Episode 54: Funny Ladies are Autistic

Reclaiming the Narrative: Autistic Comedians' Memoirs Offer Neurodiversity-Affirming Insights

• Autistic podcast hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP discuss the memoirs of two acclaimed autistic comedians, Hannah Gadsby from Tasmania and Fern Brady from Scotland.

• The hosts highlight the striking parallels in the comedians' lives, including their struggles with getting accurately diagnosed, dealing with gender-based violence and abuse, and facing homophobia and ableism.

• Both Gadsby and Brady found solace and a survival mechanism in comedy, finding great success through performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

• The discussion explores the comedians' experiences with employment challenges, homelessness, and disordered eating - issues that often intersect with the autistic experience.

• The podcast delves into the differences between autistic meltdowns and shutdowns, as well as the use of comedy as a masking technique to navigate a neurotypical-dominated world.

• The hosts praise the memoirs as powerful examples of autistic individuals reclaiming their narratives and gaining deeper self-understanding.

• They highly recommend reading the books and watching the comedians' performances, which offer neurodiversity-affirming insights and representation for the autistic community.

• Overall, the episode celebrates the resilience and creative expression of Gadsby and Brady, showcasing how autistic individuals can channel their experiences into transformative art and advocacy.

*At the time of the recording, Angela and Matt used she/her pronouns for Hannah Gadsby based on the research materials for the episode (mainly: Hannah’s memoir, stand-up specials, and a few interviews). We have since learned that Hannah’s pronouns are they/them. TACP fully supports gender diversity and respecting people’s pronouns. We apologize for the serious error we made and offer our sincerest apologies to Hannah and our listeners for our mistake and any harm it has caused. In this instance, we failed to live up to our mission of radical inclusivity. Please respect your own boundaries and triggers and listen with care.

Do you relate to these Autistic comedians? Do their stories remind you of your own?

Hannah Notes:

• Book: 10 Steps to Nanette

• Wikipedia: Hannah Gadsby

• Netflix Specials: Nanette, Douglas, Something Special

• Article: Hannah Gadsby's Nanette: Connection Through Comedy

• Article: Hannah Gadsby's song of the self

• Article: Hannah Gadsby Gets the Last Laugh in 10 Steps to Nanette

• Article: Hannah Gadsby on her autism diagnosis: ‘I’ve always been plagued by a sense that I was a little out of whack’

• NPR’s Fresh Air: Autism Spectrum Diagnosis Helped Comic Hannah Gadsby 'Be Kinder' To Herself

• Article: Hannah Gadsby told she was ‘too fat’ and ‘too female’ to be autistic

• Article: Hannah Gadsby Threatened to Quit Comedy in Nanette. Her New Memoir Proves She’s Not Going Anywhere

• Article: Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby audiobook review – startling candour

Fern Notes:

• Book: Strong Female Character

• Wikipedia: Fern Brady

• YouTube playlist: Taskmaster Series 14

• Article: Taskmaster’s Fern Brady: How a late diagnosis of autism explained my meltdowns

• Article: Review: Strong Female Character, by Fern Brady

• Article: Strong Female Character: An unflinching self-portrait

• Article: ‘Everything ends up about death and shagging’: Fern Brady on comedy, autism and intrusive thoughts

• Video: Fern Brady On Being A Stripper, Autism Diagnosis & School In 'A Men's Prison'

• Article: Book review: Strong Character, by Fern Brady

More Autistic Culture:

• Episode 03: Poetry is Autistic (Emily Dickinson episode)

• Episode 15: Greta is Autistic (Greta Thunberg episode)

• Episode 36: Bad Autism Diagnosis

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Learn more about Matt at Matt Lowry, LPP

Matt’s social media: Autistic Connections Facebook Group

Learn more about Angela at AngelaLauria.com and Difference Press

Angela’s social media: Twitter and TikTok

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