Matt and Erin are back! After a much-needed summer break, they're kicking off a new season of The Autistic VOICE Project with burnout, special interests, community, and a whole lot of things to geek out about. Because fighting for a better world is important, but so is having fun along the way.

We cover:

• Why making a podcast can be exhausting, especially when you're already navigating a world that wasn't exactly designed with autistic people in mind
• The special interest swap: stamp collections, model trains, knitting, custom plushies, and all the cool things people are passionate about
• Patreon, keeping the podcast going, and building a community where people can connect without everything having to be about therapy
• The importance of making room for joy, even when there's plenty to be angry about
• What's coming this season: more guests, special interest deep dives, and possibly some Ghostbusters, Doctor Who, and Dungeon Crawler Carl

Also: Dragon Ball's Spirit Bomb, a basement turned into a castle armory, foam swords, Kona the Portuguese water dog, audiobook Easter eggs, and why sometimes we need to borrow a little energy from our friends.

We're glad to be back. Bring your special interests, your cool collections, and whatever makes you happy. There's room for all of it here.