Staring Down the Storm: Autism Advocacy in America
Staring Down the Storm: Autism Advocacy in America
Podcast Description
A fiery, truth-packed podcast filled with people doing the work in the trenches for autism and neurodiversity advocacy.
These everyday heroes are leading the way for the next generation. At a time when so much is at stake, ordinary individuals rise up to fill the inequalities in our society.
Join us in our struggles and triumphs while trying to provide resources, access, and programs for all. We welcome you to the fight.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores vital topics such as medical complexities related to autism, advocacy strategies, and community inclusion with episodes discussing personal stories like navigating Medicaid for families and emphasizing individuality in autism. Specific episodes highlight the role of early intervention and available community resources while showcasing personal challenges and triumphs.
Tabitha Zeigler hosts a fiery, truth-packed podcast filled with people doing the work in the trenches for autism and neurodiversity advocacy.
These everyday heroes are leading the way for the next generation. At a time when so much is at stake, ordinary individuals rise up to fill the inequalities in our society.
Join us in our struggles and triumphs while trying to provide resources, access, and programs for all.
We welcome you to the fight.
Learn more at https://staringdownthestorm.com
I don’t think we talk enough about where leaders actually come from—and what they’ve had to survive to get here.
In this conversation, Bri Woodson shares a story that is anything but polished politics. Addiction. Trafficking. A suicide attempt. Medical neglect. Grief. And somehow, through all of that, she didn’t just rebuild—she decided to run for Congress. So I have to ask: why are we still being told leadership has to look a certain way?
What hit me hardest is how broken the system really is once you’re inside it. Ballot access fees, party gatekeeping, backroom conversations trying to push candidates out before they even start—who is this system actually built for? Because it’s clearly not built for everyday people. And yet, those are exactly the people Bri argues we need more of. Not career politicians. Not millionaires. Real people with real stakes.
We also get into what “progressive” even means anymore. Is it just branding? Or does it require backbone? Because saying the right things isn’t enough if you’re not willing to stand on them when it matters. Where is the line? And who’s actually willing to hold it?
At the end of the day, this conversation challenges something bigger: do we actually want authentic leadership—or are we more comfortable with the illusion of it? Because you can’t have both.
Find more info on Bri Woodson here:
Bri Woodson For Congress
Learn more about stuff mentioned in the episode below:
Chapters:
00:00 Meet Bri Woodson: A Trailblazer in Politics
02:00 Bri’s Origin Story: From Addiction to Advocacy
12:44 Mental Health Struggles and Recovery Journey
19:08 Political Awakening: The Call to Action
25:15 The Fight Against Greed and Corruption
28:50 Barriers to Entry in Politics
34:01 Defining Progressivism
40:02 The Role of Women in Politics
49:01 The Fight for Representation
54:58 The Role of Social Media in Political Discourse
59:58 Accountability and Responsibility in Leadership
01:04:59 The Impact of Money in Politics
01:19:43 Empathy and Historical Trauma
01:23:57 Deconstructing Supremacy and Racism
01:29:53 The Legacy of Hate and Its Modern Implications
01:33:51 The Importance of Authentic Leadership
Contact Tabitha:
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