Drinking to Mask and Unmask

About Drinking to Mask and Unmask

Drinking to Mask and Unmask is an Autistic-led podcast exploring the complex relationship between autism, masking, addiction, and the strategies people develop to survive in a world that often demands they hide who they are. Hosted by Chelsey Flood, novelist and late-diagnosed autistic writer, the series examines the coping mechanisms autistic people use to navigate everyday life — from the habits that help us get through difficult situations to the behaviours that can become harmful over time. Through conversations with researchers, writers, clinicians, and people with lived experience, each episode explores how masking, addiction, recovery, creativity, and identity intersect. The inaugural season focuses on what it takes to appear “okay” in environments that often feel overwhelming, uncovering the emotional, social, and cultural pressures that shape that reality. Blending personal reflection, lived experience, and thoughtful discussion, Drinking to Mask and Unmask creates space for honest conversations about vulnerability, coping, recovery, and the costs of constantly performing normality. Produced for the Autistic Culture Podcast Network. 🎧 Drinking to Mask and Unmask is available on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/033wx45aVtHw83EQ1IILcj), Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1896912649), and all major platforms. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com (http://autisticcultureplus.com/) 🌐 Visit (http://www.autisticculturepodcast.com/)www.autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com (https://acpn.base44.app/) 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast (https://www.instagram.com/autisticculturepodcast) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Autistic Culture Podcast Network

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

17 Jun 2026

Latest episode

25 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Aug 2026

   We Thought Everyone Did This

   Sometimes the stories families tell about what is "normal" look very different after a diagnosis. Chelsey Flood is joined by her mum, Caroline Dale, for a conversation about family, misunderstanding, drinking, and late diagnosis. Together they reflect on the assumptions families make, the experiences that go unnoticed, and how understanding neurodivergence can change the way we view the past. In this episode: Family relationships and understanding Drinking culture and expectations Late diagnosis Looking back with new perspective Neurodivergence within families Content Note: This episode includes discussion of family relationships, alcohol use, and late diagnosis. 🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com (http://autisticcultureplus.com/) 🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com (https://acpn.base44.app/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Understandable Reasons Why Autistic and Neurodivergent People Find Alcohol Useful

   Why can alcohol feel so useful for autistic and neurodivergent people? Chelsey Flood speaks with Associate Professor Dr Felicity Sedgewick about friendship, belonging, and the social challenges that can make alcohol feel helpful, necessary, or even protective. Together they explore loneliness, connection, and the pressures that shape social experiences for many neurodivergent people. In this episode: Friendship and belonging Social challenges and connection Alcohol as a social tool Loneliness and isolation Neurodivergent experiences of community Content Note: This episode includes discussion of mental health and loneliness. 🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com (http://autisticcultureplus.com/) 🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com (https://acpn.base44.app/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   28 Jul 2026

   When the Mask Stops Masking

   What happens when the strategies that once helped you survive stop working? Ebony Nash joins Chelsey Flood for a conversation about alcohol, neurodivergence, burnout, and identity. Together they explore the limits of coping strategies, the impact of masking over time, and what it means to build a life that no longer depends on survival mechanisms. In this episode: Alcohol and coping Neurodivergence and identity Burnout and exhaustion Letting go of strategies that no longer serve you Finding a way forward Content Note: This episode includes discussion of alcohol use and mental health. 🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com (http://autisticcultureplus.com/) 🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com (https://acpn.base44.app/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

4. 

   14 Jul 2026

   Masking Is Real

   What is masking, why do people do it, and can it actually be measured? Chelsey Flood speaks with researcher Dr Laura Hull about the science of masking, the experiences that masking describes, and why having language for these behaviours matters. Together they explore what masking looks like, what people may be masking, and the growing body of research helping us better understand neurodivergent experiences. In this episode: What masking is The science behind masking research Why people mask The importance of language and recognition Neurodivergent identity and understanding Content Note: This episode includes discussion of mental health and masking research. 🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com (http://autisticcultureplus.com/) 🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com (https://acpn.base44.app/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

5. 

   30 Jun 2026

   Looking for the Perfect Fix

   How many of us spend our lives searching for the one thing that will finally make everything easier? Musician Rosalie James joins Chelsey Flood to discuss addiction, self-understanding, and the hope that the next solution might be the one that changes everything. Together they explore the appeal of quick fixes, the realities of living with ongoing challenges, and the search for ways to make life feel more manageable. In this episode: Addiction and coping strategies The search for self-understanding Hope, change, and personal growth Finding ways to navigate life's challenges Content Note: This episode includes discussion of alcohol use and mental health. 🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com (http://autisticcultureplus.com/) 🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com (https://acpn.base44.app/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

6. 

   22 Jun 2026

   Building an Identity You Need Alcohol to Maintain

   What happens when the person you've spent years trying to be turns out to be built around survival rather than authenticity? In this episode, Chelsey Flood is joined by Bre Ransome to explore late diagnosis, drinking culture, and the unsettling experience of discovering that many traits you thought were part of your personality were actually coping strategies. Together they discuss identity, self-understanding, and what happens when long-held assumptions begin to unravel. In this episode: Late diagnosis and self-discovery Alcohol and social expectations Coping strategies and identity Rethinking the past through a neurodivergent lens Content Note: This episode includes discussion of alcohol use, late diagnosis, and mental health. 🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com (http://autisticcultureplus.com/) 🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com (https://acpn.base44.app/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

7. 

   17 Jun 2026

   Trailer: Welcome to Drinking To Mask And Unmask

   What happens when coping becomes survival? Welcome to Drinking to Mask and Unmask, a podcast exploring autism, masking, addiction, and recovery through an autistic cultural lens. Part of the Autistic Culture Podcast Network. Hosted by Chelsey Flood, the series examines the strategies autistic people develop to navigate a world that often demands conformity, and the costs those strategies can carry over time. Through conversations with researchers, professionals, and people with lived experience, the show explores masking, substance use, creativity, identity, and what it means to find healthier ways of existing in the world. 🎙️ Subscribe now to hear future episodes. 🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com (http://autisticcultureplus.com/) 🌐 Learn more about the network at AutisticCulturePodcastNetwork.com (https://acpn.base44.app/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Contact Drinking to Mask and Unmask

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.