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Unmasking Social
Welcome to Unmasking Social – the podcast where autistic teens and young adults, families, and professionals come together to explore real, authentic ways of building friendships, community, and identity.
Hosted by a speech-language pathologist with nearly 15 years' experience with autism and ADHD and social communication, this show goes beyond basic advice. Each episode features candid conversations with self-advocates, educators, mental health professionals, and teens themselves – all unmasking the myths and pressures around “fitting in.”
Whether you’re navigating social expectations, supporting someone who is, or simply curious about how we connect in a complex world, Unmasking Social is here to empower you with strategies that align with our core values: empathy, curiosity, and self-acceptance.
🌟 Launching this summer. Hit follow and join the conversation!
Sharon's Linkedin:
Subscribe on Sharon's Instagram:
Instagram
Unmasking Social YouTube Channel:
Unmasking Social: The Podcast - YouTube
Listen on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/show/0pJUS1hby5UtO7EAttixiA?si=882eba9b095c4db5
Listen on Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/unmasking-social/id1822086192
Episodes
48 episodes
47: Back by Popular Demand: College Transition Strategies with Lorraine Wolf & Jane Thierfeld Brown
🎓 Special Re-Release EpisodeAs summer begins and students prepare for the transition from high school to college, we're bringing back one of the most important conversations from the archives.Whether you're an incoming coll...
46: Solo: The Loneliness Epidemic: Why Connection Matters More Than Ever
In this heartfelt solo episode, I dive deep into the heart of a silent crisis impacting teens, tweens, adults, and entire communities - loneliness. It's not just about being alone; it's about feeling unseen, unheard, and disconnected...
45: Authentic Connection and Mental Health: What Neurodivergent Adults Need to Thrive: With Dr. Daniel Wendler
In this episode with Dr. Daniel Wendler , we dive deeply into the world of mental health and authentic connections. Dr. Daniel Wendler is a proudly autistic clinical psychologist, two-time TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and workplace mental...
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44: Understanding Fear Through Psychiatry, Neurology, and Storytelling: With Dr. Randolph Schiffer
In this deeply emotional and thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Randolph Schiffer, neurologist, psychiatrist, author and former founding director of the Cleveland Clinic Centre for Brain Health.and shares his extraordinary journey from e...
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43: Breaking Down Apraxia: The Power of Research, Treatment, and Voice with Nicole Kolenda
Nicole Kolenda (Lead SLP DTTC Treatment Research and Adjunct Professor) joins us for a powerful conversation exploring the world of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), from groundbreaking research and evidence-based treatment approaches to the d...
42: From Uganda to Unmasking Social with Enachu "Frederick" Edmos
Dive into the powerful story of Enachu "Frederick" Edmos, a true changemaker from Lira City, Uganda. From childhood struggles, orphanhood, and witnessing the suffering of children with autism and disabilities in the refugee campe in...
41: Literacy, Executive Functioning, and Neurodivergence - An Honest Conversation with Jenn Volpe, SLP
Tune in for an emotional, eye-opening journey with two passionate (and funny) professionals breaking down the complexities of literacy, executive functioning, and what it truly means to support neurodivergent learners. This episode is raw...
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40: Gifted Isn’t Easy: Mark Talaga on Talent, Pressure & Potential
In this episode of Unmasking Social, I speak with Mark Talaga about his journey from professional gaming to counseling gifted and neurodivergent youth. We explore asynchronous development, emotional intensity, and why giftedness is abo...
39: Speech Time Fun: What Adolescents Need With Hallie Sherman
In this episode of Unmasking Social, I sit down with Hallie Sherman, founder of Speech Time Fun, to talk about what happens when speech and language therapy truly meets teens and tweens where they are. Hallie shares why so many middle ...
38: A Social Exodus: What Passover Really Means Now
Passover tells a story about freedom. But how many Jews left Egypt? Why did so many fear the comfort of leaving slavery?Liberation always comes at a cost - leaning into the discomfort of the newness of it ALL.In this solo episode,...
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37: Boundaries That Build Connection with Jillian Bober
Boundaries don’t start with rules- they start with the language we use.In this episode of Unmasking Social, we’re joined by parent coach Jillian Bober, a SEIT, Kindergarten teacher and parent coach at Coachable Change. She bring...
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36: Autism, Strength, and Proving People Wrong with Logan Ng
In this episode, Logan shares his journey from being underestimated because of his autism to building his own path as an entrepreneur in the video game world. He opens up about what it felt like when others assumed he had limited abilities, how...
35: Screens, Dopamine, and the ADHD Brain with Michael McLeoud
In this candid episode of Unmasking Social , Michael McLeoud, an ADHD and executive functioning spalist, who has devoted his professional time to a broader mission of supporting families and children with ADHD/AuDHD by always keeping it honest....
34. Opening Up About My OCD (With My Friend Sharon) - Guest Appearance on Liv Label Free
This episode originally aired on Liv Label Free hosted by Livia Sara. In this vulnerable episode, Liv opens up about how her OCD has resurfaced since moving back home. Liv and Sharon also discuss how traditional treatments for OCD a...
33: Unmasked and Included at Kiara: Perth’s Approach in Higher Education with Maureen Nguyen
In this episode of Unmasking Social, Sharon sits down with Maureen Nguyen- a lifelong math teacher whose path has led her into meaningful work supporting neurodivergent college students in Perth, Australia. Maureen works at Kiara College, a spe...
32: The Power of a Guide: Mentorship and Interdependence in Autism Support with Tara Trievel
On this week’s episode of Unmasking Social, Tara Trievel — special educator, autism specialist, and parent coach — joins us for a powerful conversation about how to best support parents of autistic teens and tweens while balancing the evolving ...
31: Hold On Tight: Parenting and Advocating Through Autism and OCD with Jan Stewart
Jan Stewart is a passionate advocate for the autism and OCD communities whose voice is rooted in lived experience, compassion, and unwavering perseverance. In this heartfelt episode, Jan shares her deeply personal journey as a parent raising ch...
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30: Social Campfires: Real-World Social Learning in the Great Outdoors with Renee Attaway Storer
In this episode, we talk with Renee Attaway Storer, a speech-language pathologist and long-time collaborator with Social Thinking, whose passion for social learning began during her years at The Parish School in Houston. Renee went on to open u...
29: Celebrating Autistic Pride with a Global advocate and mother: Rebeeca Tarrant
In this week’s conversation, Sharon sits down with Rebecca Tarrant in a poignant episode of celebration. Rebecca is a Global Ambassador for Autistic Youth International (formerly Autistic Pride) who has made a great impact on Autism and acc...
28: Autism Without Borders: Stephen Shore’s Global Advocacy
In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation of Unmasking Social, Dr. Stephen Shore, an international autism advocate, professor, and author, explores autism through a global lens. Drawing on his experiences traveling to more than 58 countrie...
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27: Surviving Trauma, Supporting Others with the PTSD SLP: Rachel Archambault
In 2018, Rachel was working as an SLP at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, when a traumatic event occurred at her workplace that drew international attention. I had been hoping to bring Rachel onto the podcast for quite...
26: Changing the Narrative: Autism Advocacy in Pakistan with Sunnia Khan
In this episode of Unmasking Social, Sharon Baum sits down with Sunnia Khan, a psychologist and advocate working in Pakistan and internationally, to explore the realities facing neurodivergent children, teens, and families. Sunnia shares how st...
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25: Alignment: Choosing What Chooses Me (A New Year Reflection)
In this solo New Year’s episode of Unmasking Social, host Sharon Baum, MA CCC-SLP, reflects on the journey from unmasking to alignment.After a year of deep conversations about neurodivergence, identity, community, and bel...
24: Sensory Awareness as the Foundation for Connection with Jessie Ginsburg
In this episode, I’m joined by Jessie Ginsburg, widely known as The Sensory SLP. Together, we dig deep into the needs of neurodivergent children, tweens, and teens by reframing sensory regulation as the foundation for social con...
23: Fishing for Social Behaviors: Reframing The Knowledge Deficit with Steph West
Sharon Baum sits down with fellow speech-language pathologist and behavior analyst Steph West, founder of Starfish Social Club.Steph brings a rare and powerful lens to her work—one that thoughtfully bridges the neurotypical and neurodive...
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