Embracing Autism and Poetry: A Conversation with Traci Neal

Dr Mary speakes with Traci Neal about embracing autism through the inspiration of poetry.

MHNRN | Apple Podcasts | Spreaker | Episode #21

Embracing Autism and Poetry: A Conversation with Traci Neal

With special guest, Traci Neal, inspirational speaker poet. 

In this podcast episode, Dr. Mary Jones interviews Traci Neal, a poet and author who discovered her passion for poetry later in life. Traci shares her journey from being a pre-K aide to becoming a published poet featured in the New York Times.

She explains how poetry became her outlet and how her diagnosis of autism and ADHD influenced her creative process.

Emphasizing the importance of vulnerability and helping others, she shifted her focus from personal fame to inspiring and serving others.

Check out our show notes below:

[00:03] From Pre-K aide to published poet. The journey.

In this podcast episode, Dr. Mary Jones interviews Traci Neal, a poet and author who discovered her passion for poetry later in life. Traci shares her journey from being a pre-K aide to becoming a published poet featured in the New York Times. She explains how poetry became her outlet and how her diagnosis of autism and ADHD influenced her creative process.

Traci emphasizes the importance of vulnerability and helping others, which shifted her focus from personal fame to inspiring and serving others.

[07:05] How family and poetry helped her thrive with autism.

Traci also discusses her experiences growing up with undiagnosed autism, the challenges she faced, including bullying and trauma, and how she found solace in her imaginative world and poetry.

With support from her family, especially her father, and she overcame the difficulties she had connecting with peers, particularly females.

Highlighting the importance of understanding and respecting neurodivergent individuals, she shares her mission to raise awareness and support others like her.

[32:47] 

Turning to her personal life, Traci’s touches on her marriage and how her husband supports her. She shares her goals of using her poetry for commercials to give back to the community and help those in need.

Listeners are encouraged to connect with her through her website which emphasizes the importance of having standards and working with respectful individuals.

Find out more about Traci Neal and her poetry here: 

Want to listen to the whole episode or check out our other great podcasts?!

Listen wherever podcast are available! Shows on all major podcasting platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.

Connect with Us:

HEY SIS!

As a devoted pediatrician, specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders, my focus is on guiding and supporting families who have received an autism or ADHD diagnosis.

I am a PCCI trained life and leadership coach.

– Dr Mary