In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon kicks off a brand-new chapter by reintroducing the 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture—the foundation for how we understand and celebrate the richness of autistic identity. This remastered episode revisits the original conversation that first defined the 10 pillars back in January 2024, now with updated insights and refined language to match how this framework has evolved.

Whether you’re just discovering the show or have been with us since the beginning, this is your starting point for the cultural model that grounds everything we do.

💡 The 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture (Updated for 2024)

1. Bottom-Up Processing (formerly “Logic & Strategy”) - Detail-first cognition. Pattern before conclusion. Think: Sherlock Holmes, chess masters, system builders.
2. Rhythmic Communicating (formerly “Linguistics & Accents”) - Scripting, echolalia, tangents, infodumping. Communication as rhythm, poetry, and flow.
3. Norm Challenging (formerly “Deep Thinking & Insight”) - Authenticity over politeness. Insight over illusion. Questioning over compliance.
4. World Building - Narrative universes built from imagination and logic. Think: Pokémon, Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars.
5. Pattern Matching (formerly “Data Gathering & Analysis”) - SPINs, trivia, research, and structured inquiry. We find meaning in what others miss.
6. Game Changing (formerly “Innovative Ideas”) - System redesigners. Trendsetters. Rethinkers. From Eadweard Muybridge to Questlove.
7. Boldly Creating (formerly “Artistic Expression”) - Art as regulation. Performance as communication. Stim as aesthetic.
8. Predictably Comforting (formerly “Consistency & Reliability”) - Rituals, repetition, routines. These aren’t constraints—they’re comfort, safety, and power.
9. Justice Seeking (formerly “Justice & Honesty”) - Fairness as instinct. Truth as obligation. Emotional intensity as ethical compass.
10. Passionate Superfanning (formerly “Fictional Friends”) - Lore, fandoms, and parasocial joy. Star Trek. Doctor Who. My Little Pony. Fandom is family.

🧭 The Framework Going Forward

These 10 Pillars will guide the next phase of The Autistic Culture Podcast—each episode will highlight one of them, offering deep dives into their cultural meaning, emotional resonance, and pop culture representation.

The pillars span across three domains:

• 🎭 Arts & Entertainment
• 🪴 Lifestyle & Leisure
• 🏛️ Society, Values & Knowledge

And at the centre of them all: Autistic joy, identity, and truth.

So whether you’re autistic, exploring the possibility, or someone who loves and respects autistic people—you are welcome here. You are part of Autistica.

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🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

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In this episode of The Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 1 of Autistic Culture: Bottom-Up Processing.

We begin our deep dive into the 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture with the cognitive foundation that shapes how many autistic people interpret, analyse, and interact with the world—from sensory input to social understanding.

This remastered episode reintroduces the core principles of bottom-up thinking through the lens of one of fiction’s most iconic detail-driven characters: Sherlock Holmes.

🎧 What You’ll Learn

• Why autistic cognition favours detail-first processing over top-down assumptions
• How bottom-up processing supports pattern recognition, innovation, and autonomy
• The role of sensory integration and special interests in cognitive and emotional navigation
• How society pathologizes bottom-up thinkers as insubordinate, difficult, or even “broken”
• How internalized ableism can lead autistic people to distrust their own cognitive strengths
• Why reclaiming and celebrating bottom-up processing can improve mental health and self-trust

Related Episodes:

Chess is Autistic

Broadway is Autistic

Washington DC is Autistic

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Autistic Culture 101, Dr. Angela Kingdon explores Pillar 2 of Autistic Culture: Rhythmic Communicating — a core expression of how autistic people connect with the world and each other. This isn’t “just how we talk.” It’s how we create culture.

This special remastered episode dives into echolalia, scripting, infodumping, and the poetic, patterned flow that defines autistic communication. Through the lens of pop icon Taylor Swift, we uncover how rhythm, repetition, and lyrical structure mirror autistic expression.

Resources:

Deaf President Now documentary: The story of the great civil rights movement most people have never heard about. During eight tumultuous days in 1988 at the world's only Deaf university, four students must find a way to lead a revolution and change the course of history.

Related Episodes:

Shakespeare

Fern Brady

Animation & Voice Acting

🌟 Connect With Us

📱 Follow us on Instagram

🎧 Find us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

🛍️Our Autism-affirming merch shop

🌐 Learn more at www.autisticculturepodcast.com

🌈 Celebrate autistic voices with early access, ad-free listening, and our full archive at AutisticCulturePlus.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.