Sam Mitchell - #20 - May 3, 2025

Mike: 00:00:15

Welcome to the Neurostimulation Podcast.

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I'm Michael Passmore, clinical

associate professor in the Department

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of Psychiatry at the University of

British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.

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The Neurostimulation Podcast is all

about exploring the world of neuroscience

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and clinical neurostimulation,

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how it works, what are the latest research

breakthroughs and how that research

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is being translated into treatments

to improve health and wellbeing.

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This podcast is separate from my clinical

and academic roles and is part of my

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personal effort to bring neuroscience

education to the general public.

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I would like to emphasize that the

information shared here is for, I would

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like to emphasize that the information

shared here is for educational

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purposes only, and is not intended

as medical advice or a substitute

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for professional medical guidance.

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Today's episode is presented

by Zip Stim Neurostimulation.

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ZipStim is the neurostimulation

clinic that I own and operate.

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You can find out more about our

neurostimulation programs at zipstim.com.

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That's Z-I-P-S-T-I-M.com.

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Today I am really looking forward

to a discussion with Sam Mitchell.

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Sam is the leader of a program

called Autism Rocks and Rolls.

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Although Sam in living with autism has

had obstacles in the past and still has

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daily struggles, he's using this platform

to take the stigma away from autism and

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other associated conditions that many

people consider to be disabilities.

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He brings guests into the conversation,

whether they're family members,

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friends, celebrities, or others

involved in the world of autism.

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His mission is to prove that

he's not broken and that he

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does not need to be fixed.

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He does his best to have a lot

of fun along the way and really

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loves to entertain his audience.

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So I'm really looking forward to this

conversation with Sam, and I hope that

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you'll continue watching and listening.

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I think it's fantastic that he has such a

positive mission, and I'm really looking

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forward to hearing more about his story.

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Welcome back to the

Neurostimulation podcast.

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Today I'm super excited to have

a discussion with Sam Mitchell.

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Sam operates a platform called Autism

Rocks and Rolls, in which he talks

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about autism and he's here with us

now, and I'm really happy to talk

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to him about that platform and about

his passionate work in this sphere.

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So thanks again, Sam, for

joining us and really looking

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forward to today's conversation.

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Sam: Hey, I am too, man.

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Thanks for having me on.

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Mike: Yeah.

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I'm really interested to hear Sam tell

us about your story in particular.

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What inspired you to start

Autism Rocks and Rolls.

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Sam: My name is Sam Mitchell.

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I was diagnosed with

autism at the age of four.

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What really inspired me to start

my podcast was my interest in

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my high school's media club.

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I fell in love with it so much.

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I decided to start my own podcast and that

was when Autism Rocks and Rolls was born.

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Mike: That's really cool.

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So I've listened to the show.

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I think it's fantastic.

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I was just really impressed

with the content and with,

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the initiative to, to, get the

message out there to do as much as

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possible, to take away the stigma.

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What, I'm just curious, what messages

in particular, aside from the specifics

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of each show, what kind of broad message

are you hoping that viewers and listeners

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take away after tuning into the podcast?

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Sam: Those with all abilities, whether

you're on the autism spectrum mainly,

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or blind or deaf, you're not broken.

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You don't need to be fixed.

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There's nothing.

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Wrong with you at all?

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I think that society needs to

accept that these abilities we have

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is maybe a benefit for the role.

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It makes people a better person.

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Mike: Yeah, absolutely.

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No, I think that's such

a positive message.

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I had a sense that you've interviewed

such a wide variety of guests.

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I'm curious, can you think of

one or two conversations that

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really stuck with you and why?

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Sam: I would say a conversation

that's really stuck with me a lot

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was just because of his story.

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Jake, the snake Roberts, I had the

privilege of having him on the show.

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What has that guy gone through?

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Oh my gosh.

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Two grandchildren with autism and

cerebral palsy, drug and alcohol abuse.

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He's been assaulted before,

physically and sexually.

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And he has COPD.

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Mike: Yeah.

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Sam: Yeah.

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It's and his story breaks my heart.

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I was like, I need to

get this guy on my show.

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Or I'm not gonna be able to have any other

guess because his story needs to be heard.

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Mike: Yeah.

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Yeah, absolutely.

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I think it's kudos to you for hosting

folks like that and getting their

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stories out there, and I think it

really underscores that everyone has

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challenges, some more than others,

but that those challenges shouldn't

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really define who a person is, right.

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Other than exactly.

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Just allow them, yeah.

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Other than like maybe allow them to,

have it so that they're able to express

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their story in a positive sense in

a way of helping others who maybe

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are going through similar things to

understand that they're not alone, right?

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Yeah.

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And I love this kind of idea, I've

heard you say just now and also in,

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in the shows that there's this idea

of not being broken and not needing

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to be fixed, which is really powerful.

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I'm curious to know what in your journey

has inspired you in particular to get to

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that point where you have that saying?

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Sam: The majority of my life people

thought I was broken is the 100% reason.

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I say that all the time.

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It's my mission statement and I just hope

one day my mission will get complete.

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I just don't know if it ever will,

but I say this all the time because

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for the longest time people thought

I was broken and I couldn't do squat.

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Even though I'm on the high end of

the autism spectrum, people still saw

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me as a little kid and they thought I

was the population that had a mindset

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of three year olds, which is some.

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I'm not gonna lie to you.

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There are some like that.

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That's why it's called spectrum.

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That's why there is a spectrum to it.

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But I'm not that person.

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When you meet one person with autism,

you meet one person with autism, I'm on

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the high and where biologically I'm 22.

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But mentally I have the mindset of

a 19-year-old, and there's some out

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there who are maybe biologically 20,

but the mindset of a 10-year-old.

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Mike: Yeah, I think that's really

important for viewers and listeners

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who may not understand that it's really

important for people to understand that.

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Do you mind just taking a minute or two

to just explain for people who maybe

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really don't have any familiarity with

autism about the concept of the spectrum?

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You introduced it really well there, but

can you just expand on that for us just

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so that people have a good understanding?

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Sam: So the spectrum

really is the mindset.

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I call it really.

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Of what it's gonna be like.

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Some people at age think they probably

are gonna raise a baby, and maybe

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it's true, but that's not everybody.

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And the spectrum also allows

different challenges too.

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For example, realistically every

morning I can brush my teeth.

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There's probably someone out there in

the autism world or has autism, maybe

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somewhere that's not in Indiana, maybe

somewhere around earth, literally has

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autism but cannot brush their teeth,

and it's because of the neurological

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sense, the, let's put it this way, their

neurostimulation isn't stimulating.

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Mike: So it sounds like, one way of

thinking about it is that in terms

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of managing day-to-day kinds of

activities, like brushing your teeth

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or other things that people do from

day to day, depending on where someone

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might be on that spectrum, someone

might need more help than others.

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Someone might be a bit more

independent than others.

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And I suppose that creates

a situation where someone's

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functioning is gonna be variable.

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But it's still.

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I can imagine, as you say, it's not a

reason to feel as though one's broken,

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but it's a reason to feel like, okay,

things maybe have to be set up a

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bit different in terms of structure

and support in someone's day-to-day

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living in order to be able to just get

the stuff done that has to get done

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Sam: Right and people need to understand

that they have something to say too.

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Mike: Yeah, go ahead.

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On the,

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Sam: where you're on the autism

spectrum too, they have something to

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say even though it may make no sense.

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A great example is I had a guest who

runs a nonprofit called Autism Anglers.

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His son is, I don't wanna say

severely autistic, but he is

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definitely on the spectrum.

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Sometimes he'll go in the middle of public

and say, outta nowhere, where's my dog?

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Even though it's odd to say in public.

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You're still saying something,

it needs to be listened to,

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Mike: right?

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Yeah.

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Yeah, for sure.

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I think that's a super

important thing, right?

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And not, so it really I think it

sounds like the important thing

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there is to not jump to, for others,

to not jump to conclusions, right?

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If someone says something, and it

might seem a little out of place, that

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it doesn't need to be just dismissed

or thought of as unusual or strange,

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you have to actually really listen.

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To what that person's experience

is and what they're trying to

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communicate or ask questions or

try to just figure it out, right?

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Sam: That's the only thing you can do.

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The more you do it, the

more it's gonna make sense.

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Mike: Yeah, for sure.

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I guess it's about being empathic

and trying to maybe put yourself into

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that person's shoes and try and get

a sense of what it is that they're

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going through and listening to their

voice, as you say, super important.

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Sam: A hundred

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percent.

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Man, you're not wrong there.

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Mike: I appreciate you

helping us to understand that.

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I think what, so maybe what are some

other important things about autism that

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you wish more people truly understood?

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Sam: That despite our social

skills, stinking really bad?

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'cause I will be realistic.

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Those on the spectrum, our socially, I

won't say bad, but not the best with my

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social skills are decent, even though some

on the spectrum don't like to socialize.

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There's a population that does, I met

several people on the spectrum who do not

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mind being in a crowded room of people.

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I've also met several people who go

into a concert is a no-no for them.

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They'll lose their mind.

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Me, I'm in the middle of the road.

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I will go to a concert but don't

spend me to be a concert fanatic.

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When I send people out, I'm people out.

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I'm done.

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My butt's in the bedroom.

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And we have to respect that no

matter where they are on the autism

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spectrum, if they do not wanna

socialize, do I think as parents,

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should we encourage them to socialize?

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Oh yes.

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I'm not trying to say you should

make them be cavemen, no, b

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ut I wouldn't say don't force socializing.

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If you see an opportunity for

them to socialize, I would

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definitely go encourage 'em.

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Maybe go say yeah and go

socialize with John at the park.

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But if it's trying to push

and you're trying to create

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a social group for them, eh.

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Maybe not.

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Don't force a birthday

party, let's put it that way.

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Mike: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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I think that's super important.

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I imagine that's something that, people

might struggle with in terms of knowing

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how much to encourage or push, but I.

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I think it probably even goes beyond the

spectrum, so to speak, in terms of things

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like highly sensitive people these days.

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There's this concept of folks being highly

sensitive and very introverted maybe, and

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so needing a lot of downtime and quiet

time to recharge as opposed to people

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who are more on the extroverted side of

personality, where they get their energy

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from being around others and from maybe

being at things like parties and crowds.

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For people to just recognize where they're

at with that and to be respectful of that

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in terms of what's right for them and

how that relates to their own self-care

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and for others to not put expectations.

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'cause I think our society, unfortunately,

it puts all these expectations

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around people that we should be, I.

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Comfortable in parties and big crowds.

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'cause that's how it looks like.

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Everyone's enjoying themselves on TV and

in movies when for a large percentage

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of the population, that's just not true.

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So we're trying to fit ourselves into

this image that we're supposed to, in

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quotes, have fun at parties and be all

kind of social when a lot of people

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just don't feel, that's right for them.

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Sam: No, it's not right for them.

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And if it isn't, it's not

fair to force it to them.

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It's their life at the end of the day.

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Mike: Yeah, for sure.

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Yeah, it's really important I think, for

people to understand that's okay if you.

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Skip the party or whatever.

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But it's also okay to just push yourself

and encourage yourself a little bit too

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because sometimes if you do encourage

yourself to join in a little bit and

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then you might find that you enjoy it.

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And then, because I guess there's a

bit of a danger of just staying too

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isolated and as you say, ending up a

bit of a cave person, just stuck and

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then maybe feeling a bit lonely, right?

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So figuring out that balance

might be pretty important.

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Sam: I already made my decision.

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I this weekend.

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I'm watching WrestleMania and I'm

probably not gonna be around much people.

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I plan ahead too with it.

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Mike: Yeah, I bet you that's really

important, the planning ahead

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piece and just taking stock of how

someone's feeling in terms of yeah,

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do I really feel up to big social

activities in the next few days or not?

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And if it's not, then that's cool.

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So figuring out how you're feeling

from day to day, from week to week,

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and then just trying to plan out the

week depending on where you're at.

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Sam: It's part of my thriver, it's

part of my thrive on routine and

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structure, which is those on the

spectrum do need in life for themselves.

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Mike: Yeah.

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Yeah.

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That's really interesting actually.

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Do you mind just expanding

on that a little bit?

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This notion of routine and structure

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Sam: I, you're gonna ask me to, so those

on the spectrum, love, structure, and

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routine, they know what's coming ahead.

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They repeat the same

task each day to a point.

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But don't change your

plans right off the bat.

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Sometimes when they're younger.

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I know when I was a young boy, if you

told me I was going to Walmart, you

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didn't tell me first thing before it

was happening like five seconds before.

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I definitely would have a meltdown

because in my brain it was spontaneous.

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You put that on me,

that's not right to do.

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Mike: Yeah,

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Sam: And that really ticks me off.

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Nowadays I'm more laid back with

it, but when it comes to something I

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love, I am very tedious on it still.

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Like Autism Rocks and Rolls.

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Ooh.

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I am extremely tedious on it.

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Mike: Yeah, that makes sense.

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Sam: I have some

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stuff I flat out refuse to change

because of how much structure

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I need with that podcast.

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Mike: Sure.

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That makes sense, right?

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You're focused in on it, you're

passionate about it, so it makes sense

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that you're very particular about that.

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For sure.

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How did you, I guess it would be

interesting to know how, did you have some

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strategies or, other kinds of techniques

that allowed you to get to the point.

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As as I think, as we all move through

childhood and teenage years into

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adulthood, there are things that we learn

that we try and just figure out in order

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to help us to just get by in the world.

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But if we focus in on that, what you

described about having a lot of trouble

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with the spontaneous kinds of activities

that, your parents may have brought up.

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When you were a lot younger compared

with now, can you think of some ways that

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you ended up just dealing with that and

helping yourself to the point now where

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if there was a spontaneous change of plans

around something more run of the mill like

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that these days, it doesn't sound like

it would be quite so upsetting for you.

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So how did you navigate that growing up?

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Sam: I think I came to the conclusion

as I grew up, it was with maturity

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too, but I think part of it too

is, let's just be honest, life is

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gonna throw changes at you, period.

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And I realized as time has went on in

my life, dwelling on it and pouting

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about it is gonna get me anywhere.

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Mike: Yeah, for sure.

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There's a realistic kind

of acceptance of that.

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Now that, that reflects a lot of strength

and a lot of maturity, as you say.

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What about like these days, how are

you managing to maintain that balance?

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In terms of getting stuff done and,

doing the things that have to be done

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in order to work and just, get what

you need done, but also do the podcast.

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What are some tips that you might

be able to share with others who may

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be struggling with finding balance?

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Sam: I have a digital schedule and

I divide pretty much the core parts

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of my life and it's, right now it's

academic slash work, but not work

314

: 00:16:58

as much anymore as, I didn't work at

Blazer Vision for a long time because

315

: 00:17:03

I just, I'm not needed there anymore.

316

: 00:17:05

Chores, podcasts, and social life.

317

: 00:17:06

And then I put on there what I

need to do and I refuse to go

318

: 00:17:11

to bed until that day is done.

319

: 00:17:13

So it's Monday, academic

is class at: 11:00

320

: 00:17:17

The chores, I gotta do laundry.

321

: 00:17:19

Podcast.

322

: 00:17:19

I got this interview at this time, social.

323

: 00:17:22

Nothing for social today, but

tomorrow I'm gonna socialize with

324

: 00:17:25

Caleb and go get a coffee with him.

325

: 00:17:28

I'm saying that 'cause I have

a lot of friends named Caleb.

326

: 00:17:30

Go figure.

327

: 00:17:32

Mike: Nice.

328

: 00:17:32

Yeah.

329

: 00:17:33

Yeah.

330

: 00:17:33

That's great.

331

: 00:17:33

It's good to emphasize the

importance of the schedule, right?

332

: 00:17:36

Because I think these days it's so

easy to keep a schedule on your phone

333

: 00:17:39

and on your computer and that's great.

334

: 00:17:41

I think we all have the need

for that type of organization.

335

: 00:17:44

Sam: Yeah.

336

: 00:17:45

If you think, and plus that's the way

the world's going these days is digital.

337

: 00:17:48

I feel like some days paper

and pencil are out the door.

338

: 00:17:52

Mike: Yeah.

339

: 00:17:53

For sure.

340

: 00:17:54

Totally.

341

: 00:17:55

Yeah.

342

: 00:17:55

I saw someone the other day,

I was chuckling to myself.

343

: 00:17:57

'cause I saw this older fellow, and

he had a bunch of notes in a pen

344

: 00:18:02

written down on the back of his hand.

345

: 00:18:05

Sam: Oh boy.

346

: 00:18:07

How old was he if he had to estimate?

347

: 00:18:09

Mike: I think he was, yeah I'm Gen X, so

he was probably between Boomer and Gen X.

348

: 00:18:13

I would say I maybe like early sixties.

349

: 00:18:15

Yeah,

350

: 00:18:16

Sam: that makes more sense.

351

: 00:18:17

Totally.

352

: 00:18:17

But you're like my mother too.

353

: 00:18:18

She has to write everything

down and it's comical some days.

354

: 00:18:22

I'm surprised she doesn't have

a room full of post-it notes.

355

: 00:18:25

Mike: That's right.

356

: 00:18:26

Yeah.

357

: 00:18:26

Yeah.

358

: 00:18:27

What about, so if we talk about, I know

a big part of what you're passionate

359

: 00:18:32

about is challenging the stigma, right?

360

: 00:18:34

And changing people's

minds about labels yeah.

361

: 00:18:37

People aren't broken, right?

362

: 00:18:38

They're, they have a lot to offer.

363

: 00:18:40

So what would be some of the most

frustrating stereotypes about autism

364

: 00:18:44

that you're hoping to break down?

365

: 00:18:47

Sam: The frustrating stereotypes I'm

hoping to break down is, one, we can't do

366

: 00:18:50

anything is the main one, which I still

find definitely that people believe that.

367

: 00:18:54

But two, I'm also trying to change that

these behaviors we have isn't harmful.

368

: 00:18:59

So one of the behaviors I have

is I can be very blunt and tell

369

: 00:19:02

you how it is and sometimes it.

370

: 00:19:05

By nature, by French,

but pisses people off.

371

: 00:19:08

It needs to stop that.

372

: 00:19:09

Because it's the truth.

373

: 00:19:10

And sometimes whether you like it or

not, the truth hurts, but sometimes

374

: 00:19:14

I think the truth needs to be heard.

375

: 00:19:16

Mike: Yeah.

376

: 00:19:17

Yeah, for sure.

377

: 00:19:18

I think that's refreshing.

378

: 00:19:19

I think on the other hand, if people beat

around the bush and are, I think being

379

: 00:19:23

Canadian, we're notorious for being overly

nice and maybe passive aggressive and so

380

: 00:19:28

I, something I recognize when I travel

to the states just in terms of a bit of a

381

: 00:19:32

cultural difference, is that, in general,

I don't wanna stereotype myself here,

382

: 00:19:36

but in general I've noticed that folks

in the states are more blunt and direct,

383

: 00:19:41

and I think that's refreshing when I go

down in a lot of ways because come back

384

: 00:19:45

to Canada and everyone's tiptoeing around

the elephant in the room and being, I.

385

: 00:19:50

Got beating around the bush, as I say.

386

: 00:19:52

So it's I think that's important

to be upfront and out there as

387

: 00:19:55

long as you're respectful with it.

388

: 00:19:56

When you're being in, out, out front with

what you're saying and what you believe.

389

: 00:20:00

Sam: And let's be real.

390

: 00:20:01

Can you really enjoy where you

are unless you don't address

391

: 00:20:04

the elephant in the room?

392

: 00:20:06

Mike: Yeah, for sure.

393

: 00:20:07

Absolutely.

394

: 00:20:08

I think it's about being honest and

being genuine and authentic, right?

395

: 00:20:12

Sam: I agree bud.

396

: 00:20:14

Mike: Yeah.

397

: 00:20:14

Yeah, for sure.

398

: 00:20:15

How about your creative process in

terms of things like entertainment?

399

: 00:20:18

What part of, let's look

at the podcasting piece.

400

: 00:20:21

What part of podcasting do

you find the most enjoyable?

401

: 00:20:25

Sam: I think because of my A

DHD, the editing, I know a lot

402

: 00:20:27

of podcasters, I'm not like that.

403

: 00:20:29

I'm one of the odd ducks that

likes it because in my brain

404

: 00:20:32

I'm playing a detective where,

oh, okay, here's the oh space.

405

: 00:20:37

Oh, here's this.

406

: 00:20:39

Sometimes it relaxes me.

407

: 00:20:41

It has relaxed me to a point

because I'm being extremely

408

: 00:20:46

productive and doing something.

409

: 00:20:48

Whereas some people, it takes 'em too long

and they don't wanna be that productive.

410

: 00:20:53

I don't have that in me.

411

: 00:20:56

Mike: Yeah, that's really cool.

412

: 00:20:58

It's a neat about doing that production

side and how podcasting has made it.

413

: 00:21:03

Accessible for people who,

aren't necessarily plugged

414

: 00:21:06

right into like TV or radio.

415

: 00:21:08

Tv.

416

: 00:21:08

Radio or movies as far as

that, as their main job.

417

: 00:21:11

So tinkering and with the, I'm

curious to know what platform, what,

418

: 00:21:14

like what technology are you using

for your plat, for your podcast?

419

: 00:21:18

I use Audacity.

420

: 00:21:20

Sam: It's free.

421

: 00:21:21

I don't Cool.

422

: 00:21:21

I'm too broke to pay for

Adobe and the other stuff.

423

: 00:21:25

Mike: Yeah.

424

: 00:21:25

Heck, I mean if I try and make

use of as much as the free stuff

425

: 00:21:28

online as I can in terms of, yeah.

426

: 00:21:30

Like using this kind of platform

with Google Meet works really well.

427

: 00:21:34

And it seems pretty reliable, do

you, for your podcast episodes,

428

: 00:21:37

do you tend to script them or

do you go more off the cuff?

429

: 00:21:41

Sam: I script them like

it's a little bit of.

430

: 00:21:43

I'll read a little blurb of what my main

topic is, but then the elaboration part

431

: 00:21:49

of where I go on and on, that's all me.

432

: 00:21:52

Mike: Yeah.

433

: 00:21:53

No, that's great.

434

: 00:21:54

I think it's important, again, to

have a balance of being somewhat

435

: 00:21:56

structured, but also somewhat flexible

and just going with the flow, right?

436

: 00:22:00

Sam: I agree.

437

: 00:22:03

Mike: In terms of things like, the

community, 'cause I think it strikes

438

: 00:22:06

me that a big part of what you're

doing is building community, building

439

: 00:22:09

awareness and also advocating.

440

: 00:22:12

And so I'm curious, maybe you can

help us to understand what does

441

: 00:22:16

that sense of community mean to

you and how has the podcasting

442

: 00:22:20

helped you to build that community?

443

: 00:22:22

Sam: I think it's itself because

there's people out there who have

444

: 00:22:25

been through what I've been through

when I think when you get to a point

445

: 00:22:28

where you become so depressed, you

become selfish and you forget there's

446

: 00:22:32

other people out there who are going

through what you've been through.

447

: 00:22:37

Having this podcast reminds me, oh,

I can not only use my story for good,

448

: 00:22:42

but I can help people and maybe even

if I get lucky, get to them to a point

449

: 00:22:47

where I'm at, which is successful.

450

: 00:22:51

To me, success doesn't look

the same for everybody.

451

: 00:22:54

Society accept that too.

452

: 00:22:56

Like to me, this is a crazy belief,

but I think it proves my point with T.

453

: 00:23:02

Gain the limo.

454

: 00:23:03

Gain the limo, I'm sorry.

455

: 00:23:05

Getting the mail and owning a limo like

Taylor Swift does, or trying another big

456

: 00:23:09

time cel, celebrity Morgan Wallen does.

457

: 00:23:11

If I had a guess.

458

: 00:23:12

I'm guessing he does

equally each other out.

459

: 00:23:14

Mike: Yeah.

460

: 00:23:15

Yeah, absolutely.

461

: 00:23:16

For sure.

462

: 00:23:17

I think it's, again, it's admirable.

463

: 00:23:19

Admirable that you're building

that community and just

464

: 00:23:22

bringing that positive message.

465

: 00:23:23

I think it is another thing about

podcasting that, because it's

466

: 00:23:27

something that someone can do in

the privacy of their own room, and

467

: 00:23:31

maybe if they are feeling lonely

and isolated, they can listen in

468

: 00:23:36

and they can really get a lot of.

469

: 00:23:38

Encouragement and help from someone

like you and your guests and your

470

: 00:23:42

message to just join that community and

feel like there's some kinship, right?

471

: 00:23:48

So that they've got someone to

listen to, maybe, someone to, to add.

472

: 00:23:52

If they can add their thoughts

in the comments and build some

473

: 00:23:55

sort of communication with

you and your guests as well.

474

: 00:23:58

How is it going?

475

: 00:23:59

I'm curious in terms of that.

476

: 00:24:01

Are you finding that you're.

477

: 00:24:02

You're building these conversations

with people that are reaching out and

478

: 00:24:06

telling you that they enjoy your podcast

and that they appreciate your efforts.

479

: 00:24:09

Sam: They do appreciate my

efforts because they actually find

480

: 00:24:14

someone that understands them.

481

: 00:24:17

I've had people actually listen to

my show and they nod their head and

482

: 00:24:20

be like, oh my gosh, someone gets me

and my mother's a key role to it too.

483

: 00:24:25

We both try to advocate for parents.

484

: 00:24:27

Who had just got the newly diagnosis.

485

: 00:24:29

We actually, I had my interview today

with this parent who actually, we

486

: 00:24:34

got to know him through my college

and she went to lunch with my mom

487

: 00:24:37

and just asked her questions because

when she got the diagnosis, she was

488

: 00:24:42

new and she's definitely, I don't

wanna say unintelligent, she's very

489

: 00:24:45

smart, but like any other parent,

she was freaked out because she was

490

: 00:24:50

scared what am I gonna have to do?

491

: 00:24:52

Am I gonna have to raise

a child my whole life?

492

: 00:24:55

Am I gonna have to.

493

: 00:24:57

Pretty much be a mom my whole life.

494

: 00:24:59

Am I gonna have him live independently?

495

: 00:25:02

Am I gonna, what am I got to teach him?

496

: 00:25:04

What am I not gonna have to teach him?

497

: 00:25:06

She just had so much questions

that need to be answered and we

498

: 00:25:08

were very happy to answer them.

499

: 00:25:10

It felt pretty dang good.

500

: 00:25:13

Mike: Yeah, I bet.

501

: 00:25:13

I think that's fantastic.

502

: 00:25:15

That's really great to hear that, you

and your mom are working as a team in

503

: 00:25:19

that way because it strikes me that

it's not only the individuals who

504

: 00:25:23

are in need of some kind of support

and community, but it's the family.

505

: 00:25:28

It's it extends beyond the individual

and it involves family from the point

506

: 00:25:32

of diagnosis all the way through to, all

the things that, that you're discussing.

507

: 00:25:36

Do you have some advice?

508

: 00:25:37

If you can just expand on that a

little bit, maybe some advice or

509

: 00:25:41

general suggestions that you might

give to say parents or other family

510

: 00:25:45

members or even people like, teachers,

counselors, employers, who wanna

511

: 00:25:50

better support folks who have this

kind of diagnosis, on the spectrum.

512

: 00:25:58

Sam: For them I would say they need

to tap into their child's interest

513

: 00:26:01

or their student's interest.

514

: 00:26:03

If you tapped into their interests,

they're likely more to be engaged.

515

: 00:26:07

Instead of trying to solve them with

a regular geometry math problem,

516

: 00:26:11

try using a wrestling ring for me.

517

: 00:26:13

'cause to this day, I would've loved if

someone literally used a wrestling ring

518

: 00:26:18

for a story problem in geometry class.

519

: 00:26:21

I wasn't.

520

: 00:26:23

'cause I would've been more engaged.

521

: 00:26:24

And I hate math.

522

: 00:26:25

I'm not a math guy, but

that makes me interested.

523

: 00:26:29

I wanna know the size

of that wrestling ring.

524

: 00:26:32

Mike: That's awesome.

525

: 00:26:33

So thinking creatively about how to bring

someone's interest, what they're curious

526

: 00:26:39

about, what they're already interested

in, and framing something like math

527

: 00:26:44

in a way that pulls them in based on

their interest, I think that's awesome.

528

: 00:26:48

Sam: Yep.

529

: 00:26:48

That's what you need to do.

530

: 00:26:50

Or we're gonna not be paying

attention all the way.

531

: 00:26:54

Mike: Yeah.

532

: 00:26:55

No, that's fantastic.

533

: 00:26:56

Can you think if, just talking a bit

about how you and your mom are a team,

534

: 00:27:00

they're helping for instance, youngsters

and their parents, what would be something

535

: 00:27:06

that is a typical way that you and

or your mom would work together as a

536

: 00:27:09

team to help other families that way?

537

: 00:27:13

Sam: We do conferences and events.

538

: 00:27:15

I also do speaking engagements as well

to help that, to really show people that.

539

: 00:27:21

We can do this together.

540

: 00:27:22

If you step up.

541

: 00:27:24

We've done our part stepping up now.

542

: 00:27:26

It's your turn.

543

: 00:27:30

Mike: Yeah.

544

: 00:27:30

That's really cool.

545

: 00:27:31

I'm sure that people are really

appreciating those events as well,

546

: 00:27:35

just to get their questions answered.

547

: 00:27:36

And also, I think the podcast side

for building community is one thing,

548

: 00:27:40

but it's another thing to compliment

that with live events, right?

549

: 00:27:44

Where people can actually come meet

and talk with you and your mom and

550

: 00:27:47

with others who are there to get

that kind of sense of peer support.

551

: 00:27:51

That is really crucial, right?

552

: 00:27:53

Because then they can exchange contact

information and then they can share

553

: 00:27:56

stories about what worked and what

didn't work and other kinds of challenges

554

: 00:28:00

that they can help each other with.

555

: 00:28:02

Sam: Exactly.

556

: 00:28:03

I agree, man,

557

: 00:28:05

Mike: that's really cool.

558

: 00:28:06

Do you think in general, you hear more

about these kinds of things these days

559

: 00:28:10

certainly than you did When I was a kid.

560

: 00:28:12

Do you think society in general is

becoming more accepting and inclusive,

561

: 00:28:16

or is there still a long way to go?

562

: 00:28:18

Sam: There's still a long way to go.

563

: 00:28:20

We're aware of it, but we need to be more

accepting of it, and that's what's gained.

564

: 00:28:25

So aggravating is there's still some

people who don't want to accept it because

565

: 00:28:30

they think it's a disease or they, it

was one time once upon a time compared

566

: 00:28:35

to cancer, and that says anything.

567

: 00:28:38

And no, I'm not cancerous.

568

: 00:28:40

I'm doing fine in life.

569

: 00:28:42

We need to see that.

570

: 00:28:43

Let's grow up.

571

: 00:28:46

Mike: Yeah.

572

: 00:28:47

Definitely.

573

: 00:28:47

So again, taking away the stigma, taking

away the sense that there's something

574

: 00:28:51

broken or that needs to be fixed.

575

: 00:28:53

And looking at instead,

don't let me describe it.

576

: 00:28:57

What would you say is the alternative to

that as far as what you would wanna see?

577

: 00:29:01

Sam: World awareness accepted and

it's not compared to any other.

578

: 00:29:05

I compete with something that

you could actually die from.

579

: 00:29:08

'cause autism is not

equal a death sentence.

580

: 00:29:10

It equals honestly a life sentence

because we might see the world in

581

: 00:29:14

a different way, but guess what?

582

: 00:29:17

We're still gonna be the people.

583

: 00:29:20

We are.

584

: 00:29:22

Mike: Yeah.

585

: 00:29:22

Sam: And all we want is to

fit in like everyone else.

586

: 00:29:25

Yeah.

587

: 00:29:26

Mike: Despite

588

: 00:29:26

Sam: our differences.

589

: 00:29:28

We're gonna do our best to

try, but you gotta try too.

590

: 00:29:31

And it's not where we

conform to one world.

591

: 00:29:34

Form to us too.

592

: 00:29:37

Mike: Yeah, for sure.

593

: 00:29:38

I love that message.

594

: 00:29:39

It's strong and you're advocating for

rights and I think that's really positive.

595

: 00:29:45

I think I really appreciate that.

596

: 00:29:47

I'm curious, so autism, rocks and roll.

597

: 00:29:49

So how long have you been, how

long have you been doing that now?

598

: 00:29:53

For,

599

: 00:29:54

Sam: since October, 2019.

600

: 00:29:55

I can't remember the exact day,

unfortunately, but I do know

601

: 00:29:57

it was October, 2019 when I

first started my own podcast.

602

: 00:30:01

Mike: That's awesome.

603

: 00:30:02

Good for you.

604

: 00:30:02

So we're on like six years now

or so, so that's fantastic.

605

: 00:30:06

So for folks watching and

listening, we'll definitely put

606

: 00:30:08

links in the show notes below.

607

: 00:30:09

I'd really encourage you to

check out Sam's podcast and other

608

: 00:30:13

content that we can link to.

609

: 00:30:15

Are there any upcoming projects,

any particular upcoming episodes

610

: 00:30:19

that you're excited about?

611

: 00:30:21

Sam: One today.

612

: 00:30:22

It's like I said, of incense, PBS star

Allison Bowers is gonna be on my show,

613

: 00:30:26

but that's where she's from, but I think,

so I'm proud just coming up is we have

614

: 00:30:29

a book in the works of a publisher.

615

: 00:30:31

We have educational

modules being developed.

616

: 00:30:34

I'll be a vendor for the Hall of

Heroes ComicCon in May, which is

617

: 00:30:37

a comic convention, like a comic

book convention, about why those

618

: 00:30:40

on Spectrum are superheroes.

619

: 00:30:42

That's what my view's gonna be about.

620

: 00:30:43

Next, we're gonna be a vendor for the

Pro Wrestling Convention called the

621

: 00:30:46

Squared Circle Expo, sharing my wrestling

episodes about pro wrestling and who

622

: 00:30:53

about the wrestlers I've had on there.

623

: 00:30:55

And then I have a DEI conference that

I'm gonna get paid for to speak at.

624

: 00:31:00

And then I think yesterday I got accepted

into a special education conference called

625

: 00:31:04

the Case Conference in Oklahoma City.

626

: 00:31:08

Mike: That's so awesome.

627

: 00:31:09

That's fantastic.

628

: 00:31:11

That's really cool with the

wrestling piece as well.

629

: 00:31:13

I think obviously that's an interest of

yours and a love of yours, and I think

630

: 00:31:16

that's so great that you've been able to

interview pro wrestlers and that you've

631

: 00:31:20

got a lot of, as we were just talking

about, you're integrating your interest

632

: 00:31:24

in that into what you're doing and helping

the profile of people like pro wrestlers,

633

: 00:31:29

just to get your message out there.

634

: 00:31:31

Sam: Exactly.

635

: 00:31:33

Mike: That's awesome.

636

: 00:31:34

So you know, it sounds

like you're super busy.

637

: 00:31:36

There's a lot coming up now for you guys.

638

: 00:31:38

Where are you hoping to

be in say, five years?

639

: 00:31:40

Like personally, professionally?

640

: 00:31:42

How's that looking for you?

641

: 00:31:43

Sam: Or, I could make ends meet

and maybe it's to the point where

642

: 00:31:46

my job is autism, rocks and rolls.

643

: 00:31:48

But we'll see.

644

: 00:31:49

The only time we'll tell, I do

know I'll be graduating in May.

645

: 00:31:52

So that's maybe a start.

646

: 00:31:54

Mike: That's fantastic.

647

: 00:31:54

Yeah.

648

: 00:31:55

What's your program now that you're

graduate, that you're studying for?

649

: 00:31:57

Sam: I attend

650

: 00:31:58

university.

651

: 00:31:58

I will have an associate's

degree in broadcasting.

652

: 00:32:02

Mike: Fantastic.

653

: 00:32:03

Congratulations.

654

: 00:32:04

I think that's so awesome.

655

: 00:32:05

So there you go.

656

: 00:32:05

It's bringing it all together with your

education and your passion for podcasting.

657

: 00:32:09

That's awesome.

658

: 00:32:10

How can viewers and listeners best support

your work and help to spread your message?

659

: 00:32:14

Sam: You can find me on your

favorite media platforms.

660

: 00:32:16

I'm not a hard guy to find.

661

: 00:32:17

If you google me in your search engine

optimization, something will pop up.

662

: 00:32:22

But don't do Sam Mitchell, 'cause

that is a basketball coach.

663

: 00:32:25

You probably should search

autism rocks and rolls.

664

: 00:32:27

That is your best bet.

665

: 00:32:29

Mike: Sounds good.

666

: 00:32:30

So autism, rocks and rolls for

everyone on Google or with your

667

: 00:32:34

chat GPT now that seems to be taking

over Google, whatever your favorite

668

: 00:32:38

ways of searching the net searching

online, and of course the podcasts.

669

: 00:32:43

As I said, really encourage

everyone to check it out.

670

: 00:32:46

And yeah.

671

: 00:32:47

Other things that are interesting

that Sam, you want in the show notes

672

: 00:32:51

below, maybe links to how people can

look forward to your book and other.

673

: 00:32:56

Presentations, conferences that

you're talking about that are coming

674

: 00:32:59

up, we can all, we can make sure

those links are in the show notes.

675

: 00:33:01

So look, Sam, I know I know that

you've, you're a busy person and you

676

: 00:33:05

gotta get going with other things.

677

: 00:33:07

So just wanted to thank you again

for an interesting discussion.

678

: 00:33:10

Is there anything that you wanted to

close with before we wrap up today?

679

: 00:33:14

Sam: It's not really words of wisdom.

680

: 00:33:15

I think it's the truth.

681

: 00:33:16

If the room could be nice and

not act so stupid, I think

682

: 00:33:19

we get along so much better.

683

: 00:33:20

Don't you think?

684

: 00:33:21

Mike: A hundred percent.

685

: 00:33:22

Yeah, and I think, like we were

saying, a lot of it probably comes

686

: 00:33:25

down to honesty, respect, and just

looking at the positive side of things.

687

: 00:33:30

I think most folks will have let me

say, all folks will have some kind of

688

: 00:33:34

challenges in life, some more than others.

689

: 00:33:37

And I think if we just come to terms with

that and try to not stigmatize people,

690

: 00:33:41

but look at how people can grow through

challenges and that ends up being a

691

: 00:33:44

strength in a way, then maybe we can look

at these things in a more positive light.

692

: 00:33:49

Sam: Brian.

693

: 00:33:50

I agree, man.

694

: 00:33:51

Thank you again for your time.

695

: 00:33:52

I had a blast.

696

: 00:33:53

Mike: Yeah, for sure.

697

: 00:33:53

Thanks again, Sam.

698

: 00:33:54

All the best with everything that

you're doing in the next while.

699

: 00:33:57

Thanks so much for joining us today

on the Neurostimulation Podcast.

700

: 00:34:01

I hope that you enjoyed this

discussion as much as I did.

701

: 00:34:06

If you found today's episode

interesting, please don't forget to

702

: 00:34:09

like and subscribe to the podcast.

703

: 00:34:11

It really is the best way to make

sure that you never miss an episode,

704

: 00:34:15

but it also helps us to reach

more curious minds like yours.

705

: 00:34:19

If you think that today's episode might

resonate with a friend, family member, or

706

: 00:34:23

a colleague, please share it with them.

707

: 00:34:26

Knowledge is better when it's shared

and you never know who might find

708

: 00:34:29

this information helpful or inspiring.

709

: 00:34:33

For more details about Sam's project,

platform and mission, please check out

710

: 00:34:39

information in the links that are attached

to the show notes below, and if you

711

: 00:34:44

have any questions or want to make some

comments, please indicate those in the

712

: 00:34:49

comment section or reach out to us on our

social media, your questions, ideas, and

713

: 00:34:54

feedback make this podcast so much better.

714

: 00:34:58

Finally, don't forget to

tune into the next episode.

715

: 00:35:00

It's going to be another exciting journey

into the cutting edge of neuroscience.

716

: 00:35:05

Thanks again for watching and listening.

717

: 00:35:07

Take care and I'll see you next time

on the Neurostimulation Podcast.