The Autistic VOICE Project
The Autistic VOICE Project
The Autistic VOICE Project
Episode 43: Special Interests, Safe Spaces, and Saying No to Shame
48 minutes Posted Apr 28, 2026 at 8:13 pm.
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Show notes

Matt, Erin, and Eleda get into special interests, collections, and what it means to have a space where Autistic joy isn’t hidden—it’s the whole point. This one’s about building community through the things we love, and why that matters more than most people realize.

We cover:

  • Turning a business into a place where people come to connect—not just buy things

  • Why collections matter (and what happens to them when we’re gone)

  • The shame people are taught to feel about joy—and why we reject that

  • Autistic joy, special interests, and being “too much” for other people

  • Finding your people—whether that’s a shop, a hobby group, or this podcast

Also: unicorn collections, tiny horse economies, estate herds, and the real work of building (and protecting) a personal museum of the things you love.