S3EP7-Sam Mitchell-We got blunt with Sam about autism, neurodivergent trends & why ‘different’ = awesome (no fluff, just facts)

Herb: 00:00:19

I now have the pleasure of introducing Sam Mitchell.

Sam is a fellow podcaster and his podcast is Autism Rocks and Rolls.

And today I'm going to let Sam tell you a little bit more about himself.

So, Sam, how would you like to introduce yourself today?

Sam Mitchell: 00:00:35

Well, you can introduce me as a podcaster.

So what I do is I run a podcast called Autism Rocks and Rolls.

That's a podcast that autism.

A podcast about autism and how I cope with daily struggles that you may or may not understand.

Well, I know you understand it because I know about your relationship to it.

But anyway, through the podcast, it's grown so much.

I develop sponsors a board of six.

I do events in Indianapolis, where I'm from, and I do motivational speaking services.

I've spoken all over the world and Canada to the bomb south in Orlando, all over the place.

I'm also doing a lot of irons in the fire.

We have a lot of collaborative projects, educational modules, emergency training, and I've done a TEDx talk called Sold Structure.

Kristina: 00:01:20

Wow, you do a lot.

That is really, really amazing.

Herb: 00:01:24

That's quite the resume.

Thank you for sharing.

How did you find time to get all of that done?

Sam Mitchell: 00:01:31

That's what I wonder myself some days.

Kristina: 00:01:34

Exactly.

So just in case you aren't watching on the video, we're gonna just say out loud that Sam is on the younger side.

He's definitely younger than we are.

Right, Sam?

Actually, happy birth.

Because last week was your birthday.

Sam Mitchell: 00:01:50

It was my birthday last Tuesday.

Kristina: 00:01:53

Last Tuesday.

Sam Mitchell: 00:01:54

Yep.

Exactly.

Kristina: 00:01:55

And what we figured out was that that is our son's birthday as well.

And so you two share a birthday.

Sam Mitchell: 00:02:01

Go figure, right?

Kristina: 00:02:02

Yeah.

And not only do they share a birthday, but they also share a diagnosis of high functioning autism.

So that was one of the reasons we wanted to have Sam come on the show and not only just tell us about his resume, but.

But tell us how we as parents, we, as other people in our world can maybe help work with people in his.

In what He.

Work with people like him and the other people that we maybe don't understand all the time.

So, Sam, let's start with talking a little bit about when you were younger, when you were in like elementary and high school.

What was that like?

And how did that seem?

Maybe different than some of the other kids and the same as some of the other kids.

Sam Mitchell: 00:02:44

Well, I mean, sometimes it was a little different for Shirpsky than other kids.

I think that other points, I needed more structure than the other children.

And I remember when I was younger, my preschool teacher, because I didn't Speak a whole lot would give me a visual chart and I would mess around with the chart because I loved school the first day because I had art.

But then next day we didn't have art.

We switched to a different special.

And I didn't like that because in my brain, it needed to be structured and having the same day every day.

Kristina: 00:03:20

Got it.

So whenever things are switched up on you or change, that was difficult for you, but you've gotten better with practice and over time with that.

Sam Mitchell: 00:03:31

Gotten better, right?

Yes, but I still have my moments.

Like, I'm actually going through one right now where I have to get a shift at 28 2pm at my job.

And bottom line is that I'm not saying it won't work at gpm, I'll still do it, but because of how my brain's wired, I need to go to my job first.

And clearly, when you go to your job and you are working at 2pm, you don't have a lot to do.

So what did I do today?

You're probably wondering.

Well, today I waited for two hours before my shift because of my brain.

It needs to be my job first.

Over extra stuff, huh?

Kristina: 00:04:10

Exactly.

But I think one of the things that you have accomplished very well is learning how to kind of like advocate for yourself or to handle some of those differences and changes.

Sam Mitchell: 00:04:20

Yeah.

Or if it comes down to it, at points, if I need it that bad, I'll provide it myself.

It might be crazy, but I'm going to do it.

I think you know me well enough to know that.

Christina.

Kristina: 00:04:33

Yes.

We actually had the pleasure of chatting on your podcast a couple of weeks ago and it was released and I just had a wonderful time with you.

Herb: 00:04:41

Yeah, I missed that.

So I feel like I'm kind of a third wheel in the conversation here.

Trying.

Trying to pick up where.

Where something I missed.

But that's cool.

Sam Mitchell: 00:04:52

It's all right.

I get it.

Trust me.

It's.

It was an interesting one for sure.

It's very important on the topic.

I love what she said about behavior is communication as well.

I definitely dug that.

I think that was actually your title.

Kristina: 00:05:06

Exactly.

We talked about how whenever a child has certain behaviors or certain things that they do is a form of communication, it's letting the parents know that there's something going on that either needs to A, be addressed or B, help figure out what's going on.

Sam Mitchell: 00:05:24

Exactly.

Yeah.

Because sometimes if you don't give them the tools, they'll refuse to do it.

Herb: 00:05:35

How do you get them to.

Well, how.

How would.

When you refuse.

How would people convince you to change your mind or to actually start doing it or once you made up your mind, that was just it.

Sam Mitchell: 00:05:47

It was a debatable.

Sometimes I, I do hear them out, but if I'm not changing my mind, I'm not changing my mind on this one.

Like if I tell my mom I'm not changing my mind, it's not going to happen.

But am I open to Hearing advice?

Yes, 100%,.

Kristina: 00:06:02

Exactly.

We talked a little bit about that.

Black and white, that many, not all, but many high functioning autistic people have.

It's very clear cut in their brain and sometimes it's hard to get past that with them.

Sam Mitchell: 00:06:16

Oh yeah, it's very hard to get past it.

And sometimes they will not get past it.

That points they have gone past it, but there are points where it will not do it.

Like this right here.

What I'm doing, trying to figure out right now as we're doing this podcast, what I can do with my job so I don't get kicked out of the building.

I'm not bending on that one.

That is one where I'm not letting go.

Kristina: 00:06:39

Yeah.

So after high school, did you continue on to other kinds of education or have you just been working and doing.

Working on the podcast?

Sam Mitchell: 00:06:53

I had a.

So I went to Ivy Tech after I graduated high school to get my general degree.

Then I went to Vincennes University, which is an hour from me in Indiana, and I got a associate's degree in broadcasting.

Hopefully you get a job there.

But with where we are in the economy right now, I don't think it's going to be happening for a long while.

Herb: 00:07:17

So the stuff on your resume, you talked about a TED Talk, you talked about speaking, coaching.

Of all those things on your resume, which, which of those is the thing that makes you feel the most alive, that you like doing the most?

Sam Mitchell: 00:07:31

Probably just the speaking, doing the messages, getting the words out there, podcasting.

Anytime I get to use my voice.

Kristina: 00:07:41

Yeah.

Sam Mitchell: 00:07:42

Which is most of the stuff I do.

But when I get to use my voice a lot, that's when I probably feel the most alive.

Don't be wrong.

Events, you use your voice, but most of the time events, you're moving things around.

Whereas a podcasting like we are doing right now, we're using our voice a lot, we're not moving any papers around.

Exactly.

Herb: 00:08:02

And what is the message that you're trying to get out?

What is, what is your core message that you want more people to hear?

Sam Mitchell: 00:08:09

I want people to hear that people with autism are not broken, they're not disabled.

They don't need to be fixed because there can be successful human beings with the right resources.

And sometimes even though they like to march through their beat of their own drum, who cares?

They don't bother anyone.

Kristina: 00:08:33

Yeah.

And, you know, sometimes it's whenever we look at a person, how they handle different situations or the way they look at things, that we actually get inspiration for handling other situations.

Right.

So we can learn from each other in the different ways we handle the situations.

We talk about what's going on.

Sam Mitchell: 00:08:55

Right.

Exactly.

Yeah.

Kristina: 00:08:58

Yeah.

So.

So when.

How did you.

How did the podcast come about?

Sam Mitchell: 00:09:03

Well, it started.

I joined my high school's media club and I fell in love with it so much that I decided to start my own podcast.

And that was when Autism Rocks and Rolls was born.

I knew I was going to college to expand my media skills, but because of how motivating I can be, I didn't want to wait.

I decided to start early.

Kristina: 00:09:24

Awesome.

What year was that?

Sam Mitchell: 00:09:27

The year I joined media club or the year I started Autism Rocks and Rolls?

Kristina: 00:09:30

The year you started Autism Rocks and rolls.

Sam Mitchell: 00:09:32

Okay, cool.

October: 2019

Kristina: 00:09:35

2019.

Sam Mitchell: 00:09:36

st, but the non profit was in: 2020

ay it technically happened in: 2020

So technically: 2020

Kristina: 00:09:56

Got it.

That totally makes sense.

Sam Mitchell: 00:09:58

Yeah.

Kristina: 00:10:00

Was the non profit something that you thought about doing or did your parents work with you and help you get the idea?

Where, where did the nonprofit idea come from?

Sam Mitchell: 00:10:10

It was a parent.

It was my parents who suggested me.

It was my parents that suggested that we do something to make money.

Because little and little.

The podcast started writing was 10 downloads and it was 20, then it was 30, then it was 40, then it was a hundred.

So we're both looking at the stats going, holy moly.

This is definitely more than expected.

So my father, my mother, and myself had to have a family meeting and decided we're going to do something with this and we decided to take a swing for the fences.

It's worked so far.

I love that.

Herb: 00:10:49

So tell us a little bit about more about your podcast.

What's the what.

What's the format?

What's the focus?

Who are you trying to reach?

Sam Mitchell: 00:10:58

Well, that's a great question.

So I'm trying to reach a lot of people with autism, but there's been a Lot of different themes too.

I've had a lot of people from Amer's Got Talent with Stories, had professional wrestlers on the show.

I've had 12 W wrestlers just because I grew up with that.

Still love it to this day.

And then there's a lot of other ones who we talk about different themes.

One of my favorite themes to talk about on the podcast is being different.

And I know you know about this, Christine, because you parted it.

I had my latest guest on Today, he dropped today, but his name is Oliver Grains.

Now, if you look at Oliver Graves, you might think, holy moly, who is this guy?

Because he takes you aback because he's very eccentric and different.

But then you think that, you think, oh, he's dangerous.

No, Mr. Graves is not dangerous.

I talked to him and I felt safe talking to him.

He's definitely a character, but he's safe.

That's all that matters to me.

He's different.

That's one of my favorite things.

Things to talk about on the podcast is being your own person.

Kristina: 00:12:08

Yeah.

And that's a story, a theme, a thing that we want all of our kids to understand is that they don't have to necessarily conform to a little box, that they can absolutely be themselves, you know.

But just like everybody else though, I mean, we also have rules and things that we have to put, you know, we have to follow.

We have to do certain things to work into our society.

Sam Mitchell: 00:12:33

What are.

Some agree with that.

I mean, the rule of not going into my.

Going into an hour early before my shift, that ain't going to change.

So I'm got to figure that part on my own.

And I.

It's an understandable rule.

I get it.

I'm not going to disrespect that rule.

Fine.

But period, even though it's a rule, I gotta do something for my mental health.

Herb: 00:12:57

Yeah.

I'm of the kind of person that I prefer a more steady routine, something predictable.

And when things get really chaotic, then it takes a lot more energy and a lot more focus for me to be able to get through it.

I can do it.

But yeah, I much prefer more of a steady routine.

And so yeah, that was where I drove bus for a while and, and that was really difficult because my schedule could change every day.

Sam Mitchell: 00:13:28

Right, I agree with that because I think in life we need that structure to survive.

The structure is what I feel like builds your self confidence and self esteem to know what's going on in the day.

Because who likes unpredictability?

Who likes to know an unexpected death happened in the family.

Yeah.

Kristina: 00:13:55

So.

Herb: 00:13:56

Well, even if it's not dramatic, it.

Sam Mitchell: 00:13:59

Could be way unexpected.

Anyway, so trying to make this road more predictable gives us a net of safety, right?

Kristina: 00:14:07

Right.

Sam Mitchell: 00:14:07

Yeah.

Kristina: 00:14:09

Can you think of one or two things that your parents did as you were growing up that really helped you along the way?

Was there anything specific that they did, like structures or schedules or something that really helped you flourish, either in school or right after school?

Sam Mitchell: 00:14:26

I would say yes.

So is this video or audio only?

I forgot.

There's a reason why.

I promise it'll be both.

Kristina: 00:14:33

Yeah.

Sam Mitchell: 00:14:34

Okay.

In that case, give me one second.

I'm gonna pull something up to show you.

Okay, one second.

So this is a schedule.

This is for today that I use for.

Don't look at this thing.

It's secret.

Top secret.

But this right here, this.

This was my day.

And I.

What I do is I divided my life essentially into categories, and I divide, and then this is what I have.

So today I had my shift at 2pm this was what I had to do for my podcast today.

If you notice, I didn't have a lot of social activities to be scheduled with, and I love chores to do today.

Kristina: 00:15:14

Got it.

Sam Mitchell: 00:15:16

So that's a tool I like to use, and it used to be written, but because of my terrible handwriting, I thought, okay, I can't read what I'm writing.

I need to type this out.

Kristina: 00:15:27

Yeah.

Herb: 00:15:27

Yeah, that's funny.

My.

My handwriting has been improving in the last couple of weeks since I've started doing this really interesting brain training thing.

But up until, like I said, just a couple of weeks ago, I had a lot of trouble reading my own writing after a couple of days.

So, yeah, interesting.

Sam Mitchell: 00:15:45

Well, if it makes you feel any better, I did learn something with occupational therapy.

So there are certain letters that are bigger to draw than little ones.

So for example, they did this line ordeal where it's like, okay, the T, a little bit of a bigger, with the T and e's a little smaller.

Small, smaller.

The R is a little smaller.

Now the D. Line it up right here in this space.

Kristina: 00:16:07

Huh.

Sam Mitchell: 00:16:09

That was me during occupational therapy.

Kristina: 00:16:11

Yeah, I used to use boxes for my students.

And, like, some letters would take just one box, but then, of course, like, the capital letters would take two boxes so they could recognize the size of it.

And then, of course, any letters like the G or the J that hung down would be two boxes, but the second box would be down below.

So to try to get them to see the size and the shape of the letters, I use those boxes sometimes.

Sam Mitchell: 00:16:36

Right.

Kristina: 00:16:38

Is there another tool or wording or other things that your parents use to help you whenever you kind of get stuck or to help kind of keep you on track?

Sam Mitchell: 00:16:51

Well, I think some tools they have utilized is, I think, being realistic with me at the same time.

I mean, when I get into the biggest tizzy of, honestly, I'm doing this, period, I don't care what the heck happens to me.

I don't care if we get arrested.

No, we're not gonna do that.

We're gonna think of something else.

Let's take a deep breath.

Herb: 00:17:14

It brings you.

Talks you down from the ledge.

Kristina: 00:17:17

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

That was one thing with our son as well.

You know, lots of times, you know, he'd get upset or whatever, and we could just, you know, start talking, talking with it.

Like, no, we have to change this or we have to do this.

Right.

Herb: 00:17:30

A lot of times it would be.

Questions were sometimes more effective.

Kristina: 00:17:34

Right.

Herb: 00:17:35

So I was like.

Kristina: 00:17:36

Because he could think through.

Sam Mitchell: 00:17:37

Yeah, Right.

And what I learned, too, is I think sometimes she would also let me panic.

Because I think you both can know this.

When we're both in that panic mode, sometimes it's not just pain because we're scared to death, Murphy.

Because we're wondering what the heck to do.

So we're actually, while panicking at the same time, thinking of this alternative idea.

Kristina: 00:18:00

Yeah, exactly.

And so whenever parents get in that situation, first of all, safety, right?

Keeping you or whoever they're with, very, very safe, but then also giving that space to cycle through and process through what they need to do to get to that quieter state again.

Yeah, perfect.

So how do you find your guests for your podcast?

Sam Mitchell: 00:18:25

Oh, that's easy.

I pick professional wrestlers, obviously.

But then I'll watch the Mayor's Got Talent every year, see who I want.

And then sometimes I look on the Internet as well, and then sometimes I find it on the news as well.

Then the way I get them is what I've been trying to do, I do mostly anyway, is instead of going through their publicist, although I've gone through several publicists, I'm the first one to raise my hand on that.

I try not to go through their publicist and ask them directly.

Got it.

Like this.

Oliver Graves.

What I did on Monday, before an event I went to in Kentucky, I left a voicemail to him directly.

It wasn't to his manager, it was directly to him.

Then while I'm at this event in Kentucky called the Possibilities Expo, he.

He gives me a.

He got the message.

He gave me a call Back.

So I thought, well, I'm advertising.

I gotta step out for a second and answer this.

Please excuse me.

Kristina: 00:19:22

Right.

That's pretty exciting when that happens.

I'm looking forward to whenever I invite a bigger guest on my show and they actually come and show up as well.

Yeah.

Sam Mitchell: 00:19:32

Well, like I said, try not to go through the publicist.

If you.

Now, if you have to, fine, get it.

Kristina: 00:19:37

Yeah.

Sam Mitchell: 00:19:38

Piece of advice.

Go to them directly and it's working 90% of the time.

Kristina: 00:19:45

That's awesome.

Herb: 00:19:47

Yeah.

Because the publicist might say no when the person said yes and would have loved to have been there.

Kristina: 00:19:53

Yeah, exactly.

So when you go on speaking gigs in person.

Right.

You do a lot of the podcasts and stuff, but when you're traveling and things like that, what are some things that help you either to get prepared for or while you're traveling?

Because I know sometimes the disruption in schedule and things like that can really put you on edge.

Sam Mitchell: 00:20:15

Yeah.

So a couple things with that particular.

So what I've done, and I made this a rule because of just airports and disasters.

I'm not going to lie.

I'm the first guy to tell you I hate airports.

Airports can go up to you know where probably.

But I made it a rule to my mother where, because of how screwed up midday flights can be, I told her, cut it off.

I've cut it.

I say you may go on a speaking gig.

Fine.

But I'm going to request very nicely, please don't book a midday gig.

Probably get an early morning where it's very quiet, 3, 3am or get it really late when the day is starting over like 8, 9pm Got it.

Kristina: 00:20:58

So fly at the quieter times of the day or night.

Sam Mitchell: 00:21:01

Oh, I. I won't.

I won't do the midday flight.

If it's vacation, holy ball me.

But during the work trip.

No, no, no, no, no, no.

Kristina: 00:21:10

Got it.

Herb: 00:21:11

And then is that just to get in or if.

If there's like a layover or you try and cut out all the layovers?

Sam Mitchell: 00:21:19

No, we're all right with that.

My rule is as long as I get there in time, I'm good to go.

Whatever.

Kristina: 00:21:24

Yeah.

Awesome.

Herb: 00:21:25

Yeah.

You'd probably actually like our local airport.

Kristina: 00:21:29

Yes, you would.

Sam Mitchell: 00:21:31

Well, I might have to go there sometime then if I ever get the chance.

Going to Oregon again?

Herb: 00:21:34

Yeah, it's in Southern Oregon.

There's only three gates.

Sam Mitchell: 00:21:39

I love that already.

Herb: 00:21:41

Right.

And.

And there's actually one gate has like four gates outside.

So there's actually kind of like seven gates.

But you have to Walk outside to get on the plane and walk up a ramp.

I mean, it's a really little airport.

It's pretty awesome because you don't have.

Sam Mitchell: 00:21:56

To arrive two hours, Very organized.

Versus, yeah.

Reports that are changing the gate every five seconds.

Those can go to hell for sure.

But anyway, another rule is with me is when I speak before I am set to go on the stage or present, I asked for 30 minutes.

30 To 15 minutes of, like, mental prep time where I will literally go in the bathroom and not an ideal place, but where else am I gonna go put on my headphones and then listen to music?

Got it.

Kristina: 00:22:33

Do you have certain music that you like to listen to?

Sam Mitchell: 00:22:36

Yes.

On that.

Rock and roll.

Kristina: 00:22:38

Rock and roll.

Of course.

Autism rocks and rolls.

Herb: 00:22:41

So who are some of your favorite rock and roll artists?

What.

What do you consider rock and roll?

Sam Mitchell: 00:22:47

And ask me that?

So you can't go wrong in my eyes with ACDC nor Nickelback.

Those are probably my favorites.

It's a tie between those two.

Herb: 00:22:57

Yeah.

I love acdc, but I have a problem with them because I can only listen to like two or three songs in a row, and then they don't have any denouement in their music.

It's always just after a while I was like, I gotta listen to something so I can.

I love AC DC because it amps me up.

But seriously, two, three songs gotta turn.

Sam Mitchell: 00:23:18

No, I get your point.

Because while I love acdc, they do sound very similar.

Kristina: 00:23:24

Yeah.

Herb: 00:23:25

And their music, like, hits 10 and stays there and it.

And it doesn't give you any relief to, like, just for a second.

Yeah.

And then back into it.

So.

Yeah.

But yeah, totally, totally acdc.

Kristina: 00:23:39

Okay, so that makes sense because you really, really like music.

And whenever I applied to be on your show, you asked me my two favorite songs.

So is that one of the ways you kind of try to find some new music?

Sam Mitchell: 00:23:50

Well, it's partially yes, but it's also my way of I shouldn't because of copyright.

I'm not going to lie, but I don't care.

This is me bending the rules and not giving a crap.

But anyway, it's also my way of saying thank you for coming on the show because, yes, I can give you a shirt, but what else can I do to make it your own show?

Got it.

Let's put.

Let's pick your two songs on there.

Kristina: 00:24:11

Got it.

That's awesome.

Amazing.

Herb: 00:24:14

Cool.

Kristina: 00:24:15

Cool.

See?

What else did I want to ask you about?

Was there something that you had written down that you wanted to tell us or have Us talk about.

Sam Mitchell: 00:24:25

Oh, like I said, I'm very open book.

I'm not the nit.

The most nitpicky guy alive to answer questions.

I, yeah, I got all day.

I got nowhere to be.

Like I literally came from work and came home and I thought, well, I'm going to be probably an interview and then taking a shower, heading off the bed, maybe watching probably a TV show.

Maybe I'm trying to.

What will be tonight?

Herb: 00:24:44

Who knows?

Sam Mitchell: 00:24:45

Maybe probably.

Well, baggage.

That's probably a new.

That's probably one that's dropped off the show.

But let's just say that show is very interesting.

Kristina: 00:24:54

Got it.

So what, let's see, you said that you're into the media and broadcasting.

Were you ever into like mechanical things like Legos or robots or anything like that as well?

Sam Mitchell: 00:25:09

No, no, no, no, no.

I'll be the first one to tell you that Cassie is hands on.

I won't lie there.

Mechanics and robots while I'm trying to understand.

It flew off the head on that one, buddy.

Kristina: 00:25:21

Got it.

How about art then?

Sam Mitchell: 00:25:24

Art?

Well, I like, I don't mind looking at it, but don't put me in an art museum because I'm like, all right, where are we off to next?

Kristina: 00:25:32

Yep, perfect.

Were you ever in any sports or anything growing up?

Sam Mitchell: 00:25:40

No, I wasn't.

And I think there was some reasons behind with extracurricular activities.

I think they probably wouldn't appreciate me.

They probably try to kick me in the legs if I try to do football.

But I did a lot of extracurricular activities.

Actually the more thing I did was sport, but it wasn't for long.

I did baseball, Boy scouts and taekwondo, but it wasn't through the school.

It was through a different martial arts school that helped out.

My childhood does definitely got me more out of my shell compared to at school.

I mean when you have a rule in martial arts school to be respectful, it's going to open so many doors.

Versus at public school, that rule sometimes is thrown out the window.

Not by the principals.

Clearly.

They try to do their best to do it, but with students in particular, they can't punish every student who's being disrespectful.

They only the ones that they catch.

Kristina: 00:26:36

Yeah.

Herb: 00:26:38

So looking forward, where would you like to take your podcast and what would you like to be doing?

Sam Mitchell: 00:26:44

Well, my friend, I like to take this one day at a time because realistically it's a goal setting ordeal.

I think I'm happy where it is now too because you get 26k downloads, you first say holy Moly and not say, I never want it to grow.

But I am very content at where the podcast is because it grew bigger than expected because I first thought it was gonna be 20, but now it's 26k.

That's a big number difference.

Pretty.

Herb: 00:27:19

Pretty big number difference.

Kristina: 00:27:21

That is amazing.

I love it.

Yeah, our podcast is growing.

We just hit over 10k downloads this, so we're.

We're getting there.

We're growing as well, which is.

Sam Mitchell: 00:27:31

Oh, good, guys.

Good job.

Kristina: 00:27:33

Thank you so much.

Beautiful.

So if you had a guest that you haven't been able to have yet that you still really, really want on the show, who would that be?

Sam Mitchell: 00:27:42

Oh, man.

I've been asked that too many times to count on one hand, Christina, But I think I got a couple that.

Herb: 00:27:49

Has the answer ever changed?

Sam Mitchell: 00:27:51

No, it has not.

It has.

Herb: 00:27:53

So the same people that you've been watching are the same people that you've been have.

Sam Mitchell: 00:27:57

It was Mick Foley, just because of watching wrestling growing up and sun be on Spectrum.

But the two I want to have on because I want to explore his brain, as ne it says, because I wonder where he gets all these rhymes from.

It's Eminem.

Kristina: 00:28:13

Got it.

Sam Mitchell: 00:28:14

And I think self diagnose himself on the Spectrum too.

And then you might be surprised at this one, but because of how blunt and direct he is.

Gordon Ramsay, because that's how our brains work too.

Have them.

Half the stuff he says is what I want to say to people.

Kristina: 00:28:38

Exactly.

Oh, my gosh.

Sam Mitchell: 00:28:40

Perfect vinyl flights say, because I might end up in handcuffs.

Kristina: 00:28:44

Yeah, it's kind of good if we follow a few of those rules and are a little bit careful.

So do you like going outside?

You like expanding time in nature?

Sam Mitchell: 00:28:56

But I hate the cold.

I will be the first one to lie.

Not lie.

I hate the cold.

When I went sledding, I would sled down the hill the first two times, and I would tell my mother, this is really stupid.

Kristina: 00:29:10

Yeah, that's me.

I love being in the warm.

You put me in nature, in Hawaii or some other place that's nice and warm.

I'm all good to go.

Sam Mitchell: 00:29:17

Well, yeah, I don't know if you've been to Hawaii, but it's definitely a good place to visit.

I can speak from experience because I don't mean to toot my own horn, but I definitely went there.

Kristina: 00:29:26

Very nice.

Which island did you end up visiting?

Sam Mitchell: 00:29:29

Well, it was a little bit of an odd one.

So we did the big island for a couple of days, and then we did an air flight, like island Hops to Oahu, which is definitely more touristy than the Big Island.

But both were fun and definitely both had its pros and cons.

Just.

Just better be ready to spend your money there.

You better be ready to pay $7 for gas.

Kristina: 00:29:53

Yes.

Herb: 00:29:53

Yeah, I really like the island of Kauai.

It.

When I got off the plane there, it felt like I was stepping home.

And, yeah, I don't know what it is.

I like all the islands, but Kauai just feels different to me.

And.

Yeah, so that's like a second home out in the ocean for me.

Sam Mitchell: 00:30:12

My favorite attraction there, when I went to the Big island and then the Hawaii, there's a lot of highlights, for sure, like playing with the sharks.

I got the privilege of doing that.

But my favorite privilege was visiting a ranch called the Kualoa Ranch.

Kristina: 00:30:27

Huh.

Sam Mitchell: 00:30:27

I walked in there and saw the background and saw the beauty of it.

It was paradise.

But it's an attraction for many reasons.

They filmed a lot of movies there.

Such as?

Trying.

What else?

50 First dates.

Kristina: 00:30:40

Okay.

Sam Mitchell: 00:30:42

Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, the new Jumanji movie.

The one with the rock.

Kevin Hart and Jack Black.

That there.

There's a scene filmed there.

The one where she was fighting all the bad guys doing the dance.

That scene was filmed there.

Kristina: 00:30:57

Wow, that's awesome.

So talk to us a little bit more about the non profit.

What does.

What does the non profit help with within the autism community?

Sam Mitchell: 00:31:08

Education.

Okay, great education, buddy.

Because we do a lot of education projects with the events when we do galas.

Just trying to educate people on what it's like with autism because we know it can get misconcepted when I speak.

We're trying to educate people at conferences, and then we also have educational modules where we're trying to work on what it's like to be on spectrum and also where the issues are with autism.

And law enforcement is a great example.

Autism in the workplace, that's a great example too.

Even though I am a good worker, I still run into battles here and there.

It took me about two jobs before I found one.

Thank God, on that one.

And then I would also say, check another one.

Autism in the family, right?

Kristina: 00:31:59

Yeah.

Autism in the family is a big one.

Do you happen to have any brothers or sisters?

No, just you.

Okay.

No.

Sam Mitchell: 00:32:06

My parents did consider adopting, though.

Kristina: 00:32:10

Yeah.

Because that was one thing that I realized whenever I was raising our two boys right, is that our one son is the oldest with autism, and then our younger son doesn't have.

And so sometimes it would be, well, why do I have to do this or why do I have to do that when he doesn't have to?

Right.

Because the sibling, the sibling thing.

But it was a little bit different because of the autism and not autism.

Sam Mitchell: 00:32:35

Right.

I'm probably sure at points like we talked about before, he didn't understand why is he doing this.

Kristina: 00:32:42

Yeah, exactly.

Wow.

Let's see what else?

So you are available for speaking, you said, so you can travel around and help people figure out.

Sam Mitchell: 00:32:52

Yep.

If it's a virtual, it's a little more cheaper.

I'm not gonna lie to you there.

I mean, I have a price rule because I'm a non profit and I have a soft spot.

It's 30 if you do it 30 and under free.

If it's 45 minutes or over virtual, I charge a hundred.

And if it's in person, we have our own rule with that.

I gotta include the flight, hotel and.

Kristina: 00:33:13

Right.

Sam Mitchell: 00:33:13

Pay the fee.

Kristina: 00:33:14

Yeah, all of that kind of stuff.

Beautiful.

Herb: 00:33:18

And do you enjoy doing that?

Sam Mitchell: 00:33:20

Oh, yeah.

I wish we could do it more, but.

Well, I had to because I've learned a lot of conferences don't pay.

Unfortunately.

Not saying not all do, just most don't.

I kind of bent a little rule where my board has allowed me to do two for free where I will pay the fee and just say, you know what, I'm not here to make money on that one.

I'm just going to go promote myself.

Kristina: 00:33:40

Right?

Sam Mitchell: 00:33:41

Yeah.

Kristina: 00:33:41

And sometimes you have to do that because you have to get your name out there enough for people to even know who you are and what you want to speak about.

Exactly, yeah.

What do you think about the term that's being used now called neurodivergent?

Sam Mitchell: 00:33:56

Well, I get it, but it's my question on do we need that term?

Because my thought is I think it's there for people who might think they're on a spectrum but haven't got the diagnosis or just unsure.

Kristina: 00:34:13

Yeah.

Sam Mitchell: 00:34:14

But I also think it's for people who do think differently because some people aren't on the spectrum but just think differently and maybe have ADHD or ocd.

Kristina: 00:34:23

Right.

Sam Mitchell: 00:34:24

That doesn't mean they're autistic, it just means they are neurodivergent and process emotions a little bit unusually.

Kristina: 00:34:34

Yeah, yeah.

Herb: 00:34:36

And it almost seems to be like a fad because now everybody is coming out like, oh, I'm ADA or I'm autistic too.

And, and so there's.

So there's like almost this fad of people coming out saying that they're autistic.

And that explains everything about them somehow.

Are you seeing any of that?

Sam Mitchell: 00:34:57

Not from the top of my head, but maybe I'd have to think about that.

Kristina: 00:35:01

Yeah.

Herb: 00:35:01

Yeah.

Because several of my friends and coaches.

Friends.

And even some family members is like, oh, yeah, well, I just found out that I'm ADHD or autistic as well.

Kristina: 00:35:10

Yeah.

Herb: 00:35:10

So, yeah, it.

For me, that's really frustrating to have a child who is literally on the spectrum, has Asperger's syndrome, is what they claimed way back when, what they used to call it.

And then see lots of people who have led, like, I don't know, pretty normal lives who don't understand any of the things that he's had to go through, suddenly claiming somehow that they have that as well.

Sam Mitchell: 00:35:35

So.

Right.

Herb: 00:35:38

For me, that's a little frustrating and irritating, but.

Kristina: 00:35:43

So if you were to tell somebody who doesn't understand autism, who hasn't had it, who doesn't have it.

Right.

How would you describe it the best that you can?

Sam Mitchell: 00:35:57

Well, there's a lot of different ways to describe it.

I've heard a lot of people say it's a neurodevelopment disorder.

They understand social cues and may not have the best motor skills.

The way I describe it is it's a different way of thinking, a different way of understanding information.

Kristina: 00:36:16

Yeah, definitely.

I think when we.

I was on your show, we talked about how my son would seem to be, like, two or three steps ahead in the conversation because he was processing things a little bit quicker and a little bit different than whoever he was talking to.

Sam Mitchell: 00:36:32

Yeah.

Then at points where me.

I think at point.

At points where I always think that, too.

When we're going to conversation.

I can see.

All right.

I know where this is going.

Kristina: 00:36:43

And then jump ahead to it, right?

Sam Mitchell: 00:36:45

Yep.

Kristina: 00:36:46

Yeah, exactly.

Awesome.

Well, Sam, this has been a wonderful conversation, and we really appreciate your time and your insights, and we loved having you on the show.

And thank you again for having me on the show.

And, Lenny, last words.

What would you do?

Tell our parents who are maybe a little frustrated or concerned, give them a little bit of inspiration because you've turned out pretty well yourself.

Sam Mitchell: 00:37:10

Well, I think I've done something right.

Well, I think my words of final advice.

It's not really words of wisdom as much as the truth of life.

If the road could be nice and not act so stupid.

I think we get along so much better.

Don't you think, buddy?

Herb: 00:37:25

Yes.

Oh, yes, there are.

Yes.

I think that no matter from where you are, what point of view you have that is a very valid point of view.

Just.

Just be a little nicer to each other.

Kristina: 00:37:37

Yep, exactly.

All right, Sam, we're going to wrap up here.

Thank you again for being on the show.

We really appreciate you and everything that you do for the autism community, and we really wish you the best of luck in the rest of your shows and the non profit and things like that.

Herb: 00:37:54

Thank you for being on our show.

Thank you for sharing.

Thank you for being brave enough to be out there and talking about what it is that you're actually talking about.

There's not a lot of people doing it because they're afraid or whatever.

And you're out there and you're genuine and you're attracting an audience, and you totally deserve it.

So thank you for being on our show today.

Thank you for doing what you do.

Thank you for being a voice out there helping other people.

Kristina: 00:38:23

All right, audience, that is it for tonight.

We will talk to everybody later on the next show.

Until later.

Thank you so much.

And bye for now.

Herb: 00:38:32

Bye for now.