104. S8 E12: Permission slip: embracing an authentically autistic life with no blueprint

Gem Kennedy is a Coach and podcaster from Essex in the UK. They are non-binary and queer, and self identified as autistic and ADHD last year, at 35.

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They are a Transformational Coach, facilitator and advocate, supporting neurodivergent and queer folk, present a podcast called Queers & Co., and are also co-parent to two home educated autistic children.

They are passionate about body liberation, queering things, spirituality, children's rights and playing the ukulele!

We covered a lot in this conversation! But a few of the things we talk about are:

➡ Gem's early experiences of anxiety and school refusal

➡ Gender expectations and connecting with gender

➡ Masking and unmasking – when and where to unmask, situations they avoid and thinking about where to spend our energy, and how to be social and actually enjoy it!

➡ Balancing life, work and homeschooling, and meeting needs in a neurodivergent household

➡ Queering things and seeking out counter-cultural wisdom

CONTENT WARNING

Before we begin, I need to let you know that there a couple of brief mentions of disordered eating in this conversation, but the topic isn't explored in any detail.

Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes.

I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences.

I'm Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I'm now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn't quite fit.

EPISODE LINKS:

Gem's website: www.gemkennedy.com

Their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegemkennedy/

Queers & Co podcast: https://www.gemkennedy.com/podcast

If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/squarepegautism

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/

Or on my website: https://squarepeg.community/

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