Exploding Trucks, Rock and Roll, and Autism at 65 w/ Peter O'Neil

Mike and Chaya sit down with Peter O’Neil, a retired attorney, musician, grandfather, and author of My So-Called Disorder: Autism, Exploding Trucks, and the Big Daddy of Rock and Roll. Diagnosed as autistic at 65, Peter reflects on how that discovery transformed his experiences of masking, social struggles, and professional success. From solitude as a young man to thriving as a relentless advocate, Peter shares captivating stories of his legal work, time in West Africa, and lifelong passions.What We Cover

• How Peter’s autism diagnosis at 65 reframed his entire life.
• The emotional toll of masking and social isolation throughout adulthood.
• Applying autistic focus and creativity to thrive in a demanding legal career.
• Stories from Peter’s legal career, including landmark cases involving corporate wrongdoing.
• Life lessons learned in West Africa and how cultural differences unlocked personal growth.
• The pivotal role of his book in sharing his neurodivergence story.
• How leaning into special interests, like Chuck Berry’s music, became a source of identity and strength.
• Building meaningful relationships and communities after unmasking.
• The importance of safety, routine, and clear systems for autistic people.

Quotes:

• "Even in the situations where I was in a group like a dormitory or I spent some time in Italy so we lived in a small rooming house, I was pretty much alone even in a crowd."
• "There was a time in Seattle from 1977 through 1980 where I began to get really terrified because I could go to work and act normally, but what I could see was something was really wrong-- all these people who seem much less interesting than me were going through life pretty happily. They were having a good time, and I had no friends."
• "We're here for a reason. We're here because we bring a different way of thinking. Nowadays, at least in here in The United States, they're trying to make diversity, equity, inclusion a bad thing, a bad word, something we should all fear. But, obviously, diversity is what makes us great no matter where we are."

About Peter O'Neil:Peter O'Neil is an autistic product liability attorney serving as Of Counsel at Schroeter, Goldmark & Bender in Seattle. He received his autism diagnosis at age 65, which provided what he calls "a unified theory of me" that helped explain his life and career. Rather than attending law school, O'Neil entered the legal profession through the Washington State Bar Association Rule 6 Law Clerk program under the mentorship of attorney Paul Whelan. Before becoming an attorney, O'Neil worked as a paralegal for 15 years, followed by 25 years as a lawyer. Throughout his 40-year legal career, he specialized in product liability cases, particularly a series of cases involving dangerous pickup trucks with fuel tanks outside the frame rails that caused post-crash fires. O'Neil is the author of the memoir "My So-Called Disorder: Autism, Exploding Trucks, and the Big Daddy of Rock and Roll" which explores his late-in-life autism diagnosis and celebrates how his autistic traits contributed to his success as a product liability attorneyConnect with Peter:

• Peter's Book: https://www.amazon.com/My-So-Called-Disorder-Autism-Exploding/dp/B0BYCCZ53D
• Peter's Blog: https://mysocalleddisorder.blogspot.com/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-o-neil-650007298/
• https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090707207081#

Further Reading:

• https://wabarnews.org/2023/09/11/my-so-called-disorder/ - Interview with Washington State Bar Association
• https://www.gonzaga.edu/news-events/stories/2025/2/18/peter-oneil-gif-story - "Autism, Florence and My Personal Renaissance" by Peter O'Neil

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
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