Autistic Culture | Where Autism Meets Identity!

Happy Halloween!*TW: This episode was recorded prior to the allegations against Danny Elfman breaking.  TACP stands with victims of assault and wish the Autistic community comfort and healing as we grapple with our feelings, both individually and collectively. Please, take care. For more support and resources, please read our guest blog “When Your Special Interest Turns Out to be Problematic.” Neurodiversity-Affirming Insights: Tim Burton's Autistic Creative Vision Tim Burton, while not formally diagnosed, publicly identifies as Autistic and his creative style reflects many Autistic traits: * Fascination with classic monster movies and feeling "different" as a child * Dedicated, creative expression through homemade monster movies* Struggles in school and potential reading differences (e.g., dyslexia)* Difficulty connecting with his father over creative interestsGravitating towards other Hollywood "eccentrics and outsiders" Burton's films often feature misunderstood outcasts and themes of feeling like a misfit (e.g., Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Ed Wood), resonating with autistic audiences. He works repeatedly with the same actors (e.g., Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter) who "get" his autistic communication style, describing their relationships as an "unwritten language." While struggling when pressured to make big moneymakers, Burton thrives creatively when given the freedom to follow his unique vision, resulting in wildly popular cult classics beloved by the autistic community. Burton's story exemplifies how autistic individuals can channel their unique perspectives and strengths into remarkable creative pursuits.At 06:40 Angela figures something out—what is it, and what clues from Matt led her to that discovery?* Silent horror film that influenced Burton’s work: The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920) on YouTube: 51 minutes* Tim Burton’s Wikipedia page.Related episodes…Who invented motion pictures? This Autistic artist! Motion Pictures are Autistic Was Walt Disney Autistic? We think so! Episode 26: Disney is Autistic Whether you relate to the book-loving beauty or the isolated beast, check out Episode 34: Beauty & the Beast is Autistic Burton’s recent Netflix show features an Autistic character…or does it? We get into it, in Episode 17: Wednesday is Autistic? Ready for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Find us on:* Follow our Instagram account!* Review us on Apple podcasts and Spotify* Follow us on Instagram* Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com * TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic 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.

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast:One of our own podcast hosts, Matt Lowry, LPP, was interviewed on Meg Ferrell’s podcast, “Two Sides of the Spectrum,” about strengths-based autism diagnoses. Listen in to find out why this interview a) made Angela cry, and b) became the catalyst for TACP!Matt draws from his personal and professional experience working with Autistic children, teens, and adults to criticize how the traditional autism diagnosis process focuses on deficits as compared to neurotypical norms. He contrasts this with his strengths-based diagnoses, which focuses on natural variations in autistic people.He advocates for diagnosticians to learn about autism as a cultural difference, not a disorder. They should be knowledgeable about diverse presentations in women, trans people, and racial minorities. Autism awareness is inherently flawed and harmful without this understanding.Meg: And what you're describing is neurotypical evaluators who haven't done their work to understand Autism.Matt: It's essentially a cultural difference.Meg: Yeah.Matt: Because if a white evaluator approaches a person of color, and tries to talk about their deficits in not being white, that's horrifying. And to say, ‘oh, you don't communicate in the same way that I do. You don't have the same cultural touchstones that I do’—that is ridiculously, horrifyingly racist—and it’s the same approach with Autism.Matt outlines his model of Autistic-centered therapy which focuses on interpersonal skills, trauma, advocacy, and taking care of our “meat bodies,” with sleep and other forms of self-care. This form of therapy for Autistic individuals centers the mental health and wellbeing of the Autistic person, rather than focusing on compliance with neuronormative standards.He strongly cautions against ABA for autism as destructive and points out that it is aimed at making autistic people indistinguishable from peers at the expense of the autistic individual’s mental and emotional well-being.Matt reads an early version of the allegorical legend, "The Legend of Autistica," which tells the story of an Autistic warrior freeing people from the oppressive demands of neurotypical society.The key takeaway is that autism should be approached as a cultural difference requiring mutual understanding, not as a disorder to be fixed. Diagnosticians and therapists should affirm autistic strengths.Amazing Meg was culturally respectful in this interview. Did you catch some of the green flags? Tell us about it in the comments and use #AutisticCultureCatch to share your answers on social media and connect with other listeners!Show notes and resources:Original Two Sides of the Spectrum episode on Meg’s Learn, Play, Thrive website.More on Autistic Centered Therapy.Matt’s strengths-based diagnostic criteria. Related episodes…Learn about the opposite of a strengths-based autism diagnosis: Episode #36 Bad DiagnosisListen to the updated version of our Autistic origin story (now, complete with dragons!): Episode #25 The Legend of AutisticaReady for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Find us on:* Follow our Instagram account!* Review us on Apple podcasts and Spotify* Follow us on Instagram* Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com * TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic merch shop*Note: Transcription technology is still new on this platform. We are aware of the gaps and errors in the transcript and are dedicated to editing it for accuracy as soon as the new technology allows. We appreciate your patience as we work to expand accessibility as quickly as we are able.**TACP is an autism podcast that recognizes that ABA for autism is harmful to autistic mental health. We reject the use of ABA therapy and pathologizing language like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and associated functioning labels as well as the harmful organization Autism Speaks. To learn more, please listen to: Episode 20: Sesame Street is Autistic and Episode 24: The Trouble with Temple Grandin. 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.

Celebrating Autistic Culture Through Actor Peter Cushing's Creative Passions* Podcast hosts Matt Lowry and Dr. Angela Kingdon discuss how actor Peter Cushing embodied aspects of Autistic culture across his varied interests and creative pursuits.* Cushing starred in influential sci-fi/fantasy franchises like Doctor Who, Star Wars, and Sherlock Holmes, showcasing his versatility as an actor.* Beyond acting, Cushing was an avid player and collector of the tabletop war game "War," which inspired the creation of Dungeons & Dragons - a game beloved by many in the autistic community.* The hosts highlight how Cushing handcrafted over 2,000 miniature soldiers and models for his "War" gaming, exemplifying autistic traits like attention to detail, special interests, and imaginative world-building.* Cushing's story is seen as emblematic of autistic culture, embracing creative hobbies, strategic game play, and deep immersion in special interests.* The discussion also touches on the concept of "SPIN drop" - the intense grief autistic individuals can experience when disconnected from a core part of their identity or special interest.* By celebrating Cushing's multifaceted passions, the podcast sheds light on the richness of autistic creativity and the value of embracing neurodiversity.Do you want more minisodes? What do you want to hear Matt or Angela give a quick infodump on?* Facebook post with pictures of Peter Cushings models* The Peter Cushing Doctor Who Movie Appreciation Group* The Peter Cushing Association Facebook group * Want to learn about more Autistic activities? Episode 39: Dungeons & Dragons is Autistic * Why do Autistics work in bursts? Check out Episode 38: Productivity is Autistic* One of the Autistic community’s favorite Autistic characters: Episode 30: Doctor Who is Autistic* What does an Autism-friendly workplace look like? Episode 04: Industrial Light & Magic is AutisticReady for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Find us on:* Follow our Instagram account!* Review us on Apple podcasts and Spotify* Follow us on Instagram* Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com * TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic 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.

* Tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons cater to many autistic people's strengths, such as:* Appreciation for intricate rule systems, statistics, and logic* Monotropic focus and special interests* Pattern recognition and world-building skills* D&D provides a structured, inclusive environment for autistic individuals to socialize and engage in shared storytelling with confidence.* The game design encourages players to embrace differences rather than mask them, including the recent introduction of a canonically autistic character.* Historic moral panics around D&D illustrate misunderstandings and ableism towards autistic interests, but the game's recent mainstream popularity signals a shift towards greater acceptance.* Families of autistic individuals can recognize intense gaming interests as valuable tools for connection and community-building.* Embracing neurodiversity, the tabletop roleplaying experience allows autistic people to thrive by playing to their unique strengths.Who’s your character in D&D? Do you have a multi-year game going?* Superheroes are Autistic - Episode 28 which discusses Conan the Barbarian* The Trouble With Temple - Episode 24 which discusses Temple Grandin* D&D players save the world on Netflix’s Stranger Things* Little Wars: A Game for Boys of Twelve Years of Age to One Hundred and Fifty and for that More Intelligent Sort of Girl Who Likes Boys' Games and Books* Study: Screen time and diagnoses of anxiety and depression in autistic versus neurotypical youth* The Ancient Origins of Dice * A Dice Tower from Richborough * Dice History, Invention & Games* Rise of the Dungeon Master - Gary Gygax and the Creation of D&D: graphic-novel biography* Inside the 40 Year-Long Dungeons & Dragons Game : Youtube(10 mins 44 secs)* Dungeons & Dragons introduces its first canonically autistic character* How autism powers my D&D: D&D allows me to connect with my friends in a way I couldn’t before * Therapeutic social confidence building game: Critical CoreRelated episodes…Want to learn about more Autistic activities popular among children and adults? Episodes 16: Pokémon is Autistic and Episode 31: Chess is AutisticReady for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Find us on:* Follow our Instagram account!* Review us on Apple podcasts and Spotify* Follow us on Instagram* Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com * TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic 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.

Explore the contradictions between traditional productivity models and the realities of autistic individuals. Discover why the self-help book 'Atomic Habits' misses the mark for neurodivergent minds. The hosts share personal experiences, emphasizing the unique challenges of forming habits and the importance of breaks and self-compassion. Delve into societal pressures and how they harm autistic mental health. Uncover strategies tailored for neurodiversity that celebrate individual productivity styles and promote genuine well-being.

Eadweard Mybridge, a 19th century English photographer, was a pioneer in studying motion and capturing moving images.Mybridge was likely Autistic, exhibiting traits like monotropism, attention to detail, data gathering, and artistic integrity. He had intense interests like studying horse gaits and photographing motion.He invented the zoopraxiscope, which projected motion pictures and allowed him to study and capture animal and human movement in sequences of photos taken in quick succession. This led to the development of motion pictures and cinematography.Mybridge’s big emotions led to him being at the center of his own true crime murder plot line, with a surprise twist ending!“He was defined as, quote, ‘impassive indifference and uncontrolled explosions of emotion,’ because he went from being very matter-of-fact—as we tend to do—to being very passionate, also as we tend to do.” —MattIn his lifetime, Mybridge took hundreds of thousands of photographs, including many controversial nude studies to analyze motion, and published collections like Animal Locomotion.He led an adventurous life, traveling extensively to photograph in the American West and invented photographic techniques and equipment like a mobile darkroom.Angela: You know, like autistic people generally have like less money, on average, than neurotypical people. But if we just like got rid of money, and everybody could have anything they wanted, how much crazy shit would autistic people be doing?Matt: Oh, God, yes.His work was influential on many later creations like stop-motion animation, the Matrix bullet time effect, and more. He brought a scientific approach to analyzing motion.Podcast hosts Matt and Angela discuss how his apparent "unmasking" after a near-fatal accident allowed him to fully pursue his interests without regard for social conventions. They tie his dedication and focus to Autistic traits. Join us as we dive into the extraordinary life of this Autistic celebrity.Do you love motion pictures? What do you love about them?* Eadweard Mybridge’s wet plate collodion pictures* Ponies are Autistic* Eadweard biopic* Eadweard Muybridge Wikipedia pageRelated…Episode 41: Tim Burton is Autistic and Episode 04: Industrial Light & Magic Ready for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Find us on:* Follow our Instagram account!* Review us on Apple podcasts and Spotify* Follow us on Instagram* Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com * TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic 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.

*Trigger warning: This episode discusses ableism, discrimination, and some challenging topics related to autism diagnoses. It is intended for a mature audience. Please listen/read with care.*Matt Lowry, LPP shares a first-hand account of a problematic autism diagnosis experience. Matt and his co-host, Dr. Angela Lauria, discuss red flags to watch out for when choosing a diagnostician such as:* affiliations with ABA therapy* affiliations with Autism Speaks * pathologizing language* including an IQ test in autism evaluationsA bad diagnosis can lead to harmful recommendations such as 40 hours per week of ABA “therapy,” which has roots in gay conversion therapy.“If they support Autism Speaks, if they support ABA, what they're telling you is we are going to approach the diagnosis from a medicalized or a pathological perspective…This guy dehumanized my son from the very moment we walked in.” —MattMatt contrasts the pathologizing view in the diagnosis report his son received with a more affirmative, neurodiversity-embracing perspective. They discuss pros (accommodations) and cons (discrimination) of formal diagnosis, as well as valid alternatives like self-diagnosis and peer review. Angela shares about her personal experience with doubt and imposter-syndrome following her diagnosis—a common struggle (especially among those who are self-diagnosed) stemming from a life-time of being told one is “too sensitive” compounded with internalized ableism.“So we're going to get louder, we're going to get clearer, we're going to get stronger, because this leads to very negative outcomes for our people, and we are not going to stand for it.” —AngelaOn this week’s virtual culture trip, podcast hosts aim to expose problematic diagnoses in order to push for more affirmative, empowering experience that prioritize the mental health of the Autistic individuals and their families.Was your diagnosis (or self-diagnosis) experience helpful or harmful?* The DSM on Autism* Matt’s reframing of Autism Criteria* The Feminine Boy Project (root of ABA)* Autistic Centered Therapy (AUCT)Related episodes…Episode 13: Labels & Autism, Episode 31: Chess is Autistic, Episode 35: Sex is Autistic, Episode 24: The Trouble with TempleReady for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Find us on:* Follow our Instagram account!* Review us on Apple podcasts and Spotify* Follow us on Instagram* Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com * TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic 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.

In this short announcement episode, Angela gives an update on the plan to double down on making The Autistic Culture Podcast the best podcast out there.Find us on:* Follow our Instagram account!* Review us on Apple podcasts and Spotify* Follow us on Instagram* Learn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com * TACP’s Autism-affirming TeePublic merch shop*Note: Transcription technology is still new on this platform. We are aware of the gaps and errors in the transcript and are dedicated to editing it for accuracy as soon as the new technology allows. We appreciate your patience as we work to expand accessibility as quickly as we are able.  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.

Hosts Matt Lowry and Angela Lauria discuss the life and work of Alfred Kinsey, a groundbreaking researcher who studied human sexuality in the 1940s-1950s. Kinsey's love for data collection and his advocacy for sexual openness challenged societal norms. His findings on sexuality existing on a spectrum foreshadowed modern understanding of gender and sexual diversity.

Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry LPP explore how Beauty and the Beast parallels the Autistic experience, focusing on themes of individuality, empathy, and embracing differences. They discuss the history of the tale, the misunderstood Beast, the fierce protagonist Belle, and the importance of representation in media. The podcast challenges stereotypes and promotes understanding of Autistic Culture.