In our fourth episode, we talk with Christine Condo, who runs the blog This Great Ape, and writes for NeuroClastic. She is a late-diagnosed autistic woman living with chronic pain, and writes her blog as a way to process her experiences. Follow Christine: Websites: ThisGreatApe.com Twitter: @ThisGreatApe Topics of discussion: 0:24 Christine’s diagnosis1:45 Matt’s diagnosis2:45 Christine’s early career4:21 Autistic characteristics and school5:34 Christine and school6:31 Work experiences and limitation7:45 Difficulties in school9:17 Christine can’t remember faces10:07 Spiky skills profile12:33 Alexithymia & visual skills13:36 Autism obscured15:47 Pathologizing conditions16:34 Labels17:19 High & low-functioning autism18:57 Savant myth & stereotypes20:42 Masking22:03 Autistic burnout24:03 Socially ostracized25:55 Great Ape blog excerpt27:44 Empathy28:40 Alexithymia & empathy29:35 Depression, anxiety, PTSD30:14 Trusting people32:46 Support from neurodiverse friends33:09 Trust & manipulation36:02 Honesty & masking36:54 Introversion & extraversion38:16 Neurodiversity movement39:18 Women on the spectrum42:30 American Disabilities Act44:30 Autism & employment47:10 Double empathy problem49:44 Parents of autistic children51:03 Autistics need social connection52:10 Autistic extravert53:15 Masking53:37 Autism paradox54:38 Accommodations55:38 High & low-functioning dichotomy56:58 Sensory sensitivity58:34 Definitions of intelligence1:00:06 Labels1:01:02 Autism experts1:03:57 Disability model: deficits1:04:54 Communication and empathy1:09:29 Direct communication on the job1:11:38 Dispel stereotypes about autism1:12:32 Great Ape Blog’s name origins1:14:47 The autism experience1:16:51 Where to find Christine1:18:36 Christine’s Washington Post article