POSITIVE VOICES SAM MITCHELL: AMPLIFYING THE VOICES OF EXCEPTIONAL NEEDS

Sam Mitchell

Amplifying the Voices of Exceptional Needs

By Margo Marie McManus

In October 2019, autistic teenager Sam Mitchell released the first episode of his podcast series, Autism Rocks and Rolls, on Podbean. Diagnosed at four years old, Sam has grown up with an experiential awareness of autism’s challenges, gifts, and social perception. He recognizes the need for autistic visibility and advocacy. “I take this responsibility very seriously and will speak for anyone,” he says, “I understand. I live it each day. I want people to know, I am with you, I see you, I hear you, I will include you.” As the host of Autism Rocks and Rolls, Sam is able to broadcast his own voice while offering a platform for others in the exceptional needs community to do the same.

Sam was first introduced to podcasts after joining his high school’s media club his sophomore year. The club runs a student-led podcast known as Thundercast that focuses on topics affecting the school’s student body and surrounding area. During his time on Thundercast, Sam realized how much he enjoyed the experience and that he had a talent for hosting. He decided to make his own podcast the following year so he could use that talent to help others. “Thundercast helped me with the basics of running a podcast and also how interviews are structured. Once I understood the basics, I went into my own direction and am loving how it has happened,” he explains.

With the guidance of his mentor, Scott Carmichael, and the full support of his family, Sam was able to make his podcast a reality. He was given a soundboard as a birthday present, then worked out the technicalities of exactly what he wanted to do: make a podcast that could help destigmatize autism and encourage listeners to embrace it. Though he first feared the possibility of his project flopping, Autism Rocks and Rolls proved successful; it now has over five thousand downloads.

The podcast has led to new opportunities. Sam has made many guest appearances on other podcasts, and has met both Dr. Temple Grandin and WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley. He has become business partners with his mother, selling sponsorships, ad space, merchandise, and podcast coaching. He also does some public speaking. However, his commitment to his business can make balancing other parts of his life difficult, and sometimes he gets overwhelmed. “When I am at school, I focus on school. At home, after my homework, I focus on my second job right now: my show. My mom and I not only write, produce, and network, but we have other projects going on that connect to the podcast. I think about my podcast all the time. This sometimes gets into the way of socializing, but I love it, and I know I am building my future,” he affirms.

One benefit of his passion means he never suffers a mental block when working or planning for his podcast. He enjoys being “the boss of [his] own show” and claims the abstract format of a podcast is appealing because it aligns with how he thinks. He can make it entirely his own. Sam draws inspiration from his daily life with autism by following a planning strategy he calls APE. A stands for autism behaviors, P stands for perspective or interviews, and E is for entertainment or analogies. This gives him a general framework for his content. He later records, edits, and publishes the episode. Though he loves putting everything together, Sam is happiest when editing and perfecting his work with Audacity. The one thing he dislikes is the need to be very conscientious of copyright laws. Though he understands their importance, it can be frustrat-

ing to get an idea and realize certain music or sounds can’t be used without paying a lot of money.

Making a podcast has improved Sam’s independence and allowed him to practice various motivational, entrepreneurial, and media skills. Additionally, it has bolstered his self-confidence when communicating. “I haven’t always been able to do that being on the autism spectrum. I still struggle with that most days when I am not behind the microphone,” he admits. Not all of it has been easy, but three years of hard work have paid off. After high school, Sam intends to go to college at Ivy Tech in Bloomington, Indiana for his general courses. He then plans to attend Vincennes University to major in media, entrepreneurship, or tourism. Sam encourages his fellow autistic students to go to school, socialize, do their best, and reflect on their days. He also advises any aspiring podcast hosts to just go for it because even if it flops, at least you can say you tried.

One of Sam’s favorite acronyms is LAI: Listen and Include. Outside of his podcast, Sam is not always listened to as a result of his autism. Though he may think differently or be unable to adapt to every social norm, he knows he still deserves to be included, just like the rest of the exceptional needs community. “We are all in this world together, and podcasts can sometimes show this. I know my podcast has helped so many off and on the spectrum,” he says. If there had been an autism podcast when he was a child, he is sure it would have made him feel less alone. Sam is amazed by technology’s ability to connect people and fully believes in its ability to assist the exceptional needs community seek resources and advocate for themselves. “I am respectful. I care about people deeply. I am a functioning member of society. I exist, and I want other people to know that they do too. Social media is amazing. Podcasts are amazing. Using these platforms can help a lot of people,” he declares.

Sam’s goal has always been to aid others. After the podcast started to take off, further ways he could do so became apparent, such as considering the accessibility of his content and process. Aside from uplifting autistic voices by inviting them to speak in his show, Sam works to accommodate any special needs they may have. For instance, when he recorded with a deaf guest, Sam worked with her to ensure the captions on Zoom were turned on.

When asked about how he would accommodate a guest who is non-speaking, he replied: “Part of my mission is to highlight that every human being has something to offer society no matter what. Sometimes, even for those who do not speak, you have to find it and tap into their skills. I want to be the voice for those who do not have one. I want people to know: we see you. You are important. Everyone has something to offer. Even if someone cannot speak, what can they do? What abilities do they have? This is what should be showcased.” Nevertheless, Sam acknowledges there is room for improvement. He needs to do a better job of accommodating his listeners as well as his guests, and is already working on future plans. In the meantime, Sam Mitchell will continue to project the voices of the exceptional needs community and shares a final piece of advice: “Be nice and don’t be stupid. I truly believe these two things could solve the world’s problems.”

Autism Rocks and Rolls can be found on Podbean, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, LinkedIn, Stitchter, IHeartRadio, Pandora, and ListenNotes. Sam Mitchell can be reached on all major social media platforms or by emailing info@autismrocksandrolls.com or mitchellsam171@gmail.com.

Margo Marie McManus is an intern and editorial assistant for Exceptional Needs Today. She is also a student and Writing Fellow at Clemson University, where she studies graphic communications and creative writing. Her interest in the exceptional needs community and autism awareness was first peaked when assisting students in the Writing Center. She furthered her interest by interning and writing articles for Autism Parenting Magazine. She enjoys reading and writing poetry and has over 15 poems published in various magazines and anthologies, including Teenage Wasteland Review and The Chronicle.