Autistic Culture Podcast Network

Did you know that around 20% of Jeopardy fans are autistic? Trivia is one of Autistic Culture’s favourite SPINs! In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, podcast hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP are celebrating with a game of Autistic Culture Jeopardy!

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Special guest Faith Clarke, inclusivity expert and activist, joins the hosts for a head-to-head trivia challenge.
• Matt and Faith compete for charities that support Autistic Acceptance.
• Categories include: Advocates, History, Books, Myth or Fact, Entrepreneurs, and Screens.
• Questions cover famous autistic people, advocates, entrepreneurs, books, film/TV, and common myths about autism.
• The joy of trivia as an Autistic special interest—and how games like Jeopardy highlight autistic strengths.
• The importance of moving beyond “awareness” to true acceptance and inclusion of autistic individuals.

Resources:

• Go to Kaiser’s Room and click Donate to give to Faith's Charity
• Autism Acceptance Month
• How does an autism diagnosis lend itself to being good at trivia?

Related Episodes:

Dungeons & Dragons are Autistic

Chess is Autistic

Pokémon 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 Matt Lowry, LPP, and Dr. Angela Kingdon explore the life and legacy of Walt Disney—one of the most influential figures in animation and entertainment—through the lens of Autistic culture.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Disney’s difficult childhood, his escape in Electric Park, and his lifelong passion for trains.
• His Autistic-style intensity—laser-focused on theme parks and total creative control—while losing interest in animation.
• How masking, expectation sensitivity, and control influenced both the brilliance and darker sides of his legacy.
• The controversies: his conflicts with striking employees, labour unions, and alleged associations with antisemitism and fascism.
• Disney’s dream for EPCOT as an “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,” and the lasting cultural impact of his Autistic vision.

Resources:

And Now a Word From the Director

When Leni Riefenstahl Came to Hollywood

Walt the Quasi-Nazi: The Fascist History of Disney is Still Influencing American Life

The Real Walt Disney, Not the ‘Saving Mr. Banks’ Version

Walt Disney’s grandniece backs up Meryl Streep’s racism claims: ‘Anti-Semite? Check. Misogynist? OF COURSE!!!’

Related Episodes:

Beauty and the Beast is Autistic

Fairy Tales are Autistic

Tim Burton is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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

In this episode of The Autistic Advocacy, Matt Lowry, LPP reads his original story The Legend of Autistica—a mythic tale that serves as an origin story for Autistic culture. Though written for children, its themes resonate deeply with teens and adults too.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• The empire of Nero Typicles, where citizens are forced to mask their true selves and follow “Always Behave Always” (a metaphor for ABA).
• Clay masks with fixed smiles representing the exhausting demand to perform normalcy.
• The rise of Autismix, an Autistic warrior who, with the help of a dragon named Thundercore, leads a rebellion for authenticity and acceptance.
• The creation of Autistica, a land where neurodiversity is embraced and celebrated.
• Reflections on authentic self-expression, community, and shifting from the pathology model to cultural pride.

Resources:

The Legend of Autistica on Matt’s website.

Related Episodes:

Dimensions of Autistic Culture

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

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

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

Resources:

The Oliver Sacks Piece

Temple Grandin’s books

Temple Grandin Ted talk

Temple Grandin BioPic

More on Types of Thinking

Evolution of the DSM perspective on Autism

Related episodes:

Bad Autism Diagnosis

Sesame Street 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.

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

🎧 What You’ll Learn

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

Resources:

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

Compare countries - Hofstede Insights

Cultural Differences in Communication [With Examples]

A Guide for Cultural Differences in Communication

4 Types of Communication Styles | Alvernia University Online

Cultural Differences

The 6 dimensions model of national culture by Geert Hofstede

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

Should Autists Have Cultural Rights? | SpringerLink

Autism as Culture

Related Episodes:

Labels and Autism

The Legend of Autistica

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

🎙️ 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 deep connection between trains and Autistic culture—spanning from Thomas the Tank Engine to the ground-breaking introduction of Bruno, an Autistic brake car.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• The history of Thomas the Tank Engine, created in 1945 by a father inspired by his Autistic son’s love of trains.
• Why trains—and their sensory experiences, repetition, and patterns—have such a strong affinity within the Autistic community.
• How Bruno the brake car was developed with Autistic writers, Autistic actors, and ASAN to bring authentic representation to kids’ media.
• Why Bruno is a powerful counterpoint to harmful stereotypes, like Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory, which the hosts call an “Autistic minstrel show.”
• Personal anecdotes about autistic joy and invention, highlighting how trains represent more than a “special interest”—they’re a cultural touchstone.
• The importance of authentic Autistic representation in children’s media and how Thomas sets the gold standard for inclusion.

Resources:

Autism group probes why children love Thomas the Tank Engine

Thomas the Tank Engine and Autism Spectrum Disorder

Thomas the Tank Engine helps autistic kids identify emotions

Children With Autism and Thomas the Tank Engine

‘Thomas & Friends’ Franchise Introduces First Autistic Character: Bruno The Brake Car

Why do Autistic People LOVE Trains?

Why Do Autistic People Like Trains? Actually, Love Trains!?

Mattel Introduces Bruno the Brake Car, First Autistic Character in Iconic Thomas & Friends Franchise

Related Episodes:

Productivity is Autistic

Pokémon 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, dig into the rich world of Autistic food culture—exploring safe foods, same foods, and the deep comfort Autistic people find in ritualized eating.

📚 What’s Inside This Episode:

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

Resources:

• Super Taster Tests
• Safefood: The Medicinal Properties of Chicken Nuggets
• What Do Autistic People Cook?
• Autistic Empath
• Why do autistic people tend to samefood? Is it different than picky eating?

Related Episodes:

Dimensions of Autistic Culture

Warhol is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

🎙️ 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 Matt Lowry, LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon revisit the ground breaking origins of Sesame Street—a show created to promote equality, acceptance, and education through family entertainment.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• How Jim Henson’s Muppets used commercial-like musical skits to hold kids’ attention while teaching letters and numbers.
• Why Bert is one of the earliest positive representations of an Autistic adult on television.
• The introduction of Julia, Sesame Street’s first Autistic muppet—originally created with input from ASAN (Autistic Self Advocacy Network) to ensure authentic representation.
• The controversy that followed when Sesame Street later partnered with Autism Speaks, sparking backlash from the Autistic community and leading ASAN to cut ties.
• The distinction between the Autistic community (led by Autistic voices and culture) and the autism community (which often frames autism as something separate to “cure”).
• How capitalism and corporate sponsorship can undermine authentic representation and shift narratives away from self-acceptance.
• Sesame Street’s ongoing legacy of uplifting diverse voices—even if imperfect—and its lasting influence on Autistic culture.

Resources:

The Amazing Song

ASAN on Autism Speaks

Illuminaughtii on Autism Speaks

More on Autism Speaks

Muppet Guys Talking

Frank Oz at Jim Hensen’s Memorial

Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street, appeared in 202

Related Episodes:

Trains are Autistic

Ponies 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 Matt Lowry, LPP and Dr. Angela Kingdon explore Eminem’s potential place in Autistic culture—sparked by a viral meme suggesting the rapper is Autistic.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

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

Resources:

The Meme that Started it All

Legacy Lyrics

Wicked Ways Lyrics

Heat Lyrics

Related episodes:

Questlove is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

🎙️ 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 Autistic origins and cultural impact of My Little Pony.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• How Autistic creator Bonnie Zacherle and Autistic writer Linda Woolverton shaped the original My Little Pony, despite facing workplace marginalization.
• The Autistic-coded storytelling of Lauren Faust’s My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, and why it became so meaningful to Autistic fans.
• The sensory-seeking joys, relatable characters, and fantasy worlds that continue to resonate deeply with Autistics.
• The therapeutic connection between horses and Autistic individuals, including co-regulation benefits for emotional and sensory regulation.
• Angela’s personal story about how horse therapy improved her mental health and helped her identify signs of dysregulation.
• The rise of the Brony fandom and how it created belonging, acceptance, and identity for young adult fans, including many Autistics.

Resources:

Crunch Dog episode of My Little Pony

Related Episodes:

Fairy Tales are Autistic

Disney is Autistic

Beauty and the Beast is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

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