YDSA Podcast
a trending & bingable podcast in mental health awareness
YOU don't sound autistic podcast
Late-diagnosis and #actuallyautistic, ADHD, anxiety, depression survivor, Blake Fertig, and his now-separated wife, co-parent and co-host Rachelle, are a transparent, raw and funny duo representing both neuro-perspectives and the hellish ins-and-outs of discovering life on the spectrum for two generations simultaneously. Wowza!
While many families have a child diagnosed first, Blake jumped in and paved the way becoming the first in his family to illuminate his full mental and emotional neurodiversity. Tired and done with the “Not-Knowing Why” phase of life that brought terms like meltdown, shutdown and burnout into their world, Blake and Rachelle fought through hell and a pandemic to find answers.
Blake is genuine, witty, tangential and calls life like he sees it offering key differentiation between his overlapping diagnoses and social triggers. Rachelle does her best to keep track of the point, her research, methods, parenting and adulting tricks while managing her dyslexia and their adorable, sometimes interrupting, autistic toddler.
Recent ydsa Episodes
49: Autism and Communication
Communication is already a complex personal and interpersonal skill to master but even more so for the neurodivergent. Autism and communication as well as ADHD and communication (or both) can
48: The Hidden Fees of ADHD and Autism
There are overlapping levels of hidden fees of ADHD and Autism for adults that largely remain unrecognized. If you thought most challenging phase of life was the “not knowing why
47: Do You Experience Joy or Hopelessness?
The range of emotions that define depression boil down to how you experience joy or don’t. Chasing joy through productivity-based values can trip depression and leave you feeling more failure
46: Autism, Anxiety and Medication
For adults with Autism, anxiety and medication are managed differently which also applies to co-occurring diagnosis like ADHD, depression, and mood disorders (irritability, aggression and meltdowns). Equally important is the Food
45: Childhood Emotional Neglect
Growing numbers of adults lived decades before their Neurodivergent struggles were adequately observed, evaluated and treated. Understanding the impact of generations of childhood emotional neglect illuminates the devastating parenting trends
44: My Manageable Life
Decode manageable life skills. To-Do lists can be difficult for Autistic/ADHD adults and require organization, flexibility and prioritization skills. WELCOME BACK TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF YOU DON’T SOUND AUTISTIC WITH
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Join the Group, the Conversation and the Journey. Everyone’s experience and environment is a little different. We welcome direct question and topic requests. Tune in to hear our response!
Most popular episodes
self discovery journey
- Coping & Questioning
- Breakdown & Regressions
- Evaluations & Breakthrough
- Relief, Grief & Burnout
- Self Advocacy & Reinvention
- Rewriting Your Owner's Manual
**The term “High-Functioning” has evolved and is no longer accepted. While doctors still use this term, we believe a person can’t be more or less neurodivergent.
Regardless of neuro-type, one’s ability to function varies by the day, task and cycle of growth. Replace this term with the diagnosis name and move on.
awareness illuminates patterns
