Matt, Erin, and returning guest Hunter Hammersen (of Tiny Nonsense) are here this week — and we dive straight into the joy of doing small, “impractical” things that make the world softer. Hunter talks about the sensory comfort and connection of knitting, why autistic joy matters, and how choosing authenticity over “palatable” professionalism changed her life.
We also get real about burnout, capitalism, and the audacity of charging what your work is worth — even (and especially) as a disabled creator.

We cover:

• Knitting as stim, sensory joy, and social scaffolding for autistic folks
• The power of breaking complex tasks into approachable steps — and why that’s an autistic super-skill
• Letting go of “normal better” and embracing your own autistic brilliance
• How valuing your work helps you create from abundance instead of exhaustion
• “Autism sparkling,” or being one step weirder on purpose to find your people
• Why tiny nonsense, like knitted acorns or handmade clocks, keeps us grounded in joy

Also: garlic bread vs. white bread as a metaphor for authenticity, the politics of good zippers, and why scissors that don’t snick properly are a personal betrayal.