152 [S11 E7] Sparkly things and heavy loads: autistic menopause, academia and lived experience

About this episode

Dr. Rachel Mosely discusses her journey with autism and menopause, highlighting her research and insights from her new book.

Dr Rachel Mosely was halfway through her second postdoctoral job in autism research when she learnt that she herself had been suspected as being autistic as a child. After some investigation, she was assessed and diagnosed at the Lorna Wing Centre, aged 28. Ten years on, Rachel is Principal academic in Psychology at Bournemouth University, where her research focuses on understanding the challenges faced by autistic people, primarily around mental health. She has a degree in Psychology and a PhD in cognitive neuroscience from Cambridge University. Together with colleagues she has conducted work on menopause as a time where autistic people can particularly struggle. Her book, Autistic Menopause: A Guide to the Menopausal Transition for Autistic People and Those Supporting Them, was published in January this year. The book draws on the voices of sixteen autistic experts, covering everything from understanding why being autistic will affect your experience of the menopause, to advice about finding the strategies that work for you and seeking help. It discusses how menopause can cause changes to our emotions, attention and memory, as well as affecting things like sensory issues…

People in this episode

Host: Amy Richards

Guest: Dr Rachel Mosely

Topics covered

• autism
• menopause
• mental health
• academic research
• lived experience

Keywords

• autism
• menopause
• mental health
• psychology
• cognitive neuroscience
• lived experience
• self-esteem

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lorna Wing Centre, Bournemouth University, Cambridge University

Books & works: Autistic Menopause: A Guide to the Menopausal Transition for Autistic People and Those Supporting Them

More episodes of The Squarepeg Podcast

• 153 [S11 E8] Creativity, small joys and redefining success: navigating the long-term impact of autistic burnout · June 6, 2026 · 1h 8m
• 151 [S11 E6] The same type of different: autistic identity, South Asian stories and the model minority myth · May 23, 2026 · 1h 0m
• 150 [S11 E5] A little candle burning: survival, healing, and the small nourishments of autistic life · May 16, 2026 · 59 min
• 149 [S11 E4] Going away to come home: From outward success to an authentic autistic life · May 9, 2026 · 1h 2m
• 148 [S11 E3] Unexpected autism: art journalling, mental health and reframing eating distress · May 2, 2026 · 1h 10m
• 147 [S11 E2] Complex lives in a binary world: reflections on the autistic experience · April 25, 2026 · 1h 17m