An episode that keeps it 100.
Here’s what’s in store for today’s episode:
It’s our 100th episode! A huge thank you to our incredible supporters for joining us on this journey and uplifting our conversations about autistic culture and advocacy.
Our hosts kick off this episode by revisiting the topics they brainstormed when the podcast first began—like Lewis Carroll, James Joyce, and Steve Jobs—and reflecting on whether they've covered them all or if there's still more autistic culture to explore!
We discuss how episodes featuring autistic-coded people and characters with esoteric, autistic-coded lives often provide more content than those about openly autistic public figures because there’s more room for interpretation, deeper cultural analysis, and a richer exploration of autistic themes in storytelling.
Matt and Angela also discuss Sir Isaac Newton and how, if he had masked his autism, we might not have groundbreaking innovations like bridges, gravity, or space travel.
We discuss the problematic figure of Temple Grandin, examining how much of her controversial platform is rooted in her support for eugenics practices and her reliance on neurotypical name recognition.
In addition, we explore neurotypical bias and how neurotypicals often react defensively to speculation that a public figure might be autistic, revealing their own inherent ableism and rigid, preconceived notions of autism.
We also dive into Hans Christian Andersen—an autistic icon—and his story The Ugly Duckling, exploring its autistic coding and the deeper message that we are not "ugly ducklings" to be fixed but neurodiverse and beautiful swans.
Matt and Angela then read heartfelt testimonials from listeners who have found comfort, validation, and a sense of belonging through the podcast. These messages highlight how the discussions on autistic culture, advocacy, and representation have resonated with the community, helping listeners feel seen, understood, and empowered in their own journeys.
Thank you all—we love you, and we’re so grateful that this podcast helps you feel seen! Here’s to many more episodes ahead. If you’ve enjoyed the journey so far, please consider leaving us a positive review on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to help us keep spreading autistic joy and advocacy!
“There’s a lot of gloom and doom out there [about autism] because it’s profitable. To say autism is this horrible, horrible condition that needs to be cured, instead of - it’s a way of life. It’s just how our people do things. It’s totally natural. It is just us. This is our way.” - Matt
“Every once in awhile, I meet somebody out in the real world who is a listener. And it always amazes me because I know that you [Angela] and Simon are here because I can see you and I’m talking to you directly, but I never really expect that other people out there hear anything that I say.” - Matt
Did you catch all 100 layers of autistic culture in our milestone episode? In the comments, tell us which topics resonated with you the most, and use #AutisticCulture100 and #AutisticCultureCatch to share your thoughts on social media and connect with fellow listeners!
Show Notes:
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