Leta's Tap Styles

Dance, Dogs, and Derpy on the Ranch

• Leta and Amanda • Season 2

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This week features Leta discussing her latest video and photo shoot, and how autism does or does not affect her ability to handle shoots. Leta also discusses her experiences dancing and interacting with animals. The conversation covers various subjects including filming for her tap dance career, how she manages sensory issues, and why she isn’t afraid of doing improv. Leta also shares her encounters with the “Not Hollywood” trained farm dogs during a video shoot on her grandfather's farm. (Along with a discussion about how cool the farm dogs are, and how fluffy their coats are.) The episode highlights her adaptability and passion for dance, despite the challenges posed by autism. The episode concludes with a mention of an ongoing fundraiser for her nonprofit dance studio, Autistic Wings Dance Company, a preview of Friday’s guest, and a shoutout to new podcaster, Michelle Choairy.

Visit Leta's Tap Styles Podcast Website for more information https://www.letatapstyles.com

Visit Autistic Wings Dance Company for more information about Leta's nonprofit dance studio for autistic dancers https://www.autisticwingsdancecompany.org

Check out Michelle's new podcast "Complex Kids, Simple Solutions" by visiting https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions


Leta:

This is Leta and this is me and my mommy's my mommy, and there's me and I'm just talking about this stuff. And there's me tap dancing because this is the tap Dancing Autism podcast and there's bunch animals and wallby trying to in my hair and this bunch saying, and. Dancing. Oh, also, they're my boots. My boots are amazing. Also, dance, me trying not to have a panic attack. Also, this is a podcast that we autism and kept dancing and blah, blah, blah. I'm A DHD. This thing also. This your adorable puppy.

Amanda:

Hey, Leta. Last week on Leta's Tap Styles, we discussed Gin Alpha and Gen Z. This week we are going to discuss your favorite subject filming with. Okay, so we do go back and forth between your tap career and your autism, which there's really not a huge separation 'cause you're still an autistic tap dancer, whether we're talking about your autism or not. Correct.

Leta:

If you switch, if you can off switch, then the question makes sense. If.

Amanda:

I'm not looking for an off switch. I think you're perfect just the way you are. I think your autism is not a problem. I am just saying. Some people have said, oh, well, is Leta still autistic when she's tap dancing?

Leta:

Are you okay in the head? Are you okay in the fucking head? Are you okay in the head? Have you. Not working.

Amanda:

Who knows. Um, uh, my brain just decided to go bye bye. Um, any who? And I was checking something because, um, I'm checking how many people are watching Miss, uh, Michelle's new podcast ' cause Yay. Um. We will have to talk about that later. But no, people have asked me and they've also asked me like how you do on a lot of stuff.'cause I mean, autism runs the gamut, but there is no off switch. But one thing also that there is no off switch with is you and your love of all things animals.

Leta:

Animals. I especially love the derp.

Amanda:

theder and there. We went out to, uh, the farm where dad grew up to do some, uh,

Leta:

There was.

Amanda:

There was derp. Uh, we went and did some videos and before

Leta:

was derp,

Amanda:

does the derp have name

Leta:

um, derp and derp. We

Amanda:

Wheatie and Milo.

Leta:

derp and Okay.

Amanda:

Four. No. Okay. For our audience, the uh, names of the derp and derp are wey, the lighter colored Wheatie and Milo, the darker color and

Leta:

They're basically the dogs from "Bluey".

Amanda:

yet

Leta:

the dogs from "Bluey". They're literally blue sp breed Australian Shepherds. They're literally bluey.

Amanda:

Yes. But, um, you were used to working with your dogs. You were used to your dogs being a little bit more, um,

Leta:

Why did we train them to not go crazy while I'm on a tap board?

Amanda:

Which one? Uh, Wheatie, um, or Jack Elvis.

Leta:

Um, Jack Elvis.

Amanda:

Jack's not going crazy. He's just like, you're not playing with me. Um, I mean, the last time we tried to do something with Jack down here for one of your, uh, deals, he came bounding in really proud of himself with, uh, Yeah. And, and he wanted to show it off and wanted to interrupt you doing Tappy Day Tap, tap with the branch. Um. That went well. Um, Wheatie, however, also decided to get involved in you were doing, um,

Leta:

Also decided to sell on Max and do it.

Amanda:

okay. So Milo stole my mics, which was fun and exciting 'cause we've got, you know,

Leta:

I, I, I found doubt the dog had back before the dog could choke to death,

Amanda:

Which was good 'cause I was trying to figure out where it went off to. Your father thought I dropped it. I was like, no, I don't

Leta:

it was also probably good because we were on the farm and the farm has a good truck of road away from the town and I did not see a sign for the bed in town. Pretty sure time for the bed and that. And it's tiny or else They don't have the vet?

Amanda:

No. They have a vet, I know exactly where the vet is in the town, but um, I've

Leta:

I just didn't see the sign,

Amanda:

Uh, it's not big sign lead up. Um,

Leta:

bed is a good chunk of distance of that dog. Choked

Amanda:

yeah, but dog didn't choke dog did look at my microphone and went, oh, new toy to chew toy and took off with the microphone, but hey,

Leta:

microphone still functionable.

Amanda:

and does not have,

Leta:

the dog could actually chew, chew and go chomp Chop.

Amanda:

Um. Yes. Where was I? Oh yeah.

Leta:

decided, counted.

Amanda:

So you were dancing to Aaron Watson's. That's why God made cowboys or that's why God loves cowboys. Why did I say made cowboys? That's why God loves cowboys. The cowgirl. No, the uh, verse you were doing is the cowgirl verse. And Wheatie is like sitting over there for the fir sitting tap dancing for the first time, looking at you like, um, what are you doing? And then we de decides that Wheatie is tap dancing with you

Leta:

Yeah.

Amanda:

and there is video.

Leta:

Yeah, and it's micd. I like all the other stuff because of

Amanda:

No, that one didn't get micd because I accidentally did that one in Slowmo and I had, I had to speed it up.

Leta:

and all the other stuff has mics because of, yeah. Yeah. That, that, that is good chunk distance.

Amanda:

well that was the other thing. Uh, people had taken off with my microphones. Well, not people just Milo.

Leta:

as is a good track of distance and took dog good track of distance way at Andy Road.

Amanda:

Bumpy. Okay, so that was your first time on Rollercoaster Road. It's a little bumpy.

Leta:

it's that rollercoaster. Why did you decide to torture

Amanda:

That's not actually the name of the road. That's just what your dad's family calls

Leta:

Oh, yeah, because that's literally a rollercoaster and to torture me.

Amanda:

People need to become better friends with the, uh, county commissioners. Uh, you don't get that joke. You are giving me a look. Like you think you might get that joke and if you get the joke, you're not really sure you like where that joke is going, but it's a true statement. People need to become better friends with the county commissioners out there and the road wouldn't be so bad. Um. Come back here. No, but so this was your first time filming with dogs who aren't trained though, because your dogs are usually very well trained and the dog, Milo got into a bunch of the photos 'cause it was just like, well guess Milo's in the photos and we ease in a bunch. I think they worked really good.'cause what we were going for was that Western theme, um, that cowgirl theme

Leta:

got the Aussies in there.

Amanda:

Yeah, you had your wranglers on, you had your SoleTalk jacket on.

Leta:

odd season there.

Amanda:

You were dancing to Aaron Watson, Nico Moon, and Miranda Lambert,

Leta:

in there.

Amanda:

and those two were like, hi. We think we're part of it. And they did a great job for being untrained, I mean, for being untrained. Like I've got some photos where Milo's coming straight at me that look just perfect.

Leta:

That's a plus. If you zoom in on Wheatie, if you pause one of the videos and if you can zoom in, you'll see that one of Wheatie eyes is like half green, half blue. And I dunno how that works. And I very wanna figure out how the mutation and DNA works because it looks freaking cool.

Amanda:

Uh, they were definitely bred to be catalogs and not bred to be anything, but, but you know, Aussies are Aussies and they. Are living on the farm, so they will have plenty of cows to go deal with.

Leta:

Also plus Milo's tongue just stays out.

Amanda:

But how was it working with dogs who weren't trained?

Leta:

Our dogs aren't trained.

Amanda:

They're better trained when it comes to, um, dance and, uh, other dogs. Wasn't working with dogs who aren't used to someone kneeling down and taking photos aren't used to. You tap dancing in front of them and are like, Ooh, I'm going to be in the, uh, video and the photo.

Leta:

There was derp. There was literally cloud turned into a dog and decided to be derpy and decided you can pet.

Amanda:

I, I get this question a lot. You are autistic. There are some things that we've tried to train you to do. Uh. It is gonna be kind of stupid. Um, and since you didn't say that into your microphone, I sound stupid saying it's gonna be kind of stupid. Didn't realize you didn't say that into your microphone at first. Um, how am I putting this? How am I putting this? How am I putting this? So it isn't as stupid as people said you. No. A lot of autistic people can't handle changes in their schedule.

Leta:

Yeah, and unfortunately I have two A DHD parents, so I

Amanda:

What you two? Okay. So yeah. Um, we were not planning on Milo and Wheatie being a part of the, uh, photo shoot and the video shoot. How did you deal with that being thrown at you by Milo Wheatie?

Leta:

I have you and dad prepared. I literally learned when I. My first few memories in life was like five weeks of being outta school, and the next week, week six of having an actual memories still locked in my head. Moving. Yeah, so we just basically learned from, I dunno, memories to just.

Amanda:

Did you just throw a dis at Gen Z in there?

Leta:

No, except Jordan on the same, died the same, same day. So, um, yeah.

Amanda:

So I'm hearing Yes, yes. I did throw this at Gen Z. Um, you have texture issues, obviously you have some sensory issues. Did you have any sensory issues going out to the farm or is it just kind of when you get to doing these video shoot, you just kind of deal with the world?

Leta:

Let's see. I was on a farm away from human beings that were my grandparents. And there were fluffy dogs. How would I be darn fight with life? There was fluffy dogs and only human beings I had to interact with the whole time. Only my grandparents,

Amanda:

I threw at you the songs like I didn't quite give you a heads up.

Leta:

songs at me.

Amanda:

Yeah. But like.

Leta:

throw songs at me,

Amanda:

So I think this is a weird thing and we're gonna discuss, uh, this is where the autism and tap really come into this discussion. Um, I have thrown songs at you since you were Ty, teeny tiny. And I'm like, Hey, you've got a improv to this song. Um, I've worked with neurotypical dancers who can't do the improv 'cause you just throw them like there's no tomorrow if you ask them to improv. Do you get thrown when you're asked to improv?'cause this is a question I get on the book.

Leta:

thing I get is the panic. Good time. If there's anybody but you and dad,

Amanda:

You honestly do not like having a huge crowd, uh, watching when you, uh, do these

Leta:

like humans watching. I thought it was a fluffy dog,

Amanda:

I think those.

Leta:

they're a cat. Well, they're ostrich. Well, maybe not ostrich, because ostrich will take my hair, tear my hair, take my feet, tear my feet, take my hands, tear my hands, and probably go finger first. Know that, think about ostrich will kill me. So probably done ostrich,

Amanda:

But, um.

Leta:

how I would be fine dancing in front of an elephant because I'm pretty sure it won't kill me. If it does, I die by a elephant.

Amanda:

So, um, but that, so one thing, I mean, you've noticed it too though, haven't you, that it's really hard on kids who are in neurotypical, kids who are in dance studios are so. You have to do exactly what we say. That when it comes to saying, Hey improv, they seem to almost have an autistic melt. It's not an autistic meltdown, but they tend to almost have a meltdown'cause you've asked them to change something, which I kind of find weird because you are the autistic one. And when like people have said to improv in studios, you are the one not having the meltdown going on. I got this. And the neurotypical kids are like, what the heck did you just ask me to do?

Leta:

What you mean? I'm the one not. Having the meltdown, I have to dance by.

Amanda:

Ignoring that

Leta:

I'm just not having a meltdown. But having the wind problem melting down about having the problem. But human jackass beans,

Amanda:

You don't hate all human beings. Let's make this very clear because,

Leta:

would I hate all human beings? Why would I hate the people I know? I love the people I know. I'm supposed to say, let me just spoil their dogs. And then I think about it. I probably still have their dog best friends.

Amanda:

Also continuing on slightly. You do love like say your SoleTalk family. You're okay dancing in front of, even though we will mention that you may have opinions on where you fit in the SoleTalk family, you.

Leta:

have dogs.

Amanda:

That that wasn't my statement. My statement here was going to be, you seem to think that the entirety of the rest of the soul talk is like all up here.

Leta:

Can do moves. I

Amanda:

Even if your hip could do it, do you think you would ever be as good as everyone

Leta:

can go as fast as.

Amanda:

or do you think you are always the very bottom of everyone at SoleTalk?

Leta:

Let's see, I am, uh, let's see, across from the very bottom. That's, plus we went to, we've been to DC and LA and all the other SoleTalk. Oh, I get

Amanda:

Uh, well, I mean, you, I don't know that you necessarily get it there.

Leta:

But, um, how.

Amanda:

So Jack, I said that to Mike, didn't I? So I may have possibly we're someone is having a day out of the two of us, and it's not you. It is me and I may have accidentally set off the fire alarm without actually burning any food. It was just like there was oil on the bottom of the pan, and when it came out, there was still some smoke in the oven, and then the Jackie Pook got upset, and then I may have scratched myself trying to convince him that he didn't need to be

Leta:

this relate to anything I.

Amanda:

I don't know. I'm having a day back to important stuff. Don't gimme that look. Look, the look you're giving me. Look, I'm a teenager who doesn't understand my mommy. Look,

Leta:

I understand you.

Amanda:

I feel so loved. Um,

Leta:

I.

Amanda:

yes. No. Okay, so here's another question on the improv. I just kind of throw these things at you, and I don't think anyone who sees them would believe that you were improving on these songs.

Leta:

Okay. I, one saying, would they also not believe you or, oh, hey, my child has no such pain as a schedule, schedule and only schedule. Schedule. That never, ever, ever, ever, ever changes on my child. It's her bedtime.

Amanda:

You can.

Leta:

I gety.

Amanda:

Nobody that's an adult is going to deny the child her bedtime because, uh, adults also would love to have a bedtime where they could go, I get sleepy, let me go to sleep.

Leta:

That's a plus. I get very, uh, embarrassing when I'm sleep Deprive.

Amanda:

Well, yeah, but back to this like, um, you did, uh. The, what was it you did Underdog. The puppies didn't come out for underdog. I was kind of hoping they would, but grandma and grandpa had gotten out by that time and the puppies are like, we stayed by.

Leta:

Jack came out for underdog, underdog.

Amanda:

Yeah, but I mean, when we were doing it at the farm, he was, but I meant while we were doing it, the farm, uh, the puppy's didn't come out for underdog.

Leta:

person came AKA grandpa.

Amanda:

Um, but where was, I mean, you have heard these songs before. I'm not necessarily, except for, uh, you'll always take me back by Aaron Watson that one time that I made you do it. Just, Hey, brand new song. Listen to this, tell me what you think. Uh, and then put it online. And that's one time Aaron Watson liked one of your videos. But, uh. I love that look on your face, but you normally, you normally, um, have heard these songs before. You just don't have choreo to these songs. And I think you actually do a lot better dance wise sometimes when you're just doing improv.

Leta:

Yeah, because I'm s not boring. No offense to people I know. No offense. No offense. I love your choreography, but free fun.

Amanda:

Well, they

Leta:

I don't have to practice free will. But getting tired and hungry. Getting tired and hungry.

Amanda:

But the other thing is you were out there, um, in your jeans, which I know different dance studios that have said you can't tap dance in jeans.

Leta:

Yes, you. You're just not, you're just not, you're not gonna even have a bow. There isn't even gonna be ashes for them to bury every Whoa Lord.

Amanda:

Um, you also

Leta:

say that. Texas, under Mexico, there won't be ashes left for them to bury. There won't even be a pitch.

Amanda:

On top of it, you were dancing in your Soul Talk Wrangler jacket. Um, so you had Wrangler jeans on your Wrangler jacket on Cody James had on, I think we, uh, were going full fledge. Uh, and it worked for, uh, it, and it really works for a lot of your stuff. And you have had multiple people tell you, you cannot tap dance to country music.

Leta:

Like, seriously, Texas, New Mexico. Not even Ashes left by me. Oh, yeah. But I keep forgetting them because no offense to them, but I, I, I, the only state, state names I really remember are New Mexico and Texas.

Amanda:

you're like places I've lived or been living adjacent to, uh, half my

Leta:

the only names I.

Amanda:

Um, and you've been told, I've been told that you cannot tap dance unless you're doing hoe down or making fun of tap country. You can't tap dance the way you tap dance to

Leta:

I have one sing like Seriously at the Country like.

Amanda:

I actually have had friends in the country or in country type industries that are like, well, how is Leta doing this? And then they see it and they're like, oh my gosh. Yeah, no, she can do it because she's not the way you do it, you're not making fun. You are actually doing legitimate tap dancing.

Leta:

fun of a thing that's really just.

Amanda:

Um, but I think getting out and usually we're out in like the mountains doing it, or sometimes on a beach doing it. Uh, I think it was fun getting out to the farm and doing it. What do you think?

Leta:

Puppy Cloud made dogs, teen Title Angels and Wizard Milo is probably stupidly a secret, evil genius. Is a thing. I feel like the derp is a disguise. I'm pretty sure that dog is doing derp for a disguise. I'm pretty sure that dog's the boss.

Amanda:

Um, you're like, I think I need to go back out there and do more after we get these, uh, videos out. Need to get out and do more videos with the puppies.

Leta:

Yeah.

Amanda:

We take your dogs out, but one dog is, uh, too scared of his own shadow. I think he'd look at the combine and take a run for the hills.

Leta:

other one will probably load,

Amanda:

Bella is definitely a hunting

Leta:

pretty sure she would find a wolf pack, make a wolf, and then there's.

Amanda:

so, um, you enjoyed working with the puppies, you enjoyed being out in, uh, the farm, you enjoyed. Uh, being, um, in the shop.'cause we did not film in the shop, but you got to do some photos in the shop.

Leta:

Also, gotta steal rocks.

Amanda:

You guys steal rocks from the shop. You are your dad's daughter stealing or taking rocks from everywhere. Um, you got to, uh, because the animals weren't in the corral. We got to do some work in the corral.

Leta:

Yes, and I unfortunately didn't get a eye look from cow or from

Amanda:

Yeah, I'm not sure. I wanna see what happens when, oh, Jackie Pooh has left his kennel. I can hear him barking right over

Leta:

and he has

Amanda:

Um, he does have opinions. He has a very opinionated puppy. Um, I. Continuing this whole line of thought. So I do have a few more questions before we wrap this up.'cause I think this was your first time to see a combine in person. What did you think about standing by a combine?

Leta:

It was.

Amanda:

Um, most of the other stuff you've seen before, but those combines when you see 'em in person, like.

Leta:

That was gigantic.

Amanda:

But the older combine that dad's granddaddy

Leta:

tiny teen. Teen, tiny little teen, little baby.

Amanda:

uh, don't quote me on this, but I think the combine in the shop, uh, that grandpa's got sitting in the shop that he,

Leta:

was a giant.

Amanda:

I think he actually bought that after dad and I got married. I.

Leta:

Go.

Amanda:

Um, which for farming equipment is fairly new. Giving me a

Leta:

Yeah.

Amanda:

You know, the old joke is you went to the John Deere, uh, dealer, you got a half a million dollar, uh, baseball cap, and they threw in a combine for free.

Leta:

I have one thing. What for in my wondering, yes, I could still smell the moneymakers even though they weren't there. I could still smell the

Amanda:

that's because your dad's parents plate. The farm is about a mile and a half, two miles as crow flies from the feedlot. Yes.

Leta:

Yeah, unfortunately that two miles and a half doesn't make the smell any better. The money makers,

Amanda:

But um,

Leta:

the money. I just wish the

Amanda:

yeah,

Leta:

stink.

Amanda:

so, um, you had fun. The videos are coming out this month. Uh, 'cause might as well for Autism Acceptance Month. Toss out a bunch of music videos, right kiddo.

Leta:

Yes,

Amanda:

They'll be, they'll be on Instagram, TikTok, possibly on YouTube, depending on if I can get the rights for YouTube. But TikTok and Instagram, you know, you can get the rights a little bit easier. Um, do you know what your handles are on any of the socials?

Leta:

The doggy.

Amanda:

There will be pictures as soon as I get 'em up. There will be videos. There are already some up on your Instagram and TikTok. Um,

Leta:

will have Milo's little derp tongue out 24 7.

Amanda:

the next thing I wanna say before we leave is Michelle, uh, dear friend of the channel, Michelle, uh, just started her new podcast, uh, complex. Kids Simple Solutions. Um, it's an amazing podcast. Go check it out, right?

Leta:

The clouds dog. Angels Plus our

Amanda:

you're still gonna be on the Dogies forever. Anyhoo. Um, but yeah, no, uh, complex kits, simple solutions is streaming. Anywhere you listen to your podcast, they're gonna get a YouTube channel at some point. Michelle's to at me, she's been amazing to. She was our first guest and I was lucky enough to be her first guest on her podcast

Leta:

That's why I would mention the dogs. In those pictures, pre Grand Bobs farm aren't one, so they're adorable months old dogs. And also if you're watching this past 2025, yeah, they're no longer months.

Amanda:

this Friday. We have. Dr. Uh, Kristen is coming back on the program to talk about military.

Leta:

has a cat.

Amanda:

cat. She does, she has a therapy cat. Um, a cat. You are just all about the animals.

Leta:

Yes, yes.

Amanda:

Coming back on the program on Friday. Tune in. We're gonna talk about military, about autism rates in the military and about where people can go for support in the military and how autism affects military families. Uh, that's part of, um, I figured because it's military child month, we should toss in one military themed, uh, episode, right? Leta. You're like, thanks mom. It is military child month every month of my life, and then it is autism acceptance month. You are running. I know, I know, I know, I know. You can say it. Go ahead and say it.

Leta:

Seriously, are they going? People living under a rock, under a rock, because time I checked, checked everyone.

Amanda:

Okay, so back to important parts here at Lead of Virginia. Um. It's also autism acceptance month, depending on which side of the puzzle. Debate you are. Do not gimme that. Look. Do not say a word. Do not say a word. Stay silent. Stay silent. Stay silent. Um, but we are running a fundraiser for the dance studio at www.autisticwingsdancecompany.org Two. Try and get, uh, 350 donors for one deal. And then we found out we needed between 2000 and 3000 donors. Monthly and annual donors for, uh, grants. So we opened up another fundraiser, uh, deal just for that. If you donate at the three 50 $10 a month, 350 and 365 club, you get a key chain. Oh, you're giving me the look.'cause you're not happy about this. You get a key chain made by Leta. Handmade. She, she will be making the resin pieces by herself. She's giving me a look. She was not quite informed of this. You get paid in candy, by the way. She's excited if you donate at our, help us qualify for grants, uh, club level, the first 2000 people to donate there. Also get a key chain, uh, made by Le. You're giving me a look. I'll help you with the, you do the resin and I'll help with the other parts. How does that sound? Okay, we're good. All right. Leta right, you know how to do the other parts. I am aware of how to make a key chain until Friday. Leta, you wanna say goodbye? See you guys Friday.

Leta:

Okay, well thank you for watching the PIT podcast and please subscribe and also look at the Adorable Don't Watch Subscribe for. And also please like, and if you'll, if you'll any of our new podcast and also you see the Adorable Don, you Like It.

People on this episode

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Amanda Trisdale

Host
Head Shot

Leta Rundell

Host