The Autistic VOICE Project

• 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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• Episode 14: Insurance, Burnout, and Why Autistic Care Still Costs Too Damn Much

  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.

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• Episode 13: Tylenol, Smoke Screens, and Why Awareness and Acceptance Doesn’t Require Suffering

  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.

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• Episode 12: Routines, Chaos Buffers, and Why Your To-Do List Is a Hydra

  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.

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