Atypical
Click icon to find the trailer for ‘Atypical’, Netflix’s new comedy series about autism. It premiered in August 2017. The eight-episode comedic series follows Sam Gardner, a high school senior on the autism spectrum, and his family as he navigates dating, school and being a teenager. The link features an article followed by comments.
The first episode was dissapointing for one viewer. In this article actor Mickey Rowe explains why he thinks Netflix’s series Atypical misrepresents its autistic audience — and why that begins with its failure to include the autistic community in its creative process.
Lucy Mangan on responsibility
Click icon to listen to this intelligent and engaging interview. Lucy Mangan talks to Bea Harvie, a post-graduate student, whose father got ill when she was thirteen. Bea chose to take on a lot of caring duties towards her younger siblings while her Mother was busy caring for her Father. She just got on with it until one day, when she was sixteen, it all caught up with her. She says it is like shaking up a bottle of fizzy pop: ‘it’s got to come out some way’.
More or less
The Radio 4 series that goes behind the numbers in the news. For example, in the Brexit referendum of 2016 the UK has voted to leave the European Union. Click Brexit economics to listen to Tim Harford and the team explore what that might mean for the UK economy. Click icon for more episodes.
Lack of empathy
How far can empathy, or the lack of it, can explain cruelty? Simon Baron-Cohen proposes turning the focus away from evil or specific personality disorders, and to understand human behaviour by studying the ’empathy circuit’ in the brain. Also speaking: forensic psychotherapist Gwen Adshead, crime writer Val McDermid and philosopher Julian Baggini. Click icon to listen again to this discussion.
Women & Asperger’s
Asperger’s syndrome or not? may still be available to hear on-line. It poses the question, Why do so many women think their men have Asperger’s syndrome? Click icon to listen.
Codes that changed the world
If you are a computer buff you might be interested in a Radio series about the history of computer programming. They cover well known programming languages like Basic and Java. Click icon for the list of episodes. Initially broadcast in 2015, they were still available Aug 2021.
Interviews about Autism
Radio 4 has been broadcasting a series of interviews about Autism.
- A conversation with Professor Simon Baron-Cohen was aired on Tue 17th Feb 2015. He is a highly respected authority on autism.
- On Tue 24th Feb, an interview with a university research assistant with high-functioning autism was aired. She explained her experience of life with very clearly.
You might be able to listen to Podcasts of these 15 minute programmes. They should be available for at least 30 days after broadcast. This one has stayed there for months.
The Village
August 2014. The plan is to cover the 20th century from the First World War to beyond the Second World War, over several series. The mood is perking up now.
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