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EPISODE 11
Nobody’s Normal with Dr. Richard Grinker

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…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1. Richard Grinker talks about how awareness of autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities has changed in his international work. What are some of the changes that he has witnessed.? If you have traveled to other cultures, what differences do you see in attitudes about the understanding of autism in that culture?

2. Richard believes that open discussion and use of language that refers to various conditions, disclosure about a person’s diagnosis may help to reduce stigma. Why does he believe that, and do you agree with him or not?

3. The title of Richard’s new book is “Nobody’s Normal: How Culture Created the Stigma of Mental Illness”. Why did he choose this title, and what does it say about how stigma associated with neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions is changing? if you have had any direct experiences with people with diagnosed conditions in your family or in your relationships, how have these changes been helpful or not for the people you know.

Featuring

richard-grinker-photo1

DR. RICHARD GRINKER

“I’m the strange product of three generations of psychiatrists and psychoanalysts, and an autism dad who loves to play jazz piano.

My daughter’s autism, her consistent happiness, and our unconditional love for her, challenged everything I thought about traditional values like independence and autonomy. I’ve learned that disabilities don’t have to involve isolation and suffering, that disabilities connect people in relationships of care and reciprocity, and that to be dependent (and interdependent) is to be human.”

RICHARD’S BOOKS:

Nobody’s Normal: How Culture Created the Stigma of Mental Illness

Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism

Show Notes

Barry and Dave are joined by Dr. Richard Grinker to discuss his new book, “Nobody’s Normal,” and how culture has created a stigma of mental illness.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.