Episode 330-Autistic Techie at Work: Self-Advocacy, AI, and Real-Life Boundaries with Shea Belsky

Send us a text What if the most powerful support is simply letting people try? That’s the thread we follow with guest Shea Belsky—autistic self-advocate, software engineering tech lead, and host of Autistic Techie—through a candid tour of early supports, hard-won boundaries, and the everyday tactics that make work and life more humane. We start with the shift from “I’m uncomfortable” to “I’m uncomfortable because… and here’s what might help.” Shea breaks down how that language unlocks practical choices: time-limited social plans, exit strategies, and shared expectations with partners, friends, and managers. The Cornell party story says it all: one environment was a no, the next was a maybe—data that later shaped decisions about events, capacity, and recovery. We talk about the danger of comparisons, why safe-to-fail experiences matter, and how growth comes from calibrated challenges rather than blanket protection. On the career front, Shea lays out a model for transparent communication at work: explain autism traits that might be misread, define the few accommodations that matter, and tie it all to outcomes. We unpack resume strategy for neurodivergent candidates (impact-first bullet points, clean formats, controlled info-dumping) and how managers can turn inclusion into shared agreements, not slogans. Then we dive into AI as a practical tool—drafting emails, structuring thoughts, practicing interviews—paired with guardrails around privacy, fact-checking, and critical thinking. Used wisely, AI reduces cognitive load; used blindly, it creates new risks. We close with Autistic Techie’s mission: the overlooked overlap of neurodiversity and the workplace. If you care about autistic expression, accessible leadership, and the everyday systems that either amplify or silence people, you’ll find tools you can use today. If this resonated, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—what boundary are you going to set this week? Support the show