In Honor of Steve Silberman: Reflections on the Impact of Neurotribes in Steve's Own Voice

EPISODE 136
In Honor of Steve Silberman:
Reflections on the Impact of Neurotribes
in Steve’s Own Voice

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Show Notes

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the publication of Neurotribes, Barry and Dave reflect back on their friendship with Steve Silberman, who passed last year, by revisiting and discussing portions of their podcast interview with Steve in the Fall of 2021, the third episode of Uniquely Human: The Podcast. Filled with humor and reflections, our goal is to express gratitude to Steve for all of his contributions and the unique human he was, and to ensure that those who did not know him develop a deep appreciation for his profound influence on changing the narrative about autism and neurodiversity.

Featuring

Steve Silberman

Steve Silberman

Steve Silberman was an award-winning science writer best known for his international best-seller, NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity (Avery 2015), that helped to launch and shape the neurodiversity movement.  Oliver Sacks called Neurotribes a “sweeping and penetrating history…presented with a rare sympathy and sensitivity.” Steve also published articles appeared in Wired, the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Boston Globe, the MIT Technology Review, Nature, Salon, Shambhala Sun, and many other publications. Steve was focused on helping to build a more humane, respectful, and accessible world for people on the spectrum while trying to be a good ally in their fight for accommodations and civil rights.

Steve and Barry developed a special friendship over many years due to their two books, NeuroTribes and Uniquely Human, being published within weeks of each other in 2015, and reviewed as “must read” companion volumes by Nature, the Chicago Tribune and other respected periodicals. Steve and Barry shared time together across the country at conferences and social gatherings, and in regular phone conversations enjoying deep discussions about their common goals and values in understanding autistic and neurodivergent people, and in deconstructing the lens of pathology that has caused so much misunderstanding and suffering for neurodivergent individuals.

…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) What do you feel has been the major impact of Neurotribes and the messages shared by Steve Silberman? Provide specifics of how you have changed or have observed others change due to his work.

2) What do you see as the most significant similarities in the messaging of NeuroTribes and Steve’s work, and Uniquely Human book and podcast?

3) What are the primary changes that remain a high priority in how society understands autistic and neurodivergent people? How do you intend, as a parent, professional, or neurodivergent person to continue to carry Steve’s message forward?

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.