E409-INNER VOICE: A HEARTFELT CHAT WITH DR. FOOJAN ON AUTISTIC’S GUIDE TO SELF-DISCOVERY WITH SOL SMITH

🎙 E409 – “Inner Voice: A Heartfelt Chat with Dr. Foojan Zeine” Featuring Sol Smith Listen Now ➡️ YouTube | iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play 🌐 Visit: www.FoojanZeine.com | www.AwarenessIntegration.com | www.Foojan.com Join Dr. Foojan Zeine in this compelling conversation with Sol Smith, certified autism specialist, author of The Autistic's Guide to Self-Discovery, and a neurodivergent coach (autistic, dyslexic, and ADHD). Sol brings over 20 years of experience as a former college professor and now dedicates his work to empowering autistic and ADHD individuals through coaching and advocacy. With a viral TikTok presence and global corporate seminars on neurodiversity, Sol shares his personal and professional journey. Connect with him at 👉 www.ProfessorSol.com 🏅 Ranked #1 on FeedSpot's 20 Best California Mental Health Podcasts: View List ⏱️ Episode Highlights with Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro to Dr. Foojan Zeine and Guest Sol Smith Dr. Foojan introduces Sol Smith, his background, and his shift from academia to advocacy. 02:15 – The Journey of Autism Self-Discovery Sol shares how years of feeling “different” and three years of research led to his self-identification as autistic and ADHD. He opens up about the challenges of "coming out" to family and the internal fear of being an impostor. 06:43 – Understanding the Autism Spectrum Discussion on the diverse expression of autism, the evolution from Asperger’s to a unified autism diagnosis, and how autistic traits reflect amplified human traits. 11:12 – Sensory Processing Differences in Autistics Sol explains the intensified sensory world of autistic individuals, the difficulty in filtering input, literal speech interpretation, and unique processing styles. 15:20 – ADHD vs. Autism Processing and Eye Contact Challenges A look at how autistic and ADHD individuals process abstract concepts differently. Dr. Foojan shares clinical insights on client communication and eye contact. 19:50 – Literal Thinking and Communication Barriers Sol describes how misinterpretation due to literal language can appear argumentative, and how social cues may be missed or misread by autistic individuals. 24:08 – Emotion Regulation and Mirror Neuron Function Sol discusses how underactive mirror neurons affect emotional learning, the tendency for emotional overwhelm, and how autistics “think” feelings rather than feel them directly. 29:37 – The Benefits of Early Autism Diagnosis Dr. Foojan highlights Sol’s book for parents and explains how early diagnosis leads to better outcomes. Sol stresses transparency about diagnoses and challenges faced by late-diagnosed adults. 34:25 – Non-Traditional Learning & Academic Success Sol shares a story about his daughter excelling with a Rubik’s cube obsession, showing how passion-driven, alternative learning paths empower autistic learners. 38:47 – Neurodivergent Community & Support Resources Sol recommends listening to other autistics, using social media for connection, and joining communities like neurospicycommunity.com to navigate neurodivergence. 42:03 – Autism, Identity, and Self-Acceptance Dr. Foojan and Sol explore how understanding labels aids self-management, the role of environment and genetics, and why Sol embraces autism as an essential part of his identity. 📚 Recommended Reading: The Autistic’s Guide to Self-Discovery by Sol Smith – A valuable resource for autistic adults and parents of neurodivergent children. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, & Share the Podcast: Help others discover meaningful conversations by subscribing, rating, and reviewing the podcast! 🎧 Listen on: iTunes Google Play Stitcher YouTube 📲 Connect with Dr. Foojan: Facebook Instagram Twitter/X LinkedIn TikTok