What would autistic media look like if we built it ourselves?
We are currently accepting pitches for new shows to join the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, and we’d love to hear your ideas!
It’s been a couple of days since we launched 9 new shows on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network (ACPN) bringing the number of shows we have on the network to 18 with 15 more in development. The response has been so incredible that we are are extending the deadline for you to join us. 🙌🏼🥂🎉🥂🎉🙌🏼
Our network grew out of the idea that Autistic life isn’t just a diagnosis, it’s a culture, a way of thinking, creating, communicating, connecting, and experiencing the world. We are looking for shows that explore everything about the Autistic lived experience not just the difficult or tragic aspects of being neurodivergent.
Members of the network are part of a co-op of creatives trading an exclusive 2 year license to their intellectual property for Audio editing, Noise reduction and cleanup, Volume leveling, Mixing, Mastering, Music insertion, Ad insertion, Intro/outro insertion, Transcript generation, Transcript editing, SEO optimization, Artwork creation, Episode-specific graphics creation, Audiogram creation, Video version creation, Caption generation, Upload to hosting platform, Metadata entry, Scheduling publication, Website posting, Newsletter creation, Social media post creation, Social media scheduling, PR, Community engagement, Cross-promotion coordination, and Analytics tracking.
Currently we are accepting brand new show that fall into one of 3 categories: interests and hobbies, identity and advocacy, and health and wellness.
If you like the idea of coming up with a podcast idea and recording it, but hate the idea of editing and marketing it, this is the opportunity you have been waiting for.
Here are some examples of shows that we would love to see on the network.
Interests & Hobbies
Autistic deep dives into fandoms
Sports shows about stats, patterns, and historical games you’ve memorised for no reason other than love.
Music theory, instrumentation, or production for the Autistic brain
Genre deep dives: sci-fi, horror, animation, anime, etc.
Tabletop games - either individual or specific. For instance, it could be a show about D&D or a show about all modern European Strategy games.
A video game review show - even something like a Warhammer show or a Zelda show, which follows a game or character through multiple genres
Niche historical fascinations (railways, typography, folklore, maps, geology, etc.)
Autistic approaches to scientific thinking and pattern recognition - for instance, we would love a science show from someone into climate or weather
Cultural Commentary Shows
Autistic historical figures and overlooked contributions
Media representation through an Autistic lens
Neurodivergent approaches to competition and play
Anthropology of our Autistic ancestors, including stone tool makers
Autistic artists discussing process, sensory elements, and meaning
Creativity, hyperfocus, and flow states
Podcasts that treat sound as sensation, break down albums note by note
Tracing the ethnomusicology of different musical genres from their beginnings to current incarnations
Representation of neurodivergent characters — the good, the bad, the cringe
Activism, advocacy, and grassroots organising
Life Stage Shows
What to Expect when you are pregnant and Autistic
Autistic parents sharing real-life experiences of raising neurodivergent kids
Raising Autistic kids without the shame and fear so often imposed on us.
Growing up Autistic, family dynamics, and intergenerational neurodivergence
Surviving University Life for Autistic Young Adults
Autistic entrepreneurs, freelancers, and creators
Navigating workplaces, accommodations, and burnout
Shows that look at a specific chronic illness that are highly correlated with Autism - for instance, a show about EDS, fibromyalgia, or POTS.
We are Currently Only Looking for New Autistic-Led Shows
We welcome creators with brand-new show ideas aligned with Autistic cultural values to apply to make a pilot mini-series of 4-12 episodes with us. The shows we’re looking for go beyond autism awareness or informational content. We’re especially interested in shows rooted in special interests, lived experience, and the many life stages and situations that shape Autistic lives and culture. If a mini-series is successful, it may be renewed or established as a regular show!
Pitch Details
In the application the key questions you will need to answer about your podcast are:
What is the title or proposed title of your show?
Write a 150 word show description that could be published on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Provide ideas for 4 - 12 episodes of your show that could make up season 1. For each episode, we would like to see a proposed episode title, description, guests you will have for that episode (if it's an interview show), and a few bullet points of discussion topics you might cover. You don't have to make these shows exactly, but we want to see what you would propose for a 4 - 12 episode season.
Pick a category for your show
Hobbies & Interests (ex. music, sports, puzzles, games, science, nature, animals)
Health & Wellness (ex. mental health, insomnia & sleep apnea, MCAS, PCOS/PMOS, EDS, POTS, IBS)
Identity & Advocacy (ex. late diagnosis, parenting, dating, housing, disability rights, spirituality)
Describe the format of the show. (Examples provided are from ACPN unless marked with an asterix - however we are looking for shows in all of these formats.)
Interview Podcast — Guest interviews and conversations (ex. Late Diagnosis Club)
Co-Hosted Conversation — Two or more hosts chatting (ex.The Neurodivergent Experience)
Solo / Monologue Podcast — One host, expert-led show (ex. Clinical Misfits)
Panel Podcast — Recurring group discussion with the same people (ex. Hyperfocus FC)
Roundtable — Like a panel but with different guests (ex.Two Mics, No Masking)
Nonfiction Narrative — Real stories told documentary-style (ex.Serial*)
Fiction Podcast — Scripted audio storytelling (ex.The Harbingers*)
Educational Podcast — Teaching and how-to content (ex. Autistic Culture 101)
News & Current Events — News, analysis, and commentary (ex. Hot Topic)
Review Show — Reviews and recommendations (ex. Still Growing Up Film Club)
Pitch Deadline
We’re currently accepting pitches for this round until July 14th of 2026. Shows will be considered on a rolling basis, so there is a slight advantage to getting your pitch in sooner in the application period to give yourself extra production time and to avoid someone else grabbing the slot for an idea you share.
You do NOT need to be a podcast expert, have fancy equipment or a co-host, or know everything about your show already. We care more about your passion, voice, and ideas than your technical skills.
Our production team will share a contract and clear, straightforward tech specs upon acceptance for your review and discussion. You will have at least 2 weeks to decide whether or not to accept our offer should you receive one.
If your pitch is accepted, all episodes in your mini-series will need to be fully produced and delivered by October 1, 2026. Delivering the full series by this date allows us to plan releases, promotions, marketing, and editorial support in a way that works well for everyone involved.
Why Join the ACPN movement?
Most media about Autistic people is still created by people who are not Autistic. Even when Autistic voices are included, our stories are often reduced to diagnosis, support needs, employment, relationships, or overcoming adversity. Those conversations matter, but they are not the whole of our lives.
The Autistic Culture Podcast Network exists to expand what Autistic representation sounds like. We believe Autistic people should be creating media about football, films, science fiction, history, comedy, parenting, politics, music, technology, and every other topic that captures our attention. Culture is not just what we struggle with. Culture is what we create.
We are also experimenting with a different economic model. ACPN operates on cooperative principles. We do not charge creators fees to join, and we do not take ownership of their intellectual property. Instead, creators retain ownership of their work while participating in a shared ecosystem built around mutual support, shared infrastructure, and revenue sharing. We believe creators should benefit from the value they help create, and that independent media is stronger when people work together rather than competing for the same limited resources.
Just as importantly, we have designed the network around the realities of how many Autistic people actually create. Traditional podcasting rewards relentless consistency, weekly publishing schedules, and endless content production. ACPN is built around seasons. Create a limited series. Follow a special interest. Take a break. Renew if the idea still excites you. We handle the editing, publishing, distribution, and promotion so creators can focus on the part they love most: making great content.
Whether you want to contribute to Autistic culture, reach a larger audience, share knowledge with the community, explore a special interest, or help build a new model for independent media, ACPN offers a place to do it alongside other Autistic creators.
We are not just building podcasts.
We are building the media institutions our community deserves.Ready to Pitch Your Show?
The most common question we get is if we can publish your existing podcast. We can’t. But you can end that podcast and start a new one with us. Alternatively you can keep that podcast going and create a second podcast with us which can be a single season pointing people to your existing show.
If you have other questions, want to talk your idea through, or need clarification, feel free to reach out:
📧 info@autisticculturepodcast.com
We can’t wait to hear what you’re dreaming up!
Absolutely fantastic. Definitely going to give it a go, and pitch 🫶🏽