Why I Created This Mini-Series: A Personal and Professional Journey

jeremy

Well, here we are – episode one! And I thought I’d start by answering a pretty basic question: why did I create this mini-series in the first place? I mean, let’s be honest, just what the world needs, right? Another podcast. But, really, this idea started brewing years ago, in the emergency department, of all places.

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You see, working in emergency medicine, you see it all. And I mean all. I’ve seen people deal with unimaginable crises, families rallying around each other, and yeah, the occasional head-scratcher… like the time I had to tell someone not to treat their sprained ankle with a deep-fried Mars bar. Long story. But over time, there was one situation that kept gnawing at me, over and over: how truly unprepared we are in healthcare, especially in emergency settings—to treat autistic patients effectively. And, well, that’s not OK.

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Now, part of my motivation is, let’s call it professional guilt. There are moments you look back on and you think... 'I could’ve done that better. I should’ve done that better.' And then it gets personal for me, too. You might know that my son is autistic, and I gotta tell you, parenting a neurodivergent child has been like getting a PhD in understanding human needs—or at least realizing I knew nothing about them to start with. And the kicker? Some of the most valuable lessons about compassion, communication, and yes, patience, have come from him.

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So, there was this "aha" moment for me, where I thought, 'Wait a minute. I’ve got this unique combo of experiences as both a dad and a doctor. Why don’t I use it?' You know, put the stories, the knowledge, the ridiculous healthcare quirks—like why we still use fax machines—into something that might actually help people? And not just medical professionals, but families, parents, anyone who wants to understand this a little better.

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It’s also about challenging the myths, like this idea that autistic people don’t feel pain the same way—we’ll unpack that in another episode, trust me. But for now, just know that what I really wanna do here is bridge this gap, right? The gap between what healthcare feels like for neurodivergent patients and what it should feel like. It’s not impossible. It just takes intentionality, some—well, a lot of—learning, and most importantly, listening.

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So, that's the gist of why this podcast exists: to share stories, have some laughs along the way—and maybe, just maybe—make emergency medicine a little less overwhelming for those who need it most.

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Now, talking about parenting a neurodivergent child, there’s this one moment that really changed everything for me...

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...this moment where it hit me that my son isn’t just teaching me how to be his dad, but how to be a better human being. You see, our journey started like it does for a lot of families—confusion, plenty of Googling, and if I’m honest, more than a few times where I thought, 'Am I even remotely qualified to do this?' Spoiler: I wasn’t. Not yet, anyway.

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But with him, it’s never been about being “qualified.” It's about figuring out what works. Like finding out he’s hypersensitive to loud noises. Not gonna lie, as an emergency doctor, I’m surrounded by constant beeps, alarms, and—yes—the occasional blood-curdling scream. For him, even the gentle hum of fluorescent lights can feel, well, catastrophic. It’s like being in a world that’s just too much, you know? And I realized that if I wanted to understand him, I’d have to start listening differently—not just with my ears, but with, you know, everything. Like, really tuning in and noticing the little things. It’s humbling, honestly. And exhausting. Both. Mostly both.

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Now, add ADHD into the mix, and the plot thickens, right? Turns out, while I was busy learning about him, I was also on my own crash course. My ADHD diagnosis came later in life. And let me tell you something—it was like being handed the instruction manual to your brain… about 30 years too late. Suddenly, all these quirks that I thought were just me being, well, "quirky," started making sense. Why I get hyper-focused on one thing and completely forget another. Why I feel like my brain’s doing aerobics on caffeine 24/7. Oh, and why I have this mountain of half-finished projects that I swear, one day, I will absolutely finish. Maybe.

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But what’s fascinating—no, actually what’s kind of liberating—is how much having ADHD has helped me relate to my son. It’s this weird kind of shared chaos, but one with its moments of absolute clarity. Like moments where I’m teaching him a strategy to calm down, and he’s inadvertently teaching me the same thing. Who knew coming up with sensory-friendly routines and sticking to them could keep *me* out of meltdown mode, too? It’s not something I saw coming, but honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

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So, when I say this podcast is personal, I mean deeply personal. It’s about all these layers of connection—living through them, and trying, trying to make sense of a world that doesn’t always meet us halfway. On both sides of the stethoscope, by the way. For me as a parent and for the families I see in the ER. That connection? It’s why I’m here, doing this. And trust me, it fuels me more than coffee does. Well… some days.

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And the funny thing is, once you’ve lived this stuff, you can’t unsee just how ill-equipped so many environments are for people like my son—or like me, for that matter…

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So let’s talk about the elephant in the room—or maybe the flashing lights and blaring alarms of the emergency department—because, honestly, those can feel like elephants too. Emergency settings, as they are right now, just aren’t built for neurodivergent patients. And if you’ve ever stepped foot in an ER, that’s probably not a surprise.

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I mean, think about it: loud noises, bright lights, unfamiliar faces asking rapid-fire questions—all while someone’s sitting there in pain, scared, or overstimulated. For most people, it’s overwhelming. For an autistic person, it’s like sensory apocalypse. And yet, this is where we’re expecting them to communicate what hurts or even sit still long enough to get treated. It’s no wonder things fall apart.

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And, you know, it’s not just about the environment. It’s also about us—healthcare providers. A lot of us haven’t been trained to recognize the needs of neurodivergent patients, let alone meet them. There’s this moment, you know, when you’re sitting in a room with a patient, and you realize you’re missing something crucial. Something you’re not trained to see. Yeah, that’s humbling. And it’s on us to do better.

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But here’s the thing: we can. With a little effort—well, maybe more than a little—we can redesign how we approach emergency care to make it work not just for neurodivergent patients, but for everyone. And the beauty is, it’s not always about sweeping changes. Sometimes it’s the small stuff, you know? Adjusting how we communicate, giving someone a quiet space to decompress. These aren’t moonshot ideas. They’re doable.

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This is what gets me up in the morning—and, OK, it’s partly caffeine—but mainly, it’s knowing that change is possible. The question is, are we willing to make space for it? Because if we are, if we really listen, we can turn emergency medicine into something that truly works for everyone.

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And that’s why this podcast exists. To break down these challenges, one by one, and figure out how we can do better, together.

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It’s important because, honestly, each episode will focus on a specific challenge, but it’s always with the goal of finding actionable strategies that make a difference in real time...

jeremy

Now let’s break down what this mini-series is actually about. Each episode dives into a specific challenge we face in healthcare when it comes to autistic patients. And we’re not just talking doom and gloom here—each one is packed with actionable strategies. Stuff you can take away and actually use, whether you’re in scrubs, sitting in a waiting room, or just trying to make sense of the system.

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And here’s the thing: this isn’t solely for clinicians. Sure, if you’re a healthcare professional, you’ll get a lot out of it. But it’s also for families, advocates, anyone who wants to change the way we care for autistic individuals. Because, let’s be real, healthcare isn’t just about doctors and nurses. It’s about everyone, working together, trying to do better. No pressure, right

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To sum it up, this mini-series is all about making healthcare more thoughtful, more accessible, and let’s be honest, way less stressful for autistic individuals. Because at the end of the day, healthcare should be for everyone, shouldn’t it?

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So, here we are at the end of this episode, and I just want to take a moment to say how much this whole series means to me. It's not just something I feel strongly about professionally—it’s personal. Deeply, deeply personal. This podcast exists because these challenges we’re talking about are real, and they need addressing.

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I hope as you’ve listened to this, you’ve walked away with not just ideas, but maybe a shift in perspective. Because, you know, when it comes to caring for autistic patients—or really, anybody—it’s not about grand gestures of excellence. It’s about understanding, about being willing to learn, and yeah, sometimes, being willing to laugh at how far we still have to go. Fax machines, I’m looking at you.

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But seriously, changing perspectives isn’t easy. And hey, if this episode’s helped even a little bit in making someone out there feel seen or understood? Then that’s worth all the podcast editing in the world. Well, almost.

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Now, a quick look ahead—next time, we’re diving into stress and conflict in healthcare. It’s a big one, right? How we react under pressure, how we handle moments of conflict, and, more importantly, how we respond in a way that de-escalates instead of escalates. There’s a lot to unpack, and trust me, I’m already bringing my coffee and my notes for that one.

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But for now, that’s all for today. Thanks for listening, truly. Stay curious, stay kind, and I’ll see you next time. Take care.