Episode 79: Love on the Spectrum with Devin Morrissey

I'm fortunate to have frequent conversations on this Pod that transform how I think about our world. And this conversation transformed me more than most. I hadn't seen the Emmy award winning Netflix show "Love on the Spectrum" before I met its supporting star, Devin Morrissey. My eyes were opened in April when I saw him on a panel at the Autism Investor Summit that gave me profound new insights into the world of a self-described "autistic powerhouse." Devin is SO authentic in who he is ... is SO reflective of his experiences (the good, the bad and everything in between) ... is SO gratitude-forward when he describes his life, his city (LA), his girlfriend (Andrea) and all that he's been through. This was a special conversation. Thank you Devin. And enjoy, kind listener.

ps Devin's currently looking for employment so if you're in need of an extremely creative, talented individual for your organization, please reach out to him directly!

Resources:

Devin on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devinmorrissey/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devin-morrissey/

Blog: https://www.tumblr.com/autisticsuperpower

Devin's recent article: "My Thoughts on ABA and an Inside Look at My Experience with Applied Behavioral Analysis":https://www.tumblr.com/autisticsuperpower/719043586574909440/my-thoughts-on-aba-and-an-inside-look-a...

Netflix's "Love on the Spectrum" (United States): https://www.netflix.com/title/81338328

Building Better Businesses in ABA is edited and produced by KJ Herodirt Productions

Intro/outro Music Credit: song "Tailor Made" by Yari and bensound.com

Give us a rating at Apple Music, Spotify or your favorite podcast channel:

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/building-better-businesses-in-aba/id1603909082

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0H5LzHYPKq5Qnmsue9HTwn

Check out Element RCM to learn more about billing & insurance support for Applied Behavior Analysis providers

Web: https://elementrcm.ai/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/element-rcm

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Transcript

Jonathan: 0:30

My special guest today is Devin Morrisey. Devin is an autistic powerhouse who's been able to live his own life by his standards and his rules. After receiving his bachelor's degree from Whittier College and his masters from University of Southern California, he went on to launch his blog Autistic Superpower, where he talks about. Everything autism related. From his early beginnings, learning how to communicate through music to promoting DE and I for all autistic adults in the workplace and in life. Devin is also a supporting cast member on Netflix's Emmy award-winning series. Love on the Spectrum, us. Devin, welcome to the pod.

Devin Morrissey: 1:05

Thank you so much for having me, Jonathan. It's such a pleasure to be here.

Jonathan: 1:09

So, Devin, the pleasure is all mine, sir. And I first met you, or first saw you on a Panel of Love on the Spectrum Stars in Los Angeles, uh, at the Autism investor Summit in April. But I gotta tell you, I had never seen the show before and so I went back and I just watched it avidly and including you're in season one, episode one, there's this brilliant, I mean, poignant scene where you're catching up with your friend danny over a drink, and I was just mesmerized by it, what is it like having cameras rolling as you just tried to have a casual conversation with your friend?

Devin Morrissey: 1:47

Oh my gosh. I mean, considering that this was my very first time to ever be on a TV show, let alone a reality TV show, it was literally so surreal, especially considering the success that the original Australian version had overseas, I think maybe two, three years ago now, the fact that we were bringing it now over to the United States, it was absolutely surreal. And to be a part of that for one episode was really insane. as many of you that probably don't watch this show, Danny is a main cast member on the show that she's looking for love. And Danny and I have been very good friends for the past decade. she has been looking for love for quite some time now, and she actually referred me to be on the show with her, at the scene at the bar. to talk about her looking for love again. we shot that episode two years now and it really was mind boggling to have cameras in your face kind of having the conversation. And I gotta be honest, it was really. So shocking to see myself on Netflix just cuz you know, even let alone the trailer when it dropped. since I am just a supporting cast member and to see myself, I'm sure, I'm like, wait a minute, what am I doing on there? I should be like way in the back or something, I don't know. But it really was such a life changing experience being on the show and it really introduced me to the autistic roots that I have, that I was born with. And it really is. A reminder of all the things that I've accomplished in the first 30 years of my life. I turned 30 back April, literally a week before the summit, and it's, and in the way that I see a love on a spectrum is really the beginning of so many more wonderful things to come in the future.

Jonathan: 3:23

So well said

Devin Morrissey: 3:24

Well, Thank you. Thank you.

Jonathan: 3:26

Devin.

Devin Morrissey: 3:27

you.

Jonathan: 3:28

But for listeners who haven't seen the show, like the primary trailer for season one has Devin in it. and Devin, you have just a couple of absolute dynamite quote bombs in this scene.

Devin Morrissey: 3:39

Really.

Jonathan: 3:39

Yeah. let me read a couple to you. So you tell Danni, you find your Prince Charming. I find my Cinderella. Bam. That was so good. And then you finished it off in this toast to danny, where you said, cheers to us autistic people that are coming over leaps and bounds through our crazy lives growing up to now possibly finding love. Devin, can I tell you, I'm like verklempt, just reliving seeing that scene. It was so emotionally powerful.

Devin Morrissey: 4:07

Thank you.

Jonathan: 4:07

But my question is this love and romance. And dating are hard enough for neurotypical individuals. Like how is love harder or easier for you?

Devin Morrissey: 4:17

Oh my gosh. Well, first and foremost, that cheers to us autistic quote. I think I'm pretty much gonna be known about that for the rest of my life. I think at this point there's really nothing else to say on my accomplishments. I'm just that guy from that show that says that line. but in terms of finding love, honestly, it's just the same level of difficulty or the level of easiness finding love, as regular neurotypical individuals do. Cuz the reality is, you have to do a lot of work in order to get to the heart of a woman that you absolutely love. and in my instance, I do that all the time. as many people may not know or have been living under a rock. I am currently dating the most beautiful girl in the world. Her name is Andrea. Andrea and I have now been boyfriend and girlfriend for the past two years. she's actually not autistic, but She's super supportive. She's incredibly amazing and she's actually a ceramic artist. I'm blown away by her pieces that she does. I'm just like, what? Like, you gotta do more of this, babe. this is amazing. and actually, funny enough, so. People may not know this, but on the show, I mentioned a comment about how I have myself a fourth date coming up with the same girl that was Andrea. So literally right around the time that we shot that show, Our relationship was really beginning to heat up. and in a way, Andrea has really changed my life for the better. Um, in every sense of the word. She makes me feel whole. She makes me the luckiest man in the world and she makes me feel better about myself and she really makes me feel like my heart's complete, even on days when I may feel really sad or isolated. She's always there, for me, and that is. The best thing that I could have ever asked for, I honestly thought that I was never gonna find love. I always felt like the ugly duckling growing up because I was autistic. But Andrea is just like, babe, I don't ever want you to feel like you have to mask or not be autistic around me. I love it when you're being your authentic autistic self. So I don't know how lucky I got having Andrea in my life as my girlfriend, but I'm forever thankful that she is mine.

Jonathan: 6:23

Wow. I want to come back to that comment around masking in a little bit. But first, I want to dig in a little bit more into your background. And you were diagnosed, as I understand it, with autism at age three. And I'm guessing you probably don't remember that. but what did your parents tell you about. Their experience, as you're going through getting your diagnosis.

Devin Morrissey: 6:41

Yeah. Well, the first thing that I remember being told, as you mentioned, I was diagnosed at the age of three, and to be honest, around the 1990s, I. Autism was kind of seen as a death sentence. You were pretty much, you know, set up to fail for your life. And a lot of doubt was really thrown against me by the doctors who diagnosed me. They literally said, you know, your son's not gonna go to college. Your son's not gonna have a job. your son's not gonna be independent and your son's not ever gonna find love, get married or have kids. And basically my parents' response was, you say that now. But you see in the long run, and watch, just see what happens. He's gonna make something out of his life. and what they ended up doing next, from what I remember, was really jump in the bandwagon, um, into therapy. Several dozen of different therapies from what I remember from the second that I was diagnosed. so that's what I remember them telling me. And I remember just a little snippet of the therapies that I had, but as I get older, it's like the memory kind of fades a bit.

Jonathan: 7:48

Wow. Well, tell me more about what you remember from your ABA therapy and other therapies you received.

Devin Morrissey: 7:55

absolutely. So kind of starting off with ABA therapy, ABA was beyond different back in the nineties. it was provided in-house, so there were no providers like there are now. and if I recall, there were dozens of therapists that were coming in and out of my house. So, Literally 24 7 from Sunday to Saturday every single day of the week. and I'll be honest, it was a lot cause I was engaging in so many different therapies like fine motor skills, colors, you name it. I had many social groups growing up all throughout elementary school. I engaged in a lot of occupational therapy such as speech, and it was, A lot. And I, I gotta be honest, it was very confusing as a child. I had classroom aids, that were assigned for me, but I was like, wait, what's the deal here? why am I getting an aid? Why is not every other child getting an aid? Like, it was confusing. And because of the fact that so many therapies I did miss out on some school, I missed out on some recesses, I missed out on some extracurricular activities growing up, you know, that chance to be a child. as an adult now, it makes a lot more sense. Sense because obviously I was able to really smash every obstacle that was thrown my way. I mean, I'm now living in downtown Los Angeles against all the odds. I, have the most beautiful girlfriend in the world that I'm so thankful for every single day, and I'm continuing to smash people's expectations every day.

Jonathan: 9:24

Well keep smashing those freaking expectations. Devin, it's so inspiring, dude, but you once told me that the four year old Devin would be shocked at how grownup Devin turned out. You, You, mentioned a little bit about that just now, but like what did you mean by that?

Devin Morrissey: 9:38

Well, I definitely did say that, when we first met, but I think what I meant is that a lot of doubts, a lot of obstacles were stacked against me. And honestly, it's almost like a baseball game. I took those heads on. I threw the ball and just smashed it right out of the ballpark. and I honestly think that my four year old self would've never thought that he could actually be one day living his life that he's always ever dreamt about, especially in the city of Angels. Just cuz I was a small child growing up in Danville, California. I. I never thought that I would ever leave the Bay Area, let alone leave that small town. But I'm living proof that, you can come from a lot of obstacles throw at you yet you can still make something out of your life.

Jonathan: 10:21

Well, I mean there's so many successes that you've clearly had. And and, I appreciate you mentioned earlier that there are times you probably have to mask, right? Living in this world that has not been shaped by neurodiverse individuals, right? This is largely still a world, unfortunately that's shaped by neurotypicals. And so tell me more about like masking and, and what that looks like and Do you feel, for example, right now that you're needing to mask in this conversation?

Devin Morrissey: 10:47

Oh, absolutely not. You know? And masking is something that I think has always been a part of my life because I got a lot of therapies and I learned a lot of these different behaviors. I first found out that I was autistic at 12 years old, so right before I was heading to middle school, and I gotta be honest, a lot of it didn't really make very sense. Like things were starting to kind of add up. I'm like, okay. Why am I having these meltdowns? Why am I having to miss these activities? It was not making very many sense. And for the longest time I was embarrassed to say that I was autistic. cuz society didn't really embrace. Autism at the time, so I literally just masked it up and blended in with everybody. And so because of that, I really lost sight of myself and really for who I was, and so a lot of doubt and a lot of anxiety actually ended up as a result of that.

Jonathan: 11:43

Wow. One of the things that I've seen happen more increasingly, I don't wanna say acceptance, I don't like words, acceptance and things, but you do see celebrities. and others who are coming out, if you will, and and saying, Hey, I have Asperger's or Autism Spectrum disorder. and I think recently actually I learned from Danny on the show, the creative Pokemon,

Devin Morrissey: 12:07

Yes,

Jonathan: 12:08

who is on the autism spectrum. I had no idea I. Anthony Hopkins, I think, and Elon Musk talked about it on a saturday at night Live. and so anyway, I'm curious what that means to you. Is it important for you to hear about these celebrities sharing their autism diagnosis and journey publicly?

Devin Morrissey: 12:27

Oh, 100%. Absolutely. it's so important to see people that we listen to, like in our music that we watch on the big and the small screens, or even people behind companies and movements that actually are talking about, their full autistic sounds like you mentioned. You know the creator of Pokemon, uh, Anthony Hopkins, Elon Musk, I mean, you got Dan Akroyd, who we all have seen on Saturday Night Live in Ghostbusters. He's on the Spectrum. Greta Thunberg, world Climate Change activist. She's autistic. You got Susan Boyle who was on Britain's Got Talent with that viral audition of I Dream To Dream. She's on the spectrum. you got Sia. She's a multi-platinum recording artist, an actress. She just revealed her autism diagnosis last week. I mean, even now you got fricking Sesame Street Muppet named Julia who's on the spectrum. And it's amazing. And because role models are super important for people to look up to, and especially in pop culture today, so to have autistic celebrities, like everyone that we just mentioned that are actually opening up about the autism is so. Important so that we can push that envelope to really further autism awareness, acceptance, and quite frankly, understanding cuz people don't really get that sense of what life is really like for us until we actually open up and talk about it.

Jonathan: 13:42

It's so true, and let's be honest, Devin, now you are in the league of those

Devin Morrissey: 13:47

Oh my gosh, I,

Jonathan: 13:48

this blog.

Devin Morrissey: 13:48

that. I, don't know about that.

Jonathan: 13:50

Well, hey, look, you've had a blog since 2017 called Autistic Superpower, so I'd love for you to share a little bit more about that blog and what you talk about there. And then like is there a sense of responsibility that you in turn feel to sort of normalize And I, sorry. Normal is like a setting on the washing machine. That's the wrong word, but you know what I mean? just to make sure that this is part of our vernacular in this still neurotypical world.

Devin Morrissey: 14:15

Yes. Um, so I decided to launch my blog Autistic Superpower after years and years of journaling, after years of internal thoughts and really living life, you know, so crazily authentically the good, the bad and everything. And. I decided to launch a blog cuz I just felt that it was time for me to open up in more length about what life is like for other people, particularly me. and so I launched this blog and I really had the chance to talk about everything autistic related, whether from ABA therapies. To music. I've been able to talk about even personal life experiences that I've gone through that really shaped me into who I am now. so really the blog has done, I think, more wonders for me than I ever would've known. And actually, fun fact. So because I was nervous to tell my girlfriend, Andrea, that I was autistic, but I didn't end up having to tell her. She found out through the blog. So the blog kind of beat me to it. Um, but you know, the blog has done so many great wonders. I actually had a chance to talk a little bit about love, you know, for people on the spectrum, cuz it's one of the hardest things that anybody can ever engage in. But for autistic people, it's much harder. And my biggest advice I consider anybody, is just go for it. You know, if you're feeling emotions towards someone, then. You know, share it, and if it works out great and if it doesn't keep looking cuz there's plenty of fish in the sea. So that blog has really done more wonders for me than I would've ever expected.

Jonathan: 15:44

Wow, what Reflective, like gratitude forward sentiment. I really appreciate that. But devin, do you still experience stigma?

Devin Morrissey: 15:53

Um. As an adult, no. But growing up, um, yeah. So after being told that I was autistic, I actually kept my autism mask and hidden for years. I did not want anyone to know about it, and I really lost sight of myself. I am not gonna sugar cut this. I had a rough childhood growing up. I was bullied. I was antagonized, I was harassed in Middle and High School to where things got really bad that things spiraled outta control and I just, Snapped. I battle with PTSD, I battle with depression. I battle with anxiety. I attempted suicide. I actually had two seizures that ended me up in the hospital for P T S D related trauma. and I'll be honest. Because of the stigma that I faced growing up. I just felt so isolated in so long that honestly I was just done living. Like I just was done. I was just checked out. and I was severely traumatized, you know, just from being so stigmatized, judged and excluded and, you know, honestly. I went through a lot more than I think this podcast or even people that watch Love on the Spectrum will really ever know. But honestly, graduating high school was a second chance at life, and moving to LA was a fresh start. That was where I was like, you know what? I'm gonna be my authentic autistic self this time and I'm not gonna make, you know that mistake of trying to hide it. I was gonna fight my way to happiness, and that's what I ended up doing. And I'm in a very positive place now in my life where I can officially say that I fought my way to the other side. And I'm incredibly happy as a result, cuz I don't ever want people to think that I play a victim card. It's all about being a fighter and never, ever ever letting anyone tell you that you can't do something. You just go ahead and you just do it and prove'em wrong.

Jonathan: 17:49

Wow. I love it. Prove them wrong. What would you say, devin, to, autistic, and children today who are experiencing that? Bullying and stigma?

Devin Morrissey: 17:59

You know, honestly, that is something that I've always asked myself. You are not alone. There are so many people like you that have gone through so many things. I can guarantee you though, it gets so much better and so much easier once you learn to love yourself. and once you learn that? your autism is such an amazing blessing, you don't even know it. once you get past that hurdle of trying to figure out self-acceptance, it becomes so much better.

Jonathan: 18:25

And what feedback would you have to neurotypical students and schools who just need to make this world more oriented around and inclusive of neurodiversity.

Devin Morrissey: 18:36

I think that the first thing is really talking more about people on the spectrum and different disabilities. That was something that I didn't necessarily have growing up. Therefore it really was a lot more difficult to explain. I don't think that my teenage self could have honestly handled hearing about it or even talking about it cuz I went through so much. But I think that now that we're seeing that a lot more schools are actually talking about disabilities and actually. Being more open and accepting to it. I'm just like, wow, this is a great change. Cuz that was not the case for me growing up. And I think that the biggest thing that I would, continue to say is really listen to autistic voices. You know, we have a lot of insights cuz we live, we're autistic 24 7 365. We don't get that chance to, you know, turn the off. Buttoned off ever. So my biggest advice is really listen to what we have to say and also really be mindful because sometimes the things you might say you don't know that could possibly trigger even offend, someone on the spectrum. And it's really being mindful in today's society because a lot more autistic people, like you say, are beginning to speak out about their own experiences.

Jonathan: 19:44

Well, let me extend that question, Devin, to ABA practices and ABA practice owners, many of whom want to take into account voices and input from neurodiverse individuals, but maybe they just, they don't know the right way to do so. What feedback do you have for them?

Devin Morrissey: 19:59

I'm glad you brought that up. I actually recently wrote a blog post about ABA therapy and it's interesting just cuz there have been so many changes since the 1960s when applied behavioral analysis first started and there has been so much progress and I'm really happy about, but there's always room for more. And I think that, when I wrote that post, I actually put in two feedback and pieces in mind, just first and foremost. Allow autistic people to feel their instincts. Point of simple. Like it really can be harmful to make an autistic child a avoid or ignore their instincts. if they need a break, let them have a break. If they stem, like let'em stem, you know, there's nothing wrong with that at all. And I was telling my girlfriends sometimes, like, sometimes like I do this, this is like a stemming mechanism and it actually helps. I really don't know why, but it just helps and I don't think that I really need a reason to explain why that is. And the second thing that I think that is so important is to really focus on each autistic person's needs and goals in a positive light. Don't view it as a negative way, make it a positive experience and you'll know that if it's a positive experience. If the client is actually responding happily to the process or even in the. Presence of a therapist or are they actually learning skills or are going to be valuable at some point in their life? So those are the two things that I think are really important in ABA right now that I think should be implemented more. Cause I think that, when we hear people speaking about their negative ABA experiences, you really realize, okay, things need to change.

Jonathan: 21:31

And as you pointed out, I mean there's plenty of bad ABA that has happened in the past. And I think that's just important that we have to confront and say that is what it is and we can't change that. We can do better. And I look forward to dropping a link in the show notes to that blog post. so our listeners can read through that But I want to come back to seeing you on the panel. I had never met you. I had never met the other cast members. I hadn't even seen the show. I just sat down and I said, this seems like an extraordinary, um, panel. And oh my gosh, I was laughing, I was crying. I was like so deeply it and focused like it was just, it was extraordinary. I was moved. What was your experience on the panel, Devon?

Devin Morrissey: 22:12

Oh my gosh. well first and foremost, that was such an amazing and really moving experience, point blank and simple. people recognized me from the show. That entire panel, and even at the summit was really unreal. I. Uh, to have that and, and like you said, the fact that you were so moved and you were laughing at that, you were crying to have that big of an impact on not just the people that attended the panel, but that attended the summit, who know the show, was honestly, I guess, a gift I never knew I ever had, and especially consider this was my second public speaking engagement in my life. the only real I know, the only real time that I ever other spoke at that was at a high school graduation for autistic students in Phoenix, Arizona. that was the only time that I ever spoke. So to have that be my second public speaking engagement and to do it for a show that has really, pushed the envelope and opened up so many doors, it's huge. And to open up to a group of people. that just want to hear what we have to say is incredibly moving, And quite frankly, it actually makes me want to talk about my story even more with the world

Jonathan: 23:20

Well, you know, every time I public speak Devin, I get the butterflies and I have to really channel my anxiety. I have to do a lot of preparation ahead of time. I'm curious, how do you prepare for, uh, for doing that kind of panel or doing that speech at a high school in phoenix?

Devin Morrissey: 23:35

Well, oh my gosh. Well, I think that the first thing is I always have in mind, okay, well who is your desired audience? Who are you talking to? So keeping that in mind. The second, always preparing for questions, cuz you never fully know. what questions are gonna be asked. but I think that the most important thing of all is being open and honest, you know? all of us autistic people we're being open and honest by just opening up about our lives and about our experiences. I mean, everyone saw it on Love on the Spectrum. Us. You see people like Subodh, people like. Y Abby or James or Kaylan or Steve or even Danny, that are opening up about themselves and finding love for the whole world to watch. So it really gave me that confidence to be like, I could actually do this and actually public speak more on a regular basis. Cuz I think that. The tides are really beginning to turn with the autism community and we are being given that voice to express what our lives have been growing up and where we're headed in this direction. So being able to be given that platform and being able to talk about my story on that big of a scale, it means so much more to me than I think I'll ever even know.

Jonathan: 24:43

Well it does, and my ask of you, devin, is please do more of it to the extent you are uncomfortable because. what you share and the insights and how you describe your journey is just super powerful. It's compelling. so please keep doing it. I will be a member of any audience that I can possibly be a part of. Well, Devin, what's one thing ABA business owners should start doing and one thing they should stop doing?

Devin Morrissey: 25:07

That's actually a really good question. I think that we should start really focusing more on not curing behaviors, but really helping more with autistic adults learning more life skills. for instance, having a conversation like we are right now, communication. the one thing that I will say is, you know, we've seen it a lot. A b a is not for every autistic person. it may work for most, but it also doesn't work for others. So I think that, stigmatizing that every single person out there needs ABA therapy. I think that kind of needs to stop I think that, what may work for one person may not work for the other. So keeping that in open mind. There are other solutions though.

Jonathan: 25:45

This is so true, and I like to think of this as like it's not ABA therapy out there as like the hammer trying to find every, like child with autism is the nail, right? it's a broader set of autism services and that's gonna be unique and individualized, right, for every person.

Devin Morrissey: 26:00

Mm-hmm. 100%.

Jonathan: 26:03

well, Devin, where can people find you online?

Devin Morrissey: 26:05

Oh my gosh. So, I have an Instagram account, personal account for Devin Morrissey. I, um, talk a little bit about, the fact that I'm in Los Angeles, I was on Netflix's Love on the Spectrum us. and I also have a separate Instagram from my blog, and that I actually take you to the link, for my blog. I'm on Tumblr, so it's. www.tumblr.com/autistic superpower. I'm also currently looking for employment, so I'm also on LinkedIn for any of you job seekers out there that are looking for a fun, optimistic, autistic person like myself. I'm on LinkedIn as well. and yeah, I'm pretty prevalent on social media these days, so I'm really looking forward to seeing, where life goes from here.

Jonathan: 26:48

Awesome. Well, I look forward to posting all of those in the show notes. I encourage all our listeners follow Devin, and his journey and how he so authentically shares it's powerful.

Devin Morrissey: 26:57

Thank you. Thank you.

Jonathan: 26:59

Well, Devin, are you ready for the hot take questions?

Devin Morrissey: 27:01

Oh, I'm ready. I'm ready.

Jonathan: 27:04

Devin, you're just born ready. is what I've gotten to know about you. I love that dude.

Devin Morrissey: 27:09

I have two parents and a younger sister that always had me ready for anything, so pretty much that was my mentality too. And my girlfriend as well, like she always has me ready for everything and anything.

Jonathan: 27:19

Awesome. Cheers of them for helping you always be ready.

Devin Morrissey: 27:22

yes.

Jonathan: 27:23

Well, you're on your deathbed. What's the one thing you want to be remembered for?

Devin Morrissey: 27:27

Oh my gosh. I would probably have a tombstone that just says, here lies Devin. He's an autistic man that had a huge zest for life and boy did he live a life.

Jonathan: 27:40

Yes, please. Devin, what's your most important self care practice?

Devin Morrissey: 27:45

Oh, music, hands down. music actually has always been there for me. It was the first way of language and communication for me. music has done for me more than honestly I'll ever know. So all those music growing up um, from the Disney films we had growing up to even now with our mainstream pop r and b hip hop country. Even classical music has really broadened my vocabulary and has really helped me to communicate in ways that I just can never explain.

Jonathan: 28:16

Wow. What do you think it was about music, Devin that helped you communicate?

Devin Morrissey: 28:21

Honestly, music just spoke to me in so many ways, and music has really, it's almost like it has decoding messages of communication in there, and I think that is what has always been there. It's like I'm able to actually express my thoughts through communication, through music. I'm able to really, you know, when I hear something in a song that I can relate to, I'm like, wow, that actually really stuck with me. I can relate to this.

Jonathan: 28:46

Wow. Devin, I was a guitarist in a heavy metal band in high school. I was that kid that wore the black T-shirts. Yep. I had a mullet. and I was ID high school.

Devin Morrissey: 28:57

You had a mullet. now? That is awesome.

Jonathan: 29:01

now? I mean, I got no more hair. I would pay any amount of money I think, to try and get a mullet back. But I was that kid, extremely introverted and um, and just didn't want to have anything to do with anyone else. And I think it was out of a fear of not being included. And so anyway, my, my access to the world was through my guitar. So that is also say, I hear you 100% my friend. Yes, that's right. Rock.

Devin Morrissey: 29:27

Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. I sang all throughout high school and honestly I think, I could sing before I could even talk. so I think once my parents actually realized that um, singing, helped me to talk. that kind of encouraged me more to talk. I think that they regret that now because once I started talking, there was no stopping me.

Jonathan: 29:47

I love it. Well, I gotta put you on the spot. You know, I grew up with Disney, uh, movies too. Little Mermaid was my favorite. Did you have a favorite?

Devin Morrissey: 29:53

Oh my gosh. That is such a hard one. Honestly, I love everything Disney. It's So hard to describe. but if I were to choose three, it would have to be, The Emporer's New Groove. That's one of my highlights. That's so underrated. One of the best Disney films that they've ever done. Um, Winnie the Poo. That was actually the very first thing that got me into disney. I remember having this stuffed animal collection growing up with all the characters from there. So I'm definitely gonna make sure that that's passed on to my children when I have'em. And um, I would also have to say Mullan, and Mushu is probably one of hands down my favorite sidekicks of all time. but honestly, any film from Disney I love, and especially from that Disney renaissance era from the nineties, like the Little Mermaid, Beauty the Beast, Aladdin, um, the entire Disney Renaissance really introduced me to language as a whole. I was actually born during the Disney Renaissance. I grew up with nothing but that music in my house growing up, but yeah,

Jonathan: 30:52

Ah, so powerful. And yes, all of those are extraordinary. Uh, Disney, just since the nineties, the Renaissance, you point out everything they touch is gold. It's just the creative superpower is impressive.

Devin Morrissey: 31:04

Oh yeah, beyond.

Jonathan: 31:06

Well, let's go to that next question, this perfect timing, favorite song and or in music genre.

Devin Morrissey: 31:10

Oh my gosh. Well, genre that is such a tough one as well, cuz I love all genres and is so. It's way too hard to narrative just to one. Um, everything from rock and roll, to hip hop and rap, from pop music to Disney music and everything in between. Favorite song though, um, that's actually really easy, And that's a song called Soar by Christina Aguilera off of her strip album. the song is really all about not being afraid of being yourself and technically in my experience, being autistic. there was one lyric in the second verse, the song that really, I feel like. Sums up my life and it's the boy who wonders, is he good enough for them He's trying to please them all, but he just never seems to fit in. And the song really taught me a lot about having the courage to believe in myself and my abilities. and it really gave me hope that one day I would be successful on my own terms. Living so authentically autistic that people see now. And that song still has such great meaning to this day. when I look back to when that song was first dropped, I think to myself, I think that boy that listen to that at nine years old will be happy to see how his life turned out. Big time.

Jonathan: 32:23

Oh, you gave me the goose pimples, dude. Oh, I love it. What's one thing you'd tell your 18 year old self Devin?

Devin Morrissey: 32:31

Okay. Um, 18 year old self, um, get ready. You're gonna be taken off. and in a big way, big, big, big, way, you wanted to live in Los Angeles, you just get ready cuz you're about to move big time.

Jonathan: 32:49

Do you think your 18 year old self would've heard that and been like, freaked out or like, oh, let's go buckle up

Devin Morrissey: 32:55

I think a little bit of both. I think that cuz at, at the time I was just beginning to start my senior year of high school, so I was going through a lot of different options. But LA has always had a piece of my heart from the time that I first visited there to go to Disneyland out of all places. So, um, S just Los Angeles has a very special place in my heart. Cause it really is sort of where, my roots really began to take really good present and I really feel like, I just belong here, um, in the city. Especially knowing that I have this amazing community that I have now. with so many great friends here, I feel like they are my second family in a way. And also like my girlfriend is down here as well, so my whole life is here now and I couldn't be more thankful for that.

Jonathan: 33:37

It's the city of angels, right? And the city is fortunate to have another angel than you who's there.

Devin Morrissey: 33:42

Oh,

Jonathan: 33:45

Devi, you could only wear one style of footwear. What would it be?

Devin Morrissey: 33:48

Okay. That is so not fair. That is so not fair. Um, you know what I'm gonna have to bend the rules on this. It's gonna be a tie between Converse and Nike. Um, converse. I love the vintage nostalgia of. Chuck Taylor, all star shoes. I had so many of those growing up. I had like 50 diners shoes. I have pink splatter shoes. I mean, I even had green eggs and ham shoes. like the green eggs are like where the star on the conferences. I mean that was so much fun to wear to work when I worked with kids. that was the best way to teach them about reading was just look at the shoe. And then Nike. basketball was huge growing up in my household. We loved basketball and we played quite a bit of basketball growing up as well. Had a lot of Nike shoes growing up, so Air Jordan, the high top ones, pretty much those were, um, big in my life. So I'm gonna have to definitely bend the rules and say it's a tie between Converse and Nike.

Jonathan: 34:46

I mean, you can't go wrong with either those throwbacks like Oh, genius, Chuck Tees. Hey Devin, it has been an absolute honor to have you on. Thank you so much for All you're doing for your community and for our world, sir.

Devin Morrissey: 35:02

Thank you so much for having me and thank you so much for giving me the platform to really speak about my life story and really talk about everything that's happened in my life in I think the past few years. And I hope that everyone just gets the sense of that. You know what? If you've met one person with autism, you really only have met one. There's so many of us out there and get a chance to get to know us, cuz we might surprise you more than you think.

Jonathan: 35:28

Amen. Well said brother.