Drinking to Mask and Unmask

8 Episodes

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We Thought Everyone Did This

2026-08-2526:42

Sometimes the stories families tell about what is "normal" look very different after a diagnosis.Chelsey Flood is joined by her mum, Caroline Dale, for a conversation about family, misunderstanding, drinking, and late diagnosis. Together they reflect on the assumptions families make, the experiences that go unnoticed, and how understanding neurodivergence can change the way we view the past.In this episode:Family relationships and understandingDrinking culture and expectationsLate diagnosisLooking back with new perspectiveNeurodivergence within familiesContent Note: This episode includes discussion of family relationships, alcohol use, and late diagnosis.🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Understandable Reasons Why Autistic and Neurodivergent People Find Alcohol Useful

2026-08-1128:09

Why can alcohol feel so useful for autistic and neurodivergent people?Chelsey Flood speaks with Associate Professor Dr Felicity Sedgewick about friendship, belonging, and the social challenges that can make alcohol feel helpful, necessary, or even protective. Together they explore loneliness, connection, and the pressures that shape social experiences for many neurodivergent people.In this episode:Friendship and belongingSocial challenges and connectionAlcohol as a social toolLoneliness and isolationNeurodivergent experiences of communityContent Note: This episode includes discussion of mental health and loneliness.🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the Mask Stops Masking

2026-07-2828:06

What happens when the strategies that once helped you survive stop working?Ebony Nash joins Chelsey Flood for a conversation about alcohol, neurodivergence, burnout, and identity. Together they explore the limits of coping strategies, the impact of masking over time, and what it means to build a life that no longer depends on survival mechanisms.In this episode:Alcohol and copingNeurodivergence and identityBurnout and exhaustionLetting go of strategies that no longer serve youFinding a way forwardContent Note: This episode includes discussion of alcohol use and mental health.🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Masking Is Real

2026-07-1418:26

What is masking, why do people do it, and can it actually be measured?Chelsey Flood speaks with researcher Dr Laura Hull about the science of masking, the experiences that masking describes, and why having language for these behaviours matters. Together they explore what masking looks like, what people may be masking, and the growing body of research helping us better understand neurodivergent experiences.In this episode:What masking isThe science behind masking researchWhy people maskThe importance of language and recognitionNeurodivergent identity and understandingContent Note: This episode includes discussion of mental health and masking research.🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Looking for the Perfect Fix

2026-06-3029:59

How many of us spend our lives searching for the one thing that will finally make everything easier?Musician Rosalie James joins Chelsey Flood to discuss addiction, self-understanding, and the hope that the next solution might be the one that changes everything. Together they explore the appeal of quick fixes, the realities of living with ongoing challenges, and the search for ways to make life feel more manageable.In this episode:Addiction and coping strategiesThe search for self-understandingHope, change, and personal growthFinding ways to navigate life's challengesContent Note: This episode includes discussion of alcohol use and mental health.🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes.🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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