An episode that proudly waves the fandom flag!
In Episode 151 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 10 of Autistic Culture: Passionate Superfanning, with special guest Simon Scott, producer of the show and host of the Neurodivergent Experience Podcast.
Whether it’s Doctor Who, Star Trek, My Chemical Romance, football, podcasts, or even Renaissance festivals, superfanning is more than a hobby—it’s cultural identity, emotional regulation, and community-building for many autistic people.
What defines this core Autistic trait?
Superfanning and bonding with fictional friends hold a special place in autistic culture. Our intense special interests (SPINs), emotional depth, and fierce loyalty allow us to form meaningful, lasting connections with characters, narratives, and entire fictional universes. These connections offer comfort, inspiration, and understanding—especially when the real world feels overwhelming or isolating.
Not just escapism—it's a connection.Superfanning involves more than casual enjoyment. It’s about:
* Genuine emotional connection
* Intellectual and sensory engagement
* Deep dives into lore, worldbuilding, and community
We often collect memorabilia, memorise scripts, analyse stories, and find kindred spirits through fandom.
Key Concepts
* SPINs drive depth and consistency across years or decades.
* Emotional regulation happens through repeated viewing, scripting, and community-building.
* Characters become touchstones for identity, empathy, and storytelling fluency.
* Conventions and fan spaces often feel more accessible than "real-world" social events.
* Superfanning validates intense emotional investment—without apology or shame.
💭 Passionate superfanning is often misunderstood as obsessive, childish, or too much—but in autistic culture, it’s a lifeline. Here’s what it looks like when we lean in versus when we feel pressured to mask.
Rewatch your comfort shows🧠 Lean in: Replay your favourite episode for the 30th time—it’s regulation, not boredom.🎭 Mask: Force yourself to “branch out” just to seem normal and lose emotional grounding.
Info-dump with joy🧠 Lean in: Share your fan theory or trivia facts without apology.🎭 Mask: Pretend you don’t care as much as you do to avoid being “too intense.”
Keep your collectables visible🧠 Lean in: Decorate with figures, posters, and books you love.🎭 Mask: Hide your fandom decor to make your space look more “adult.”
Wear your fandom proudly🧠 Lean in: Rock your Hogwarts hoodie or Marvel shirt to feel like yourself.🎭 Mask: Dress “professionally” even when it strips away your self-expression.
Write or draw your fanwork🧠 Lean in: Create playlists, fanfiction, or art around your SPIN.🎭 Mask: Call it a “guilty pleasure” instead of letting it be a valid creative outlet.
Use fandom language to connect🧠 Lean in: Reference characters, quotes, or memes when talking with others.🎭 Mask: Suppress your enthusiasm to appear socially neutral.
Let fictional friendships soothe you🧠 Lean in: Talk to your parasocial crew or journal as your favourite character.🎭 Mask: Dismiss it as silly when those bonds are emotionally real.
Attend fan events without apology🧠 Lean in: Go to cons, online panels, or meetups that feel like home.🎭 Mask: Pretend you’re just tagging along, not really a superfan.
Structure your day around your fandom🧠 Lean in: Watch your favourite series while you eat or wind down.🎭 Mask: Force yourself into neurotypical media habits to “stay current.”
Let your fandom be part of your identity🧠 Lean in: Introduce yourself with your SPIN—“I’m obsessed with Doctor Who.”🎭 Mask: Talk about it like a hobby, not the deep connection it truly is.
So, whether you’re autistic, exploring the possibility, or just someone who loves and respects autistic people, you are welcome here.
We’re saving you a seat!
This episode is a part of our Start Here Series, which is designed for new listeners of the show who are wondering, “Where should I start?” to have a solid foundation for their experience here. It’s also for loyal listeners to begin to more fully embody the pillars of Autistic culture with more clarity and pride. Join the convo with #AutisticCulture!
Resources:
Simon Scott — The Neurodivergent Experience Podcast
Related Episodes:
* Hans Christian Andersen (Ep 9)Andersen didn’t just write fairy tales—he created immersive emotional worlds. Autistic readers often connect deeply to his themes of loneliness, loyalty, and transformation, resonating with how we use stories for survival.
* Star Trek (Ep 10)Star Trek invites deep emotional and ethical engagement—perfect for autistic superfans who thrive on lore, logic, and moral structure. From cosplay to Klingon, it’s a fandom built for immersion and belonging.
* My Little Pony (Ep 18)Autistic fans—especially those exploring gender and emotional fluency—find connection and regulation through My Little Pony's overt lessons about friendship, identity, and inclusion.
* Doctor Who (Ep 30)With regenerating characters and a flexible canon, Doctor Who offers narrative complexity and emotional arcs that invite lifelong SPINs, scripting, and fan interpretation—hallmarks of passionate superfanning.
* Christmas (Ep 49)Christmas isn’t just a holiday—it’s a full sensory fandom. Lights, music, stories, rituals—many autistic people build elaborate systems of meaning and comfort around them, showing how deeply we connect to tradition.
* The Orville (Ep 103)A spiritual successor to Star Trek, The Orville blends comedy, ethics, and space opera into a fandom ripe for autistic superfanning: thoughtful debates, character arcs, and speculative world-building.
* My Chemical Romance (Ep 121)This episode dives into how My Chemical Romance became a powerful conduit for autistic superfanning—where emotional depth, theatrical storytelling, and identity formation collide.
* Cults (Ep 129)This episode explores the darker side of passionate attachment—how autistic devotion to community, ritual, and shared purpose can be misused. A critical look at when superfanning gets weaponised.
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