Questlove is Autistic

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast, hosts Dr. Angela Kingdon and Matt Lowry, LPP dive into the fascinating world of musician, producer, historian, and DJ Questlove (Amir Khalib Thompson)—who briefly revealed his childhood autism diagnosis in his 2013 memoir.

🎧 What You’ll Learn:

• Questlove’s childhood special interests in Soul Train and Black music history, plus his soothing *stim of watching records spin.
• His encyclopaedic music knowledge and extraordinary ability to instantly identify the beats per minute of songs.
• The story of his massive record collection and historic Black music memorabilia, which will one day live at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
• Questlove’s identity as a “walking Blacksonian” historian, preserving and honoring Black music’s rightful place in history.
• How his Autistic traits—attention to detail, pattern recognition, monotropism, and passionate data-collecting—interconnect to fuel his creativity and advocacy.
• Why Questlove’s story shows what happens when autism is embraced, not pathologized—a celebration of Autistic life in rhythm, culture, and justice.

Resources:

• Mo' Meta Blues: The World According to Questlove
• Questlove's Roots: A 'Meta' Memoir Of A Lifetime In Music
• The Passion of Questlove
• Wikipedia: Questlove
• Questlove Reflects on A Tribe Called Quest’s Iconic ‘People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm,’ 25 Years Later

Related Episodes:

Eminem is Autistic

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🎙️ Executive Producers: Amy Burns, Anamaria B Call, Andrew Banner, Anna Goodson, Ashley Apelzin, Audrea Volker, Ben Coulson, Brian Churcek, Cappy Hamper, Carley Biblin, Charlene Deva, Chloe Cross, Clay Duhigg, Clayton Oliver, Danny Dunn, Daria Brown, David Garrido, Emily Burgess, Eric Crane, Erik Stenerud, Fiona Baker, Grace Norman, Helen Shaddock, Jaimie Collins, Jason Killian, Jen Unruh, Jennifer Carpenter, Julia Tretter, Kathie Watson-Gray, Kenneth Knowles, Kira Cotter, Kristine Lang, Kyle Raney, Llew P Williams, Laura Alvarado, Laura De Vito, Laura Provonsha, Lily George, Nelly Darmi, Nigel Rogers, Rachel Miller, Tim Scott, Tyler Kunz, Victoria Steed, Yanina Wood.

🎧 Producers: AJ Knight, Bobby Simon, Da Kovac, Eleanor Collins, Emily Griffiths, Hannah Hughes, Jennifer Kemp, Jonas Fløde, Kate F, Katie N Benitez, Kendra Murphy, Lisa Dennys, Logan Wall, Louise Lomas, Melissa Nance, Nicola Owen, Rebecka Johansson, Sam Morris, Sarah Hannah Morris.

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