In this episode, Donna Brendel introduces the fourth season of her podcast, focusing on the word 'project' as a central theme for the year. She discusses her personal journey with autism, the importance of communication, and how projecting thoughts and emotions can enhance relationships. Throughout the episode, she explores various definitions of 'project' and shares her plans for the year, including personal achievements and the significance of understanding "cognitive processing pain." Donna emphasizes the need for self-advocacy and the importance of projecting one's identity and emotions to foster better connections with others. The first half of this episode is admittedly dry, according to Donna's own words, but the second half is amazing, fully of emotional examples that expound on the first half. The second half can stand alone, but if you can stay away for the first half, it will be even more poignant. You'll laugh more and cry more. Also, if you are listening to this on audio only, there are many pauses left in on purpose that will make much more sense in the video format. Sorry about that! 00:00 - Welcome to Season Four 00:51 - The Journey of Self-Expression 03:07 - Defining 'Project' and Its Many Meanings 15:23 - Plans for 2025: Episodes, My Thoughts, Book Reviews, & Guests 20:33 - New Term: Cognitive Processing Pain 27:55 - Perfect Example of Projecting: The Rant 32:02 - Tools for Projecting 35:35 - Importance of the Ability to Project in an Emergency 41:22 - Conclusion and Call to Action