THE LISTENING LIBRARY
Explore the complete podcast archive, from the first interviews to the latest series.
136 episodes
Throughout this series, we have discussed school, burnout, trauma, and relationships. But underneath every episode, there has been one consistent theme: Autonomy is Safety. In Episode 35,…
Listen to episodeMedication is one of the most polarizing topics in neurodivergent care. It is often framed as either a "magic solution" or a "betrayal." But nervous…
Listen to episodeThere is a moment that changes everything: not when behavior improves, but when a person begins to understand their reactions without shame. In Episode 33 of The William…
Listen to episodeTrauma is often imagined as a single dramatic event—a car crash, a moment of terror. But for Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) individuals, trauma is often the cumulative…
Listen to episodeTherapy is supposed to be a place of healing. But for many Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) individuals, the therapy room becomes a place of strain, masking, and…
Listen to episodeBurnout is often spoken about as if it arrives suddenly—as if the body just gave up one day. But for late-diagnosed Autistic and Pathological Demand Avoidance…
Listen to episodeWork is meant to be a marker of independence. But for Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) adults, the workplace is often a site of hidden strain and silent…
Listen to episodeRelationships are supposed to be about closeness. But what happens when "being close" feels like being trapped? In Episode 28 of The William Gomes Podcast, we explore the…
Listen to episodeSudden risks. Impulsive choices. A pull toward danger. For parents of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)teenagers, this phase can be terrifying. But what if the risk-taking isn't…
Listen to episodeThere is a moment many parents describe with quiet shock: the child who had finally found equilibrium suddenly begins to unravel again. In Episode 26 of The William…
Listen to episodeFew experiences are as frightening as a meltdown. The noise, the aggression, the total loss of control. But what if a meltdown isn't "bad behavior,"…
Listen to episodeScreens often provoke strong reactions: concern, fear, judgment. But what if for a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) child, gaming isn't an addiction, but a necessary refuge? In Episode 24 of The…
Listen to episodeWhy does dinner time turn into a battle? Why does bedtime provoke panic? Why does a simple request to wash feel like an invasion? In Episode…
Listen to episodeThere is a grief that sits quietly alongside love. It is not the grief of losing a child, but the grief of losing the story…
Listen to episodeWhen we talk about children in distress, we often forget something essential: children do not exist in isolation. They live inside systems. And systems are…
Listen to episodeBurnout is often misunderstood as simple exhaustion—as if a good night's sleep should fix it. But for Autistic and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) children, burnout is not…
Listen to episodeSome pressures announce themselves loudly—an exam, a deadline, a confrontation. But the pressures that do the most damage are often the quietest ones. In Episode 18 of The…
Listen to episodeLearning is often spoken about as if it were something that can be delivered—a curriculum, a lesson plan, an outcome. But learning does not begin…
Listen to episodeSchool is often described as a neutral place—a building, a timetable, a curriculum. But for a child with a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile, school is rarely…
Listen to episodeIn moments of high stress, seriousness feels responsible. Lightness feels risky. But for a nervous system locked in a threat response, seriousness often confirms that…
Listen to episodeThere is a quiet assumption that runs through much of adult-child life: that progress comes from obedience, and safety comes from order. But what happens…
Listen to episodeA child is unsettled. An adult senses it. The urge to intervene rises. "Something needs to be done. Something needs to stop." And in that moment, with…
Listen to episodeAn adult realises a child needs something. Rest. Food. Connection. In that moment, they reach for language. They ask a question. And the door closes.…
Listen to episodeThere are moments when nothing changes in the room, yet everything shifts inside the body. The same adult. The same child. The same request. And suddenly, the…
Listen to episodeWhy does a child prefer to be a cat, a dragon, or a fictional character rather than themselves? Is it just a game, or is…
Listen to episodeWhy does the word "Maybe" trigger a meltdown? Why does "We'll see" feel like a threat rather than a possibility? In Episode 9 of The William Gomes Podcast,…
Listen to episodeWhy does a small trigger—like a sock feeling wrong or a simple question—cause a massive meltdown? In Episode 8 of The William Gomes Podcast, we debunk the myth…
Listen to episodeA meltdown never comes out of nowhere. Long before the explosion, the nervous system has been trying to communicate. In Episode 7 of The William Gomes Podcast, we map…
Listen to episode"He's fine at school. He only acts up for you." If you have heard this sentence, you are witnessing the Coke Bottle Effect. In Episode 6 of The William…
Listen to episodeWhen a child stops resisting, we often think we have succeeded. But what if they haven't learned to cooperate—what if they have just learned that…
Listen to episodeWe have all said it: "They could do it if they wanted to." It sounds sensible. But for a nervous system in survival mode, it is…
Listen to episodeWhy does a child who can do a task suddenly act like they can't? Why does the word "No" arrive so quickly, often before a request is even…
Listen to episodeWhy does a polite request sometimes trigger a meltdown? Why does a child seem "controlling" or "stubborn" when nothing bad is happening? In Episode 2 of The William…
Listen to episodeIn this opening episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William Gomes sets the ethical and conceptual foundation for a new series exploring Pathological Demand Avoidance through…
Listen to episodeIn this concluding episode, William Gomes clarifies what it means to understand Lacan’s Seminar I and Seminar II. The episode synthesises the series by identifying…
Listen to episodeThis episode explores what analytic technique looks like once the ego is displaced from the centre. William Gomes examines silence, interruption, and refusal of guidance…
Listen to episodeThis episode examines the ego explicitly as a form of resistance in analytic work. William Gomes explains why ego strength can block access to the…
Listen to episodeThis episode introduces the Symbolic order as the structural register that organises subjectivity. William Gomes explains how the Symbolic differs from the Imaginary and why…
Listen to episodeThis episode deepens the analysis of repetition by introducing automatism and structure. William Gomes explains why repetition is not habit or behaviour but an effect…
Listen to episodeFairness is one of the earliest moral ideas children learn. They notice who gets what, who goes first, and who gets away with more. In…
Listen to episodeThis episode revisits Sigmund Freud’s text Beyond the Pleasure Principle and explains its importance for Lacan’s early teaching. William Gomes examines repetition as a phenomenon that exceeds…
Listen to episodeThis episode explores the role of knowledge in psychoanalysis and its potential to function as resistance. William Gomes distinguishes knowledge from opinion and truth, showing…
Listen to episodeThis episode examines narcissism as a structural relation to image rather than a personality trait. William Gomes introduces the Imaginary register and explains its links…
Listen to episodeThis episode clarifies the distinction between the ego and the subject of the unconscious. William Gomes explains why the subject is divided, decentered, and constituted…
Listen to episodeThis episode introduces the critique of ego psychology that defines Seminar II. William Gomes explains how the ego came to be treated as the centre…
Listen to episodeThis episode explains why Lacan treats analytic technique as an ethical position rather than a set of methods. William Gomes clarifies the meaning of neutrality,…
Listen to episodeThis episode explains why Lacanian interpretation is an act rather than an explanation. William Gomes distinguishes interpretation from meaning giving commentary and shows how timing,…
Listen to episodeThis episode challenges relational and emotional models of transference. William Gomes explains transference as a structural function tied to speech and address rather than feelings…
Listen to episodeThis episode revisits the concept of resistance and shows how Lacan displaces it from the patient to the analytic situation itself. William Gomes explains why…
Listen to episodeThis episode examines Lacan’s conception of truth as partial, indirect, and destabilising. William Gomes explains why slips, mistakes, jokes, and detours are privileged paths to…
Listen to episodeThis episode introduces Lacan’s distinction between full speech and empty speech and explains its importance for analytic listening. William Gomes shows how empty speech reinforces…
Listen to episodeThis episode explains why speech, rather than behaviour or expression, is the central medium of psychoanalysis. William Gomes distinguishes speech from communication and shows how…
Listen to episodeThis episode draws a sharp distinction between psychoanalysis and psychology in Lacan’s early teaching. William Gomes explains why psychology focuses on behaviour, adjustment, and functioning,…
Listen to episodeThis episode reconstructs Sigmund Freud’s original discovery of the unconscious and examines how that discovery was transformed in later psychoanalytic practice. William Gomes explains how…
Listen to episodeIn this opening episode of the series Reading Seminar I and II: Lacan’s Return to Freud Revisited, William Gomes introduces the central question that guides Jacques…
Listen to episodeIn this final episode of the Lacanian series, William brings together the Imaginary, Symbolic and Real, offering a complete view of how the human subject…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the fascinating world of late Lacan, focusing on the Borromean knot, the sinthome and the shifting links between the Imaginary,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the Lacanian concept of the analyst’s position, examining why silence, attentive listening and the desire of the analyst are central…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the Lacanian concept of transference, the process through which past emotional structures reappear in present relationships. He explains why the…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the Lacanian understanding of symptoms and repetition, revealing why certain emotional patterns persist and what they communicate about the unconscious.…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the Lacanian concept of the body, revealing how the Imaginary, Symbolic and Real dimensions shape our deepest experiences. He explains…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the Lacanian idea of the chain of signifiers, the structure through which language shapes desire, thought and identity. He explains…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores one of the most profound ideas in Lacanian psychoanalysis, the subject of the unconscious. This is not the everyday sense…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the Lacanian concept of the Real, the dimension of human experience that lies beyond language, meaning and symbolic structures. He…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the psychoanalytic concept of jouissance, a form of enjoyment that stretches beyond ordinary pleasure and often intertwines with discomfort, intensity…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William offers a clear and compassionate guide to the psychoanalytic concept of symbolic castration. He explores why limits are essential for the…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William offers a clear and compassionate exploration of the Lacanian concept of the Phallus, understood not as a biological organ but as…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the psychoanalytic idea of the Name of the Father, a symbolic function that introduces structure, limits and meaning into our…
Listen to episodeWhen Everything Feels Broken is a reflective and compassionate spoken-word audiobook written and narrated by William Gomes. This series is for anyone who feels overwhelmed,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the Big Other, the symbolic structure that shapes language, identity and desire. He reflects on how this invisible framework supports…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores identification as the quiet process through which we form our sense of self. He reflects on how images, language, relationships…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores fantasy as the structure that gives desire its shape. Through gentle reflection, he explains how fantasy helps us navigate longing,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores Lacan’s idea of objet petit a, the elusive spark that fuels desire. Through gentle and accessible reflection, he explains how…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores the Lacanian idea of lack, the structural gap within the human subject that makes desire possible. Through gentle reflection, he…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores desire as the central force in Lacanian psychoanalysis. He explains how desire forms, why it remains unfulfilled, how it shapes…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores Lacan’s concept of the Real. Through gentle reflection, he explains why some experiences cannot be named, how the Real relates…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores Lacan’s Symbolic Order, the realm of language, rules and meaning that shapes identity and desire. Through clear and gentle reflection,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores Lacan’s Imaginary Order, the realm of images, reflections and identifications that forms the ego and shapes our emotional lives. From…
Listen to episodeIn this episode, William explores Lacan’s Mirror Stage in depth. Through gentle reflection, he explains how infants form a sense of self, why the ego…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores one of Lacan’s most influential ideas: the unconscious as a structure that speaks through language.…
Listen to episodeIn this opening episode of the Lacanian series, William introduces listeners to why Lacan’s ideas remain so influential. Through a calm and accessible reflection, he…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William looks ahead to the future of autism research, education, healthcare, workplace inclusion and community support. He…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William brings together sensory, cognitive, emotional and communication differences to explore autism as a whole-person experience. He…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores what it means to grow older as an autistic person. He discusses sensory changes, executive…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores what it means to be autistic in adulthood. He discusses late diagnosis, masking, workplace challenges,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic young people experience adolescence. From sensory changes and social complexity to increasing expectations…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic people develop a sense of identity. He discusses the impact of early experiences,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how coordinated, compassionate systems can transform autistic wellbeing. He discusses collaboration between families, schools and…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how sensory design, predictability, communication and emotional safety shape autistic wellbeing. He explains how small,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the evolving history of autism — from early misconceptions and harmful theories to today’s richer,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explains what autism diagnosis truly represents. He explores how assessment has evolved, why diagnosis provides clarity,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the deeper meaning behind autistic behaviour. He explains meltdowns, shutdowns, stimming, masking and avoidant behaviour…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic people learn in unique and meaningful ways. He discusses detail-focused thinking, deep interests,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the earliest developmental patterns in autism, from attention and prediction to communication and sensory processing.…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores why autistic girls, women and non-binary people are so often overlooked. He discusses masking, social…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William reflects on how the language used to describe autism influences identity, dignity and public understanding. He…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores why anxiety is so common in autism. He discusses how unpredictability, sensory overload, communication challenges…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how sensory differences, cognitive styles and emotional rhythms come together to shape daily life for…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic people experience the sensory world. He explains hypersensitivity, hyposensitivity, sensory seeking, filtering challenges…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explains the double empathy problem — the idea that social difficulties between autistic and non-autistic people…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic people experience social motivation. He explains why autistic individuals may appear withdrawn, how…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic children develop social attention in unique ways. From early eye contact to joint…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic people experience prediction and uncertainty. He explains why routines create safety, why unexpected…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic people process information in ways that are often deeper, slower or more detailed…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the autistic tendency to focus intensely on details. He explains how this cognitive style creates…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores executive function in autism — the mental processes involved in planning, organising, switching tasks and…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic people experience emotions in ways that are often misunderstood. He discusses emotional intensity,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autistic people understand social situations differently. Rather than framing these differences as deficits, he…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores why autism varies so widely from person to person. Rather than being a collection of…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the many strengths and differences observed in autistic thinking. Moving beyond outdated deficit models, this…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores how autism unfolds across different stages of life. Rather than appearing suddenly, autism is a…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William gently explores how psychologists develop theories to understand autism. Rather than relying on any single explanation,…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the biological foundations of autism in a clear and compassionate way. While autism cannot be…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores what autism looks like at the behavioural level. While behaviour is often the first thing…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William takes listeners on a gentle and thoughtful journey through the history of autism. He explores how…
Listen to episodeIn this opening episode of The William Gomes Podcast autism series, William offers a clear and compassionate introduction to autism as a whole-system developmental difference.…
Listen to episodeIn this final episode of the autism series on The William Gomes Podcast, William explores what it truly means to create a life that fits…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the quiet but powerful role co-regulation plays in the lives of autistic children. Co-regulation is…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the gentle and transformative approach of low-demand living. Many autistic children face a constant stream…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the powerful role that special interests play in the lives of autistic children. Often misunderstood…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores autistic shutdowns, a quiet but deeply misunderstood response that many children experience when the world…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores why emotional safety is essential for autistic children. Emotional safety is more than comfort. It…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the tender and often misunderstood process autistic children go through when they begin to unmask…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the slow and deeply personal journey autistic children go through as they recover from burnout.…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the often-unseen reality that many autistic children face in school. While classrooms are designed for…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the quiet, often unseen effort autistic children use to get through their day. Masking is…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores what daily life feels like for autistic children who experience the world with heightened intensity.…
Listen to episodeIn this episode of The William Gomes Podcast, William explores the reality of autistic burnout and why it affects so many autistic children without being…
Listen to episodeYork City Councillor Bob Webb discusses the York Right to Food movement, what has been accomplished so far, and the way forward. He also outlines…
Listen to episodeAn interview with Dr Hannah Barham-Brown, the Women's Equality Party's candidate for the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner by-election
Listen to episodeHelen Jones of the York Disability Rights Forum discusses the city's permanent ban on blue badge parking
Listen to episodeAn interview with James Barker, Liberal Democrat's candidate for the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner by-election
Listen to episodeCllr Michael Pavlovic, York Labour's housing spokesperson, discusses York's housing problems, what his party is doing to raise awareness of the issue, how his party…
Listen to episodeAn interview with Emma Scott-Spivey, Labour's candidate for the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner by-election
Listen to episodeThe term ‘ethnicity’ carries a broad range of connotations. It is highly subjective and typically self-reported, and different organisations use different terms to describe ethnicity.…
Listen to episodeFor various reasons, marginalised people like myself and vulnerable asylum seekers arriving by boat to UK shores are rarely heard from. Nevertheless, we have a…
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