This week on The Leftscape, the featured interview is with Fresno, CA music composition student Alexia Nelson. Alexia talks with Robin Renée about living with autism. She speaks candidly about difficulties with social cues, anxiety, sensory overload, and being misunderstood by neurotypical people. She also gives us a glimpse at her deep connection with music — Some of her favorites include Steely Dan, Devo, Mitski, and The Beach Boys. Visit The Leftscape website for autism acceptance resources that Alexia recommends. Listen in to learn about one young person’s joys and challenges, as well as some universal ways to be more understanding and kinder to people with autism.
Wendy Sheridan leads a news discussion that includes sadness about the passing of Luke Perry (Beverly Hills, 90210, Riverdale, Jeremiah) and the hopefulness of a second person possibly considered cured of HIV. Also in the conversation are the votes against the Trump “national emergency,” bodily autonomy vs. “host bodies,” and the “Racism Exhibit A” moment in Michael Cohen’s recent congressional testimony.
Want some reasons to celebrate this week? There was Pi Day on March 14. Then there’s St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), National Awkward Moments Day (March 18), and National Introverts Week (March 17– 23). Mary McGinley surmises about why it’s Shakespeare Week and Robin shares a bit about Bisexual Health Awareness Month. Birthday shouts go to Albert Einstein, Simone Biles, will.i.am, Bily Corgan, and Queen Latifah. The March 19 birthday of YouTube star ASMR Zeitgeist sparks a conversation on Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response and some of the sounds and music that affect the co-hosts most.
In the Why is This Awesome? segment, Wendy celebrates the birthday of her mother, Paula Schwartz aka prolific novelist Elizabeth Mansfield. She wrote plays and musicals, and had a deep appreciation for Jane Austen. Wendy announces her upcoming project to adapt one of her mom’s musicals into a very different medium.
The Leftscape – the shape of progressive conversation: “Sound Affects (Episode 39).”
