Autistic Culture Podcast Network

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:

• Brittany Sellers
• Autumn Elliot

Resources:

• Taylor Swift is related to famed American poet Emily Dickinson, Ancestry reveals
• Ancestry reveals Taylor Swift is related to American poet Emily Dickinson
• Could Taylor Swift have Asperger's syndrome?
• 40+ of Taylor Swift's Most Brilliant Easter Eggs, Decoded
• A Comprehensive Breakdown of Taylor Swift's Easter Eggs
• Taylor Swift listing cat breeds on Fallon
• Interviews of Taylor Swift describing masking
• The number "13" video

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

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🎧 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, Autistic hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP discuss the authentic autistic representation found in Elsa from Frozen. Together, they explore how Elsa’s journey embodies masking, unmasking, sensory differences, autistic lineage, and the hero’s journey we all must take if we want to truly “Let it Go” and venture “Into the Unknown.”

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• The ways Elsa’s parents tried to conceal her powers, echoing ABA and harmful “fix-it” approaches
• The emotional risks and courage of unmasking
• How grief, processing, and slow transformation are part of autistic self-discovery
• Why Frozen II resonates as a metaphor for the lonely but necessary journey to your authentic self
• The unique challenges and resilience of autistic women

Resources:

• Wiki Fandom: Elsa
• “Conceal, don’t feel”: The case for autistic Elsa
• ‘Frozen’ offers glimpse of autism in girls
• 19 Reasons Why I Am Convinced Elsa Is Autistic
• Kristen Bell recalls Dax Shepard confronting her about her mental health
• Kristen Bell Is Not Afraid To Share That She Takes Medication for Her Mental Health
• Seeking Disney’s first disabled princess
• Story Of Frozen, The Making Of A Disney Animated Classic (2014)
• Hygge (From "Frozen: The Broadway Musical"/Audio Only)
• Is it Weird that I’m Moving to the UK?

Related Episodes:

Apple is Autistic 

Fairy Tales are Autistic 

Disney is Autistic

Beauty and the Beast is Autistic

The Good Place 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 Autistic Advocacy, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP are joined by advocates Winter and Kat to discuss a deeply concerning push to mandate ABA therapy in Kentucky public schools.

Together, they break down why this legislation is harmful, what it means for autistic students, and how our community can unite to resist it.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• ABA is unethical: It focuses on modifying outward behaviours without honouring inner experiences.
• Deficit model harm: ABA seeks to make autistic kids “look neurotypical,” regardless of the trauma and masking it causes.
• Trauma & risk: ABA deepens internalized ableism and significantly increases suicide risk among autistic individuals.
• Rooted in eugenics: Advocates call out ABA’s colonialist, cure-focused ideology as outdated and dangerous.
• Better alternatives exist: Invest in teacher training, hire autistic educators, build sensory rooms, and even bring in class support animals. These supports are affirming, not abusive.
• Burnout is real: Constantly fighting these battles exhausts autistic advocates—this work must be shared by the community.
• Call to action: Organize against Kentucky’s HCR 51 before it advances. Connect autistic-led orgs, amplify autistic voices, and demand real, compassionate supports in schools.

👤 Guest Bios

Winter

Winter (they/them) is an autistic educator, writer, and activist based in Kentucky. They are the founder of Translunar Academy, a project dedicated to creating neurodiversity-affirming educational spaces that honour curiosity, autonomy, and authentic self-expression. As the co-lead of Autistics United Kentucky, Winter organizes state-wide advocacy efforts, legislative resistance, and community-building events.

Kat

Kat (she/they) is an autistic advocate and community organizer with Autistics United Kentucky. Her work centres on fighting systemic ableism, educating the public on the harms of ABA, and uplifting autistic voices in policy conversations. She is especially passionate about building networks of mutual aid and support among disabled and neurodivergent people in the South.

Show notes and resources:

• Kentucky House concurrent Resolution 51
• Kentucky Advisory Council on Autism 
• Mandatory ABA lived-experience - ABA Abuse Traumatizes Autistic Teen (A First Hand Account)
• The Great Big ABA Opposition Resource List
• Milton’s Double Empathy Study
• Winter’s website: Translunar Academy
• Find Winter’s advocacy group: Autistics United Kentucky Facebook and Instagram

Related Episodes:

Bad Autism Diagnosis

Sesame Street is Autistic

The Trouble with Temple

🌟 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, 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:

• Wikipedia’s definition of ableism
• How to become a Wikipedia editor
• Wikipedia:WikiProject Autism
• Autism Spectrum Wrongly Described In Wikipedia
• Wikipedia likes us!
• Wikipedia:High-functioning autism and Asperger's editors
• Wikipedians with autism
• Wikipedia accused of bullying former autistic employee with claims of a toxic work culture
• Village pump (miscellaneous)
• Alex St John’s Ideas About Game Development Are Terrifying

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

🎙️ 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, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP dive into the Apple TV+ series Mythic Quest, exploring how the show authentically represents autistic traits and celebrates neurodiversity within the world of video game development.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Why Poppy Li (played by Charlotte Nicdao) resonates so strongly as an autistic-coded lead character.
• How Poppy’s backstory—childhood struggles with social norms, intense passion for gaming, and monotropic focus—mirrors common autistic experiences.
• Autistic-coded characters like Rachel, Dana, and Joe, and the diversity of autistic perspectives they portray.
• Central autistic cultural themes in Mythic Quest, including:
• Following special interests with intensity.
• Navigating confusing allistic social cues and figurative language.
• Balancing personal vision with corporate demands.
• The importance of neurodiversity in creativity, innovation, and collaboration.
• How Mythic Quest breaks away from stereotypes to present complex, layered autistic characters.

Resources:

Mythic Quest on Wikifandom

Tik Tok: Erin Rackham, PhD

Book (authored by Angela): The Equalizing Quill: 6 Ways Generative AI Can Boost Publication Access for Underrepresented Authors

Related Episodes:

Parks & Rec is Autistic

Only Murders in the Building is Autistic

Bob’s Burgers 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 Autistic Advocacy, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP break down the overlooked realities of pregnancy and childbirth for autistic AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) individuals. From morning sickness to medical trauma, they shed light on the unique sensory, emotional, and systemic barriers autistic people face on the path to parenthood.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• The lack of research and medical understanding around autism and pregnancy.
• Angela’s personal pregnancy experiences, including severe morning sickness, limited safe foods, and disconnection from the “typical” pregnancy narrative.
• How autistic people are often criticized or abandoned by providers for asking too many questions or failing to meet neurotypical expectations.
• Findings from studies showing that autistic women often feel ignored, belittled, or overwhelmed during childbirth.
• How profit-driven hospital systems can push unnecessary interventions—regardless of birth plans.
• The empowering role of a doula, helping explain procedures and reduce trauma for autistic parents-to-be.
• The importance of story sharing, trauma-informed care, and community support for autistic individuals navigating pregnancy.
• Why identity and self-advocacy are critical for safe and supported autistic birth experiences.

Resources:

Article: Autism, pregnancy and childbirth

Video: Autistic Pregnancy: How I coped

Article: Autistic and pregnant

Study: Pregnancy in autistic women and social medical considerations

Play script: Birth By Karen Brody

Book: Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide by Penny Simkin

Book: The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer

Related Episodes:

Autistic Medical Needs

Sesame Street 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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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:

• How to Be Perfect by Michael Schur
• How to be perfect with "The Good Place" creator Michael Schur
• Chidi Anagonye, the Autistic Nerd Character Done Right
• How The Good Place taught moral philosophy to its characters — and its creators
• 5 Moral Philosophy Concepts Featured on The Good Place
• Character analysis It’s literally all of them
• Chidi Autistic traits analysis
• Chidi - I love this line
• I relate to Janet so much
• The Good Place - The Trolley Problem (Episode Highlight)
• Book Club #05: How to be Perfect

Related Episodes: 

Sesame Street is Autistic

The Trouble with Temple Grandin.

🌟 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, Autistic podcast hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP dive into the world of Greendale Community College, celebrating Community as one of the most authentically autistic shows ever created.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Abed Nadir (Danny Pudi) as perhaps the greatest autistic character in TV history—canonically autistic, fully self-accepting, and deeply relatable.
• How showrunner Dan Harmon discovered his own autism while writing Abed, shaping the series with genuine autistic experiences.
• The way Community lets its characters unmask over time, modeling authentic autistic social connection and growth.
• Why Community’s portrayal of autism is radically different from exploitative shows like The Big Bang Theory.
• Debunking the stereotype that autistic people “lack empathy” by exploring Abed’s meaningful connections with his study group.
• Behind-the-scenes insights into Harmon’s writing process, production quirks, and the much-anticipated upcoming Community movie.
• Why Community remains a celebration of autistic culture and mindset in mainstream media.

A couple of those online autism quizzes we discussed:

* RAADs R

* CAT Q

Damian Milton - double empathy problem

Article: Eye on Emmy: Community‘s Danny Pudi on Abed’s Impressions, Marvel Gigs

Video: Dan Harmon talks about Asperger's syndrome - Why Abed is a shaman

Video: Danny Pudi on Why He Is Not Abed Nadir

Article: Community’s Dan Harmon Discovered He Had Asperger’s While Writing Abed’s Character

Article: The Secret World of Imagination Hidden in Autism

Article: Dan Harmon Discusses His New Documentary, Addiction, and Going to Therapy

Article: Danny Pudi On Living With Asperger’s: ‘I’m Just Trying To Be Honest About Who I Am’

Documentary: Harmontown

Related Episodes:

Animation is Autistic

Bad Autism Diagnosis

Dungeons and Dragons is Autistic

Child-to-Parent Diagnostic Pipeline

🌟 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, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP explore Lessons in Chemistry—the hit book and TV adaptation—through an autistic cultural lens.

🔬 What’s Inside This Episode:

• Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) as an autistic-coded female scientist navigating 1950s sexism, ableism, and neurodivergence.
• Her relationship with fellow autistic scientist Calvin Evans—celebrated as a true autistic love story where info-dumping = intimacy.
• Elizabeth’s daughter, Madeline, depicted as autistic-coded and nurtured in an affirming, inclusive home environment.
• How the show highlights masking, special interests, data collection, and justice sensitivity as integral parts of autistic life.
• Exploration of the double empathy problem and why autistic-to-autistic relationships can be uniquely validating (and sometimes easier!).
• How neuro-inclusive family structures are shown as not only possible but profoundly beneficial.
• Why Lessons in Chemistry succeeds where so many other portrayals fail—showing autistic people as whole, complex humans.

 Resources & Links

• Video: Audition Story Time (part 1) with Brie Larson
• Video: Audition Story Time (part 2) with Brie Larson
• Video: Extended interview: Bonnie Garmus on her debut novel
• Video: Bunny the Dog

Related Episodes:

Parks & Rec is Autistic

Greta is Autistic

Chess is Autistic

Book Club #04: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

🌟 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.

*Contains SPOILERS

Embracing Neurodiversity in the TARDIS: Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary Specials Shine a Spotlight on Inclusive Storytelling

* Autistic podcast hosts Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry enthusiastically discuss the recent 60th anniversary Doctor Who specials on Disney+, overseen by returning showrunner Russell T Davies.

* They highlight Davies' commitment to inclusivity, showcasing new characters like the ambulatory wheelchair user Ruth Madeley and the introduction of Donna Noble's previously unknown transgender daughter, Rose.

* The hosts praise the specials' focus on rules-based games and special interests, such as the games between the villainous Toymaker and the Doctor, which the hosts relate to their own experiences with sibling secrets and gaming.

* They celebrate the specials' innovative narrative device of "bi-generation," which allows multiple Doctors' timelines to co-exist, opening up possibilities for even more Doctors to return in the future.

* The hosts contrast Davies' inclusive approach with the controversies surrounding JK Rowling, positioning him as a powerful counterforce advocating for marginalized communities.

* Overall, the discussion emphasizes the neurodiversity-affirming representation and progressive storytelling choices made in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, which the hosts believe honor the show's past while propelling it into a more inclusive future.

Are you a Whovian? Does the world of Doctor Who reflect your Autistic values and experiences too? Tell us in the comments and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your answer on your social media and connect with other listeners!

Watch the new trailer

Episode 27: Trivia is Autistic

Episode 30: Doctor Who is Autistic

Episode 31: Chess is Autistic

Episode 39: Dungeons and Dragons is Autistic

Episode 40: Minisode #1: Update on Doctor Who, D&D, Sherlock, and Star Wars

Ready for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!

Find us on:

* Follow our Instagram account!

* Review us on Apple podcasts and Spotify

* Follow us on Instagram

* Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com

* TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic merch shop

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