Matt and Erin go full “autistic agenda” this week — planning breaks, managing meat-body needs, and calling out the diagnostic nonsense that’s been gatekeeping autism for decades. From James Gunn’s echolalia table moments to the staggering scarcity of autistic clinicians, we dismantle how bias, racism, sexism, and outdated stereotypes warp who gets diagnosed (and how).

We dig into:

• Why self-identification isn’t just valid — it’s essential
• The racist and sexist diagnostic “pipelines” that mislabel Black, brown, and female-presenting kids
• How bad assumptions (“girls can’t be autistic,” “autistics can’t have kids”) still show up in clinical settings
• The real differences between PDA, general demand avoidance, and ODD
• The need to factor lived experience — not just external checklists — into diagnosis
• Spoons, crash recovery, and why autistic professionals can’t (and shouldn’t) mask as neurotypicals to do the job

Also: sarcastic mule metaphors, Happy Meals as special interest currency, placenta previa as connective tissue trivia, and the stunning .00017% of professionals who are both autistic and legally qualified to diagnose.

Matt, Erin, and guest Hunter Hammersen go deep into why Murderbot Diaries is peak autistic representation—both in Martha Wells’ books and Apple TV’s adaptation. We compare notes on Murderbot’s layers of literal and figurative masking, its deep loyalty to a few trusted people, and its preference for fictional drama over real-life feelings.

We cover:

• Murderbot’s pronouns, agender identity, and the ongoing struggle to get them right
• Why supportive relationships (and other autistic friends) are the key to unmasking
• How eye contact, awkward speeches, and “patrolling the perimeter” all hit home for autistic viewers
• The socialist utopia planet that raises humans who actually try to meet Murderbot’s needs
• Special interests as friendship currency—and why Sanctuary Moon is the perfect one

Also: audiobook narrator hot takes, the perils of full-cast recordings, Alexander Skarsgård’s flawless autistic accent, and why every autistic person deserves their own Dr. Mensah.

Matt, Erin, and returning guest Dr. Kade Sharp tackle the messy intersections of self-knowledge, love, and trauma. We break down why RuPaul’s “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell [are] you gonna love somebody else?” isn’t the full story, how neglect can be invisible until you see what other people had, and why kids aren’t “too sensitive”—they’re exactly as sensitive as they are.

We dig into:

• Love vs. limerence vs. appeasement
• How developmental trauma warps our sense of safety and connection
• The difference between guilt (“I did bad”) and shame (“I am bad”)
• Why kindness can feel scarier than chaos if you grew up expecting bombs—literal or metaphorical
• Vulnerability, English’s terrible one-word problem, and redefining love as accessibility, responsiveness, and engagement

Also: Frozen’s autistic coding, sewing your pockets shut, Superman’s team dynamics, and what to do when someone hands you a muffin basket and you’re not sure if it’s a trap.

Links Mentioned:

• Autistic Clinical Insights: ⁠www.autisticclinicalinsights.com⁠
• Aces Up Your Sleeve podcast: ⁠www.neurokink.org/auys⁠
• Spectrum Counseling: ⁠www.kadesharp.com⁠
• Neurokink: ⁠www.neurokink.org

In this episode, we pull the lid off the “just two genders” box and set it on fire—politely, with data, and some Weird Al references. Matt, Erin, and guest Dr. Kade Sharp dig into:

• Why autistic folks are 6–9 times more likely to be trans
• How bottom-up processing makes “two boxes” thinking look absurd
• The messy overlap between gender, sex, and what the medical system forces people into
• Dysphoria, euphoria, and the “phantom uterus” moment
• Why community feels like home (even if you’ve never been there before)
• The exhaustion of masking both your neurotype and your gender
• Acceptance vs. belonging, and why safety changes everything

Also: Pedro Pascal, Noah’s Ark logistics, Girl Scouts in rural towns, and how to find your people without having to explain yourself every 30 seconds.

It’s gender, autism, and culture without the neat little boxes—because we don’t fit in them anyway.

This was a story I wrote for my son. It's largely biographical, and it's why we have presents delivered by The Christmas Dragon each year!

This is the legend of the Autistic people. It features a mighty warrior, a dragon, and people being forced to make small talk. Who will save them?!

A while back, I wrote some stories about dragons and the Autistic people. I recorded two of these stories on other podcasts, but now they're here, uninterrupted and free of commentary! Enjoy the Legends of Autistica!

This is the legend of Autismix, Thundercore the Dragon, and the origin of the Autistic people. It was previously published on my website, MattLowryLPP.com, and I recorded it on some other podcasts, but now here is a fresh copy with no commentary!

Every group of people have a myth about their creation. Presented here are the Legends of Autistica. Don't get too excited, this is just an introduction. More stories and more dragons will follow!

In this episode, we dig into what autism actually looks like outside the narrow DSM lens—and how trauma, masking, and sensory life shape our identities and relationships. We call out the biases baked into the system and talk about what an autism-affirming perspective can look like in practice.

We also wander into some very real, very relatable territory about:

• Why “congratulations, you’re Autistic” can be the most affirming diagnosis experience ever

• Stimming in all eight senses, from toe-curling in your shoes to rubbing your feet on sandpaper

• How bullet-point thinking, special interests, and fictional best friends change the way we communicate and connect

As always, it’s lived experience, blunt honesty, and a few nerdy detours—because that’s how we roll. We’re glad you’re here.