35. S3, Ep4: ‘Coming out’ as autistic, coping with meltdowns and telling autistic stories through drama

Samantha Grierson Schwartz is a playwright and businesswoman, born in Yorkshire in the UK. She now splits her time between Glasgow, Rugby and London. Since being diagnosed autistic at 42, she has written a series of audio plays which deal with late autism diagnosis and motherhood - the first of which, Crocodile, stars LGBT icon Heather Peace, and tells the story of a bisexual woman dealing with her recent Autism and ADHD diagnosis and the start of a new relationship. In our conversation we talk about: ➡ ‘Coming out’ as autistic in adulthood, and when and how we bring it up ➡ Her take on meltdowns and shutdowns, the causes and coping strategies  ➡ Starting a new job and a new relationship as a newly diagnosed autistic woman ➡ Telling authentic autistic stories through drama Squarepeg is a podcast in which neurodivergent women, and trans and nonbinary people, explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes. I hope that these conversations will be inspiring and thought provoking, open you up to new ways of thinking about being neurodivergent, and help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences. I’m Amy Richards, and after being diagnosed autistic at the age of 37 I’m now on a mission to learn more about different perspectives and issues around being a neurodivergent adult in a world that feels like it doesn’t quite fit.   EPISODE LINKS: Sam's website: www.socroc.co.uk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crocodile_sam/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoCrocodile Crocodile the audio play: https://open.spotify.com/show/3ZupaxdNPtmrtUwohGeJea  Mole the audio play: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZXpFYnMDDFcGPls5nQrTe?si=t1LA0D4cQGyDp68OcdPo8Q&nd=1  (The audio plays are also available on iTunes, Google and Amazon Music)   If you'd like to connect or get in touch with Squarepeg, you can find me on: Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/squarepeg.community/ Twitter:  https://twitter.com/squarepegautism  Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/squarepegautism/  Or on my website:  https://squarepeg.community/    THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS! A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast: Cat Preston, Corinne Cariad, Elise, Kate Faust, Katharine Richards, Lea Li, Lilli Simmons, Pete Burke, Sarah Hardy, Vera Cady If you’re enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from £3 per month: https://www.patreon.com/squarepegpodcast