The Autistic VOICE Project – Details, episodes & analysis

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!

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]"

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 mute

As always, it’s part theory, part lived experience, and completely real on purpose. 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 approval
• How the DSM is loaded with ableism—and Matt’s affirming way to reframe it
• Echolalia, stimming, and our love of routines (yes, even Taylor Swift on repeat)
• Comic-Con vibes to Pedro Pascal as Mr. Fantastic

As 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 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 ever

• Stimming in all eight senses, from toe-curling in your shoes to rubbing your feet on sandpaper

• How bullet-point thinking, special interests, and fictional best friends change the way we communicate and connect

As 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 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 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 everything

Also: 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.