"Fabulously Candice": The Sexiest Podcast About Neurodivergence

We are wrapping up the final episode of Fabulously Candice with a very special guest… Meg Martinez! Meg has worked alongside Candice for nearly a decade and is the Chief Program Officer at Namaste Center for Healing. This episode gives a look into their neuroinclusive approach to the internal family systems model and their co-authored chapter in the book Altogether Us by Jenna Riemersma. We also get a look into the current happenings at Namaste Center for Healing and get excited for what is next to come. Thank you to the fabulous global community for three seasons of love and support! Until the next something… Connect with Meg YouTube Video Closed Captions

Welcome back Renee Rosales, founder of Theara! We start the episode with a beautiful story honoring Renee’s maternal grandfather and the divine gifts we receive from past generations. Next, Candice and Renee address some current challenges within the neurodiversity movement (infighting, “meltdown”, etc.) and offer examples of what neuroinclusion can look like within loving relationships. They also take a deep dive into the concept of bridging (another one of Renee’s fabulous acronyms!), energy contagion, mindfulness, and more. Connect with Renee YouTube Video Closed Captions

Nel and Bex are back to update us on life since their international move to Montana! While there have been a fair number of logistical and familial struggles, they describe how the relationship has actually strengthened throughout the big transition. Candice guides us through what feels like a live therapy session in which they cover blended families, cohabiting with teenagers, sex, clashing neurodifferences, and the beauty in simply getting curious about the different parts of ourselves. Bex LinkedIn Bex IG: @bexcanner YouTube Video Closed Captions

Renee Rosales is a mother, wife, educator, advocate, transformational leader, and founder of Theara: a business designed to support the Neurodiverse from cradle to grace. In this episode, we learn the beautiful origin story behind Theara as well as examples from Renee’s acronym-based system that leads the way to a brighter future with Neurodiversity. Candice and Renee have a fabulous, flowing conversation about their plethora of shared passions, how neurodistinctions can show up in relationships, and the empowerment that comes with recognizing Neurodiversity as its own culture. Connect with Renee Follow: @thearaway YouTube Video Closed Captions

Welcome back, Aly Dearborn! In today’s episode, Candice and Aly reflect on their presentation from the 2023 IITAP Symposium: Love Addicted or Seeking Safety: Accurately Screening, Diagnosing, & Treating Autistic Females with Symptoms of Trauma, Sex, & Love Addiction In Both Inpatient and Outpatient Settings. We also get an introduction to their updated assessment tool for diagnosing Autistic females, including how and why they decided to “ditch the D’s” of the DSM! Connect with Aly YouTube Video Closed Captions

We are back with our FINAL, FABULOUS lineup of guests! Today, Candice is joined by master’s student Ben VanHook to discuss advocacy for policy reform that would make hiring processes and educational environments more inclusive for neurodivergent individuals. They also share personal stories about relationships, fantasize how lovely having a ‘dating instruction manual’ would be, and give tips such as sensory-friendly places to meet potential partners and friends! YouTube Video Closed Captions

CONTENT WARNING: child sexual abuse, sexual assault, intimate partner violence Aly Dearborn is back to help break down the similarities between Autism and Borderline Personality Disorder as it relates to confusion among clinicians and the too-often misdiagnosis of Autistic females. This professional take is sprinkled with personal examples of how this gap in knowledge has impacted Candice and Aly throughout their lives. They also give a sneak peek into the content of their upcoming presentation for the 2023 IITAP Symposium! Connect with Aly Information for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Counselors Closed Captions References: 1) Cazalis, et al - Evidence that 9 of 10 Autistic Females Victims of Sexual Violence. Front. Behav. Neurosci., 26 April 2022; Sec. Pathological Conditions, Volume 16 - 2022 | 2) Bargiela, S., Steward, R., and Mandy, W. The experiences of late-diagnosed women with autism spectrum conditions: an investigation of the female autism phenotype. J. Autism Dev. Disord. 2016; 46, 3281–3294. doi: 10.1007/s10803-016-2872-8 3) Fusar-Poli, L., Brondino, N., Politi, P. et al. Missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses of adults with autism spectrum disorder. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2022.; 272, 187–198 ;https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-020-01189-w 4) Pecora LA, Hancock GI, Mesibov GB, Stokes MA. Characterising the Sexuality and Sexual Experiences of Autistic Females. J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 5) Pecora LA, Hooley M, Sperry L, Mesibov GB, Stokes MA. Sexuality and Gender Issues in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2020 Jul;29(3):543-556. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2020.02.007. Epub 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 32471601.

Jennie Meadows is a neurodiverse photographer and visual artist who has experienced the full spectrum of romantic relationships! She shares what she learned through marriage, procreation, divorce, and the “minefield” of post-divorce dating in her fifties… all prior to asking the question: “Who am I?” Candice and Jennie dive deep into online dating, menopause, synesthesia, hyperawareness in the bedroom, and how to curate a more sensuous sexual experience. Click here to view the Sexual Sensory Profile E-Book! Connect with Jennie: https://www.jenniemeadows.com/ IG: @jenniemeadows YouTube video Closed Captions

Welcome back to Fabulously Candice: The Sexiest Podcast About Neurodivergence! Candice kicks off Season 3 welcoming back none other than her fabulous husband and Chief Mindfulness Officer of Namaste Center for Healing, Chris Kishiyama. They update the global audience on their individual lives, how their relationship has recently evolved, and what’s on the horizon for Namaste Center for Healing. Want closed captioning or a visual for this episode? Check out the YouTube video here!

Paul and Ronnie are a mixed neurotype couple who have been together for the past 10+ years. With Paul being Autistic and Ronnie bilingual, they share how they learned to communicate more effectively, meet in the middle, and resolve conflict. They also chat about social scripts, the double empathy problem, and how to make time for sexual intimacy with two young children at home. Have a fabulous New Year and we will return in 2023 for Season 3!

Aly Dearborn is an Autistic feminist and psychotherapist with expertise in the treatment of women with complex trauma and addictive behavior. She joins Candice to break down the female presentation of autistic spectrum conditions, how stereotypes often lead to misdiagnoses, and what clinicians need to know to help combat the pathologizing of Autistic females. You do not want to miss this fabulous episode! Click here to visit Aly’s website.

Michael John Carley is an Autistic author, speaker, and former Executive Director. In this episode, he and Candice explore the inspiration behind his most recent book, ‘The Book of Happy, Positive, and Confident Sex for Adults on the Autism Spectrum…and Beyond’. His sex-positive approach focuses on healthy sexuality and advocates pleasure for all! Click here to read Michael John's full bio.

Albert Jersey was diagnosed with autism at age three and now, at 30 years old, describes himself as an autistic self-advocate. He shares with us his journey towards self acceptance and hopes his message can encourage listeners to be more kind, authentic, vulnerable, and honest. He and Candice also talk relationships, boundaries, and compare their experiences of being diagnosed with autism early versus later in life. Connect with Albert: Facebook LinkedIn

Today Candice talks with James Murphy, sustainability enthusiast and founder of StoryX. James tried out a plethora of jobs before a clarifying ADHD diagnosis last year. In this episode, he and Candice cover conflict-seeking behavior, rejection sensitive dysphoria, relationship struggles through the COVID-19 lockdown, personal routines, and more! StoryX LinkedIn Twitter

Candice welcomes to the podcast Dr. Samantha Hiew! Following her ADHD diagnosis at age 40, as well as identifying as autistic, Sam founded ADHD Girls to empower girls and women with ADHD to thrive in society. Listen as they dispel stereotypes about neurodiverse women, share their experiences with cooccurring diagnoses, and prove that there truly is ‘diversity within neurodiversity’.

In this episode Candice is joined by Amanda Hebert Hughes, an Autistic painter, author, and founder of Sensory Gated Art. After discovering her autism in adulthood, Amanda was inspired to create art that strategically removes sensory overload and, as a result, has a calming effect on its viewers. She and Candice discuss this “visual form of autistic bluntness”, as well as their experiences as females with autism in mixed-neurotype marriages. Enjoy!

Raquel Borras is the founder of RAQVISION (of XXO Connect) and creator of ‘Raq the Boat’, her fabulous YouTube channel that hosts candid conversations with youth guests. Raquel’s inspiration for amplifying youth voices stems from her own experiences with depression and OCD early in life. In this episode, she and Candice discuss mental health trials, their takes on the concept of ‘toxic positivity’, parenting, and how Raquel ultimately got better at not sweating the small stuff.

Today Candice is joined by the incredible Quinn Dexter. Quinn was diagnosed with autism in the early 1980’s, preceding its inclusion in the DSM and ICD. He shares with us his rare perspective as someone who intimately witnessed autism gain public awareness and understanding over the past three decades. Today, Quinn is the chief creator of Autistamatic and has been happily married for 14 years. You don't want to miss this fabulous episode full of history, lived experience, and unique insights on intimacy.

Ric Clark is a data modeller and self-employed video producer from Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. As a neurodiversity advocate, he is also an ambassador for My XXY Chromodiversity Foundation and a founding member of The Octopus Movement! On this episode, Candice and Ric dive promptly into deep conversation about intimacy, including the hurdles and surprises that Ric overcame throughout life as a person with autism, ADHD, and dyspraxia. They also cover arduous small talk, being a multipotentialite, sexual sensory profiles, and all things sexy!

Join Candice in an inspirational discussion with Dr. Lulu a.k.a. “the Momatrician”! Dr. Lulu is a retired pediatrician, author, LGBTQ+ parent coach, and mom of a nonbinary young adult. She shares with us her passion for youth suicide prevention, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and how parents can be a #parentally to their queer children. To learn more, visit Dr-lulu.com and check out her Facebook neighborhood: “Accepting, Affirming & Supporting Your LGBTQ* 🏳️‍🌈 Child(ren)”.