From Self-Discovery to Shared Understanding: The Story Behind Amanda Nicholson

In her Legacy Bench conversation, Amanda Nicholson shares a deeply personal story shaped by identity, creativity, and the process of understanding herself later in life. A writer and podcaster, Amanda’s journey began not with certainty but with questions.

Amanda speaks openly about being late-identified autistic, and the confusion that came with recognising something so significant about herself without clear support or guidance. What followed was not just a diagnosis process, but a period of searching, trying to make sense of her experiences in a world that hadn’t always reflected them back to her.

That absence became her starting point. Unable to find the support she needed, Amanda began creating it for herself.

She launched a Substack blog as a way to process her thoughts and experiences. Not with the intention of building an audience, but simply to understand. Over time, that space grew. It evolved into a podcast, opening up conversations not just with herself, but with others who shared similar experiences.

What began as something personal became something collective.

Amanda started inviting other autistic voices into the space. Through guest writing and podcast interviews. Creating a platform that reflected a wider range of lived experiences. It wasn’t about speaking for everyone, but about making sure more people were heard.

Her work is rooted in honesty.

She also reflects on the importance of reaching beyond familiar spaces, with her writing being published in platforms like Stylist and the Daily Mail. Opportunities that allowed her to bring these conversations to broader audiences who may not have encountered them otherwise.

But her journey is still evolving.

Amanda speaks candidly about the tension between wanting to share her story and navigating the discomfort that can come with visibility. While she has experience performing poetry and fiction at spoken word events, the idea of public speaking on autism still feels uncertain.

And she allows that uncertainty to exist.

Her mission is simple, but deeply intentional:
To use her lived experiences to help others feel less alone.

Her story is a reminder that understanding yourself can be a lifelong journey and that in sharing that journey, you create space for others to do the same.