Let's talk Synaesthesia
By Maike Preißing
Let's talk SynaesthesiaApr 18, 2024
34 AURA OR EMOTIONALLY MEDIATED SYNAESTHESIA with Richard Cytowic & Zoe
This episode we are going to explore Aura, or emotionally mediated synaesthesia. Zoe and I have lived experience with this form. Our guest Richard Cytowic, Professor for Neurology, will tell us about the his perspective on the phenomenon. Thank you for sending in your experiences to! Keep them coming, I'm curious to hear what distinctions you would use.
Connect with us:
Prof Richard Cytowic, Professor for Neurology, Washington DC, USA
33 SO SYNAESTHESIA IS A FORM OF SCHIZOPHRENIA? Synaesthesia Chat with Zoe & Maike
Connect with Zoe:
@Zoesthesia on Instagram, TikTok & Youtube
Connect with Maike:
@maikepreissing & @synaesthes_a on Instagram
Book a session: www.maikepreissing.com
32 THE HISTORY OF SYNAESTHESIA with Dr Richard Cytowic & James Wannerton
For this episode we are going to dive into the history of synaesthesia research with Neurologist, Author and Speaker Dr Richard Cytowic AND President of UKSA James Wannerton. Enjoy!
31 AUTISM & SYNAESTHESIA with Prof Jamie Ward
This week we are FINALLY going to look at the intriguing intersection of Austim & Synaesthesia by meeting expert Prof Jamie Ward, Professor for cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Sussex. This episode was highly requested by listeners and we really hope you will enjoy it!
Maike's website: www.maikepreissing.com
Maike's coaching for synaesthetes: click here
Maike's Instagram @synesthes_a
30 DID YOU KNOW LUSH COSMETICS IS SYNAESTHETIC?? Product developer Jody Bailey on seeing scents and tasting massages.
We probably all passed a LUSH shop at some point, but little did we know that the company is very much inspried by synaesthesia! How cool?? Mark Constatine, one of the founders of LUSH Handmade cosmetics is a synaesthete himself, and so is our Guest of today's episode: Jody Bailey can taste massages. She found a wonderful way to incorporate that into her job as a massage therapist, trainer and product developer at LUSH. In this episode she fills us in on how and how the "Synaesthesia Massage treatment" came to live. We hope you will enjoy Episode 30, a perspective on Synaesthesia in Business!
Connect with today's speakers:
Jody Bailey for LUSH
Zoe: @zoesthesia
Maike: @synesthes_a
SPECIAL // THE SYNAESTHESIA COMMUNITY EPISODE
SPECIAL /// IT’S FINALLY HERE: THIS IS THE SYNAESTHESIA
COMMUNITY EPISODE!
FIND ALL THE LINKS TO THE FEATURED PROJECTS HERE:
ME, MAIKE PREISSING launching NEURODIVERSITY GROUP COACHING
Book your spots on Dec 1st, access through my Instagram and website:
1. BRIANNA AND HER KIDS on INCLUSIVE NEUROVERSE
2. NICOLA ROSE on MAGNETOSPHERE MOVIE
3. JAMES WANNERTON on SYNAESTHESIA CONFERENCE
Taking place May 10-12 2024 in Oxford, UK
4. RAPHAEL BOURDA on OUR RESEARCH PROGRAM
5. EMILY on AUTISTIC RETREATS
6. ANNA & ADRIANA on their blog NEUROBIRDIES
7. GABY CARDOSO on his MUSIC
https://gabyhc.wixsite.com/gabycardoso
8. ALISON on SOUND AND COLOUR DOCUMENTARY
9. CHRISTY GURLEY on CHILDREN BOOKS
https://linkpop.com/starshinedesigns
10. BSP on SYNAESTHESIA WORKSHOPS
Her documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI-w0EuLJjI
11. RAE on NOT YOUR NEUROTYPICAL PODCAST
https://open.spotify.com/show/0XnVp5YKQYV4nDTtcnqAyH?si=91f6071a29ee4425
12. DENNIS on FANTASY ART
13. AKASH on HIS NEW ALBUM
14. ALISON ENGLISH on the SYNESTHESIA LOOP CHALLENGE
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED THEIR STORY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO EVERYONE SUPPORTING THE PODCAST! Maike xx
28 GIFTEDNESS, TWICE-EXCEPTIONALITY & EXISTENTIAL THOUGHTS with Emily Kircher-Morris
A gifted person demonstrates advanced abilities or potential in one or more specific areas when compared to others of the same age, experience, or environment. They excel in their capacity to think, reason and judge.
Twice-exceptional inidivduals are "gifted with a twist" as their exceptional abilities coexist with conditions such as ADHD, autism, dyslexia or others.
Today's guest is Mental Health Therapist Emily Kircher-Morris. We'll learn about how both giftedness and twice-exceptionality present in young kids, students and adults, how to create neuro-affirming classrooms and what it needs to raise healthy neurodivergent kids. Emily and Maike also discuss the common experience of deep existential thoughts that so many gifted children share.
Emily Kircher-Morris is the host of "the Neurodiversity Podcast" and you can find her here:
Connect with Maike:
27 SELF-DIAGNOSIS & THE ONLINE NEURODIVERSITY MOVEMENT
IT'S GETTING CONTROVERSIAL! Is self-diagnosis as valid as a formal diagnosis, are doctor's really listening, should I rely on a dance reel on instagram for info on diagnostic criteria of ADHD? Come join Zoe and Maike for a in depth discussion of the positives and negatives of discussing mental health on the internet.
Hope you enjoy this episode, let Zoe and Maike know what your thoughts on the topic are!
Connect with Zoe:
Connect with Maike:
26 ORDINAL LINGUISTIC, CONCEPT-SHAPE & MATHEMATICAL SYNESTHESIA with Jenna French
This week we're gonna tackle 3 forms at once! Guest is the wonderful Jenna French from Texas, USA (@jennakfrench_). Jenna is a math teacher and former coaching client of Maike. Together they look at Ordinal-Linguistic-Personification (OLP), Concept-Shape and Mathematical Synesthesia. And learn why Maths is beautiful!
This is the Youtube Video we spoke about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyYQIcZacvA
And this is how you can connect with Maike
Book a session: maikepreissing.com
Connect on Instagram: @synesthes_a
25 LIFE UPDATES & A COMMUNITY CALL OUT. Synesthesia chat with Zoe #3
On this week's episode Zoe and Maike once again meet virtually to chat about the day to day of a synesthete. Maike shares a bit about the work with her neurodivergent clients and Zoe updates us on a new form -motion to sound- she's discovered!
Stick around until the second half of the episode for a community call out! A really cool opportunity is waiting for you!!
To book a first free session with Maike, synesthesia and neurodiversity coach, you can do so on maikepreissing.com
Connect with Zoe:
Connect with Maike:
maikepreissing@synesthesia.at
24 THE SOMATIC RESPONSES OF A NEURODIVERGENT BODY. Synesthesia Chat with Zoe #2
It's time for another synesthesia chat with @zoesthesia. Maike and Zoe exchange their experiences of living with synesthesia and a body that's easily overwhelmed.
TRIGGER WARNING MISOPHONIA: The last 15 min are a taste challenge, where you might hear chewing sounds.
connect with Zoe:
Connect with Maike:
synesthes_a@outlook.com
23 I FELT LIKE I HAVE A SUPERPOWER, LIKE A PETER PARKER OF THE SENSES. Synesthesia Artist Meriem Delacroix's life story.
This week we met Meriem Delacroix, a french synesthesia artist based in Padua, Italy. Meriem shares how hard it was growing up as a neurodivergent child without the right support, how she uses her uniquely wired brain today and why it is important to have access to support.
Connect with Meriem:
https://www.delacroixstudio.art
Connect with Maike:
22 WHY THE COLOUR YELLOW WON'T MAKE US CUM. Synesthesia chat with Zoe #1
I got myself a co-host! Meet Zoe (@zoesthesia), musician, synesthesia artist and teacher from Singapore! Every other week Zoe and I meet virtually to chat, discuss and process our synesthesia. It'll get spicy
Connect with Zoe:
Connect with Maike:
21 DR JOEL SALINAS FEELS THE PAIN OF HIS PATIENTS. On mirror touch synesthesia and brain health.
We're back from the summer break and start off Season 3 with one of the biggest guests yet: Dr Joel Salinas, Medical Doctor, Researcher and fellow synesthete.
Enjoy this very personal conversation between Joel and Maike and don't forget to submit your "Synnie of the month" story!
Connect with Dr Joel Salinas:
Connect with Maike:
20 THE SYNESTHESIA SOCIETY OF AFRICA with board member Sheila Butungi.
This week we meet synesthete and vet Sheila Butungi. Sheila is based in Uganda and board member of the Synesthesia Society of African and talks us through her own story and hopes for Africa and the synesthesia community. Come along as we cover another part of the globe!
If you want to connect with the SSOA please find them on facebook or their website
Connect with Maike
19 HEARING VOICES. JAMES WANNERTON'S EXTRAORDINARY STORY OF LIVING A LIFE WITH BOTH, SYNESTHESIA & AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS.
In this weeks episode, we welcome back James Wannerton. He is probably the world's most famous synesthete, and decided to courageously shares a hidden part of his life with us. Join us as he discusses his experience as a voice hearer, shedding light on the positive aspects and offering a fresh perspective on hallucinations. Through this conversation, James inspires us to reconsider our perception of human differences and embrace a more open-minded approach. Get ready to expand your understanding and challenge preconceptions.
Thank you James for being a voice to both communities!
We also get to hear another SYNNIE OF THE MONTH STORY and find out who the winner in June is!
Connect with James Wannerton:
Connect with Maike:
Shop Maike's art
18 WHAT IS SYNESTHESIA? An introduction by Professor of Neuropsychology & Synesthesia expert PROF JOOLS SIMNER.
Ok, it's time to reintroduce the topic: What is Synesthesia? What differences do we see in the brain of a synesthete compared to a non-synesthete? And what do we know about the genetics? On this episode we tackle the (not so basic) basics with no other than Prof Jools Simner. She is a synesthesia expert, Professor for Neuropsychology at the University of Sussex and head of the MULTISENSE lab. What an honor to have her on!
Wanna give feedback, submit a "Synnie of the month" story or sign up for the first ever synesthesia awareness day meet-up?
Please leave your info in the question field on spotify, dm or email me!
Prof Jools Simner:
https://profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p90856-julia-simner
Connect with Maike:
synesthes_a@outlook.com
17 BEING NEURODIVERGENT AND QUEER. A conversation with JAIME PRADA about activism, art & the value of community.
Happy Pride everyone! Join Maike as she meets Jaime Prada, founder of the art platform carriedaway.uk. In this empowering episode, these two neurodivergent queers delve into the intersections of activism and art, highlighting the significance of platforms like carriedaway.uk. A place that aims to foster representation and reclaim identities within marginalized groups. With a focus on their shared experiences in Edinburgh, Maike and Jaime explore the power of art in amplifying diverse voices and the importance of embracing and celebrating one's true self.
Go check out carriedaway.uk where you can now purchase Maike's synesthesia art
Use 20AWAY for 20% off!
Connect with Jaime Prada
Connect with Maike
synesthes_a@outlook.com
16 ON SYNESTHESIA RESEARCH & THE BIG RUSSIAN SYNESTHESIA COMMUNITY with Anton Sidoroff-Dorso & Yelena Lastovina.
Join Maike on a thrilling 2-in-1 adventure as she explores the world of synesthesia in Russia. In the first segment, Maike meets Anton Sidoroff-Dorso, a psychologist, linguist, and researcher from Moscow. Anton shares fascinating insights about his research on the synesthesia quotient, unique perspectives and events within the Russian synesthesia community and worldwide.
Then, get ready to meet Yelena Lastovina, a multi-talented poet, synesthete, and journalist from Volgograd. Yelena is a very active member of the Russian synesthesia community, offering a glimpse into it. Discover how her taste-synesthesia shapes everyday experiences, and be inspired by her heartfelt hopes for the future of synesthetes around the world.
https://www.journeythroughthesenses.org/
https://artinconversation.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/
Guests:
Anton Sidoroff-Dorso
Yelena Lastovina
Connect with Maike:
synesthes_a@outlook.com
15 ADHD & SEQUENCE-SPACE-SYNESTHESIA. A conversation with Psychotherapist & ADHD-Coach Candin Phillips.
Join Maike this week as she sits down with Candin Phillips, a licensed therapist and ADHD coach from the United States. In this episode, they explore the realms of ADHD, synesthesia, and medication, delving into the unique phenomenon of sequence space synesthesia that brought them together. Get ready for personal stories, insightful discussions, listener questions, and the exciting announcement of the "Synnie of the Month" winner for May!
Connect with Candin:
Connect with Maike:
synesthes_a@outlook.com
14 WHAT IS NORMAL & WHO GETS TO DECIDE? Actor & Writer Pete Carruthers raising the big questions on stage.
In this episode, we're going to hear about "The Possibility of Colour," a play written by Pete Carruthers, who is a writer, actor, and researcher. Pete will share how the play came about and discuss his relationship with voice-hearing, synesthesia, autism, and AI. Maike and Pete will also delve into the impact of using theatre and film in nurse training, emphasizing the significance of asking challenging, uncomfortable, and courageous questions about society's pressing issues and our desired way of living.
Story read out by: Jessica Lagerwall
Comments on the play by: Kyle Charnley, Donna Day & James Wannerton
Connect with Pete:
@tree_fish_productions
https://www.treefishproductions.com/
Connect with Maike:
@synesthes_a
synesthesia.at
synesthes_a@outlook.com
13 I LOST MY SYNESTHESIA AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE. On the Neuroscience of losing, regaining & acquiring synesthesia with Dr Sean A. Day.
On this week's episode Maike meets Dr Sean A. Day - founding president of the International Association for Synesthetes, Artists and Scientists. Sean shares his own story of witnessing one of the biggest earthquakes, developing PTSD and losing his synesthesia as part of that. They also cover what it's like to live with very strong forms of taste- and odour-to visual-synesthesia.
Connect with Sean A. Day:
http://www.daysyn.com/sean-day.html
Connect with Maike:
https://www.instagram.com/synesthes_a/
synesthes_a@outlook.com
12 LET'S MAKE SYNESTHESIA TANGIBLE. On person-to-colour syn, the Hovalin & other ways to peek into our busy brains, with Kaitlyn Hova
On this episode Maike meets Kaitlyn Hova. The two have a chat about how they each experience the world through their synesthesia and ways to make it tangible. They cover person-to-colour-synesthesia, product ideas and the Hovalin! This is a 3D printed violin that glows in the colours Kaitlyn sees for music - so cool!
Kaitlyn playing the Hovalin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LUbxfnpez4)
Kaitlyn's website: https://www.kaitlynhova.com/
Connect with Maike:
Instagram/TikTok: synesthes_a
www.synesthesia.at
synesthes_a@outlook.com
11 MY CHILD HAS SYNESTHESIA. NOW WHAT? Wellbeing differences in child synesthetes with Nina Slottke
In today's episode Maike meets Nina Slottke. Nina is a psychotherapist for children and young people based in Germany. Together they discuss a paper on wellbeing differences in child synesthetes and what those findings mean for the psychological practice. They also brainstorm ideas on how to speak to kids about synesthesia and give advice to care givers on how to support child synesthetes and children with sensory processing difficulties.
link to the paper discussed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33048782/
Submit your "Synnie of the month" story over Instagram or through the Spotify question field. And don't forget to follow and give a review - this helps Maike & the podcast A TON!
Connect with Maike
Instagram/ TikTok: @synesthes_a
www.synesthesia.at
synesthes_a@outlook.com
10 WE'RE LOOKING BACK ON SEASON 1
We're WRAPPING UP SEASON ONE by looking back on the exciting first 9 episodes. Maike is joined by one of her favourite people & great helper in the background Daniel Woods. He's also known as Mr Outro! Dan is interviewing Maike on the regrets she has, what she's learned so far and what season two will look like!
If you wanna submit your story for "Synnie of the month" send an e-mail, instagram direct message or use the episode's question field on spotify.
Season two will start next week without any interruption - That's Tuesday, April 18th.
Dr Daniel Woods
https://www.danielwoods.info/
Connect with Maike
Instagram/TikTok: synesthes_a
Website: synesthesia.at
E-Mail: synesthes_a@outlook.com
09 SYNESTHESIA AWARENESS DAY JULY 2ND with Stephen Melton
On July 2nd the very first synesthesia awareness day will take place!! Todays guest is Stephen Melton, the clever brain behind this new awareness day. He'll tell us how it all came about and what his mission and hopes for the global synesthesia community are.
Wanna get involved or connect with Stephen?
Instagram: @synesthesiaawarenessday
Website: www.synesthesiaawarenessday.com
Connect with Maike:
Instagram/ TikTok: @synesthes_a
Website: synesthesia.at
synesthes_a@outlook.com
08 THE PhD EDITION - Corin & Clara on studying synesthesia as PhD's
It's the PhD-Edition! Corin Anderson and Clara Isabelle Soto Rodriguez, two synesthetes from different parts of the world decided to study synesthesia and to dedicated their PhD to it. We hear both their stories of having synesthesia and what their theses are about:
Corin Anderson is Scottish and a PhD student at the Edinburgh Napier University in the UK. His researched topic is called "A compositional exploration of Auditory-Visual-Synaesthesia". On instagram you can find him under @musiccoriander. AND he's also the clever brain behind the sounds used in this podcast. Thank you so much for the collaboration, Corin!
Clara Isabelle Soto Rodriguez is Mexican and a PhD student at the Universidad de Guanajuato in Mexico. Her thesis is a "comparative analysis similarities in colored auditions: case study as a reference towards an understanding of musical synesthesia and the neural mechanisms of human multisensory perception" . You can find Clara on instagram under @claraisabellee.
Expert-Information by Dr Duncan Carmichael, Psychology lecturer at Napier University, Edinburgh
Connect with Maike:
Instagram/TikTok: @synesthes_a
Website: synesthesia.at
E-Mail: synesthes_a@outlook.com
07 PROF JAMIE WARD ON SYNESTHESIA RESEARCH (full interview)
Today's guest is Prof Jamie Ward! He is Professor for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Sussex (School of Psychology) in Brighton, UK and one of the world-leading experts when it comes to synesthesia research! We've heard him on episode 1 and 6 already and can now listen to the full conversation between him and Maike, We will hear them discuss one shot phenomena, sexual synesthesia, how to study synesthesia and why it is so important to spread the word.
Prof Jamie Ward: https://profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p92444-jamie-ward
The Synesthesia Tree: https://www.thesynesthesiatree.com/
Connect with Maike:
Instagram/TikTok: synesthes_a
Website: synesthesia.at
Mail: synesthes_a@outlook.com
06 MIRROR-PAIN & TRAUMA with Aurore Dupont-Sagorin
This weeks guest is the French filmmaker & journalist Aurore Dupont-Sagorin. Aurore has mirror-pain-synesthesia, a form of synesthesia that puts empathy to an extreme. Watching other people or movie character's getting hurt leads to her feeling that same pain in her own body. So fascinating!! We also hear from Prof Jamie Ward from the University of Sussex on synesthesia research and the connection to mental health problems such as PTSD.
BBC Reel wit Aurore: https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/video/p0f0vzk2/mirror-touch-synaesthesia-feeling-other-people-s-pain
Reach out to Aurore:
Instagram: @justawildkid
Website: www.sunnyclap.com
Reach out to Maike:
Instagram/TikTok: @synesthes_a
Website: synesthesia.at
E-Mail: synesthes_a@outlook.com
05 Hari Raman's unique way of using SYNESTHESIA TO READ SOCIAL CUES
This week we hear from Hari Raman and his fascinating way of using his auditory-visual-synesthesia in daily communication. He always struggled reading other people's emotions. Then he figured out that the colours and their saturation levels help him detect what his counterpart is feeling! As a coder he is now training artificial intelligence to do what his brain was doing so naturally all along. It's truly fascinating!
Meet Hari Raman:
Instagram @syn3sthete
Meet Maike
Instagram/ TikTok @synesthes_a
website synesthesia.at
synesthes_a@outlook.com
04 Being a CHILD SYNESTHETE with Sarah Kraning
On this weeks episode Maike meets Sarah Kraning, a full-time synesthesia artist from the United States. They will speak about their experiences of being a child synesthete in primary school and how important it is to be listened to by a parent or teacher. They will also discuss the power of social media, their art and the theatre play "soundscapes" by the NYU Sarah was invited to be part of.
Like always, go over to @synesthes_a to see photos of what was discussed on the episode!
Meet Sarah:
Instagram & tiktok: @sarahkraning
Website: sarahkraning.com
Meet Maike:
Instagram & tiktok: synesthes_a
website: synesthesia.at
mail: synesthes_a@outlook.com
03 Brady & Sage on FEELING DIFFERENT
This week Maike meets Brady & Sage (two synesthetes from Nebraska) to speak about their newly published book on synesthesia. They'll speak about mental health struggles, Asperger's, good friendship and what it's like to feel your own emotions moving in your body.
Instagram:
@sagereiger
@bradysynesthesiaart
Their book "Feeling different - understanding synesthesia through art":
as hard cover:https://www.lulu.com/shop/brady-achtemeier-and-sage-reiger/feeling-different-understanding-synesthesia-through-art/paperback/product-6pqrmp.html?q=feeling+different&page=1&pageSize=4
as e-book: https://www.lulu.com/shop/brady-achtemeier-and-sage-reiger/feeling-different-understanding-synesthesia-through-art/ebook/product-q965rw.html?q=feeling+different&page=1&pageSize=4
Contact Maike
Instagram/TikTok synesthes_a
www.synesthesia.at
synesthtes_a@outlook.com
02 JAMES WANNERTON on sound-to-taste synesthesia
In this episode Maike meets James Wannerton, a well-known synesthete from England. James has a very rare and fascinating form of synesthesia, called sound-to-taste synesthesia. This means he can not only hear sounds, but also taste them. Maike's voice for example tastes like victorian spongecake to him! We hear about how they each experience the world through their neurodivergency, about the very start of synesthesia research, autism and synesthesia organisations. James is President of the UK synesthesia association and Vice-President of the International association for Synaesthetes, Artists and Scientists.
Here are the websites in case you want to check them out:
UK: https://uksynaesthesia.com/
International: https://iasasevents.com/
Connecting with Maike
Instagram/TikTok @synesthes_a
synesthesia.at
synesthes_a@outlook.com
01 Questions of a Non-Synesthete
In this first episode Maike, the host, introduces herself and tells us how the idea of the podcast came about. It's a conversation with neuroscientist Julianne Beirute PhD about different forms of synesthesia, neuroscience, sex and psychology. We also hear from Prof Jamie Ward and Dr Duncan Carmichael, both synesthesia researcher in the UK, on what synesthesia is and how it's inherited.
Instagram/ TikTok: @synesthes_a
www.synesthesia.at
synesthes_a@outlook.com