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Do autistic people feel empathy? This persistent myth reveals everything that is wrong with how we consume neurodiversity information. Join retired law professor and autistic advocate, Anita, as she teaches you to become an information detective in a world of misinformation.

You'll master the 5-Question Framework that exposes hidden bias in autism research:

• The Origin Story: Where myths actually come from

• Missing Evidence: What research you've never heard about

• The Incentive Trail: Who benefits when myths persist

• The Experience Test: Why lived experience matters

• The Application Filter: How to use this knowledge

Discover why the "autistic people lack empathy" myth survived despite contradictory evidence, learn about Damian Milton's game-changing "double empathy problem" research, and develop critical thinking tools that work on ANY neurodiversity claim.

Whether you're autistic, ADHD, gifted, questioning your neurodivergence, or supporting someone who is, this episode transforms you from a passive information consumer to a sophisticated analyst.

Perfect for: Self-advocates seeking validation, families navigating diagnosis, professionals wanting a deeper understanding, and anyone drowning in conflicting neurodiversity information.

Warning: You'll never accept claims about neurodivergent minds at face value again.

🎧 NeuroRebel: Where academic rigor meets lived experience 🔗 Full transcript: neurorebelpodcast.com
📱 Community: @neurorebelpodcast

#AutismEmpathy #NeurodiversityMyths #CriticalThinking #AutismResearch #ActuallyAutistic**

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Neuro Rebel — the bilingual podcast where we flip the script on what it means to think differently. I’m your host, Anita: autistic, gifted, and a retired law professor on a mission to bring rigor, empathy, and a dash of rebellion to conversations about neurodiversity.

🔍 What we do:
Each week, we blend evidence-based deep dives, solo reflections, and candid interviews with researchers and lived-experience experts. Expect English ↔ Español segments, sharp wit, real stories and actionable insights you can share with friends, colleagues, and classrooms.

🎧 Stay connected:
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen.
• 📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @neurorebelpodcast for bonus clips, show notes, and community prompts.
• 💌 Join our mailing list at https://www.neurorebelpodcast.com for episode transcripts, resource guides, and early access to live Q&As.

🤝 Support the show:
If Neuro Rebel sparks new questions, challenges assumptions or simply makes you feel seen, please tell a friend or leave a rating—it means the world. You can also support us directly with a one-time donation or “buy me a coffee” at www.neurorebelpodcast.com/support Your generosity keeps this project fiercely independent, bilingual, and free of corporate agendas.

⚠️ Disclaimer:
Opinions expressed here are mine alone and do not constitute professional...

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¿Qué pasa cuando toda una comunidad de expertos dice que lo que estás estudiando en realidad no existe?

En esta investigación profunda, Anita examina el Fenotipo Ampliado del Autismo (FAA) - un concepto científico ampliamente aceptado que afirma que los rasgos relacionados con el autismo existen en un continuo en las familias. Pero cuando finalmente se les preguntó a los investigadores autistas qué pensaban, sus respuestas deberían haber revolucionado el campo.

Descubre:

• Por qué las estimaciones de prevalencia del FAA varían del 2.6% al 80%
• Cómo los investigadores usan "rasgos autistas" sin definir el término
• Lo que realmente piensan los académicos autistas sobre esta investigación
• Por qué los mismos comportamientos se patologizan en algunos contextos pero no en otros
• Una explicación alternativa que podría cambiar todo
• Cómo las ideas del Norte Global se exportan a América Latina sin validación cultural

"Todos hacen stimming, pero solo lo llamamos así y lo patologizamos cuando ciertas personas neurodiversas lo hacen." - Alyssa Hillary, investigadora autista

Esta historia revela el colonialismo científico, cuestiona quién decide qué es "normal" en nuestras familias, y demuestra por qué necesitamos investigación CON personas autistas, no solo SOBRE ellas.

El fenotipo ampliado podría ser un fantasma, pero la sabiduría comunitaria autista es muy real.

Advertencia: Discusión de investigación genética y colonialismo científico.

Encuentra las notas de este programa en www.neurorebelpodcast.com

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Neuro Rebel — the bilingual podcast where we flip the script on what it means to think differently. I’m your host, Anita: autistic, gifted, and a retired law professor on a mission to bring rigor, empathy, and a dash of rebellion to conversations about neurodiversity.

🔍 What we do:
Each week, we blend evidence-based deep dives, solo reflections, and candid interviews with researchers and lived-experience experts. Expect English ↔ Español segments, sharp wit, real stories and actionable insights you can share with friends, colleagues, and classrooms.

🎧 Stay connected:
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen.
• 📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @neurorebelpodcast for bonus clips, show notes, and community prompts.
• 💌 Join our mailing list at https://www.neurorebelpodcast.com for episode transcripts, resource guides, and early access to live Q&As.

🤝 Support the show:
If Neuro Rebel sparks new questions, challenges assumptions or simply makes you feel seen, please tell a friend or leave a rating—it means the world. You can also support us directly with a one-time donation or “buy me a coffee” at www.neurorebelpodcast.com/support Your generosity keeps this project fiercely independent, bilingual, and free of corporate agendas.

⚠️ Disclaimer:
Opinions expressed here are mine alone and do not constitute professional...

Send us a text

What happens when an entire community of experts says the thing you're studying doesn't actually exist?

In this investigative deep-dive, Anita examines the Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) - a widely accepted scientific concept claiming autism-related traits exist on a continuum in families. But when autistic researchers were finally asked what they thought, their responses should have revolutionized the field.

Join Anita as she unravels the story of twenty autistic researchers, a survey that challenged decades of genetic studies, and Nick Chown's groundbreaking question: Are "autistic traits" real or mythical?

This episode reveals:

• Why do BAP prevalence estimates range wildly from 2.6% to 80%
• How researchers use "autistic traits" without defining the term
• What autistic scholars actually think about this research
• Why do the same behaviors get pathologized in some contexts but not others
• An alternative explanation that could change everything

"Everyone stims, but we only call it that and pathologize it when certain neurodiverse people do it." - Alyssa Hillary, autistic researcher

This isn't just about one research concept - it's about whose voices get heard in science, what happens when communities challenge established narratives, and why we need research WITH autistic people, not just ON them.

The broad autism phenotype might be a phantom, but autistic community wisdom is very real.

Content note: Discussion of genetic research and pathologization of traits.

Support the show

Thank you for listening to Neuro Rebel — the bilingual podcast where we flip the script on what it means to think differently. I’m your host, Anita: autistic, gifted, and a retired law professor on a mission to bring rigor, empathy, and a dash of rebellion to conversations about neurodiversity.

🔍 What we do:
Each week, we blend evidence-based deep dives, solo reflections, and candid interviews with researchers and lived-experience experts. Expect English ↔ Español segments, sharp wit, real stories and actionable insights you can share with friends, colleagues, and classrooms.

🎧 Stay connected:
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen.
• 📲 Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @neurorebelpodcast for bonus clips, show notes, and community prompts.
• 💌 Join our mailing list at https://www.neurorebelpodcast.com for episode transcripts, resource guides, and early access to live Q&As.

🤝 Support the show:
If Neuro Rebel sparks new questions, challenges assumptions or simply makes you feel seen, please tell a friend or leave a rating—it means the world. You can also support us directly with a one-time donation or “buy me a coffee” at www.neurorebelpodcast.com/support Your generosity keeps this project fiercely independent, bilingual, and free of corporate agendas.

⚠️ Disclaimer:
Opinions expressed here are mine alone and do not constitute professional...