
author of Look Me in the Eye, autism and neurodiversity podcast circuit
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Follow John Elder Robison— it's freeIn this episode of Heart Work, Maureen interviews Michelle Hurtubise. A writer, a mom, a coach and an activist, Michelle's been journaling since she was 10 as she's just trying to figure out how to live in this world. Michelle reads an excerpt from the memoir she's working on with her daughter Rowan, telling their story of moving from surviving to thriving as they learned together to navigate Rowan's experience of autism along with other diagnoses and the challenges they bring. Michelle refers to a few books, including those by Temple Grandin, which you can learn more about here: https://www.templegrandin.com/books.html and Nobody Nowhere by Donna Williams, which you can learn more about here: https://www.nobodynowhere.com/ and The Spark: A Mother's Story About Nurturing Genius by Kristine Barnett, which you can learn more about here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/218169/the-spark-by-kristine-barnett/9780307362780 Maureen mentions Look Me in the Eye by John Elder Robison, which you can learn more about here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/156298/look-me-in-the-eye-by-john-elder-robison/ Maureen mentions the phrase "Write from the scar, not from the wound." a quote attributed to Nadia Bolz-Weber in a 2017 Tweet by Glennon Doyle, which has since been referenced by many other writers. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit art2healtheheart.substack.com
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.
John Robison didn't follow a traditional path. After engineering sound effects for Kiss and designing early video games, he built a thriving luxury automotive service business by rejecting the dealership playbook. In this episode, John explains why leasing models create service nightmares, how his autism gave him unusual focus for complex mechanical problems, and why his customers thank him for $10,000 repairs while dealership customers rage over $1,000 bills. He breaks down the fundamental difference between selling products and selling expertise, why throwing away specialists for cheaper options backfires as you move upscale, and how his clients called during the pandemic offering work to keep his shop alive. Whether you're in automotive, apparel, or any service business, John's insights on building trust through competence, creating community through specialized knowledge, and why affluent customers need relationships more than transactions will change how you think about premium service. Key takeaways: Your needs become more specialized as you move upscale - cheap fixes don't work for complex problems. Service loyalty comes from competence, not charm - know your product deeply and explain it clearly The dealership model (leasing + volume) creates customers who can't afford repairs; ownership creates customers who expect investment Community is insurance - his customers protected his business because specialized expertise is rare and valuable Neurodivergent thinking can be a business advantage when it creates abilities others don't have https://www.robisonservice.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnelderrobison/ John Elder Robison John Elder Robison, founder of Robison Service and the Springfield Automotive Complex, is a renowned master automotive restorer and best-selling author known for his work on neurodiversity and human experience. His forthcoming book explores “money, wealth, and security,” challenging how conventional financial wisdom often fails people who think differently or live unconventional lives. In the 1970s, Robison worked as an engineer in the music industry, where he created the iconic special effects guitars used by the band KISS. He gained prominence with his 2007 memoir *Look Me in the Eye*, which recounts his life with undiagnosed Asperger syndrome and his unique cognitive abilities, followed by three additional books. Since 2012, he has served as the Neurodiversity Scholar in Residence at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, advocating that while disabilities can pose challenges, autism itself is not a problem.
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.
To Download or Read Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers by John Elder Robison Visit Link Bellow You Can Download Or Read Free Books Link To Download : https://gemmapdff.blogspot.com/?book=0307884813 Available versions: EPUB, PDF, MOBI, DOC, Kindle, Audiobook, etc. Reading Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers Download Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers PDF/EBooks Be Different: Adventures of a Free-Range Aspergian with Practical Advice for Aspergians, Misfits, Families & Teachers Powered by Firstory Hosting
The story of John Elder Robison is one of Maya’s favorite episodes and it’s also a top choice in our listener favorites series. John is a gifted sound engineer whose rare ability to understand machines propelled him to work with the likes of Kiss and Diana Ross. But the one thing he always felt was lacking was his ability to understand people emotionally. In an effort to see if he could change that, he volunteered to participate in an experimental brain study. If you enjoyed this episode, Maya suggests you check out this one next: “ Life After Escaping Captivity ” We’ll be back with new episodes in the fall. In the meantime, you can connect with Maya on instagram @DrMayaShanker . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Who is John Elder Robison and how did he become a big name in the autism community? Forrest explains! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit geeksguidetoenough.substack.com/subscribe
Jay J. Armes was a real life superhero... until real life intruded. And after living in darkness for decades, a man’s life changes forever when someone suddenly switches the lights on. STORIES Jay J. Armes, Private Eye Jay J. Armes was a real life superhero... until real life intruded. Produced by Vanessa Rancano, sound design by Leon Morimoto Switched On Imagine spending the first four decades of your life in darkness. Then imagine that someone suddenly switches the lights on. John Elder Robison is a writer, speaker and advocate for people with autism. Be sure to check out his Neurodiversity work at the College of William and Mary as well as his car restoration work at Robison Services. Produced and scored by Davey Kim Artwork by Teo Ducot Season 14 - Episode 17 Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
UNLOCKED from our Patreon page , it's the "Look Me In the Eye" Book Club! Interested in more Book Clubs? Want to vote on what we read next? Feeling FOMO at getting this a full year late? Wish your 2 CEs for listening to the episode were FREE??? Join us on Patreon to get all of our episodes a week early, access to these bonus episodes, plus other goodies. It's been nearly a year since we came together to discuss a book that we all ::GASP:: really liked! And our enjoyment is yours too as the Book Club Crew takes a trip down memory lane with the memoir "Look Me In the Eye" by John Elder Robison. Well, someone's memory lane. We discuss the tender, humorous, and melancholic life story of an man on the autism spectrum growing up without a diagnosis then take this opportunity to improve our focus on the individual in how we provide behavior analytic services (in a book with no mention of behavior analysis at all!). This episode is worth 2.0 LEARNING CEUS. Content discussed in this episode Robison, J.E.. (2007). Look me in the eye. Crown Publishers. If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, and the two episode secret code words to complete the purchase. Email us at abainsidetrack@gmail.com for further assistance. Want these CEs for FREE? Just subscribe to our Patreon at the $10+ levels and go to the original post for a discount code.
La pieza que compartimos hoy propone una herramienta de evaluación de autismo centrada en la experiencia del autismo de las propias personas autistas, en lugar de en el punto de vista neurotípico. Es ofrecida aún como prepublicación.Centering the Inner Experience of Autism: Development of the Self-Assessment of Autistic Traits Allison Ratto, Julia Bascom, Sharon daVanport, John F. Strang, Laura G. Anthony, Alyssa Verbalis, Cara Pugliese, Nicole Nadwodny, Lydia Brown, Mallory Cruz, Becca Lory Hector, Steven K. Kapp, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Dora Raymaker, John Elder Robison , Catriona Stewart, Ren Stone, Emma Whetsell, Kevin Pelphrey, Lauren Kenworthy. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/aut.2021.0099 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/diariodeautismo/message
Please enjoy this short preview of our full-length, Patreon-exclusive Look Me In the Eye Book Club. Want to hear the rest and earn 2 free CEs? Head over to our Patreon site and subscribe at the $10 or higher level to access this and all of other Book Clubs, plus a bevy of other extras just for patrons. Hope to see you there! It's been nearly a year since we came together to discuss a book that we all ::GASP:: really liked! And our enjoyment is yours too as the Book Club Crew takes a trip down memory lane with the memoir "Look Me In the Eye" by John Elder Robison. Well, someone's memory lane. We discuss the tender, humorous, and melancholic life story of an man on the autism spectrum growing up without a diagnosis then take this opportunity to improve our focus on the individual in how we provide behavior analytic services (in a book with no mention of behavior analysis at all!). Content discussed this episode: Robison, J.E.. (2007). Look me in the eye. Crown Publishers. Want to hear the whole episode and earn 2 free CEs? Visit us on Patreon to subscribe.
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.