Autistic Culture Presents

Late Diagnosis Club: How Carolyn Discovered She Was Autistic Through Her Own Podcast

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Carolyn Kiel, host of the award-winning podcast Beyond 6 Seconds, who discovered she was Autistic not before, but through her podcasting journey.

Together, Angela and Carolyn explore late discovery through connection, the limits of traditional narratives around autism, workplace misunderstandings, and how language and self-understanding can transform everyday life.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Carolyn Kiel — Host of the Beyond 6 Seconds Podcast

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Discovering autism through podcasting
Discussion: Representation, stereotypes, and lived experience
Late diagnosis and identity integration
Self-identification vs formal diagnosis
Post-diagnosis adjustments and accommodations
Autistic joy and special interests
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Carolyn Kiel, host of Beyond 6 Seconds, a long-running podcast exploring human experiences and neurodiversity. Carolyn shares how her podcasting journey began as a creative outlet, and unexpectedly became the pathway to discovering her own Autistic identity.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Carolyn’s Story

Carolyn began podcasting in 2018 to build creative expression and practise one-on-one conversations. As an introverted and self-described shy person, interviewing others about their passions offered a structured way to connect.

Through her podcast, she encountered members of the disability and neurodivergent community, including Autistic creators. Hearing their experiences, particularly how autism felt rather than how it was externally described, led to a growing sense of recognition.

After further research, particularly around how autism presents in women, Carolyn began to question whether she might be Autistic. She later pursued a formal diagnosis in her mid-40s, which confirmed her understanding and led her to pivot her podcast toward neurodivergent voices and intersectional experiences.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Discovery through others: Recognising yourself in the lived experiences of others
Beyond stereotypes: Moving past narrow 80s/90s definitions of autism
Self-identification vs diagnosis: Barriers, access, and validity of both paths
Social confusion: Difficulty navigating conversations, timing, and group dynamics
Communication shifts: Learning to verbalise internal processing needs
Accommodations: Fidgets, earplugs, sunglasses, and sensory awareness
Podcasting as control: Creative ownership, structure, and autonomy
Intersectionality: Exploring neurodivergence across race, gender, and identity
Corporate navigation: Developing “scripts” to survive workplace culture

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Late diagnosis can emerge through connection and shared stories, not just clinical pathways.
Understanding internal experience is often more powerful than external definitions.
Self-identification is valid, particularly where diagnostic barriers exist.
Giftedness and competence can mask significant support needs.
Small accommodations can meaningfully improve daily life.
Workplace challenges are often rooted in misunderstanding, not inability.
Identity integration is an ongoing process, not a single moment of clarity.

📌 Notice Board

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Michael Discovered He Was Autistic After Years of Anxiety Misdiagnosis

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Michael Kelly, a late-diagnosed Autistic artist and recent PhD graduate in design whose work explores how art can help us think about thinking.

Michael’s path to diagnosis began unexpectedly during his wife Susie’s autism assessment. After sitting in on several sessions as her carer, the clinician suggested that Michael pursue an assessment as well, leading to his own diagnosis a year later.

Together, Angela and Michael explore childhood solitude and special interests, creative practice as a way of understanding the mind, and how art can disrupt the systems that shape our thinking.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Michael Kelly — Autistic artist, designer, and researcher

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Growing up as the “weird kid” and finding refuge in books and ideas
Discussion: Philosophy, art practice, and early adult burnout
Psychosis, misdiagnosis, and years labelled as anxiety
Autistic masking, sensory overwhelm, and family patterns
Art as inquiry: performance, sculpture, and metacognition
Artificial intelligence, normativity, and the role of artists
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Michael Kelly, a late-diagnosed Autistic artist and newly minted PhD graduate whose research explores how art can help us understand thinking itself, particularly in the context of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Michael’s Story

Michael describes growing up as “the weird kid,” finding comfort in solitary interests like books, dinosaurs, comics, and drawing. As an only child, he often retreated into imagination and reflection. Experiences that, in hindsight, align with Autistic ways of engaging with the world.

After studying philosophy at Durham University in the UK, Michael pursued creative work and eventually a career in advertising before experiencing severe burnout and psychosis in his mid-20s. For years afterwards, he lived under an anxiety diagnosis without understanding the deeper neurodivergent context behind his experiences.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Only-child solitude: Safe space for imagination, reading, and deep thinking
Early interests: Dinosaurs, comics, drawing, theology, and philosophy
Advertising burnout: Workplace pressure and sensory overload leading to psychosis
Misdiagnosis: Years labelled with anxiety before autism was considered
Partner recognition: Sitting in on Susie’s autism assessment sparked Michael’s own
Masking and sensory overwhelm: Eye contact, social performance, and inherited patterns
Art as inquiry: Performance art, sculpture, and artistic experiments exploring the mind
Metacognition: Using art to examine how humans think about thinking
AI and normativity: Concerns about artificial intelligence reinforcing “average” thinking

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Late discovery often begins with recognition by someone close to us.
Years of anxiety or other diagnoses can obscure underlying neurodivergence.
Creative practice can become a powerful tool for understanding internal experience.
Masking and sensory overwhelm often shape lifelong coping strategies.
Artists may play an important role in questioning the systems and technologies shaping our future.

📌 Notice Board

Michael’s Website

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Tigz Realised She Was Autistic After a Lifetime of Creative Hyperfocus

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Tigz Rice, an empowerment photographer whose work centres on helping people feel truly seen in their own bodies.

Diagnosed with ADHD and autism in her late 30s, Tigz reflects on the subtle signs that were present throughout childhood — from early hyperfocus on computers and photography to lifelong curiosity about how things work. What began as a casual exploration of ADHD eventually led to a dual diagnosis that reframed decades of experience and self-understanding.

Together, Angela and Tigz explore late discovery, high masking, creative hyperfocus, and how learning her neurodivergent “user manual” has changed how she treats herself.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Tigz Rice — Empowerment photographer, podcaster, and late-identified Autistic ADHDer

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Creativity, photography, and late neurodivergent discovery
Discussion: ADHD first, autism later, and the long path to diagnosis
Hyperfocus, masking, and childhood signs
Creative communities, burlesque, and neurodivergent overlap
Learning self-compassion after diagnosis
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela welcomes listeners to the meeting and introduces photographer Tigz Rice, whose work focuses on helping people feel comfortable being seen in their bodies. Through photography, Tigz creates spaces where authenticity and vulnerability are welcomed rather than hidden.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Tigz’s Story

Tigz did not suspect she was neurodivergent until her 30s. The idea first emerged when several friends in her social circle began receiving ADHD and autism diagnoses.

What began as curiosity became a deeper investigation. Her ADHD diagnosis arrived first, followed by an autism diagnosis only a few months later at age 38. Rather than shock or shame, the experience felt largely validating — like finally gaining access to the “user manual” for her brain.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Friendship pattern: Entire social circle gradually discovering neurodivergence
ADHD pathway: Diagnosis first revealed lifelong dopamine-seeking and shifting interests
Autism clarity: ADHD medication made Autistic traits more visible
Childhood signs: Fascination with computers, photography, and how systems work
Creative hyperfocus: Photoshop, illustration, and photography as enduring interests
Performance worlds: Theatre and burlesque communities with strong neurodivergent presence
Masking awareness: Realising later how much effort social performance required
Autistic glimmers: Full-body sensory moments of joy and alignment
Self-compassion: Learning to honour limits and support her own needs

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Late diagnosis can bring validation rather than crisis.
ADHD and autism can mask each other until one becomes clearer.
Creative communities often offer safer spaces for neurodivergent expression.
Understanding your neurodivergence can lead to greater self-compassion.
Trusting your intuition and pattern recognition can guide self-discovery.

📌 Notice Board

Tigz Website
Tigz Podcast
If anyone wants to be photographed by Tigz, you can find the details at https://www.tigzrice.com

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Jenna Left Public Schools After Discovering She Was Autistic

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Jenna Goldstein, a late-diagnosed Autistic school psychologist who left the public education system after recognising its incompatibility with neurodiversity-affirming practice.

Jenna first recognised her own autism after her three-year-old daughter was identified. As she turned to Autistic voices for understanding, what began as advocacy for her child became a deeper self-recognition. Within months, she self-identified, and years later sought a formal diagnosis from an Autistic evaluator to connect more dots and model an Autistic identity for her children.

This is a conversation about human rights, blueprint-building, leaving systems that harm, and crafting lives that actually work for autistic nervous systems.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Jenna Goldstein — late-diagnosed Autistic school psychologist; founder of ND3

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Daughter’s diagnosis and late self-recognition
Discussion: School psychology training and harmful autism narratives
Unspoken agendas: Budgets, bias, and gatekeeping in public schools
“Developmental delay” and the myth of the model child
Leaving public schools and building ND3
Neurodiversity-affirming family support
Designing sustainable neurodivergent homes

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Jenna as a late-diagnosed Autistic school psychologist who recognised her own neurodivergence through parenting, and who ultimately left the public school system after concluding it was structurally incompatible with neurodiversity-affirming values.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Jenna’s Story

Jenna first encountered autism when her three-year-old daughter was identified. Dissatisfied with deficit-based descriptions, she sought understanding directly from Autistic adults. As she read first hand accounts, she recognised herself.

She self-identified within six months and later pursued a formal diagnosis with autism, not out of doubt, but to deepen understanding and model Autistic identity for her children.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Autistic recognition: Learning from Autistic voices instead of textbooks
Medical model critique: Rejecting “defective human” narratives
Unspoken pressures: Budget constraints influencing eligibility decisions
Gatekeeping language: “Developmental delay” as catch-all category
System limits: Realising change from within has ceilings
Private practice shift: Leaving public schools for ND3
Human rights lens: Equal dignity for neurodivergent children
Family sustainability: Peaks, valleys, flexibility, and regulation planning
Blueprint building: Co-creating neurodivergent life models

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Listening to autistic voices changes everything
Training does not guarantee understanding
Systems can be well-intentioned and still harmful
Budget pressures quietly shape access to support
Neutral framing reduces shame and blame
Autistic pride is pride in humanity, not productivity
Not all systems can be changed from within
Sustainable lives require intentional design
You are allowed to leave what harms you

📌 Notice Board

ND3 Instagram

ND3 Website

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Amy Built a New School After Discovering She Was Autistic

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Amy Kriewaldt, a late-diagnosed Autistic, ADHD, and PDA mother of three neurodivergent children.

Amy grew up a hyperlexic piano prodigy, praised for talent and performance while quietly navigating sensory overwhelm, situational mutism, perfectionism, and crushing internal expectations. It wasn’t until her children began receiving diagnoses that she started to recognise herself in their traits, and ultimately heard the words that changed everything: “Oh, I think you’re Autistic.”

Together, Angela and Amy explore hyperlexia, auditory processing differences, late self-recognition, self-compassion, memoir writing as a reframing, ADHD medication, self-medication through alcohol and caffeine, and the shift from compliance-based education to connection-centred learning.

This is a conversation about reframing failure, advocating fiercely, rewriting your past, and building systems that support autistic people across the lifespan.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Amy Kriewaldt — late-diagnosed Autistic, ADHD, and PDA advocate; founder of Creewald Academy

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Prodigy pressure, hyperlexia, and sensory overwhelm
Discussion: Parenting autistic children and recognising yourself
Auditory processing, situational mutism, and late diagnosis
ADHD, self-medication, and relief through treatment
Rewriting childhood through memoir and self-compassion
Restraint policies, advocacy, and saying “no”

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Amy as a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD parent navigating life with three neurodivergent children — all PDA — and building alternatives where traditional systems fall short.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Amy’s Story

Amy describes growing up as the youngest of eight children and a piano prodigy — hyperlexic, musically analytical, and praised for performance. Behind the talent were sensory overload, situational mutism, intense perfectionism, and chronic overwhelm that went unrecognised.

As her children received diagnoses, Amy began to see familiar patterns: auditory processing differences, sensory avoidance, social anxiety, and shutdown.

During a phone call describing how she processes information — needing complete silence to think — her psychologist paused and said, “Oh. I think you’re autistic.”

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Prodigy pressure: Performance, perfectionism, and masking through music
Parenting mirror: Recognising autistic traits through her children
Auditory processing: Needing silence to think and work
ADHD realisation: Chronic lateness, executive dysfunction, and relief through medication
Self-medication cycle: Alcohol, caffeine, and nervous system swings
IEP advocacy: “It doesn’t need fixing. It needs supporting.”
Restraint refusal: Saying no to compliance-based control

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Diagnosis can transform shame into self-compassion
Failure often reflects unmet needs, not broken character
Support changes everything
Advocacy sometimes begins with “No”
Compliance is not the same as learning
Children thrive when autonomy is honoured
Rewriting your past can reprogram your future
You are not a moral failure for having limits

📌 Notice Board

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Claire Stopped Believing ABA Was the Answer

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Claire Samuels, a proud Autistic speech-language pathologist whose journey to self-recognition unfolded inside the very system she would later question.

Claire began her career as a Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT) in the ABA industry, believing what she was told: that ABA was the gold standard for Autistic children. She loved the kids she worked with and believed she was making a positive impact. But as she read autistic voices, learned about interoception, and began recognising her own sensory and regulatory differences, cracks in the framework began to show.

Together, Angela and Claire explore ABA, nuance, Autistic self-recognition, masking, sensory processing, burnout, and what it means to move from compliance-based therapy to connection-based communication.

This episode is about shifting lenses, from behaviour to nervous systems, from control to connection, and from moral judgment to regulation.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Claire Samuels — Autistic speech-language pathologist

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Theatre kid, masking, and early sensory differences
Discussion: Entering ABA and believing the gold standard
Interoception, meltdown empathy, and late self-recognition
Leaving ABA and shifting from behaviour to environment
Becoming an SLP: AAC, connection, and child-led therapy
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Claire as a clinician whose story offers a rare inside perspective on ABA. Someone who entered the field with good intentions and left with a deeper understanding of Autistic nervous systems and lived experience.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Claire’s Story

Claire describes herself as a “chameleon” in school, a theatre kid who learned to play the role of “normal” while privately embracing her oddities. She studied psychology to understand how people “people,” navigated burnout in college, and found improv as a regulatory outlet.

After serving in the Peace Corps in The Gambia, she returned to the USA, unsure of her path, but drawn to working with neurodivergent children. A friend introduced her to ABA, promising meaningful work, strong income potential, and the opportunity to work in the “gold standard” of Autism treatment.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

ABA immersion: 40-hour weeks for toddlers and gold-standard messaging
RBT reality: Minimal training, low pay, no autism coursework required
Demand maintenance: Repeating instructions during meltdowns until compliance
Interoception moment: Supervisor unfamiliar with the concept
Masking realisation: Social media and autistic adult narratives
Pendulum swing: From “gold standard” to “ABA is abuse” to nuance
SLP path: Language, connection, AAC, and feature matching
Child-led therapy: Slower but healthier device relationships
Self-accommodation: Headphones, fidgets, and nervous system resets
Autistic joy: Sesame Street, stimming, and public authenticity

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Behaviour is not the whole story
Good people can work inside broken systems
Language and connection are cyclical
Autistic regulation is not a moral failure
Self-accommodation changes relationships
Labels serve us — not the other way around

📌 Notice Board

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Julie Discovered Her Autism Through Burnout and Books

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Julie Farrell, a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD writer, activist, and co-founder of The Inklusion Guide, a resource dedicated to making literature events accessible to disabled people.

Julie shares her slow, layered journey toward understanding her neurodivergence — from burnout, migraines, and chronic illness labels, to finding herself mirrored in Autistic writers like Katherine May, to sobbing through the documentary Seeing the Unseen and finally knowing in her bones.

Together, Angela and Julie explore masking, shutdowns mislabelled as anxiety, CPTSD, creative identity, freelance work as nervous system regulation, and the relief of receiving a diagnosis in a supportive, affirming environment. They also talk about ADHD medication, menstrual cycle titration, EMDR therapy, and what it feels like to “precipitate out of the hot goo” and become solid for the first time.

This episode is also about Autistic joy — about stars, navigation, grief, and how Julie’s late father taught her to look up at the night sky and find her way.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Julie Farrell — Writer, activist, and late-diagnosed Autistic & ADHD woman

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Burnout, writing communities, and slow recognition
Discussion: Masking, shutdowns, and anxiety misdiagnosis
Chronic illness labels, brain fog, and nervous system overwhelm
Self-identification, late ADHD discovery and medication
Creativity, rejection sensitivity, and publishing Someone Like Me
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Julie as a writer whose work reclaims Autistic narrative and centres accessibility, creativity, and late discovery. The conversation begins with the power of anthologies — reading other Autistic women’s work and realising, “Oh. That wasn’t just me.”

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Julie’s Story

Julie traces her recognition back to 2018, when she ran a co-writing group in Edinburgh and befriended an openly Autistic man who spoke about burnout cycles. At the time, she didn’t see herself in autism — she was high masking and had internalized generalized anxiety and fibromyalgia diagnoses.

Reading Wintering by Catherine May and later reviewing the documentary Seeing the Unseen became turning points. She describes sobbing at the end of the film and knowing, finally, that she was Autistic.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Masking & shutdowns: Nonverbal shutdowns misinterpreted as panic attacks
Misdiagnosis: Anxiety and fibromyalgia concealing Autistic burnout
Burnout at 30: Months unable to leave the sofa; repeated medical dismissal
Self-ID vs formal diagnosis: The emotional weight of both
Being believed: “Are you telling me I’m not stupid?”
ADHD discovery: Hyperactivity, career misalignment, and paid assessment
Medication: Titration and menstrual cycle adjustments
Publishing: Invited to contribute to Someone Like Me
Grief & stars: Writing about her father, navigation, and expansive belonging

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Burnout cycles can be mistaken for anxiety
Masking can delay self-recognition for years
Diagnosis can dissolve lifelong shame
Medication can reshape creative capacity
Freelance work can be nervous system care
Autistic joy often lives in special interests

📌 Notice Board

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Helen Learned She Was Autistic After a Lifetime of Misdiagnosis

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Helen Shaddock, a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and PhD researcher whose work explores autism, eating distress, OCD, and healing through creativity.

Helen was diagnosed with anorexia at 13 and spent the next 25 years moving through eating-disorder pathways that never fully explained her experience. It wasn’t until her late 30s — after years of treatment, physical injury, and burnout — that an occupational therapist recognised what others had missed: Helen was Autistic.

Helen and Angela explore the long overlap between eating distress, OCD, and autism, how Autistic regulation was repeatedly misread as pathology, and how late diagnosis reframed decades of self-blame. Helen shares her experiences around interoception, stimming, routine, sensory regulation, and the difference between Autistic eating and eating disorder treatment.

This episode is also about creative becoming — how art, writing, and storytelling can be tools for survival, meaning-making, and identity reconstruction.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Helen Shaddock — Autistic multidisciplinary artist, writer, and PhD researcher

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Autism missed across treatment pathways
CBT, clinical harm, and misinterpretation of Autistic regulation
Autistic eating vs eating disorder frameworks
Burnout, grief, and late autism recognition
Creative becoming through art and storytelling
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela welcomes Helen as a long-standing member of the LDC community and frames the conversation around storytelling, creativity, and late recognition. This meeting emphasises intimacy and pacing — meeting one another “one at a time,” in a way that feels distinctly Autistic.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Helen’s Story

Helen was diagnosed with anorexia at 13 and spent her adolescence and adulthood navigating eating-disorder treatment, CBT, and medical surveillance.

Many Autistic traits, including routine, stimming, sensory sensitivity, and the need for predictability, were interpreted as pathology rather than regulation.

She experienced chronic fatigue in early adolescence, missed significant periods of school, and was bullied. Later injuries, stress fractures, and physical complications were consistently attributed to anorexia, obscuring the role of autism and interoceptive differences.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

25 years missed: Autism identified at 38 after decades of eating-disorder treatment
Misinterpretation: Autistic stimming and regulation framed as calorie-burning or compulsion
Interoception: Pain, hunger, and bladder signals go unnoticed until extreme
Routine & safety: The difference between Autistic eating and eating distress
Grief: Mourning the support that could have existed earlier
Language shift: Choosing “eating distress” over “eating disorder”
Creative becoming: Identity as fluid, evolving, and reconstructed through art
ArtEd: Digital storytelling, visual diaries, and community zines

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Eating distress can mask autism — and vice versa
Late diagnosis can dissolve decades of self-blame
Autistic regulation is often misunderstood as a disorder
Creativity is not a luxury — it is a survival tool
Community reduces isolation and restores dignity

📌 Notice Board

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Tara Survived Without Knowing She Was Autistic

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Tara for one of the most difficult and important conversations the Club has held.

⚠️ Content notice: This episode includes discussion of violence, sexual abuse, child harm, and coercive control. Listener discretion is strongly advised. Please pause or skip as needed and take care of yourself.

Tara is a late-diagnosed Autistic woman, a mother, and a survivor of severe childhood abuse, abduction, and exploitation. She shares her story not for shock, but to illuminate how Autistic girls and women are uniquely vulnerable — especially when they grow up without protection, language, or recognition of their neurodivergence.

Together, Angela and Tara explore survival as an Autistic trait, truth-telling as both a strength and a liability, vulnerability to cults and exploitative systems, and the long road to healing through prolonged exposure therapy. Tara’s story is harrowing — but it is also a testament to resilience, instinct, and the life-saving power of being believed.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Tara — late-diagnosed Autistic woman, mother, and survivor

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Abuse, abduction, and survival
Discussion: Autistic vulnerability and coercive control, misdiagnosis, and being labelled a liar
Cults, self-help movements, and exploitation
Prolonged exposure therapy and Late autism self-recognition
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela opens the meeting with a clear trigger warning and an explanation of the safeguards taken to ensure this conversation was shared safely and consensually. This episode is framed as difficult — but necessary — for Autistic people, particularly women and girls, whose experiences of abuse are often misunderstood or erased.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Tara’s Story

Tara describes knowing she was different from early childhood — hyperlexic, highly intelligent, sensory-sensitive, and deeply compliant. As a CODA, she was placed in adult responsibilities far too young, acting as her mother’s ears while navigating an unsafe home environment.

Family members responded to her Autistic traits with punishment and violence rather than protection. Tara was repeatedly locked away, beaten, and labelled with slurs — experiences that primed her for later exploitation.

At 14, Tara was abducted by adults known to her family. She was held, tortured, and left for dead. No search party was launched. No justice followed. Tara survived through instinct, dissociation, and an extraordinary will to live.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Autistic vulnerability: How isolation, compliance, and literal trust increase risk
Survival instincts: Autism as a tool for endurance and escape
Misdiagnosis: Repeatedly labelled with personality disorders
Cults and self-help: Seeking safety and meaning in exploitative systems
Prolonged exposure therapy: Ten years of structured trauma processing
Late autism recognition: Finding language after decades of harm
Motherhood: Love, rupture, and intergenerational neurodivergence
Justice: Living without it — and learning how to go on

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Autistic girls are especially vulnerable when their differences go unprotected
Being articulate does not prevent exploitation
Truth-telling can be punished in unsafe systems
Misdiagnosis can cause as much harm as no diagnosis
Self-diagnosis can be life-saving

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Abbey Realised She Was Autistic After Decades of Masking

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Abbey Thompson — a librarian, classically trained vocalist, prize-winning baker, gamer, social justice bard, and self-described random fact machine.

Abbey is a fat, queer, neurodivergent woman living in Los Angeles with two orange cats and a deep commitment to creativity without perfection.

Diagnosed with ADHD in her 40s and later recognising she was also Autistic, Abbey describes how finally naming her neurodivergence didn’t just bring understanding — it brought permission. Permission to be loud, to be big, to be joyful, to be mediocre, and to exist without apology.

Together, Angela and Abbey explore late identification, fatness and bullying, perfectionism, burnout, AuDHD, creativity as regulation, and the radical act of letting go of shame. This episode is an invitation to stop fixing yourself — and start living.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Abbey Thompson — AuDHD librarian, vocalist, baker, and creator of the Mediocre Arts and Crafts Club

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Masking, bullying, and being “too much”
Discussion: Late diagnosis, burnout, friendship, fatness, queerness, and shame
Sensory processing, burnout, animals, justice sensitivity, and belonging
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Abbey as someone whose life defies neat categories — librarian, opera singer, baker, gamer, and cat enthusiast — all in one person. From the outset, this conversation sets aside productivity and leans into permission: to be multifaceted, messy, and fully yourself.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Abbey’s Story

Abbey describes growing up as a high-achieving, compliant student who internalised bullying and othering — largely attributing friendship difficulties to being fat in a culture that relentlessly punished difference.

Early signs of neurodivergence, including hyperfocus, rigidity, gullibility, sensory sensitivity, and being “too loud,” were reframed for decades as personal flaws. Only later did Abbey come to understand these traits through an Autistic and ADHD lens — one that offered compassion instead of criticism.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Late diagnosis: ADHD and autism identified in Abbey’s 40s
Burnout: Years of overachievement, graduate school, and unrecognised exhaustion
Masking: Being capable on the outside while struggling internally
Fatness & bullying: How body stigma obscured neurodivergence
Creativity as regulation: Singing, baking, crafting, and making for joy
Mediocre Arts and Crafts Club: Creating without perfection or monetisation
Shame: Letting go of self-policing and internalised judgment
Community: Belonging as protection and healing

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Competence can hide profound struggle
Shame is not a motivator — it’s a barrier
Creativity doesn’t need to be perfect to be meaningful
Late diagnosis can offer forgiveness, not just answers
Community helps return shame to where it belongs
You don’t need permission to exist — but it helps when you finally give it to yourself

📌 Notice Board

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Sarma Realised She Was Autistic After Everything Fell Apart

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Sarma Melngailis, a late-identified Autistic woman whose life unfolded in public long before she had language for her neurodivergence.

Sarma was once a celebrated New York restaurateur and entrepreneur. Years later, she became the subject of global scrutiny following a highly publicised documentary that framed her story through scandal rather than context. She was not diagnosed as Autistic until age 51, after everything had already happened.

In this conversation, Sarma speaks candidly about sensory overwhelm, being misread as cold or suspicious, vulnerability to coercive control, and how not knowing she was Autistic shaped her relationships, business decisions, and sense of self. This episode is not about scandal — it’s about what happens when a life is interpreted through the wrong lens, and what becomes possible when the right one finally arrives.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Sarma Melngailis — late-identified Autistic author and entrepreneur

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Public success without private understanding
Discussion: Late diagnosis, vulnerability, and coercive control
Being misread: affect, communication, and media narratives
Sensory processing, burnout, leadership, animals, justice sensitivity, and belonging
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Sarma as a member whose story was widely told before it was widely understood. While the public narrative focused on spectacle and suspicion, Sarma’s lived experience was shaped by sensory overwhelm, misinterpretation, and deep vulnerability — all without the context of an autism diagnosis.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Sarma’s Story

Sarma describes growing up feeling different without knowing why, gravitating toward misfits and animals, and navigating adulthood with intense sensory sensitivity and a strong drive toward justice and care.

Her autism was first suggested not by clinicians, but by viewers of a documentary who recognised themselves in her, many of them late-diagnosed Autistic adults.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Late diagnosis at 51: Recognition after public life and collapse
Misinterpretation: Flat affect, pauses, and Autistic communication framed as guilt or deception
Coercive control: How Autistic trust and literal thinking increase vulnerability
Being “seen”: Why manipulative attention can feel like understanding
Public narratives: Harm caused by edited stories and missing context
Sensory overload: Sound, scent, and cumulative exhaustion in high-pressure environments
Animals and connection: Deep attachment as regulation and grounding
Safeguards: Learning to listen to trusted outsiders and name red flags

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Not knowing you’re Autistic can increase vulnerability to exploitation
Being articulate and successful does not protect against harm
Autistic affect is often misread through a moral lens
Clarity does not erase the past — but it can soften self-blame
Community and outside perspective are protective factors
Having language for your nervous system changes what you tolerate

📌 Notice Board

People Magazine — Sarma Melngailis on Autism Diagnosis

Sarma Melngailis on Instagram

The Girl with the Duck Tattoo — Book Website

Sarma Raw — Personal Website

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now Accepting Pitches: This Is Your Sign to Start an Autistic-Led Podcast

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:59:36 GMT

The Autistic Culture Podcast Network is officially open for new podcast pitches, and we’re calling on Autistic creators to help shape the future of an Autistic-led audio network. This short promo invites storytellers, culture-builders, deep divers, and passionate voices to bring their ideas to life, whether they’re rooted in special interests, history, art, games, science, sound, or navigating work and school systems.

You don’t need fancy gear or a perfect plan, just your perspective, your curiosity, and the topics your brain could talk about forever. If you’ve been dreaming of starting a podcast that reflects lived experience, culture, and joy, this is your sign.

Pitch deadline: January 31, 2026

Apply here or Email: info@autisticculturepodcast.com

We can’t wait to hear what you’re dreaming up!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How George Realised They Were Autistic While Studying Autism

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes George Watts, a neurodivergent researcher, parent, and PhD candidate whose path into autism research began before realising they were autistic themselves.

George first studied autism from the outside, absorbing dominant behavioural frameworks and evidence-based models that promised to “help” Autistic people. It wasn’t until they encountered Autistic voices, community, and their own reflection in the literature that their understanding — and their life — fundamentally shifted.

Together, Angela and George explore late identification, burnout, childbirth, internalised deficit models, the harm of behaviourism, and what becomes possible when Autistic people stop being studied in isolation and start building community together. This episode centres Autistic quality of life — not as an abstract metric, but as a lived, relational experience grounded in belonging, autonomy, and joy.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: George Watts — Autistic researcher, PhD candidate, and parent

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Childhood signs without diagnosis
Discussion: Burnout, childbirth, late identification, unlearning behaviourism and deficit-based models
Autistic parenting and education research shaped by lived experience
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces George as a researcher whose academic path into autism began long before they understood their own neurodivergence. Early training framed autism as a problem to be fixed — with behavioural intervention positioned as the solution. This episode traces what happens when that framework begins to crack.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: George’s Story

George returned to university as a mature student, studying autism after years of precarious work, burnout, and unrecognised neurodivergence. As they immersed themselves in autism literature, moments of resonance accumulated — until self-recognition became unavoidable.

Childbirth, sensory overload, and years of misattributed mental health struggles came into focus through a new lens. What had once been framed as personal failure or psychological fragility was re-understood as the cost of navigating a world not built for Autistic nervous systems.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Late identification: Studying autism before recognising it in yourself
Burnout and childbirth: Sensory overwhelm and unmet support needs
Community as intervention: Autistic people supporting each other
Quality of life: Shifting research focus from causes and cures to belonging
Autistic parenting: Reducing unnecessary demands and honouring regulation
Research from the inside: Autistic-led questions shaping the field

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Understanding autism can reframe decades of self-blame
Behavioural compliance is not the same as well-being
Quality of life looks different for Autistic people — and should be defined by them
Community and belonging are not extras; they are foundational
Autistic-led research changes what we ask — and what matters

📌 Notice Board

George Watts — YouTube talk

Autism Studies (FutureLearn course)

Research paper: A Certain Magic

Grove Neurodivergent Mentoring and Educating

Autistic Quality of Life Measure (ASQoL)

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Julie Understood Herself After Raising an Autistic Child

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Julie M. Green, a writer, Autistic mother, and late-identified Autistic woman whose self-recognition unfolded through parenting. Julie’s story begins not with her own diagnosis, but with her son’s. As she learned how to support an Autistic child, she slowly began to recognise familiar patterns in herself — sensory sensitivity, rigidity, perfectionism, chronic illness, and lifelong shyness that had always been framed as personality flaws rather than neurodivergence.

Together, Angela and Julie explore maternal guilt, masking across decades, self- and formal diagnosis, and what changes — and what doesn’t — when you finally have language for your nervous system.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Julie M. Green — Autistic writer, Author, and mother

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Childhood signs without diagnosis
Discussion: Parenting an autistic child while recognising autism in yourself
Masking, perfectionism, and decades of mislabeling
Self-diagnosis, formal diagnosis, and imposter syndrome
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Julie as a member whose story begins in a paediatrician’s office — not for herself, but for her son. What started as advocacy and research quickly became a mirror, reflecting traits Julie had carried since childhood but never had language for.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Julie’s Story

Julie grew up in the 1970s and 80s as a highly anxious, perfectionistic, and extremely shy child. Changes in routine triggered meltdowns, collections were rigidly organised, and sensory sensitivities shaped daily life — all framed at the time as personality flaws or the result of being an only child.

In school, Julie was quiet, compliant, and high-achieving. Anxiety and perfectionism were invisible to teachers, while internal distress went unnamed.

Years later, as a first-time mother, Julie struggled with sensory overload, shutdowns, and intense guilt. When her son was diagnosed with autism at age three, Julie immersed herself in research — first to support him, and eventually to understand herself.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Masking and mislabeling: Shyness, rigidity, and perfectionism framed as flaws
Maternal guilt: Internalising blame for sensory overwhelm and burnout
Self-recognition: Seeing autistic traits through parenting without immediately claiming identity
Diagnosis decisions: Self-diagnosis, formal assessment, and imposter syndrome
Disclosure: Navigating silence, validation, and scepticism from others
Autistic parenting: Modelling boundaries, regulation, and self-advocacy

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Autism can become visible through caregiving before self-recognition
Compliance and quiet achievement often hide distress
Formal diagnosis may change nothing — and everything
Self-diagnosis is valid; seeking assessment is a personal choice
Modelling boundaries is a powerful form of parenting
Understanding yourself can reduce shame across generations

📌 Notice Board

Link for Julie’s book: Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance

Julie’s Substack: https://theautisticmom.substack.com/

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Becca Reclaimed Her Voice as an Autistic Adult

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Becca Engle, an Autistic educator, author, and advocate whose early disability was recognised, but whose autism was not fully named until adulthood.

Becca was identified as disabled at age three and was once non-speaking. She was repeatedly told she would never be independent, never succeed academically, and never become a teacher. Instead, she grew up navigating education systems that focused on compliance over understanding — systems that demanded silence, masking, and endurance rather than support.

Together, Angela and Becca explore early childhood diagnosis without clarity, the harm of behaviour-based interventions, masking in higher education, autistic anger as a catalyst for advocacy, and what it means to design learning environments that support regulation rather than control.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Becca Engle — Autistic educator, author, and disability advocate

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Early childhood diagnosis and being “almost autistic”
Discussion: Masking, compliance, and exclusion in education systems
Regulation, classroom design, and alternatives to seclusion
Key learnings
Club announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Becca as someone whose autism was visible early but never fully acknowledged. Despite being labelled with multiple developmental diagnoses, Becca’s needs were misunderstood, and expectations for her future were set painfully low.

What followed was not support, but pressure to conform.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Becca’s Story

Becca was diagnosed at age three with conditions that stopped short of autism and was repeatedly told she would never speak, learn independently, or attend school. Early intervention included speech therapy, occupational therapy, and exposure to behaviour-based systems that relied on control and seclusion.

Years later, in college, Becca was told she was “too autistic” to teach. She graduated anyway — and later pursued further credentials outside traditional pathways.

Becca formally received an autism diagnosis in adulthood, bringing clarity, legitimacy, and permission to name what had always been true.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Early diagnosis without clarity: Being labelled disabled but not autistic shaped expectations and access to support
Compliance over care: Behaviour systems prioritised obedience rather than regulation or understanding
Masking in higher education: Silence was rewarded; authenticity was punished
Anger as fuel: Advocacy emerged not from inspiration, but from injustice
Regulation-focused classrooms: Becca describes her three-zone regulation model as an alternative to calm corners, seclusion, and PBIS
Stimming and creativity: Writing, knitting, and movement as regulation — not distraction

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Early identification without understanding can still cause harm
Compliance systems teach masking, not self-regulation
Silencing autistic communication is often framed as professionalism
Anger can be an appropriate and productive response to injustice
When environments change, people don’t have to disappear to succeed

📌 Notice Board

Becca’s Social Media:

• Instagram: @StitchesStanzas

• Facebook: Becca Engle / Stitches & Stanzas

Becca’s Books:

• Step Into My Shoes: https://a.co/d/hJRVXSG

• Through Our Lens series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G3XQZ8KV

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Monique Realised Survival Mode Was Autistic Masking

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Monique Lindner — a late-identified Autistic woman whose life once revolved around relentless achievement, overwork, and endurance.

Monique was a high-performing systems thinker, corporate leader, and entrepreneur who learned early how to push through trauma, chronic pain, sleep deprivation, and sensory overload. What finally cracked the façade wasn’t a dramatic breakdown — it was a slow unravelling, followed by a single, unexpected question from her book editor that sent her down a ten-month path toward understanding her neurodivergence.

Together, Angela and Monique explore late identification, masking, Autistic burnout, trauma, friendship loss, unmasking, psychic pattern-matching, and what happens when you stop explaining yourself and start protecting your nervous system.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Monique Lindner — Late-identified Autistic writer, entrepreneur, and systems thinker

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Monique’s pre-diagnosis life
Discussion: Burnout, trauma, masking, and loss after unmasking
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Monique as someone whose life looked successful on the outside — leadership roles, global travel, financial stability — while quietly exacting a devastating cost on her nervous system. What finally brought clarity wasn’t collapse alone, but permission to question why survival had become the baseline.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Monique’s Story

Monique spent decades pushing through exhaustion, trauma, and sensory overload without understanding why it cost her so much. Her autism went unrecognised until the pandemic revealed how much relief she felt in solitude. A question from her book editor finally gave her language for her burnout, intuition, and need for boundaries.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

High achievement as masking: Leadership, overwork, and perfectionism hid severe sensory and emotional costs.
Late identification: A book editor’s observation opened a ten-month self-identification process.
Unmasking fallout: Friendships ended when Monique began asking for basic accommodations.
Autistic burnout: Multiple collapses following trauma, surgery, and prolonged stress.
Pattern-matching & intuition: Monique describes deep knowing, heightened perception, and intuitive clarity as Autistic strengths.
Boundaries as survival: Learning when to stop explaining and start protecting herself.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Survival skills can look like success — until they stop working.
Unmasking may cost relationships, but it preserves health.
Asking for accommodations often reveals who was benefiting from your silence.
Pattern-matching and intuition are forms of Autistic intelligence.
Trusting yourself is a radical act after years of dismissal.

📌 Notice Board

Monique’s Website: moniquelindner.com
Monique’s Substack: moniquelindner.substack.com

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Sean Realised His Burnout Was Autistic, Not Failure

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon sits down with Sean Hawthorne, a late-identifying Autistic adult who is still in the very middle of discovery — not the end of the journey. Sean spent decades performing a socially acceptable version of himself: the reliable friend, the focused finance professional, the guy who shaped his interests to fit in and kept his sensory overwhelm hidden. But in 2021, a catastrophic burnout forced him to confront a truth he could no longer outrun.

Together, Angela and Sean explore autistic burnout, somatic reconnection, cultural and religious messaging, unmasking, identity, self-diagnosis, and the relief of realising you were never broken — you were misunderstood.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Sean Hawthorne — Self-diagnosed Autistic adult navigating late discovery

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Sean’s early clues
Discussion: Burnout, masking, religion, culture & re-learning the body
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela introduces Sean as someone still in process — mid-discovery, mid-unmasking, mid-clarity — reflecting the reality that Autistic identification can take years, even a decade, to understand fully.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Sean’s Story

Sean’s earliest clues were sensory processing difficulties so intense that he sometimes froze, unable to respond to teachers who insisted he “just answer.” He excelled academically only when placed in a smaller, more patient classroom — a sign of undiscovered neurodivergence that went unnoticed.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Sensory overwhelm: Freezing in classrooms, noise sensitivity, overstimulation.
Masking: Clubs, alcohol, social rules, performing “acceptable” masculinity.
Cultural & religious pressure: Caribbean/Christian frameworks that framed distress as spiritual or disciplinary issues.
Burnout: Losing mobility, shutting down, thinking it was “a lack of discipline.”
Somatic reconnection: Learning interoception, feeling his body’s signals for the first time.
Self-diagnosis: Valid, grounded, and life-saving.
Intersectionality: Autistic burnout in the context of Blackness, surveillance, and systemic injustice.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Being dismissed doesn’t mean you were wrong — it means you were unseen.
Masking becomes a personality, not a strategy.
Burnout often looks like failure until you have the right language.
Self-identification can save lives long before formal diagnosis is accessible.
Reconnecting with the body is disorienting — but also a homecoming.
Autistic adults aren’t fragile; we’re deprived of support.

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Georgina Turned Years of Being Dismissed Into Life-Saving Work

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this week’s meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Georgina Banks - Autistic, ADHD, chronically ill, and the founder & CEO of AuDHD UK, a suicide-prevention charity reshaping access to diagnosis and support across the UK.

Georgina spent nearly a decade searching for answers while doctors dismissed her chronic illness, sensory overwhelm, and burnout as “anxiety.” In today’s conversation, she shares how late discovery helped her finally understand her body, her needs, and her mission — and how she turned personal pain into a national effort to save neurodivergent lives and to support hundreds of adults still fighting to be believed.

This episode includes a discussion of suicide. Please listen with care.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Georgina Banks — Autistic & ADHD founder of AuDHD UK

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Georgina’s late identification
Discussion: chronic illness, dismissal, and Autistic burnout
Building AuDHD UK & suicide prevention
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela opens with a truth many late-identified Autistic adults know deeply:

We often spend years trying to survive systems that don’t recognise what’s happening to us.

Georgina’s story shows how dangerous that invisibility can be — and how powerful clarity becomes once we have it.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Georgina’s story

At 15, Georgina became severely ill while preparing for GCSEs. Doctors insisted it was “stress.”

At 19, a gastroenterologist noted she had “a hint of Asperger’s.”

At 20, she was officially diagnosed Autistic. ADHD would come years later, after burnout and shutdowns became impossible to ignore.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Misdiagnosed for years: Chronic illness, shutdowns, and sensory collapses dismissed as “anxiety.”
Autistic traits overlooked: Literal thinking, tics, clumsiness, non-verbal episodes, sensory pain.
Unmasking & regression: After diagnosis, lifelong compensations fell away.
Founding AuDHD UK: Building a suicide-prevention charity offering assessments and weekly peer-support groups for undiagnosed adults who cannot afford private pathways.
Why diagnosis access matters: Not for a label — but for safety, language, stability, and belonging.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Being unseen by the system does not mean you were wrong about yourself.
Burnout, shutdown, and sensory overwhelm can masquerade as “anxiety.”
Identification is a turning point, not the end point.
Suicide prevention begins with validation, access, and community.
Neurodivergent people design better support systems when they lead them.

📌 Notice Board

AuDHD UK — https://audhduk.org

The suicide-prevention charity founded by Georgina. AuDHD UK provides subsidised diagnostic assessments, weekly peer-support groups, and advocacy for neurodivergent adults who cannot safely or affordably access traditional diagnosis pathways.

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Mike Spent Five Lost Years Before Realising He’s Autistic

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Mike Matthews — a late-diagnosed Autistic dad, writer, music obsessive, and dry-witted survivor of misdiagnosis, medical gaslighting, and five years of unanswered burnout.

Together, Angela and Mike explore the messy middle between “something is wrong” and “oh — it’s autism,” the years lost to misunderstanding, the grief and relief of late self-discovery, and the unexpected joy of building a life that actually fits.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Mike Matthews — Autistic dad, writer, punk enthusiast & playlist archivist

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Mike’s misdiagnosis journey
Discussion: Burnout, sensory life, stigma & spirals
Member spotlight: Autistic creativity, playlists & book writing
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela welcomes listeners into a story many late-diagnosed adults know too well: years of searching for answers, a system that keeps missing us, and the emotional cost of untreated Autistic burnout disguised as “depression.” Mike’s path began after becoming a parent — when suddenly the time he used for emotional regulation evaporated, and everything fell apart.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Mike's story

From the very first doctor visit, Mike’s concerns were waved away, misread, or treated with trial-and-error medications that created new problems rather than solving the old ones.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Five years of misdiagnosis: burnout mistaken for depression, sensory issues overlooked, and a formal evaluation that labelled him with the wrong disorder.
Medication mishaps: antidepressants causing side effects, withdrawal “brain zaps,” and treatments that obscured the real issue — autistic burnout.
Grief and relief: mourning the lost years while embracing clarity, self-knowledge, and a gentler relationship with himself and others.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Autistic burnout is not depression — and treating it as such can prolong suffering.
Misdiagnosis is common, especially when sensory experiences are ignored.
Self-knowledge changes everything

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Amber Realised “Postpartum Anxiety” Was Autistic Burnout

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Amber Covucci — a late-diagnosed Autistic attorney, mother of two, and brilliant pattern-matcher who spent decades thinking she was “just sensitive” before discovering she was Autistic in her mid-30s.

Together, Angela and Amber explore Autistic motherhood, masking, sensory life, high-achieving burnout, and raising neurodivergent kids while still learning how to accommodate their own needs.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Amber Covucci — Autistic attorney, writer, and mother

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Amber’s Autistic childhood & early masking
Discussion: Pregnancy, postpartum, sensory overwhelm & burnout
Key learnings
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela welcomes listeners into a conversation many Autistic mothers rarely hear reflected: what happens when your mask collapses under the sensory, emotional, and logistical weight of early parenthood.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Amber’s story

From childhood, Amber felt different: intensely focused (“too much attention disorder”), deeply sensitive, academically exceptional, and physically overwhelmed by clothing, noise, and transitions.

Despite high achievement — gifted programs, top grades, law school — she also experienced chronic burnout, shutdowns, and sensory barriers nobody recognised as Autistic traits.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Missed Signs: Sensory overwhelm, hyperfocus, and lifelong burnout are misunderstood.
Pregnancy & Postpartum: What looked like “postpartum anxiety” was Autistic burnout.
Birth & Autonomy: Sensory-safe support and control made labour manageable.
Work & Burnout: Deep-focus strengths paired with crash-level recovery needs.
Autistic Parenting: New language and compassion for her own and her children’s needs.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Late diagnosis brings relief, not limitation
Sensory overwhelm is not weakness — it’s information
Autistic parents can be extraordinary caregivers
You can redesign your life once you understand your brain
Diagnosis isn’t necessary for belonging — self-knowledge is

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Bravo TV Erased Alethea’s AuDHD

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon sits down with Aletha Shapiro, a mother of four, activist, costume designer, and creator of Autistic/ADHD pride, whose recent appearance on Bravo's Wife Swap: Housewives Edition became a masterclass in what happens when reality TV meets neurodivergent truth-telling.

Together, Angela and Aletha unpack late diagnosis, self-advocacy, reality TV ethics, gatekeeping, burnout, and the liberation that comes from finally understanding your neurodivergence. This one is a ride.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Aletha Shapiro — Autistic + ADHD activist, mother of four, and costume designer.

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Aletha’s ADHD → Autism discovery
Discussion: Reality TV, erasure, burnout, boundaries, and activism
Key learnings from the meeting
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela opens by explaining why this week has been “epic” for Aletha — and why every late-diagnosed person will recognise the pattern:

boldness → vulnerability → erasure by non-autistic systems. Reality TV found a way to turn generosity into humiliation.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Alethea’s story

Aletha discovered her ADHD first — and cried when she learned the truth. But once she understood it, everything clicked. When she later discovered she was Autistic, the whole picture made sense.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Aletha wanted to represent neurodivergent moms on national TV — to model low-demand parenting, sensory regulation, special interests as self-care, and Autistic strengths.
Though producers reassured her it would be “feel-good TV,” the final cut removed every mention of her Autism and ADHD.
Aletha was blindsided by a confrontational setup not disclosed ahead of filming.
Animals, crocheting, crafts, concerts — all essential for emotional regulation.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Late discovery brings clarity, boundaries, and liberation.
Neurodivergent people belong in media — without being erased.
Gatekeeping diagnosis causes harm and delays belonging.
Representation matters — especially for Autistic parents.

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Amy's Autism Discovery Ended Her Good-Girl Era

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Amy Permann, a writer and Substack creator who discovered she’s Autistic in her 50s after decades of burnout, people-pleasing, and perfectionism.

Together, Angela and Amy discuss self-diagnosis, trusting intuition, unlearning pressure, and why self-acceptance is a radical act of care.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Amy Permann — Autistic writer and creator of Seeking Authenticity

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Amy’s journey from “good girl” to self-advocate
Discussion: Misdiagnosis, boundaries, and self-trust
Key learnings from the meeting
Club announcements🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela opens by asking: What happens when your entire life is built around expectations that were never yours?

She welcomes Amy as a club member who’s learning to unlearn—redefining success, self-care, and what it means to live authentically.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Amy’s Story

After years of therapy and being the “good daughter,” Amy learned she was Autistic — not broken, not oversensitive.

Her diagnosis followed her niece’s, sparking a journey through online communities, self-assessment, and finally, a validating experience.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Parentified and People-Pleasing: How early responsibility shaped Amy’s self-image.
The Good Girl Mask: Why pressure isn’t a motivator — and why saying no is survival.
Trusting Your Own Intuition: Unlearning the habit of assuming others know best.
Medical Gaslighting & Boundaries: Why autistic women often stop seeking care — and how Amy’s learning to ask questions again.
Living Authentically: From checklist living to joyful presence — finding beauty in small moments, cats, and nature.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

You can’t heal by pleasing everyone.
Autistic women deserve support that trusts their self-knowledge.
Self-diagnosis and formal diagnosis are equally valid paths to clarity.
Living authentically means honouring your timing, your needs, and your truth.

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.

📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions

💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Phoenix Made “No” a Care Tool, Not a Crime

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes artist and illustrator Phoenix Goodson, whose journey through misdiagnosis, hospitalisation, and burnout eventually led to a powerful late diagnosis of autism and ADHD.

Together, they explore how Phoenix rebuilt her life through art, self-advocacy, and community — turning survival into creativity, and chaos into colour.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Phoenix Goodson — Autistic/ADHD artist, illustrator, and memoirist from the UK

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Phoenix’s 15-year road from misdiagnosis to discovery
Discussion: Healing, identity, and art as sanctuary
Key learnings from the meeting
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela welcomed attendees and introduced Phoenix as this week’s guest. Angela highlighted the importance of recognising misdiagnosis as a barrier to care and community connection.

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Phoenix's Story

Phoenix shares her experience of 15 years of psychiatric misdiagnosis before discovering she is AuDHD. She reflects on how art, writing, and structure became essential tools for healing and communication.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

The impact of repeated misdiagnosis on self-worth and identity.
The role of creativity in rebuilding trust in oneself.
How community spaces can offer safety and validation for AuDHD adults.
The importance of accessible language when talking about neurodivergence.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Misdiagnosis can delay self-understanding, but doesn’t erase it.
Creative practice supports emotional regulation and belonging.
Autistic and ADHD experiences often overlap — support needs to reflect that.
Late discovery can mark the beginning of self-trust, not the end of struggle.

📌 Notice Board

Into The Light — by Phoenix Goodson

A luminous, textural piece exploring self-discovery, resilience, and the transition from survival to creative freedom.

💷 Price: £895 — Foil and acrylic paint on canvas board, includes professional framing and UK postage.

For purchase or exhibition enquiries, don't hesitate to get in touch with Phoenix directly: phoenixgoodsonart@gmail.com

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on all major podcast platforms.
💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.
📌 Check the LDC Notice Board for Member Contributions
💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com

📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Sarah Claimed the Title of Neurodivergent Baddie

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Welcome to the first official meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club — the podcast for anyone who discovered their neurodivergence later in life.

Hosted by Dr. Angela Kingdon, this episode features artist and activist Sarah Davies, who shares how she went from a dyslexia diagnosis in childhood to discovering her autism at 34.

Together, Angela and Sarah discuss identity, unmasking, self-advocacy, and what it means to call yourself a “neurodivergent baddie.”

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr. Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Sarah Davies — Autistic and Dyslexic artist, campaigner, and community organiser from Wales

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Sarah’s late diagnosis story
Discussion: Life before and after diagnosis
Key learnings from the meeting
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela welcomed listeners to The Late Diagnosis Club — a space where Autistic and Neurodivergent adults can find community, connection, and conversation.

“We’re not here to fix ourselves — we’re here to find each other.”

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Sarah’s Story

Sarah shared how she first identified as Dyslexic in school, but didn’t receive her autism diagnosis until age 34. She described years of masking, burnout, and finally, the relief of understanding her neurotype.

“It wasn’t that I was too much — I was just trying to fit into the wrong room.”

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

Dopamine Dressing: Using bright colours and creative expression as self-regulation and joy.
Hyperfocus for Healing: How her curiosity about GLP-1 science helped her reconnect with her body.
Activism & Advocacy: From campaigning against the UK “bedroom tax” to founding Wrexham’s local Autistic meetup group.
Community as Medicine: Why Autistic friendships feel grounding, not draining.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Late diagnosis is an act of self-compassion, not correction.
Autistic joy thrives in community, not conformity.
Humour and authenticity are radical tools for survival.
Self-advocacy begins with knowing what you need — and believing you deserve it.

🔗 Links

Wrexham Adults Autism Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1JjoEtEwcg/?mibextid=wwXIfr%0A

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.
💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.
💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Derek Put ‘Autistic, ADHD’ In His Email Signature And Thrived

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr. Angela Kingdon welcomes technologist and advocate Derek Crager, who discovered he was Autistic and ADHD at age 50 — after decades of burnout, masking, and surviving unsafe workplaces.

Derek shares how that late diagnosis changed everything: his relationships, his leadership at Amazon, and his mission to build Pocket Mentor, a voice-based AI tool that helps real humans — not “ideal employees” — get the support they need in the moment they need it.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr. Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Derek Crager — Autistic/ADHD technologist, founder of Pocket Mentor, and author of Human First AI

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Derek’s 10-year road to diagnosis
Discussion: Work, masking, and Autistic safety
Key learnings from the meeting
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela opens the meeting by reminding listeners:

“You’re allowed to take ten years to get here. We saved you a seat.”

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Derek’s Story

Derek describes decades of dangerous job sites and social isolation before finally receiving his autism and ADHD diagnoses at 50. Realising his brain wasn’t broken — just wired for depth and precision — gave him permission to stop apologising for his curiosity.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

From Surviving to Designing: How Derek turned his late diagnosis into an advantage at work.
Human-First AI: Building tech that adapts to people, not the other way around.
Autistic Belonging: Creating relationships and workplaces that honour honesty and safety.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Late diagnosis brings clarity, not limitation.
Autistic design principles benefit everyone.
Authenticity at work is psychological safety in action.

🔗 Links

Web: https://www.practicalai.app
New Book: https://www.humanfirstai.net (Free Chapter)

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on all major podcast platforms.
💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.
💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Late Diagnosis Club: How Lily’s Late Diagnosis Helps Her Support Others

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 05:00:00 GMT

In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr. Angela Kingdon welcomes Lily George, a 25-year-old Autistic mental health worker who was first misdiagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder before realising she is Autistic.

Lily shares what it’s like to work inside the psychiatric system as an Autistic person — supporting others while still learning to support herself. Together, Angela and Lily discuss late diagnosis, unmasking, accommodations, and what happens when you finally start to live as your authentic self.

🪑 Attendees

Chair: Dr. Angela Kingdon — Author, community-builder, and Autistic advocate

Guest: Lily George — Autistic mental health worker and late-diagnosed self-advocate

You: The Listener!

🗒️ Meeting Agenda

Opening remarks from the Chair
Member introduction: Lily’s path from misdiagnosis to clarity
Discussion: Mental health, masking, and self-advocacy at work
Key learnings from the meeting
Club announcements

🧾 Minutes from the Meeting

1️⃣ Opening Remarks

Angela opens the meeting by acknowledging how often Autistic women and AFAB people are misdiagnosed before finding the right language for who they are.

“Sometimes it’s not that we missed the signs — it’s that the system wasn’t built to see us.”

2️⃣ Member Introduction: Lily’s Story

Lily was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder in her teens and spent years believing she was “too emotional” or “too much.” When a therapist suggested she might be Autistic, everything shifted. She began exploring her neurotype, pursuing formal diagnosis for workplace accommodations, and finding self-acceptance through Autistic community.

3️⃣ Discussion Highlights

From Misdiagnosis to Understanding: Why BPD and autism are often confused — especially for women and AFAB people.
The Autistic Worker in a Psychiatric System: Supporting others while masking your own needs.
Unmasking and Regression: Why things you used to force yourself to do may feel impossible once you stop masking.
Self-Advocacy: Asking for adjustments and understanding in a clinical workplace.
Autistic Joy: Pattern-matching, special interests, and rediscovering comfort in authenticity.

4️⃣ Key Learnings

Misdiagnosis delays belonging, not identity.
Self-identification can be just as valid as formal diagnosis.
Autistic people make better systems when they’re allowed to be themselves.
You don’t have to be fully “figured out” to start helping others.

🔗 Links

Follow Lily at her Life with Lily YouTube channel

📣 Club Announcements

🎧 The Late Diagnosis Club is available on all major podcast platforms.
💬 Join our online meetups and community at latediagnosis.club.
💜 There is a small charge — but no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing the Autistic Culture Podcast Network

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 13:45:48 GMT

🎉 Introducing the Autistic Culture Podcast Network

What started as one show — The Autistic Culture Podcast — has grown into something bigger: the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, the first podcast network created by and for autistic people.

Across our shows, we celebrate autistic voices, stories, and culture — because being autistic isn’t just a diagnosis, it’s a community, a worldview, and something worth celebrating.

🎙️ Current Shows:

Autistic Culture (OG)
Autistic Advocacy (OG Fridays)
Neurodivergent Narratives
Autistic Culture 101
Late Diagnosis Club — launching Halloween 🎃

And that’s just the beginning. In January 2026, a new edition of The Autistic Culture Podcast premieres — exploring the creativity, history, and heart of autistic culture.

💫 Support Autistic-Led Media

Join Autistic Culture Plus for ad-free listening, early access, and an exclusive archive of ~100 classic episodes.

Every membership helps:

🎧 Fund neurodivergent creators

🌍 Amplify autistic voices

💡 Build culture, not pathology

🤝 Support accessible, sensory-friendly storytelling

For less than the price of a coffee, you can help sustain a growing network that’s 100% by and for neurodivergent people.

🎙️ Pitch Your Show

Have a podcast — or an idea for one — that celebrates autistic or neurodivergent life?

We’re now accepting pitches for new and established shows created by autistic and neurodivergent people.

Whether you’re an experienced podcaster or just starting out, we’ll help you bring your vision to life with technical support, mentorship, and promotion through the network.

📩 Pitch your show: info@autisticculturepodcast.com

💜 With Gratitude

A huge thank-you to our founding supporters of Autistic Culture Plus, who believed in this network before it even launched.

Our Executive Producers make this work possible — funding neurodivergent creators, amplifying autistic voices, and helping build a media ecosystem rooted in pride, creativity, and community.

These members form the foundation of the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, and you’ll see their names credited at the end of our shows and on our website.

Executive Producers:

Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

💫 Join now to be credited as a Producer on our shows — and help fund autistic-led media that celebrates our voices, stories, and culture.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Late Diagnosis Club - Coming October 31!

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 12:28:11 GMT

Welcome to The Late Diagnosis Club, a brand new show from the Autistic Culture Podcast Network!

The Late Diagnosis Club is a podcast by and for adults who found they were neurodivergent later-in-life. Hosted by Story Steward Dr. Angela Kingdon, this show features honest conversations with neurodivergent guests navigating the identity shock of late diagnosis or self-identification. Each episode explores neurodivergent traits through a cultural lens, debunks stereotypes, and offers solidarity for those processing family dynamics, unmasking, and reclaiming long-buried SPINs. Whether you’re self-identified or medically diagnosed, this club has been saving you a seat and helps you feel at home in your neurodivergent self.

Autistic Culture is now the Autistic Culture Podcast Network — five shows live, more on the way — all created by and for neurodivergent people.

We’re also launching Autistic Culture Plus on Supercast, where you can listen ad-free, get early access, binge full series, and unlock our exclusive archive of earlier episodes.

Founding Listener Offer:

Join now for £0.99/month (80% off) and be listed as an Executive Producer on our site and show credits. You’ll keep that price as long as you stay subscribed!
On 24 Oct, the price moves to £2.50, and on 31 Oct (Halloween) the standard rate begins: £5/month or £50/year.

Included with Autistic Culture Plus:

• Ad-free listening (sensory-friendly)

• Early access to every episode

• Binge-able themed series

• Exclusive archive of ~100 classic episodes

• Executive Producer credit for founding members

Key Dates:

🗓️ Now — Founding offer live (£0.99)

🗓️ 24 Oct — Trailer drops, price rises to £2.50

🗓️ 31 Oct — Virtual Halloween launch + Late Diagnosis Club premiere

🗓️ Jan 2026 — New Autistic Culture series launches (members binge early!)

Current Shows:

Autistic Culture (OG)
Autistic Advocacy (OG Fridays)
Neurodivergent Narrative
Autistic Culture 101
Late Diagnosis Club - Interview show launching Halloween

🎉 Join Autistic Culture Plus: autisticculture.supercast.com

🎃 RSVP to the Halloween party: autisticculture.substack.com

📧 Pitch us your show: info@autisticculturepodcast.com

Thanks for supporting independent, neurodivergent-affirming media. We’re saving you a seat. 💜

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Introducing the Autistic Culture Podcast Network and Autistic Culture Plus

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 13:16:38 GMT

We’ve grown into a network! 🎙️

Autistic Culture is now the Autistic Culture Podcast Network — five shows live, more on the way — all created by and for neurodivergent people.

We’re also launching Autistic Culture Plus on Supercast, where you can listen ad-free, get early access, binge full series, and unlock our exclusive archive of earlier episodes.

Founding Listener Offer:

Join now for £0.99/month (80% off) and be listed as an Executive Producer on our site and show credits. You’ll keep that price as long as you stay subscribed!
On 24 Oct, the price moves to £2.50, and on 31 Oct (Halloween) the standard rate begins: £5/month or £50/year.

Included with Autistic Culture Plus:

• Ad-free listening (sensory-friendly)

• Early access to every episode

• Binge-able themed series

• Exclusive archive of ~100 classic episodes

• Executive Producer credit for founding members

Key Dates:

🗓️ Now — Founding offer live (£0.99)

🗓️ 24 Oct — Trailer drops, price rises to £2.50

🗓️ 31 Oct — Virtual Halloween launch + Late Diagnosis Club premiere

🗓️ Jan 2026 — New Autistic Culture series launches (members binge early!)

Current Shows:

Autistic Culture (OG)
Autistic Advocacy (OG Fridays)
Neurodivergent Narrative
Autistic Culture 101
Late Diagnosis Club - Interview show launching Halloween

🎉 Join Autistic Culture Plus: autisticculture.supercast.com

🎃 RSVP to the Halloween party: autisticculture.substack.com

📧 Pitch us your show: info@autisticculturepodcast.com

Thanks for supporting independent, neurodivergent-affirming media. We’re saving you a seat. 💜

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

[Encore] Martha Stewart is Autistic

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Episode originally aired: January 21 2025

With the Netflix documentary Martha creating conversations about Martha Stewart being Autistic online, this episode is more relevant than ever. We're on hiatus, but bringing this powerful conversation back into the feed for anyone who is seeing themselves in Martha.

Matt and Angela welcome special guest Melanie Deziel to explore the legendary Martha Stewart through an autistic cultural lens. From rigid routines to obsessive attention to detail, we examine the traits that set her apart—and the complex conversation around speculating on public figures’ neurodivergence.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Martha Stewart’s autistic-coded traits – Precision, pattern recognition, direct communication, and unwavering standards.
Media bias & misogyny – How Martha was vilified for traits celebrated in men, and how the media shapes perceptions of powerful autistic-coded women.
The ethics of public speculation – Why discussing possible autism in public figures can be both culturally important and ethically challenging.
Passion as power – How Martha’s drive to share knowledge mirrors autistic info-dumping, and how her post-prison transformation revealed a more authentic self.
Neurodivergence in the spotlight – Parallels between Martha Stewart, Taylor Swift, and other public figures whose traits clash with allistic norms.

Featured Guest: Melanie Deziel

Melanie Deziel is a keynote speaker and award-winning branded content creator who helps individuals, teams, and organizations unlock and organize their creative potential. She is the Co-Founder of The Creator Kitchen mastermind for creatives and the author of The Content Fuel Framework: How to Generate Unlimited Story Ideas and Prove It: Exactly How Modern Marketers Earn Trust.

Resources:

📺 Netflix Documentary – Martha Stewart 🔗 Watch here
Melanie Deziel – Mini Masterclasses | Advocacy Work

Related Episodes:

Trivia is Autistic

Taylor Swift is Autistic

Lessons in Chemistry is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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[Encore] Wednesday Addams Is Autistic?

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 04:00:00 GMT

Episode originally aired: February 14, 2023

With the Netflix hit Wednesday returning for Season 2 and currently #1, this episode is more relevant than ever. We're on hiatus, but bringing this powerful conversation back into the feed for anyone snapping to the beat of Wednesday Addams.

Matt and Angela weigh in on Netflix’s smash hit Wednesday and the heated discussion around whether the titular character is authentically autistic-coded or just another case of “autistic face.” From flat affect and touch aversion to social outsider status, we dig into what’s real, what’s trope, and why representation matters.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Autistic traits in Wednesday Addams – Flat affect, sensory boundaries, focused interests, and rejection of social norms.
Authenticity vs. performance – Why casting non-autistic actors in autistic-coded roles leads to caricature, and how Wednesday mirrors portrayals like Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory.
The “fixing” narrative – How the show frames Wednesday’s arc around becoming more socially acceptable, softening her edges for mass appeal.
Pretty privilege & palatability – How conventional attractiveness and familiar story arcs make autistic-coded characters more acceptable to allistic audiences.
Media responsibility – Why we need autistic actors in autistic roles and better representation that isn’t filtered through an allistic lens.

Resources:

HERE WE WOE – “I’m neurodivergent and here’s my issue with Netflix’s Wednesday” 🔗 Read here

15 Ways Wednesday Addams is Cool and Autistic 🔗 Read here

Wednesday’s neurodivergent coding is both good and bad 🔗 Read here

Why neurodivergent characters like Wednesday Addams are so important 🔗 Read here

Related Episodes:

Episode 11: Sherlock is Autistic

Episode 30: Doctor Who is Autistic

Episode 41: Tim Burton is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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[Encore] Taylor Swift is Autistic

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 16:12:00 GMT

Episode originally aired: April 9 2024

With the announcement of TS12, Taylor Swifts new album 'The Life of a Showgirl', this episode is more relevant than ever. We're on hiatus, but bringing this powerful conversation back into the feed for any Autistic Swiftie listeners.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Autistic-coded traits in Taylor Swift – From encyclopaedic cat knowledge to embedding riddles, puzzles, and Easter eggs into her music.
Outsider perspective in her lyrics – How her songs describe masking, outsider feelings, and belonging in ways deeply resonant with autistic experience.
Justice sensitivity – Exploring the intersection of fairness, expectation sensitivity, and creative expression.
Family tree and neurodivergence – Why Swift’s relatives may offer hints of autism’s genetic component.
The role of privilege – How capitalism, public image, and access shape her career and influence.
Cultural anthems – Why “Shake It Off” feels like a rallying cry for many autistic individuals.

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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[Encore] Lena Dunham is Autistic

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 14:40:11 GMT

Episode originally aired: March 11, 2025

With her Netflix hit Too Much currently #1, this episode is more relevant than ever. We're on hiatus, but bringing this powerful conversation back into the feed for anyone diving into Lena Dunham's latest work.

🎧 In this episode:

We explore how Lena Dunham’s chronic illness journey and creative output reflect core themes of autism, burnout, and neurodivergent storytelling.

Topics covered:

Why Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and POTS frequently co-occur with autism—and how Lena’s experience mirrors autistic burnout.
How Girls functions as an autistic-coded TV show, created outside neurotypical storytelling structures.
The autistic traits embedded in Lena’s on-screen character—sensitivity to clothing, social missteps, and rejection-sensitive dysphoria.
How Not That Kind of Girl was misread by neurotypical audiences, exposing the risks of radical honesty for autistic creators.
The canonical autism of Shoshanna, and why autistic-coded characters often cluster in ND-created works.
How Dunham’s traits were pathologized, her career marginalized, and why lack of creative control can trigger health crises in neurodivergent people.
Jack Antonoff’s ties to autism-coded songwriting (Bleachers, Fun., Taylor Swift) and his relationship with Dunham.

📺 Are you watching Too Much? Share your thoughts in the comments or go to www.autisticculturepodcast.com

🔗 Featured Links & References:

🧠 Autism, Neurodivergence & Mental Health

🩺 Chronic Illness & EDS

Lena Dunham Reveals Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Diagnosis – CNN

📚 Writing, Creativity & Public Perception

🎙️ Related Episodes:

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 10 - Passionate Superfanning with Simon Scott

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 10 of Autistic Culture: Passionate Superfanning with producer and fellow podcaster Simon Scott. Whether it’s Doctor Who, My Chemical Romance, Star Trek, or Renaissance fairs—superfanning isn’t a phase. It’s a core cultural trait of autistic identity.

We break down how special interests (SPINs), emotional intensity, and parasocial bonding create a uniquely autistic form of connection with fictional universes and fan communities.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why superfanning is a form of emotional regulation, community-building, and cultural expression in autistic lives
The role of SPINs in forming deep, long-term relationships with fictional characters and stories
How fan spaces, cosplay, scripting, and world-building support autistic identity, routine, and joy
The difference between leaning in to fandom as an autistic form of self-care vs. masking it to appear neurotypical
How conventions and fandom aesthetics offer accessible social connection where autistic people can thrive

💡 Key Concepts from This Episode

SPINs are not fleeting hobbies—they’re lifelines.
Superfanning includes collecting, scripting, deep lore analysis, and wearing fandom as identity.
Fictional friends offer emotional fluency, comfort, and companionship.
Autistic fans often mask their enthusiasm due to stigma—this episode invites you to unmask with pride.

🎤 Featured Guest

Simon Scott – The Neurodivergent Experience Podcast

🎙️ Related Episodes:

Hans Christian Andersen: Fairy tales as emotional mirrors for autistic readers
Star Trek: Logic, lore, and moral storytelling for the autistic brain
My Little Pony: Friendship, emotional growth, and gender exploration
Doctor Who: Regeneration, scripting, and narrative flexibility
Christmas: Ritual and sensory joy as autistic cultural tradition
The Orville: Speculative ethics and social fluency in fandom
My Chemical Romance: Identity and emotional depth through music
Cults: When shared purpose turns toxic—superfanning vs. coercion

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 9 - Justice Seeking with Clare Kumar

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon is joined by Clare Kumar, productivity speaker and host of the Happy Space Podcast, to explore Pillar 9: Justice-Seeking in autistic culture.

Clare, a late-diagnosed autistic woman and workplace inclusion advocate, shares how her values-driven mindset and sensitivity to fairness shaped her work, her diagnosis journey, and her unmasking process. If you’ve ever been told you’re "too intense," "too rigid," or "black-and-white," this episode offers a radical reframing of those traits as powerful autistic strengths.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

How moral clarity, justice sensitivity, and literal honesty are central to autistic identity
Why autistic people often challenge unjust systems, even when it’s uncomfortable or costly
The role of black-and-white thinking in identifying harm — not as immaturity, but as clarity
How meltdowns can be valid emotional responses to systemic injustice, not just overstimulation
Strategies for embracing truth, consistency, and fairness in personal and professional spaces

For so many of us, justice-seeking has been used against us. We were called “too much” or “overreactive.” But in autistic culture, these traits are not flaws — they’re cultural strengths. What happens when we stop apologizing for caring so deeply?

👤 Featured Guest: Clare Kumar

🎧 Happy Space Podcast – Episode 45 – Clare shares her late-diagnosis journey and explores justice sensitivity with guest Melanie Deziel
👕 InclusiviTees Apparel – Neurodivergent-affirming, ethically made designs that promote conversation and inclusion
🌐 ClareKumar.com – Learn more about Clare’s work in productivity, sensory-friendly design, and neuroinclusion
🧠 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit – Angela & Clare’s presentation on late-diagnosed autistic women

🎙️ Related Episodes:

Greta Thunberg (Ep 15)

John McEnroe (Ep 42)

Lena Dunham (Ep 113)

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 8 - Predictably Comforting with Daria Brown

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 8: Predictably Comforting with special guest Daria Brown, author of We Chose Play: Raising an Autistic Child to Thrive and Feel Understood. Together, they unpack how predictability, routine, and familiarity are not about rigidity—they’re about emotional safety, sensory regulation, and identity coherence.

This conversation is essential for autistic adults, parents, and advocates who want to better understand the soothing power of sameness in autistic lives.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why routine and repetition are cultural strengths in autistic communities
How sensory regulation and emotional grounding depend on predictability
The difference between rigidity vs. self-protection
How repetition (like rewatching shows or eating the same foods) supports well-being
Cultural icons—from Thomas the Tank Engine to Andy Warhol—who exemplify this trait
Tools for supporting autistic children and adults through comfort-based design

👤 Featured Guest: Daria Brown

Daria holds a Master’s in Personality and Social Psychology and brings over 30 years of experience in research, education, and neurodiversity advocacy.

Related Episodes:

Andy Warhol (Ep 33) - Repetition as art, ritual, and grounding

The Law (Ep 115) - Predictability through rules, order, and structure

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 7 - Boldly Creating with Nina Danon

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 7: Boldly Creating with special guest Nina Danon—composer, sound artist, and doctoral researcher whose work focuses on the rich intersections between autism, music, sensory experience, and creativity.

This episode is about making art that’s true, not palatable. It’s for every autistic person who has ever created from a place of emotional intensity, sensory immersion, or special interest—and wondered if it “counts.”

Together, Nina and Angela discuss how stimming, repetition, texture, and rhythm form the basis of autistic artistic practice, and how creative expression becomes a radical act of self-regulation, connection, and authenticity.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why autistic creativity often rejects genre, structure, and perfectionism
How bottom-up processing fuels invention and form-breaking in autistic art
How stimming, fandom, and fiber arts like knitting function as bold creative acts
Nina’s upcoming publication on Musical Neuroqueering and her Stimming Wheel toolkit
How autistics create to regulate, connect, and process the world through sensory-emotional fusion
The power of embracing creative process—not just polished outcomes

Featured Guest: Nina Danon

Nina’s work centers autistic creativity as embodied, non-linear, and radically expressive. Her Musical Neuroqueering research will be published in Neuroqueer Theory and Practice (2026, edited by Dr. Nick Walker).

📧 Contact Nina: ncdanon@gmail.com
🩵 Nina on BlueSky: @ninadanon.bsky.social
🎵 “Volcano” – A Neurodivergent Sonic Experience (with Francesco Cassino)
🎤 “Composing Neurodivergence” – King’s College Talk (Feb 2025)

Further Reading Recommendations from Nina:

📘 Designing an Autistic Space for Research – Bertilsdotter Rosqvist et al., Neurodiversity Studies (Routledge, 2020)

🎭 Look, I Made a Hat – Stephen Sondheim (Knopf, 2011)

Related Episodes:

Eminem (Ep19) - Bold lyrical precision & emotional vulnerability

Questlove (Ep29) - Rhythmic innovation through sensory hyperfocus

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 6 - Game Changing Innovation

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 6: Game-Changing Innovation—the autistic drive to question assumptions, reimagine systems, and create from sensory truth and moral clarity.

Autistic innovation isn’t about chasing trends or applause. It’s about paradigm shifts. From Isaac Newton’s invention of calculus to Richard Branson’s rebellious business model to Angela’s father building his own Hot Rod kit cars—this episode shows how autistic game changers build entirely new systems when old ones fail.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why autistic thinkers often notice problems no one else sees
How emotional intensity, deep focus, and sensory perception drive innovation
The difference between trend-following disruption and authentic paradigm-building
How masking stifles game-changing potential—and how to lean into your vision
Stories of iconic game changers like Isaac Newton, Steve Jobs, Hannah Gadsby, and Martha Stewart

📚 Resources Mentioned

🎤 Angela’s TEDx Talk at TEDx Tamworth — on Newton as an autistic game changer
📘 Make ‘Em Beg to Work for You – Angela’s Hiring Book
📖 Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
📺 Lessons in Chemistry (TV series featuring autistic-coded innovation)

Related Episodes:

Industrial Light & Magic

Lessons in Chemistry is Autistic

Freddie Mercury

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 5 - Pattern Matching with Jodi Britcha-Coyne

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon is joined by Jodi Britcha-Coyne, author, life coach, and systems-thinker, to explore Pillar 5: Pattern Matching—the cultural superpower at the heart of autistic insight, organization, and perception.

Autistic pattern matching isn’t robotic—it’s deep, human, creative, and emotionally charged. From recognizing micro-patterns in conversation to creating vast knowledge maps across disciplines, autistic people don’t generalize—we observe. We track anomalies. We notice what others miss. And in a world built on noise and guesswork, this precision is transformative.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why autistic people are data-hungry, detail-oriented, and insight-driven
How monotropic focus and repetition build meaning and emotional grounding
Why pattern matching isn’t about cold logic—it’s about finding order, comfort, and connection
Examples of real-world pattern thinking: board games, Kinsey’s research, Wikipedia editing, Magic the Gathering, and more
How to embrace your “pattern brain” in a world that often mislabels it as “too much”

👤 Featured Guest: Jodi Britcha-Coyne

Jodi is a Certified Life Coach, Strategic Interventionist, and author of Are You Still There God? It’s Me, Jodi—a witty, honest look at midlife, motherhood, and systems-thinking.

📘 Buy Jodi’s Book

Resources Mentioned:

🧠 “The Predictive Coding Account of Psychosis and Autism” – Frontiers in Psychiatry
📖 “The Prehistory of Autism” – Rounded Globe
📘 “Understanding Autism” – IntechOpen Chapter
🎓 Monotropism Slides – Dr. Damian Milton
🌐 Monotropism.org – Wellbeing & Focus

Related Episodes:

Sex/Alfred Kinsey

Board Games

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 4 - World Building with Dr Scott Frasard

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon welcomes Dr. Scott Frasard, autistic author and advocate, as they dive into Pillar 4 of Autistic Culture: World-Building—the powerful autistic drive to construct immersive systems, structures, and stories, both real and imagined.

In his essay “The World We Built: A Future Where Autistic People Are Respected, Not Repaired”, Dr. Frasard envisions a future (set in 2075) where diagnosis has given way to identity co-creation, and neurodivergence is celebrated—not pathologized. This episode explores how autistic people don’t just survive systems—we reimagine them.

👉 Read the full essay here → here.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why world-building is more than fantasy—it’s how autistic minds make meaning
How mental mapping, systems thinking, and SPINs shape autistic culture
Why tools like timelines, frameworks, and rituals are forms of self-preservation, not inflexibility
How world-building starts in childhood and evolves into leadership, creativity, and advocacy
What it looks like to lean in to your vision instead of hiding it to blend in

👤 Featured Guest: Scott Frasard

Dr. Scott Frasard is an outspoken critic of behaviourist interventions in autism treatment and a fierce advocate for strengths-based, identity-first approaches. He’s a published author and long-time learning strategist.

🔗 Connect on LinkedIn
📖 The World We Built – Buy the book on Amazon

Related Episodes:

George Lucas

Ren Fests

Disney

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 3 - Norm Challenging

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon continues our journey through the 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture as we move onto Pillar 3 — Norm Challenging.

This episode explores truth-telling, gender defiance, sensory preferences, and Emily Dickinson’s poetic rebellion that made her a quintessential norm challenger—and an early voice of neurodivergent power.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why Emily Dickinson’s life was an act of radical autistic norm defiance.
How literal thinking, moral clarity, and pattern recognition challenged the social structures around her.
The connection between rejection sensitivity and creative brilliance.
How “masking” created safety—but didn’t stop her from telling the truth.
What we can reclaim from being called “too intense” or “too much.”

Related Episodes:

Emily Dickinson

Courtney Love (Referenced)

Being an Expat

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 2 - Rhythmic Communicating

Tue, 27 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 2 of Autistic Culture: Rhythmic Communicating — a core expression of how autistic people connect with the world and each other. This isn’t “just how we talk.” It’s how we create culture.

This special remastered episode dives into echolalia, scripting, infodumping, and the poetic, patterned flow that defines autistic communication. Through the lens of pop icon Taylor Swift, we uncover how rhythm, repetition, and lyrical structure mirror autistic expression.

Resources:

Deaf President Now documentary: The story of the great civil rights movement most people have never heard about. During eight tumultuous days in 1988 at the world's only Deaf university, four students must find a way to lead a revolution and change the course of history.

Related Episodes:

Shakespeare

Fern Brady

Animation & Voice Acting

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: Pillar 1 - Bottom-up Processing

Tue, 20 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 1 of Autistic Culture: Bottom-Up Processing.

We begin our deep dive into the 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture with the cognitive foundation that shapes how many autistic people interpret, analyse, and interact with the world—from sensory input to social understanding.

This remastered episode reintroduces the core principles of bottom-up thinking through the lens of one of fiction’s most iconic detail-driven characters: Sherlock Holmes.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why autistic cognition favours detail-first processing over top-down assumptions
How bottom-up processing supports pattern recognition, innovation, and autonomy
The role of sensory integration and special interests in cognitive and emotional navigation
How society pathologizes bottom-up thinkers as insubordinate, difficult, or even “broken”
How internalized ableism can lead autistic people to distrust their own cognitive strengths
Why reclaiming and celebrating bottom-up processing can improve mental health and self-trust

Related Episodes:

Chess is Autistic

Broadway is Autistic

Washington DC is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Culture 101: The 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture

Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon kicks off a brand-new chapter by reintroducing the 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture—the foundation for how we understand and celebrate the richness of autistic identity. This remastered episode revisits the original conversation that first defined the 10 pillars back in January 2024, now with updated insights and refined language to match how this framework has evolved.

Whether you’re just discovering the show or have been with us since the beginning, this is your starting point for the cultural model that grounds everything we do.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why autistic traits aren’t symptoms—they’re cultural signposts
How the 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture offer a strengths-based model for identity
What’s changed since the original episode first aired
Why we’re remastering one pillar each week for the next 10 episodes
How to use the pillars to better understand yourself, your community, and autistic history
How each pillar maps to the domains of arts, lifestyle, and justice

💡 The 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture (Updated for 2024)

Bottom-Up Processing (formerly “Logic & Strategy”) - Detail-first cognition. Pattern before conclusion. Think: Sherlock Holmes, chess masters, system builders.
Rhythmic Communicating (formerly “Linguistics & Accents”) - Scripting, echolalia, tangents, infodumping. Communication as rhythm, poetry, and flow.
Norm Challenging (formerly “Deep Thinking & Insight”) - Authenticity over politeness. Insight over illusion. Questioning over compliance.
World Building - Narrative universes built from imagination and logic. Think: Pokémon, Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars.
Pattern Matching (formerly “Data Gathering & Analysis”) - SPINs, trivia, research, and structured inquiry. We find meaning in what others miss.
Game Changing (formerly “Innovative Ideas”) - System redesigners. Trendsetters. Rethinkers. From Eadweard Muybridge to Questlove.
Boldly Creating (formerly “Artistic Expression”) - Art as regulation. Performance as communication. Stim as aesthetic.
Predictably Comforting (formerly “Consistency & Reliability”) - Rituals, repetition, routines. These aren’t constraints—they’re comfort, safety, and power.
Justice Seeking (formerly “Justice & Honesty”) - Fairness as instinct. Truth as obligation. Emotional intensity as ethical compass.
Passionate Superfanning (formerly “Fictional Friends”) - Lore, fandoms, and parasocial joy. Star Trek. Doctor Who. My Little Pony. Fandom is family.

🧭 The Framework Going Forward

These 10 Pillars will guide the next phase of The Autistic Culture Podcast—each episode will highlight one of them, offering deep dives into their cultural meaning, emotional resonance, and pop culture representation.

The pillars span across three domains:

🎭 Arts & Entertainment
🪴 Lifestyle & Leisure
🏛️ Society, Values & Knowledge

And at the centre of them all: Autistic joy, identity, and truth.

So whether you’re autistic, exploring the possibility, or someone who loves and respects autistic people—you are welcome here. You are part of Autistica.

Related Episodes:

Autistic Culture for Teens and Tweens

My Chemical Romance is Autistic

Taylor Swift is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cults are Autistic With Jude Mills

Tue, 06 May 2025 04:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon is joined by Jude Mills—autistic theologian, interfaith minister, and host of Fkd Up by Faith—for a deep exploration into how cults and extremist religious movements intersect with autistic culture. This isn’t just a trauma story. It’s a culture story.

Together, we unpack how autistic traits like emotional honesty, deep focus, and commitment to logic can draw us into high-demand religious systems—and what it takes to get out.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why autistic people are often drawn into cults—and why we might stay longer than others
How the very traits that make us vulnerable are also reflected in many cult leaders
What happens when your SPIN (Special Interest) used to be Jesus, prophecy, or Revelation
How to mourn or reframe a spiritual system that once gave your life meaning
Why autistic people may face unique challenges—and strengths—on the journey out
How leaving isn’t failure. It’s freedom. And it’s a return to self-trust.

🔊 Featuring guest Jude Mills, interfaith minister, spiritual counsellor, and host of Fkd Up By Faith—a podcast exploring healing for those hurt by religion.

🎙️ Listen to Jude's podcast and learn more: fkbupbyfaith.com

Resources:

Richard Turner – UK-based autistic cult recovery counsellor

Ashlen Hilliard – US-based cult recovery advocate

Alexandra Stein and Janja Lalich – researchers and educators on cult dynamics

Related Episodes:

Fighting Internalized Ableism

Academia and Ableism

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autistic Advocacy: Autism and Grief With Mady Synder

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 04:33:00 GMT

💔 CW: This episode includes discussions of death, suicide, and self-harm.

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Dr. Angela Kingdon is joined by neuroaffirming therapist Mady Snyder to explore the complexity of autistic grief. From the loss of people to the loss of routines, expectations, or identity, autistic grief shows up differently—and that difference deserves compassion, not correction.

This isn’t a clinical take on the “5 stages.” It’s a deeper dive into the ways grief, sensory processing, and special interests all intersect in the autistic experience.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

What ambiguous loss is and why traditional grief models often miss the mark for autistic people
How grief can show up as a nervous system overload, not just emotional sadness
Why special interests can serve as powerful tools in grief processing
How internalized ableism and social invalidation complicate the grieving process
Why creating personal rituals—and yes, grieving a grilled-cheese sandwich—is valid and necessary
Strategies for supporting your own unique grieving style

👤 Featured Guest: Mady Snyder, LMFT

Mady Snyder is an autistic, ADHD, PDA, OCD, and cPTSD-identified therapist in private practice in Pasadena, California. She specializes in Autism, parenting, mixed neurotype relationships, and creating truly neuroaffirming spaces. Mady is also a passionate educator and consultant—and in her downtime, she sings to her cats.

🌐 Visit Mady’s website

Related Episodes:

Autistic Sleep Problems

Aging and Executive Function

Autistic Affirming Social Skills

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autistic Advocacy: Justice For Victor

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 22:18:28 GMT

In this powerful and sombre episode of Autistic Advocacy, Angela is joined by Black autistic advocates Faith Clarke and Darren Calhoun to confront the tragic police killing of 17-year-old autistic Puerto Rican teen Victor Perez—and the systemic failures that made it possible. Centering voices from the Black neurodivergent community, this conversation demands a reimagining of autistic justice beyond white-centred narratives.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Victor’s story — On April 5th, Victor Perez was shot by police in his own front yard. A non-speaking, autistic, disabled Puerto Rican teenager, Victor’s life was cut short, leaving his family to grieve in a system that failed him at every level.

Intersectional perspectives — Darren Calhoun, a justice advocate, worship leader, and photographer based in Chicago, shares his work bridging communities across race, gender, and neurodivergence. Faith Clarke, business owner, author, and mother to a non-speaking autistic son, reflects on her lived experience and the urgent need for systemic change.

The impact of advocacy — How Tiffany Hammond’s (@fidgets.and.fries) public response to Victor’s death sparked deeper reflection on the role of autistic spaces in BIPOC justice.

Connecting the patterns — Victor’s killing is not isolated. We remember Stephon Watts, Elijah McClain, Ryan Gainer—and the growing list of Black and Brown neurodivergent lives lost to police violence.

What needs to change — From community safety to dismantling ableist and racist systems, we explore what justice for all autistic people truly requires.

Related Episodes:

Monster High Is Autistic (Episode 117)

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big Bang Theory vs. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - One is Autistic!

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 05:24:13 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry LPP explore the sharp contrast between two wildly different shows—The Big Bang Theory and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia—and how each one portrays (or distorts) autistic representation.

While one show offers a neurotypical caricature of autistic traits, the other—perhaps unintentionally—captures autistic logic, humor, and integrity with uncanny resonance.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Why The Big Bang Theory fails to reflect lived autistic experience
How It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia nails autistic communication, scripting, and literalism
Why rule-breaking humor and social absurdity resonate with autistic brains
How found family and social misfits mirror real-life neurodivergent community-building
Why autistic integrity and emotional honesty are key to feeling seen in media
The difference between being written about vs. being written from inside autistic culture

Related Episodes:

Community is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autistic Advocacy: Navigating Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) with Jess Lewis

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 16:55:37 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry LPP are joined by Jess Lewis — a trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming functional medicine advocate — to explore the deeply intertwined connections between Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), autism, and POTS.

This conversation blends science, systems thinking, and lived autistic experience to unpack how chronic stress, sensory overload, and a dysregulated nervous system can trigger and worsen MCAS symptoms — and what we can do about it.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

How sensory overload, chronic masking, and autistic nervous system differences can contribute to MCAS.
Why mold exposure and infections like COVID often trigger mast cell activation in neurodivergent bodies.
The overlap between MCAS, autism, and POTS — and why these conditions often coexist.
How to advocate for yourself in medical settings, even in the face of dismissal or gaslighting.
Practical strategies for mast cell stabilization, including calming protocols and low-histamine diets.
How functional medicine offers a holistic, neurodivergent-affirming approach to managing complex chronic illness.

🎤 Featured Guest: Jess Lewis

Jess Lewis (she/they) is a former Chief Technology Officer turned MCAS researcher, functional medicine advocate, and founder of the Mast Cell Support community. After reversing a severe case of MCAS triggered by mold exposure and COVID-19, Jess now supports others through an evidence-based, neurodivergent-affirming approach rooted in functional medicine and trauma-informed care.

🔗 Follow Jess:

Threads, Instagram, Substack → @jesslewis

💻 Website → jesslewis.com

🤝 Community → mastcellsupport.com

Resources:

MCAS-Friendly Food Guide: Download Jess Lewis's curated list of low-histamine, mast-cell-friendly foods designed to support MCAS management with a neurodivergent-affirming lens.🔗 Food Guide Pharmacy – subscribepage.io/MCASfoodlist

🌱 What Is Quercetin? Learn more about Quercetin, a plant flavonoid known for its natural antihistamine and mast cell stabilizing properties, often used as part of MCAS and allergy support.📚 Quercetin on Wikipedia

Related Episodes:

Autistic Medical Needs (Episode 14)

Meat Body Maintenance (Episode 53)

Autistic Medical Needs, Part 2 (Episode 108)

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My Chemical Romance Is Autistic

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 14:11:02 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry LPP are joined by show producer Simon Scott — stepping in front of the mic to share his lifelong autistic special interest: My Chemical Romance (MCR).

Together, they unpack how the band’s origin story, lyrics, and aesthetic reflect core autistic cultural traits like justice sensitivity, emotional intensity, and creative hyperfocus — and why MCR remains a safe haven for neurodivergent fans decades later.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

How MCR’s themes of social rejection, masking, hyper-empathy, and sensory overload resonate deeply with autistic experiences
The band’s origin story — born from Gerard Way’s intense emotional processing of 9/11 — as an example of autistic trauma response and urgency
How recording their debut album in a week showcases autistic hyperfocus and creative intensity
The narrative arcs in MCR’s albums, exploring identity, grief, burnout, and transformation
Why “I’m Not Okay (I Promise)” became an anthem for misunderstood neurodivergent teens
How bottom-up processing and the “autistic accent” influence MCR’s lyrical style, delivery, and authenticity
The neurodivergent-coded subculture that grew around MCR as a form of autistic community-building

🎤 Featured Guest: Simon Scott

Simon Scott is the producer of The Autistic Culture Podcast and co-host of The Neurodivergent Experience Podcast, a passionate advocate for autistic creative expression. His lifelong SPIN (special interest) in Music and My Chemical Romance has informed his work in storytelling, podcasting, and autistic community-building.

Resources:

My Chemical Romance on Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Chemical_Romance

Black Parade in Musical Order - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3C9lpecSL1wW8s2X8hRFue?si=467d34e55173494f

Neurodivergent Experience - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Ia5o6nDiR5mgGIXJNtyZ7?si=eecb525303994957

Related Episodes:

Chess is Autistic

Freddie Mercury is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They Might Be Giants is Autistic

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry LPP celebrate the legendary alt-rock band They Might Be Giants—a group whose quirky, clever, and community-driven music has been unintentionally (or very intentionally) autistic-coded since the early 1980s.

From masking anthems to special-interest deep dives, TMBG has built a decades-long career on lyrical loops, info-dumping, and unapologetic weirdness—making them a perfect example of Pillar 2: Rhythmic Communicating and Pillar 10: Passionate Superfanning.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

How They Might Be Giants began in 1982 with their cult-classic Dial-A-Song hotline and a fiercely independent, fan-supported model
Why an estimated 90% of their fan base identifies as unapologetically autistic
John Linnell’s open identification as autistic and the band’s neurodivergent creative process
Autistic themes in TMBG lyrics:
“Upside Down Frown” → masking and emotional labour
“Dr. Worm” → special interest anthem
Rejection sensitivity, burnout, and pattern recognition woven into storytelling
How songs like Istanbul (Not Constantinople) showcase autistic hyperfocus, educational infodumps, and joyful pattern play
Why their fan club structure fosters authentic autistic community and belonging
The sensory and lyrical precision that makes TMBG an autistic cultural touchstone

Resources

Angela’s “TMBG is Autistic” Companion Playlist
Musical References of TMBG
Stuff is the Way
Favourite TMBG Lyrics – 🔗 Read the discussion on Reddit
Best They Might Be Giants Songs – 🔗 Check out the list on BuzzFeed
Bonus Artist: Moon Hooch – Looking for more neurodivergent-friendly music? Check out Moon Hooch🔗 Visit moonhooch.com

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autistic Advocacy: Aging and Executive Function

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:30:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt Lowry LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon explore how executive functioning shifts over time—and why conventional advice fails autistic people.

From the increasing demands of adulthood to the compounding impact of co-occurring conditions, this conversation offers validation, practical strategies, and lived experience for navigating the realities of autistic life.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

How executive functioning demands evolve from childhood into adulthood—and why the cracks often show later in life
Why tips like “just use a calendar” don’t address the real needs of autistic brains
The link between executive dysfunction and autistic inertia, and how body doubling can help with task initiation
How masking in work environments drains energy and leads to burnout
Why unmasking becomes essential for survival in midlife
The role of co-occurring conditions like POTS, PMDD, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and MCAS in daily functioning challenges
How trauma, CPTSD, and menopause can magnify executive functioning struggles

Resources:

Explore studies and resources on the relationship between brain glucose levels, autism, and ADHD symptoms:

Study: Blood glucose and neurobehavioral function – PubMed (1985)
Study: Glucose tolerance in children with learning and behavioral disorders – PubMed (1986)
Article: The Complexities of Aging: Addressing the Unique Needs of Autistic Elders.🔗 Read on Autism Spectrum News
🎥 Shared Stories, Shared Experiences: International Research on Autism and Menopause. AIDE Canada presents this insightful webinar featuring global research and lived experiences around autism and hormonal transitions.🔗 Watch the webinar on AIDE Canada

Related Episodes:

Productivity is Autistic

Meat Body Maintenance

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autistic Advocacy: Special Interests Are Self-Care

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 13:05:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt Lowry LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon celebrate one of the most joyful and identity-defining aspects of autistic life—special interests (SPINS).

From Frankenstein to Bob Geldof, Crowded House to the early internet, this episode dives into how SPINS offer comfort, connection, and career possibilities—and why they’re an essential part of autistic culture, not a “reward” to be earned.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

How SPINS provide escape, identity, and emotional regulation—especially during challenging childhoods
The hosts’ personal SPINS and how they’ve evolved over time
Why autistic people thrive on deep media dives, director’s cuts, and IMDb explorations
The role the early internet played as a haven for autistic connection and fandom culture
How ABA’s approach to “earning” special interests is harmful and rooted in deficit thinking
Ways to build a fulfilling career around your SPINS
How mutual info-dumping creates powerful, lasting autistic relationships

Resources:

🧠 Angela’s SPIN Study – Exploring Autistic Special Interests in Intimacy🔗 bit.ly/spinstudy

Related Episodes:

The Orville is Autistic

Board games are Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shakespeare is Autistic With Dr. Sonya Freeman Loftis

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Matt and Angela are joined by Shakespeare scholar Dr. Sonya Freeman Loftis to explore how Shakespeare’s plays connect with autistic experiences—from emotional intensity to characters whose traits feel deeply neurodivergent.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Autistic-coded heroes – How characters like Hamlet, Coriolanus, Othello, and King Lear embody autistic themes such as moral intensity, social disconnect, and emotional overload.
Disability lens on the Bard – Dr. Loftis shares her journey into studying Shakespeare through a disability perspective, and the rise of autism-friendly and relaxed performances at venues like The Globe.
Bottom-up processing & inertia – Why lines like “To be or not to be” can feel like expressions of autistic inertia, and how Shakespeare’s language structure invites bottom-up processing that resonates with neurodivergent minds.
Otherness & ableism – How portrayals of “the outsider” in Shakespeare’s works reflect societal treatment of autistic people, and where ableist framing still appears.
Shakespeare as therapy – From prison programs to elder care, and even modern neurodivergent Shakespeare meetups, his works offer catharsis and connection.
Was Shakespeare neurodivergent? – Considering his prolific, atypical perspective on language and emotion as possible indicators of neurodivergence.

Featured Guest: Dr. Sonya Freeman Loftis

Dr. Sonya Freeman Loftis is a Shakespeare scholar, disability studies researcher, and author whose work explores how literature intersects with neurodivergence and lived experience.

🔗 Explore Dr. Loftis’s Academic Profile on Academia.edu

📖 William Shakespeare Was on the Autism Spectrum (Asperger’s Syndrome) – Read on ResearchGate

Related Episodes:

Questlove is Autistic

Eminem is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autistic Advocacy: Parenting Autistic Kids

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela welcome special guest Meghan Ashley, LPC-S—an autistic licensed professional counsellor, speaker, and author of Blueprint to Behaviour—for a conversation about neurodivergent parenting, autistic self-understanding, and creating advocacy that starts at home.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why autism advocacy begins at home – Creating affirming environments, building accommodations plans, and dismantling internalized ableism in both kids and parents.
Meghan Ashley’s mission – Why she’s determined that this generation of autistic children will be the last to grow up misunderstood, and her call to move beyond ABA.
Inside Blueprint to Behaviour – Practical tools for reading nonverbal cues, supporting sensory needs, and meeting autistic children where they are.
Parenting as an autistic person – Navigating late diagnosis, reparenting your younger self, and building layered support for your neurodivergent family.
Cultural competence & Black autistic identity – The need for culturally responsive care and the unique dangers of ABA in Black communities.
Living your best autistic life – Carrying sensory tools, sunglasses, and communication supports; understanding burnout, masking, and skill regression; and embracing your full autistic self unapologetically.

Featured Guest:

Meghan Ashley is a proudly autistic therapist, TED speaker, and lifelong learner licensed in Texas. She empowers clients to embrace their authenticity and specializes in supporting autistic adults, parents, and families with compassion and clarity.

Resources:

Meghan’s TED Talk – Inspiring insights on neurodivergence and parenting. 🔗 Watch here
Book – Blueprint to Behaviour – A compassionate, practical guide to understanding autistic children’s communication and behaviour. 🔗 Available on Amazon
Autism Toolkits & Resources – Practical materials for adapting environments to autistic needs. 🔗 Visit adaptingtoautism.com

Related Episodes:

Bad Autism Diagnosis

Child-to-Parent Diagnostic Pipeline

Reframing DSM Autism Criteria

Sunglasses are Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being An Expat Is Autistic With Abigoliah Schamaun

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Matt and Angela are joined by stand-up comedian and podcast host Abigoliah Schamaun to explore why expat life might just be peak autistic behaviour. From cultural clashes to the comedy stage, Abigoliah’s journey offers insight, laughs, and plenty of neurodivergent real talk.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

1️⃣ Expat Life as a Neurodivergent Adventure

Why Angela calls being an expat “autism with extra passport stamps.”
Navigating national identity, cultural differences, and reinvention.
The joys and challenges of moving between the US and UK.

2️⃣ Comedy, Creativity & Burnout

Abigoliah’s rise from Ohio to NYC to the UK comedy scene.
The overlap between neurodivergence and stand-up comedy.
How burnout affects creative output and content creation.

3️⃣ Cross-Cultural Neurodivergence

Differences in how autism and ADHD are perceived in the US vs. the UK.
Healthcare, safety, and societal norms across the pond.
How cultural context changes the way neurodivergence is experienced.

4️⃣ Post-Diagnosis Clarity & Self-Grace

The relief and self-compassion that comes with an ADHD diagnosis.
Strategies for navigating burnout without guilt.
Why slowing down can be the key to long-term sustainability.

About Abigoliah Schamaun

Abigoliah Schamaun is a New York comedian, actor, and writer whose charisma and sharp comedic skill have taken her from Ohio to NYC to the UK stage. A finalist in the Funny Women Awards, she’s one of the top female headliners on the UK comedy scene. On TikTok, her stand-up and comedy cooking clips have amassed over 10 million views.

She co-hosts the Neurodivergent Moments Podcast with Joe Wells and is open about her life with ADHD, sharing honest and hilarious perspectives on neurodivergence.

Resources:

🎧 Listen to Neurodivergent Moments Podcast shows.acast.com/neurodivergent-moments

💖 Support their Show on Patreon patreon.com/neurodivergentmomentspod

📱 Follow Abigoliah Everywhere @abigoliah on all social media platforms

Related Episodes:

Comedy is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autistic Advocacy: Fighting Internalized Ableism

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela unpack internalized ableism—how it shows up, where it comes from, and how to actively dismantle it as autistic individuals.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Masking, burnout & skill regression – How the drive to "prove you're capable" often causes harm rather than growth.
The social model of disability – Why saying “I’m not disabled” may reflect deep-rooted ableist messaging.
Constant sensory load – How bottom-up processing and sensory overwhelm intersect with ableist assumptions.
Burnout vs. laziness – How autistic distress cues are misinterpreted, and the grief of losing skills after major burnout.
Fear of coming out – The hidden costs of staying in the “neurocloset” and the need for autistic pride.
Community debates – Functioning labels, HSP rebranding, and the importance of AAC for non-speaking autistics.

Related Episodes:

Bad Autism Diagnosis

Reframing DSM Diagnosis

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Board Games are Autistic

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Matt and Angela dive into the world of board games—a structured, sensory-rich hobby beloved in the autistic community. With research showing that 7% of autistic people enjoy board games (compared to just 1% of neurotypicals), it’s no wonder they hold such a special place in our culture.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why board games resonate with autistic players – The draw of clear rules, predictable structure, and logical systems.
Social connection through play – How board games reduce pressure, foster comfort, and create a shared focus.
Autism-affirming skill building – Turn-taking, collaboration, communication, and fairness through structured interaction.
SPINs & monotropic focus – How games align with special interests to boost emotional regulation.
Sensory joy – Why the tactile, “stim-tastic” aspects of board games can be soothing and engaging.
Healthy focus vs. catastrophizing – How pattern recognition in games offers a positive outlet for autistic brains.

Resources:

Autism and Board Games – 🔗 Game in Lab Presentation
Board Gaming on the Spectrum – 🔗 Liam Cross Talk
Psychology Today – 🔗 How Games Can Help Autistic Children
PubMed – 🔗 Board Games and Autism Study

Related Shows:

Chess is Autistic

Careers are Autistic

Pokemon is Autistic

Parks and Rec is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Knitting Is Autistic

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Special guest Hunter Hammersen joins Matt and Angela to share how knitting blends a stim, a special interest, and a sensory joy all in one. From the textures of yarn to the meditative repetition of stitches, Hunter explains why knitting is a perfect autistic pastime—both deeply personal and socially connective.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

How knitting offers a socially acceptable way to stim while connecting with like-minded enthusiasts.
The wonderfully literal magic of turning yarn and two sticks into something tangible.
Why autistic bottom-up processing enhances the joy of noticing yarn textures and quality.
The sensory benefits of knitting and how it can regulate and soothe the mind.
How yarn can hold emotional meaning and become part of your personal story.
Choosing the perfect yarn to suit your sensory needs.
The intersection of knitting, community, and social justice.
How to create autism-friendly systems for organizing projects and completing patterns.

Featured Guest: Hunter Hammersen

Hunter is a self-described weirdo who left grad school (ABD in the history of science and medicine) to create her own knitting patterns. In the past fifteen years, she has published a dozen books, written hundreds of patterns, and built a thriving community of knitters. Now, she shares her creativity, sensory joy, and curiosity on Patreon—often from the comfort of her pajamas.

📚 Resources & Links Mentioned

Show Notes:

Website: https://tinynonsense.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/HunterHammersen

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/tinynonsense

Related Shows:

Questlove is Autistic

Roller Derby is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autistic Advocacy: Holiday Expectations and Neurodivergence

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela explore how to create a joyful, neurodivergent Christmas by letting go of societal expectations, prioritizing sensory needs, and embracing personalized traditions. They unpack the pressures of picture-perfect Hallmark holidays, the disruptions to autistic routines, and the importance of setting boundaries—while also sharing strategies for reducing overstimulation and making the season truly your own.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Why Hallmark-style Christmas ideals can create unrealistic and unhelpful expectations for autistic people.
How holiday routine disruptions can cause dysregulation and what to do about it.
Navigating family gatherings when other autistic relatives are undiagnosed or in denial.
Practical meltdown management tools, from sensory supports to safe people.
How to advocate for accommodations like reduced noise, dimmed lights, or skipping certain traditions.
Setting healthy boundaries around physical touch and interactions with relatives.
The importance of a “holiday comfort kit” for sensory regulation.
Matt’s Christmas Dragon tradition and the joy of making your own autistic-friendly holiday customs.
Autistic gift-giving strengths and why they shine during the holidays.
Food rules and safe food strategies for surviving family meals.
Self-care ideas to carry you through the gauntlet of Thanksgiving to Valentine’s Day.

Resources:

Jade Farrington’s Community Guide to a Happy Neurodivergent Christmas

Related Episodes:

Krampus is Autistic

Christmas is Autistic

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Autistic Advocacy: Reframing DSM Autism Criteria

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela take on audience requests to break down the problematic and often misleading language of the DSM-5. They unpack how the manual pathologizes autism, overlooks key realities like proprioceptive challenges and co-occurring conditions, and frames autistic traits through a strictly neurotypical viewpoint. From dismantling ableist IQ testing to reframing so-called "deficits" as differences, this episode invites listeners to see autism for what it truly is—a rich, diverse neurotype, not a disorder to be “fixed.”

🎧 What You’ll Learn

How the DSM-5 pathologizes autism and centres neurotypical perspectives.
Why IQ tests are ableist and shouldn’t define diagnosis or worth.
The truth about autistic “social deficits” and why they’re actually social differences.
Why the DSM’s claim that autistic people “lack imagination” is deeply flawed.
How SPINs (Special Interests) bring joy, fulfilment, and expertise—and why the DSM mislabels them.
Why routines and stimming are powerful tools for autistic regulation.
The overlooked sensory and proprioceptive realities of autistic life.
How autism’s hereditary nature and medical overlaps (like POTS, PMDD, and endometriosis) are often ignored in clinical descriptions.

Resources:

https://www.mattlowrylpp.com/blog/reframing-dsm-autism-criteria

https://www.mattlowrylpp.com/meme-gallery

Related Episodes:

Bad Autism Diagnosis

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Autistic Advocacy: Takiwātanga Tension

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela explore the viral Takiwātanga meme—a social media trend often featuring striking images of Polynesian women and claiming that Takiwātanga is the Māori word for autism, meaning “in their own time and space.” They trace the real story behind the word, its creator, and the deeper cultural and colonial implications it raises.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

The true origin of the term Takiwātanga and how Māori linguist Keri O’Pai created it to depathologize mental health language.
Why O’Pai’s glossary was designed to offer empowering, non-pathologizing Māori terms for mental health, disability, and addiction.
How well-meaning neurotypicals sometimes romanticize or exoticize autism through alternative labels.
Why many autistic people prefer to use the actual word “autism” and avoid euphemistic language.
How colonizer language inherently pathologizes everyone—except white people.
The harm of person-first language and why many autistics reject it.
Why support needs are a human reality—not a flaw—and how hyper-independence culture demonizes them.
How colonialism shapes global perspectives on disability and identity labels.

Related Episodes:

Labels are Autistic

Careers are Autistic

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Neurodiversity Narratives

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode, Angela and Matt explore how to approach creative projects through a neurodivergent lens. From scripting and hyperfocus to book mapping and demand avoidance, they unpack the ways autistic traits can both challenge and supercharge the writing process. Whether you’re crafting your first short story or planning a full novel, this conversation shows how writing systems can be just as essential as the systems autistic people rely on for daily life.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Angela’s personal writing journey—from her first stories at age 10, to an espionage-flavoured government career, to founding Difference Press.
How our exclusive paid Substack writing circle fosters creativity without the pressure of profit.
Why writing can help hyper-verbal autistic individuals organize thoughts and communicate ideas clearly.
How scripting, a common autistic tool, shapes the writing process and reduces chaos.
The role of hyperfocus in creative output (and why it might explain Stephen King’s staggering productivity).
Why writing for your own enjoyment—even without an audience—can be deeply cathartic.
Tips for “discovering your author mojo” by creating conditions that support your autistic body and brain.
How PDA/demand avoidance can derail writing projects and practical strategies to get unstuck.

Resources:

Join the Autistic Culture Podcast Writing Circle on Substack

Related Episodes:

George Lucas is Autistic

Eminem is Autistic

Cassandra in Reverse Book Club (Paid Access)

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Advocacy: Moving Is An Autistic Hell

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Matt and Angela dive into the autistic hell that is moving—exploring the intricate details, overwhelming processes, and the regulation strategies that can make the chaos more manageable. From survival packs to emotional attachment to belongings, they break down the systems autistic individuals often need to stay comfortable and grounded at home.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

How Matt navigated his recent move, including coping strategies for the stress and sensory overload it caused.
Why emotional regulation is the “number one job” for autistic people, and how to prioritize it during big transitions.
The benefits of creating an Autistic Survival Pack in each room—complete with comfort items, sensory supports, and tools for temperature regulation.
Why autistic folks may be more prone to hoarding tendencies and the emotional connections we form with belongings.
How to break the “generational curse” of clutter without sacrificing what truly matters to your wellbeing.
Practical ways to incorporate regulation techniques into every step of the moving process.

Resources:

Ziffit - Sell Your Books

Matt’s Favorite Disney Coffee

Related Episodes:

Autistic Medical Needs

Autism Affirming Social Skills

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

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Vampires are Autistic

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Matt and Angela discuss everyone’s favourite mythical creature—the vampire. Throughout the conversation, they uncover some uncanny parallels between autistic individuals and our fang-tastic fictional friends.

🩸 What You’ll Sink Your Teeth Into in This Episode

The parallels between autistic individuals and vampires begin with health comorbidities like POTS and haemophilia, before diving into the more supernatural realms.
The art of shapeshifting mirrors autistic masking—and while vampires boast immortality, autistics share their own secret: we often appear to defy aging, as if time plays by a different rulebook for us.
From The Addams Family and What We Do in the Shadows to even Sesame Street, Matt and Angela explore why these spooky icons resonate as autistic-coded characters.
They unpack traits like monotropic focus, infodumping, and misunderstood behaviours often mistaken for manipulation—showing a deeper neurodivergent connection to our favourite eerie figures.
And yes—they reveal the truly autistic reason why garlic keeps vampires at bay… but you’ll have to listen to get the scoop! 🧄

Resources:

A Deep dive into Vampires we used for research: Encyclopedia Britannica’s entry about vampires
Page referenced in the episode: https://www.instagram.com/date_dave_philly

Related Episodes:

Ponies are Autistic

Beauty & the Beast is Autistic

Kink is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

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Freddie Mercury is Autistic

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon shares the dazzling story of Freddie Mercury’s Autistic traits with her co-host, Matt Lowry, LPP. From his love of cats to his unmatched vocal brilliance, we explore how Mercury’s life and art reflect the beauty of the autistic experience.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

How Freddie’s hypermobility and possible EDS contributed to his extraordinary vocal range.
Mercury’s many special interests: from stamp collecting and cats to Japanese art.
The vital role of echolalia, echopraxia, and advanced pattern-matching in shaping Queen’s signature sound.
Mercury’s sexuality and gender expression, showing the spectrum of identity.
Quotes and lyrics that mirror the autistic experience of masking and being misunderstood.
His struggles with executive functioning differences and the creative hacks he used to navigate sensory sensitivity.

Resources:

Freddie Mercury & Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

Multiple supernumerary teeth (MSNT) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS): a case report

The strangest, craziest, and most disgusting animated film is back with its own series.

Peter Freestone Talks... About Freddie & His Cats

The Development Of The ‘Epic’ Queen Sound

How Queen's I Want to Break Free Video Explores Queerness in Relation to Queer Theory

Freddie and the Rocky Horror Picture Show

Freddie Mercury "I'm Not The Leader Of The Band"

Related Episodes:

Cats are Autistic

Meat Body Maintenance

Autistic Medical Needs

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Dinosaur is Autistic

Tue, 07 May 2024 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP chat with Ashley Storrie—comedian, writer, autistic advocate, and the star of the new series Dinosaur (available now on Hulu in the U.S.). Ashley brings her full autistic self to the role of Nina, offering representation that’s not just authentic, but transformative.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

The unconventional way Ashley was invited to join the writing team—and why autistic writers are essential for shaping autistic characters.
Ashley’s journey to discovering her autistic identity.
Autistic linguistics, language play, and exploring the “shape” of words.
On-set accommodations that supported Ashley and the whole cast and crew.
How Ashley authentically portrayed autistic overwhelm without becoming dysregulated herself.
Why casting autistic actors in autistic roles isn’t just good representation—it’s good business.
A behind-the-scenes look at how the creative team decided on Nina’s sexual history.
Food as stimming: samefoods, sensory-seeking flavors, crunchy vs. soft vs. wet vs. dry textures.
Ashley’s complex (and hilarious) relationship with The Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Featured Guest:

Ashley Storrie is a comedian, writer, and actress whose star has been rapidly rising. She can be heard live every Friday night hosting her own BBC Radio Scotland show and co-hosting the Midsomer Murders Podcast. Known for her viral Harry Potter parody #tanyapotter (with over 22 million views), Ashley has gone on to create digital hits for BBC Scotland including If The Handmaid’s Tale Was Scottish and If Game of Thrones Was Scottish.

Resources:

Follow Ashley Storrie on Instagram

Check out the official trailer

Watch Dinosaur on Hulu

Related Episodes:

Star Trek is Autistic

Wednesday is Autistic?

Comedy is Autistic

Community is Autistic

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🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

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Taylor Swift is Autistic

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Autistic hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP discuss the many ways Taylor Swift and her fanbase of “Swifties” embody and reflect Autistic Culture. This episode was HIGHLY requested by Autistic Swiftie listeners and their contributions are incorporated throughout. Much like how Cher is a Queer culture icon—regardless of her own sexual orientation—we are celebrating Swift as an Autistic culture icon—regardless of her own neurotype. This is a celebration of the ways we see our fabulous culture represented in the once-in-a-generation, Taylor Swift.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Taylor’s encyclopaedic knowledge about cats 🐱
Using music as a tool for purpose, community, and career success
Creating and solving puzzles, riddles, and “Easter eggs” in her work
How Swift’s lyrics and interviews mirror autistic experiences of feeling like an outsider and masking to fit in
The intersection of capitalism, privilege, and disability in her career
Justice sensitivity and expectation sensitivity—two common autistic traits
Tracing autistic patterns through her family tree (including Emily Dickinson!)
How “Shake It Off” resonates as a cultural anthem for autistic folks

💌 Shout-Outs:

This episode was made possible thanks to contributions from two amazing Swifty listeners:

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Poetry is Autistic (The Emily Dickinson episode)

Fairy Tales are Autistic

Dino Nuggets are Autistic

Cats are Autistic

The Good Place is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

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🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Wikipedia is Autistic

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP explore the hidden role autistic people play in making Wikipedia what it is today. While the platform thrives on autistic strengths like information organization, data hunger, and special interests, there’s also a darker side: exploitation, harassment, and ableism inside Wikimedia’s culture.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Why Wikipedia is perfectly aligned with autistic traits like pattern-matching, info-dumping, and justice sensitivity.
How autistic editors contribute to making content more inclusive, accurate, and diverse.
The autistic approach to “neutrality”: focusing on what is right rather than who is right.
Reports of harassment and bullying of autistic employees behind the scenes at Wikimedia.
The story of “Jane,” a former autistic Wikimedia employee whose diagnosis disclosure led to burnout after facing discrimination.
The dangers of “A-Spectrumers” and functioning labels inside the organization.
Why donating to local Wikipedia chapter groups (often run by autistics) may be more effective than giving to Wikimedia’s central fundraisers.
A call to autistic editors: if you have the privilege and capacity, your high edit counts could help shift Wikipedia’s culture for the better—while remembering to protect your mental health.

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Industrial Light & Magic is Autistic

Sex is Autistic (Alfred Kinsey episode)

Productivity is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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The Good Place is Autistic

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP dive into the afterlife with NBC’s hit show The Good Place—unpacking its autistic-coded characters, neurodivergent themes, and the profoundly autistic joy of moral philosophy.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Chidi Anagonye as one of TV’s most autistic-coded characters—his special interests, concrete thinking, anxiety, and devotion to personal morality.
Eleanor Shellstrop as potentially autistic, with her direct communication style, perspective-taking challenges, and trauma-filled backstory (common among late-diagnosed autistic women).
Jason Mendoza through an ADHD/autistic lens—his monotropic focus and passionate interests.
Janet’s journey as an AI echoing autistic unmasking: developing preferences, boundaries, and autonomy beyond “the programming.”
Tahani Al-Jamil’s story as an allegory for masking exhaustion—with real-life parallels to actor Jameela Jamil’s co-occurring conditions.
Michael the architect’s autistic tendencies—fascination with humans, concrete examples, and system-level thinking.
Why the show’s obsession with philosophy feels so deeply autistic.
Around 53:24, Angela spontaneously demonstrates elements of autistic culture in real time (listen for it!).

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Sesame Street is Autistic

The Trouble with Temple Grandin.

🌟 Connect With Us

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🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

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Comedy is Autistic

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP explore the powerful memoirs of two acclaimed autistic comedians: Hannah Gadsby (10 Steps to Nanette) from Tasmania and Fern Brady (Strong Female Character) from Scotland.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Parallels in Gadsby’s and Brady’s lives, including struggles with misdiagnosis, gender-based violence, homophobia, and ableism.
How both found comedy as a survival mechanism and a path to success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The comedians’ raw honesty about employment struggles, homelessness, and disordered eating—often hidden parts of the autistic experience.
Comedy as both a masking strategy and a tool for truth-telling.
Differences between autistic meltdowns vs. shutdowns, explained through their lived stories.
Why their memoirs are must-reads for anyone seeking neurodiversity-affirming representation.
How Gadsby and Brady reclaim their narratives through radical self-acceptance and creative expression.

Hannah Notes:

Book: 10 Steps to Nanette

Article: Hannah Gadsby's song of the self

Article: Hannah Gadsby Gets the Last Laugh in 10 Steps to Nanette

Fern Notes:

Book: Strong Female Character

Wikipedia: Fern Brady

Related Episodes:

Poetry is Autistic (Emily Dickinson episode)

Greta is Autistic (Greta Thunberg episode)

Bad Autism Diagnosis

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Cats are Autistic

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP draw connections between the behaviors and traits exhibited by cats and the common experiences of autistic individuals.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

Comparing feline quirks—like sensory preferences, strong routines, and communication styles—with autistic traits.
Why cats’ particular needs for predictability and clear communication mirror autistic desires for understandable, safe environments.
An exploration of famous autistic-coded cat characters in media: Garfield, Hello Kitty, the Cat in the Hat, and Hobbes from Calvin and Hobbes.
Using examples of cat behavior to critique ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy, arguing for acceptance and accommodation rather than forced conformity.
Celebrating cats as powerful symbols of neurodiversity—embracing feline tendencies as an emblem of the autistic experience.

Resources:

Kathy Hoopmann’s website
Video: How I Taught My Cat to Talk | Beginner Tutorial
Video: Cat Kicks Boyfriend out of the House
Video: Where Dad? Billi Speaks

Related Episodes:

Peanuts is Autistic

Animation is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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McEnroe is Autistic

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Matt Lowry, LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon take a fresh look at tennis legend John McEnroe, reframing his legacy through a neurodiversity-affirming lens.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

How McEnroe’s pattern recognition and visualization skills helped him anticipate the ball’s movements and turn tennis into a “math equation.”
Why his emotional on-court reactions—often labelled as “brat-like”—were actually natural expressions of expectation sensitivity and scripting.
Insight from McEnroe’s wife, Patty, who has said she believes he is autistic based on his routines, sensory needs, math skills, and strong SPINs (special interests) in art and guitar.
Why his meltdowns should be seen not as flaws, but as valid autistic responses to an unfair and conformity-driven system.
How McEnroe has embraced his autistic traits in later life, channelling them into charitable work, art, and voiceover projects.
A call to celebrate McEnroe’s story as a reminder of the cultural pride and community connection autistic individuals can find in their shared strengths.

Resources:

McEnroe’s memoir: But Seriously
eBook: You Cannot Be Serious : McEnroe, John, Kaplan, James
Autistic people have big emotions—YouTube video: The Meltdown of all Meltdowns
Article: John McEnroe: Star not he possibility of being Autistic, ‘I’m somewhere around there’
NPR episode: John McEnroe grapples with his legacy as tennis' bad boy
McEnroe’s voice work website
Article: A Point in Time: McEnroe and the puff of chalk

Related Episodes:

Chess is Autistic

Animation is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Productivity is Autistic

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP take on the self-help mega-hit Atomic Habits by James Clear—exploring why its behaviourist strategies fail for autistic people, and what actually works when it comes to productivity in Autistic Culture.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Why autistic brains resist synaptic pruning, making unconscious habits nearly impossible.
The flaw of habit stacking and why many autistic people must consciously think through even “automatic” tasks.
A critique of neurotypical society’s productivity obsession, from Puritan work ethic to toxic hustle culture.
How internalizing ableism around “not doing enough” impacts autistic mental health and self-worth.
Why autistic monotropism and Flow states are healthier, more sustainable alternatives to rigid schedules.
Tips for neuro-affirming productivity: naps, breaks, visual aids, reminders, avoiding energy deficit, and requesting accommodations.
A call to honor autistic rhythms of rest and hyperfocus, instead of forcing neurotypical systems that lead to burnout.

Resources:

This American Life on Smoking

If Books Could Kill: Atomic Habits

Why Doesn’t Standard Talking Therapy Work for Autistic People?

Recruiting Giants - Alex St. John

Related episodes:

Labels & Autism

Industrial Light & Magic

Apple is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Kinsey is Autistic

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP take listeners on a virtual culture trip into the intersections of autism, sex, gender, and sexuality. This episode spotlights the life and work of Alfred Kinsey, the ground-breaking scientist who transformed how society understands human sexuality.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Why Alfred Kinsey’s autistic traits—like bottom-up processing, obsessive data gathering, monotropic focus, and a drive to uncover hidden truths—fueled his pioneering research.
Kinsey’s famous 18,000 interviews that became the foundation of modern sexology, and the revolutionary Kinsey Scale showing sexuality as a spectrum.
How Kinsey’s work directly challenged conservative Victorian attitudes about sex, sparking backlash that contributed to his declining health—a reflection of how autistic advocates are often punished for disrupting the status quo.
Connections between Kinsey’s findings and today’s research, showing that autistic people are more likely to reject binary notions of gender and sexuality.
His commitment to justice and advocacy, including volunteering in prisons, as an expression of autistic values of fairness and honesty.
Reflections on Kinsey’s early death, which Angela and Matt frame as symbolic of autistic burnout and heartbreak—an urgent reminder of why autistic life expectancy remains so low.
A celebration of autistic strengths like intense focus, honesty, and data-driven thinking, and a critique of how flawed diagnostic criteria and allistic systems erase or stigmatize autistic and LGBTQ+ identities.

Resources:

Alfred Kinsey: Asperger disorder
Matt’s Reframing of DSM Autism Criteria
Christiane Rudolph’s research on Autistics and sexual orientation in Stockholm

Related episodes:

Apple is Autistic

The Trouble with Temple

Greta is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Andy Warhol is Autistic

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP dive into the life and legacy of Andy Warhol, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, exploring his story through the lens of Autistic culture.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

The Autistic traits visible in Warhol’s life—monotropic focus, echolalia in interviews, sensory differences with food, dyslexia, and obsessive collecting.
How Warhol embraced repetition and visual thinking in his iconic works (Campbell’s soup cans, celebrity portraits) in ways that resonate deeply with autistic patterns of creativity and comfort.
The role of costume parties as safe, structured spaces for Warhol and his guests to connect authentically while bypassing small talk.
Warhol’s careful balance of masking and authenticity, including his downplayed public queerness and art-world outsider identity.
How his “safe foods”—the limited, comforting diet he stuck to after being shot—paralleled the way autistic people rely on safe foods for regulation.
The joy and validation of collecting trinkets and objects, which Warhol leaned into as a creative and personal practice.
Why society labeled him “eccentric” instead of recognizing his communication and creative methods as Autistic strengths.
The enduring power of his art to reflect neurodivergent ways of seeing the world—down to the detail of wearing the same brand of underwear every single day.

Resources:

Was autism the secret of Warhol's art?

'Andy Warhol' (NY Times)

Will We Ever Really Know Who Andy Warhol Was? A New Docuseries Digs Into His Private Life

Andy Warhol Eating a Hamburger

Andy Warhol & Edie Sedgwick INTERVIEW 1965

Related episodes:

Questlove is Autistic

Poetry is Autistic

Eminem is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Chess is Autistic

Tue, 23 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP dive into the timeless world of chess—a game woven deeply into Autistic culture. Through the story of legendary chess player Bobby Fischer and the Netflix hit The Queen’s Gambit, the hosts explore why this game resonates so strongly with the Autistic community.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Why chess belongs alongside trains and Star Trek as quintessential parts of Autistic culture.
The way chess rewards deep focus, pattern recognition, and monotropic thinking—all classic Autistic strengths.
Bobby Fischer’s story: a chess prodigy whose intense focus, logical worldview, and social differences mirror many Autistic traits.
The Queen’s Gambit’s Beth Harmon: a fictional but autistic-coded character whose love for chess feels powerfully familiar to Autistic audiences.
How chess creates opportunities for authentic socialization without the burden of small talk—connection through shared strategy instead.
Why Autistic excellence in chess highlights cultural virtues of fairness, morality, and respect for an opponent’s skills.
Angela’s reflections on proving value through accomplishment and Matt’s celebration of the info-dump joy that comes from finding Autistic community.

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Pokemon is Autistic

Dungeons & Dragons is Autistic

Parks and Rec is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Questlove is Autistic

Tue, 09 May 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP dive into the fascinating world of musician, producer, historian, and DJ Questlove (Amir Khalib Thompson)—who briefly revealed his childhood autism diagnosis in his 2013 memoir.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Questlove’s childhood special interests in Soul Train and Black music history, plus his soothing *stim of watching records spin.
His encyclopaedic music knowledge and extraordinary ability to instantly identify the beats per minute of songs.
The story of his massive record collection and historic Black music memorabilia, which will one day live at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Questlove’s identity as a “walking Blacksonian” historian, preserving and honoring Black music’s rightful place in history.
How his Autistic traits—attention to detail, pattern recognition, monotropism, and passionate data-collecting—interconnect to fuel his creativity and advocacy.
Why Questlove’s story shows what happens when autism is embraced, not pathologized—a celebration of Autistic life in rhythm, culture, and justice.

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Eminem is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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Autistic Advocacy: The Trouble with Temple Grandin

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 12:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Culture, hosts Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry, LPP, explore the life and legacy of Temple Grandin—the first widely recognized autistic celebrity. While Grandin indelibly changed how America thinks about autism, her prominence also raises deep and complex issues within Autistic culture.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Temple’s childhood diagnosis of “brain damage” in the 1950s and how her privileged upbringing gave her unique opportunities to succeed.
Her rise to prominence as an animal science PhD, prolific author, and sought-after speaker at autism conferences—making her the most famously Autistic person alive.
The double-edged impact of her messaging: advocating for masking to fit in, promoting “high functioning vs. low functioning” distinctions, and aligning with capitalist and ableist values.
Why many in the Autistic community see her views as harmful, particularly her support for ABA and eugenics-based ideas.
The positive contributions she made, such as raising awareness of sensory differences and influencing deinstitutionalization.
The larger conversation of privilege, representation, and how colonialist narratives shape cultural icons.

Resources:

The Oliver Sacks Piece

Temple Grandin’s books

Temple Grandin Ted talk

Temple Grandin BioPic

Autistic Culture 101: Dimensions of Autistic Culture

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 03:51:41 GMT

If you’ve been asking yourself, “Am I Autistic?” and searching “Autism checklist” or “Autism quiz”, Matt and Angela invite you on a virtual culture trip to Autistica—where the best way to know if you belong is to explore our culture itself.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

The six cultural dimensions – How Hofstede’s framework applies to Autistic Culture, from collectivism to uncertainty avoidance.
Autistic communication style – Why our directness, love of equality, and resistance to change are cultural traits (often misinterpreted by allistics).
Living in chronic culture shock – How being autistic in a neurotypical world mirrors the disorientation of cross-cultural immersion.
Beyond the medical model – Understanding autism as a culture, not a pathology, and celebrating its global diversity.
Practical takeaways – How to navigate cultural differences while embracing autistic values.

Resources:

Cultural Inclusion Fundamentals: Eight Core Cultural Differences | Include-Empower.Com

Compare countries - Hofstede Insights

Cultural Differences in Communication [With Examples]

A Guide for Cultural Differences in Communication

4 Types of Communication Styles | Alvernia University Online

Cultural Differences

The 6 dimensions model of national culture by Geert Hofstede

Core set of autism traits shows up in diverse cultures | Spectrum | Autism Research News

Should Autists Have Cultural Rights? | SpringerLink

Autism as Culture

Related Episodes:

Labels and Autism

The Legend of Autistica

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dino Nuggets are Autistic

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 13:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP, dig into the rich world of Autistic food culture—exploring safe foods, same foods, and the deep comfort Autistic people find in ritualized eating.

📚 What’s Inside This Episode:

How food shapes culture across the world—and how Autistic food culture fits in.
The difference between “safe foods” (comforting, reliable, calming foods) and “same foods” (the exact same foods eaten daily with joy).
Matt’s Easter family tradition: the legendary Throckmorton McNugget Platter, complete with sauces.
Why same-fooding is not “picky eating” but a valid cultural practice rooted in predictability, sensory regulation, and ritual.
How sensory aversions and sensory-seeking palates shape Autistic food choices—ranging from bland comfort foods to spicy, adventurous flavors.
Why forcing Autistics to eat foods they dislike is harmful, and how embracing Autistic food culture supports both physical and mental health.
The joys of efficiency, comfort, and community that come with Autistic approaches to food.

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Dimensions of Autistic Culture

Warhol is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eminem is Autistic

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Matt Lowry, LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon explore Eminem’s potential place in Autistic culture—sparked by a viral meme suggesting the rapper is Autistic.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

How Eminem’s lyrics, including a direct reference to “Asperger’s syndrome,” suggest lived experiences familiar to Autistic people.
The Autistic traits visible in his life and work—sensory overload, emotional intensity, OCD tendencies, addiction struggles (rooted in ableism), and a monotropic focus on rhyming.
How his childhood special interests in comic books, dinosaurs, poetry, and rap helped him cope with bullying, school changes, and isolation.
Why special interests aren’t just “annoying habits” but life-saving passions that provide identity and purpose.
How Eminem’s focus and creativity allowed him to transform pain into art and become one of the world’s best-selling music artists.
Personal reflections from Matt and Angela on the role of special interests, survival, and expression within Autistic culture.

Resources:

The Meme that Started it All

Legacy Lyrics

Wicked Ways Lyrics

Heat Lyrics

Related episodes:

Questlove is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pokémon is Autistic

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP explore why Pokémon resonates so deeply with the Autistic community.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

How Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri’s childhood special interest in collecting bugs—rooted in his own autism diagnosis—inspired one of the world’s most successful franchises.
Why the urge to collect, categorize, and analyse Pokémon appeals strongly to Autistic skills and motivations.
The concept of “Flow” and how Pokémon’s immersive gameplay provides Autistics with joy, focus, and persistence through special interests.
A critique of how allistic perspectives dismiss Autistic passions as “obsessions,” contrasted with the Autistic experience of joy, fun, and fulfilment.
How Pokémon fosters authentic Autistic socializing and builds community through shared interests.
Why Pokémon exemplifies Autistic culture as a celebration of curiosity, focus, and intrinsic motivation.

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Ponies are Autistic

Dungeons & Dragons is Autistic

Animation is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Autistic Advocacy: Autistic Medical Needs

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP confront the systemic discrimination Autistics face in healthcare and why culturally competent medical care is desperately needed.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

The disproportionate health challenges Autistic people face, including sleep apnea, autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal issues, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, mast cell activation syndrome, fibromyalgia, allergies, asthma, eczema, psoriasis, PCOS, Hashimoto’s, lupus, and more.
How medical gaslighting, dismissal, and communication barriers prevent Autistic patients from receiving accurate diagnoses and proper treatment.
Why bringing an ally to medical appointments can help combat discrimination and ensure Autistic voices are heard.
Matt’s vision for a culturally competent Autistic health centre in Kentucky, designed by and for Autistic people.
The importance of Autistic self-education, advocacy, and peer support to counter systemic barriers and reduce burnout.
How disability justice, neurodiversity, and Autistic pride can guide the creation of more equitable healthcare systems.
A tribute to an Autistic friend of the show whose passing underscores the urgent need for systemic change in medical institutions.

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Dimensions of Autistic Culture

Bad Autism Diagnosis

Autistic Medical Needs

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sherlock is Autistic

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP investigate Sherlock Holmes as an Autistic-coded cultural icon.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

Why Sherlock’s outsider status and “alien vibe” resonate with Autistic experiences of being misunderstood.
The Autistic good vibes of alone time, stimming (yes, pipes count!), deep research, and turning special interests into meaningful careers.
How bottom-up processing and monotropic focus help Autistics spot details and uncover truths others miss.
Why social batteries drain quickly for Autistics—and how ignoring this need for rest causes distress and breakdowns.
How moral “inflexibility” and generosity, often seen as naivety, are actually positive Autistic strengths.
A study showing Autistics refused to cheat for money, even when allistics did, and what that says about integrity.
How Dr. Watson’s appreciation of Sherlock’s loyalty and “great heart” mirrors the double empathy problem and ways Autistics and allistics can bridge it.

Resources:

The Complete Sherlock Holmes

Related Episodes:

Andy Warhol is Autistic

Tim Burton is Autistic

Washington, D.C. is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hans Christen Andersen is Autistic

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP reframe Hans Christian Andersen—not as the “awkward, difficult” writer he’s often portrayed to be, but as a figure whose life and work reflect Autistic culture.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

How Andersen’s special interests, social struggles, and speech differences align with Autistic traits.
Why stories like The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, and The Princess and the Pea resonate so strongly with Autistic experiences of difference, masking, and sensory sensitivity.
How sensory seeking and avoiding show up in both Andersen’s life and his fairytales.
Why direct communication, existential loneliness, and intense friendships (like his troubled bond with Charles Dickens) are part of the Autistic lens.
Matt’s critique of exposure therapy and why Autistics don’t “habituate” the way allistics do—making sensitivity a trait, not a flaw.
Angela’s personal reflection on The Princess and the Pea as a story that validated her own sensitivity and reframed it as special.
How Andersen’s work, viewed through Autistic culture, provides representation, validation, and connection across generations.

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Beauty and the Beast is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple is Autistic

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 14:00:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP explore how Steve Jobs’ Autistic traits shaped Apple’s revolutionary success.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

How Jobs’ attention to design details—every bevel, chamfer, and colour shade—reflects Autistic hyperfocus and precision.
Why his personal uniform of black turtlenecks and jeans embodies Autistic values of simplicity, comfort, and consistency.
How his dislike of buttons and love of clean design align with Autistic sensory preferences.
Why Jobs’ direct communication style was often misunderstood as narcissism, when it was actually clarity and problem-solving.
How his practice of Zen Buddhism intersected with special interests in technology to spark ground-breaking creativity.
The role of Autistic innovation in Apple’s most iconic contributions, from the buttonless mouse to the iPad.
Why Apple’s “Think Different” campaign perfectly captures the Autistic spirit of misfits and world-changers.

Resources:

Related Episodes:

Andy Warhol is Autistic

Tim Burton is Autistic

Washington, D.C. is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Dickenson is Autistic

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 02:17:00 GMT

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP uncover the Autistic traits and cultural legacy of 18th-century poet Emily Dickinson.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

How Dickinson’s obsessive love of reading and writing reflects classic Autistic special interests.
Why her refusal to conform to gender norms and social expectations marks her as a cultural rebel.
The significance of publishing only 10 poems in her lifetime while leaving behind a vast body of work that transformed literature.
How her credo, “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant,” resonates with Autistic communication styles and honesty.
Dickinson’s legacy of authenticity, healthy boundaries, and creative rule-breaking as a model for Autistic pride.
Why her poetry continues to speak to Autistic readers navigating difference, resilience, and expression.

Resources:

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Autistica

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 02:10:00 GMT

Welcome to Autistica, from the Autistic Culture Podcast Network.

Each episode dives deep into the contributions Autistics have made to society and culture—spotlighting some of the world’s most famous and influential Autistics throughout history.

Whether you are Autistic yourself or love someone who is, your hosts, Dr. Angela Kingdon (the Linguistic Autistic) and Licensed Psychological Practitioner Matt Lowry, invite you to immerse yourself in the language, values, traditions, norms, and identity of Autistica.

This is more than a podcast. It’s a celebration of Autistic pride, community, and culture!

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 00: Trailer

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 12:49:00 GMT

Welcome to the Autistic Culture Podcast. Each episode we dive deep into Autistic contributions to society and culture by introducing you to some of the world’s most famous and successful Autistics in History!

Whether you are Autistic or just love someone who is, your hosts, Dr. Angela Lauria, the Linguistic Autistic and Licensed Psychological Practitioner, Matt Lowry, welcome you to take this time to be fully immersed in the language, values, traditions, norms, and identity of Autistica!

Learn more about Matt at Matt Lowry, LPP

Join Matt’s Autistic Connections Facebook Group

Learn more about Angela at AngelaLauria.com and Difference Press

Follow Angela on Twitter and TikTok

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com/subscribe

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