Autistic people are often mislabeled as unempathetic, but research—and lived experience—paints a very different picture. While autistic individuals may struggle with cognitive empathy (recognizing and interpreting others’ emotions), their emotional empathy (feeling deeply for others) is often just as strong—if not stronger—than neurotypical people. In this episode, host Aeris explores the nuances of autistic empathy, including the impact of sensory overload, alexithymia, and social miscommunication. Understanding these differences is crucial to breaking harmful stereotypes and fostering more inclusive communication.