Autistic Culture Podcast Network

*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

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 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

🎙️ 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, Autistic podcast hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP interview Andralyn Zayn, an Autistic circus producer, director, performer, and fitness educator.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• How Andralyn first connected with autism through TikTok, eventually leading to a professional diagnosis.
• The story of her very Autistic-aligned dating profile (and the circus-specialized act she now performs with her husband!).
• Behind-the-scenes of her documentary on autistic circus performers—and the toll it took on her health with undiagnosed chronic conditions including polycystic kidney disease and POTS.
• Why autistic people are often drawn to circus arts: proprioceptive and vestibular joy, sensory input, and flow states.
• The risks of ignoring bodily signals and pushing beyond limits in an ableist society.
• Learning self-acceptance and creating a sustainable lifestyle while resisting productivity pressures.
• Challenging ableism in creative industries and beyond, while embracing autistic strengths.

Resources:

Wikipedia: Risley (circus act)

Article: The next yoga? Circus-inspired fitness

Video: On the Job with Circus Artists

Andralyn’s Instagram

Andralyn’s Facebook

Related Episodes:

Autistic Medical Needs

Trains are Autistic

Cats are Autistic

Autistic Centred Therapy - AuCT

🌟 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.

Authentic Autistic Bonds: Celebrating the Neurodiversity-Affirming Friendships of "Only Murders in the Building"

* Autistic podcast hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry provide an update on their analysis of the TV show "Only Murders in the Building," exploring additional evidence that suggests actress Selena Gomez may also be in club ‘tism.

* They note Gomez's co-occurring condition of lupus, which has a high rate of co-occurrence with autism, as further potential insight into her neurodivergent identity.

* The hosts discuss how autistic friendships are often built on shared special interests, in contrast to the more gradual, stage-based progression of neurotypical friendships, which can involve implicit rules and superficial interactions.

* They conclude that autistic individuals should prioritize seeking out autistic friendships, as these connections can avoid the exhaustion and masking often required in neurotypical social dynamics.

* Overall, the podcast hosts feel "Only Murders in the Building" provides an exemplary depiction of an authentic, supportive autistic friendship, serving as a model for the kind of community and understanding autistic individuals should strive to cultivate.

* The discussion emphasizes the value of neurodiversity-affirming relationships and the importance of autistic individuals finding belonging within their own community, rather than forcing themselves to conform to neurotypical social norms.

What’s your experience with Autistic friendships? Tell us about it in the comments and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your answer on your social media and connect with other listeners!

Nico’s stages of allistic friendship progression:

* Acquaintance: Running into someone regularly due to a common social environment.

* Cohort/casual friend: Making occasional plans together, often context-dependent (e.g. "my friends from the dance group" or "classmate" or "colleague") but more intimate than acquaintances.

* Friend: Friends are people who know approximately who you are (or the version of yourself you present to the world). They probably know who several of your other friends are, may offer to pitch in on a project or lend a hand with a move.

* Close friend: Close friends expect to be early on the list of people you'd call upon for emotional or practical support or even relationship advice, but not necessarily for the "big problems."

* Superlative of choice: Whether they call it BFFs, besties, "my/the girls/boys/people," chosen family, sweetheart, etc. these are the people whom they'd consider using up vacation days to support—the ones who might do the same for them. Curiously, these are the people they'll back in an argument even when they're clearly at least partially in the wrong.

More TACP:

* Episode 14: Autistic Medical Needs

* Episode 43: Only Murders in the Building is Autistic

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

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 interview their guest, Daniel, about his deep fascination with aquariums and fish tanks.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• Daniel explains how his childhood aquarium experience reignited his passion as an adult, leading him to obsessively research and optimize every aspect of aquarium setup and maintenance.
• He delves into the intricacies of keeping different shrimp species, such as Caridina and Neocaridina varieties, and the challenges of maintaining the ideal water conditions and aquascape for their needs.
• The discussion explores how Daniel's special interest in aquariums intersects with his other interests, like 3D printing and software development, as his monotropic focus on tuning and optimizing systems carries over across domains.
• The hosts recognize the emotional vulnerability and connection that arises from Daniel's passionate, in-depth explanations, contrasting it with the superficial nature of typical "small talk."
• They also highlight how Daniel's anxiety stems from the constant processing of variables and fear of the unknown, which is characteristic of the autistic experience, in contrast to neurotypical anxiety.
• The episode celebrates Daniel's deep dive into his special interest, showcasing how autistic individuals can find joy, fulfilment, and a sense of community through the pursuit of their passions.

👤 Guest Bio: Daniel

Daniel (he/him) is an autistic software developer, systems optimizer, and aquarium enthusiast whose passions span from 3D printing to the delicate art of shrimp-keeping. His special interest in aquariums began in childhood, but reignited in adulthood, leading him to create highly tuned, carefully balanced ecosystems for shrimp species like Caridina and Neocaridina.

Related Episodes:

Productivity is Autistic

Autistic Centred Therapy - AuCT

Book Club #02: Frankenstein

🌟 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.

Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry, LPP, celebrate their 50th podcast episode by reminiscing about some of their favorite past episodes that highlighted the Top Ten Pillars of Autistic Culture:

* Logic and strategy

* Episode 11: Sherlock is Autistic

* Episode 31: Chess is Autistic

* Linguistics and accents

* Episode 32: Animation is Autistic

* Deep thinking and insights

* Episode 03: Poetry is Autistic (Emily Dickinson episode)

* Episode 09: Fairy Tales are Autistic (Hans Christian Anderson episode)

* World building

* Episodes 16: Pokémon is Autistic

* Episode 39: Dungeons and Dragons is Autistic

* Data gathering, pattern formation, and analysis

* Episode 27: Trivia is Autistic

* Episode 35: Sex is Autistic (Alfred Kinsey episode)

* Innovative, game-changing ideas

* Episode 04: Industrial Light & Magic (Star Wars episode)

* Episode 37: Motion Pictures are Autistic

* Creativity and artistic expression

* Episode 19: Eminem is Autistic

* Episode 29: Questlove is Autistic

* Consistency and reliability

* Episode 21: Dino Nuggets are Autistic

* Episode 22: Trains are Autistic

* Justice and honesty

* Episode 15: Greta is Autistic

* Episode 42: McEnroe is Autistic

* Superfanning and fictional friends

* Episode 10: Star Trek is Autistic

* Episode 30: Doctor Who is Autistic

Over 49 episodes, Matt and Angela have aimed to resist a culture that is frequently hostile towards Autistics through sharing Autistic joy and by highlighting the unique contributions of famous Autistics across history. We’re here, we’re Autistic, get used to it!

At 11:06, Matt demonstrates one aspect of the Autistic accent and dialect. What does he say, and what part of Autistic Culture is he drawing from when he does it? Tell us in the comments and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your answer on your social media and connect with other listeners!

* Do you have a podcast or upcoming professional event and want to feature Matt and/or Angela? Check out our “Book Us” page.

* Want more autism-affirming goodies? You might enjoy Angela’s Unmasking Autism Diary, the TACP blog, and our autism-affirming merch shop.

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

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 discuss their complicated feelings around the Christmas season, acknowledging both the holiday magic and the potential for overstimulation, family stress, and past trauma.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• They explore how certain Christmas TV specials, like A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch, resonate with autistic experiences of feeling overwhelmed while others find joy.
• The hosts highlight the concept of "autistic glimmers"—positive sensory experiences and routines that bring joy, like Matt's son's love for Christmas villages and light displays.
• They also validate the challenges autistic individuals face during the holidays, such as increased social expectations, gift-giving misalignments, and food sensitivities.
• The discussion analyses the autistic traits of iconic Christmas characters like Santa Claus, as well as the parallels between neurodivergent people feeling excluded for being "different" and outcast characters like Rudolph and Hermie the elf.
• The hosts express a wish for more openness and acceptance during the holidays and throughout the year, sharing a story Matt wrote about an autistic child who finds understanding and joy in a magical Christmas dragon.
• The podcast emphasizes the importance of celebrating neurodiversity and creating spaces of belonging, even amidst the potential stressors the holiday season can bring for autistic individuals.

Resources:

* Available on Apple+: Charlie Brown’s Christmas Special

Related Episodes:

Peanuts is Autistic

Dino Nuggets are Autistic

Poetry is Autistic (Emily Dickinson episode)

Trains are Autistic

Sex is Autistic (Kinsey episode)

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.

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry are joined by filmmaker and autistic advocate Bret Malley to discuss the common experience of parents realizing their own autism after their child's diagnosis.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• Bret shares his personal story of how his son's struggle and evaluation for autism opened his eyes to recognizing his own autistic traits, leading to his own diagnosis as an adult.
• The discussion explores both the useful aspects of an official autism diagnosis, as well as the downsides of medicalization and pathologization of natural neurodiversity.
• The hosts propose that autism is best understood as a shared cultural identity that people can recognize and self-identify with, rather than requiring a formal diagnosis.
• They envision a future where self-identification based on connecting with autistic cultural experiences can be enough to access accommodations and supports, without the need for an official diagnosis.
• Bret introduces his upcoming documentary film, The Divergent Gift: Unboxing Autism, which aims to challenge stereotypes and highlight the gifts and challenges of being autistic in an allistic-centric society.

👤 Guest Bio

Bret Malley (he/him) is an autistic filmmaker, educator, and advocate whose work centres around challenging stereotypes and uplifting neurodivergent voices. His upcoming documentary, The Divergent Gift: Unboxing Autism, explores the complexity of autistic identity while highlighting the strengths, creativity, and challenges of living in a neurotypical-centred society. As both a parent of an autistic child and an autistic adult, Bret brings a deeply personal and multifaceted perspective to his advocacy.

Resources:

• 🎬 Pitch-trailer for The Divergent Gift; Unboxing Autism 
• 🌐 The Divergent Gift website
• 🌐 Bret’s website
• 🎶 Harry Chapin – Flowers are Red 
• 🎶 Malvina Reynolds – Little Boxes (performed by The Womenfolk)
• 📖 Joe James – The Autistic Experience: Silenced Voices Finally Heard

Related Episodes:

Poetry is Autistic

Questlove is Autistic

Trains 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.

In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP, discuss Matt’s brainchild: Autistic-Centred Therapy (AuCT) — a therapeutic approach specifically tailored to serve the needs of Autistic individual

Autistic-Centred Therapy is built around 4 main components:

• Autistic interpersonal therapy — Encourages Autistics to genuinely be themselves: pursuing special interests, openly stimming, info-dumping, etc., without judgment. This often involves unlearning and healing from internalized ableism.
• Autistic trauma work — Processing past trauma from rejection, criticism, or assault through an autism-affirming, non-judgmental lens, while honouring the unique, embodied ways that Autistics process experience.
• Advocacy work — Helping Autistics advocate for their personal needs while also resisting ableist systems in broader society.
• “Automotive maintenance” — Understanding sensory needs, setting boundaries, managing burnout, and tending to one’s “Autistic meat body.”

From Matt’s website:

* AuCT Autistic Centred Therapy

* Learn Play Thrive 

Related Episodes:

Bad Autism Diagnosis

Labels & Autism

Autistic Medical Needs

Dino Nuggets 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.

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

🎙️ 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.