An episode that mastered the art of unmasking on the page!
In Episode 142 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr Angela Kingdon discusses the art of unmasking and how writing can help process late-diagnosis identity shock. Plus, she reveals this week’s creative prompt themed around the oral tradition of writing and sharing Fables! What lessons, values, or morals would you pass down as an Autistic person?
All this, and we announce our amazing winners from our sixth writing contest!
Here are our top two entries.
OUR WINNER 🥇
Lindsee Garlock-Thornton:
-Sparkly Brain-
The greatest treasure
Golden playground of the mind
No bland thoughts in here
-Knowledge Thirst Trap-
I learn something new
Pupils dilate, purview swells
Let’s do that again!
-Sensational Senses-
I must touch the thing
Smooth, fluffy, bumpy, or slick
Hungry fingertips
-Visual Disturbance Rumination-
The anomaly
Highly visible to me
Rinse and repeat and repeat
-Call Me Sal- (Sally, witch, Practical Magic)
Pattern recognized
We can see around corners
Magic to your eyes
-Welp, Found My People-
Autistic culture
Talking it out fills me up
Everything makes sense!
THE RUNNER UP 🥈
Allyson Hogan:
Comfort episode
Watch ‘til you know it by heart
Recite every word
Spin reemerging
Hello again, my old friend
I sink into you
Play the song again
Medicine to scratch away
The itch in my brain
Congrats to our winners! You can see their stories here.
Here’s what we cover in today’s episode:
An update on what to expect from the Autistic Culture podcast over the summer hiatus and what to look forward to in Season 4.
Dr Angela provides an update on her upcoming book ‘Am I Actually Autistic?: Dr. Angela Kingdon's Memoir and Self-Identification Guide to Processing the Identity Shock of a Late Autism Discovery & Living Unmasked’.
Discover the mission behind the Autistic Culture Institute and get early details on Neurodivergent Voices Live, a UK-based celebration of autistic authors, artists, podcasters, and performers coming in June 2026.
Explore how writing can help process late-diagnosis identity shock and unmasking in a world that wasn’t built for neurodivergent minds.
Masking refers to the conscious or unconscious suppression of natural autistic traits to conform to neurotypical expectations. While masking can aid short-term social acceptance, long-term masking may lead to exhaustion, anxiety, identity confusion, and burnout.
Unmasking allows space for joy: in sensory play, deep interests, honest expression, and bodily autonomy. It invites curiosity, creativity, and playfulness, not just survival.
Fables belong essentially to the oral tradition; they survive by being remembered and then retold in one's own words. When they are written down, particularly in the dominant language of instruction, they lose something of their essence. A strategy for reclaiming them is therefore to exploit the gap between the written and the spoken language.
Neurodivergent Narratives Presents: ‘Moral of the Story’ Contest
What’s the moral you want to pass on to our younger neurokin? Start there!
PROMPT: If you were to write a fable in the style of Aesop’s fables about friendship, what would the moral be?
⚠️Your fable may not be any longer than 500 words.
This isn’t therapy.
This is voice reclamation.
Submit entry.
Let Your Voice Be Heard.
💌 Good luck, writers. We’re saving you a seat.
THE ESSENTIALS:
🖊️ Open to: Everyone
🗓️ Deadline: Wednesday, June 25th at 12 PM ET / 5 PM UK
💷 Prize: £10 each week
📘 Publication: Winning entries go on our Substack and in the annual Neurodivergent Narratives anthology
THE RULES:
No Plagiarism
No Hate Speech
No Explicit or Graphic Content
Submit as many times as you wish
You do not need to be present or subscribe to participate
Entries after the deadline will not be considered
All decisions are final
Full Contest Rules are here.
Use the hashtag #moralofthestory on social media to share this contest.
Submit Your Entry Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSes-dR34WBtfe7VYGx7wZRvqNhV8ykEGr4L9CHzNSjN5HVfFQ/viewform
Resources:
Matt telling the Wind and the Sun parable is at 10:43 on the Neurodiversity Podcast
BBC article on Aesop’s fables: https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/school-radio/articles/z73s6v4
Aesops fables: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aesop%27s_Fables
The Miller, his Son, and their Donkey: https://www.shortkidstories.com/story/miller-son-donkey/
Detailed list of morals: https://www.litscape.com/indexes/Aesop/Morals.html#google_vignette
Lindsee Garlock-Thornton Haiuk Instagram: haikuwouldntyou
Substack link to ‘Am I Actually Autistic?: Dr. Angela Kingdon's Memoir and Self-Identification Guide to Processing the Identity Shock of a Late Autism Discovery & Living Unmasked’ - https://www.autisticculturepodcast.com/t/book
Buy a physical copy of the book here: https://books.by/autisticculture
Related Episodes:
Neurodivergent Narratives (Episode 84)
Introducing the Weekly Writing Contest (Episode 130) - Writing Prompt #26
I'm So Confused (Episode 132) - Writing Prompt #27
Recovering from Burnout (Episode 134) - Writing Prompt #28
Local Color with Tim Clare (Episode 136) - Writing Prompt #29
Writing Memoir with Alethea Shapiro (Episode 138) - Writing Prompt #30
Neurodivergent Creative Cycles with Sol Smith (Episode 140) - Writing Prompt #31
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