Autistic Culture | Where autism meets identity! Special Interests Are Self-Care (Episode 116)
An episode that hyperfixates on SPINS!
Here’s what’s in store for today’s episode:
* In this episode, we dive into autistic special interests (SPINS) and the joy they bring us.
* Our hosts start off by talking about how fiction can be an escape for autistic individuals from challenging childhoods.
* Matt and Angela dive into their first SPINS—Frankenstein and Star Wars for Matt, and Bob Geldof and philanthropy for Angela.
* We talk about director’s cuts of movies and the autistic tendency to look up films on Wikipedia or IMDb while watching.
* Additionally, we dive into Angela's SPIN for the band Crowded House and explore how touring for a band can radiate autistic energy.
* We then discuss how the early internet was super autistic and how it helped us find our people to hyperfixate on our SPINS with.
* ABA culture suggests we can only have our special interests if we're "good" and earn them, but that's not true. Our special interests are a natural part of who we are and shouldn't have to be earned or justified.
* We talk about having a career built around special interests and how This Is The Way for autistic people.
* Our special interests help us enter flow states, where we become deeply focused and productive, unlocking creativity and success.
* Finally, we discuss how autistic SPINS can foster deep, meaningful connections, creating beautiful mutual friendships where shared passions and understanding strengthen bonds.
“[My special interests] were the things that got me through it. I identified more with the fictional world than the real one because of friends, family, and fictional characters.” - Matt
“Now, why would you wait and watch the whole movie while instead, you could be looking things up on IMDb or Wikipedia and making your own director’s cut in your mind?” - Angela
“We train our children young. You must train your children in your special interests to increase emotional regulation through special interests. The children we love most accept our special interests as their own. These are the rules.” - Angela
“Back in the day, the Internet was limited to the people who were really, really autistic as hell. Because you were like, ‘I absolutely need to talk about Star Wars with somebody. I will find people to talk about Transformers with, all this. And you found your people.” - Matt
“We cannot enter a flow state through coercion. We cannot enter a flow state when people say, ‘Hey, read this thing. ’ We cannot squeeze this into our heads, partially because of PDA, partially because we just can’t do it, because that’s not how our brains work. But if we have some sort of breadcrumb that gets us interested, we will go all the way and learn everything there is to know about it.” - Matt
“When you find the thing that really, really comes together for you, you just kind of fall into it and that becomes your thing.” - Matt
“It feels like unlocking a secret code when you meet somebody and you’re able to mutually info dump about the thing that you’re really passionate about, because you just hype each other up. And it is a type of relationship that I don’t think neurotypicals understand.” - Matt
Did you enjoy this episode? We explored the power of autistic special interests (SPINS) and how they shape our lives, from hyperfocus to creating mutual friendships. Tune in as we dive into how our SPINS fuel creativity, career paths, and deep connections with others. Share your thoughts in the comments and use #AutisticCultureCatch to connect with us and share your experiences!
Show Notes:
Angela’s SPin Study
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