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I almost gasped when Richie mentioned specifically being anxious to go to the car dealership alone!! 😆 I had a fight with my husband last week because I was SO overwhelmed by the prospect of handling a car repair situation on my own (calling mechanics? finding a good one? explaining my issue? asking for what I need? following up? figuring out if it’s a fair price and if I’ve gotten what I need?) and he couldn’t understand why it felt so big for me. Exactly the kind of life task that feels so hard!

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So excited to listen to this (do not have time today, it's the day before I move so I have a lot to do) and so happy that Richie got to talk with you. DL, the link you put for the podcast is correct, but the text should say "Reclaiming the Garden," not "Back to the Garden." Thanks! Also if folks want to listen on other platforms and not just Apple Podcasts, you can click this link to listen on the Anchor site or go from that site to Spotify or other platforms: https://anchor.fm/reclaimingthegarden

Next week me and my co-host Anna are recording with Richie for their podcast Surviving Fundamentalism! It's going to be a lot of fun.

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Jul 20, 2022Liked by D.L. Mayfield

great interview! thanks both of you

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Jul 20, 2022Liked by D.L. Mayfield

The way you both talked about masking in this was so helpful and insightful for me. Masking is a coping mechanism, a tool, a skill, a trauma response that I have definitely used. But the mask also became my identity and I absorbed the values and shame that came along with it. I'm already planning on listening a second time and taking more notes!

Listening to this really made me think about how a lot of my extended family (both sides with a lot of Autistic, high sensitivity traits) seems to gravitate toward the church and conservatism because I think that acceptable behaviors and roles are so much more clear there so masking is easier, and the black and white thinking makes understanding things easier.

I cannot wait to dig into your podcast Richie! I downloaded all the episodes today. Thank you for sharing so vulnerably!

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Jul 20, 2022Liked by D.L. Mayfield

Thank you for providing a transcript! Some days trying to listen to content with my auditory processing disorder is like having alphabet soup thrown at me. I can do it, but transcripts are usually much easier.

And thank you so much for sharing your story Richie ❤️

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Jul 19, 2022Liked by D.L. Mayfield

Thank you for the inclusivity of the transcript! This broke some things open in me. Thank you and Richie too for being companions on my journey as I discover through your sharing some of the ways I’ve masked/am masking. All the feels. And I’m looking forward to (strange but true) learning about autistic burnout because I know that’s part of my story and I don’t know others with whom to relate. The relating, I’m learning, is helping me to uncover/discover/start to excavate. All the feels and ultimately gratitude.

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Ok, now I was finally able to give this a listen--"it [church community] saved my life but it also fucked me up." I resonate with that so much, Richie.

I'm looking forward to more episodes of this pod!!!

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This was a wonderful interview! RichieX is a beautiful human. I was brought to tears multiple times from things they expressed that I deeply related to. Especially the discussion on the mental/nervous system breakdowns. The burnout is sooo relatable to me. I also loved their description of masking. The more I hear people describe masking the more I notice it in myself.

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