Homing Podcast – Episode Summary

Chris Packham on Neurodiversity, Safe Spaces & Finding Solace in Nature

Host: Matt Gibberd
Guest: Chris Packham
Date: October 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this rich and candid episode, broadcaster and naturalist Chris Packham invites Matt Gibberd into his home in the New Forest to explore the profound impact of home and environment on identity, particularly through the lens of neurodiversity. Chris shares with astonishing openness his experiences growing up undiagnosed autistic, using space, routines, and his connection to nature as tools for managing anxiety and building resilience. The conversation dives deep into formative childhood memories, art, relationships, activism, and what “home” truly means.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Early Life: Home as Refuge and Laboratory ([01:47]–[07:16])

• Chris describes a traditional, leafy 1960s Southampton neighborhood where everyone knew each other, with characterful gardens and painted wooden windows.
• His childhood bedroom was a vital private space: refuge, menagerie, library, and laboratory.
  • “It was very much a refuge. I had a sister, so we had a bedroom each. Thank goodness for that.” [04:02]
  • The room was packed with jam jars, books, tanks for reptiles, and rescued wildlife brought by the RSPCA.
• The importance of both belonging (to a place, a family) and of having a controlled, ordered personal world.
• Collecting, categorizing, and meticulously documenting wildlife provided early comfort, purpose, and focus.

Obsessions, Safe Spaces, and Loss ([09:39]–[14:13])

• Chris fell in love with birds at age 12, culminating in caring for a kestrel—an experience that shaped his emotional world.
  • “The loss was catastrophic and had a profound impact, which lasts until today.” [10:59]
  • Deep attachment to animals provided a sense of security and respite from anxiety and social challenges.
• Articulates the concept of “safe spaces” as not just physical, but emotional and temporal—for him, a bedroom or time with animals in nature.

Neurodiversity, Parenting & Observation ([17:18]–[21:03])

• Advice to parents of neurodiverse children: allow maximum autonomy, study their patterns carefully, and support intense interests.
  • “Study your children meticulously... look for patterns... concentrate on managing the things which present difficulties and creating the things that offer them positive outcomes.” [17:31]
• Childhood comfort derived from order—lists, learning sequences, knowledge—motivated by both internal drive and his parents’ values.

Family, Inherited Trauma & Motivation ([21:03]–[32:26])

• Candidly explores his parents’ traumatic WWII experiences, and the generational impact of unresolved trauma.
  • “Mental health was never discussed... My mother almost certainly had post traumatic stress disorder for obvious reasons, but there was never any treatment for that. So she had to negotiate her own way through life.” [24:51]
• Describes the persistent feeling of never quite satisfying his parents’ high expectations, leading to a lifelong drive to achieve.
  • “For me, winning is not giving up.” [32:26]
• Reinforces the role of class, opportunity, and meritocracy in shaping ambition.

Social Life & Academia: The Struggle for Belonging ([34:05]–[37:29])

• School and university were socially isolating; Chris focused on academics, avoiding peer relationships.
  • “I thought I was wrong, I thought I was broken... It generated quite an, an intense self loathing. I mean, I despised myself.” [36:06]
  • Developed intricate personal routines and management strategies, such as sitting at the front, limiting social interactions, and immersing himself in study.

Punk, Individual Expression & The Gift of Autism ([39:56]–[44:45])

• The punk movement allowed Chris to visually and culturally embrace his “difference.”
  • “That was empowering. Then there was the energy around the music. And everyone thought it was always about spitting and destroying, and it wasn't. It was about creativity.” [39:56]
• Discusses autism as both a challenge and a source of unique focus:
  • “My autism’s a bit like a gift. Only sometimes when you open it, you don’t get what you want.” [00:01 & 39:56]
• Describes the importance of solitary travel and solo immersion in art or nature to “stay on the rails.”

Therapy, Diagnosis & Self-Acceptance ([44:45]–[68:46])

• Only sought psychotherapy and received an autism diagnosis in his 40s, which brought greater confidence to advocate for his needs.
• Therapy provided tools for managing depression and suicidal ideation, especially after losing beloved pets.
  • “I’ve been to some pretty dark places and difficult times... I sought therapy which has proved to be enormously valuable.” [45:07]
• Now unapologetically sets boundaries to protect his wellbeing (e.g., not attending unwelcome social events).

Home Environment, Art, and Sensory Patterns ([57:34]–[65:37])

• Chris purposefully surrounds himself with art that is provocative and sometimes uncomfortable:
  • “I've never really found the need to be comfortable. I've always worried about contentment because I think complacency might come with it.” [57:55]
  • The one artwork that brings pure pleasure: a Bridget Riley print. [59:34]
• Finds solace and stimulation in environments that challenge him visually, even describing a love for dramatic, immersive spaces.
  • “You know when you're watching a horror film and you put your fingers in front of your face, but you can't resist peeping through them? Yeah, I think it's a bit like that.” [61:03]
• Sensory challenges are primarily visual; supermarkets and chaotic environments are overwhelming.

Control, Routine, and Relationships ([65:23]–[80:49])

• Control and understanding of space is critical: upon entering a new room, Chris “maps” everything to reduce anxiety.
  • “I don't care. The book's upside down. I just need to know it's upside down.” [65:37]
• Routines encompass daily dress, meals, and especially rituals with his dogs.
  • “I have an outfit that I wear when I'm in the house... I have dog walking clothes. So I wear the same clothes every day when I go dog walking and they love that as well. Because as soon as I put those on, they're like, they're flying all over the ceiling.” [79:18]
  • “I’d get out and walk naked over broken glass to get digestive biscuits just to make sure that they were satisfied.” [81:24]

The Meaning of Loss & Solace in Animals ([81:55]–[85:19])

• Intense relationships with animals have at times anchored Chris through life-threatening mental health crises.
  • “I can never underestimate the value that those relationships bring through their stability and the joy that they bring... I always used to call Itch and Scratch my joy grenades.” [82:09]
  • References research showing that for some autistic people, the bond with a pet can be life-saving.

Activism, Threats, and Resilience ([85:19]–[87:27])

• Discusses the arson attack on his gates, which he transformed into furniture, a powerful symbol of turning adversity to creativity.
  • “They can blow the gates up if they want. They can burn it down. I'll just make a table and a bench out of it.” [85:49]
• On being targeted:
  • “Because I'm asking people to change their minds more quickly than they either want to or are able to. Because we're in a time of crisis... if you do stand up and tell the truth, people blow your gates up.” [87:03]

Defining “Home”: The Planet as Sanctuary ([87:27]–[90:39])

• Chris transcends the idea of “home” as merely a building, identifying Earth itself as humanity’s true and only home.
  • “That’s our one and only home. We are the... this planet is the only place that we know that there's life, let alone complex life... This shell of a building is a wardrobe storage unit with some food in it which is past the sell-by date. That's home. Look at that. Look at the color of that beech tree. So green it hurts.” [87:37]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “My autism's a bit like a gift, only sometimes when you open it, you don't get what you want.” – Chris Packham [00:01, 39:56]
• “Study your children meticulously... look for patterns... concentrate on managing the things which present difficulties and creating the things that offer them positive outcomes.” – Chris Packham [17:31]
• “For me, winning is not giving up.” – Chris Packham [32:26]
• “That was empowering. Then there was the energy around the music. And everyone thought it was always about spitting and destroying and it wasn't. It was about creativity.” – Chris Packham on punk rock [39:56]
• “I would eat anything that goes bing after, you know... I have an outfit that I wear when I'm in the house.” – Chris Packham, on routine [78:37]
• “I’d get out and walk naked over broken glass to get digestive biscuits just to make sure that they were satisfied.” – Chris Packham, about his dogs' routine [81:24]
• “Because I'm asking people to change their minds more quickly than they either want to or are able to. Because we're in a time of crisis... if you do stand up and tell the truth, people blow your gates up.” – Chris Packham [87:03]
• “That’s our one and only home... This shell of a building is a wardrobe storage unit with some food in it which is past the sell-by date. That's home. Look at the color of that beech tree. So green it hurts.” – Chris Packham [87:37]

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• [04:02] – Childhood bedroom as sanctuary and menagerie
• [09:39] – The story of Chris’ kestrel and safe spaces
• [13:09] – Defining safe spaces: physical, emotional, nature-based
• [17:31] – Advice for parents of neurodiverse children
• [24:51] – The impact of parental trauma and the absence of mental health discussion
• [32:26] – Never feeling quite “enough” and using that as fuel
• [36:06] – Intense isolation at school and strategies for coping
• [39:56] – Role of punk and music in embracing individuality
• [45:07] – Therapy, mental health struggles, and the importance of support
• [57:55] – Choice of art, comfort with being uncomfortable
• [65:37] – Coping with disorder: mental “mapping” of new spaces
• [79:18] – Routines with dogs as daily grounding
• [81:24] – The irreplaceable role of animals in Chris’ life
• [85:49] – Transforming destroyed gates into functional art after an attack
• [87:37] – “Home” as both earthly and cosmic: perspective on life and belonging

Flow of Conversation & Tone

The episode is marked by deep self-reflection, humor, and warmth, underpinned by Chris’s emotionally direct style—neither shying away from grief nor from laughter (“joy grenades,” pet routine rituals, and wry artistic observations). Interactions are honest, methodical, sometimes raw, always insightful, and suffused with Chris’s meticulous, analytical perspective. The shared experience of neurodiversity between host and guest brings authenticity and gentle resonance. Peppered throughout are practical strategies, vivid stories, and an unwavering call to appreciate, protect, and truly “come home” to our planet.