Autistic Culture Podcast Network

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP analyse the hit TV show Bob's Burgers and how its characters embody aspects of Autistic culture and experiences.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• Breaking down the Autistic traits of the Belcher kids:
• Tina – Autistic accent, people-pleasing tendencies, and passionate interest in horses
• Gene – Echolalia, sensory-seeking, and a deep need for musical expression
• Louise – PDA (Pervasive Drive for Autonomy), monotropic focus, and always wearing the same clothes
• How Bob’s Burgers provides nuanced, humanized portrayals of Autistic characters—unlike the stereotypes seen in other media.
• Relatable Autistic experiences in the show: meltdowns, special interests, social differences, and the Belcher family’s way of supporting each other.
• Why the show’s creator may have intentionally designed Autistic-coded characters, and how the show normalizes traits instead of pathologizing them.
• A candid moment: Matt accidentally calls Louise “Tina” mid-info dump (because yes—autistic brains juggle a LOT of variables, especially during high-demand times like the holidays).

Resources:

• Article: Autistic Representation in Bob’s Burgers (2011): Give ‘em something shiitake about
• Bob’s Burger Burger Book
• Article: Roland the Farter
• Twitter/X link: Keith Lee

Related Episodes:

Eminem is Autistic

Questlove 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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In this episode of Autistic Advocacy, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP sit down with Maisie Soetantyo, founder of Autism Career Pathways, to explore her journey from ABA practitioner to neurodiversity-affirming advocate.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• How Maisie transitioned away from ABA therapy and embraced a relationship-based approach grounded in neurodiversity.
• Why nurturing Autistic children’s special interests can naturally guide them toward meaningful careers.
• The pressure parents face from so-called “experts”—and how to trust instincts over institutions that prioritize profit.
• The mission of Autism Career Pathways, connecting Autistic adults with families of Autistic kids and building neurodiversity awareness.
• Advice for Autistic adults: explore Autistic-led resources, build community, and define the conditions where you thrive.
• Advice for businesses: don’t underestimate Autistic employees—accommodations unlock strengths that benefit everyone.
• The urgent need for paid Autistic-led advocacy so that Autistic expertise is valued, not exploited.
• Maisie’s favorite Autistic traits, including her constant creative flow and ability to connect deeply with diverse people.

👤 Guest Bio:

Maisie Soetantyo (she/her) is the founder of Autism Career Pathways, a nonprofit dedicated to building inclusive workplaces and empowering Autistic people to pursue meaningful careers. A former ABA practitioner, Maisie shifted her focus toward a neurodiversity-affirming framework that celebrates Autistic strengths and fosters authentic connections. 

Resources:

• Find Maisie and her work at www.autismcareerpathways.org
• Twitter thread on Autistic experts
• The highly ableist (and fascinating train wreck) “Recruiting Giants” presentation

Related Episodes:

• Labels & Autism
• The Trouble with Temple
• Bad Autism Diagnosis
• 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

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 hit comedy-mystery Only Murders in the Building, celebrating how its quirky protagonists reflect neurodivergent strengths that help them thrive as amateur detectives.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• How three eccentric neighbors (played by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez) bond over their love of true crime podcasts and start investigating a suspicious death in their building.
• Why their attention to detail, pattern recognition, and logical leaps—traits often associated with autism—make them successful sleuths.
• The role of hyperfixation and monotropic focus in their relentless pursuit of truth.
• How their tragic pasts and outsider identities mirror common Autistic experiences of being misunderstood yet resilient.
• A celebration of how their neurodivergent gifts aren’t pathologized—they’re framed as superpowers for collaboration, persistence, and creativity.
• A discussion of Autistic food culture, including Angela’s reflections on beloved Autistic eating habits that pop up in the show.

✨ By showcasing protagonists who succeed because of their neurodivergence rather than in spite of it, Only Murders in the Building offers a fun, affirming model of Autistic representation.

Related Episodes:

Sherlock is Autistic

Parks & Rec is Autistic

Kinsey is Autistic

Wednesday is Autistic?

Chess 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 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

🎙️ 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 take a deep dive into the world of Tim Burton, who has publicly identified as autistic. Together, they unpack his unmistakable creative style and why his work resonates so strongly with the autistic community.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Burton’s childhood fascination with classic monster movies and growing up feeling “different.”
• How his early homemade monster films became the foundation of a lifelong creative expression.
• Struggles in traditional school environments, including possible reading differences like dyslexia.
• A complicated father-son relationship marked by difficulty connecting over Burton’s creative passions.
• Why his characters—from Edward Scissorhands to Beetlejuice to Ed Wood—so often reflect the autistic experience of being a misunderstood outcast.
• Burton’s repeated collaborations with the same trusted actors (like Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter) who share his “unwritten language” of communication.
• The tension between his struggles making big commercial projects versus his thriving creativity when given freedom to follow his autistic vision.
• Why Burton’s career and body of work feel like an Autistic cultural love letter to outsiders everywhere.

Resources:

• 🎥 The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920 silent horror film that influenced Burton’s work) — YouTube, 51 min

Related episodes:

Motion Pictures are Autistic

Disney is Autistic

Beauty & the Beast is Autistic

Wednesday 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:

One of our own podcast hosts, Matt Lowry, LPP, was interviewed on Meg Ferrell’s podcast, “Two Sides of the Spectrum,” about strengths-based autism diagnoses. Listen in to find out why this interview a) made Angela cry, and b) became the catalyst for TACP!

Matt draws from his personal and professional experience working with Autistic children, teens, and adults to criticize how the traditional autism diagnosis process focuses on deficits as compared to neurotypical norms. He contrasts this with his strengths-based diagnoses, which focuses on natural variations in autistic people.

He advocates for diagnosticians to learn about autism as a cultural difference, not a disorder. They should be knowledgeable about diverse presentations in women, trans people, and racial minorities. Autism awareness is inherently flawed and harmful without this understanding.

Meg: And what you're describing is neurotypical evaluators who haven't done their work to understand Autism.Matt: It's essentially a cultural difference.Meg: Yeah.Matt: Because if a white evaluator approaches a person of color, and tries to talk about their deficits in not being white, that's horrifying. And to say, ‘oh, you don't communicate in the same way that I do. You don't have the same cultural touchstones that I do’—that is ridiculously, horrifyingly racist—and it’s the same approach with Autism.

Matt outlines his model of Autistic-centered therapy which focuses on interpersonal skills, trauma, advocacy, and taking care of our “meat bodies,” with sleep and other forms of self-care. This form of therapy for Autistic individuals centers the mental health and wellbeing of the Autistic person, rather than focusing on compliance with neuronormative standards.

He strongly cautions against ABA for autism as destructive and points out that it is aimed at making autistic people indistinguishable from peers at the expense of the autistic individual’s mental and emotional well-being.

Matt reads an early version of the allegorical legend, "The Legend of Autistica," which tells the story of an Autistic warrior freeing people from the oppressive demands of neurotypical society.

The key takeaway is that autism should be approached as a cultural difference requiring mutual understanding, not as a disorder to be fixed. Diagnosticians and therapists should affirm autistic strengths.

Amazing Meg was culturally respectful in this interview. Did you catch some of the green flags? Tell us about it in the comments and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your answers on social media and connect with other listeners!

Show notes and resources:

Original Two Sides of the Spectrum episode on Meg’s Learn, Play, Thrive website.

More on Autistic Centered Therapy.

Matt’s strengths-based diagnostic criteria.

Related episodes…Learn about the opposite of a strengths-based autism diagnosis: Episode #36 Bad DiagnosisListen to the updated version of our Autistic origin story (now, complete with dragons!): Episode #25 The Legend of Autistica

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

*Note: Transcription technology is still new on this platform. We are aware of the gaps and errors in the transcript and are dedicated to editing it for accuracy as soon as the new technology allows. We appreciate your patience as we work to expand accessibility as quickly as we are able.

**TACP is an autism podcast that recognizes that ABA for autism is harmful to autistic mental health. We reject the use of ABA therapy and pathologizing language like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and associated functioning labels as well as the harmful organization Autism Speaks. To learn more, please listen to: Episode 20: Sesame Street is Autistic and Episode 24: The Trouble with Temple Grandin.

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Celebrating Autistic Culture Through Actor Peter Cushing's Creative Passions

* Podcast hosts Matt Lowry and Dr. Angela Kingdon discuss how actor Peter Cushing embodied aspects of Autistic culture across his varied interests and creative pursuits.

* Cushing starred in influential sci-fi/fantasy franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, and Sherlock Holmes, showcasing his versatility as an actor.

* Beyond acting, Cushing was an avid player and collector of the tabletop war game "War," which inspired the creation of Dungeons & Dragons - a game beloved by many in the autistic community.

* The hosts highlight how Cushing handcrafted over 2,000 miniature soldiers and models for his "War" gaming, exemplifying autistic traits like attention to detail, special interests, and imaginative world-building.

* Cushing's story is seen as emblematic of autistic culture, embracing creative hobbies, strategic game play, and deep immersion in special interests.

* The discussion also touches on the concept of "SPIN drop" - the intense grief autistic individuals can experience when disconnected from a core part of their identity or special interest.

* By celebrating Cushing's multifaceted passions, the podcast sheds light on the richness of autistic creativity and the value of embracing neurodiversity.

Do you want more minisodes? What do you want to hear Matt or Angela give a quick infodump on?

* Facebook post with pictures of Peter Cushings models

* The Peter Cushing Doctor Who Movie Appreciation Group

* The Peter Cushing Association Facebook group

* Want to learn about more Autistic activities? Episode 39: Dungeons & Dragons is Autistic

* Why do Autistics work in bursts? Check out Episode 38: Productivity is Autistic

* One of the Autistic community’s favorite Autistic characters: Episode 30: Doctor Who is Autistic

* What does an Autism-friendly workplace look like? Episode 04: Industrial Light & Magic 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, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP dive into the world of tabletop roleplaying games, spotlighting how Dungeons & Dragons and similar systems align beautifully with autistic strengths and culture.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• How autistic strengths like rule appreciation, statistics, and logic make tabletop RPGs a natural fit.
• Why monotropic focus, special interests, and pattern recognition fuel autistic excellence in world-building and storytelling.
• The structured and inclusive nature of D&D, creating a safe, confidence-building space for autistic social interaction.
• The cultural significance of D&D introducing its first canonically autistic character.
• Looking back at the moral panics around D&D and how ableism often targets autistic passions.
• How the game’s mainstream popularity today reflects a shift toward acceptance of neurodiverse hobbies.
• The importance of recognizing D&D and other RPGs as more than “just games”—they’re community-building lifelines for many autistic families.
• Ultimately, how roleplaying lets autistic players embrace authenticity instead of masking, turning play into empowerment.

Related episodes:

Pokémon is Autistic

Chess 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, 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

🎙️ 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 explore the extraordinary life and legacy of Eadweard Muybridge, the 19th-century English photographer whose ground-breaking studies of motion paved the way for cinema itself. Likely autistic, Muybridge embodied traits like monotropism, deep attention to detail, relentless data gathering, and fierce artistic integrity.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• How Muybridge’s special interests in horse gaits and motion led him to invent the zoopraxiscope, a precursor to modern motion pictures.
• The autistic traits that fueled his work: hyperfocus, innovation, and a refusal to compromise on artistic standards.
• His “big emotions”—from matter-of-fact detachment to passionate intensity—that sometimes landed him at the center of controversy (including a real-life murder trial with a shocking twist ending).
• Why his “unmasking” after a near-fatal accident may have freed him to unapologetically pursue his passions without bowing to societal expectations.
• The scope of his adventurous career: photographing the American West, building a mobile darkroom, and creating hundreds of thousands of images—including his famous Animal Locomotion studies.
• The ripple effect of his innovations on stop-motion animation, The Matrix bullet time effect, and countless other creative and scientific breakthroughs.
• Angela and Matt’s musings on what autistic people might accomplish in a world without money barriers to following their passions.

Resources:

• Eadweard Mybridge’s wet plate collodion pictures
• Eadweard biopic
• Eadweard Muybridge Wikipedia page

Related Episodes:

Tim Burton is Autistic

Industrial Light & Magic

🌟 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.