The Stanley Cup Finals start today, this episode has never been more relevant, and the episode I was planning to air was a complete tech disaster. Re-airing this one was the only correct choice.

If you've already heard this one, welcome back. If you haven't, welcome to one of my favorites. I sat down with author and fellow neurodivergent human Maria Ingrande Mora to talk hockey hyperfixations, parasocial fandom, and what it actually means to have a brain like ours and a sport that kind of seems like it was designed for it.

We go deep on our origin stories, what it actually looks like to be a fan who was never exactly the target demographic, why sports fandom might be one of the most neurodivergent-friendly environments that exists, and the very specific cognitive dissonance of loving hockey fights. Parallel play, but with screaming.

We talk about why unmasking and late autism diagnosis change the way you understand your entire fan history, the moment your autism gets activated by someone signing your jersey in the wrong place, and the parasocial relationships with athletes that were actually just your nervous system doing its best. You are not alone and you never were.

Maria is the author of A Wild Radiance, a queer YA fantasy with ADHD and autistic rep that is out now. Go get it.

00:00 Introduction: Neurodivergent Identity and Late Diagnosis

09:07 Hockey Hyperfixations and Special Interests

15:28 Fandom, Parasocial Relationships, and Social Dynamics

24:41 Playoff Moments, Emotional Dysregulation, and Hyperfocus

31:40 Autistic Teen Fandom and Growing Up Neurodivergent

35:46 Sexual Objectification in Sports and Fandom Culture

40:46 Hockey Fights, Cognitive Dissonance, and Threat Response

45:25 Gender Dynamics, Neurodivergent Identity, and Inclusivity in Sports

51:31 Nostalgia, Unmasking, and Favorite Fan Memories

56:56 Heated Rivalry, Autism Representation, and Queer Hockey

58:33 A Wild Radiance: Neurodivergent Rep in YA Fantasy