD hacking? Is it possible to stick joysticks in your brain like Plankton did in that Spongebob episode and actually do everything that has to happen? Jennifer Chou has done that and more, cultivating more than 80 thousand social media followers across Instagram and TikTok. Sure we can all indulge in some doom scrolling, and to be honest, who doesn't these days? Jennifer has figured out the best strategies, plans, and methods to really get us out of bed and hit the books. Tune into this episode of Autistic Techie where we dive into her ADHD college journey, journaling our thoughts, and setting proper goals. 

"Spelling it out" for people doesn't have to be hard. On the contrary, you can get into as much detail about your brain and working style as you want. The trick is to do so in a way that actually empowers your boss and team to help you, and not feel inundated with information. Enter the Working with Me document: An excellent method for communicating how to work with you. What helps you do your job? What gets in the way? Do you have any sensory needs? It's all about YOU. I go  through my Working with Me document in today's episode, and you can follow along by checking out the link below!

What's your internal "script" that you follow when dealing with troublesome situations? If you have to consciously remember to keep a straight face when confronted with something stressful, you are far from alone. Nicola Knobel spent most of her life masking, frustrated with having to defend her actions and expend significant amounts of energy just to be like everyone else. "But you're so extroverted!" people would say...Because everyone expected her to be that way. Having been diagnosed with autism and ADHD (also known as AuDHD) well into adulthood and parenthood, Nicola opens up on our latest episode about her diagnosis journey, honest masking, and letting her guard down around her coworkers. 

Special crossover episode! I had the honor of joining forces Sean Gill from Neurodiversity in the Workplace for their podcast. Together, we dove deep into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by neurodivergent people in and out of the workplace. Landing a job isn't just about surviving and getting by - We talked about how to thrive, supporting both neurodivergent peers and their employers, including neurotypical peers who work with ND folks just as much as their managers do. And to us neurodivergent folks, some tips and tricks on what it means to feel like you belong, and not just exist.

Do you want to build a mask? It's summer in the USA, so no snowmen here. But you're always going to be wearing a mask to get through tough situations. Interviews? Networking events? Parties? Snowman building parties with corporate matchmaking afterwards? Our newest episode talks about the process of building a mask thoughtfully, not just bruteforcing a social setting and hoping that you'll be OK afterwards. If you've ever gotten stuck on figuring out how you should be masking, this is the episode for you...

In this episode of Autistic Techie, I sit down with Adam Compton, a principal software engineer with over two decades of experience at top tech companies. We explore Adam's journey from a childhood fascination with computers to mastering complex systems at companies like Slack and Quantcast. Adam shares insights into navigating workplace politics and the unique challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals in tech. We delve into his experiences with autistic empathy, masking, and the intricacies of social interactions. Adam also discusses the importance of balancing technical expertise with people skills, offering valuable advice for thriving in the tech industry

Coding interviews are one of the most difficult things a neurodivergent software engineer can go through. Whiteboarding, coding challenges, and explaining technical concepts are tough for everyone, especially for those whose don't express ideas in quite the same way as everyone else. Mihai Todor has gone through hundreds of coding interviews, and he has some incredible insights to share! We talked about self regulating during interviews, what kind of tech works and what doesn't, and setting specific boundaries for the kinds of interviews he can do.

Does your brain freeze up when you hear this question? "Tell me about a time when..." Yeah, mine too. And for many other neurodivergent people, having to come up with an answer to questions like this can feel like running into a brick wall. But there's good news: Providing a meaningful answer to this kind of question doesn't have to be as scary or impossible as you might think. Let's get the inside scoop on approaching this kind of question from the neurodivergent perspective. You'll be shooting for the STARs in no time!

Neurodivergent people are no strangers to sensory dysregulation - This is a fancy term which, in short, means "I am not able to regulate your emotions and/or my sensory environment." Your sensory struggles can and often do impact your emotions and vice versa. When you're in a tough environment and find yourself in an overwhelming situation, what can you do? Let's dive into these feelings together, talk about some strategies to help you in the workplace, and unpack some ways you can think about dysregulation when it comes to your needs.

Nicholas Solter is an incredible parent of a dyslexic daughter, and his advocacy has completely transformed his engineering management approach. He has a storied tech career that has been shaped by his daughter's struggles, triumphs, and personal epiphanies. Join us as we talk about how inclusion and accessibility inform Nicholas' approach to building teams, working on projects, and the history that led him here

Mat Hultquist has spent most of his life tinkering with technology in some way, messing with his family computer and working his way up to doing IT work at his high school. Who else could be a more accurate description of an "autistic techie"? Mat is a former colleague of Shea's at Mentra and is now a software engineer at Lattice. Join us as we talk about his self discovery of autism & ADHD, how hyperfocus helps him get work done, and how other people can be more supportive of neurodivergent people in their lives.

In this episode of Autistic Techie, I chat with Sheldon Gay, the National Vice Chair of Umbrella US, founder of Techano Solutions, and neurodivergent self advocate. Sheldon is also the host of his own podcast, "I Must Be BUG'N" where he talks about neurodiversity too!
Sheldon's story is one of late diagnosis, navigating career changes from mechanical engineering to product management, and running his own technology business. We talked about intersectionality and Sheldon's upbringing in Philadelphia, how neurodivergence appears to other people in the tech industry, standing up for yourself, and helping other autistic/ADHDers advocate for themselves more clearly.

Burnout affects everyone at some point in their careers, and neurodivergent people are no exception to this. Because of how much it takes to mask, we burn out more than neurotypical people do! Jared Williams, a former Mentra colleague of mine and now the General Manager of Florecita Panadería bakery, talks about his journey in the startup world, venture capital, knowing when he'd hit his limit, and discovering what it meant to take the reins of his career into his own hands.

Jobseeking is a painful process, and that's even more true for neurodiverse people. How can you tell if a company is inclusive and can support you? Surprisingly, there are many ways you can figure out whether a potential employer supports neurodiversity or not. Some of these things can even be done before you start working on an application! This episode talks through all the ways you can evaluate this for yourself, from before the application, through the interview process, and after you've landed an offer.

Join me as I sit down with Cat Contillo, a cybersecurity expert and multidisciplinary artist who is also a passionate advocate for autism and accessibility. Cat shares her journey from studying social work to becoming a cybersecurity professional, driven by her desire to help others and her love for technology. We discuss her late autism diagnosis and how it transformed her understanding of herself, leading to her advocacy for neurodiversity and accessibility in tech.

How should you respond if someone says that you don't "look" neurodivergent? Does neurodiversity actually have a "look"? We unpack the meaning of this question, where it might come from, and how you can stand up for yourself when confronted with this.

What does it mean to belong? How do you know when you've found a place where you can thrive? Is it a job, a club, group, something else? This episode unpacks that strange fuzzy feeling when you're just vibing with the people around you. They welcome you with open arms. And if that space doesn't exist, nothing's stopping you from making it.

The age old question: Should I tell my boss that I'm neurodivergent? The answer has a surprising amount of nuance beyond a simple "yes" or "no" response. Let's unpack why it's a complicated question with an even more nuanced answer.

The first day of a new job can be a scary thing. It's OK to feel overwhelmed in the beginning, but what if you could feel more prepared? And find your sense of comfort along the way? This episode unpacks your first day or so to help you hit a great stride when everything around you is brand new.