In this episode of pplpod, we explore the groundbreaking life of Mary Temple Grandin, an American academic and renowned proponent of the humane treatment of livestock. We trace her journey from a childhood diagnosis of "brain damage"—where doctors recommended institutionalization—to her emergence as one of the first adults to publicly document the personal experience of autism.

Listeners will learn about Grandin’s unique cognitive process, which she describes as "thinking in pictures," allowing her to run mental simulations like full-length movies to solve complex engineering problems. We discuss how she applied these insights to the livestock industry, designing curved corrals and restrainer systems that significantly reduced stress and panic in animals destined for slaughter.

We also cover:

• The "Hug Box": ...