Chloé Hayden Says Her Autism Is 'Palatable'. Here's What She Means
3/22/20261 hr 1 min
For most of her childhood, Chloé Hayden felt like she didn’t belong.
She was bullied at school, moved through ten different schools and struggled to exist in environments that didn’t understand her. When she was diagnosed as autistic at thirteen, there were almost no conversations about neurodivergence and no one she could look to who felt like her.
Today, she has become that person for millions of others.
Through her role as Quinni in Netflix’s Heartbreak High and her advocacy online, Chloé has become one of the most visible autistic women in...
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First 90 secondsGemma Bath0:00
For too long, Australian law didn't just fail survivors, it forced them into silence. Nina Funnell is a Walkley Award-winning journalist and a survivor who helped overturn damaging gag laws in the Australian justice system. She was the driving force behind the campaign that allowed women to finally speak their own names. Her work doesn't just tell stories, it drives change. Hi, I'm Gemma Bath, host of True Crime Conversations, and this very special two-part episode isn't just about the justice system. It's about what happens when women are finally heard. A raw, honest look at the power of a single voice, how silence is shaped, and how women push through it. Hear my conversation with Nina Funnell on True Crime Conversations. Search True Crime Conversations wherever you get your podcasts, or click the link in the show notes to hear Nina's story now.
Chloe Hayden· Guest0:55
Queenie was incredible for who she is, but Queenie was only one- Mm ... representation of autism- Mm ... and she was an extremely palatable version of autism.
Kate Langbroek· Host1:06
Mm.
Chloe Hayden· Guest1:07
She was very manic pixie dream girl autism.
Kate Langbroek· Host1:09
Mm.
Chloe Hayden· Guest1:09
She was very cute, and she was very quirky, and she wasn't controversial, and she was very sweet.
Kate Langbroek· Host1:14
Mm.
Chloe Hayden· Guest1:15
And that's palatable. So it's an easy, digestible way for people to go, "Okay, I can accept autism."
Kate Langbroek· Host1:22
[gentle music] For most of her childhood, Chloe Hayden felt like she didn't belong anywhere. She