A Model for Thriving as an Autistic Adult Artwork

Meet My Autistic Brain

What is it like to find out late in life that you are autistic? The Autistic Woman talks about life experiences and how autistic traits affect her as an adult. You'll hear personal stories, opinions about research and the importance of autistic voices. Includes some fun stuff too and interviews of autistic guests! This podcast is primarily for adult autistics and their family and friends. It's one of the top 0.5% most popular shows globally as ranked by Listen Score with more than 1,000,000 downloads.

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Meet My Autistic Brain

A Model for Thriving as an Autistic Adult

May 25, 2026 • The Autistic Woman

0:00 | 42:23

What does thriving actually look like for a late-diagnosed autistic adult?

Alexis Kruel gives a pretty specific answer from a life of contradictions.

Alexis is a commercial model and actor who was diagnosed autistic at 53 and ADHD shortly after. But this isn't really a diagnosis story. It's a story about what happens when your whole life suddenly plays back differently, and every awkward moment, every friendship that went cold, every dinner party you wanted to escape, finally makes sense.

She's built a life that genuinely fits her brain. In this conversation she talks about how she did it — and what she'd tell anyone who's still figuring that out.

In this episode:

The video that stopped her cold and started everything
Sensory life in the 70s — polyester, crinolines, a doomed trip to Stride Rite
Why she was simultaneously popular yet seen as “different”
How the fear of being seen inspired her to become a model
How two autistic people built a marriage that works — and why she thinks that's not an accident
Her advice for finding your comfort after late diagnosis

Find Alexis:

Instagram & TikTok: @alexiskruel_official

YouTube & Facebook: Alexis Kruel

Alexis Kruel website

Resources mentioned: