On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Adult Autism, Neurodivergent, and Mental Health Expert
Welcome to On the Spectrum—the essential podcast exploring autism, neurodivergent, and mental health expert insights and heartfelt stories.
Hosted by Sonia Krishna Chand, acclaimed autism advocate, speaker, and author of Dropped In The Maze, this podcast dives deep into autism, neurodivergent experiences, and mental health.
Whether you're a parent, educator, clinician, or neurodivergent individual, On the Spectrum offers practical strategies, empowering conversations, and a supportive community to help you navigate life with confidence.
Why Listen?
🔹 Autism & Mental Health: Understand sensory triggers, masking, anxiety, and self-acceptance.
🔹 Neurodivergent Well-Being: Explore neurodiversity-affirming approaches to relationships, education, and advocacy.
🔹 Real Stories, Real Solutions: Hear raw, inspiring journeys from autistic adults, parents, and experts.
Key Topics
✅ Parenting & Family Dynamics – Navigating milestones, IEPs, and healthcare.
Raising a child on the autism spectrum comes with unique joys and challenges. Sonia shares practical parenting strategies, tips for fostering connection, and advice on navigating developmental milestones, education systems, and healthcare resources.
✅ Relationships & Social Connection – Building meaningful bonds.
Autism doesn’t just shape individual lives—it profoundly impacts relationships. Episodes explore topics like building meaningful connections, navigating romantic relationships, and fostering social skills in neurodiverse individuals.
✅ Mental Health & Self-Identity – Overcoming anxiety and embracing neurodivergence.
Learn how to effectively advocate for your child or loved one in schools, workplaces, or the community. Sonia will explore Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), inclusive learning environments, and overcoming systemic barriers.
✅ Celebrating Strengths – Harnessing creativity and resilience.
The intersection of autism and mental health is vital yet often overlooked. Sonia tackles issues like anxiety, sensory processing challenges, and the journey to self-acceptance and empowerment for individuals on the spectrum. Neurodiversity is about valuing every brain's unique wiring.
Meet Sonia Krishna Chand
Sonia Krishna Chand is a passionate voice in the autism community, dedicated to fostering understanding and inclusion. As the author of Dropped In The Maze, Sonia weaves powerful storytelling with expert insights to help readers navigate the complexities of neurodiverse living.
Who Should Tune In?
Parents, educators, clinicians, and neurodivergent individuals seeking understanding and empowerment.
About Dropped In The Maze
Sonia’s transformative book explores neurodiverse experiences with raw honesty and actionable guidance.
Buy “Dropped in a Maze” Book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dropped-Maze-Sonia-Krishna-Chand-ebook/dp/B0F3B7BQJ7/
Get Your Copy on SoniaKrishnaChand.Net/Book Here: https://www.soniakrishnachand.net/book
Book A Coaching Call with Sonia: https://cal.com/sonia-chand/self-esteem-coaching-call
Episodes
65 episodes
Aerial Yoga Can Help You Feel Safe In Your Body Again with Jo Stewart
Aerial yoga can look like acrobatics, but what happens inside the hammock is often the opposite of performance: it’s regulation, relief, and finally feeling safe in your body. I sit down with Melbourne-based teacher Joe Stewart to talk about ho...
What If Dementia Does Not Erase Personhood? With Marilyn Raichle
Dementia is often treated like a door slamming shut. What we hear from Marilyn is the opposite: a series of doors opening once we stop chasing who someone used to be and start meeting who they are right now. We talk about caring for parents wit...
The IEP Meeting That Made Me Throw Up with Paula J. Yost
One bad IEP meeting can change your body, your sleep, and your faith in the “village” everyone promises you. I’m joined by Paula J Yost, who has a perspective you rarely hear in one voice: she’s both a practicing attorney and a licensed psychot...
A Car Crash That Became A Roadmap For Brain Injury Recovery with Kelly Tuttle
A car crash can be over in seconds, but a concussion can rewrite your life for years. We sit down with Kelly Tuttle, a former cardiology nurse practitioner who later moved into neurology, to tell the truth about traumatic brain injury recovery,...
When Suicide Touches A Family with Kirsten O'Connor
Some of the most dangerous myths about suicide sound polite on the surface: “They were selfish,” “They did it for attention,” “If you talk about it, you’ll make it worse.” We push back on all of that with a conversation that stays human, specif...
Caregiver To Creator with Debbie Weiss
Ever carried so much for so long that you forgot what you want? That’s where our guest, Debbie Weiss, once lived: 40+ years caregiving for her father after a stroke, advocating for a son on the autism spectrum, and supporting a husband through ...
Inside NeuroWell: Safer, Happier Classrooms That Work with Lisa Riegel
The biggest problem in schools isn’t disengagement—it’s relevance. We sit down with education leader and author Lisa Riegel to unpack NeuroWell, a practical framework that aligns brain science with daily classroom life so students feel safe, se...
When Love Sees The Person, Not The Label with Christopher Carazas
What if the story you were told about yourself was the wrong one—and the right words finally set you free? We sit down with Christopher Carrazas who was diagnosed autistic at 35, to unpack a life of masking, sensory overload, and the everyday m...
From Diagnosis To Dialogue: Autism, Mindset, And A Family’s Playbook For Progress with Neil Rogers
A confusing label, years without sleep, and a son who couldn’t speak—then a letter board changed everything. We sit down with creative entrepreneur and advocate Neil Rogers to explore how a family built a sustainable framework—inspired by Posit...
Aunt, Artist, Advocate: Building Communication And Dignity For Profound Autism with Jennifer McGee
The story begins with a hard reality many families face: a beloved child who may never speak. Jennifer McGee joins us to share Isaiah’s path through profound autism—years of isolation in a classroom with low expectations, a legal fight to enfor...
From Sensory Overload To Strengths-Based Parenting with Sara Hartley
Big feelings don’t have to mean big blowups. We sit down with author and mom Sarah Hartley to unpack the real-world signals of ADHD and sensory processing disorder, why two siblings can present in opposite ways, and how small environmental twea...
How Schools Build Safety, Trust, And Belonging with Kevin Dahill-Fuschel
What if the behavior you see as “disrespect” is actually distress asking for a safer way in? We sit down with Kevin Dahill-Fuschel of Counseling in Schools to unpack the practical heart of trauma-informed education: how to read behavior a...
Building Human Connection With AI Through Family Memories with Jeremy Horne
What if your grandparents’ best stories didn’t fade with time—but could talk back when you needed them most? We sit down with founder Jeremy Horne to unpack how a childhood of mailing cassette tapes to his Nana Winny became the blueprint for Wi...
Rethinking Bipolar Disorder with Sean Blackwell
Disclaimer: This is not to be taken as a therapy directive, but rather this is for learning and entertainment purposes only! Please consult with your physician and/or mental health care team to decide whether this approach is appropriate for yo...
From Burnout To Balance: Supporting Caregivers Of Neurodivergent Loved Ones with Eleonora Magri
We explore why caring for caregivers of neurodivergent people must come first and how small, consistent habits can reverse burnout. Eleonora Magri shares practical sensory strategies, community resources, and a mindset shift that prioritizes hu...
How Systematic Reading Instruction Transforms Dyslexia And Dysgraphia with Daniela Feldhausen
Struggle with reading doesn’t mean a child can’t learn; it means they haven’t been taught in a way their brain can use. We sit down with Daniela Feldhausen—who left a 25-year law career to build Kids Up Reading Tutors—to unpack how precise scre...
Silent Battle, Shared Hope
Trigger Warning: SuicideThe hardest part isn’t finding the perfect words—it’s showing up without judgment. We sit down with Helping Heroes founder Tony DeMaio to share a clear, compassionate playbook for preventing suicide amo...
We Put Wheels on Inclusion (And Yes, They’re at Target) with Drew Ann Long
A store manager said, “There’s no such thing as a special needs shopping cart.” That moment lit the fuse for Drew Ann Long, who turned a napkin sketch into Caroline’s Cart—now standard in Target, Walmart, and Sam’s Club, and a symbol of what ha...
Uncovering the Real You: Life Beyond the Bottle with Joshua Case
What happens when the executive with the corner office is hiding a devastating secret? Joshua Case, former VP at a Fortune 500 company, pulls back the curtain on his double life—corporate success by day, battling alcohol addiction by night....
The Publisher Behind the Scenes with Dominick Domasky
Dominick Domasky's story reads like a masterclass in resilience. From losing half a million dollars in a failed restaurant venture in his twenties to founding a publishing company that's helped hundreds of authors worldwide, his journey embodie...
When Everything Changed: From Speaker to Award-Winning Songwriter
Who believes one story has the power to change someone's life? I know I certainly do, and you know who else does? No other than the Wendy Babcock, Founder of WHEN stories. As we all are well aware, 2020 changed the world. Ma...
Escaping Toxic Love with Lindsay Abernathy
Lindsay Abernathy shares her powerful journey through domestic abuse and offers practical guidance for survivors trying to rebuild their lives after toxic relationships.• Abuse can hide behind the appearance of a perfect life with fancy...
Why Gen Z's Struggle Isn't Just About Social Media
Trigger Warning: Suicide and SA was discussed.What if everything we think we know about the Gen Z mental health crisis is incomplete? In this eye-opening conversation, suicide survivor, author, and mental health advocate Aly Vrede...
Rewiring the Brain: The Power of Neurofeedback
By now, everybody has heard of traditional going to therapy and taking medications, if necessary. However, what role does neurofeedback play in treating mental health? Meet Meg Stuppy, founder of the Los Angeles Neurofeedback Cente...
From Masking to Leading: Navigating the World as a Neurodivergent Woman
What if neurodivergence isn't just something to be accommodated, but a powerful gift that can transform leadership? Rita Ramakrishnan, a person with Autism Spectrum and ADHD, found strengths behind her diagnosis, and she used it to excel in exe...