This marks one year of making podcast episodes! There are some changes happening next week, and here's what those changes are. And the things not changing (most of it isn't change). Yeah, STUFF IS HAPPENING!

This kinda-but-not-really-an-episode talks about how this series started, and what I have planned with the name change for the podcast project.

Go here for the written essay of this episode.

Your Voice - Neurodiversity Survey

Let me know what you have experienced as a neurodivergent in comedy! Answer three questions here!

Previous surveys are available here - do any of them at any time!

Where to go to find stuff

• This article (and website) has a podcast that accompanies it. You can find it at NeurodivergentComedy.com - and a link to the episode near the top of this page.
• For bonus content related to comedy and neurodiversity, you can become a supporter of NeurodiversityImprov.com. Or you can also support the work with one time tip here (use the “buy me a coffee” button).
• For FREE podcast and show updates, go to StereoForest.com. This is significantly delayed because of the personal crisis mentioned earlier in this article. But I’ll start releasing what I’ve made soon - I just want to do it properly and not rush things.
• For updates about improv you can find online, join the newsletter at ImprovUpdate.com

About

This podcast and website was created by Jen deHaan — an autistic + ADHD improviser and performer.

This episode was and produced by StereoForest.com. Join the FREE StereoForest newsletter for all podcast and show updates at members.stereoforest.com.

This podcast is released on Tuesdays, usually twice per month, at NeurodivergentComedy.com and wherever you find podcasts. Bonus content to support this podcast is available via NeurodiversityImprov.com.

This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:

Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Podtrac - https://analytics.podtrac.com/privacy-policy-gdrp

:: 00:00

So this marks one year of making podcast episodes on this website.

:: 00:05

There are some changes happening next week, and here's what those changes are.

:: 00:10

And there's also some things like not changing.

:: 00:13

Most of it actually isn't changing.

:: 00:16

So yeah, stuff is happening.

:: 00:18

Let's get going.

:: 00:29

Welcome to episode 21 of the Neurodivergent Minds in Comedy podcast.

:: 00:36

Well, this is only kind of an episode.

:: 00:38

It's a bit more of an announcement between episodes.

:: 00:41

A bonus, if you will, about what to expect coming up and a little about this podcast's name change that you might have just noticed there.

:: 00:51

And to provide a voiceover for the written article that goes with this one so I can like embed it in there for people who might want to listen instead of read.

:: 01:02

But first, I'm Jen DeHaan and I'm an autistic and ADHD performer.

:: 01:07

And this podcast regularly info dumps all over you about the intersection of comedy and neurodivergence.

:: 01:14

These episodes are intended to help all humans of all neurotypes, since neurodivergent and neurotypical humans do comedy together every day, all over the place.

:: 01:26

Okay, so let's get on to the episode.

:: 01:28

So, one year of episodes about the intersection of neurodiversity and improv comedy.

:: 01:37

The first episode was on October 30th, 2023, one year ago tomorrow.

:: 01:44

At least when I'm going to publish this, it will be tomorrow.

:: 01:47

I have read that not many podcasts make it to their first birthday.

:: 01:52

So, I guess it's something to be here still making this stuff.

:: 01:56

And I have a big old episode scheduled for next week in November.

:: 02:02

So, I'm not leaving you yet, and we're definitely making it past the one year mark.

:: 02:08

Yay, I hope so.

:: 02:10

So, how did this thing all start?

:: 02:12

I started this podcast because I thought us neurodivergent improvisers and comedians and all the people doing this performance stuff needed a bit more of a voice in this community.

:: 02:24

There's lots of us here, and I've been in practice groups that are by accident, like not by design, 100% openly neurodivergent humans.

:: 02:35

I noticed that learning improv hit so many of my own autistic brain wires that it was just fascinating from a learning standpoint and an autistic standpoint.

:: 02:47

And I've always been interested in educating and learning.

:: 02:50

That's why I got into it professionally and went and got a degree in it and everything.

:: 02:55

So I've been really into this stuff, and I wanted to share what I was discovering, learning improv and doing improv.

:: 03:03

I didn't really set out to start a podcast, though, as I mostly prefer writing things and text.

:: 03:11

And being myself on the Internet is tough.

:: 03:15

It's not as easy as being a character on the Internet.

:: 03:19

Anyways, my first extremely short episode was me testing the transcription accuracy of Substack out of Tech Curiosity.

:: 03:28

I'm a nerd.

:: 03:29

So I improvised a fake podcast to check out his capabilities, and stuff popped out about Neurodivergence.

:: 03:36

That was like accurate.

:: 03:38

It wasn't faking.

:: 03:39

It wasn't, you know, I wasn't doing make-em-ups.

:: 03:42

It was real.

:: 03:43

And so I clicked Published, because like, why not?

:: 03:47

Nobody's gonna see it.

:: 03:49

I didn't even like look at what URL I was publishing under nothing, and I don't even recall doing any editing.

:: 03:55

I don't think I did.

:: 03:56

But some people listen to it.

:: 03:57

So I thought, why not do this?

:: 03:59

Maybe it's quicker, maybe than writing it all out.

:: 04:03

It's not actually.

:: 04:04

But anyways, I'm still here a year later, still forcing my voice upon all of you.

:: 04:10

And I'm also writing some of it now too.

:: 04:14

Anyways, what's going forward?

:: 04:15

What are we doing?

:: 04:16

You might have noticed a slight graphical and podcast name change on this site.

:: 04:20

So what's up?

:: 04:22

So this is what I have in mind.

:: 04:23

And you don't have to do anything to get this content.

:: 04:27

Still, you don't have to change anything, but the name of the podcast is changing to Neurodivergent Minds in Comedy.

:: 04:33

As I said already, the subjects discussed, the things I will be talking about will not change much.

:: 04:39

I will likely focus a bit more on Neurodivergent's and performance.

:: 04:45

This is largely being the sites focused over the past year anyways, so this is not too much of a change.

:: 04:52

I heard from a few people that episodes are very relevant to Neurodivergent people and actors and performers in general.

:: 04:59

So I wanted a new name that's a little bit more in line with what I was already doing topic wise.

:: 05:05

Under the hood, the podcast feed is changing its location, but you don't have to do anything to keep getting it wherever you're accessing the podcast.

:: 05:13

The current feed will redirect to the new one.

:: 05:17

I will embed the episodes in pages on this site like they've been in the past.

:: 05:22

So you can still access them the same way.

:: 05:26

You can still use the newsletter and the website to find it like a majority of you do anyway.

:: 05:31

So none of that part is going to change.

:: 05:33

I don't think the cadence of the episodes are going to change.

:: 05:36

Some of the bonus materials might shift a little, but they'll still be about improv and Neurodivergent foremost.

:: 05:43

Like that's going to be the main thing I'm still going to write about there.

:: 05:46

I'm still sorting out a content plan.

:: 05:48

So if you have any input for topics or what bonus stuff you want, as always, just let me know.

:: 05:55

You can always reply to the emails that I send out.

:: 06:00

So what's not changing?

:: 06:02

This site's name and URL will remain the same.

:: 06:05

You'll still get the newsletter, the podcast episodes, notifications, bonus materials.

:: 06:10

Everything will still be on the website.

:: 06:13

As I said, they'll still primarily focus on improv and neurodiversity on this website.

:: 06:19

Learning, education, neurodivergence, improv are still my main things that I'm interested in.

:: 06:24

So the bonus materials, in addition to the podcast, will still remain focused on these topics.

:: 06:30

If any of these things change in a substantial way, like I'm like, I'm really into this and I want to kind of focus on this, I'll make sure to note it and let all of you know, so you can all unsubscribe or whatever you're going to do.

:: 06:43

Anyways, what's coming up?

:: 06:44

So no one's asking that, but I'm kind of excited about the first episode under the new podcast name.

:: 06:51

I'm nervous excited because it's a real deep dive into my feelings on the improv comedy space as a whole.

:: 06:57

It's raw, it's vulnerable, and it was mostly written from that raw emotional space.

:: 07:03

Oh, no.

:: 07:04

Yeah, no, it's it's fine.

:: 07:05

Anyways, this introductory episode, I like, am I really propping it up?

:: 07:10

And then you're all going to be let down because you're like, wow, that that wasn't she made it sound so big and it's like so disappointing.

:: 07:18

Anyways, it'll be free for everyone.

:: 07:19

The article and the podcast, it's called Suggestions for Protecting Your Mind While Doing Comedy Schedule for Next Week.

:: 07:27

Anyways, I'm a very intensely private person, so all of this makes me very nervous to go out there.

:: 07:33

So I'm probably vastly overblowing all of this.

:: 07:36

But anyways, that's it.

:: 07:38

And that's it for this week's bonus episode and article.

:: 07:42

Podcast episodes, I usually release them every second week on Tuesdays.

:: 07:47

If I am going to take any breaks or pauses, like for around the holidays or something, I'll let you know in the show notes and in the episodes and everything.

:: 07:55

You can get email notifications about new episodes.

:: 07:58

I also have an email newsletter.

:: 08:00

You can sign up for those email newsletters at stereoforest.com.

:: 08:06

You can get that link in the show notes if you're listening to this.

:: 08:11

And which you are because this is audio.

:: 08:13

My goodness.

:: 08:14

Anyways, finally, if you find this podcast useful, the other podcasts of this episode isn't very useful, but the other ones, consider sharing those episodes with your friends and rate and review on Apple Podcasts.

:: 08:27

It would be nice to have some like a review up there.

:: 08:30

Anyways, surveys are available if you'd like to share your unique Neurodivergent voice with this community, with the others listening to this podcast.

:: 08:40

You can find those surveys at stereoforest.com/neurodiversity.

:: 08:46

I created this podcast, Jen Hon.

:: 08:48

I also edit it and produce it via stereoforest.com.

:: 08:52

It's also me.

:: 08:53

This is a solo show and site and other site and other sites.

:: 08:56

Anyways, I'll talk to you later.

:: 08:58

Bye.