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  • [Encore] Lena Dunham is Autistic

    [Encore] Lena Dunham is Autistic
    2025/07/29
    This episode originally aired on March 11th 2025, but with her new hit show “Too Much” in the spotlight, and #1 on Netflix, it’s more relevant than ever. We're currently on hiatus, but we wanted to bring this one back into the feed for anyone watching the show!Here’s what’s in store for this episode: * Why Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and POTS often co-occur with autism—and how Lena Dunham’s chronic illness journey mirrors autistic burnout.* How Girls functions as an autistic TV show, created by a mind that doesn’t follow neurotypical storytelling norms—and why that resonates with so many of us.* Lena’s character in Girls exhibits traits like rejection-sensitive dysphoria, clothing sensitivities, difficulty with transitions, and social cue misfires—classic markers of autism.* We explore Dunham’s memoir, Not That Kind of Girl, and how neurotypical audiences misunderstood it, highlighting the risks autistic creatives face when being raw and unfiltered.* The canonical autism of Girls character Shoshanna, and how autistic-coded characters naturally cluster in neurodivergent-created spaces.* How Lena Dunham’s autistic traits were pathologised, her career sidelined, and how a lack of control in creative environments can lead to health crises for neurodivergent people.* We also discuss her marriage to Jack Antonoff, and his neurodivergent-coded songwriting for bands like Fun. and Bleachers, as well as his ties to Taylor Swift, who’s also widely considered neurodivergent-coded. Are you watching Too Much? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!Show notes:Why Taylor Swift Seems to Be Autistic, and What It Means for Autism: Biographical Information* Lena Dunham – Britannica Biography* Lena Dunham – Wikipedia* Jack Antonoff – Wikipedia* Lena Dunham: Net Worth & Career Highlights – YouTube* Threads Post – Oakley Johansen on Lena Dunham🧠 Mental Health, OCD & Neurodivergence* Jack Antonoff Discusses OCD Rituals and Loss – People* Lena Dunham on OCD, Anxiety, and Mental Health – Wikipedia🩺 Chronic Illness & EDS* Lena Dunham Reveals Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Diagnosis – CNN📝 Writing, Creativity & Communication Style* Lena Dunham’s Passion for Writing in Girls – Project MUSE* Lena Dunham’s Communication Style & Public Criticism – Medium* Lena Dunham on Routine, Structure & Creativity – The New YorkerRelated Episodes:Taylor Swift is AutisticMeat Body MaintenanceReady for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Follow us on InstagramFind us on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyLearn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com Our Autism-affirming merch shop This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com/subscribe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 5 分
  • Pillar 10: Passionate Superfanning with Simon Scott

    Pillar 10: Passionate Superfanning with Simon Scott
    2025/07/22

    In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 10 of Autistic Culture: Passionate Superfanning with producer and fellow podcaster Simon Scott. Whether it’s Doctor Who, My Chemical Romance, Star Trek, or Renaissance fairs—superfanning isn’t a phase. It’s a core cultural trait of autistic identity.


    We break down how special interests (SPINs), emotional intensity, and parasocial bonding create a uniquely autistic form of connection with fictional universes and fan communities.


    🎧 What You’ll Learn

    • Why superfanning is a form of emotional regulation, community-building, and cultural expression in autistic lives
    • The role of SPINs in forming deep, long-term relationships with fictional characters and stories
    • How fan spaces, cosplay, scripting, and world-building support autistic identity, routine, and joy
    • The difference between leaning in to fandom as an autistic form of self-care vs. masking it to appear neurotypical
    • How conventions and fandom aesthetics offer accessible social connection where autistic people can thrive


    💡 Key Concepts from This Episode

    • SPINs are not fleeting hobbies—they’re lifelines.
    • Superfanning includes collecting, scripting, deep lore analysis, and wearing fandom as identity.
    • Fictional friends offer emotional fluency, comfort, and companionship.
    • Autistic fans often mask their enthusiasm due to stigma—this episode invites you to unmask with pride.


    🎤 Featured Guest

    • Simon Scott – The Neurodivergent Experience Podcast


    🎙️ Related Episodes:

    • Hans Christian Andersen (Ep 9): Fairy tales as emotional mirrors for autistic readers
    • Star Trek (Ep 10): Logic, lore, and moral storytelling for the autistic brain
    • My Little Pony (Ep 18): Friendship, emotional growth, and gender exploration
    • Doctor Who (Ep 30): Regeneration, scripting, and narrative flexibility
    • Christmas (Ep 49): Ritual and sensory joy as autistic cultural tradition
    • The Orville (Ep 103): Speculative ethics and social fluency in fandom
    • My Chemical Romance (Ep 121): Identity and emotional depth through music
    • Cults (Ep 129): When shared purpose turns toxic—superfanning vs. coercion


    🌟 Connect With Us

    📱 Follow us on Instagram

    🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

    🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

    🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 26 分
  • Neurodivergent Narratives: Week 10 Winner

    Neurodivergent Narratives: Week 10 Winner
    2025/07/18

    In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, guest host and producer Simon Scott spotlights top submissions from Week 10 of our Neurodivergent Narratives Series. From self-acceptance to unmasking, these powerful micro-narratives highlight how advice functions as a cultural transmission tool in the autistic community. Because when we tell our truths, we help others find theirs.


    🎧 What You’ll Hear

    • Our top two listener-submitted advice pieces from Week 10
    • Reflections on how storytelling builds shared identity and emotional fluency
    • How autistic writers use short-form storytelling for healing, voice reclamation, and radical self-acceptance
    • Why advice-giving is not about fixing—but about cultural resonance


    🏆 Week 10 Winners


    🥇 First Place:

    “Oh, Darling One. This is Big. But Here's What You Need to Do”

    by Cat Blyth


    🥈 Runner-Up:

    “Perfectly Imperfect”

    by Emily Burgess


    Congratulations to our featured writers, and thank you to everyone who submitted! Want to see their full entries? Read them here.


    This isn’t therapy. This is voice reclamation.

    Submit entry. Let Your Voice Be Heard.


    💌 Good luck, writers. We’re saving you a seat.


    🎙️ Related Episodes:


    Autism And The Myth of Success (Episode 146) - Writing Prompt #34

    Advice for Autistics (Episode 148) - Writing Prompt #35


    🌟 Connect With Us

    📱 Follow us on Instagram

    🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

    🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

    🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    7 分
  • Pillar 9: Justice Seeking with Clare Kumar

    Pillar 9: Justice Seeking with Clare Kumar
    2025/07/15

    In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon is joined by Clare Kumar, productivity speaker and host of the Happy Space Podcast, to explore Pillar 9: Justice-Seeking in autistic culture.

    Clare, a late-diagnosed autistic woman and workplace inclusion advocate, shares how her values-driven mindset and sensitivity to fairness shaped her work, her diagnosis journey, and her unmasking process. If you’ve ever been told you’re "too intense," "too rigid," or "black-and-white," this episode offers a radical reframing of those traits as powerful autistic strengths.


    🎧 What You’ll Learn

    • How moral clarity, justice sensitivity, and literal honesty are central to autistic identity
    • Why autistic people often challenge unjust systems, even when it’s uncomfortable or costly
    • The role of black-and-white thinking in identifying harm — not as immaturity, but as clarity
    • How meltdowns can be valid emotional responses to systemic injustice, not just overstimulation
    • Strategies for embracing truth, consistency, and fairness in personal and professional spaces


    For so many of us, justice-seeking has been used against us. We were called “too much” or “overreactive.” But in autistic culture, these traits are not flaws — they’re cultural strengths. What happens when we stop apologizing for caring so deeply?


    👤 Featured Guest: Clare Kumar

    • 🎧 Happy Space Podcast – Episode 45 – Clare shares her late-diagnosis journey and explores justice sensitivity with guest Melanie Deziel
    • 👕 InclusiviTees Apparel – Neurodivergent-affirming, ethically made designs that promote conversation and inclusion
    • 🌐 ClareKumar.com – Learn more about Clare’s work in productivity, sensory-friendly design, and neuroinclusion
    • 🧠 Stanford Neurodiversity Summit – Angela & Clare’s presentation on late-diagnosed autistic women


    🎙️ Related Episodes:

    Greta Thunberg (Ep 15)

    John McEnroe (Ep 42)

    Lena Dunham (Ep 113)


    🌟 Connect With Us

    📱 Follow us on Instagram

    🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

    🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

    🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 19 分
  • Advice for Autistics: Weekly Writing Contest

    Advice for Autistics: Weekly Writing Contest
    2025/07/11
    Part of our 12-Week Writing Series for autistic creatives and late-diagnosed adults.In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon shares her most powerful personal advice for newly identified autistic adults—and invites you to do the same.As part of our Neurodivergent Narratives Writing Series, this episode explores how advice, in just 100 words or fewer, becomes a cultural artifact—a way to say:✨ “You’re not broken. You’re not alone. And yes, your weird, wonderful brain is welcome here.”We also announce the winners of our Week 9 writing prompt contest!🎧 What You’ll LearnWhy advice-giving is one of the fastest ways autistic people build culture and connectionHow writing short-form advice can help process identity shock, grief, and unmaskingThe difference between self-diagnosed vs. self-identified in autistic discourseHow special interests can serve as healing rituals, not guilty pleasuresA behind-the-scenes look at how we design this journal-therapy-inspired podcast seriesInsight into the upcoming Neurodivergent Narratives MasterclassHow to contribute your voice to future episodes and community anthologies🏆 Week 9 Winners🥇 First Place:“At Least Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie Got Warned”by Elena Kay Greenwell🥈 Runner-Up:“Greyworld”by Katherine StewartCongratulations to our featured writers, and thank you to everyone who submitted! Want to see their full entries? Read them here.📝 Neurodivergent Narratives Presents: ‘Got A Tip’ ContestPrompt: In 100 words or fewer, share your best advice for someone newly identified as autistic.When you're late-identified, the world can feel overwhelming. Advice from lived autistic experience cuts through the fog—it’s not therapy, it’s voice reclamation.🖊️ Open to: Everyone 🗓️ Deadline: Wednesday, July 16 at 12 PM ET / 5 PM UK 💷 Prize: £10 per winner 📘 Publication: Winners featured on Substack and in our Neurodivergent Narratives anthology 🔗 Submit your entry here →✅ Rules at a Glance:No plagiarism or hate speechNo explicit or graphic contentMultiple entries allowedNo subscription or attendance requiredFinal decisions are final📢 Use #gotatip on social media to spread the wordThis isn’t therapy. This is voice reclamation.Submit entry. Let Your Voice Be Heard.💌 Good luck, writers. We’re saving you a seat.🔗 Featured Links & References:🎤 Joe Wells – “I Am Autistic” (Comedy Set on YouTube)🎵 Jude Perl – “The Label Song” on Bandcamp📘 Am I Actually Autistic? – A guide to processing late autism discovery→ Free preview on Substack🎙️ Related Episodes:Autistic Head Cannon (Episode 144) - Writing Prompt #33Autism And The Myth of Success (Episode 146) - Writing Prompt #34🌟 Connect With Us📱 Follow us on Instagram🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    58 分
  • Pillar 8: Predictably Comforting with Daria Brown

    Pillar 8: Predictably Comforting with Daria Brown
    2025/07/08

    In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 8: Predictably Comforting with special guest Daria Brown, author of We Chose Play: Raising an Autistic Child to Thrive and Feel Understood. Together, they unpack how predictability, routine, and familiarity are not about rigidity—they’re about emotional safety, sensory regulation, and identity coherence.

    This conversation is essential for autistic adults, parents, and advocates who want to better understand the soothing power of sameness in autistic lives.


    🎧 What You’ll Learn

    • Why routine and repetition are cultural strengths in autistic communities
    • How sensory regulation and emotional grounding depend on predictability
    • The difference between rigidity vs. self-protection
    • How repetition (like rewatching shows or eating the same foods) supports well-being
    • Cultural icons—from Thomas the Tank Engine to Andy Warhol—who exemplify this trait
    • Tools for supporting autistic children and adults through comfort-based design


    👤 Featured Guest: Daria Brown

    Daria holds a Master’s in Personality and Social Psychology and brings over 30 years of experience in research, education, and neurodiversity advocacy.

    • 🌐 Affect Autism Website
    • 📖 We Chose Play – Buy the Book
    • 🎧 Affect Autism Podcast
    • 📺 Affect Autism YouTube Channel
    • 📸 Instagram: @affectautism
    • 📘 Facebook
    • 🐦 Twitter/X: @affectautism


    Related Episodes:

    Andy Warhol (Ep 33) - Repetition as art, ritual, and grounding

    The Law (Ep 115) - Predictability through rules, order, and structure


    🌟 Connect With Us

    📱 Follow us on Instagram

    🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

    🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

    🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 10 分
  • Autism And The Myth of Success: Weekly Writing Contest

    Autism And The Myth of Success: Weekly Writing Contest
    2025/07/04
    Part of our 12-Week Writing Series for autistic creatives and late-diagnosed adults.In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon is joined by poet, nonfiction writer, and fiber artist Christina Socorro Yovovich for a conversation that redefines what “success” means for autistic creatives.Together, they explore how writing can be both a healing modality and a radical act of self-definition—especially for neurodivergent people navigating ableist ideas of productivity. From fiber arts to memoir, Christina shares how sensory-soothing practices support creativity, and how success isn’t always publication—it’s peace, expression, and connection.We also announce the winners of our Week 8 writing prompt contest!🎧 What You’ll LearnWhy “write every day” advice often clashes with neurodivergent energy rhythmsHow knitting, journaling, and pets provide sensory grounding for creativityThe difference between external success (money, recognition) and internal success (healing, self-trust)Why spoon theory matters in sustaining creative energyHow autistic writers benefit from concrete audiences and predictably comforting environmentsThe impact of internalized ableism on creative self-worth🏆 Week 8 Winners🥇 First Place:“Goldilocks – Girl Misunderstood”by Bragitta Ozhga🥈 Runner-Up:“Konstantin Levin”by Louise LomasCongratulations to our featured writers, and thank you to everyone who submitted! Want to see their full entries? Read their stories here.👤 About Christina Socorro YovovichChristina is a poet and nonfiction writer whose work has been featured in River Styx, Blue Mesa Review, MUTHA Magazine, and more. She writes with emotional honesty and sensory depth, often exploring mental health, motherhood, and the autistic lived experience.📸 Instagram: @cyovovich📚 Published Works🎧 Therapeutic Knitting Podcast – “Discovering a Grounded Joy”🧶 Ply Magazine Article – “The Woolly Animal of Dawn”📺 YouTube: Knit & Chat Series🕊️ Guest Sermon at UU ChurchNeurodivergent Narratives Presents: ‘Who Can It Be Now?’ ContestTap into the mystery genre or let your imagination run wild—just keep it under 500 words.🖊️ Open to: Everyone 🗓️ Deadline: Wednesday, July 9 at 12 PM ET / 5 PM UK 💷 Prize: £10 per winner 📘 Publication: Winners featured on Substack and in the Neurodivergent Narratives anthology 🔗 Submit your entry here →✅ Submission RulesNo plagiarism, hate speech, or graphic contentMultiple submissions welcomeNo subscription required to participateAll decisions final 📢 Use hashtag #WhoCanItBeNow on social mediaRelated Episodes:The Art of Unmasking (Episode 142) - Writing Prompt #32Autistic Head Cannon (Episode 144) - Writing Prompt #33🌟 Connect With Us📱 Follow us on Instagram🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 4 分
  • Pillar 7: Boldly Creating with Nina Danon

    Pillar 7: Boldly Creating with Nina Danon
    2025/07/01

    In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 7: Boldly Creating with special guest Nina Danon—composer, sound artist, and doctoral researcher whose work focuses on the rich intersections between autism, music, sensory experience, and creativity.

    This episode is about making art that’s true, not palatable. It’s for every autistic person who has ever created from a place of emotional intensity, sensory immersion, or special interest—and wondered if it “counts.”

    Together, Nina and Angela discuss how stimming, repetition, texture, and rhythm form the basis of autistic artistic practice, and how creative expression becomes a radical act of self-regulation, connection, and authenticity.


    🎧 What You’ll Learn

    • Why autistic creativity often rejects genre, structure, and perfectionism
    • How bottom-up processing fuels invention and form-breaking in autistic art
    • How stimming, fandom, and fiber arts like knitting function as bold creative acts
    • Nina’s upcoming publication on Musical Neuroqueering and her Stimming Wheel toolkit
    • How autistics create to regulate, connect, and process the world through sensory-emotional fusion
    • The power of embracing creative process—not just polished outcomes


    Featured Guest: Nina Danon

    Nina’s work centers autistic creativity as embodied, non-linear, and radically expressive. Her Musical Neuroqueering research will be published in Neuroqueer Theory and Practice (2026, edited by Dr. Nick Walker).

    • 📧 Contact Nina: ncdanon@gmail.com
    • 🩵 Nina on BlueSky: @ninadanon.bsky.social
    • 🎵 “Volcano” – A Neurodivergent Sonic Experience (with Francesco Cassino)
    • 🎤 “Composing Neurodivergence” – King’s College Talk (Feb 2025)


    Further Reading Recommendations from Nina:

    📘 Designing an Autistic Space for Research – Bertilsdotter Rosqvist et al., Neurodiversity Studies (Routledge, 2020)

    🎭 Look, I Made a Hat – Stephen Sondheim (Knopf, 2011)


    Related Episodes:

    Eminem (Ep19) - Bold lyrical precision & emotional vulnerability

    Questlove (Ep29) - Rhythmic innovation through sensory hyperfocus


    🌟 Connect With Us

    📱 Follow us on Instagram

    🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

    🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

    🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 時間 14 分