Self Discovery is Worth the Wait | Episode 10

Chris Blankenship welcomes Ranpreet Anthony, a transmasculine Two-Spirit and neurodivergent Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner (SEP) with over twenty years of experience in the mental health field. Together, Chris and Ranpreet explore SE, Ranpreet’s own journey to self-discovery, and how his late-in-life diagnosis came at the perfect time. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that while growing into yourself takes time, stepping confidently into who you’re meant to be is worth the wait. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction 00:23 – Ranpreet’s Late Autism Diagnosis 01:22 – Discovering Autism at 46 02:16 – Autism and Gender Transition 03:43 – Navigating Multiple Life Changes 04:37 – What Is Somatic Experiencing? 05:09 – Autism, Trauma & PTSD 06:09 – The “Double Rainbow” Experience 06:38 – Understanding Nervous System Dysregulation 07:42 – Preventing Meltdowns and Shutdowns 08:39 – Life Before an Autism Diagnosis 09:26 – Trauma, Stimming & Autism 11:13 – Grief After a Late Diagnosis 12:03 – From Grief to Celebration 13:18 – Learning to Unmask 14:29 – Recognizing Overwhelm 15:19 – Autism and Gender Diversity 16:38 – Why Autism and Gender Diversity Overlap 18:22 – When Not Conforming Becomes a Strength 19:02 – What Nervous System Regulation Really Means 20:20 – Minority Stress & Mental Health 21:46 – Learning to Feel Safe 22:36 – Finding Support and Connection 23:27 – Unmasking One Drop at a Time 24:18 – Building Resilience and Capacity 25:06 – What Does Two-Spirit Mean? 26:09 – Advice for Late-Diagnosed Autistic Adults 27:26 – Closing Instagram:   / autism.learning.lab