The Squarepeg Podcast

Mrinal Gokhale is an author, writer, and speaker based in Wisconsin in the United States, passionate about all things psychology and wellness. Since becoming an author, Mrinal has written for and collaborated with platforms to discuss South Asian and Asian American mental health. She has a Bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Now 35, Mrinal is the author of two books, the latest of which, Taboo: South Asian Mental Health Stories, is a collection of lived experience accounts from people of South Asian descent about navigating mental illness, neurodivergence, identity, culture, sexuality, trauma, and other topics often considered taboo in South Asian communities. In our conversation Mrinal shares how finding neurodivergent community has reshaped her sense of self, belonging, and work. She talks about navigating neurodivergence within South Asian culture, the weight of the model minority myth, and growing up under straight‑A, STEM‑focused parental expectations, when her strengths lay in reading, writing, and storytelling. We explore her move from permanent roles into contracting, what kinds of workplaces and team structures best support her autistic needs, and why self‑employment isn't automatically a better option for us. Mrinal also describes her experience of having EMDR therapy to process years of bullying and undiagnosed autism, and the positive outcomes this has had for her. I first talked with Mrinal in Season 2 of Squarepeg. Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late identified autistic women and nonbinary people about their lives, their autism journeys, and what they've learned along the way. I'm Amy Richards, and I was diagnosed autistic in 2016, when I was 37. I've been sharing my conversations with other autistic adults since 2020. I hope you'll find these conversations inspiring and thought provoking, and that they'll help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. ➡️LISTEN AD-FREE WHEN YOU BECOME A PATREON SUPPORTER https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast EPISODE LINKS: Mrinal's links page: http://linktr.ee/mgokhale Mrinal's original SquarePeg episode (Episode 17 - S2 E5): https://squarepeg.community/17-s2-ep5-getting-the-skills-and-support-to-navigate-life-and-work/ If you'd like to connect with me, get in touch or follow Squarepeg, you can find me on: Website: https://squarepeg.community/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/ THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS! A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast: Abi Hunter, Alex, Alex Lee, Alice Kemp, A-M, Amy Adler, Anika Lacerte, Annette, Annie, Anya Nebl, Aubrey Brand, B Martinez, Barbara, Basia, Becca Lee, Becky Beasley, Ben Davies, Beth Kelly Herbert, Bobbi Sue, Caprice, Carly, Caroline, Cat Preston, C M, Claire Gerard, Corinne Cariad, Corrine L. McDermid, Dana, Dana Bradley, Danielle Warby, Danielle Wrench, Daphna Epstein, Deanna M. Counts Goldy, Deidre Stark, Dennis McNulty,, Eleanor Goulding, Em, Emma Franks, Erica Kenworthy, Erin Mazow, Evgeniia Pupysheva, Ewan McNeill, Frederike, Galina, George Cole, H.B, Hannah Breslin, Heather Peake, Helen Anne Hooker, Helen Crosby, Helen Delaney, Holly Knight-Smith, India, Jackie Allen, Jane, Janice, Jennifer Romanello, Jess Dwyer, Julie, Julie Goldberg, Karen, Karin Parker, KatF, Kate, Kathryn, Katharine Richards, Katherine Meizel, Katie, Ken K, Kim Mortstock, Laura, Laura, Laurin Aman, Lilli Simmons, Lisa, Lisa Joy Powley, Lisa Williams, Liz, Liz P, Lula Cork, Maggie Dodd, Mandy Allen, Marjory Webber, Meg c, Melissa Shaw, Meredith L. Freyre, Mindy Wigzell, Monica Toohey, N, NC, Nicola Neil, Rebecca, Rebecca Biegel, Sadie Slater, Sandra Carey, Sandra Chapman, Sandra Rensman, Sandy Klarsten, Sandy Ladkin, Sarah Jeffrey, Sarah LW, Sarah Musgrave, Sarah Raine, Sarah Whitehead, Shelia Smith, Siobhan, Sophie King, Talia's Nature,Tris, Vicki Temple, Victoria Jeffrey and Zans McLachlan. If you're enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast

Su Scotting is a poet, writer and artist, and retired National Trust archivist, from Cornwall in the UK. Now 63, she was formally recognised as autistic at 58. Su excelled at school, going on to get a BA in Medieval English Studies, and later an MA in Art. After years as an archivist she worked in government administration. But her education and career were impacted by sensory issues, overwhelm and autistic burnout. In her 40s Su was diagnosed first with depression and anxiety, then with cPTSD. When she eventually received her autism diagnosis at 58 (along with diagnoses of Sensory Processing Disorder and dyspraxia) she says she finally "felt like a complete autistic person, rather than a broken neurotypical person". Su has a lifelong love of poetry, writing, music and art. Her artwork has been in exhibitions, and she has won the Somerset Poetry Prize and had stories shortlisted for The Bridport Prize. She says that creativity is what has kept her going through the trauma of undiagnosed autism – that creativity was always a place where she knew who she was. In this conversation Su talks about the benefits and challenges of unexpectedly discovering her autism later in life; the struggle of being a highly intelligent person who always found employment challenging; her decision not to have children; and all the things that have helped, nourished and healed her throughout her life. Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late identified autistic women and nonbinary people about their lives, their autism journeys, and what they've learned along the way. I'm Amy Richards, and I was diagnosed autistic in 2016, when I was 37. I've been sharing my conversations with other autistic adults since 2020. I hope you'll find these conversations inspiring and thought provoking, and that they'll help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. ➡️LISTEN AD-FREE WHEN YOU BECOME A PATREON SUPPORTER https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast EPISODE LINKS: Su's website: www.suscotting.co.uk Dimensions for Autism (Devon, UK): https://www.dimensionsforautism.life/ If you'd like to connect with me, get in touch or follow Squarepeg, you can find me on: Website: https://squarepeg.community/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/ THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS! A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast: Abi Hunter, Alex, Alex Lee, Alice Kemp, A-M, Amy Adler, Anika Lacerte, Annette, Annie, Anya Nebl, Aubrey Brand, B Martinez, Barbara, Basia, Becca Lee, Becky Beasley, Ben Davies, Beth Kelly Herbert, Bobbi Sue, Caprice, Carly, Caroline, Cat Preston, C M, Claire Gerard, Corinne Cariad, Corrine L. McDermid, Dana, Dana Bradley, Danielle Warby, Danielle Wrench, Daphna Epstein, Deanna M. Counts Goldy, Deidre Stark, Dennis McNulty,, Eleanor Goulding, Em, Emma Franks, Erica Kenworthy, Erin Mazow, Evgeniia Pupysheva, Ewan McNeill, Frederike, Galina, George Cole, H.B, Hannah Breslin, Heather Peake, Helen Anne Hooker, Helen Crosby, Helen Delaney, Holly Knight-Smith, India, Jackie Allen, Jane, Janice, Jennifer Romanello, Jess Dwyer, Julie, Julie Goldberg, Karen, Karin Parker, KatF, Kate, Kathryn, Katharine Richards, Katherine Meizel, Katie, Ken K, Kim Mortstock, Laura, Laura, Laurin Aman, Lilli Simmons, Lisa, Lisa Joy Powley, Lisa Williams, Liz, Liz P, Lula Cork, Maggie Dodd, Mandy Allen, Marjory Webber, Meg c, Melissa Shaw, Meredith L. Freyre, Mindy Wigzell, Monica Toohey, N, NC, Nicola Neil, Rebecca, Rebecca Biegel, Sadie Slater, Sandra Carey, Sandra Chapman, Sandra Rensman, Sandy Klarsten, Sandy Ladkin, Sarah Jeffrey, Sarah LW, Sarah Musgrave, Sarah Raine, Sarah Whitehead, Shelia Smith, Siobhan, Sophie King, Talia's Nature,Tris, Vicki Temple, Victoria Jeffrey and Zans McLachlan. If you're enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast

For years Emily Nyrop lived what looked on the outside like a 'perfect' life; after graduating from Harvard University, she spent over a decade in high-powered roles. But underneath her outward success she was quietly burning out, as she built a life and career inside systems that weren't built for her. Then Emily hit breaking point. Feeling like she was falling apart, she decided to rip open her life and do something completely different. In 2023 she gave up her apartment in the US, packed a suitcase and booked a one-way ticket to Cape Town, for what turned into nearly a year of solo travel through Africa and the Middle East. During this journey she began to understand that the way she moves through the world isn't broken: it's autistic. Now 38, Emily has relocated to Porto in Portugal, where she works as a Leadership Coach for ambitious, high-performing women, especially those in STEM fields, and those who are queer, neurodivergent, or navigating systems not built for them. In this conversation Emily shares her story and her reflections on both her journey across the world and her journey of self-discovery, and how solo travel allowed her to peel back the layers of herself, discover her autism, come out as queer, and ultimately build a life that actually fits her. Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late identified autistic women and nonbinary people about their lives, their autism journeys, and what they've learned along the way. I'm Amy Richards, and I was diagnosed autistic in 2016, when I was 37. I've been sharing my conversations with other autistic adults since 2020. I hope you'll find these conversations inspiring and thought provoking, and that they'll help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. ➡️LISTEN AD-FREE WHEN YOU BECOME A PATREON SUPPORTER https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast EPISODE LINKS: Emily's website: www.elevaleaders.com Her LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-nyrop/ If you'd like to connect with me, get in touch or follow Squarepeg, you can find me on: Website: https://squarepeg.community/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/ THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS! A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast: Abi Hunter, Alex, Alex Lee, Alice Kemp, A-M, Amy Adler, Anika Lacerte, Anna Grojec, Annette, Annie, Anya Nebl, Aubrey Brand, B Martinez, Barbara, Basia, Becca Lee, Becky Beasley, Ben Davies, Beth Kelly Herbert, Bobbi Sue, Caprice, Carly, Caroline, Cat Preston, Cathy Oliver, C M, Claire Gerard, Corinne Cariad, Corrine L. McDermid, Dana, Dana Bradley, Danielle Warby, Danielle Wrench, Daphna Epstein, Deanna M. Counts Goldy, Deidre Stark, Dennis McNulty, E, Eleanor Goulding, Em, Emma Franks, Erica Kenworthy, Erin Mazow, Evgeniia Pupysheva, Ewan McNeill, Frederike, Galina, George Cole, H.B, Hannah Breslin, Heather Peake, Helen Anne Hooker, Helen Crosby, Helen Delaney, Holly Knight-Smith, India, Jackie Allen, Jane, Janice, Jess Dwyer, Joanna McKnight, Julie, Julie Goldberg, Karen, Karin Parker, KatF, Kate and Kathryn, Katharine Richards, Katherine Meizel, Katie, Ken K, Kim Mortstock, Laura, Laura, Laurin Aman, Lilli Simmons, Lisa, Lisa Joy Powley, Lisa Williams, Liz, Liz P, Lula Cork, Maggie Dodd, Mandy Allen, Marjory Webber, Meg c, Melissa Shaw, Meredith L. Freyre, Mindy Wigzell, Monica Toohey, N, NC, Nicola Neil, Rebecca, Rebecca Biegel, Sadie Slater, Sandra Carey, Sandra Chapman, Sandra Rensman, Sandy Klarsten, Sandy Ladkin, Sarah Jeffrey, Sarah LW, Sarah Musgrave, Sarah Raine, Sarah Whitehead, Shelia Smith, Siobhan, Sophie King, Talia's Nature,Tris, Vicki Temple, Victoria Jeffrey and Zans McLachlan. If you're enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast

Helen Shaddock was formally identified as autistic two years ago, after spending over 25 years in the mental health system. During the pandemic Helen was readmitted to mental health services for eating disorders, before receiving an unexpected autism diagnosis. Now 39, Helen is a multidisciplinary artist and PhD researcher. She lives in Newcastle in the UK, where her work as a multidisciplinary artist focuses on themes related to her lived experience. In 2024 she launched artED, a digital space to share experiences and stories about eating distress, neurodivergence and mental health through art. artED evolved out of the graphic-art diaries that she began making at the start of the pandemic to stay connected to family and friends, and to keep herself mentally stimulated and motivated to take a walk, watch a film, listen to a podcast, or make a drawing. Helen has recently begun a practice-based PhD which will explore the role of storytelling in processing the experience and management of eating distress and its link to neurodivergence. She hopes that by being open about her experiences she can support others in similar situations and raise awareness and understanding. In our conversation Helen shares how she was completely taken by surprise when a therapist suggested she might be autistic; the impact of her autistic traits on her eating disorder, and how she's been able to reframe what had been seen as eating disorder 'behaviours' in the light of her autism discovery; the significance of her daily journals, and the impact they're having. Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late identified autistic women and nonbinary people about their lives, their autism journeys, and what they've learned along the way. I'm Amy Richards, and I was diagnosed autistic in 2016, when I was 37. I've been sharing my conversations with other autistic adults since 2020. I hope you'll find these conversations inspiring and thought provoking, and that they'll help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. ➡️LISTEN AD-FREE WHEN YOU BECOME A PATREON SUPPORTER https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast EPISODE LINKS: Website: https://arted.online Website: https://www.helenshaddock.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arted.online Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helenshaddock Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arted.online Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.shaddock X: http://x.com/artED_online X: https://x.com/hshaddock Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/hshaddock YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@helenshaddock LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-shaddock-94034b25 If you'd like to connect with me, get in touch or follow Squarepeg, you can find me on: Website: https://squarepeg.community/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/ THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS! A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast: Abi Hunter, Alex, Alex Lee, Alice Kemp, A-M, Amy Adler, Anika Lacerte, Anna Grojec, Annette, Annie, Anya Nebl, Aubrey Brand, B Martinez, Barbara, Basia, Becca Lee, Becky Beasley, Ben Davies, Beth Kelly Herbert, Bobbi Sue, Caprice, Carly, Caroline, Cat Preston, Cathy Oliver, C M, Claire Gerard, Corinne Cariad, Corrine L. McDermid, Dana, Dana Bradley, Danielle Warby, Danielle Wrench, Daphna Epstein, Deanna M. Counts Goldy, Deidre Stark, Dennis McNulty, E, Eleanor Goulding, Em, Emma Franks, Erica Kenworthy, Erin Mazow, Evgeniia Pupysheva, Ewan McNeill, Frederike, Galina, George Cole, Hannah Breslin, Heather Peake, Helen Anne Hooker, Helen Crosby, Helen Delaney, Holly Knight-Smith, India, Jackie Allen, Jane, Janice, Jess Dwyer, Joanna McKnight, Julie, Julie Goldberg, Karen, Karin Parker, KatF, Kate and Kathryn, Katharine Richards, Katherine Meizel, Katie, Ken K, Kim Mortstock, Laura, Laura, Laurin Aman, Lilli Simmons, Lisa, Lisa Joy Powley, Lisa Williams, Liz, Liz P, Lula Cork, Maggie Dodd, Mandy Allen, Marjory Webber, Meg c, Melissa Shaw, Meredith L. Freyre, Mindy Wigzell, Monica Toohey, N, NC, Nicola Neil, Rebecca, Rebecca Biegel, Sadie Slater, Sandra Carey, Sandra Chapman, Sandra Rensman, Sandy Klarsten, Sandy Ladkin, Sarah Jeffrey, Sarah LW, Sarah Musgrave, Sarah Raine, Sarah Whitehead, Shelia Smith, Siobhan, Sophie King, Talia's Nature,Tris, Vicki Temple, Victoria Jeffrey and Zans McLachlan. If you're enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast

Hannah Breslin runs her own business, Coaching for Difference, offering neuroaffirming coaching support for late-identified neurodivergent professionals, and education and consultancy for organisations looking to deepen their understanding of neurodiversity. Originally from Dublin, she lives in London and was formally recognised as autistic in 2022, with dyscalculia following in 2023 and ADHD in 2024. Now 42, Hannah spent 15 years working in Higher Education in teaching, research, academic and leadership roles and is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE. She was previously a practicing artist specialising in performance, video and installation. Hannah is also learning to embrace the fact that she is, in her words, "a mostly overwhelmed parent, an unreliable friend, an inattentive partner, an emotionally unavailable family member and a messy perfectionist." This episode is a beautiful deep dive into Hannah's experiences and her reflections on many aspects of being autistic in a world that's not set up for us and often doesn't meet us where we are. She talks about how she hasn't experienced 'relief' after being identified as autistic; reconnecting with joy after masking from a very young age; discovering and unpacking her internalised ableism; how she relates to the ideas of achievement, success and reward; and how autism affects every aspect of our lives. Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late identified autistic women and nonbinary people about their lives, their autism journeys, and what they've learned along the way. I'm Amy Richards, and I was diagnosed autistic in 2016, when I was 37. I've been sharing my conversations with other autistic adults since 2020. I hope you'll find these conversations inspiring and thought provoking, and that they'll help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. ➡️LISTEN AD-FREE WHEN YOU BECOME A PATREON SUPPORTER https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast EPISODE LINKS: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-breslin/ Medium: https://medium.com/@hannah.breslin Email: [email protected] If you'd like to connect with me, get in touch or follow Squarepeg, you can find me on: Website: https://squarepeg.community/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/ THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS! A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast: Abi Hunter, Alex, Alex Lee, Alice Kemp, Amy Adler, Anika Lacerte, Anna Grojec, Annette, Annie, Anya Nebl, Aubrey Brand, B Martinez, Barbara, Basia, Becca Lee, Becky Beasley, Ben Davies, Beth Kelly Herbert, Bobbi Sue, Caprice, Carly, Caroline, Cat Preston, Cathy Oliver, C M, Claire Gerard, Corinne Cariad, Corrine L. McDermid, Dana, Dana Bradley, Danielle Warby, Danielle Wrench, Daphna Epstein, Deanna M. Counts Goldy, Deidre Stark, Dennis McNulty, E, Eleanor Goulding, Em, Emma Franks, Erica Kenworthy, Erin Mazow, Evgeniia Pupysheva, Ewan McNeill, Frederike, Galina, George Cole, Hannah Breslin, Heather Peake, Helen Anne Hooker, Helen Crosby, Helen Delaney, Holly Knight-Smith, India, Jackie Allen, Jane, Janice, Joanna McKnight, Julie, Julie Goldberg, Karen, Karin Parker, KatF, Kate and Kathryn, Katharine Richards, Katherine Meizel, Katie, Ken K, Kim Mortstock, Laura, Laura, Laurin Aman, Lilli Simmons, Lisa, Lisa Joy Powley, Lisa Williams, Liz, Liz P, Lula Cork, Maggie Dodd, Mandy Allen, Marjory Webber, Meg c, Melissa Shaw, Meredith L. Freyre, Mindy Wigzell, Monica Toohey, N, NC, Nicola Neil, Rebecca, Rebecca Biegel, Sadie Slater, Sandra Carey, Sandra Chapman, Sandra Rensman, Sandy Klarsten, Sandy Ladkin, Sarah Jeffrey, Sarah LW, Sarah Musgrave, Sarah Raine, Shelia Smith, Siobhan, Sophie King, Talia's Nature,Tris, Vicki Temple, Victoria Jeffrey and Zans McLachlan. If you're enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast