New Podcast Episode: Love & Neurodiversity (Tuning into Development)
I’m so excited to share that a new episode of Tuning into Development is officially live — and I had the absolute joy of stepping in as a guest co-host for Kassie for this conversation. I truly had so much fun recording it, and I walked away feeling both inspired and deeply grateful.
This episode explores a topic that is often overlooked in neurodiversity conversations: love, dating, relationships, and connection — and what it can look like when we move beyond “typical” expectations and instead focus on what helps people feel safe, understood, and supported.
We talk about the realities of relationships when communication styles, sensory needs, emotional processing, and social expectations don’t always align with conventional norms. And we explore something that feels especially important: how empowering it can be when someone doesn’t have to mask in order to be loved.
This conversation also meant a great deal to me personally because I had the opportunity to record it with two people I deeply admire.
💛 Monica Osgood has been one of my long-time mentors, and I can say with complete honesty that she has shaped my own developmental journey more than anyone. Monica and I met back in 2008, and from that moment forward, her work and leadership helped expand how I think about development, relationships, and what it truly means to support autistic individuals in a way that is affirming, respectful, and deeply human.
She is also truly a pioneer in the field — one of the first people to meaningfully push a developmental approach to autism within school settings, long before it became a more common conversation. Monica has just launched an incredible new school in New Jersey called Limitless, and it is exactly the kind of visionary, strengths-based work our field needs more of.
💛 I’ve also known Anie Knipping for many, many years, and I am in awe of her wisdom every time I hear her speak or get the chance to spend time with her. Anie brings such a rare combination of insight, honesty, humor, and depth — and the way she reflects on identity, relationships, and belonging always leaves me thinking long after the conversation ends.
Together, we explored themes that I think will resonate with so many listeners — whether you’re neurodivergent yourself, love someone who is, work in this field professionally, or simply care about building relationships that are grounded in respect and understanding.
Some of the themes we explore include:
✨ What “competence” in love and dating can look like when traditional expectations don’t fit
✨ Shared control, flexibility, and navigating relationship roles in a way that feels authentic
✨ Communication tools that reduce misunderstandings and build trust
✨ Humor as regulation and connection
✨ Identity, belonging, and the freedom that can come from self-understanding
✨ What it means to feel seen — without having to perform or mask
I’m so grateful for this conversation, and I hope it offers listeners both validation and practical insight — and maybe even a little hope. At the end of the day, love is about connection, safety, and being able to grow alongside another person… and that matters for every brain.
🎧 Listen here:
https://profectum.podbean.com/e/episode-12-love-and-neurodiversity-with-monica-osgood-and-anie-knipping/
If you listen, I’d love to hear what resonated most with you.
