When autistic kids grow up

Latest episodes

Showing 6 · updated from the feed

Chapter 5: The war dial

#39 trending · Life Sciences

“You have to reshape the whole system.” Tempest McDonald earns a measure of peace.

Jul 2
41 min

Chapter 4: How did things unfold?

Tempest McDonald sues Vanderbilt University Medical Center through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Her published NIH paper finds allies.

Jun 25
27 min

Chapter 3: Would there be data?

#37 trending · Life Sciences

Tempest McDonald takes a postdoctoral position at Vanderbilt University. Researching her paper accusing the National Institutes of Health of discrimination threatens ever

Jun 18
27 min

Chapter 2: "You need to go to college"

#33 trending · Life Sciences

After her stint as a semi-professional pool player and the birth of her son, Tempest goes west to start her belated journey through higher education.

Jun 11
27 min

Chapter 1: Those people

#15 trending · Life Sciences

What leads an autism researcher to publish an intentionally inflammatory paper accusing the NIH of discrimination? Tempest McDonald’s turbulent childhood begins to provid

Jun 4
23 min

When autistic kids grow up

#48 trending · Life Sciences

An autistic researcher’s paper called attention to a huge disparity in autism funding research between children and adults. It nearly derailed her life.

May 20
2 min

Chart trend

Position in the Life Sciences chart (US), last 90 days.

#1#42#82JulAugSep

#6

all-time peak

80

days in the top 10 since May 2026

Chart positions

Where When autistic kids grow up ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 29, 2026).

#7 ▲ 1 Life Sciences US

#31 ▲ 8 Science US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

This is a straight-forward and insightful tale about a very special and tenacious person. It is also about systems, neurodiversity, survival, and fighting for a thread of common sense in the non-sensical world of academia and grant attainment. Worth a listen.

reisiroo · Aug 2026

this podcast could have been really good. it starts with a useful and important premise: addressing the fact that autists’ life expectancy is lower than neurotypicals. the central character is compelling. however, the host gives far too much space to too few voices — especially in the final episode, which shoes almost entirely on the perspective of an allistic researcher for the widely discredited organization autism speaks, whose connection to autistic people is tenuous at best. we need more research, and more media, that explores the breadth of autistic experience. however, this podcast is simply not it. decent storytelling, but poorly researched, and would not pass basic journalistic muster. we deserve so much better.

3ratsinacup · Sep 2026

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.