Autistic Culture Podcast Network

💔 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

🎙️ 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.

In this high-impact episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon laces up for an unexpected look at roller derby as autistic regulation, empowerment, and emotional expression—with guest Carina Taylor, a neurodivergent therapist and seasoned skater.

Together, they explore how roller derby offers structure, identity play, emotional safety, and intense connection—a combination that speaks deeply to many neurodivergent people. From rules and rituals to alter egos and emotional intensity, this episode breaks down the hidden brilliance behind this often-misunderstood sport.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• How roller derby uses structure and strategy to create safety and connection
• Why emotional intensity isn’t just welcome—it’s part of the sport’s power
• The surprising therapeutic benefits of alter egos, scripting, and character creation
• Why autistic people often thrive in sports with clear rules and roles
• How masking in roller derby can be empowering, not disempowering
• The links between physical movement and emotional regulation in neurodivergent bodies
• What it means to embrace your intensity—in bounds, with skates on.

🎤 Featured Guest: Carina Taylor (she/her)

Carina is a primary therapist at Foundations in Asheville, NC, where she works with young adults on identity development, trauma healing, and emotional regulation—including EMDR therapy. Her practice centres on values exploration, resilience expansion, and normalization of neurodivergent experiences. Off the clock? She’s a fierce roller derby competitor with a love for bold expression and community.

🌟 Special Thanks

This episode is made possible by our friends at Shrub Oak International, a strength-based school offering personalized education for autistic students on a beautiful 127-acre campus. Learn more at shruboak.org.

Resources:

Smokey Mountain Roller Derby - https://www.facebook.com/SmokyMountainRollerGirls/

Foundations Asheville - https://foundationsasheville.com

Related Episodes:

Belly Dancing 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.

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

🎙️ 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.

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

🎙️ 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.

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

🎙️ 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.

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

🎙️ 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.

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry LPP take on two loaded concepts in the autism conversation: “giftedness” and “profound autism.”

They unpack how both ideas are used to gatekeep advocacy, justify harmful interventions, and reinforce damaging hierarchies within autistic culture—while offering a more accurate, affirming lens rooted in lived experience.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Why “profound autism” is not a clinical diagnosis, but a profit-driven label used by the ABA industry to secure funding and silence autistic voices
• How functioning labels and “autism levels” serve capitalism by rewarding masking and punishing authenticity
• The connection between giftedness, autism, and vulnerability to addiction, burnout, and mental health struggles
• How “Highly Sensitive Person” and “indigo child” language often masks undiagnosed autism, especially in women and AFAB individuals
• The harm caused by Autism Speaks, ABA therapy, and helicopter parenting in controlling autistic children rather than supporting autonomy
• Why autistic pattern recognition is both a powerful strength and a contributor to burnout and sensory overwhelm
• Real-life example: Dan Harmon’s experience with burnout, substance use, and creative pressure as an autistic showrunner
• How to replace outdated functioning labels with a framework based on masking levels and lived support needs

Resources:

Harmontown Movie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIJICzhe0T4&ab_channel=FREEMOVIES

Related Episodes:

Sherlock is Autistic

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.

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

🎙️ 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.

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

🎙️ 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.

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Matt Lowry LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon are joined by Tiffany Hammond—autistic mother, writer, and the voice behind @FidgetsAndFries —to talk Monster High, intersectional advocacy, and authentic representation in media.

From the creation of Twyla Boogeyman, the first canonically autistic Monster High character, to the lived realities of Black autistic motherhood, this conversation blends pop culture joy with systemic justice work.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Why autistic people often identify with “monsters” and outcasts, and how Monster High embraces that identity
• How Tiffany consulted with Mattel to bring Twyla Boogeyman to life with authentic autistic traits and sensory supports
• The importance of body language, stimming, and sensory tools in media portrayals of autistic characters
• What intersectional autism advocacy looks like in practice
• The realities of police interactions with multiply marginalized autistic people
• How Tiffany reframes the “autism mom” narrative toward empowerment and justice
• Why accurate, affirming representation can be life-changing for autistic viewers

Featured Guest: Tiffany Hammond

Tiffany Hammond is the voice behind the platform Fidgets And Fries. She is an autistic mother, writer, and disability justice advocate raising two autistic sons. With a Master’s in Developmental Psychology, Tiffany blends professional expertise with lived experience to challenge deficit-based narratives and spark dialogue about race, neurodiversity, and authentic representation.

📖 Author of:

• A Day With No Words – Available on Amazon

📲 Follow Tiffany Online

• Instagram: Fidgets and Fries
• BlueSky: fidgetsandfries.bsky.social

Resources:

SPELLRBOARD APP:Created by listener Julie Kazaks’ son for his non-speaking autistic brother, SPELLRBOARD is a digital letterboard app designed for people who communicate nonverbally.

🌐 Learn more and watch the demo at spellrboard.com

Because everyone deserves a voice.

Related Episodes:

Beauty and the Beast is Autistic

X-Men 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.