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Welcome to another edition of This Week in Autistic Culture, our Sunday magazine podcast that brings together the stories, conversations and ideas shaping Autistic culture each week.
This week, Angela and Simon unpack the ongoing conversation around autism and overdiagnosis following recent comments from Uta Frith, asking why outdated ideas about autism can remain so powerful even when they conflict with the lived experiences of Autistic people.
That leads to a much bigger conversation about who gets to define autism, why greater recognition can be treated as a threat, and the role representation can play in changing how Autistic people are understood.
We also introduce Autistic Menopause, a brand-new ACPN podcast from Sam Galloway, before looking ahead to another packed week across the network, with conversations about musical theatre, fibromyalgia, situational mutism, resilience, safe foods, creativity and much more.
Plus, we head to the Community Notice Board for books, events and opportunities from across the wider Autistic community.
📌 Community Noticeboard:
The Community Noticeboard is your space to share what’s happening across autistic culture. Whether you’re launching a book, hosting an event, releasing a podcast, starting a creative project, celebrating a milestone, or simply have something you’d like the community to know about, we’d love to hear from you.
Send your announcements, links and updates to [email protected], and we’ll feature as many as we can in a future edition of This Week in Autistic Culture.
This Week’s Topics:
Books & research:
Events:
📻 Listen to Autistic Culture Radio
🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com
🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to another edition of This Week in Autistic Culture, our Sunday magazine that brings together the stories, conversations, and ideas shaping Autistic culture each week.
This week begins with a conversation that many autistic people will recognise. As summer temperatures continue to climb, Simon and Angela reflect on the hidden social cost of sensory overwhelm, the impossible balance between accommodating yourself and meeting other people’s expectations, and why something as simple as leaving a family barbecue can carry so much guilt. They also explore new research on how Autistic people process faces, leading to a fascinating discussion about everything from face blindness to super-recognisers.
Across the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, another packed week follows those themes of understanding and acceptance. We celebrate Autistic special interests through the latest episode of Info Dump, explore the emotional reality of closing night in theatre, launch an important new series examining alternatives to ABA, and hear conversations about alcohol and masking, inclusive education, reading, regulation, American football, and much more.
Whether you’re discovering a new favourite podcast, catching up with the Autistic community, or simply spending your Sunday immersed in Autistic Culture, we’re delighted you’ve joined us.
This Week’s Topics
Books & research
Events
Creator updates
📻 Listen to Autistic Culture Radio
🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com
🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Angela returns to the studio to join Simon for another edition of This Week in Autistic Culture, the Sunday magazine show from the Autistic Culture Podcast Network.
This week, we discuss the importance of water safety as new research highlights the increased risk of drowning among autistic children during the summer months. We also explore an inspiring new free sign language app created by a former Disney animator, designed to make learning ASL more accessible through interactive animation.
Looking ahead across the network, we celebrate the launch of Info Dump, a brand-new podcast dedicated to the joy of autistic special interests, beginning with an episode all about Doctor Who. We also preview new episodes of Mindful Mondays, Theatrically Authentic, Creative Becoming, Regulation Station, Neuro Complex Creative, Two Mics, No Masking, The Neurodivergent Experience, Autism Help, Under the Lights, and an Autistic Culture Podcast Rewind exploring why Pokémon has become such an enduring autistic special interest.
Plus, we share community news, including autism-friendly race days, a new communication app from Stimpunks, and a forthcoming book on navigating change and uncertainty as a neurodivergent adult.
Whether you're catching up on the latest stories, discovering a new favourite podcast, or connecting with the wider autistic community, we're glad you're here.
This Week’s Topics
Books & research
Events
Creator updates
📻 Listen to Autistic Culture Radio
🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com
🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to another edition of This Week in Autistic Culture, our Sunday magazine that brings together the stories, conversations, and ideas shaping Autistic culture each week.
As Angela is away this week, James Hepworth, host of Collecting Fish and Hyperfocus FC, joins Simon as a guest co-host.
We begin with a look back at Collecting Fish, reflecting on the first season and sharing an update on how James’ marine tank is developing. Then we turn to the FIFA World Cup Final, where Spain lifted the trophy while Argentina’s tournament ended in controversy, before looking back at the competition as a whole and what made this year’s tournament so memorable.
As always, we’ll also take you through everything coming up this week across the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, with new episodes exploring Hamilton, masking and burnout, therapy, genetics, humour, ARFID, basketball, and much more.
Let’s dive in.
🎧 Start Here: Autistic Culture Radio: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0yJ56B3GcrqrlOMS537ve1?si=JxKnd3u_QS6andwrN8yHOA
📻 On Air This Week:
Monday 27th July:
Theatrically Authentic – Episode 6: Built like A System - Hamilton
Sarah Atherton-Knight and Simon Scott dive deep into Hamilton — the cultural phenomenon that transformed modern musical theatre and became a hyperfixation for an entire generation of neurodivergent fans.
Mindful Mondays with Ashley Dupuy
Ashley returns with another mindful reflection and guided meditation to help neurodivergent listeners begin the week with intention and regulation.
Tuesday 28th July:
Drinking to Mask and Unmask - Episode 4: When the Mask Stops Masking
What happens when the strategies that once helped you survive stop working?
Ebony Nash joins Chelsey Flood on Drinking to Mask and Unmask for a conversation about alcohol, neurodivergence, burnout, and identity.
Together they explore the limits of coping strategies, the impact of masking over time, and what it means to build a life that no longer depends on survival mechanisms.
Regulation Station – Episode 6: Navigating Life as an AuDHD Therapist
In this week's episode of Regulation Station, Becca Engle is joined by psychotherapist and Clinically Awkward host Alyssa Zimmerman for a conversation about therapy, neurodivergence, relationships, and what it means to build a life that works with your brain rather than against it.
Wednesday 29th July:
Clinical Misfits - Episode 4: Collagen Changes Everything
In the final episode of Clinical Misfits, Dr Mary discusses some genetic conditions that account for a lot of the physical, mental, psychological and behavioural characteristics present in varying degrees in the majority of neurodivergent people. These are largely due to defects in collagen!
Two Mics No Masking - Episode 3: Humour as Kryptonite to Hierarchy
Katie Scott and Jenna Goldstein explore the power of humour as more than entertainment. For many neurodivergent people, laughter can challenge assumptions, expose contradictions, and create connection in ways that words alone often can't.
Thursday 30th July:
NEW SHOW - Autism Help– Episode 1: ARFID and Autism
Heather McKay talks about ARFID in autistic people, and how the current treatments for ARFID actually make our ARFID worse, and cause us to drop safe foods.
The Neurodivergent Experience - Episode 121
Jordan James and Simon Scott return for a conversation about the Neurodivergent Experience!
Friday 31st July:
Hot Topic Friday
A new discussion from The Neurodivergent Experience team, tackling a fresh topic from the world of neurodivergence.
Under The Lights - Episode 2: Top 10 NBA Playoff Series
Turrell Burgess counts down the greatest NBA Playoff series from a lifetime of watching basketball.
📚 From the Archive - Saturday 1st August
Autistic Culture Podcast Rewind – Sherlock is Autistic
Rewind with an Autistic Culture Podcast classic, as we investigate Sherlock Holmes as an Autistic-coded cultural icon.
Please rate, share and review our shows, as it helps them grow and reach more people! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to another edition of This Week in Autistic Culture, our Sunday magazine that brings together the stories, conversations, and ideas shaping Autistic culture each week.
This week we’re exploring the power of shared passions and community, from Simon’s unforgettable experience seeing My Chemical Romance at Wembley to the excitement of the FIFA World Cup as it reaches its dramatic conclusion. We also share opportunities from our Community Noticeboard, celebrate projects happening across the Autistic community, and take a look at another packed week of new programmes from across the Autistic Culture Podcast Network.
🎧 Start Here: Autistic Culture Radio
Monday 20th July:
Theatrically Authentic – Episode 5: Coded But Not Confirmed
Sarah Atherton-Knight and Simon Scott explore what happens when audiences recognise neurodivergence in a character… but the script never says it out loud in Theatrically Authentic.
From beloved fan favourites to controversial portrayals, they discuss why certain characters resonate so deeply with neurodivergent audiences — and where the line exists between meaningful representation and harmful caricature.
Mindful Mondays with Ashley Dupuy
Ashley returns with another mindful reflection and guided meditation to help neurodivergent listeners begin the week with intention and regulation.
Tuesday 21st July:
Creative Becoming – Episode 4: Catalyst For Creativity
Helen and Elizabeth explore how life's unexpected disruptions can become catalysts for creativity in EP4 of Creative Becoming
Regulation Station – Episode 5: It Starts with One Child: Creating Inclusive Classrooms
In this week's episode of Regulation Station, Becca Engle is joined by autism care specialist, author, and advocate Carra Dixon to discuss inclusion, education, and the power of early understanding.
Wednesday 22nd July:
The Neurocomplex Creative– Episode 3: Big Hearts, Hollywood Dreams
Vicki sits down with her longtime friend and collaborator TJ Berden — filmmaker, producer, and one of her people — for a conversation twenty years in the making on EP3 of The Neurocomplex Creative.
Two Mics No Masking - Episode 2: Behaviourism as the Ultimate Human Hubris
Katie Scott and Jenna Goldstein unpack the hidden assumptions behind behaviourism and ask what happens when society decides there’s only one “right” way to think, behave, and exist, in our new show Two Mics No Masking.
Thursday 23rd July:
Autistic Rant Hour – Episode 6: Accessibility Across Disabilities
This week on Autistic Rant Hour, Dr Gal rants about Accessibility Across Disabilities - with guest Tal(y) Wozner (pronouns: she/her), filmmaker and queer and disability activist.
The Neurodivergent Experience - Episode 120
Jordan James and Simon Scott return for a conversation about the Neurodivergent Experience!
Friday 24th July:
Hot Topic Friday
A new discussion from The Neurodivergent Experience team, tackling a fresh topic from the world of neurodivergence.
NEW SHOW - Under The Lights: March Madness
Under the lights with Turrell Burgess arrives, counting down the biggest sports moments from the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament, better known as March Madness.
📚 From the Archive - Saturday 25th July
Autistic Culture Podcast Rewind – Apple is Autistic
Rewind with an Autistic Culture Podcast classic, as we reframe Hans Christian Andersen—not as the “awkward, difficult” writer he’s often portrayed to be, but as a figure whose life and work reflect Autistic culture.
Please rate, share and review our shows, as it helps them grow and reach more people! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to This Week in Autistic Culture!
This week marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Autistic Culture Podcast Network as our weekly roundup evolves into a Sunday magazine podcast and newsletter that explores the stories, conversations, and ideas shaping Autistic culture.
This week we’re discussing the FIFA World Cup, Taylor Swift, SZA’s autism diagnosis, the latest developments in autism research, and, of course, bringing you another fantastic week of podcasts from across the network.
🎧 Start Here: Autistic Culture Radio
📻 On Air This Week:
Monday 13th July:
Theatrically Authentic – Episode 4: Committing to the Bit
Sarah Atherton-Knight and Simon Scott explore what it actually means to be a neurodivergent performer and committing to the bit — from auditions and rejection sensitivity to character building, hyperfocus, and the emotional intensity of stepping on stage.
Mindful Mondays with Ashley Dupuy:
Ashley returns with another mindful reflection and guided meditation to help neurodivergent listeners begin the week with intention and regulation.
Tuesday 14th July:
Drinking to Mask and Unmask - Episode 3: Masking Is Real
Chelsey Flood speaks with researcher Dr Laura Hull about the science of masking, the experiences that masking describes, and why having language for these behaviours matters
Regulation Station – Episode 4: Work the Way You Are
Becca Engle is joined by neurodivergent business coach and former educator Megan Bonde to explore what happens when we stop trying to fit ourselves into systems that weren’t designed for us.
Wednesday 15th July:
Clinical Misfits - Episode 3: Exaggerated Immune Responses
Dr Mary explains how the autonomic nervous system and the immune system provide a protective net over the entire person.
NEW SHOW - Two Mics No Masking - Episode 1: You’re Too Much / You’re Not Enough
In the first episode of Two Mics, No Masking, Katie Scott and Jenna Goldstein explore one of the most familiar experiences for neurodivergent people: being told you’re simultaneously “too much” and “not enough.”
Thursday 16th July:
Autistic Rant Hour – Episode 5: Exact Sciences: Or Are They?
Exact Sciences are things folks who consider themselves rational and logical assume can be trusted. And they would be, but scientists are only human, and some of them aren’t even autistic, gasp!
The Neurodivergent Experience - Episode 119
Jordan James and Simon Scott return for a conversation about the Neurodivergent Experience!
Friday 17th July:
Hot Topic Friday - A new discussion from The Neurodivergent Experience team, tackling a fresh topic from the world of neurodivergence.
Collecting Fish – Episode 4: The Future of Fishkeeping
In the final episode of this series of Collecting Fish, James Hepworth reflects on the current state of the aquarium hobby. From online education and captive breeding to social media, consumerism, and sustainability, this episode explores both the strengths and contradictions of modern fishkeeping.
📚 From the Archive - Saturday 18th July:
Autistic Culture Podcast Rewind – Apple is Autistic
Rewind with an Autistic Culture Podcast classic, as we re-run Apple is Autistic, exploring how Steve Jobs’ Autistic traits shaped Apple’s revolutionary success
Please rate, share and review our shows, as it helps them grow and reach more people! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the third edition of This Week in Autistic Culture!
This week marks an exciting milestone for the Autistic Culture Podcast Network as we launch the very first Autistic Culture Mixtape - a new way to experience ACPN through a curated blend of music and podcast programming. Alongside the Mixtape, we’ve got another packed week of new episodes exploring theatre, education, creativity, football, neurodivergent life, fishkeeping, healthcare and more. Whether you’re catching up on your favourite shows or discovering ACPN for the first time, this newsletter is your guide to everything happening across the network.
Let’s dive in!
🎧 Start Here: The Autistic Culture Mixtape • July 2026
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0yJ56B3GcrqrlOMS537ve1?si=JxKnd3u_QS6andwrN8yHOA
📻 This Week’s Programmes:
Monday 6th July:
Theatrically Authentic – Episode 3: Theatre Kid Energy - Subscribe to Theatrically Authentic
Mindful Mondays with Ashley Dupuy
Ashley returns with another mindful reflection and guided meditation to help neurodivergent listeners begin the week with intention and regulation.
Tuesday 7th July:
Creative Becoming – Episode 3: Sticking With It - Subscribe to Creative becoming
Regulation Station – Episode 3: Holding Space You Don’t Inhabit: Supporting Neurodivergent Students - Subscribe to Regulation Station
Wednesday 8th July:
Hyperfocus FC – Episode 4: The 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup - Subscribe to Hyperfocus FC
The Neurocomplex Creative– Episode 2: Found Family, Big Feelings - Subscribe to The Neurocomplex creative
Thursday 9th July:
Autistic Rant Hour – Episode 4: Mental Health Services - Subscribe to The Autistic Rant Hour
The Neurodivergent Experience - Episode 118 - Subscribe to NDE
Friday 10th July:
Hot Topic Friday - Subscribe to NDE
Collecting Fish– Episode 3: An Ocean In Your Living Room - Subscribe to Collecting Fish
📚 From the Archive - Saturday 11th July
Autistic Culture Podcast Rewind – Emily Dickinson is Autistic - Subscribe to ACP Rewind
Please rate, share and review our shows, as it helps them grow and reach more people! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the second edition of This Week in Autistic Culture
Each week, we’ll guide you through what’s new across the network, highlight upcoming episodes, and help you discover new autistic-led podcasts and creators.
This week we’re celebrating an incredible first week of the network, reflecting on our launch party, and looking ahead to a packed schedule of new episodes covering theatre, education, addiction, football, healthcare, fishkeeping, neurodivergent life, and more.
📻 Tap any show below to listen and subscribe.
Please rate, share and review our shows, as it helps them grow and reach more people! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Monday 29th June:
Theatrically Authentic – Episode 2: Predictably Chaotic
Subscribe to Theatrically Authentic
Mindful Mondays with Ashley Dupuy
Tuesday 30th June:
Chelsey Flood speaks with musician Rosalie James about addiction, recovery, creativity, quick fixes, and finding solutions that actually work for you.
Subscribe to Drinking To Mask and Unmask
Regulation Station – Episode 2: Finding the Right School Too Late
Subscribe to Regulation Station
Wednesday 1st July:
Hyperfocus FC – Episode 3: The 2014 World Cup
Subscribe to Hyperfocus FC
Clinical Misfits – Episode 2: Endocrine Dysregulation
Subscribe to Clinical Misfits
Thursday 2nd July:
Autistic Rant Hour – Episode 3: Medical Gaslighting
Subscribe to The Autistic Rant Hour
The Neurodivergent Experience - Episode 117
Subscribe to NDE
Friday 3rd July:
Subscribe to NDE
Collecting Fish – Episode 2: A River in Your Living Room
Subscribe to Collecting Fish
Saturday 4th July:
Subscribe to ACP Rewind
Independent Podcasters Day
This week, we also celebrate Independent Podcasters Day and the incredible creators, networks, and communities helping independent voices thrive. Independent podcasting allows diverse stories and perspectives to reach audiences without being filtered through corporate gatekeepers.
Thank you for joining us for this second edition of This Week on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network. We’ll be back next week with another roundup of everything new on the network!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the very first edition of This Week in Autistic Culture!
Each week, this short update acts as our version of the old TV Guide: a quick way to find out what’s new across the network, discover shows you might have missed, and keep up with the incredible work being created by Autistic podcasters around the world.
Most weeks, we’ll simply let you know which episodes are arriving in your feed. But this week is a little different.
This week, we’re launching the Autistic Culture Podcast Network!
After more than eighteen months of planning, hundreds of submissions, countless conversations, and a huge amount of work behind the scenes, we’re thrilled to introduce the first nine original shows joining the network alongside our existing programmes. These first nine shows will always be special.
Drinking to Mask and Unmask
Hosted by Chelsey Flood, this series explores the relationship between autism, masking, alcohol, addiction, and survival through lived experience and compassionate conversations.
Clinical Misfits
Dr Mary Sims combines medical expertise and lived experience to examine neurodivergent health, burnout, and the systems that shape our wellbeing.
Autistic Rant Hour
Dr Gal Schkolnik offers sharp, funny, deeply informed discussions about bureaucracy, healthcare, accessibility, and all the systems that make Autistic people ask, “Who designed this?”
The Neurocomplex Creative
Vicky Peterson explores creativity, burnout, chronic illness, and what it means to keep creating in a world that often demands too much from neurodivergent people.
Creative Becoming
Helen Shaddock and Elizabeth Moffett reflect on identity, creativity, self-understanding, and building a life that fits who you actually are.
Hyperfocus FC
Simon Scott, James Hepworth, and Jack Hoban revisit iconic World Cups and the culture surrounding football’s biggest stage through an unmistakably neurodivergent lens.
Collecting Fish
Hosted by James Hepworth, this joyful celebration of fishkeeping proves that special interests are contagious—in the very best way.
Theatrically Authentic
Sarah Atherton-Knight and Simon Scott explore theatre, neurodivergence, creativity, and the realities of building a life in the performing arts.
Regulation Station
Becca Engle provides practical, neuroaffirming guidance for families, educators, advocates, and anyone supporting neurodivergent young people.
Listen Ad-Free with Autistic Culture Plus
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Join Autistic Culture Plus to support autistic creators and help us commission even more shows from our community.
Join Autistic Culture +
The Autistic Culture Podcast Network is always looking for new voices and new perspectives.
If you have an idea for a podcast grounded in Autistic lived experience, culture, identity, advocacy, creativity, or special interests, we’d love to hear from you.
Submit Your Idea
🌐 Visit www.autisticculturepodcastnetwork.com
📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the publisher's feed
This Week in Autistic Culture is your weekly guide to the stories, ideas and unexpected connections shaping Autistic culture.
Hosted by Dr Angela Kingdon and Simon Scott, this…
From the stories making us think to the films, music, fandoms and ideas waiting to be excavated in the Autistic Culture Archive, this is a show about discovering where Autistic culture lives — and celebrating the people creating it.
Our culture. Our stories. Our future.
🌐 Subscribe to our newsletter and read our Autistic Culture Archive Field Reports: www.autisticculturepodcast.com
🎧 Listen: This Week in Autistic Culture is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all major podcast platforms.
🌈 Become a Culture Builder: Get early access, ad-free listening and our full podcast archive at AutisticCulturePlus
📲 Follow us on Instagram: @autisticculturepodcast
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