Abbey Romeo

Yeah, and I don't talk to that person anymore.

Yeah, and I don't talk to that person anymore.

Yes, fans do.

Yes, fans do.

In dog language.

In dog language.

Yeah, you're saying change the memory to help me overcome my fears of dogs barking.

Yeah, you're saying change the memory to help me overcome my fears of dogs barking.

As a kid, I felt left out in the cold. I felt isolated and alone. And I used to identify with Ariel. She wanted to be where the people were, just like how I wanted to be, where the typical kids were.

As a kid, I felt left out in the cold. I felt isolated and alone. And I used to identify with Ariel. She wanted to be where the people were, just like how I wanted to be, where the typical kids were.

Very happy. Successful. I mean, accepted for who I am.

Very happy. Successful. I mean, accepted for who I am.

does clementine bark sometimes only when someone comes in oh how do you feel about that it's not as bad as it was okay you know what else you know what speaking of other auditory issues i went to joshua tree there were two roosters crowing at four in the morning oh gosh while i was asleep i could hear a rooster crowing in the middle of the night we used to live in hawaii and we would hear roosters crow all the time because for whatever reason especially if i'm asleep a rooster crowing

does clementine bark sometimes only when someone comes in oh how do you feel about that it's not as bad as it was okay you know what else you know what speaking of other auditory issues i went to joshua tree there were two roosters crowing at four in the morning oh gosh while i was asleep i could hear a rooster crowing in the middle of the night we used to live in hawaii and we would hear roosters crow all the time because for whatever reason especially if i'm asleep a rooster crowing

You could hear it even when you were sleeping.

You could hear it even when you were sleeping.

Yeah, there were so many chickens in Hawaii. And you see the kids just carrying them around in their hands. Yeah.

Yeah, there were so many chickens in Hawaii. And you see the kids just carrying them around in their hands. Yeah.

As a kid, I felt left out in the cold. I felt isolated and alone. And I used to identify with Ariel.

As a kid, I felt left out in the cold. I felt isolated and alone. And I used to identify with Ariel.

Well, their crowing is just annoying, especially when I'm sleeping.

Well, their crowing is just annoying, especially when I'm sleeping.

Really? The dial-up modem sound is how the internet first started. How'd you find that? Because when I was three years old, I had a big Apple iMac G3. And whenever I'd go on the internet, I remember hearing that sound when I was like two and a half.

Really? The dial-up modem sound is how the internet first started. How'd you find that? Because when I was three years old, I had a big Apple iMac G3. And whenever I'd go on the internet, I remember hearing that sound when I was like two and a half.

Wow. No way.

Wow. No way.

It's the memory of my old computer. I remember hearing it on the old computer when I was like... Three years old.

It's the memory of my old computer. I remember hearing it on the old computer when I was like... Three years old.

because ariel was a mermaid living in a world alone under the sea she wanted to be where the people were just like how i wanted to be where the typical kids were and when ariel finally became human she couldn't talk that's how i felt wow that really is that's why mermaids and ariel are still even important to me today wow and your hair clip kind of reminds me of ariel too yeah did you do that on purpose

because ariel was a mermaid living in a world alone under the sea she wanted to be where the people were just like how i wanted to be where the typical kids were and when ariel finally became human she couldn't talk that's how i felt wow that really is that's why mermaids and ariel are still even important to me today wow and your hair clip kind of reminds me of ariel too yeah did you do that on purpose

It's kind of a little bit annoying, but to me the static part sounds like the ocean waves. Sounds like the ocean.

It's kind of a little bit annoying, but to me the static part sounds like the ocean waves. Sounds like the ocean.

Or it sounds like a waterfall.

Or it sounds like a waterfall.

The static part sounds like a waterfall.

The static part sounds like a waterfall.

Or some of it sounds like a guitar string. Okay, cool. And do you remember AOL? No, I never had AOL. Don't you have an AOL email, Abby?

Or some of it sounds like a guitar string. Okay, cool. And do you remember AOL? No, I never had AOL. Don't you have an AOL email, Abby?

Starfish hair clip.

Starfish hair clip.

Yeah. What does she say? You want things for moms? I got 20. But who cares? Who cares?

Yeah. What does she say? You want things for moms? I got 20. But who cares? Who cares?

I want more. That's so fun. I met the real Ariel at the Grove. No way. I think two years ago.

I want more. That's so fun. I met the real Ariel at the Grove. No way. I think two years ago.

Jodi Benson.

Jodi Benson.

Yes.

Yes.

Can you please stop patting me like this? You can pat me.

Can you please stop patting me like this? You can pat me.

Are you okay? Yeah. Do you need a sensory break? No, no, no. I'm good. Okay.

Are you okay? Yeah. Do you need a sensory break? No, no, no. I'm good. Okay.

Finish my questions.

Finish my questions.

My favorite date is that when we saw The Lion King on Broadway together.

My favorite date is that when we saw The Lion King on Broadway together.

And we went to Africa together. And we went to Disneyland or Universal Studios.

And we went to Africa together. And we went to Disneyland or Universal Studios.

We go places like we go bowling, we go to Castle Park.

We go places like we go bowling, we go to Castle Park.

Huh? Do you like to bowl? I do.

Huh? Do you like to bowl? I do.

Where did you go bowling?

Where did you go bowling?

Bolero?

Bolero?

I don't know. You don't know who wins? Sometimes me or David. Oh, we just take turns? Yeah, we just take turns winning. Are you competitive?

I don't know. You don't know who wins? Sometimes me or David. Oh, we just take turns? Yeah, we just take turns winning. Are you competitive?

I really want to win a game because when I was younger, when I didn't win a game, I would get very upset. But what's changed?

I really want to win a game because when I was younger, when I didn't win a game, I would get very upset. But what's changed?

No, not necessarily. I can get upset, but not like I used to.

No, not necessarily. I can get upset, but not like I used to.

Because I'm blaming it on autism.

Because I'm blaming it on autism.

Yeah, whenever I would win a game, I would sing a song I like.

Yeah, whenever I would win a game, I would sing a song I like.

Yeah, and my mom says you can't cry over a silly game because it reminds me of I was acting like a kid and I don't want to be like a kid at all.

Yeah, and my mom says you can't cry over a silly game because it reminds me of I was acting like a kid and I don't want to be like a kid at all.

I dressed up as Ariel for Halloween this year.

I dressed up as Ariel for Halloween this year.

But it's sized for women like me.

But it's sized for women like me.

No, he dressed up as the shark.

No, he dressed up as the shark.

It's on the list of his favorites.

It's on the list of his favorites.

But he has a whole list.

But he has a whole list.

It's too much. I want to try and make a long story short.

It's too much. I want to try and make a long story short.

Oh, yeah. Well, think about it. James Earl Jones just died. Aw. That's very sad. It was his time.

Oh, yeah. Well, think about it. James Earl Jones just died. Aw. That's very sad. It was his time.

The circle of life. He was also Darth Vader in Star Wars.

The circle of life. He was also Darth Vader in Star Wars.

I didn't know that. He was. He was the voice of Mufasa. And Darth Vader. Yep. Wow. I didn't know that.

I didn't know that. He was. He was the voice of Mufasa. And Darth Vader. Yep. Wow. I didn't know that.

He's a voice actor, but he's also been in a million movies. And her client knows. He was one of my mom's friend's clients. Yes.

He's a voice actor, but he's also been in a million movies. And her client knows. He was one of my mom's friend's clients. Yes.

When you go on dates with David, does your mom go too or his mom? Not really, but we did go to Toronto, Canada. Okay.

When you go on dates with David, does your mom go too or his mom? Not really, but we did go to Toronto, Canada. Okay.

We spoke at a conference and Debbie David's mother came. And then we took a plane from Toronto, Canada to Indianapolis. Wow, you travel a lot. And you know what? What? Also, when we were leaving Indianapolis, there was two babies sitting in front of us. No way.

We spoke at a conference and Debbie David's mother came. And then we took a plane from Toronto, Canada to Indianapolis. Wow, you travel a lot. And you know what? What? Also, when we were leaving Indianapolis, there was two babies sitting in front of us. No way.

I don't want anything. I just want to stick with animals, and that's it. That's fair.

I don't want anything. I just want to stick with animals, and that's it. That's fair.

Trained wild animals run in the backyard. Nice. In L.A. ? Wow. And you know what David does to tell me when I hear a baby crying? Ignore it, Abby. Just ignore it. Oh, does he have sounds that bother him, too? No, he just wants me to be... He doesn't want me to get dysregulated. Oh, that's really sweet. Like, and she says, don't call the crying babies names. Oh.

Trained wild animals run in the backyard. Nice. In L.A. ? Wow. And you know what David does to tell me when I hear a baby crying? Ignore it, Abby. Just ignore it. Oh, does he have sounds that bother him, too? No, he just wants me to be... He doesn't want me to get dysregulated. Oh, that's really sweet. Like, and she says, don't call the crying babies names. Oh.

Like, sometimes I call them names I don't like. Oh. It's a frustration when she can't get out the fact that it's hurting her, so... And I associate kids and adults to the couple song lyrics from a song I did when I was in elementary school.

Like, sometimes I call them names I don't like. Oh. It's a frustration when she can't get out the fact that it's hurting her, so... And I associate kids and adults to the couple song lyrics from a song I did when I was in elementary school.

Like I did something called a visual dictionary. Like my therapist Ryan does AI, artificial intelligence, and she came up with a visual dictionary of crying babies eating vegetables and spicy foods, foods I don't like.

Like I did something called a visual dictionary. Like my therapist Ryan does AI, artificial intelligence, and she came up with a visual dictionary of crying babies eating vegetables and spicy foods, foods I don't like.

And you know what? She drew a picture of a visual dictionary of adult women eating.

And you know what? She drew a picture of a visual dictionary of adult women eating.

That's very cool. He thinks each number is a color. That's why synesthesia made him very smart in math.

That's very cool. He thinks each number is a color. That's why synesthesia made him very smart in math.

Because that's why he got high grades in math.

Because that's why he got high grades in math.

The way my mind works, categories and memories come first before any words or emotions do. So right now I'm in a gestalt language brain and memory therapy. And I'm learning how the three parts of the brain, the smart brain, the emotional brain, and the survival brain. Wow. And my five senses too.

The way my mind works, categories and memories come first before any words or emotions do. So right now I'm in a gestalt language brain and memory therapy. And I'm learning how the three parts of the brain, the smart brain, the emotional brain, and the survival brain. Wow. And my five senses too.

Yeah, something like that. I'll have to ask him.

Yeah, something like that. I'll have to ask him.

Think about it. For example, I'd say that adult women are mermaids and crying babies are the sea witch. Because why? Because I don't like the sound of crying babies and I don't like the sound of Ursula's doing her evil laugh.

Think about it. For example, I'd say that adult women are mermaids and crying babies are the sea witch. Because why? Because I don't like the sound of crying babies and I don't like the sound of Ursula's doing her evil laugh.

You know what the crying babies sound like to me? What?

You know what the crying babies sound like to me? What?

Have you seen Oz the Great and Powerful, the prequel? We actually haven't. Mila Kunis was in it from Family Guy. Oh, I like her. Maybe she voiced Meg from Family Guy.

Have you seen Oz the Great and Powerful, the prequel? We actually haven't. Mila Kunis was in it from Family Guy. Oh, I like her. Maybe she voiced Meg from Family Guy.

Oh, do we like The Simpsons? Speaking of The Simpsons, I'm obsessed with the scene in The Simpsons movie of Bart Simpson skateboarding naked. And he has no clothes on and he skateboards to Krusty Burger. And there's this guy eating french fries. And he says, boys, before we eat, don't forget to thank the Lord for this bountiful. And then Bart goes. And then he says something inappropriate.

Oh, do we like The Simpsons? Speaking of The Simpsons, I'm obsessed with the scene in The Simpsons movie of Bart Simpson skateboarding naked. And he has no clothes on and he skateboards to Krusty Burger. And there's this guy eating french fries. And he says, boys, before we eat, don't forget to thank the Lord for this bountiful. And then Bart goes. And then he says something inappropriate.

Yeah, I wrote it with my friend Casey Kelly, my cousin's college roommate. No way. Helped me with it.

Yeah, I wrote it with my friend Casey Kelly, my cousin's college roommate. No way. Helped me with it.

Out of your awareness.

Out of your awareness.

Why don't you ask them? Can I talk about being startled? Of course. And you know what? Speaking of whenever I would get startled, I'd do a certain gesture. What was that gesture? I would do a certain gesture. I would clap my hands and stick out my tongue and I shouldn't do it on the podcast. I'm not going to do it. It's something called the dolly dance.

Why don't you ask them? Can I talk about being startled? Of course. And you know what? Speaking of whenever I would get startled, I'd do a certain gesture. What was that gesture? I would do a certain gesture. I would clap my hands and stick out my tongue and I shouldn't do it on the podcast. I'm not going to do it. It's something called the dolly dance.

Not necessarily. I mean, she has a different job.

Not necessarily. I mean, she has a different job.

And when people did it back to me, they were trying to show me how it looked.

And when people did it back to me, they were trying to show me how it looked.

I don't know. Why don't you ask? Have you heard of the book A Bad Case of Stripes? Oh, I love that book. Do you remember Camilla Creams, the main character? She loves lima beans, but she never ate them because the other kids in her class didn't like them, so she wanted to fit in. She felt isolated and alone. So she pretended she didn't like lima beans, and she turned all striped.

I don't know. Why don't you ask? Have you heard of the book A Bad Case of Stripes? Oh, I love that book. Do you remember Camilla Creams, the main character? She loves lima beans, but she never ate them because the other kids in her class didn't like them, so she wanted to fit in. She felt isolated and alone. So she pretended she didn't like lima beans, and she turned all striped.

You're right. And then when she was at school doing they did the pledge, she turned red, white, and blue. Yes. Did you read this book?

You're right. And then when she was at school doing they did the pledge, she turned red, white, and blue. Yes. Did you read this book?

No, it's kind of the opposite though. Doctors came to examine her and they gave her pills and once she took a pill she turned into a big pill. Yes. She wasn't being her true self. Well, tell the moral of the story. There was this girl, she wasn't being her true self.

No, it's kind of the opposite though. Doctors came to examine her and they gave her pills and once she took a pill she turned into a big pill. Yes. She wasn't being her true self. Well, tell the moral of the story. There was this girl, she wasn't being her true self.

There was an elderly woman that gave her lima beans and she went back to herself. And she learned that she loved lima beans. To be her true self.

There was an elderly woman that gave her lima beans and she went back to herself. And she learned that she loved lima beans. To be her true self.

And also, there's this other book called When Sophie Gets Angry. Really, really angry. Oh. I haven't read that one. That's a book about a girl that falls over a truck because she didn't want to share her stuffed gorilla with her sister. And she got very angry and she blew off steam. She ran into the wilderness in nature and she started crying and then she found herself out in nature. Wow.

And also, there's this other book called When Sophie Gets Angry. Really, really angry. Oh. I haven't read that one. That's a book about a girl that falls over a truck because she didn't want to share her stuffed gorilla with her sister. And she got very angry and she blew off steam. She ran into the wilderness in nature and she started crying and then she found herself out in nature. Wow.

And then what? She calmed and relaxed, and she headed back home.

And then what? She calmed and relaxed, and she headed back home.

Do you like to read? I love that book. Do you remember the book No David? No.

Do you like to read? I love that book. Do you remember the book No David? No.

David, that's enough. He had a lot of food in his mouth. And what if your brother David did that?

David, that's enough. He had a lot of food in his mouth. And what if your brother David did that?

I really love doing those things. And you love David.

I really love doing those things. And you love David.

I'm going to take some cookies for the airplane ride. Take as much as you want. Where are the crackers that Addie left me?

I'm going to take some cookies for the airplane ride. Take as much as you want. Where are the crackers that Addie left me?

Because there's cheese with it. Well, I didn't see any crackers in the boxes.

Because there's cheese with it. Well, I didn't see any crackers in the boxes.

Costco pizza and yum yum donuts. Costco pizza and yum yum donuts. That sounds yummy, doesn't it? That's what's going to be on the menu.

Costco pizza and yum yum donuts. Costco pizza and yum yum donuts. That sounds yummy, doesn't it? That's what's going to be on the menu.

Yum yum donuts for sure.

Yum yum donuts for sure.

What do you think, Abs? The actual marriage itself, because I've always, always wanted to be old enough to get married. I've always wanted to be old enough to get married. Can I tell them the example of how jealous I was of couples when I was a kid?

What do you think, Abs? The actual marriage itself, because I've always, always wanted to be old enough to get married. I've always wanted to be old enough to get married. Can I tell them the example of how jealous I was of couples when I was a kid?

Yes, and in the remake, Prince Eric had a song.

Yes, and in the remake, Prince Eric had a song.

Yeah, and in the remake, they took out the song Daughters of Triton, which pissed me off. It's not in the new one.

Yeah, and in the remake, they took out the song Daughters of Triton, which pissed me off. It's not in the new one.

It's pretty good, but it's different than the original one. Yeah. We loved it. You went to the premiere, remember? Yeah, I got to go to the premiere like two years ago.

It's pretty good, but it's different than the original one. Yeah. We loved it. You went to the premiere, remember? Yeah, I got to go to the premiere like two years ago.

You wake up. Do you wake up early? I wake up. It depends on my schedule. I do a brain and memory therapy. Then I go on my date with David. Then I warm up my voice. And maybe I walk my dog. Knit hats. That's my daily routine.

You wake up. Do you wake up early? I wake up. It depends on my schedule. I do a brain and memory therapy. Then I go on my date with David. Then I warm up my voice. And maybe I walk my dog. Knit hats. That's my daily routine.

The type of autism I have is where you have autism communication disorder. I had 22 years of speech therapy and 15 years of occupational therapy to get where I am today to be able to talk just like this.

The type of autism I have is where you have autism communication disorder. I had 22 years of speech therapy and 15 years of occupational therapy to get where I am today to be able to talk just like this.

Remember? How many hats did I sell? I sold over like 100 hats this past November, December. She did? What?

Remember? How many hats did I sell? I sold over like 100 hats this past November, December. She did? What?

By you? Oh my goodness. Yeah. Every single one. You hand make these hats?

By you? Oh my goodness. Yeah. Every single one. You hand make these hats?

It all started out when I was in a...

It all started out when I was in a...

work program called textiles at my school miller because the teacher was retiring the next year and so my mom asked the school if i could take advanced weaving she went to the principal but he said no we don't allow that here so miss carol my textiles teacher came to the house every saturday to volunteer to help me make hats on a circular and show her how to do it wow you're a great learner too yep i am that kind of reminds me of a book have you ever read caps for sale

work program called textiles at my school miller because the teacher was retiring the next year and so my mom asked the school if i could take advanced weaving she went to the principal but he said no we don't allow that here so miss carol my textiles teacher came to the house every saturday to volunteer to help me make hats on a circular and show her how to do it wow you're a great learner too yep i am that kind of reminds me of a book have you ever read caps for sale

What's a peddler?

What's a peddler?

Peddler. Peddler.

Peddler. Peddler.

No way. I started singing when I was two years old. When I turned three, I did something called music therapy with a woman named Casey. She'd come in with a guitar. She'd play the guitar, and I can remember a note.

No way. I started singing when I was two years old. When I turned three, I did something called music therapy with a woman named Casey. She'd come in with a guitar. She'd play the guitar, and I can remember a note.

I was in a play called The Miracle Project when I was in junior high for people on the spectrum.

I was in a play called The Miracle Project when I was in junior high for people on the spectrum.

It feels amazing.

It feels amazing.

I do.

I do.

Satisfied and productive. I mean productive, not productive.

Satisfied and productive. I mean productive, not productive.

That's even a real word.

That's even a real word.

Kelly Clarkson, I used to love listening to your music growing up. Do you know any of her songs? Since You've Been Gone is a good one.

Kelly Clarkson, I used to love listening to your music growing up. Do you know any of her songs? Since You've Been Gone is a good one.

Yeah, I'm going to do it tonight and tomorrow evening.

Yeah, I'm going to do it tonight and tomorrow evening.

Brent? Yeah, and you know what? But that wasn't your class. Yeah.

Brent? Yeah, and you know what? But that wasn't your class. Yeah.

Can we just call it a day? Yeah, let's call it a day. We can wrap it up if you want. Yeah, we can wrap it up. But it was so nice. I love being on your podcast. You're so kind. Thank you so much. Thank you, Abby.

Can we just call it a day? Yeah, let's call it a day. We can wrap it up if you want. Yeah, we can wrap it up. But it was so nice. I love being on your podcast. You're so kind. Thank you so much. Thank you, Abby.

I know.

I know.

It's amazing.

It's amazing.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. And I feel more, I don't feel as autistic as I did as a kid, but I'm still on the spectrum.

Yeah. And I feel more, I don't feel as autistic as I did as a kid, but I'm still on the spectrum.

Because I knew my brain would do what I was telling it to do.

Because I knew my brain would do what I was telling it to do.

Yeah. And that's why I used to I felt like a mermaid because mermaids couldn't talk.

Yeah. And that's why I used to I felt like a mermaid because mermaids couldn't talk.

The first day they came and filmed, I filmed in my room with me sitting still and I was completely zoned out and I had a hard time focusing. So luckily, another day they came back and they finally get to let me walk around so I could focus better. No way.

The first day they came and filmed, I filmed in my room with me sitting still and I was completely zoned out and I had a hard time focusing. So luckily, another day they came back and they finally get to let me walk around so I could focus better. No way.

Yeah. It was in some ways, but I didn't care about being on Love on the Spectrum.

Yeah. It was in some ways, but I didn't care about being on Love on the Spectrum.

Why did I have a meltdown when the bell went off?

Why did I have a meltdown when the bell went off?

He was amazing.

He was amazing.

Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah.

Well, I did care. Because I never knew I was going to be on TV until now.

Well, I did care. Because I never knew I was going to be on TV until now.

You have a dog, too. Clementine, right?

You have a dog, too. Clementine, right?

What's Clementine doing today? She's back at my house and Ben's there with his little puppy Navi. She's an Australian Shepherd.

What's Clementine doing today? She's back at my house and Ben's there with his little puppy Navi. She's an Australian Shepherd.

Yeah, and I don't talk to that person anymore.

Yes, fans do.

In dog language.

Yeah, you're saying change the memory to help me overcome my fears of dogs barking.

As a kid, I felt left out in the cold. I felt isolated and alone. And I used to identify with Ariel. She wanted to be where the people were, just like how I wanted to be, where the typical kids were.

Very happy. Successful. I mean, accepted for who I am.

does clementine bark sometimes only when someone comes in oh how do you feel about that it's not as bad as it was okay you know what else you know what speaking of other auditory issues i went to joshua tree there were two roosters crowing at four in the morning oh gosh while i was asleep i could hear a rooster crowing in the middle of the night we used to live in hawaii and we would hear roosters crow all the time because for whatever reason especially if i'm asleep a rooster crowing

You could hear it even when you were sleeping.

Yeah, there were so many chickens in Hawaii. And you see the kids just carrying them around in their hands. Yeah.

As a kid, I felt left out in the cold. I felt isolated and alone. And I used to identify with Ariel.

Well, their crowing is just annoying, especially when I'm sleeping.

Really? The dial-up modem sound is how the internet first started. How'd you find that? Because when I was three years old, I had a big Apple iMac G3. And whenever I'd go on the internet, I remember hearing that sound when I was like two and a half.

Wow. No way.

It's the memory of my old computer. I remember hearing it on the old computer when I was like... Three years old.

because ariel was a mermaid living in a world alone under the sea she wanted to be where the people were just like how i wanted to be where the typical kids were and when ariel finally became human she couldn't talk that's how i felt wow that really is that's why mermaids and ariel are still even important to me today wow and your hair clip kind of reminds me of ariel too yeah did you do that on purpose

It's kind of a little bit annoying, but to me the static part sounds like the ocean waves. Sounds like the ocean.

Or it sounds like a waterfall.

The static part sounds like a waterfall.

Or some of it sounds like a guitar string. Okay, cool. And do you remember AOL? No, I never had AOL. Don't you have an AOL email, Abby?

Starfish hair clip.

Yeah. What does she say? You want things for moms? I got 20. But who cares? Who cares?

I want more. That's so fun. I met the real Ariel at the Grove. No way. I think two years ago.

Jodi Benson.

Yes.

Can you please stop patting me like this? You can pat me.

Are you okay? Yeah. Do you need a sensory break? No, no, no. I'm good. Okay.

Finish my questions.

My favorite date is that when we saw The Lion King on Broadway together.

And we went to Africa together. And we went to Disneyland or Universal Studios.

We go places like we go bowling, we go to Castle Park.

Huh? Do you like to bowl? I do.

Where did you go bowling?

Bolero?

I don't know. You don't know who wins? Sometimes me or David. Oh, we just take turns? Yeah, we just take turns winning. Are you competitive?

I really want to win a game because when I was younger, when I didn't win a game, I would get very upset. But what's changed?

No, not necessarily. I can get upset, but not like I used to.

Because I'm blaming it on autism.

Yeah, whenever I would win a game, I would sing a song I like.

Yeah, and my mom says you can't cry over a silly game because it reminds me of I was acting like a kid and I don't want to be like a kid at all.

I dressed up as Ariel for Halloween this year.

But it's sized for women like me.

No, he dressed up as the shark.

It's on the list of his favorites.

But he has a whole list.

It's too much. I want to try and make a long story short.

Oh, yeah. Well, think about it. James Earl Jones just died. Aw. That's very sad. It was his time.

The circle of life. He was also Darth Vader in Star Wars.

I didn't know that. He was. He was the voice of Mufasa. And Darth Vader. Yep. Wow. I didn't know that.

He's a voice actor, but he's also been in a million movies. And her client knows. He was one of my mom's friend's clients. Yes.

When you go on dates with David, does your mom go too or his mom? Not really, but we did go to Toronto, Canada. Okay.

We spoke at a conference and Debbie David's mother came. And then we took a plane from Toronto, Canada to Indianapolis. Wow, you travel a lot. And you know what? What? Also, when we were leaving Indianapolis, there was two babies sitting in front of us. No way.

I don't want anything. I just want to stick with animals, and that's it. That's fair.

Trained wild animals run in the backyard. Nice. In L.A. ? Wow. And you know what David does to tell me when I hear a baby crying? Ignore it, Abby. Just ignore it. Oh, does he have sounds that bother him, too? No, he just wants me to be... He doesn't want me to get dysregulated. Oh, that's really sweet. Like, and she says, don't call the crying babies names. Oh.

Like, sometimes I call them names I don't like. Oh. It's a frustration when she can't get out the fact that it's hurting her, so... And I associate kids and adults to the couple song lyrics from a song I did when I was in elementary school.

Like I did something called a visual dictionary. Like my therapist Ryan does AI, artificial intelligence, and she came up with a visual dictionary of crying babies eating vegetables and spicy foods, foods I don't like.

And you know what? She drew a picture of a visual dictionary of adult women eating.

That's very cool. He thinks each number is a color. That's why synesthesia made him very smart in math.

Because that's why he got high grades in math.

The way my mind works, categories and memories come first before any words or emotions do. So right now I'm in a gestalt language brain and memory therapy. And I'm learning how the three parts of the brain, the smart brain, the emotional brain, and the survival brain. Wow. And my five senses too.

Yeah, something like that. I'll have to ask him.

Think about it. For example, I'd say that adult women are mermaids and crying babies are the sea witch. Because why? Because I don't like the sound of crying babies and I don't like the sound of Ursula's doing her evil laugh.

You know what the crying babies sound like to me? What?

Have you seen Oz the Great and Powerful, the prequel? We actually haven't. Mila Kunis was in it from Family Guy. Oh, I like her. Maybe she voiced Meg from Family Guy.

Oh, do we like The Simpsons? Speaking of The Simpsons, I'm obsessed with the scene in The Simpsons movie of Bart Simpson skateboarding naked. And he has no clothes on and he skateboards to Krusty Burger. And there's this guy eating french fries. And he says, boys, before we eat, don't forget to thank the Lord for this bountiful. And then Bart goes. And then he says something inappropriate.

Yeah, I wrote it with my friend Casey Kelly, my cousin's college roommate. No way. Helped me with it.

Out of your awareness.

Why don't you ask them? Can I talk about being startled? Of course. And you know what? Speaking of whenever I would get startled, I'd do a certain gesture. What was that gesture? I would do a certain gesture. I would clap my hands and stick out my tongue and I shouldn't do it on the podcast. I'm not going to do it. It's something called the dolly dance.

Not necessarily. I mean, she has a different job.

And when people did it back to me, they were trying to show me how it looked.

I don't know. Why don't you ask? Have you heard of the book A Bad Case of Stripes? Oh, I love that book. Do you remember Camilla Creams, the main character? She loves lima beans, but she never ate them because the other kids in her class didn't like them, so she wanted to fit in. She felt isolated and alone. So she pretended she didn't like lima beans, and she turned all striped.

You're right. And then when she was at school doing they did the pledge, she turned red, white, and blue. Yes. Did you read this book?

No, it's kind of the opposite though. Doctors came to examine her and they gave her pills and once she took a pill she turned into a big pill. Yes. She wasn't being her true self. Well, tell the moral of the story. There was this girl, she wasn't being her true self.

There was an elderly woman that gave her lima beans and she went back to herself. And she learned that she loved lima beans. To be her true self.

And also, there's this other book called When Sophie Gets Angry. Really, really angry. Oh. I haven't read that one. That's a book about a girl that falls over a truck because she didn't want to share her stuffed gorilla with her sister. And she got very angry and she blew off steam. She ran into the wilderness in nature and she started crying and then she found herself out in nature. Wow.

And then what? She calmed and relaxed, and she headed back home.

Do you like to read? I love that book. Do you remember the book No David? No.

David, that's enough. He had a lot of food in his mouth. And what if your brother David did that?

I really love doing those things. And you love David.

I'm going to take some cookies for the airplane ride. Take as much as you want. Where are the crackers that Addie left me?

Because there's cheese with it. Well, I didn't see any crackers in the boxes.

Costco pizza and yum yum donuts. Costco pizza and yum yum donuts. That sounds yummy, doesn't it? That's what's going to be on the menu.

Yum yum donuts for sure.

What do you think, Abs? The actual marriage itself, because I've always, always wanted to be old enough to get married. I've always wanted to be old enough to get married. Can I tell them the example of how jealous I was of couples when I was a kid?

Yes, and in the remake, Prince Eric had a song.

Yeah, and in the remake, they took out the song Daughters of Triton, which pissed me off. It's not in the new one.

It's pretty good, but it's different than the original one. Yeah. We loved it. You went to the premiere, remember? Yeah, I got to go to the premiere like two years ago.

You wake up. Do you wake up early? I wake up. It depends on my schedule. I do a brain and memory therapy. Then I go on my date with David. Then I warm up my voice. And maybe I walk my dog. Knit hats. That's my daily routine.

The type of autism I have is where you have autism communication disorder. I had 22 years of speech therapy and 15 years of occupational therapy to get where I am today to be able to talk just like this.

Remember? How many hats did I sell? I sold over like 100 hats this past November, December. She did? What?

By you? Oh my goodness. Yeah. Every single one. You hand make these hats?

It all started out when I was in a...

work program called textiles at my school miller because the teacher was retiring the next year and so my mom asked the school if i could take advanced weaving she went to the principal but he said no we don't allow that here so miss carol my textiles teacher came to the house every saturday to volunteer to help me make hats on a circular and show her how to do it wow you're a great learner too yep i am that kind of reminds me of a book have you ever read caps for sale

What's a peddler?

Peddler. Peddler.

No way. I started singing when I was two years old. When I turned three, I did something called music therapy with a woman named Casey. She'd come in with a guitar. She'd play the guitar, and I can remember a note.

I was in a play called The Miracle Project when I was in junior high for people on the spectrum.

It feels amazing.

I do.

Satisfied and productive. I mean productive, not productive.

That's even a real word.

Kelly Clarkson, I used to love listening to your music growing up. Do you know any of her songs? Since You've Been Gone is a good one.

Yeah, I'm going to do it tonight and tomorrow evening.

Brent? Yeah, and you know what? But that wasn't your class. Yeah.

Can we just call it a day? Yeah, let's call it a day. We can wrap it up if you want. Yeah, we can wrap it up. But it was so nice. I love being on your podcast. You're so kind. Thank you so much. Thank you, Abby.

I know.

It's amazing.

Yeah.

Yeah. And I feel more, I don't feel as autistic as I did as a kid, but I'm still on the spectrum.

Because I knew my brain would do what I was telling it to do.

Yeah. And that's why I used to I felt like a mermaid because mermaids couldn't talk.

The first day they came and filmed, I filmed in my room with me sitting still and I was completely zoned out and I had a hard time focusing. So luckily, another day they came back and they finally get to let me walk around so I could focus better. No way.

Yeah. It was in some ways, but I didn't care about being on Love on the Spectrum.

Why did I have a meltdown when the bell went off?

He was amazing.

Oh, yeah.

Well, I did care. Because I never knew I was going to be on TV until now.

You have a dog, too. Clementine, right?

What's Clementine doing today? She's back at my house and Ben's there with his little puppy Navi. She's an Australian Shepherd.