IT'S EPISODE 100! WOOP!
Thanks for listening and subscribing to the 21andsensory podcast over the years - it really does mean a lot and I hope you have enjoyed all the guests I've had on so far...more exciting guests to come too!
On today's episode I have a very special guest to celebrate the 100th episode...but you'll have to click play to find out who it is!
My 21andsensory links:
On this month's 21andsensory Podcast I have the wonderful special guest Lucy Powrie. Lucy is a neurodivergent author whose dream is to fill bookshelves with as many books featuring proudly autistic and ADHD characters as possible – just like her.
She makes bookish videos as lucythereader on YouTube to an audience of over 40,000 subscribers, and enjoys passionately sharing her love for old books, the Brontë sisters, and the BBC miniseries adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.
Lucy is the author of four books for teens and young adults: The Paper & Hearts Society series, and Real When I’m With You. In her spare time she also the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Brontë Society. When she’s not writing or reading, she can be found cuddling her corgi, Margie, and looking after her herd of very cute guinea pigs.
Lucy's links: linktr.ee/lucythereader
My 21andsensory links:
Very excited to announce that on this months 21andsensory Podcast episode I have special guest Rachel Morgan-Trimmer
Rachel is (and does) many things including being:
• An International keynote and TEDx speaker
• A neurodiversity consultant and trainer
• An entrepreneur
• …and an author!
Rachel founded Sparkle Class in 2019 which has since rebranded to Firebird which is a company that delivers training on how to create an inclusive workplace and society for people living with ADHD, Dyslexia, Autism and Dyspraxia.
Firebird have worked with clients such as the BBC, NHS, HP, and the British Academy to name a few. Rachel is the author of ‘How to be Autistic’ a free ebook that aims to guide autistic people through what being autistic means, how to manage challenges, and help them to find their own purpose.
Also this is my favourite bit of the book description:
It will help ‘empower you to live as the shiny authentic autistic you were always meant to be’ 💫
So I am very excited to chat to Rachel about everything she does!
Rachels links:
On today's episode I have special guest Hannah. Hannah is an illustrator who created SadSnailAdventures after discovering she is neurodivergent and being diagnosed with autism. Hannah wanted to build a creative space to share the highs, lows, and everything in between about living as a neurodivergent person, hoping it helps others feel less alone.
Hannah loves bringing her illustrations and products to life on her Etsy store of the same name and I am excited to chat to her about all things creative!
Hannah's Links:
@sadsnailadventures on: Instagram | TikTok | WhatNot | Etsy
My 21andsensory links:
My special guest on this episode of the 21andsensory Podcast is the wonderful Georgia De Gidlow. Georgia is an actor who is based both in Belfast and in London. She made her on-screen debut in a lead role in the BBC’s 'A Kind of Spark', which was nominated for a number of awards, including an Emmy nomination for casting. It won “Best Children’s Programme” at the 2024 Broadcast Awards.
Georgia has also played Wendy in the Watford Palace Theatre’s production of Peter Pan, proving her strong ability on stage.
Something you may not know about Georgia is that she has a degree in Politics and International Relations, and continues to have an aptitude for writing and journalism.
Georgia's Links:
Links to things mentioned:
My 21andsensory links:
21andsensory on Instagram: www.instagram.com/21andsensory
I am really excited to chat to today's special guest Kay Wilson.
Kay is a Nottingham-based illustrator, most well known for her cover of the best-selling book A Kind of Spark, as well as Keedie, Like a Charm and Like a Curse by Elle McNicoll.
Kay has worked on a wide range of projects, from editorial illustration to podcast art. I hope you enjoy listening to our chat!
Things Kay mentioned and recommended (with notes below provided by Kay!):
Kay’s links:
Elle’s social links:
My 21andsensory links:
I am really excited to chat to today's special guest Dr Emma Cernis. Emma is a clinical psychologist and researcher with expertise in complex mental health difficulties. She is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Birmingham and works within the School of Psychology and the Institute for Mental Health.
Through her research, Emma aims to improve the understanding and treatment of dissociative difficulties. Clinically, Emma has expertise in working with young adults experiencing dissociative symptoms before or during a first episode of psychosis, and with children, teenagers, and families affected by sexual trauma.
Emma set up the Midlands Dissociation and Depersonalisation Clinic (links below)
Emma’s Links:
Also mentioned:
I am really excited to chat to today's special guest which is the lovely Chloe Tear. Chloe is an award winning disability blogger and freelance writer with 10 years experience. On her blog she documents her lived experiences as a disabled young woman and she currently works as a senior content designer for GOV.UK.
Chloe has had Cerebral Palsy from birth, but became visually impaired during her first year of university. Chloe's sight-loss continues to deteriorate and she has been registered as severely sight impaired (formally known as blind).
Now some listeners might recognise Chloe because she has been on the podcast before - it was Episode 62 in October 2022. You might also remember that Chloe had been accepted onto a list in 2020 for a guide dog and was still waiting to hear back…..
But now… we are back…. and CHLOE HAS MUCH NEWS!
Chloe's Links:
My 21andsensory links:
Dr Alex Smalley is a researcher and communicator aiming to understand more about how experiences in nature can impact people’s wellbeing. Alex is based at the University of Exeter's European Centre for Environment and Human Health and holds a PhD in environmental psychology. Since 2017 he has been investigating the cognitive and emotional impacts of virtual encounters with the natural world.
Most recently, he partnered with the BBC Natural History Unit and Audible to create the Healing Power of Nature, an immersive 8-part audio series, written and narrated by Alex, that introduces key concepts from the field of environmental psychology.
Alex has worked with the BBC on several research collaborations, including the award-winning Radio 4 series Forest 404, the cross-platform BBC Music initiative Soundscapes for Wellbeing and the BBC Four series Mindful Escapes.
Alex also has a background in the physical sciences and science communication – he spent over a decade communicating complex concepts to a range of national and international audiences.
Alex's Links:
Alex's University of Exeter Profile
Dr Jack Reed Profile | University of Exeter (https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/42856-jack-reed)
Alex mentioned: 'russell's circumplex model of affect'
My links:
@21andsensory on Instagram: www.instagram.com/21andsensory @21andsensory on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory 21andsensory on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory 21andsensory Blog: 21andsensory.wordpress.com @21andsensory on Twitter: twitter.com/21andsensoryGrab a hot drink and a snack because it's time for a huge 2024 catch-up episode with Emily! (who only realised as she was recording that it’s been an entire YEAR since she did a solo episode?!)
Things I cover (with timestamps):
Things I mentioned:
Brilliant books from lovely 2024 guests:
My Links:
21andsensory on Instagram: www.instagram.com/21andsensory
@21andsensory on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory
21andsensory on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory
21andsensory Blog: 21andsensory.wordpress.com
@21andsensory on Twitter: twitter.com/21andsensory
I am super excited for today's episode as I have special guest Dr Harriet Axbey on the show. Harriet Axbey is an autistic early career researcher at Swansea University. She is a research assistant on the “Autism from Menstruation to Menopause” Wellcome Trust Funded project within the Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science. This project aims to look at the reproductive health experiences of autistic people with wombs across the lifespan.
Harriets areas of expertise include:
Harriet is on the show today to share more about her recent book that’s been published which is called: University: The Autistic Guide. This informative and friendly handbook is a guide to starting university for autistic young people, covering the entire process from applying, packing and financial admin to mental health support, dealing with burnout, finding your people and experiencing new opportunities.
Follow Harriet on Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/draxbey.bsky.social
On today’s show I have the lovely Esme Jay, who is also known by the nickname Pixie. Esme is a queer autistic writer-turned-content creator living with PTSD and anxiety.
They run @pixiesbigwhy over on Instagram which has almost 18,000 followers at time of recording (now over 19k as the podcast goes live!).
Esme shares their life including content around lifestyle, fashion, autism, mental health and chronic illness.
Trigger warning: mention of domestic violence, homelessness and abuse
Things mentioned:
Esme's Links:
I am super excited for today's episode as I have the wonderful special guest Elle McNicoll on the show. Elle is a bestselling and award-winning novelist and screenwriter. She is an advocate for better representation of neurodiversity in publishing, as an autistic and dyspraxic novelist. Her debut, A Kind of Spark, won the Overall Waterstones Children's Book Prize in 2021. It was also voted number 75 in The 100 Greatest Children's Books of All Time in 2023.
She is a three-time Carnegie-nominated author and was also honoured in the US with the Schneider Award, 2022. Her first novel has also been adapted for television by the BBC, and McNicoll was head writer on the project. The adaptation was described in the press as 'groundbreaking' for its inclusion of autistic actors and crew (and you might remember when Ella Maisy Purvis was on the podcast, who played Elinor/Bonnie in the show!)
I reached out to ask if she might like to come on my podcast to chat a little more about her latest book which is Elle’s YA debut 'Some Like It Cold'. I was kindly sent a copy to review and read earlier this year by the lovely team at Pan Macmillian so I have been very fortunate to have read the book. It will be published on October 1st (US) and October 3rd (UK), which is today!
Buy Elle’s new book ’Some Like It Cold’:
See Elle on tour:
Elle’s social links:
Watch ‘A Kind of Spark’ on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0f7q3rv/a-kind-of-spark
On today’s show I have the lovely Jess Chandler. Jess is an advocator and activist in the Neurodivergent and Disabled Community. Jess also spreads awareness about Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and educates others on the impact that invisible illnesses can carry.
Now you might know Jess from her fab instagram and TikTok accounts @thejesschandler (where she has almost 34,000 followers and @the.neurodivergent.witch which has almost 13,000 followers! So I’m very excited for this chat!
Links to find Jess:
My 21andsensory links:
Today I have special guest Professor Janet Harbord on the show. Janet is a professor of film studies at Queen Mary, University of London. Recently she has worked as a principle investigator (alongside Steven Eastwood) on a five year Wellcome Trust funded project called ‘Autism through Cinema’.
Autism Through Cinema was a collaborative investigation into the relationships between neurodivergent thinking and cinematic creation. Janet is on todays episode to chat about her work directing a video essay called ‘Autism plays Itself’ where she asks how films made in clinical settings have contributed to how autism has been medically imagined and defined across the past seventy years. Janet takes one such clinical film and works in collaboration with autistic respondents to reframe the footage from an autistic perspective.
Mentioned:
Autism Plays Itself, Credits:
Respondents:
On today’s episode I have the lovely Zara Beth as my special guest, she's back on the podcast for a catch-up episode! Zara is an 18 year old content creator, writer, musician and disability advocate from the UK. She shares her experiences as a neurodivergent, queer adult navigating life with neurological disabilities and chronic illness.
Zara dedicates her time to raising awareness for disabilities and mental health, creating a safe space for neurodivergent people, disabled people, and also for the LGBTQ+ community.
Last time I spoke to Zara was on Episode 32 of the podcast which was in March 2021. She was 15 at the time and had over 378,000 followers on TikTok and had a new YouTube channel. So just to update you on those stats… She now has 2 million followers on TikTok with over 40 million likes… on YouTube over 400,000 subscribers and over on Instagram over 60k followers!
Link to everything Zara mentioned and her social media: https://portaly.cc/zarabeth
My 21andsensory links:
@21andsensory on Instagram: www.instagram.com/21andsensory @21andsensory on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory 21andsensory on YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory 21andsensory Blog: 21andsensory.wordpress.com @21andsensory on Twitter: twitter.com/21andsensory
On today's episode I have the lovely Charli Clement as my special guest. Charli is an activist, speaker, writer, creator and lived experience expert. They are proudly autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic, and chronically ill, and particularly passionate about discussing the intersections of these conditions.
Charli works with the NHS and other organisations around psychiatric inpatient care, human rights and autism. Charli’s first non-fiction book around autism and chronic illness was published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in December 2023 and is called ‘All Tangled Up in Autism and Chronic Illness: A guide to navigating multiple conditions'
Charli has previously been a keynote speaker for the British Medical Association and given talks to NHS boards and staff, universities, city councils amongst others. They have also had bylines in outlets such as the Independent, the Metro, the Daily Mirror and VICE.
Charli's links:
My 21andsensory links:
On today's episode I have the lovely Emily Katy on as my special guest, who you might know from social media as @itsemilykaty.
Emily was previously on episode 51 of the 21andsensory podcast but I shall of course reintroduce her...
Emily is an autistic woman with ADHD and OCD. She is a blogger, author and advocate, and works with neurodivergent children and young people.
Emily is a Trustee for the Autistic Girls Network and Former youth participation council member and Former Public Governor for her NHS Trust. She is also a #NotAloneTalk Host on Twitter. Emily has given talks in many different health settings and written many articles on her own experiences.
So listeners might be thinking - oh Emily Katy is back on your podcast?! But that’s because Emily has some very exciting news - she is now a published book author!
Buy Girl Unmasked here: linktr.ee/girlunmasked
Twitter: twitter.com/ItsEmilyKaty
Instagram: instagram.com/itsemilykaty
On todays episode my special guest is the lovely Rachel Charlton-Dailey. Rachel is an is an award-winning disabled editor, journalist, activist and more recently author!
Rachel is a disability rights columnist for The Daily Mirror where she guest edited the series Disabled Britain. Rachel writes mainly about disability and women’s rights and her work has featured in publications such as HuffPost, The Guardian, Glamour and The Big Issue. Her specialisms are political issues affecting disabled people, disability in the media and the gender health gap.
Her first book Ruby Hastings Writes Her Own Story was published by Collins Big Cat on January 8th! When Rachel isn’t writing, she can be found walking her sausage dog, Rusty (which OF COURSE we chat about!)
Rachel’s Links:
Ghosts articles Rachel wrote!
We mentioned:
My 21andsensory links: