Joanne Lockwood: Hello everyone my name is Joanne Lockwood I'm your host for the inclusion Bites podcast in this series I have interviewed a number of amazing people I simply had a conversation about the subject inclusion belonging and generally making the world a better place for everyone to thrive. Like to join me in the future then please do drop me line to Jo Dot Lockward as c change happen dot code at uk has swle changeapp dot code at Uk you can catch up with all of the previous shows on Itunes Spotify and the usual places so plug any headphones grab a dcaf. Ah, let's get going today is episode 61 with the title autism rocks and I have the absolute honor and privilege to welcome Sam Mitchell Sam describes himself as a podcaster and entrepreneur and when I ask sam to describe their superpower. They said my power. Is the wisdom hallo sam welcome to the show.
Sam Mitchell: Thank you, It's good to be here I'm glad to be here man I'm really happy and thank you for letting me come on.
Joanne Lockwood: And all the way from Indiana and the midwest I understand.
Sam Mitchell: Yep.
Joanne Lockwood: Excellent. So Sam tell me why autism rocks.
Sam Mitchell: Well autism rocks because one it's coming from a man who has it so I'm obviously biased but 2 it rocks because I am a very creative person and I am very structured and organized to the point where I don't like my routine. Sometimes change to when it comes to something I love.
Joanne Lockwood: So do you? How do you help? think that autism ah helps you be more creative in what way. So.
Sam Mitchell: I would say it helps me be more creative because I am I just think outside the box and I think there's a part in my head where I choose to go a different route than some other route that any other average human being would go down.
Joanne Lockwood: Brilliant, Um, do you think people who have autism are misunderstood.
Sam Mitchell: Oh yeah, that's no hands down question they are misunderstood because they see us as freaks and bizarros when we're just trying to really fit into the world and do our share and give what we have just. And may not be what society sees as giving as they see it as being obnoxiously rude.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so what sort of ways do people kind of I don't know are they rude to you that they don't understand your the way you the way you're more direct or the way you you maybe have different ways of showing emotion is is that how people kind of Misunderstand you.
Sam Mitchell: There is this.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah I think you nailed it to a T I mean I think there have been times where I'm supposed to be acting this way. But I'm not because I'm didn't catch up on the social cue that I was supposed to do this.
Joanne Lockwood: So do do you try and compensate for that those social cues I mean you you obviously realize that there's a social cue coming. Are you constantly on the lookout for it.
Sam Mitchell: Ah, maybe I think it depends on where I am and where I'm at if I'm at a certain area where there needs to be a social cue Then yeah I probably am more wary of it. But if I'm at a place where I can just feel free to let loose then probably not I don't really think about it if I'm at. Somewhere fun like a party or ad an arcade.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, no I hear you? Yeah, do you do a lot of online gaming or you involved with the online community at the moment.
Sam Mitchell: I Do a lot of online virtual podcasts. But I also do virtual classes for business because I'm in college right now. So that's what I do but as far as online gaming now I'm old classic I think I still do the video games that I.
Joanne Lockwood: Okay, okay.
Sam Mitchell: Play the we in Xbox 63
Joanne Lockwood: And I hear yeah I was my son is 27 and we bought an Xbox when he was I don't know probably 6 or seven years old I remember playing the first person a halo with him and at that time he was really scared and used to hide behind my character and then. Five ten years later he'd be the one with the sniper rifle taking me out. So yeah, it's ah I do remember those old old school games I've and serious sam and those sort of things I love those my son back in those back in the old days.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, it's very different I I but bet at least you can protect your son.
Joanne Lockwood: So. Yeah, in the early days but now now he goes after me. Yeah, ah, yeah, it's ah yeah, I'm I'm not really a gamer to be honest I play a few iphone games but not not arcade style more kind of memory or thinking games or logic games. I don't yeah I'm not really yeah, tuned for sort of arcade or or first person shooters. So you say you're an entrepreneur and you're still at college. You're still, you're still growing your your expertise so tell me about your business.
Sam Mitchell: All right? So yeah I run the business autism rocksmi's corporation. We are bringinging it now to ar ar but the podcast started with autism rocks and rolls and it really turned to a business after I got sponsors and it was at first a hobby but not to the sponsorships. It finally turned to a business and now. Has done some nonprofit corporation. We've hosted a gala and autism gala because of the nonprofit and we have a board of 5 members including me and my mother and some of ah my grandfather and others.
Joanne Lockwood: Awesome! Awesome! So that's providing what education to business people to community people around the challenges that people such as yourself face.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, yeah, I'm trying to encourage others to start their own nonprofit or profit or just to start a business like I did if you have passion about it. You should turn your hobby into a business but that's just my opinion. Obviously.
Joanne Lockwood: I I hear I hear. Ah um I always say that if you do what you you love and what you believe in. It's your passion. You never have to work again. You just keep following your dream. Don't you.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, and there there could be a there's a thing called good work or good working where you just are happy to go to work and you're happy to go to work I think you'll be much of a happier person.
Joanne Lockwood: And I could yeah I agree again that yeah, that's the secret and life sometimes just do what you love be comfortable in what you do and and feel a sense of purpose and passion for. For delivering something to somebody so I noticed ah I've noticed you in the notes you've you said you've you've done a Ted talk. How did that come about.
Sam Mitchell: Oh yeah.
Sam Mitchell: Yep I've done a ted talk called Fold Structure. We had it virtually because of Covid but we did it. It was Wonderful. It was about why autistic people need structure in lifetimes and I was very pleased with how it came because we made it through and it's still publish out there. Anyone can feel free to check it out. Because I think at the end day you will take something from it.
Joanne Lockwood: So this is a full Ted talk not a tedx this is ah a Ted talk is. Ah yeah, one of the the golden talks if you like.
Sam Mitchell: Sure you can call it that. Yeah.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so you said you mentioned there? Um, what the what are the key points that you you you made around how people can be more inclusive or or recognize the needs of people with autism.
Sam Mitchell: Well I think inclusion is one key I know it's over no offenses time when they yeah feel like it's overusing the dictionary but inclusion is really the key part because all we want to do is just be involved with whatever is going on and it more involved with our hobbies and if we're not involved with someone's hobbies.
Joanne Lockwood: So.
Sam Mitchell: We'll find something ourselves to get involved with.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so what other things do you get involved with.
Sam Mitchell: Well I get involved with um pro wrestling I've been loved that ever since I was six years old and I still study it to this day I believe that I get involved with the podcasting. That's one thing I can promise you I get involved with and I just get involved with.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah.
Sam Mitchell: Taking time for myself and trying my best job with my friends by just doing whatever we feel like and trying to take certain adventures like going like going a certain trips like traveling or something like that.
Joanne Lockwood: So so you you actually do pro wrestling or you just follow it.
Sam Mitchell: I Just follow it I'm a fan.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, ah I remember when I was a little the we used to have ah it was kind of I would say in the Uk we had more entertainment resting rather than it wasn't I wouldn't say it was I wouldn't say it was competitively serious but it was more of a. Ah, performance and I've really really used to enjoy watching that with my ah with my my grandparents at the time it certainly wasn't up to the standard wwe wwe or anything on that it was ah it was definitely sort of Saturday afternoon telly designed for um, maybe the older generation just. Just to entertain on Saturday when nothing else was happening. Don't think it's big, big business or big money. Not like the ah live. Ah yeah, nice to I used to enjoy it used to be some ah popular stars of the day I mean nothing compared with Hulk Hogan or
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, whatever works where it works you works.
Joanne Lockwood: Or the rock or people like that or some of the modern stars. But yeah, there would nothing like that. Do you have a ah favorite wrestler or.
Sam Mitchell: Yes, and I interviewed him I got the honor of interviewing Mick Foley who is a firm believer inclusion and he has a son on the spectrum.
Joanne Lockwood: So what? what's his. What's his style is is he is he one of the good guys or one of the bad guys. Do you boo at him or or cheer him.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, he's done. He's quite. He's played both and his style is hardcore. That's why they nicknamed him the hardcore legend because they just take crazy what they call bumps or crazy falls and next thing you know he's getting up and fine and.
Joanne Lockwood: But.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah I don't I think he's having a hard time walking now but he still can move around.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so he's got Ah, he's got a thick skull. Ah.
Sam Mitchell: As thick as you can get yes.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so what was your ambition. Do you have an ambition in life. The way you'd like to be as you as you grow your business and grow your podcast when you've when you finished college and and building your your education where where where do you want to be next.
Sam Mitchell: My ambition honestly is I don't know I think I'm taking this podcast one day out of time for me because I like to see it grow as grow as it can but I know life happens sometimes so I ain't gonna say my my when it comes to that podcast but my ambition is just. Be successful in life in some shape or form and I think that's all I can really really ask for.
Joanne Lockwood: I Think that's a fantastic ambition to be honest, just just be successful for who you are I think we could all take a lesson that from that and is yeah sometimes we we chase a dream. Um. Because we think we have to rather than because we want to.
Sam Mitchell: The art wrong there man.
Joanne Lockwood: So your podcast How many yeah, you've interviewed some pretty famous people. You were telling me earlier. How many episodes have you got now.
Sam Mitchell: We got 65 total but the celebrities gentlemen they're they're big but I question how big they are. I've interviewed as I said american aisle contestants I've interviewed James Durbin I've interviewed America's got talent contestants such as Mandy Hary and I've interviewed the Briton's got talent contest who I talked to you earlier before we recorded David Cubby I don't know how big he is in Britain so you'll have to bear with me on that. But I've also interviewed someone else from couple of other people from england ah another sports podcast who helps those on the spectrum and. Ah, play therapist at autism optimism international named Jack Mason Goodall yeah
Joanne Lockwood: Wow Yeah I've not come across him but where's um, he's got his own podcast here is he or globally. Yeah.
Sam Mitchell: ah ah t w s does jack no he just he's just the play therapist who helps those who works with those on the spectrum but tws sports podcast that is a podcast from Adam Milchi and his students help run design. It. So. Good podcast feel free to check it out. It's it's a sports theme but it's run by those on the spectrum.
Joanne Lockwood: Excellent. So I notice your one of your passions also around mental Health um is there any particular aspects ah is it around just general mental Health or or men's mental health in particular.
Sam Mitchell: Well just I'm a mental health advocate So General mental Health anxiety depression Ocd Suicide I Just believe that there's some beauties in too and I mean yeah, anxiety and Depression. You get a little sad and overwhelmed. But there's a good side to Anxiety. You're more alert and aware.
Joanne Lockwood: Because I I don't know if it's same in the Us but may is mental Health Awareness week or month at the moment. So there's a lot of people talking about mental health. Um, yeah, and there's a huge impact on most people doing.
Sam Mitchell: Yep, it's the same here too.
Joanne Lockwood: Covid The pandemic lockdown. We've seen a lot of people being affected negatively by by by just not being able to socialize on with.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah I don't think some I've what I've heard some didn't make it through. Sadly.
Joanne Lockwood: It? Yeah yeah, it's it's it's tough isn't it because if you're you could be living in ah ah, an unfriendly environment. You could be alt Btq Queer You could be a single parent.. All these things could really impact you if you're. You got no support network around you and you you're stuck in a home. It's ah it's can be very tough kind of.
Sam Mitchell: Right? And there are just certain factors that can shape that if you're just limiting your house being stuck in there I don't think some people can do that there are some of you believe me I think would love to be in the house all day I bet kind of enjoyed the lockdown. But I know there were some who are. Just Mark that wouldn't be that type person we had to go outside and just socialize I know I was that person I didn't think I was but after the pandemic I learned that I was.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah I think we all learn something about ourselves in the pandemic around what we like and what we don't like the people we like people we don't like it. Ah I learned I don't like commuting I don't like traveling too far quite happy staying at home if I can.
Sam Mitchell: That's you man I don't know about me I think I like to go out but not out out like too far out to the point where I'm in Canada or 9 in can excuse me or in like China or Japan.
Joanne Lockwood: Right? or Canada of Canada must be a well few as flight for you isn't it's it's not.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, that's that's why I met China Canada's like it's Canada North America where I am and then Mexico.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah China china. Yeah yeah, yeah, China's a fair way for us as well. So there's a long way. Yeah yeah, ah I just noticed I was listening to the news earlier tonight and seeing all of the big queues at the airports.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah.
Joanne Lockwood: Here in the Uk. We've still got issues where some of the airport staff are are still having covid we've got lack of resources due to our our own brexit I don't if you've heard a brexit in the us where we but we left the european union so we've lost a lot of labor and and resources. Yeah, we ah flying here isn't easy at the moment people are trying to go on holiday and and they're they're queuing for hours and hour hours and hour hours and hours and missing their flights still. So.
Sam Mitchell: Oh yeah, it's not that bad here I mean we're still massed in the airport but we don't have like delayed flights or anything like that we had delay flights but it's for typical airport reasons not Covid related reasons.
Joanne Lockwood: And so what's what's going on in the us where you are I mean we we from from where we are across the Atlantic we we see ah a lot of I suppose dissatisfaction with maybe. The current president. Obviously some lot popularity with the previous president What's the what's the mood is it is it kind of still up in the air. So people are still not decided.
Sam Mitchell: Um, well the biggest thing with me is this may be bad but I've I don't say I've dealt with drum the politics but because of the politicians that we have right now I've stopped given a shit about politics politics. Because at this point I'm just like you know what? I don't care I never have It's just a bunch of drama these days. They're all crooks I'm not going to vote for them and I'm just going to choose to live my life. The classical American way which is free and proud Now if that's taken away from me.
Joanne Lockwood: No.
Sam Mitchell: We're gonna have some issues and I'm gonna go speak up but until that happens why complain.
Joanne Lockwood: So yeah, no I hear I hear you it's just there's a lot of stuff coming out around the Supreme court at the moment isn't it um around cancelling the roe versus Wa Judgment and abortion protection and how that can affect. Ah, Gbt Q Plus people as well and maybe gay marriage may be repealed as well. So There's a lot of lot of panicking people isn't a.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, although I will say this my grand my one of my grandfathers did make a point is whenever happened but he made a point he thought maybe he said doing 2 terms. You could do one term and your butts out there.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah, that would be a yeah. Yeah yeah, but we've got people like Putin who was was embedded embedded for life aren't they.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah I thought that might work.
Joanne Lockwood: Can't get rid of people like putin out at government and.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, but that's Russia we're talking about America here man.
Joanne Lockwood: Say ensoy.
Sam Mitchell: I said that's Russia we're talking about America man.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah, we are we are talk about America. Yeah yeah, we are talk definitely talk about America yeah, but he's a scary old Bloo but put but know as he is creating a bit of bit of fear in the world.
Sam Mitchell: Little bit but as long as you mind your own business I think you'll be okay. That's what I always said.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah I think you're right? Just let let the bullies bully and just yeah, don't don't let them take advantageage you So what? whoop.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, yeah I mean I'm looking at myself right now and I don't have a hole in my chest. So I think we'll be okay.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so to what else it when I asked to get up to it that is it podcasting a bit of bit of old old classic gaming um building your business up talking Advocs and.
Sam Mitchell: Of that. Um I'm a big um okay, I'm a big summer outdoorsy person. So right now it is summertime where I am so who want I'm excited about that. So I'd like to go outside and. You know take a hike if I can swim if I can I have a neighbor. My neighbors have a nice little pool. So and I have a creek also that my grandparents have thankfully so let me swim around there but outdoors is my environment Really I've always have been I'm also a big fan of the heat I've never been a fan of the cold I. Like my father when it comes to that We both hate the cold with the Passion. We prefer the heat.
Joanne Lockwood: So what's it ° ° right now.
Sam Mitchell: It is as of right now if my computer's correct 83
Joanne Lockwood: So 83 yeah that's that's that's pretty warm ish without being too hot for this time of year. So when we were talking earlier. You were saying.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, but I but then I'm like but then I but there are a lot of you who don't like eatcrutining heat. Um are people who like these scruciing heat.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah, I've been to Egypt and that was really hot I think and I went to the dead sea between Israel and Jordan. And that was in in in c that was °c I'm not sure what that is in ah in fahrenheit but I'm guessing it's 11020 something on that and that was that was damn hot as they say.
Sam Mitchell: I'll go there I Love it I'm already thinking about it right now.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so when we spoke earlier just before we went on air. You said that Indiana was kind of like in the middle of nowhere and it wasn't really a lot going on but it sounds like you got a fantastic life with all the outdoors, the nature, the environment you live in.
Sam Mitchell: Right? I just meant like there. It's not like 1 of your big cities like oh hey look everybody will smith gonna punch Chris face. It's not like that. No then no no, no, it's just your average um Indiana American State basically is what I met is I guess.
Joanne Lockwood: So yeah.
Sam Mitchell: Ah, better way to describe it. But as far as life goes we have you know certain attractions we got art museums. We got you know all your fun things. You'd see probably in any other american state like ziplining bungee jumping. We got that in Indiana but where as far as I'm from.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah.
Sam Mitchell: It's honestly I don't say a ghost towns raining but it feels like it is a ghost town when raining but it's just an average rural Suburb area of Indiana Southern Central is where it is if you think about it.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah, I like I say I mean I've I've never been as I mentioned to be earlier I've never been to that part of the us as I've done east and west I've done New York been to Miami um, San Diego all a San Francisco never made it in the middle I think I'd even did carolina um South Carolina I went to Charlotte North Carolina and Columbia South Carolina many years ago so yeah I've I've been the east and the west but never never the middle. Maybe I'll have to ah make a ah special journey one day just to come and.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, if you find the right if you find the right place in the middle the you'll like it I know that pigeon forge Tennessee where's like Tuesday sound for me is pretty cool I know I went there.
Joanne Lockwood: Experience a bit of the Midwest. So just yeah.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so I'm just looking at your website. Um, which is quite cool and I see you've got some ah some paintings on there from Josh Fields um he has autism as well is that guys all right.
Sam Mitchell: Yep I'll tell you about that. Let me tell you about that. So yep, so this the story is 1 of our sponsors if since you're on the web page if you go to our team. You'll see that our one of our sponsors is pals who sponsored me last. Season and they but they don't sponsor any moment. They still support the podcast but they sponsored last year through pals I got to have a horse riding lesson and ride a horse like not like in one of those toiles is like a real real horse and throughout that. Apparently.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah.
Joanne Lockwood: Cool. Yeah.
Sam Mitchell: What I did not realize is his fan Josh Fields and his mother and father were in attendance to watch me because they've heard my show before and because they want to meet me well they want to meet me and we just met him a little bit and learned about his art as he showed us pictures and we were both just.
Joanne Lockwood: No.
Sam Mitchell: Looked ahead with it because we all we can draw stick figures so we decide to make a website put on the website. Really cool stuff to show other really neat stuff that we don't may out work with but to us is still really cool because we do think we think they deserve some acknowledgement but that's how we met Josh Fields and that's where the pains are. Have come from.
Joanne Lockwood: Ah, for those who you are not sure. Pals is the people and animal learning services. That's that's a local organization near where you are. Yeah yeah, so.
Sam Mitchell: Yep, saying Bloomington on the outskirts of Bloomington Indiana
Joanne Lockwood: X X Yeah I'm just talking through the website some it some great state stuff here because you've got load to sponsors haven't you those are sponsors on your site.
Sam Mitchell: Working on getting more to believe us.
Joanne Lockwood: And yeah yeah I know I could see it and you've ah you've got a lot of companies. You're working with which is good and you and you've got a board. You've got um so is it five six people on your board at the moment you.
Sam Mitchell: Yep, so since you look at the page if you look. There's a woman with 2 woman with like brownish hair. That's my mother. There's me then the woman with black hair is she's our treasurer I think yeah, our treasurer. If you look at the one with the blond hair. She's our secretary and if you look at the bald one like with some like gray hair. That's actually my grandfather and a board member as well and then the the want the hat is Ryan Bruce and the one with like.
Joanne Lockwood: Ah, yep.
Joanne Lockwood: Accent accent.
Sam Mitchell: Kind of like like Myer cheeks and little more muscular body. That's our president.
Joanne Lockwood: So yeah, ah I see them I see them. Yeah for those of you are listening in I will yeah I'll post a link to the website in the show notes so you can go over look as well. But yeah, that's really good as ah as ah, a as a good.
Sam Mitchell: and and Ryan Bruce is our vice president I got to me 10
Joanne Lockwood: Mix of people. There isn't there with different backgrounds which is as you probably aware. It's really important have a diverse board as well as not.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, it is a diverse board.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so I'm gonna you see I see on the on the link here you got you got things says really cool stuff there several cause some of your really cool stuff so you've got. Yeah obviously you've got the the paintings and art there which you just Mentioned. Um. This send out Cards. You got some is is that is that a bill where you can sort of ah send it send out cards. Is it? Yeah yeah.
Sam Mitchell: Send it cards. Okay, okay, let me explain that. Um, so through what I also do networking events through since I have a business I can eligible to do some free ones. 1 of them was. We met someone. Name I camera' is Robert Rothos or something like that I can't remember I does it I don't know if it says it there or not but okay, thank you I thought it was an hour or something. But anyway he runs a business called send it cards which he believes that he's kind of.
Joanne Lockwood: So well Moenthal Yeah what Monthal yeah it does? Yeah yeah.
Sam Mitchell: Not like I was say like not a fan technology but he misses the oldschool way of just writing cards and saying out greeting cards and what we thought was we put down really cool stuff because it was really cool and we kind of agree I know a lot of stuff's going technology but this is his car right here that. He printed I know it's supposed to be sideways. But this is the front right here. This is the back and if you open it. This is what looks like.
Joanne Lockwood: Oh yeah, yeah, so yeah, yeah, for those who listening on the podcast. Yeah Sam's holding up just to picture all of these cards. Yeah, really really cool.
Sam Mitchell: So that's so that's what he's missing right? here are send it cards where we can still mail it but we thought I was really cool. So we thought we put down really cool stuff. Plus he's thought alcoholism.
Joanne Lockwood: A ah.
Sam Mitchell: His whole entire life. He's he says now how you doing says saying I'm good. It's still sober.
Joanne Lockwood: That's good. Yeah I I stopped drinking this year I used to drink too much. Not not way way too much, but just too much for me and I haven't had a drink since the sixth of January so one hundred and twenty seven days I think it is I haven't not drink for. So yeah. It's ah it's a good thing to do I think I think we should all ah drink less. So so you ah you just you did some some fishing with some ah with some young children yet young adults young young people didn't you though that sounds like a really fantastic day.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, we often do advocacy work. Um, what that was we decide one of our sponsors farm bureau and Bedford Indiana he his wife is a special ed teacher and he loves fishing so they combine the 2
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah.
Sam Mitchell: And they work with cas for kids which is a foundation where people with all abilities go fishing and there was one in Monroe and we got to help out.
Joanne Lockwood: So you that I see you the last one here on the website was 202021 have you done something you plan is it plan for this year
Sam Mitchell: I need to put wait. It says last update 2021 oh yeah oh no that casper phase was August yeah, the casper kids was 2021 okay I get where we're going now. Um, we're hoping to. We don't know that right now we're.
Joanne Lockwood: So they said August Twenty or it's August Twenty on yeah Yeah yeah yeah,
Sam Mitchell: That's kind of still in the works.
Joanne Lockwood: So maybe in the summer. Maybe it means it's really hot cause you love it. You love it outside in the heat by the River fishing. Yeah, sounds lovely that sounds idyllic. Maybe yeah.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, yeah, maybe.
Sam Mitchell: Yep, it fishy isn't one of my like like top priorities but it's definitely a hobby of mine.
Joanne Lockwood: So who helped you start the podcast.
Sam Mitchell: Ah, well well via mentors Scott Carmichael who is was my media club um advisor and I got introduced the podcasting through their three with thundercast and and I didn't run it by so I add others.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah.
Sam Mitchell: But because I knew my time was coming to an end when when it came to Thundercast I had to graduate I Decided to continue my media skills and the only way I knew continue to continue my media skills was to start my own podcast Autism rocks and rolls.
Joanne Lockwood: And I'll make sure I put a link to the that podcast in the show notes as well. So been find it. It wears it on Apple Podcasts and Spotify all the the usual places.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, if you if you look at the website there. Yeah, if you go to the website. There's certain buttons on the top like at the home page. That's where all of it That's where it is.
Joanne Lockwood: Okay I see it. Yes I see the I see the pod bean I see the the Spotify I see the apple I see the Youtube yeah, they're all they aren they? yeah I got them? Yeah I'll make sure those ah make sure all of those links are put on the show notes. So people can find them as well. So that's yeah, brilliant and you got.
Sam Mitchell: Yep.
Sam Mitchell: Quit.
Joanne Lockwood: So you say 60 episodes so far and you've interviewed some incredible people which is which is amazing I know how hard it is this is it.
Sam Mitchell: 65 60 I complained 60 which was season 1 but right now I have 5 episodes out for season 2 hopefully will be soon to be 66 on thursday.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah.
Joanne Lockwood: It awesome! Yeah, um, this is what if so 61 so I know how how intense it could be to keep the momentum up and keep going and keep going. So yeah, it's a good all credit to you for for yeah for getting get past sixty and and and you're still on the way out which is brilliant. Yeah.
Sam Mitchell: Yes, maya. Yes sir. Thank you.
Joanne Lockwood: Yes, Ma'am Thank you? Um it it Excellent! Thank you? Yep so is um so when you when you go when you talk to businesses. But what? what's the one lesson that a business should know around.
Sam Mitchell: Ah, yes, ma'am.
Joanne Lockwood: Working with people autistic people. What's the what's the key thing I mean you said earlier that it's about adapting to the different communications.
Sam Mitchell: Probably understand that right? Well, that's 1 thing you can definitely say is a death but the other I would say is just because we act a little differently and just because we have a behavior that we may not. You may not see as normal which there is no normal but you may not see as normal. It's not our intent to is because we can't help it if we're having a meltdown. We cannot help it.
Joanne Lockwood: And.
Sam Mitchell: And as you said inclusion Bys include include include include as you said inclusion bites make the inclusion bite.
Joanne Lockwood: So how does that kind of yeah.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, make it meaningful make it make it well make it relevant to you not just inclusion for all Sb inclusion for you as well doesn't It's specific.
Sam Mitchell: Right.
Joanne Lockwood: So it says on your it says on your your bio and your profile here that you do some public speaking have you done that face-to face on stage in front of people or has it been online mainly.
Sam Mitchell: Yep yep, um I so there's some if you go on the event page i's see what I get. There's some of a listed but I can tell you via. Ah I've spoken to some virtual and. Um, in person I know I spoken to I u nurses in indiana university nurses both in person and virtual my biggest I did my first big speaking gig in broken arrows broken era Oklahoma in February Twenty Twenty Two I got to speak at the Griffith Griffith promise Autism Clinic and that's for this month I get to speak at 2 I'm going to Canada this Thursday actually to speak at asset and I'm going to podfest in Orlando to make connections and network and speak there too.
Joanne Lockwood: And.
Joanne Lockwood: So are you getting sponsorship to attend those or being paid.
Sam Mitchell: Um, it depends on which one it varieties Oklahoma that was paid. These two aren't but this is mainly for a promotion and really just to get some connections I know in September I speaking to in indian applepolis virtually.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah.
Sam Mitchell: And I should and I should be getting paid on that one if I remember correctly if.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, brilliant. That's yeah, that's ah, that's important when you're running a business to to make sure you get paid occasionally isn't it. It's too easy to do it for free If you're not careful.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, got got um, know your ps and cuues and know when to make money and figure out what is it worth going and I think because of the promote the publicity with Canada and Orlando I think it's worth going.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah I think you're right I think you're right I'm looking at 1 of your photographs on the website and you've got some good podcasting gear. You looks like you got a roadcaster the the road podcasting deck is that right? That's a fancy bit of kit I love those.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah. Yeah, it's a middle of the road. It's not the big fancy 1 apparently there's more out there. That's extremely elegant, but this one's a middle of the road where it can do what it it. It can get done what needs to be done.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, so.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah, yeah, I've I've used them a few times and you can host but 4 microphones off the back of it and merge them and mix them together which is quite cool.
Joanne Lockwood: And you still there Hello We've got a bit of transatlantic Internet lag. Yeah yeah, I've got ah I've got a road pod mic which I use for my recording which is a.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, I'm right here I'm right here. It's quite I was just waiting for another question. It's quite cool. It is quite cool.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, road The road is the road. It's not road kill the end they but it is road or pretty awesome.
Joanne Lockwood: I'm ah I'm a big fan of roadde.
Joanne Lockwood: In his row. Yeah yeah, it's good but cup. It's a kit very reliable. Yeah, but definitely ah, definite Definitely trust them? Yeah, so if if people want to get hold of you was the yeah.
Sam Mitchell: Yeah, as reliable as you can get honestly.
Joanne Lockwood: So what's the best way for yeah, people are going to listen to this. They want to make contact. What's the best way people can get hold of you.
Sam Mitchell: Right? So I have an email address info at autism rocks and rolls. You can call me on my cell 8 1 two seven nine seven nine zero four five or you can look at my website and for listening to the podcast you can find it on your favorite media platform if you think I'm there. I'm pretty sure I'm there.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah I notice you got an Instagram page as well autism rock box and rolls pod that's for your podcast is on Instagram yeah.
Sam Mitchell: Yep.
Joanne Lockwood: And you've got ah a Facebook a Facebook group as well which people can join again I'll put all these links on the show notes. So people can come and come and find you.
Sam Mitchell: Alrighty.
Joanne Lockwood: Have you ever thought about writing a book.
Sam Mitchell: We have thought about it. It's just we're just trying to find the time and I think my editor and I have different ways of feeling that the way should be done I have a feel we should use someone like a publisher she thinks we shouldn't as we should be able to publish a book on Amazon for free. But in my opinion I think my would get more hits than at the Amazon way. But that's just my opinion again and I don't want to do the Amazon way I think it's just won't work but that again that's me.
Joanne Lockwood: Yeah.
Joanne Lockwood: You want a proper book with a proper publisher. Not just a Self-p publishish now I Thought that's I think it's admirable. Yeah, if you're gonna do it. Do it right.
Sam Mitchell: Um, that.
Sam Mitchell: Yes.
Joanne Lockwood: Well thank you so much. It's been an an amazing conversation I've I've got to know you so well and find out so much about what you do. It's been incredible and I'm sure our listeners will do and I'll make sure that all your contact details go in the notes and if people need to each out I'm sure they will so enjoy. Rest of your rest of your day and it sounds fantastic where you live lots of outdoor activities and I'm a bit jealous I do live in the in the countryside here in the Uk but not as wide open as maybe some parts of the Midwest. So yeah, quite envious about having fishing in the lake and and roaming up into the ah. Into the outback if it weren't maybe not outback but into the into the woods and the country and the hills and stuff sounds sounds awesome. Ah so thank you to to you Sam thank you to use? Thank you to the listeners for tuning in and getting this far. Please do subscribe.
Sam Mitchell: Thank you it left but done.
Joanne Lockwood: And keep updates on future episodes of the inclusion Bites podcast it's b I t yes, tell your friends and tell your colleagues I've got a number of other exciting guests lined up I was sure you'd be equally inspired by over the next few weeks or months of course if you'd like to be a guest yourself, please let me know together with any feedback or suggestions on how I can improve. My name is Joanne Lockwood my email address is Jo Dot Lockwood as t change happenpan dot codo uk it's been an absolute pleasure to hoste his podcast for you today I'll catch you next time. Bye.