{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"151 [S11 E6] The same type of different: autistic identity, South Asian stories and the model minority myth","description":"Mrinal Gokhale is an author, writer, and speaker based in Wisconsin in the United States, passionate about all things psychology and wellness. Since becoming an author, Mrinal has written for and collaborated with platforms to discuss South Asian and Asian American mental health. She has a Bachelor's degree in marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Now 35, Mrinal is the author of two books, the latest of which, Taboo: South Asian Mental Health Stories, is a collection of lived experience accounts from people of South Asian descent about navigating mental illness, neurodivergence, identity, culture, sexuality, trauma, and other topics often considered taboo in South Asian communities. In our conversation Mrinal shares how finding neurodivergent community has reshaped her sense of self, belonging, and work. She talks about navigating neurodivergence within South Asian culture, the weight of the model minority myth, and growing up under straight\u2011A, STEM\u2011focused parental expectations, when her strengths lay in reading, writing, and storytelling.  We explore her move from permanent roles into contracting, what kinds of workplaces and team structures best support her autistic needs, and why self\u2011employment isn\u2019t automatically a better option for us. Mrinal also describes her experience of having EMDR therapy to process years of bullying and undiagnosed autism, and the positive outcomes this has had for her. I first talked with Mrinal in Season 2 of Squarepeg. Squarepeg is a podcast in which I talk to other late identified autistic women and nonbinary people about their lives, their autism journeys, and what they\u2019ve learned along the way. I\u2019m Amy Richards, and I was diagnosed autistic in 2016, when I was 37. I\u2019ve been sharing my conversations with other autistic adults since 2020. I hope you'll find these conversations inspiring and thought provoking, and that they\u2019ll help you feel more connected to a worldwide community of people with similar experiences.   \u27a1\ufe0fLISTEN AD-FREE WHEN YOU BECOME A PATREON SUPPORTER https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/squarepegpodcast    EPISODE LINKS: Mrinal\u2019s links page: http:\/\/linktr.ee\/mgokhale Mrinal\u2019s original SquarePeg episode (Episode 17 - S2 E5): https:\/\/squarepeg.community\/17-s2-ep5-getting-the-skills-and-support-to-navigate-life-and-work\/    If you'd like to connect with me, get in touch or follow Squarepeg, you can find me on: Website: https:\/\/squarepeg.community\/  Patreon: https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/squarepegpodcast  Instagram: https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/squarepeg.community\/ Facebook: https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/squarepegautism\/  THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS!   A HUGE thank you to my amazing patrons, who support my work on the podcast:   Abi Hunter, Alex, Alex Lee, Alice Kemp, A-M, Amy Adler, Anika Lacerte, Annette, Annie, Anya Nebl, Aubrey Brand, B Martinez, Barbara, Basia, Becca Lee, Becky Beasley, Ben Davies, Beth Kelly Herbert, Bobbi Sue, Caprice, Carly, Caroline, Cat Preston, C M, Claire Gerard, Corinne Cariad, Corrine L. McDermid, Dana, Dana Bradley, Danielle Warby, Danielle Wrench, Daphna Epstein, Deanna M. Counts Goldy, Deidre Stark, Dennis McNulty,, Eleanor Goulding, Em, Emma Franks, Erica Kenworthy, Erin Mazow, Evgeniia Pupysheva, Ewan McNeill, Frederike, Galina, George Cole, H.B, Hannah Breslin, Heather Peake, Helen Anne Hooker, Helen Crosby, Helen Delaney, Holly Knight-Smith, India, Jackie Allen, Jane, Janice, Jennifer Romanello, Jess Dwyer, Julie, Julie Goldberg, Karen, Karin Parker, KatF, Kate, Kathryn, Katharine Richards, Katherine Meizel, Katie, Ken K, Kim Mortstock, Laura, Laura, Laurin Aman, Lilli Simmons, Lisa, Lisa Joy Powley, Lisa Williams, Liz, Liz P, Lula Cork, Maggie Dodd, Mandy Allen, Marjory Webber, Meg c, Melissa Shaw, Meredith L. Freyre, Mindy Wigzell, Monica Toohey, N, NC, Nicola Neil, Rebecca, Rebecca Biegel, Sadie Slater, Sandra Carey, Sandra Chapman, Sandra Rensman, Sandy Klarsten, Sandy Ladkin, Sarah Jeffrey, Sarah LW, Sarah Musgrave, Sarah Raine, Sarah Whitehead, Shelia Smith, Siobhan, Sophie King, Talia's Nature,Tris, Vicki Temple, Victoria Jeffrey and Zans McLachlan.   If you\u2019re enjoying the Squarepeg podcast and would like to help me carry on making new episodes, you can become a member of the Squarepeg community on Patreon from \u00a33 per month: https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/squarepegpodcast    ","author_name":"The Squarepeg Podcast","author_url":"https:\/\/squarepeg.community\/podcast\/","html":"