Episode 107: Special Guest, Dr Claire Bates (Academic Researcher, Founder and Leader of Supported Loving)

On this month's 21andsensory Podcast* I have Nathan Dunne as my special guest. Nathan was born in Brisbane, Australia and grew up in India. After graduating from the University of Sydney with the University Medal, he studied art history at Cambridge University and received a PhD from Birkbeck College, University of London. He has lectured at Harvard and Yale, and also worked for several years at Tate Modern. As a journalist and critic, he has contributed to many publications, including The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, The Guardian, Slate and Artforum. Nathan is the author of 'When Nothing Feels Real', a memoir about depersonalisation which was published in June 2025. We have a really interesting chat about DPDR (depersonalisation and derealisation) and the onset for Nathan and how he has experienced it and Nathan and how he has experienced it and was diagnosed. We also discuss my own experiences and diagnosis of DPDR and how it affects me, then mention the great work that Unreal Charity do!*trigger warning for content covering self harm and mental health strugglesNathans links:Nathan’s website and book: ‘When Nothing Feels Real’ (https://www.nathandunne.com/)Nathan’s Guardian Article: 'I was enjoying a midnight swim. Then my girlfriend kissed me – and the nightmare began' (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/08/i-was-enjoying-a-midnight-swim-then-my-girlfriend-kissed-me-and-the-nightmare-began)Nathan's Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nathanadunne/)Mentioned:Unreal Charity (UK based) (https://www.unrealcharity.com/)What is DPDR? (https://www.unrealcharity.com/what-is-dpdr)Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) information: https://emdrassociation.org.uk/Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) information https://www.unrealcharity.com/treatment-care)Maudsley Clinic Information (UK based) NHS South London and Maudsley (https://slam.nhs.uk/dissociative-disorders)Unreal charity blog (https://www.unrealcharity.com/blog)Joe’s Wilkins video of a clinic walkthrough: The Maudsley Depersonalisation Disorder Service: Q&A With Dr Claudia Hallett (https://youtu.be/5xvC-o5tnpM?si=sJ3Wo2S3L1Oe0Z2G)Emily’s links:Emily’s blog link to her experiences of DPDR, including her illustration: https://www.unrealcharity.com/blog/emilys-story-coming-to-terms-with-dpdr-ezjgz-cxwb2-lrp2x-4j56w-5ezjj)

On this month's 21andsensory Podcast I have Dr Claire Bates as my special guest. Claire is an active academic researcher holding honorary research associate positions at the both the University of Kent and Manchester Metropolitan University. Claire is the Founder and Leader of Supported Loving which she founded in 2017 (having joined Choice Support in 2002) as a response to her PhD exploring relationships for adults with learning disabilities. It is a national network that promotes best practice with the goal of getting people with learning disabilities and autistic people the support they need, to enjoy the same sexual and romantic freedoms as everyone else.Through research, training, creating resources and accessible information on sex and relationships, Supported Loving wants to make love a reality for everyone.Supported Loving Website: https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/supported-lovingChoice Support Links:Website: https://www.choicesupport.org.ukLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chsupport/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choice_support/More info and research from Dr Claire Bates: https://socialworkwithadults.blog.gov.uk/author/dr-claire-bates/https://www.lsbu.ac.uk/stories-finder/claire-bates-alumna-supported-lovinghttps://arc-kss.nihr.ac.uk/resource-library/315-my-story-so-far-by-dr-claire-bates-supported-loving-lead-choice-supporthttps://learningmet.mmu.ac.uk/project/care-act-assessments-and-intimate-lives/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c989k7pggn7o

On this month's 21andsensory Podcast episode I have the wonderful special guest Keira Edwards. Keira is an autistic journalist who is one of four BBC Sounds Audiolab Creators for 2025. BBC Sounds Audio Lab is an accelerator programme with one big ambition – to amplify next-generation storytellers and audio creatives. With a focus on under-represented UK voices and experiences, we help to transform fresh and distinctive ideas into narrative led podcasts whilst helping to grow their professional production skills.I’ll be chatting to Keira all about her podcast ‘It’s So Loud In Here!’ available to listen to now on BBC Sounds.Keira’s links:’It’s So Loud In Here’ hosted by Keira, available here on BBC Sounds: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0n03fcrKeira’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kredwards39An instagram post Keira did with BBC Sounds: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV5q81eisDM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZAKeira’s new TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livingneurodivergentMy 21andsensory links:@21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com/working-with-me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠~⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠~@21andsensory on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/21andsensory.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this month's 21andsensory Podcast I have special guest Cath on the show. Cath is a graduate from the University of York and the University of Oxford and their background is in student voice, with 5 years of experience across two universities. Cath is also the host and founder of the HE Enabled Podcast. HE Enabled is a show dedicated to sharing the experiences of disabled, neurodivergent, and those with long-term health conditions in UK Higher Education.HE Enabled links:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2njGJehfdhxHsC4bltg703?si=0eb76147113b4157Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/he-enabled/id1812688537…and you can listen to my episode (33) on the HE Enabled Podcast now!https://linktr.ee/henabledMentioned:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/cw/HEnabledLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/heenabledLuisa’s episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0GgigL2NGsQuj6SZxojuaw?si=decc7611c7eb48f0Disabled Students UK Report: https://disabledstudents.co.uk/annual-disabled-student-survey-results-2025-published/Chill with You : Lo-Fi Story on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3548580/Chill_with_You__LoFi_Story/20-20-20 Digital eye strain article: https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/20-20-20-rule(For every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, you should try to take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away).My 21andsensory links:@21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory on Patreon⁠⁠21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com/working-with-me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/21andsensory.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠

On today's episode I have special guest Lauren Melissa Ellzey also known as Autienelle.Lauren Melissa is an autistic self-advocate and author of three young adult novels, BOY AT THE WINDOW, STREAMLINE, and GIMMICKS AND GLAMOUR, which explore belonging for queer, neurodivergent youth of colour. Her advocacy work has crossed paths with New York University, Reframing Autism, Cripple Media, NeuroClastic, and the United Nations. She holds a Master of Science in Library and Information Science and resides in New York City with her cat, Tifa, and her dog, Farron.Lauren Melissa's links:Instagram: Lauren Melissa Ellzey (@autienelle) Lauren Melissa on Twitch Lifelines Grounding Stone: https://www.lifelines.com/grounding-stonesAutienelle websiteBook links:Boldstroke books: https://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/authors/lauren-melissa-ellzey-364Amazon link: Lauren Melissa Ellzey: books, biography, latest updateMy 21andsensory links:@21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory on Patreon⁠21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com/working-with-me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/21andsensory.bsky.social⁠⁠

*Content warning* we chat about potentially triggering topics such as eating disorders, drugs and alcohol, listener discretion is advised.On today’s show I have the wonderful special guest Claire. Claire is houseplant-obsessed and has a fab YouTube channel called The Jungle Haven. She started her YouTube channel to make videos about the things she has learnt (and continues to learn) on her indoor gardening journey, and provides tips and tricks so that subscribers can keep their own house plants happy and healthy. Claire has almost 200,000 subscribers and creates all sorts of videos on her channels including dispelling houseplant myths, how to videos such as repotting house plants and propagating them and videos on plant styling and interiors .Her lovely rescue dog Joli features in her videos lots (including in the opening intro) which of course adds to their charm and both Claire and Joli potter about in chatty plant chore videos and houseplant tours where Claire tends to her collection of almost 300+ plants so I am very much looking forward to chatting to her!Claire's Links:www.instagram.com/thejunglehavenwww.youtube.com/c/TheJungleHavenwww.tiktok.com/@thejunglehavenAlan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club: www.itv.com/watch/alan-titchmarshs-gardening-club/10a5408Mentioned:Sarah Gerrard-Joneswww.theplantrescuer.comwww.instagram.com/theplantrescuerGood Growing (Emma)www.instagram.com/goodgrowinghttps://www.youtube.com/c/GoodGrowingMy 21andsensory links:@21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory on Patreon21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com/working-with-me⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/21andsensory.bsky.social⁠

On today’s show I have special guest David Holmes who is the founder of Big Life Adventure. Big Life Adventure is a fun, safe, and supportive online platform designed especially for people with learning disabilities and autism. It helps you explore your interests, set goals, connect with others, and express yourself – all in one place. David made headline news a few weeks ago when he warned that the new online safety act risks inadvertently excluding people with learning disabilities. Under the Act, social media platforms are required to carry out strict age checks - using ID checks or AI face recognition -  to keep children away from harmful content. For many people with learning disabilities, these systems are unworkable and I’ll be chatting to him more about this.Links:Big Life Adventure websiteStand with Big Life Adventure: Stop Online Disability Discrimination Now: Petition linkBig Life Adventure on:InstagramTikTokLinkedinMy 21andsensory links: My 21andsensory links:@21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory on Patreon⁠21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com/working-with-me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/21andsensory.bsky.social⁠⁠

On today’s show I have the wonderful special guest Anna Zoe Quirke. Anna is a queer and autistic author, librarian, and freelance writer from the North of England. They’ve written books, scripts, poetry (and much more). Their novel ‘Something to be Proud of’ won the Northern Writers’ Award for Debut YA Fiction in 2022, was shortlisted for the PFD Queer Fiction Prize, was published with Little Tiger in June 2024, and was nominated for a Carnegie Award in 2025. Their most recent book ‘ Sad Girl Hours’ was published in September this year.In her freelance work, Anna writes about mental health, disability, neurodivergence, and LGBTQ+ topics for various charities and organisations such as Kooth, the UK’s largest digital mental health service.They’re at their happiest writing stories about chaotic queer and disabled people finding and claiming their place in the world.Anna's Links:Anna's websiteBuy Anna's BooksInstagramTikTokMy 21andsensory links: @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com/working-with-me⁠⁠⁠⁠21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠@21andsensory on BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/21andsensory.bsky.social⁠

IT'S EPISODE 100! WOOP!Thanks for listening and subscribing to the 21andsensory podcast over the years - it really does mean a lot and I hope you have enjoyed all the guests I've had on so far...more exciting guests to come too!On today's episode I have a very special guest to celebrate the 100th episode...but you'll have to click play to find out who it is!My 21andsensory links: @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​@21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Work with me: ⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com/working-with-me⁠⁠⁠​21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠​@21andsensory on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠​@21andsensory on BlueSky: ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/21andsensory.bsky.social⁠

On this month's 21andsensory Podcast I have the wonderful special guest Lucy Powrie. Lucy is a neurodivergent author whose dream is to fill bookshelves with as many books featuring proudly autistic and ADHD characters as possible – just like her.She makes bookish videos as lucythereader on YouTube to an audience of over 40,000 subscribers, and enjoys passionately sharing her love for old books, the Brontë sisters, and the BBC miniseries adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.Lucy is the author of four books for teens and young adults: The Paper & Hearts Society series, and Real When I’m With You. In her spare time she also the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Brontë Society. When she’s not writing or reading, she can be found cuddling her corgi, Margie, and looking after her herd of very cute guinea pigs.Lucy's links: linktr.ee/lucythereader​My 21andsensory links: @21andsensory on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​@21andsensory on TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.tiktok.com/@21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​21andsensory on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/c/21andsensory⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠​Work with me: ⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com/working-with-me⁠⁠​21andsensory Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://21andsensory.wordpress.com⁠⁠⁠​@21andsensory on X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/21andsensory⁠⁠​@21andsensory on BlueSky: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/21andsensory.bsky.social⁠