AutCasts Recommends: Neurodivergent Podcasts
A round-up of my favourite neurodivergent podcasts to celebrate World Autism Acceptance Week!
Happy World Autism Acceptance Week! To mark the occasion I decided to take a little break from the usual deep-dive into movies and put together a short round-up of my favourite neurodivergent podcasts: the ones that make me laugh, cry and the ones that have helped me understand more about myself and my neurodivergent experience.
I’m usually really skeptical about any new technology, avoiding the scary and unfamiliar for as long as is practicable. I was the last of all my peers to own a cellphone, join Facbook, get on Twitter and listen to podcasts. Then in 2021, mid-pandemic, a friend insisted I check out the fabulous Why Are Dads (now You Are Good) episode on Dirty Dancing. After just one listen, I was hooked.
Once converted, my enthusiasm for new technology can often verge on addiction. As I binged through the Why Are Dads/You Are Good back catalogue, I also began to expand my podcast universe. This was a slow process: it takes a long time for my ear to adjust to new voices and my brain to adjust to diverse formats. After my Autistic diagnosis in 2021, however, podcasts became one of my go-to resources for learning about the beautiful complexity of neurodivergence from other neurodivergent people.
The following list is by no mean definitive, but it includes the podcasts I have found most enlightening, affirming, enjoyable and entertaining.
You Are Good: Though You Are Good is technically a “movie podcast about feelings,” rather than neurodivergent podcast, Sarah Marshall has ADHD and her co-host Alex Steed said, during a recent episode, that most people involved in the show “are all extremely neurodivergent.” Apart from being the podcast that turned me into a ‘podcast person’, You Are Good is also the podcast that helped me realise I might actually be neurodivergent. You could say I owe a lot to Sarah and Alex.
Eric Garcia’s episode on Rain Man, the discussion on the damage done by the movie’s erroneous stereotypes, sensory overload at casinos and the discomfort of having people coming into your space and touching your stuff, was a lightbulb moment for me. Shortly after listening to this episode, I began the serious pursuit of a diagnosis. Other neurodivergent highlights have included Fangirl Jeanne talking about Thor and Ryan Ken’s recent episode on Moonlight where they shared insights about their experience of masking/unmasking - this stirred all the feels.
Sarah and Alex’s insistence that it’s OK to like what we like, to rewatch movies 20 or 30 times, for joy or for comfort, was also one of the inspirations behind AutCasts. With a new episode out each Wednesday, they have covered everything from Die Hard, to Sister Act 2 and Magnolia over the last three years!
The Squarepeg Podcast: Hosted by Amy Richards, Squarepeg “invites autistic women and nonbinary people to explore navigating a neurotypical world and share their insights, challenges and successes.”
I found my way to Sqaurepeg within days of my diagnosis as I anxiously trawled the web for information about autism by and for #ActuallyAustic people. Amy’s wonderful Welsh lilt and ease in guiding her guests through their interviews, immediately drew me in. Starting with the most recent season, I worked my way through the Sqaurepeg back catalogue in under a month, binge listening to multiple episodes a day. I learned more about Autism and neurodivergence than any book, test, or “expert” opinion had so far provided. Amy’s guests made me laugh, cry and provided so many lightbulb moments that I kept a notepad close by so I could jot down all I was learning.
By the time Amy got round to Season 5, in early 2022, I emailed her asking if she had considered doing an episode on the link between autism and epilepsy (for which I had been diagnosed at 23). We recorded an episode together in February, which went live in May 2022. This was my official ‘coming Aut’ to the world. Moving into its third year, Squarepeg has already been nominated for British Podcasting Awards and is about to launch its 8th season!
Neurodivergent Moments: A more recent addition to the podcast universe, Neorodivergent Moments is hosted by two neurodivergent comedians Joe Wells (Autistic) and Abigoliah Schamaun (ADHD) who interview other neurodivergent comedians (of which there are many, apparently) about their work and their neurodivergent life-hacks. Their conversations cover the whole spectrum of neurodivergence from autism, to ADHD, dyslexia, dyspaxia and more. As you might expect from a show peopled exclusively by comedians there are many hilarious, laugh-out-loud moments alongside useful and often poignant insights into life, work and the highs and lows of the creative industries. Joe and Abigoliah invite their guests and listeners to share their own ‘neurodivergent moments’ – moments when you realised your brain worked differently to most people’s – which they read out at the end of each episode. It’s here you will also find a cameo from me talking about the perils of dating while neurodivergent. Joe and Abigoliah launch their third season tomorrow, and I can’t wait to tune in!
Aut-Hour: To mark the release of her 2021 memoir Drama Queen (one of the first I read after my diagnosis) comedy writer Sara Gibbs launched the limited Aut-Hour series in which she talks to other autistic authors. Apart from the calibre and diversity of guests including Eric Garcia (We’re Not Broken), Holly Smale (Geek Girl), Morénike Giwa Onaiwu (Sincerely, Your Autistic Child) and many others, the podcast offers incredible insight into the writing process and diverse paths to publishing. It’s also a celebration of the growing number of autistic people who are taking up space and telling their own stories in a publishing world which, for too long, has been dominated by narratives on how to treat, cure or otherwise “deal with” autistic people. By episode 12, my to-be-read pile had grown considerably (I’m still trying to get through it). With one season recorded, and hopefully another on the way, I included Aut-Hour in this list because, as a writer who is obsessed with writing, I love listening to other writers talk about writing - phew!
Autism Through Cinema: leaning towards a more academic analysis, the Autism Through Cinema Podcast has a very similar approach to this blog by seeking “out autistic themes and concerns in films from across the cinematic spectrum.” The team from Queen Mary University are regularly joined by #ActuallyAutistic professionals from across the film industry to discuss films which directly address autism or which reflect some aspect of the autistic experience. Though I have yet to see many of the films discussed, and others I had never even heard of, they do cover some popular favourites, including The Nightmare Before Christmas, Amelie, Lars and the Real Girl and another of my childhood obsessions: The Secret Garden. As always, when listening to #ActuallyAutistic people chatting about their special interests, I learn as much about myself and the complexities of the autistic experience as I do about the films themselves!
21 and Sensory: Last, but not least, is the 21 and Sensory podcast hosted by Emily, an autistic graphic designer, illustrator and podcaster! Launched in 2017, this is the longest running podcast included on this list. In the six years since publishing, 21 and Sensory has evolved from Emily discussing her own experience with sensory processing disorder to hosting engaging and thoughtful interviews with neurodivergent guests. Working your way back to the very first episodes you will find a wealth of resources for dealing with sensory issues, particularly hacks for self-regulation and relaxation. More recent episodes will introduce you to a huge diversity of neurodivergent folks including writers, artists and other creators. Don’t forget to check out Emily’s Instagram for her cute and informative illustrations!
That about wraps her up for this week folks, I’ll be back after the Easter break for more adventures in neurodivergence with the one and only Truman Burbank.
This is a great list -- I'm familiar with some of these podcasts, but not all of them yet! I also host a neurodivergent podcast called Beyond 6 Seconds -- I'd love if you would check mine out too!