The Autistic VOICE Project

Matt and Erin are back! After a much-needed summer break, they're kicking off a new season of The Autistic VOICE Project with burnout, special interests, community, and a whole lot of things to geek out about. Because fighting for a better world is important, but so is having fun along the way.
We cover:
Why making a podcast can be exhausting, especially when you're already navigating a world that wasn't exactly designed with autistic people in mind
The special interest swap: stamp collections, model trains, knitting, custom plushies, and all the cool things people are passionate about
Patreon, keeping the podcast going, and building a community where people can connect without everything having to be about therapy
The importance of making room for joy, even when there's plenty to be angry about
What's coming this season: more guests, special interest deep dives, and possibly some Ghostbusters, Doctor Who, and Dungeon Crawler Carl

Also: Dragon Ball's Spirit Bomb, a basement turned into a castle armory, foam swords, Kona the Portuguese water dog, audiobook Easter eggs, and why sometimes we need to borrow a little energy from our friends.
We're glad to be back. Bring your special interests, your cool collections, and whatever makes you happy. There's room for all of it here.

Matt and Erin are wrapping up Season 1 of The Autistic VOICE Project this week — and after 48 episodes, they’re talking honestly about burnout, sustainability, community, and what it takes to keep showing up as Autistic people doing work they care about.
We cover:
Why we're taking a summer break and what autistic burnout actually looks like in real life
Energy accounting, reducing barriers, and finding ways to make daily life more sustainable
The difference between stopping completely and intentionally cutting back before burnout gets worse
Why asking for help can be part of healthy community care
Building a podcast without burning ourselves out financially, emotionally, or physically
Ideas for Patreon, merch, sponsors, and ways listeners can help support the future of the show
Upcoming plans for Season 2, including new guests from the Autistic community, artists, and creators
Also: leaking foundation walls, Prius appreciation, shampoo-bodywash-conditioner "all-in-one goo," PBS pledge drive energy, dethroning Joe Rogan, Dan Aykroyd's elusive guest appearance, Star Wars memes, Godzilla sponsorship dreams, and Bob from Topeka.
We're taking the summer to rest, regroup, and build something more sustainable behind the scenes. Thank you for listening, sharing, and being part of this community.
We'll see you in August.

Matt, Erin, and friend of the show Hunter Hammersen are here this week talking about something a whole lot of Autistic people want and struggle with at the same time: friendship. Specifically, how do you make local, in-person friends when leaving the house already feels exhausting?
Hunter shares her deeply Autistic, surprisingly effective friendship protocol involving spreadsheets, rules, recurring events, and finding “friend-shaped people” in places like libraries, rock shops, yarn stores, and grocery stores. The conversation digs into rejection sensitivity, masking, awkwardness, and why being “one sentence weirder” in public can actually help you find your people.
We cover:• Why Autistic people aren’t actually “bad at people”• Going to events three times before deciding you hate them• “Autism sparkle” and signaling safely to other weirdos in public• Different levels of friendship and why acquaintances matter too• Building community through low-pressure invitations and shared activities• The difference between authentic connection and performing neurotypical social rules
Also: Joanne Fabrics grief, silent book clubs, purple grocery store masks, Mary Poppins crack dealer energy, fabric scissors as weapons, and Matt describing himself as Gollum in public.

Matt and Erin are back for another mailbag episode — and this one gets deeply personal. From losing an “anchor person” to navigating autistic grief, relationships, PDA parenting, and co-regulation, this episode explores what happens when the people who help hold our world together are suddenly gone or overwhelmed. It’s vulnerable, funny, heartbreaking, and very, very autistic.
We cover:
Why autistic grief can feel like losing your “internal compass” — not just a loved one

How partners, friends, and safe people often function as essential disability supports

The fear, disorientation, and loneliness that can come after losing an “anchor person”

Matt and Erin’s personal experiences with divorce, loss, burnout, and rebuilding stability

PDA parenting, “dueling gremlins,” and how co-regulation creates room for flexibility

Why autistic love is often rooted in safety, routine, and nervous system relief

Transformers, Doctor Who, fountains, art galaxies, chicken nuggets, and the sacred role of biscuits and gravy

Also: the loneliest whale in the ocean, emotional support toast, “people…” as a replacement swear word, and Matt casually admitting he’d probably make a good spicy audiobook narrator.

Matt, Erin, and guest Nyck Walsh are here this week — and this episode turns into a really good conversation about somatic therapy, autistic processing, nervous systems, sensory joy, and why neutrality can feel radical when your body has spent years stuck in survival mode.
We talk about:
Rocks, Nintendo buttons, foodgasms, hypervigilance, and the very real experience of trying to exist in a world that keeps demanding “normal”
Nyck explains “VAST” (Variable Attention Stimulus Trait) as a more affirming alternative to ADHD language
Why a lot of somatic therapy can accidentally become ableist when interoception differences aren’t considered
The autistic processing pause: looking away, slowing down, and needing time to actually build an accurate response
Using rocks, pets, blankets, textures, fidgets, and sensory anchors to ground in the present moment
The difference between sympathetic overdrive and parasympathetic rest — and why many autistic people rarely get to experience neutrality
How pleasure, sensory joy, and “stopping to smell the roses” can become survival tools instead of luxuries
Cats, Caprese omelets, NES controller fidgets, and the very important concept of the food dance
Nyck’s new book Neurodivergent Somatics and Therapy and the upcoming audiobook narrated by Nyck themself
Also: Erin accidentally inventing “somagic,” Tuck the adventure cat making emotional drive-bys, and a surprisingly deep discussion about how touching a really good rock can help keep your nervous system online. This is a ride. We’re glad you’re here.