Joyriding In Autismland: Autism Podcast With Kid Gigawatt

Stoked to be speaking today with Sarah Bronson, Executive Director of Riding to the Top, a nonprofit therapeutic horseback riding center in Windham, Maine. Riding to the Top has been a Premier Accredited Center by PATH International (the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) since 2000, and is where my little (Roman) cowboy has been riding for years. We chat about the human-horse connection, what sort of activities they focus on, and why running the farm is like orchestrating a symphony with multiple moving parts. Click here to listen, subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes: Joyriding in Autismland Kelley For more deets on the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding, click on over here for an article by yours truly: http://kidgigawatt.com/blogs/news/9447577-animal-therapy-spotlight-horseback-riding

Today's episode is all about Kid Gigawatt, and I'm here with my husband and Kid Gigawatt co-founder, Jeff Waites. We chat about autism stats, what therapies actually ARE, and why they're important. Also, your mother knows when you're not paying attention in church. Just sayin'. Kelley PS Check out the yeti on skis, who is on our new tees at http://kidgigawatt.com/pages/yeti :)

Wayne Gilpin began his publishing career by bringing car repair and law books to market. When his son Alex was diagnosed with autism, he joined the Autism Society of America, and became its president in 1987. Alex was 15 when the first edition of Wayne Gilpin’s lighthearted self-published book was released in 1993, Laughing & Loving with Autism: A Collection of “Real Life” Warm & Humorous Stories. The 500 copies he conservatively printed sold out in just 3 days.   He founded Future Horizons in 1996, dedicated to publishing books relating to autism, and by now they have published over 140 books as well a truly excellent bi-monthly magazine, Autism Asperger’s Digest. Future Horizons organizes educational autism conferences all over the globe, featuring renowned speakers and experts such as Dr. Temple Grandin, Dr. Tony Attwood, Dr. Jed Baker, Jennifer McIlwee Myers, and Dr. James Ball.   Alex passed away in 2008, but shared an apartment as a young adult with a friend with autism in North Carolina. There

Alisa Anderson, director of adaptive ski programs at Smuggler's Notch in Vermont, on how she started taching kids with disabilties to ski, why it's not about IF we're going to ski, it's HOW, her team of Special Olympic skiers, and about how sometimes, the biggest barrier to getting a kiddo on skis are the parents.

My husband, Jeff, about having a kiddo on the spectrum, superpowers, positive ions, and the extended version at the record store.

Episode number 11 is with my boyo Roman's fantabulous In-Home Support staff, Lauren O'Neil, who has worked with Romi for a little over a year in our messy... chaotic... loud... *ahem* lively home. Her little brother also has autism, and we chat about how she started working on behavioral plans in people's homes, and how autism has amped up both her patience - and her intolerance - at the same time. (

Ok guys, if you need a laugh, this is the interview for you. I first heard Jennifer McIlwee Myers speak at this year's Portland Autism Conference, and I cackled laughed. Inappropriately loudly. Then I laughed the entire way through this interview, AND I laughed again a week later while editing the audio. I am a fan. Jennifer was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult, is married to an Aspie, has a sister with Asperger's, and a brother with Autism. She co-wrote Asperger's and Girls in 2006, and wrote How to Teach Life Skills to Kids with Autism or Asperger's in 2010. Her new book, Growing Up with Sensory Issues will be released in July, 2014. We chat about surgical strike shoe shopping at Nordstrom, the zombie apocalypse, manscaping (

Ok guys, if you need a laugh, this is the interview for you. I first heard Jennifer McIlwee Myers speak at this year's Portland Autism Conference, and I cackled laughed. Inappropriately loudly. Then I laughed the entire way through this interview, AND I laughed again a week later while editing the audio. I am a fan. Jennifer was diagnosed with Asperger's as an adult, is married to an Aspie, has a sister with Asperger's, and a brother with Autism. She co-wrote Asperger's and Girls in 2006, and wrote How to Teach Life Skills to Kids with Autism or Asperger's in 2010. Her new book, Growing Up with Sensory Issues will be released in July, 2014. We chat about surgical strike shoe shopping at Nordstrom, the zombie apocalypse, manscaping (

Super excited to be chatting with journalist, travel writer, author, and documentary filmmaker Rupert Isaacson! I was deeply touched by his book and film The Horse Boy, documenting his epic journey to Mongolia with his wife and son Rowan, who has autism. We talk about what Rowan was like before their trip (spoiler alert: like “ten toddlers in one body”), what they’ve been up to since the movie, and how Rowan is doing now (like one happy 11-year old). Also, we can neither confirm nor deny rumors that Rupert has another book coming out in June. (

Delighted to be speaking with Dan Korins, father to 19-year old Michael, an accomplished singer with autism. Michael was one of  8 Genius of Autism honorees in 2013, and can be seen singing on YouTube here. His Twitter page is @MikeKorins. I chat with Dan about how Michael began singing, what his desired superpower would be, and what's next for them. Lend us a hand? Please subscribe, rate, and/or review us in iTunes: http://joyridinginautismland.com/review Thanks a hundred zeroes!

In honor of my oldest son Quinn turning 17(!) today, I'm posting episode 6: interviews that I did with him, my 14-year old daughter Lucca, and the 11-year old Romanator. Living with autism is something we DO as a family, but it’s not something we TALK about, or lament, or curse the skies over. Because loving Roman to pieces? Is the one thing all of us, even my two teenagers, can agree on. ;)

Keri Bowers is an artist, an autism advocate and activist, an art therapist, a speaker, and a filmmaker, whose oldest son, Taylor, has high-functioning autism. I chatted with Keri about the role of the arts in child development, autism and technology, and sending your kids off to college – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Lend us a hand? Please subscribe, rate, and/or review us in iTunes: http://joyridinginautismland.com/review Thanks a hundred zeroes!

Keri Bowers is an artist, an autism advocate and activist, an art therapist, a speaker, and a filmmaker, whose oldest son, Taylor, has high-functioning autism. I chatted with Keri about the role of the arts in child development, autism and technology, and sending your kids off to college – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Lend us a hand? Please subscribe, rate, and/or review us in iTunes: http://joyridinginautismland.com/review Thanks a hundred zeroes!

Dr. James Ball is a board certified Behavior Analyst, a private autism consultant with over 25 years of experience, and current chairman of the national board of the Autism Society. We talk about how he fell into the autism field, and how he goes about evaluating school settings. Plus, he tells us a funny story. (Bonus!) Lend us a hand? Please subscribe, rate, and/or review us in iTunes: http://joyridinginautismland.com/review Thanks a hundred zeroes!

Dr. Temple Grandin grew up in the 1950s with high functioning autism. Today, she is an autism advocate, speaker, author, humane livestock handling expert, one of Time's 100 Most Influential People, and the subject of an autobiographical movie. I chat with Dr. Grandin about having Autism, thinking in pictures, what she dreams about at night, and what makes her laugh. Lend us a hand? Please subscribe, rate, and/or review us in iTunes: http://joyridinginautismland.com/review Thanks a hundred zeroes!

Wine expert, best selling author, and social media superstar Gary Vaynerchuk. I ask Gary Vaynerchuk what makes him weird, what his desired superpower would be, and I grill him on what wine pairs best with autism. Lend us a hand? Please subscribe, rate, and/or review us in iTunes: http://joyridinginautismland.com/review Thanks a hundred zeroes!