NeuroDivergent Relationships Podcast with Kathy Marshack, Ph.D.

Raised by a Practical “Aspie.” Where's the Love?

If you grew up in a NeuroDivergent household, you know the longing for a hug and the confusion of being met with practical solutions instead of emotional connection.
 
In this deeply nostalgic and honest episode, Dr. Marshack reflects on her childhood with a brilliant, thrifty, and emotionally distant mother who was likely on the Autism Spectrum. 
 
You'll hear how her mother's quirky love—from dresses made of flour sacks to lessons in Feminism—shaped her ability to adapt and problem-solve. 
 
This conversation is about recognizing that the lack of warm, fuzzy memories doesn't mean you didn't receive an incredible gift: the lasting legacy of resilience and ingenuity.
 
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If you are looking for more resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, start with Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.
 
The Discussion Continues: Join the confidential Podcast After Party for this episode! Check the schedule at Thinkific and the Meetup group.
 
Future of Healing: Dr. Kathy is developing two innovative video games: Radiant Empathy: A Journey of Heartbreak and Healing and The University of NeuroDiversity: Radiant Empathy Campus. 
➡️ Find more resources at https://asd-ntrelationships.com/

The Middle Path of Courage

This episode dives into the extremes of the Empathy Dysfunction Scale—EMD 0 (the Autism end) and EMD 5 (the highly empathic end)—and explains why neither represents true Radiant Empathy on its own.
 
You’ll learn how EMD 0 struggles with alexithymia and the reflex to shut down, while the highly sensitive EMD 5 often falls into the trap of codependent fixing. 
 
Dr. Marshack shares how her own therapy work embodies the key lesson: Radiant Empathy isn't about sensitivity alone; it's the courage to stay present in the discomfort without rescuing or retreating.
 
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If you are looking for more resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, start with Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.
 
The Discussion Continues: Join the confidential Podcast After Party for this episode! Check the schedule at Thinkific and the Meetup group.
 
Future of Healing: Dr. Kathy is developing two innovative video games: Radiant Empathy: A Journey of Heartbreak and Healing and The University of NeuroDiversity: Radiant Empathy Campus. 
➡️ Find more resources at https://asd-ntrelationships.com/

Rise to Radiant Empathy

Litigation, denial, invisibility—these struggles feel unique, but they are all the same fight: the fight to have your truth recognized.
In this powerful episode, Dr. Marshack shares her own journey through conflict (like fighting for her health against contaminated water) and connects it to the emotional neglect and invisibility heard from so many NeuroDivergent couples. 
You'll learn to rise to Radiant Empathy, the moment you recognize that you are an incredible gift, even if others can't see it. This episode is a call to action: "Only you can know your duty." Stand in your truth and hold the light.
 
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Check out Dr. Kathy’s latest book, “Going Over the Edge: Life With a Partner or Spouse With “Asperger Syndrome- ANNIVERSARY EDITION” 
 
➡️Follow Dr. Kathy on Facebook
➡️Find Dr. Kathy’s Website Here
➡️If you’re looking for resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, check out Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.

Happily Ever After: Adapting to Intolerable Situations

Forget the fairy tales. In real life, Happily Ever After is about finding a way to thrive, even when faced with intolerable situations.
 
Using the dysfunction of a Homeowners Association (HOA) as a metaphor, Dr. Marshack explores the creative and sometimes radical adaptations she has seen in NeuroDivergent relationships. You’ll hear about couples who live in separate houses, use structured agreements, and even move apart—all while remaining married.
 
The truth is, the flaws in these adaptations are nothing compared to the tragedy of squeezing the life out of yourself to maintain a rigid, unrealistic model of marriage. Learn why workability, not perfection, is the key to reclaiming your life.
 
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Check out Dr. Kathy’s latest book, “Going Over the Edge: Life With a Partner or Spouse With “Asperger Syndrome- ANNIVERSARY EDITION” 
 
➡️Follow Dr. Kathy on Facebook
➡️Find Dr. Kathy’s Website Here
➡️If you’re looking for resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, check out Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.

The Right to Make Mistakes

It's one of the simplest yet hardest truths to live by in a NeuroDivergent relationship: You have the right to make mistakes and to correct them.
 
In this episode, we talk about the tragedy of transactional thinking, where mistakes are treated like mortal sins and are never forgiven. Dr. Marshack shares personal stories of being confronted and marked for life by loved ones and shows you how to fight back with simple assertive rights.
 
You'll learn to reframe your mistakes as "missed marks"—opportunities to adjust and become more human. Don't let anyone take your right to grow away from you.
 
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Check out Dr. Kathy’s latest book, “Going Over the Edge: Life With a Partner or Spouse With “Asperger Syndrome- ANNIVERSARY EDITION” 
 
➡️Follow Dr. Kathy on Facebook
➡️Find Dr. Kathy’s Website Here
➡️If you’re looking for resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, check out Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.

Beyond the Blame Game

This is the question that won't go away: Why is it so hard for my ASD partner to take responsibility for their actions?
 
It feels like they’re refusing to see your pain, leaving you alone in life. This episode moves beyond the blame game. Thanks to the insights of NeuroDiverse men like Richard and Rob, we now have a powerful path forward: Empathy Triad Engaged.
 
This isn't about giving anyone a free pass. It's about demanding mutual engagement. You'll hear direct quotes from an ASD man committed to growth and learn why his NT wife's Radiant Empathy—standing firm in love while demanding accountability—is the key to transformation.
 
If you've ever felt all alone in life instead of having a partner, this episode is for you.
 
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Check out Dr. Kathy’s latest book, “Going Over the Edge: Life With a Partner or Spouse With “Asperger Syndrome- ANNIVERSARY EDITION” 
 
➡️Follow Dr. Kathy on Facebook
➡️Find Dr. Kathy’s Website Here
➡️If you’re looking for resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, check out Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.

Team Light: The Quiet Power of Believing

Belief is the quiet power that makes it easier to keep going.
In this powerful episode, Dr. Marshack shares how her own journey, sparked by a profound moment with the Statue of Liberty's poem, led her to found Team Light. 
You’ll learn that belief is an act of Radiant Empathy and courage, especially in NeuroDivergent partnerships where clarity and connection can feel impossible. 
This isn't about being perfect; it's about holding the torch for yourself and trusting that the truth has a way of finding the people who need it. Together, NTs and NDs, we shine.
 
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Check out Dr. Kathy’s latest book, “Going Over the Edge: Life With a Partner or Spouse With “Asperger Syndrome- ANNIVERSARY EDITION” 
 
➡️Follow Dr. Kathy on Facebook
➡️Find Dr. Kathy’s Website Here
➡️If you’re looking for resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, check out Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.

Love Beyond the Label: The Autistic Daughter

In the fictional world, the brilliant NeuroDiverse woman gets the standing ovation. But what about real life?
This is a deeply personal story about the raw love, grief, and confusion of raising an Autistic daughter in a world with no manuals, no support groups, and no models for success. 
Dr. Marshack shares the intense struggles, from sensory battles and bullying to depression and alienation, that occur when the world expects a girl to be "normal."
You'll discover that what's needed isn't more discipline or stricter rules, but safety, acceptance, and real love that clears the path for her to be her authentic self. 
This episode offers profound validation for the mothers, mentors, and women who are still waiting for their ovation.
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Check out Dr. Kathy’s latest book, “Going Over the Edge: Life With a Partner or Spouse With “Asperger Syndrome- ANNIVERSARY EDITION” 
 
➡️Follow Dr. Kathy on Facebook
➡️Find Dr. Kathy’s Website Here
➡️If you’re looking for resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, check out Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.

Beyond the Words: How Conversational Aspergian Unlocks Empathy

Have you ever shared a personal story only to have a loved one respond with a debate or an ill-timed laugh?
 
In this episode, Dr. Kathy Marshack introduces the concept of Conversational Aspergian to help you decode these moments and understand the emotions beneath the surface. 
 
Using a deeply personal story about her mother and other real-life examples, she explains how neurodiverse individuals often use humor, logic, or avoidance to mask their true feelings. 
 
You’ll learn to look beyond the words and expand your own empathy, transforming frustration into understanding.
 
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Check out Dr. Kathy’s latest book, “Going Over the Edge: Life With a Partner or Spouse With “Asperger Syndrome- ANNIVERSARY EDITION” 
 
➡️Follow Dr. Kathy on Facebook
➡️Find Dr. Kathy’s Website Here
➡️If you’re looking for resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, check out Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.

Write Your Own Story: Finding Purpose After Loss

How do you move forward when so much has been taken from you? In this episode, Dr. Kathy Marshack talks about the power of writing your own ending. 
She shares a deeply personal story of loss, betrayal, and the profound lesson she learned from a FedEx driver that the truth has a way of finding the people who need it most.
This episode is about reclaiming your story and leaving a legacy beyond your losses. You’ll learn that your pain doesn’t have to be your final chapter, and that choosing to build a life filled with purpose is the ultimate revenge.
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Check out Dr. Kathy’s latest book, “Going Over the Edge: Life With a Partner or Spouse With “Asperger Syndrome- ANNIVERSARY EDITION” 
 
➡️Follow Dr. Kathy on Facebook
➡️Find Dr. Kathy’s Website Here
➡️If you’re looking for resources for NeuroDivergent relationships, check out Unlocking NeuroDivergent Relationships, a Comprehensive Resource Preview.