Joe Barksdale shares his story about a life that was forged and assembled by an abusive and neglectful family in Detroit, tested on football fields, and released in recording studios and on stage. While feeling so much pain and internal self-loathing, he talks about how he tolerated the social discomfort and loneliness of autism. He goes on to describe how he has endured his own darkness to add art to the world and create community which generated the discussion for s2. E7. N17. of the...

Todd talks to his mother, Melanie, about how families form around defining members and moments. The Levine family was created around his brother, Jay, and moved forward with the compassion and conviction of Melanie. They reflect on how they purely embraced who Jay was and how they saw a future of companionship and community for him in s2. E6. N16. of the Otherness Podcast titled Faith without knowing. Autism Family Reflections from Mom. It took a while for Todd’s mother, Melanie, to join...

When Todd’s daughter, Sofia, told him she wanted to write about autism for her end-of-year middle school research paper, Todd was both excited and anxious. Both the anxiety and excitement came from wondering what parts of her life experience with autism she incorporated into herself. The connective conversation that took place and became s2. E5. N15. of the Otherness Podcast titled Like Father Like Daughter. A Family Discussion About Autism. The tables of the Otherness Podcast are turned...

Todd finds himself closely relating to retired Officer Jerry Turning who has learned that patience, relatability, and trust lead to better outcomes in interactions between the autism community and law enforcement. Todd has learned similar lessons in his medical career and he and Jerry take inventory on how autism has shaped them as people and professionals in s2. E4. N14. of the Otherness Podcast titled Professionals Are Not The Autism Experts, Families Are. Todd finds a meaningful...

Todd sits down with retired Officer Jerry Turning who has chronicled his life as an autism dad in his blog “Bacon and Juiceboxes” where he describes the often gritty and disruptive life in autism. They go into the shared experience of appreciating the autism mindset as something of beauty despite it being a big mystery in s2. E3. N13. of the Otherness Podcast called Failing and Finding In Autism. Loving the Autism Perspective. Todd finds himself moved and intrigued by how a police officer...

Todd talks about how the stories of living with autism have been much more important than any textbook, any medical journal or any lecture he’s ever been to. What families have shown him is that autism is to be lived and experienced and not just studied in s2. E2. N12. of the Otherness Podcast called Listening to the Spectrum. An Otherness Podcast Overview. Todd speaks to how much the Otherness Podcast has led to his personal growth. Particularly, he talks about how despite studying autism...

Todd is joined with Jason Lupow, an old friend from medical school who is raising 2 sons on the spectrum while working as an emergency department physician. He meaningfully describes how he does not sweat the small stuff, tolerates feeling judged, and has worked hard to get his sons the support they need in s2. E1. N11. of the Otherness Podcast titled Through the Autism BS: Persistence, Parenting, and Doctoring. Todd is joined by Dr. Jason Lupow, an autism father, emergency department...

Dr. Randy Freeman joins Todd to reflect on his professional experience as a psychiatrist in autism and his personal experience as an autism father to his son, Aidan. He shares how few other doctors actually “get” autism, how we should lead with family and love, and military service can help improve compassion in s1. E10. N10. of the Otherness Podcast titled Stories from an Autism Dad and Doctor. Aidan’s Autism Law. Todd is joined by Dr. Randy Freeman, an autism father and child...

Peach pits and fairy dust have been key ingredients for Sue Jewel, who is raising two daughters with autism. A peach pit almost killed one of her daughters and she sprinkles fairy dust over her family as tensions inevitably run high. Hear how Sue deals with losses and finds growth in s1. E9. N9. of the Otherness Podcast titled Darkness Finds You In Autism. A Mother’s Losses and Gains. Todd sits down with Sue Jewel, who has two daughters with autism, to share feelings of fear and endurance...

A fellow autism psychiatrist and brother of a young man on the spectrum, Dr. Jared Reichenberg, shares with Todd how life in autism started in childhood and extended into a career. They discuss how feelings of helplessness can generate hope when relating to families affected by autism for s1. E8. N8. of the Otherness Podcast titled Boulders and Mirrors in Autism. Examining the reflections. Todd reflects on how the path to a career in autism can begin with a brother on the spectrum, but is...

Kim Cartelli Liguori describes how there are no “relaxing Sundays” while she resiliently parents her son on the spectrum, Anthony. She describes the constant work of keeping her family moving along, the work she shoulders, and her own endurance with the help and partnership of her family, friends, and community for s1. E7. N7. of the Otherness Podcast titled White Knuckle Parenting. No Downtime in Autism Families. Todd reflects on how connection to community and family, an intuitive sense...

Todd meets with Sammi, a friend and mother of a young man with autism, to talk about the mixed feelings that come with her son’s transition to adulthood for s1. E6. N6. of the Otherness Podcast titled Part Boy, Part Man. A Kind of Transition to Autism Adulthood. Through the lens of a mother, Todd reflects on the fear and growth that come through the development from childhood to adulthood for a young man on the spectrum. As Todd was developing the Otherness Podcast, he reached out to Sammi,...

Todd meets with his brother’s special education teacher from elementary school, Lianne, to gain perspective on the art of working with students, families, and schools in educating children with autism for s1. E5. N5. of the Otherness Podcast called Autism education openness and going in blind at times. Todd reflects on the creative balancing act of being a special education teacher with Lianne, who was an essential educator and leader in the schooling of his brother, Jay. As Todd was...

Todd reveals and explores his internal struggles and realizations as he strives to build a grounded and meaningful medical career in autism for s1. E4. N4. of the Otherness Podcast which is named partner over prescriber. Identifying as an autism doctor. Todd takes time to explore how his path in medicine towards autism was shaped by many lessons learned from his personal experiences, the experiences of others, and his identity as a physician. Throughout his life, Todd has worked to create...

Todd and his brother, Evan, share their unique experiences and feelings about growing up with Jay, their youngest brother with autism, for S1. E3. N3. of the Otherness Podcast: Grown In Autism. Brothers sharing a family experience. Todd invites his brother, Evan, to share experiences about how life was enjoyed and shaped with growing up with their youngest brother, Jay, who has found a vibrant life in his journey with autism. Todd and Evan grew up in a small town in Western Massachusetts...

Purple Juice and the Digestion and Integration of Autism Life. Doctor Todd Peter Levine talks with candor and compassion with a mom who has insightful perspective on raising a son with autism for s1. E2.of the Otherness Podcast. Dr. Todd Peter Levine invites a long-time friend and mother of a young man with autism to understand how living with autism is a gradual process of struggle and discovery. After hearing the first episode of The Otherness Podcast, Barb, a long-time friend who...

Navigating Stories of Autism: Lives Without a Compass. Exploring the stories and experiences of autism through an engaging podcast format. S1. E1. n1. of the Otherness Podcast. Dr. Todd Peter Levine is the host of the Otherness Podcast. He is a psychiatrist who treats people with autism in a compassionate manner that started with his life as the older sibling of his brother with autism. The show is not about medical information or research, but rather about navigating and engaging autism...