The AutSide Podcast

Today’s episode explores the complex sensory politics of food, arguing that for autistic individuals, eating is often a matter of safety and access rather than mere preference. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, challenges social labels like “picky” or “fussy,” reframing these behaviours as necessary responses to an overwhelming environment where smell and texture can be physically debilitating. Dr. Hoerricks highlights how ordinary social situations, such as office lunches, can become uninhabitable spaces when the sensory needs of neurodivergent people are ignored or mocked. Ultimately, she advocates for a world where safe food is respected as a basic requirement for participation, allowing individuals to eat without being forced to defend their survival as bad manners. Her perspective shifts the focus from social compliance to the biological reality of how bodies navigate scent and taste.
Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/the-first-autistic-person-the-first-57e
Let me know what you think.
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit autside.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode explores the complex sensory experiences of interoception and proprioception, detailing how many autistic individuals receive internal physical signals delayed or in an overwhelming rush. This lack of reliable biological timing means that fundamental needs like hunger, pain, and exhaustion often remain invisible until they reach a state of urgent crisis. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, highlights the profound shame imposed by a society that equates immediate body awareness with adulthood and responsibility. When the body acts as an unreliable messenger, simple self-care becomes a difficult task of interpretation rather than a natural reflex. Ultimately, Dr. Hoerricks argues that failing to notice these signals is a neurological reality rather than a personal or moral failing. Her perspective challenges a world built for people whose internal maps always arrive on schedule.
Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/the-first-autistic-person-the-first-4c0
Let me know what you think.
The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit autside.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode explores the sensory complexities of being autistic, focusing specifically on how clothing and touch impact daily life. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, describes how a seemingly minor issue, like a poorly fitting shirt or a scratchy seam, can act as a “private emergency” that drains an individual’s emotional and social energy. The text highlights a paradox where uninvited or light touch can feel like an invasive threat, whilst firm, intentional pressure often serves as a vital tool for regulation and comfort. By examining the politics of touch, Dr. Hoerricks challenges the social shame associated with sensory needs and argues for a deeper understanding of the body’s relationship with its environment. Ultimately, she frames finding the right garment as an act of essential self-care that allows an autistic person to remain present in the world.
Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/the-first-autistic-person-the-first-243
Let me know what you think.
The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit autside.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode challenges the assumption that light is a neutral environmental feature, arguing instead that it can be a source of sensory aggression for autistic individuals. The author of the source article, Dr. Jaime Hoerricks, describes how common elements like fluorescent flicker, harsh glare, and visual clutter can distort a room until it becomes perceptually unreachable, leading to a loss of speech, patience, and orientation. Rather than being a simple matter of brightness, light acts as a condition of access that can either reveal a space or functionally erase it through visual overload. Dr. Hoerricks contrasts this “hostile brightness” with regulating visual stimuli, such as shimmer or repetitive patterns, which help ground the nervous system. Ultimately, she advocates for a shift in perspective, moving from observing “strange” behaviours to understanding the internal processing demands created by modern lighting. By highlighting the exhaustion and shame caused by poorly designed environments, she questions why society equates harsh, cheap illumination with standard functionality.
Here’s the link to the source article: https://autside.substack.com/publish/post/204136494
Let me know what you think.
The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit autside.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s episode explores the profound impact of auditory overload on autistic individuals, moving beyond simple sensitivity to describe a total loss of language access. The article by Dr. Jaime Hoerricks explains that overwhelming environments, such as malls or offices, create a multiplicity of sounds that compete for attention and disrupt the brain’s ability to process speech. When the sensory system is forced into survival mode, the ability to understand or respond effectively often vanishes, leading others to mistakenly view this silence as rudeness or a lack of intelligence. Whilst tools like noise-reducing earplugs or captions provide some relief, they cannot fully fix the high neurological cost of navigating a world designed for those who can filter background noise effortlessly. Conversely, Dr. Hoerricks highlights how chosen, rhythmic sound can actually help organise the mind, contrasting it with the chaotic invasion of unpatterned environmental noise. Ultimately, she advocates for a deeper understanding of how auditory architecture governs an autistic person’s ability to remain present and communicative in society.
Here’s the link to the source article: https://open.substack.com/pub/autside/p/the-first-autistic-person-the-first-9b6
Let me know what you think.
The AutSide is a reader-supported publication. To support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit autside.substack.com/subscribe