“Our brains process the sounds for emotion before we process the words for understanding.”

In this episode, Heather and Steve sit down with Google technologist and autistic advocate Tim Goldstein, whose late-in-life diagnosis rewired how he sees communication, work, and autism itself. Tim shares how he went from being “the kid who kept getting fired” to someone who now coaches others on using voice, story, and language to actually get results in a neurotypical world—without selling themselves out.

You’ll hear them dig into:

Why how you say something often matters more than what you say

The difference between “masking” and simply adapting to shared social norms

Why Tim hates the word “neurodivergent” and prefers “neurodistinct”

How the words we use with managers can accidentally make them feel stupid… and sabotage our own accommodations

Heather’s daughter’s powerful mic-drop: “I’d rather you not define me by what I can’t do.”

Eye contact, notifications, and the fine line between “the world should change” and “I want better outcomes, so what can I tweak?”

Dating, loneliness, and why so many autistic adults miss subtle signals of interest

If you’re autistic, love someone who is, or work in education, healthcare, or HR, this conversation will change how you hear every interaction—and how you talk about autism from here on out.  Learn more about Tim: https://www.timgoldstein.com/

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Recorded at ROC Vox Recording & Production Studios in Rochester, NY. Learn more at rocvox.com.