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 compar...
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Oct 24, 2023•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast * 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 rece...
Oct 17, 2023•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast Join Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry, LPP as they discuss the popular self-help book, "Atomic Habits," by James Clear, and how its behaviorist approach to habit formation does not work for autistic people (children or adults) and share a more neuro-affirming approach to productivity. They explain how autistic people take a ‘hard pass’ on synaptic pruning, which makes forming unconscious habits difficult—if not impossible. Autistic individuals need to consciously think through actions—sometimes,...
Oct 10, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Th...
Oct 03, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast *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 ...
Sep 12, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Learn more about Matt at Matt Lowry, LPP Join Matt’s Autistic Connections Facebook Group Learn more about Angela at AngelaLauria.com and Difference Press Follow Angela on Twitter and TikTok *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 accu...
Jun 27, 2023•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast We are celebrating the month of Pride - and specifically Autistic Pride on this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast where Autistic hosts, Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry, LPP, delve into the captivating topics of sex, gender, and sexuality. The podcast hosts discuss the life and work of with Autistic scientist, Alfred Kinsey, a groundbreaking researcher who studied human sexuality in the 1940s-1950s. Kinsey had many Autistic traits, like intense focus on special interests, bottom-up process...
Jun 20, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. Angela Lauria and her co-host, Matt Lowry LPP, examine how the 1991 Disney film Beauty and the Beast—with its enchanted objects and magical setting—provides a captivating allegory for the Autistic experience, showcasing the value of individuality, empathy, and embracing the beauty in our differences. “So…when you're not looking at autistic people through an Autistic Culture lens, and you're like, oh, she's strange, or oh, she maybe when she meets the right guy, she'll act normal.”—Angela The...
Jun 13, 2023•1 hr 20 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: The podcast hosts discuss artist Andy Warhol through the lens of Autistic culture. While he never had an autism diagnosis, Warhol had many Autistic traits like monotropic focus, sensory differences around food, echolalia in interviews, and dyslexia. Fortunately, his "eccentric" persona was permitted as part of his mystique as an artist. Warhol embraced repetitive subjects like soup cans and celebrities in his pop art. People on the autism spectrum...
Jun 06, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast Animation is popular among Autistic children and adults alike. Listen in, as Matt Lowry, LPP gives his co-host Dr. Angela Lauria a delicious infodump on voice over actors featured on Futurama, Ren and Stimpy, Ghostbusters, Transformers, DragonballZ, Street Fighter, Rick & Morty, and more! Many famous voice actors are officially in Club ‘tism! Hyperconnected mirror neurons and echolalia often results in impressive skills at copying people’s accents and movements which, along with bottom up proces...
May 30, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast Autistic podcast hosts, Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry, LPP, delve into the fascinating world of chess, exploring its profound connection to the Autistic community through the story of legendary chess player Bobby Fischer and the popular TV show, The Queen's Gambit. Chess is considered a quintessential part of Autistic culture, much like trains or Star Trek. The intricate, strategic nature of chess captivates Autistic children, teens, and adults, drawing them into a realm where deep focus and ...
May 23, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Autistic hosts, Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry LPP, delve into the incredible world of Doctor Who and its significant impact on the Autistic community. The Doctor's unique way of perceiving and interacting with the universe, and their tendency to form deep connections with their companions resonates with people on the autism spectrum. The show's ability to tackle complex moral and ethical dilemmas also speaks to autistic people’s passion for justice and understanding. “We have to do what is ri...
May 16, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dr. Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry LPP, dive into the fascinating world of musician, producer, and DJ—Questlove (Amir Khalib Thompson)—who briefly shared his childhood autism diagnosis in his 2013 memoir. Questlove’s special interests in Soul Train and Black music history, and his stim of watching records spin, intertwine to create his unique perspective and career. Questlove has a massive record collection, encyclopedic music knowledge, and amazing ability to instantly identify the beats per minu...
May 09, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Matt Lowry, LPP tells co-host, Dr. Angela Lauria, all about the Autistic origins and characteristics of popular superheroes. Topics include: * The mystical realms of Doctor Strange, the dark alleys of Batman's Gotham City, and the soaring heights of Superman's Metropolis! * Superheroes' unique abilities, struggles, and triumphs mirror the experiences of Autistic individuals. Examining their origin stories and the challenges they face, reveals how these beloved characters (and the Autistic celebr...
May 02, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast Did you know that approximately 20% of Jeopardy fans are autistic? Trivia is a favorite special interest in Autistic Culture, and for the final April episode, podcast hosts, Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry, celebrate with a game of Autistic Culture Jeopardy! In this episode, you will meet inclusivity expert and activist, Faith Clarke who challenges co-host Matt Lowry as the two play for charities that support Autistic Acceptance with their work. The game includes trivia questions related to famous ...
Apr 25, 2023•46 min•Transcript available on Metacast Matt Lowry, LPP and Dr. Angela Lauria and explore the life and legacy (and Autistic traits) of one of the most prominent figures in the history of animation and entertainment: Walt Disney. Was he on the autism spectrum? Join us on a virtual culture trip as we dive in! Walt Disney had a difficult childhood, having to work to support his family from age 9. He found escape and joy in visiting an amusement park called Electric Park. As an adult, Walt Disney became obsessed with building his own them...
Apr 18, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: Matt Lowry reads his original story "The Legend of Autistica," which serves as an origin myth for Autistic culture. Designed for children, the story appeals to teens and adults too! The story depicts a land ruled by Emperor Nero Typicles, where people are forced to mask their true selves and “Always Behave Always”—a metaphor for the harms of prescribing ABA for autism. “He issued clay masks to be worn at all times. These masks bore the rictus grin...
Apr 11, 2023•35 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: On this week’s virtual culture trip, hosts Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry discuss the first autistic celebrity: Temple Grandin. Although Grandin has indelibly changed the way Americans think about autism and what it means, her prominence on the world stage has brought to light several issues. “We can't talk about Italian American culture without talking about Christopher Columbus, and Temple Grandin in Autistic Culture may be our Christopher Columbu...
Apr 04, 2023•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: If you’ve been asking yourself, “Am I Autistic?” and Google searching “Autism checklist” and “Autism quiz,” then, this is a great episode for you! More effective than a quiz designed by allistics, join us on a virtual culture trip to Autistica and see if you feel belonging in our culture! People on the autism spectrum are known for their straight forward communication style, but what’s behind that approach? There are six cultural dimensions that c...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: Angela Lauria and Matt Lowry delve into the fascinating world of trains and their special relationship with the Autistic community. “So it looks like we're talking about trains, or it looks like we're talking about Pokemon, but we're really talking about how autistic joy is found, how we invent things as autistic people, how we create.” –Angela Thomas the Tank Engine was created in 1945 by a father based on his Autistic son's love of trains. Thoma...
Mar 21, 2023•57 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: On this virtual culture trip, Matt and Angela take on Autistic food culture, specifically the relationship that autistic people have with food. They describe how food is important in any culture and give examples such as Cannolis for Italians, croissants for the French, and Chicken Tikka for the British. Matt: My autism comes from my mother's family and looking back on it I found a picture of my family at Easter gathered around the traditional Thr...
Mar 14, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: On this week’s virtual culture trip, Matt Lowry and Angela Lauria discuss the origins of Sesame Street, created with the goals of promoting equality, acceptance, and education through family entertainment. The podcast hosts highlight how Jim Henson's Muppets brought commercial-like musical segments to captivate kids' attention and teach letters/numbers. The character Bert displays many Autistic traits and is discussed as a positive representation ...
Mar 07, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: Podcast hosts Matt and Angela discuss the recent meme from Asperger's Syndrome Awareness that went viral, which suggested that Eminem is Autistic. While the rapper hasn’t publicly addressed the rumors surrounding his potential autism diagnosis, analysis of his lyrics (including a direct reference to “Asperger’s syndrome”) suggests that he is. The hosts discuss the contributions to Autistic Culture Eminem has made and delve into Eminem's personal h...
Feb 28, 2023•59 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: Join hosts Angela and Matt as they discuss the Autistic origins and culture surrounding My Little Pony, including the involvement of Autistic creator Bonnie Zacherle (who has a delightfully strong Autistic accent) and writer Linda Woolverton (a writer on the autism spectrum). Matt: And this is a big thing, especially when you see the Autistic accent at play, and how she was marginalized among her co-workers, especially because they said, ‘You are ...
Feb 21, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: Unless you have been hiding under a rock, you have probably heard about Netflix’s latest show, Wednesday, and the discussion around whether or not she’s an Autistic character. Join us on this week’s virtual culture trip as TACP’s real life Autistic podcast hosts weigh in. Based on the beloved Addams Family franchise created by Charles “Chas” Addams in 1938, this series stars Jenna Ortega (not Autistic) as the titular character and has already gain...
Feb 14, 2023•56 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: Hosts Matt and Angela share why so many Autistic people have an affinity for Pokémon (one of the most beloved franchises in history) and its characters. Pokémon not only taps into natural Autistic skills, it also helps to build authentic community around a shared interest. Creator of Pokemon, Satoshi Tajiri (officially diagnosed on the autism spectrum), was obsessed with collecting and cataloging bugs as a child, which later inspired his idea for ...
Feb 07, 2023•53 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: All cultures have icons and one of our favorite living Autistic Culture icons is climate activist, school striker, and Davos rabble-rouser, Greta Thunberg! In this episode, podcast hosts Angela and Matt discuss all things Greta - and yes, that includes her recent one-liner takedown of misogynist poster boy, Andrew Tate! “She's just like a kid with a crazy idea, using her special interests to save her life, which is what we do…And is being trolled ...
Jan 31, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: Matt and Angela get real, discussing the discrimination and marginalization Autistics face when seeking medical care. They share about the increased likelihood of dealing with sleep apnea, gastrointestinal problems, autoimmune disorders, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, POTS, mast cell activation syndrome, fibromyalgia, allergies, asthma, eczema, psoriasis, PCOS, Hashimotos, Lupus, and headaches…but a much reduced likelihood of getting the care that’s need...
Jan 24, 2023•1 hr•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast: Matt Lowry and Angela Lauria discuss the value of using the label "Autistic" and whether labels are helpful or harmful. “When we're not allowed to have a label, when we're not allowed to have a cultural identity, people still label us but give us really bad labels.” –Matt The podcast hosts explain the difference between medical model labels like “has autism” and “autism spectrum disorder ” (ASD), and identity-affirming labels chosen by Autistics, ...
Jan 17, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
