The Autistic VOICE Project

• Episode 18: Self-Compassion, Sunglasses, and Why Pants at 8:55 a.m. Still Count

  Matt, Erin, and guest Becca Lory Hector are here this week — talking about what it means to rebuild your life after a late autism diagnosis, why “shoulds” are poison, and how self-compassion can literally save lives. Becca shares her story of getting identified at 36, how autism gave her the information she needed to stay alive, and what she’s learned about self-defined living along the way.We cover:What happens when you finally get an autism diagnosis after decades of masking and burnoutThe difference between self-esteem and self-compassion — and why the latter matters moreHow internalized ableism and “shoulding” ourselves lead to depression and suicidalityRedefining success for autistic people: comfort, safety, and authentic connectionBecca’s book Always Bring Your Sunglasses and why honoring your sensory needs isn’t optionalHer course Self-Defined Living and how it helps late-identified Autistics rebuild life on their own termsAlso: Mexican Coke supremacy, wearing pants on Zoom, the myth of “high functioning,” and why a good autism eval is as refreshing as an ice-cold Coke.

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• Legends of Autistica- Chapter 3- The Halloween Dragon

  Smokescale meets what appears to be a small human, until the Dragon saw through the mask.

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• Episode 17: Neurotypical Privilege, Rocks, and the Autistic Love Language of Info-Dumping

  Matt and Erin are back this week talking about mixed-neurotype relationships — what happens when one partner learns they’re autistic, and the other isn’t. They get into the messy, funny, and very real ways brains collide (and connect) when communication styles, sensory experiences, and love languages don’t quite match up.We cover:The shock of realizing your partner *does* (or *doesn’t*) have an internal monologue — and what that means for communicationHow masking, burnout, and unmasking impact long-term relationshipsPower balance and privilege in neurodivergent/neurotypical pairingsThe “mismatch of salience” — why autistic love languages (like reorganizing your library) often go unseenLearning to ask for help, name needs, and bridge the gap *from both sides*Why autistic euphoria and shared enthusiasm are relationship superpowersThe Addams Family as the original model for healthy neurodivergent romanceAlso: cat pictures, hyperphantasia vs. aphantasia, moral-failing eyeballs, and why holding someone’s purse at the roller coaster absolutely counts as love.

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• Episode 16: Algorithms, Time Travel Emails, and Why Autistic Creativity Isn’t for Sale

  Matt, Erin, and guest Shawn Coots (creator of the webcomic "Future Emails") are here this week — and we get into the weirdness of algorithms, the curse of self-promotion, and the joy of making art just because it feels good. From time-traveling emails to the autistic creative process, this episode dives into why making things matters even when capitalism says it doesn’t.We cover:Shawn’s webcomic *Future Emails* — time travel meets autistic processing and therapy homeworkThe paradox of autistic self-promotion (and why “clear invitations” help)PDA profiles and autonomy — when “you should” hits the nervous system wrongAI “art,” capitalism, and the myth that nobody likes making musicThe difference between art as process vs. productCrows, Peacemaker, and the eternal vengeance of birds (yes, really)Sunburns, medieval plague masks, and SPF for sensory-sensitive folksAlso: nerdy tangents about Lego riverboats, opera rehearsal flow states, and why Matt might one day become a bobblehead.

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• Episode 15: Fibromyalgia, Shark Boobs, and the Fine Print of Medical ‘Understanding’

  Matt, Erin, and guest Dr. Stacey Greeter (psychiatrist and fellow autistic human) get real about the chaos of telling your doctor you’re autistic. From medical gaslighting to communication breakdowns, they unpack what happens when autistic patients meet a healthcare system built for everyone else.We cover:When (and whether) to disclose autism to medical providersHow medical invalidation creates trauma and avoidanceWhy pain scales and vague advice don’t work for autistic or chronically ill peopleThe gender bias baked into medicine—and why we need more autistic and nonbinary cliniciansMisinformation, disinformation, and shark boobs (yes, that’s a thing)Also: rheumatology jokes, medical trauma bingo, and Erin’s new Autistic Clinical Insights conference for neurodiversity-affirming care.

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