The Autistic VOICE Project

Matt and Erin sit down with psychiatrist and fellow Autistic professional Dr. Stacy Greeter to talk about what it’s really like navigating healthcare — as both the patient and the provider. Together they unpack why medical systems feel so broken, how shame and burnout shape the doctor–patient dynamic, and what it takes to actually be heard when you’re Autistic and chronically ill.We cover:The physical side of autism — fatigue, pain, and “meat body problems” doctors often overlookWhy medical culture trains doctors to hide uncertainty and disconnect from compassionHow to talk to healthcare providers when you know more about your body than they doThe reality of insurance burnout, accessibility guilt, and trying to do good care in a broken systemTools that help, including the ASPIRE healthcare toolkit and practical communication scriptsAlso: moral injury, firing bad doctors (when you can), and learning to protect your energy while still getting the care you need.

Matt, Erin, and guest Tiffany Hammond (of Fidgets and Fries and A Day With No Words) are here this week — and we dive into the Tylenol conspiracy circus, the politics of distraction, and why autistic advocacy has to push past dehumanizing narratives. We talk about balancing anger with connection, what happens when parents are left isolated in “severe autism” groups, and how telling stories with dignity changes the conversation.We cover:The absurd scapegoating of Tylenol as “the cause” of autismHow political smoke bombs distract from gutting Medicaid, Medicare, and educationWhy dehumanizing language (“low functioning,” “destroyers of lives”) harms both kids and parentsThe trap of socially “acceptable” suffering vs. authentic autistic needsUsing stories instead of slogans to actually shift hearts, minds, and policiesTiffany’s book A Day With No Words and the family practices behind itAlso: fangirling, Peppa Pig echolalia, the Bachelor as cultural proof, and why “awareness” without action is just noise.

Matt and Erin dig into the everyday architecture of autistic life — routines, habits, systems, and the sacred chaos buffers that keep us from falling completely apart when the coffee runs out. We unpack why neurotypical “just make it a habit” advice fails us, how to tell the difference between Herculean and Sisyphean tasks, and why living well often means burning the rulebook (and maybe the lawn mower).We cover:The fragility of “The Order” and how a missing step can nuke your whole dayMenu vs. strict-sequence systems (and why both are valid)Externalizing executive function with whiteboards, magnets, and chaos-time planningRejecting useless expectations (separating laundry by color, wearing socks, ironing, etc.)Sensory preferences as valid life-design choicesInternalized ableism and the lie that you “should” try harderSettling for good enough, baby steps, and wobbling toward your goalsAlso: Dino nuggies as the pinnacle of predictable joy, clover lawns for zero mowing, Peppa Pig house tours, and why Marie Kondo changed her tune after having kids.

Matt and Erin along with Kade Sharp, PhD, LCSW; Rachel Kraus LCSW-C; Stacy Greeter, MD; and Kat Flora, MA - all Autistic and all professionals, discuss the recent declaration that Tylenol causes autism. Spoiler alert! We disagree.

Matt and Erin are back for Part 2 of the identity conversation — diving straight into how to autistify your life so you can function in a world that was definitely not built with you in mind. From dismantling bad assessment practices to designing LEGO-level organizational systems, we get into the nitty-gritty of scaffolding your environment, your routines, and your relationships.We cover:Why self-identification is valid, hard-earned, and not “everyone’s a little autistic”The RAADS-R, the CAT-Q, and the autistic joy of writing a dissertation-length personal historyHow allistic assessors dismiss self-reports — especially from women — and why that’s ableism in actionThe difference between recognition and recall (and why “you did it yesterday” is not a helpful reminder)Scaffolding as a survival tool: operational definitions, visual examples, step-by-step coachingThe dopamine hit of a perfectly labeled LEGO bin systemWhy habits don’t stick, but systems and routines can save your sanityAlso: Cybertrucks vs. DeLoreans, Dan Harmon’s shelved Lego Batman 2, diesel locomotive small talk, and the Professor X method of finding every autistic in a three-mile radius.

Matt and Erin go full “autistic agenda” this week — planning breaks, managing meat-body needs, and calling out the diagnostic nonsense that’s been gatekeeping autism for decades. From James Gunn’s echolalia table moments to the staggering scarcity of autistic clinicians, we dismantle how bias, racism, sexism, and outdated stereotypes warp who gets diagnosed (and how).We dig into: Why self-identification isn’t just valid — it’s essentialThe racist and sexist diagnostic “pipelines” that mislabel Black, brown, and female-presenting kidsHow bad assumptions (“girls can’t be autistic,” “autistics can’t have kids”) still show up in clinical settingsThe real differences between PDA, general demand avoidance, and ODDThe need to factor lived experience — not just external checklists — into diagnosisSpoons, crash recovery, and why autistic professionals can’t (and shouldn’t) mask as neurotypicals to do the jobAlso: sarcastic mule metaphors, Happy Meals as special interest currency, placenta previa as connective tissue trivia, and the stunning .00017% of professionals who are both autistic and legally qualified to diagnose.

Matt, Erin, and guest Hunter Hammersen go deep into why Murderbot Diaries is peak autistic representation—both in Martha Wells’ books and Apple TV’s adaptation. We compare notes on Murderbot’s layers of literal and figurative masking, its deep loyalty to a few trusted people, and its preference for fictional drama over real-life feelings.We cover:Murderbot’s pronouns, agender identity, and the ongoing struggle to get them rightWhy supportive relationships (and other autistic friends) are the key to unmaskingHow eye contact, awkward speeches, and “patrolling the perimeter” all hit home for autistic viewersThe socialist utopia planet that raises humans who actually try to meet Murderbot’s needsSpecial interests as friendship currency—and why Sanctuary Moon is the perfect oneAlso: audiobook narrator hot takes, the perils of full-cast recordings, Alexander Skarsgård’s flawless autistic accent, and why every autistic person deserves their own Dr. Mensah.

Matt, Erin, and returning guest Dr. Kade Sharp tackle the messy intersections of self-knowledge, love, and trauma. We break down why RuPaul’s “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell [are] you gonna love somebody else?” isn’t the full story, how neglect can be invisible until you see what other people had, and why kids aren’t “too sensitive”—they’re exactly as sensitive as they are.We dig into:Love vs. limerence vs. appeasementHow developmental trauma warps our sense of safety and connectionThe difference between guilt (“I did bad”) and shame (“I am bad”)Why kindness can feel scarier than chaos if you grew up expecting bombs—literal or metaphoricalVulnerability, English’s terrible one-word problem, and redefining love as accessibility, responsiveness, and engagementAlso: Frozen’s autistic coding, sewing your pockets shut, Superman’s team dynamics, and what to do when someone hands you a muffin basket and you’re not sure if it’s a trap.Links Mentioned:Autistic Clinical Insights: ⁠www.autisticclinicalinsights.com⁠Aces Up Your Sleeve podcast: ⁠www.neurokink.org/auys⁠Spectrum Counseling: ⁠www.kadesharp.com⁠Neurokink: ⁠www.neurokink.org

In this episode, we pull the lid off the “just two genders” box and set it on fire—politely, with data, and some Weird Al references. Matt, Erin, and guest Dr. Kade Sharp dig into: Why autistic folks are 6–9 times more likely to be trans How bottom-up processing makes “two boxes” thinking look absurd The messy overlap between gender, sex, and what the medical system forces people into Dysphoria, euphoria, and the “phantom uterus” moment Why community feels like home (even if you’ve never been there before) The exhaustion of masking both your neurotype and your gender Acceptance vs. belonging, and why safety changes everythingAlso: Pedro Pascal, Noah’s Ark logistics, Girl Scouts in rural towns, and how to find your people without having to explain yourself every 30 seconds.It’s gender, autism, and culture without the neat little boxes—because we don’t fit in them anyway.

This was a story I wrote for my son. It's largely biographical, and it's why we have presents delivered by The Christmas Dragon each year!

This is the legend of the Autistic people. It features a mighty warrior, a dragon, and people being forced to make small talk. Who will save them?!

A while back, I wrote some stories about dragons and the Autistic people. I recorded two of these stories on other podcasts, but now they're here, uninterrupted and free of commentary! Enjoy the Legends of Autistica!

In this episode, we dig into what autism actually looks like outside the narrow DSM lens—and how trauma, masking, and sensory life shape our identities and relationships. We call out the biases baked into the system and talk about what an autism-affirming perspective can look like in practice. We also wander into some very real, very relatable territory about:Why “congratulations, you’re Autistic” can be the most affirming diagnosis experience everStimming in all eight senses, from toe-curling in your shoes to rubbing your feet on sandpaperHow bullet-point thinking, special interests, and fictional best friends change the way we communicate and connectAs always, it’s lived experience, blunt honesty, and a few nerdy detours—because that’s how we roll. We’re glad you’re here.

This week's episode, we’re diving headfirst into autistic identity—what it means, how it differs from a medical diagnosis, and why the DSM criteria kind of miss the point. We’re also calling out the neurotypical gatekeeping that makes getting a diagnosis way harder than it needs to be.Here’s what we get into:Why you’re still autistic even if no doctor has given your identity their stamp of approvalHow the DSM is loaded with ableism—and Matt’s affirming way to reframe itEcholalia, stimming, and our love of routines (yes, even Taylor Swift on repeat)Comic-Con vibes to Pedro Pascal as Mr. FantasticAs always, it’s part theory, part lived experience, and a whole lot of geeky tangents—because we’re not here to fit into neurotypical boxes.

In this episode, we talk about Cassandra Syndrome- what it is, why it’s a problem, and how it shows up in cross-neurotype relationships. We get into the double empathy problem, developmental trauma, and the kinds of anxiety that come from being chronically misunderstood. We also go off on some very real tangents about:- Trains and chicken nuggets- Interoception, alexithymia, and emotional gummy bears- That feeling when your body’s sending signals but your brain’s on muteAs always, it’s part theory, part lived experience, and completely real on purpose. We’re glad you’re here.

In this episode, Erin and Matt talk about the causes of Autistic Anxiety, Expectation Sensitivity, Cross-Neurotype relationship therapy, and ask the age-old question, "Is it anxiety, or did I just eat at [restaurant redacted]"

Meet your new co-hosts, Erin Findley PsyD, and Matt Lowry, LPP! We talk about who we are, the Autistic Accent, Opera, Superman, Autistic Centered Therapy, Weird Al Yankovic, and stimming. It makes more sense when you hear it than this synopsis would suggest.

We're back and better than ever!