I recently had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Grammy-nominated artist Chris Redding to discuss his journey with autism, his advocacy work, and how he’s using his platform to create change. As someone deeply passionate about autism awareness, this conversation was both inspiring and eye-opening.
In this episode of the Alicia Trautwein Podcast, Chris shares his personal experiences, the challenges he’s faced, and his mission to foster a more inclusive world. His story is a testament to the power of using one’s voice to make a difference.
Connect with Chris:
Website: https://www.chrisreddingmusic.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris_redding_
Below, you’ll find the full script of our conversation. Whether you prefer reading along or listening, I hope this episode resonates with you as much as it did with me. Let’s continue working together to create a world where every autistic individual feels seen, heard, and valued.
Autism with Chris Redding: A Powerful Conversation on Advocacy and Acceptance
Alicia Trautwein: Hey everyone, welcome back to The Alicia Trautwein Podcast! I’m your host, of course, Alicia Trautwein, and as always, we’re here to have real, honest conversations about parenting, neurodiversity, and everything in between.
With Autism Acceptance Month right around the corner, I am thrilled to welcome today’s guest—Grammy-nominated recording artist and advocate, Chris Redding. His music is not only a beautiful artistic expression, but it’s also a powerful voice for mental health awareness and autism acceptance.
Chris’s latest album, Colors in My Mind, delves deep into mental health, and he’s also the co-founder of the St. Ellis Foundation, which we’ll jump into a little later. This is a resource that provides families with children on the spectrum access to various supports. He’s got a lot going on! Let’s dive into this conversation and learn more about his journey, his music, and the impact he’s making.
Chris, welcome! How are you doing today?
Chris Redding: I am great! Thank you so much for having me on here. Anytime I can share my story and my voice in this space, I love it. This is what I live for, so thank you so much for having me on this platform.
Alicia: Absolutely! First of all, a huge congratulations on your Grammy nomination! What was that moment like for you when you found out?
Chris: It was a surreal moment, but also a moment to take in and realize—wow—all of the hard work we’ve put in is finally being recognized. But I would say the most important thing is just really being able to be a voice on a platform like the Grammys for so many neurodivergent individuals—people who have felt unheard and unseen for so many years. To be able to share this type of story and to be recognized is just phenomenal.
Alicia: Absolutely! And your previous album, Visions of Sounds, was deeply inspired by your son, who is autistic and nonverbal. Can you tell us about how that album came to life and what it meant for you both as a father and as a musician?
Chris: As a father, I think it was the most powerful experience I’ve ever had. Being able to connect with your son, who is nonverbal—it’s just phenomenal. When Christian was born, he didn’t make a lot of eye contact, and he didn’t really show an interest in communicating much until we started playing music for him.
When we started playing music, he wanted to open up more. He wanted to try to communicate more—whether that was through sign language or just different sounds that he would make vocally, including echolalia and stimming. We took it all in and made it part of the creative process. It was an amazing feeling, and I learned so much about myself in the process. It helped me experience that connection with him in a whole new way—very powerful.
Alicia: Absolutely! Now, your new album, Colors in My Mind, focuses on mental health advocacy, which is such an important topic, especially for the neurodivergent community. What inspired you to explore this theme in your music?
Chris: It’s part of my personal mental health journey, as well as the journeys of other individuals in the world. I think we live in a time now where mental health is more widely discussed, and we see its importance more than ever.
For me, this album was a continuation of my journey in learning what it means to be a neurodivergent individual in a neurodiverse family. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 13, and I always knew my mind worked differently. But it has been a journey of finding my strengths and learning to thrive in any environment.
So for me, Colors in My Mind was a continuation of Visions of Sounds. Visions of Sounds was like a shock—finding out my life was going to be different in ways I never imagined. It was me trying to comprehend and understand that and what it looked like with my son. But Colors in My Mind is more about now that I have this understanding about myself, it’s up to me to continue learning and growing—to make sure I’m doing what’s needed to take care of my mental well-being and to support others in their journeys.
Alicia: I absolutely love that! Your music isn’t just about artistry—it’s about making an impact, which is incredibly powerful.
So, you’re also the co-founder of the St. Ellis Foundation, which provides resources for families with autistic children. Tell us a little more about what led you to start this foundation and what kind of support it offers.
Chris: Absolutely! It was the brainchild of my wife, Serena. She really wanted to give back to other families and connect with them in meaningful ways. Once we received our son’s diagnosis, our journey began, but we ran into so many other families who were at different stages in their journey and needed guidance or support.
We wanted to build a community that fostered that—one where parents could connect, find support, and access resources. St. Ellis Foundation is about meeting people where they are in their process—whether they’re just getting a diagnosis or have been navigating this for years. We’ve made great connections and partnerships through the foundation, and we’re proud of the work we’re doing.
St. Ellis is actually my son Christian’s middle name, so this foundation is a part of his life’s work, too.
Alicia: That’s incredible! So many families struggle to find the right supports and resources, especially right after an autism diagnosis. From your perspective, what are some of the biggest challenges parents face, and how can we, as a society, do better?
Chris: I would say acceptance is still a challenge—not just from society but even within families. As parents, we had to come to terms with the fact that this is our normal, that this is the way our son’s brain works. Every day, we work to understand his perspective of the world.
A lot of times, people see autism as something that needs to be “fixed.” While therapy and support are important, it’s also about understanding and embracing how our children experience the world. That was the whole experiment behind Visions of Sounds—I wanted to dive into my son’s world through music and communicate with him in a new way.
Alicia: Absolutely. And music can be such a powerful tool for all of us, whether we’re neurodivergent or neurotypical. It’s an incredible way to connect, heal, and express ourselves.
Jumping into your experience as a musician—how has music played a role in your own mental health journey?
Chris: Music is a huge part of my daily life. Not just for me, but for my entire family. When my boys are overstimulated or having a rough day, I play calming music for them, and it helps shift their mood. When I need to unwind after a long day, I do the same. Music helps regulate emotions and serves as a powerful tool for self-expression and healing.
Alicia: I love that! It’s so true—music can be used in so many ways for emotional well-being.
Chris, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us today. Your advocacy and artistry are truly inspiring, and I can’t wait to see what you do next!
Chris: Thank you so much for having me! I appreciate the conversation and the opportunity to share my story.
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