John Elder RobisonEvery podcast appearance, updated as new ones drop

In this episode we dive into an inspiring and wide-ranging conversation with John Elder Robison, exploring how music and autism intersect in his world. We talk about the ways autistic people experience sound, creativity, patterns, and emotional expression, and how today’s understanding of autism has expanded far beyond old stereotypes. From sensory perception to communication, identity, and the broader neurodiversity movement, we touch on the topics people are discussing right now—what’s changing, what still needs work, and how music continues to be a powerful bridge between worlds.John’s story is remarkable. Born in 1957, he grew up before autism was commonly recognized, leaving him to navigate life without a diagnosis until adulthood. Yet his early interests—electronics, audio, mechanics, and creativity—became the tools that helped him survive, thrive, and eventually become a respected voice for neurodivergent people around the world. His natural ability to see patterns and systems differently made him a standout in technical fields long before he understood why his mind worked the way it did.Long before he was a bestselling author, John made a name for himself in the rock world. He famously worked with KISS, designing their legendary guitar special-effects rigs, including Ace Frehley’s smoking and rocket-launch guitars. Later, he moved into the world of high-end audio and engineering, establishing one of the most respected restoration shops for European automobiles. His life has always walked the line between creativity and precision—art and engineering.John’s breakthrough came with his memoir Look Me in the Eye, an honest and groundbreaking account of growing up autistic at a time when no one had language for it. The book resonated globally, helping people see autism through lived experience rather than clinical labels. He continued telling his story through books like Be Different and Raising Cubby, while becoming an advocate, lecturer, and leader in conversations about neurodiversity, education, and the future of autism research.Today, John Elder Robison remains one of the most influential autistic voices—respected for his honesty, clarity, humor, and willingness to challenge outdated ideas. His life in music, engineering, writing, and advocacy shows how powerful difference can be when it’s understood, supported, and given room to shine.

Enjoy December's book club where we chat all about Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's by John Elder Robison. Follow me on Instagram @shanbslp & @slpcorner & Lindy @thecoreslp Contact me shannon@slpcorner for SLP & SLP2B Consultations SLP CORNER BOOK CLUB SCHEDULE: January - Ghost Boy | By Martin Pistorius February - Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity by Steve Silberman Visit my ShopMy page for top picks in home running gear, clothes, skincare & hair + make-up. Discount codes: Use SHANBSLP for 10% off Mrs. Speechie P & The Peachie Speechie products. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In "Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's," author John Elder Robison writes a memoir about what it was like growing up with Asperger's syndrome, even though he wasn't diagnosed until later in life, how learning the diagnosis changed the way he viewed himself and the world around him, plus how he became involved making exploding guitars for the band KISS. This discussion took place on a 2008 episode of "Conversations On The Coast with Jim Foster" originating in San Francisco, California.

Living with Asperger’s, John Elder Robison had come to terms with the way he was different, riding life’s ups and downs. But what if it was possible to unlock the emotional insight that we assume is ‘missing’ in people living with Aspergers – if only you undertook an experimental brain therapy? Is that fixing? Chaired by Van Badham John Elder Robison is The New York Times bestselling author of Look Me in the Eye . He is a world-recognised authority on life with autism; the Neurodiversity Scholar in Residence at the College of William and Mary; and a member of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee for the US Department of Health and Human Services. John is also a member of the International Society for Autism Research. He lives with his wife and son in Amherst, Massachusetts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Elder Robison is an adult with autism and is the author of the three books RAISING CUBBY, LOOK ME IN THE EYE, and BE DIFFERENT.

JOHN ELDER ROBISON, AUTHOR, NYT BEST SELLER, SWITCHED ON WELCOME TO THE NOT OLD BETTER SHOW, I'M YOUR HOST, PAUL VOGELZANG. As someone with autism spectrum disorder, John Elder Robison knows what it's like to feel emotionally removed from situations. John, author of the NYT best selling memoir, Switched On explains to me that there's this emotional language you're missing. There are stories in people's eyes. There are messages. John Robison didn't fully understand what they meant until he received transcranial magnetic stimulation, TMS, a noninvasive procedure in which areas of the brain are stimulated with electromagnetic fields to alter its circuitry. By introducing current to the brain, doctors can probe the function of certain parts of the brain and we can even modify how different parts of the brain work. Using transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, doctors hoped to activate neurological pathways in his brain that would deepen his emotional intelligence. John learned much, and has been giving back ever since. Please join me in welcoming The Not Old Better Show, John Elder Robison, author of the NYT best selling memoir, "Switched On." Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

#ads Stream any unabridged audiobook of your choice with premium access by starting your trial on: https://booksreader.space/al-2025/ Title: Switched On Author: John Elder Robison, Alvaro Pascual-Leon - introduction, Marcel Just - afterword Narrator: John Elder Robison Format: mp3 Length: 11 hrs and 21 mins Release date: 03-22-16 Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars, 164 ratings Genres: Mental Health Publisher's Summary:

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/256286 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Switched On: A Memoir of Brain Change and Emotional Awakening Author: John Elder Robison Narrator: John Elder Robison Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 11 hours 21 minutes Release date: March 22, 2016 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 3 Ratings of Narrator: 5 of Total 1 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: An extraordinary memoir about the cutting-edge brain therapy that dramatically changed the life and mind of John Elder Robison, the New York Times bestselling author of Look Me in the Eye NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE WASHINGTON POST Imagine spending the first forty years of your life in darkness, blind to the emotions and social signals of other people. Then imagine that someone suddenly switches the lights on. It has long been assumed that people living with autism are born with the diminished ability to read the emotions of others, even as they feel emotion deeply. But what if we’ve been wrong all this time? What if that “missing” emotional insight was there all along, locked away and inaccessible in the mind? In 2007 John Elder Robison wrote the international bestseller Look Me in the Eye, a memoir about growing up with Asperger’s syndrome. Amid the blaze of publicity that followed, he received a unique invitation: Would John like to take part in a study led by one of the world’s foremost neuroscientists, who would use an experimental new brain therapy known as TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, in an effort to understand and then address the issues at the heart of autism? Switched On is the extraordinary story of what happened next. Having spent forty years as a social outcast, misreading others’ emotions or missing them completely, John is suddenly able to sense a powerful range of feelings in other people. However, this newfound insight brings unforeseen problems and serious questions. As the emotional ground shifts beneath his feet, John struggles with the very real possibility that choosing to diminish his disability might also mean sacrificing his unique gifts and even some of his closest relationships. Switched On is a real-life Flowers for Algernon, a fascinating and intimate window into what it means to be neurologically different, and what happens when the world as you know it is upended overnight. Praise for Switched On “An eye-opening book with a radical message . . . The transformations [Robison] undergoes throughout the book are astonishing—as foreign and overwhelming as if he woke up one morning with the visual range of a bee or the auditory prowess of a bat.”—The New York Times “Astonishing, brave . . . reads like a medical thriller and keeps you wondering what will happen next . . . [Robison] takes readers for a ride through the thorny thickets of neuroscience and leaves us wanting more.”—The Washington Post “Fascinating for its insights into Asperger’s and research, this engrossing record will make readers reexamine their preconceptions about this syndrome and the future of brain manipulation.”—Booklist “Like books by Andrew Solomon and Oliver Sacks, Switched On offers an opportunity to consider mental processes through a combination of powerful narrative and informative medical context.”—BookPage “A mind-blowing book that will force you to ask deep questions about what is important in life. Would normalizing the brains of those who think differently reduce their motivation for great achievement?”—Temple Grandin, author of The Autistic Brain “At the heart of Switched On are fundamental questions of who we are, of where our identity resides, of difference and disability and free will, which are brought into sharp focus by Robison’s lived experience.”—Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Effect

Autism is a disadvantage when trying to integrate with society. Autism in the 1960s, much more so. Though if you're lucky you'll get to design a guitar that fires rockets. Savant syndrome is weird.

Join us as we talk with world renown Aspgeian author of "Look Me In The Eye", "Raising Cubby" and "Switched On". John will share his life as being diagnosed at the age of 40, his varied accomplishments, published works and answer questions from our chat room! You don't want to miss this! This show is broadcast live on W4WN Radio – The Women 4 Women Network ( www.w4wn.com ) part of Talk 4 Radio ( http://www.talk4radio.com/) on the Talk 4 Media Network ( http://www.talk4media.com/) .

Kathryn interviews NYT Bestselling Author John Elder Robison on his latest book “Raising Cubby: A Father & Son’s Adventures with Asperger’s, Trains, Tractors, & High Explosives”. In his popular NYT bestseller Look Me in the Eye John Elder Robison shared what it was like to grow up knowing he was different but not knowing why. Robinson is back again to shed light on what it was like to raise his son Cubby (a.k.a Jack), equally as eccentric as his father. Kathryn also interviews certified sex therapist Laurie J. Watson, author of “Wanting Sex Again: How to Rediscover Your Desire and Heal a Sexless Marriage”. Forty million American women are frustrated by their lack of sexual passion. Watson uses 'Six Erotic Tasks' and addresses the sexual problems that can develop with life changes - from marriage to motherhood to menopause. She writes the Married and Still Doing It blog online for and is the Clinical Director of the Awakenings Center for Intimacy and Sexuality.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/166656 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Raising Cubby: A Father and Son's Adventures with Asperger's, Trains, Tractors, and High Explosives Author: John Elder Robison Narrator: John Elder Robison Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 12 hours 36 minutes Release date: March 12, 2013 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: The slyly funny, sweetly moving memoir of an unconventional dad’s relationship with his equally offbeat son—complete with fast cars, tall tales, homemade explosives, and a whole lot of fun and trouble Misfit, truant, delinquent. John Robison was never a model child, and he wasn’t a model dad either. Diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at the age of forty, he approached fatherhood as a series of logic puzzles and practical jokes. When his son, Cubby, asked, “Where did I come from?” John said he’d bought him at the Kid Store and that the salesman had cheated him by promising Cubby would “do all chores.” He read electrical engineering manuals to Cubby at bedtime. He told Cubby that wizards turned children into stone when they misbehaved. Still, John got the basics right. He made sure Cubby never drank diesel fuel at the automobile repair shop he owns. And he gave him a life of adventure: By the time Cubby was ten, he’d steered a Coast Guard cutter, driven a freight locomotive, and run an antique Rolls Royce into a fence. The one thing John couldn’t figure out was what to do when school authorities decided that Cubby was dumb and stubborn—the very same thing he had been told as a child. Did Cubby have Asperger’s too? The answer was unclear. One thing was clear, though: By the time he turned seventeen, Cubby had become a brilliant chemist—smart enough to make military-grade explosives and bring state and federal agents calling. Afterward, with Cubby facing up to sixty years in prison, both father and son were forced to take stock of their lives, finally coming to terms with being “on the spectrum” as both a challenge and a unique gift. By turns tender, suspenseful, and hilarious, this is more than just the story of raising Cubby. It’s the story of a father and son who grow up together. Praise for John Robison's first book, Look Me In the Eye: 'Lean, powerful in its descriptive accuracy and engaging in its understated humor...Emotionally gripping.' --Chicago Tribune 'A fantastic life story told with grace, humor, and a bracing lack of sentimentality.' --Entertainment Weekly 'Endearing...Robison is a natural storyteller.' --Boston Globe

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/92276 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers Author: John Elder Robison Narrator: John Elder Robison Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 6 hours 0 minutes Release date: March 22, 2011 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 5 Ratings of Narrator: 5 of Total 3 Genres: Parenting Tips Publisher's Summary: “I believe those of us with Asperger’s are here for a reason, and we have much to offer. This book will help you bring out those gifts.” In his bestselling memoir, Look Me in the Eye, John Elder Robison described growing up with Asperger’s syndrome at a time when the diagnosis didn’t exist. He was intelligent but socially isolated; his talents won him jobs with toy makers and rock bands but did little to endear him to authority figures and classmates, who were put off by his inclination to blurt out non sequiturs and avoid eye contact. By the time he was diagnosed at age forty, John had already developed a myriad of coping strategies that helped him achieve a seemingly normal, even highly successful, life. In Be Different, Robison shares a new batch of endearing stories about his childhood, adolescence, and young adult years, giving the reader a rare window into the Aspergian mind. In each story, he offers practical advice—for Aspergians and indeed for anyone who feels “different”—on how to improve the weak communication and social skills that keep so many people from taking full advantage of their often remarkable gifts. With his trademark honesty and unapologetic eccentricity, Robison addresses questions like: • How to read others and follow their behaviors when in uncertain social situations • Why manners matter • How to harness your powers of concentration to master difficult skills • How to deal with bullies • When to make an effort to fit in, and when to embrace eccentricity • How to identify special gifts and use them to your advantage Every person, Aspergian or not, has something unique to offer the world, and every person has the capacity to create strong, loving bonds with their friends and family. Be Different will help readers and those they love find their path to success. Includes a bonus PDF with additional reading and resources

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/audiobook/29/ to download full audiobooks of your choice for free. Title: Be Different Subtitle: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers Author: John Elder Robison Narrator: John Elder Robison Format: Unabridged Length: 6 hrs and 5 mins Language: English Release date: 03-22-11 Publisher: Random House Audio Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 204 votes Genres: Bios & Memoirs, Personal Memoirs Publisher's Summary: The author of the New York Times best-selling Look Me in the Eye returns to help Aspergians, and even ordinary geeks, embrace being different and fix the things that hold them back in life. With his usual honesty, dry wit, and unapologetic eccentricity, John Robison argues that Asperger's is about difference, not disability. In this book he offers stories from his own life and from the lives of other Aspergians to give the listener a window into the Aspergian mind. Equally important, he offers practical advice - to Aspergians, their parents, and educators - on how Asperians can improve the weak communication and social skills that keep them from taking full advantage of, or even recognizing, their often remarkable gifts. PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio. Critic Reviews: "An essential guidebook for anyone who has difficulty fitting in. It will help all the creative, quirky, geeky, and wonderfully different kids to become successful in life. This book is fantastic." (Temple Grandin, author, Thinking in Pictures) Members Reviews: You have to BE an Aspie to see the full value For many years, I lived like so many, feeling NOT NORMAL but not knowing why. Once I realized why, I began to understand more and more about myself, and just HOW I am different. I am not sure anyone except those of us who live it can fully appreciate just what the author is describing here. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, if only to broaden the readers' views on a world many may not even know exists. It will open your eyes to just how such a brilliant mind can be hidden inside a troubled boy. Mr. Robison is different, not just in how his brain works, but in his ability to turn his difference into such an asset.Even at my age, even I found inspiration and hope after this book. For someone 50 years younger, the potential is wonderful, if only so they can come to understand the nature of their difference and learn to not blame themselves along the way. This is the kind of book one will want to buy to share with others. Look/listen closely to Mr. Robison's description of how he saw/heard the sounds from the mega-amps, watching and understanding the sounds through all the senses, then turned that incredible insight into a musical/magical instrument. There is some depth in his perceptions at that moment that many will not recognize ... don't miss it. Interesting but not fulfilling Is there anything you would change about this book? Interesting read, good performance by the reader. This book has nice stories about the author's use of his Asperger manifestations into becoming a success. While I liked the stories, I was looking for more practical applications for my Aspergian, which the book was a little short on. Would you recommend Be Different to your friends? Why or why not? Probably not.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/52228 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's Author: John Elder Robison Narrator: Mark Deakins Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 9 hours 16 minutes Release date: September 25, 2007 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 4.41 of Total 27 Ratings of Narrator: 4.22 of Total 9 Genres: Memoirs Publisher's Summary: Ever since he was small, John Robison had longed to connect with other people, but by the time he was a teenager, his odd habits–an inclination to blurt out non sequiturs, avoid eye contact, dismantle radios, and dig five-foot holes–had earned him the label “social deviant.” No guidance came from his mother or his father. It was no wonder he gravitated to machines, which could, at least, be counted on. After fleeing his parents and dropping out of high school, his savant-like ability to visualize electronic circuits landed him a gig with KISS. Later, he drifted into a “real” job, as an engineer for a major toy company. But the higher Robison rose in the company, the more he had to pretend to be “normal” and do what he simply couldn’t: communicate. It was not until he was forty that an insightful therapist told him he had the form of autism called Asperger’s syndrome. That understanding transformed the way Robison saw himself–and the world. Robison also provides a fascinating reverse angle on the younger brother he left at the mercy of their nutty parents–the boy who would later change his name to Augusten Burroughs. Ultimately, this is the story of Robison’s journey from his world into ours, a strange, sly, indelible account–sometimes alien, yet always deeply human.