This Week on the ACPN #3 | Introducing the Autistic Culture Mixtape
Listen to this weeks offering of podcasts, news and culture from the Autistic Culture Podcast Network.
Welcome to the third edition of This Week on ACPN.
This week marks an exciting milestone for the Autistic Culture Podcast Network as we launch the very first Autistic Culture Mixtape - a new way to experience ACPN through a curated blend of music and podcast programming.
Alongside the Mixtape, we’ve got another packed week of new episodes exploring theatre, education, creativity, football, neurodivergent life, fishkeeping, healthcare and more. Whether you’re catching up on your favourite shows or discovering ACPN for the first time, this newsletter is your guide to everything happening across the network.
Let’s dive in!
🎧 Start Here: The Autistic Culture Mixtape • July 2026
The Autistic Culture Mixtape is our monthly listening guide, bringing together every programme released across the Autistic Culture Podcast Network with carefully chosen music inspired by the conversations, themes and emotions of each episode.
Updated every Sunday, the Mixtape grows throughout the month as new programmes are released across ACPN. Listen in order to experience the network as it unfolds.
If you’re enjoying the Mixtape, don’t forget to save it to your Spotify library so you’ll automatically receive each week’s new additions throughout July.
📻 This Week’s Programmes:
Monday 6th July
Theatrically Authentic – Episode 3: Theatre Kid Energy
Sarah Atherton-Knight and Simon Scott explore the intense, joyful, and sometimes complicated world of theatre fandom.
From hyperfixation and lore-sharing to stage-door etiquette and parasocial relationships, the episode examines why theatre fandom resonates so deeply with neurodivergent audiences and how musicals become systems of comfort, identity, and connection.
Mindful Mondays with Ashley Dupuy
Ashley returns with another mindful reflection and guided meditation to help neurodivergent listeners begin the week with intention and regulation.
Tuesday 7th July
Creative Becoming – Episode 3: Sticking With It
Helen and Elizabeth explore how consistency, structure, and experimentation can transform creative energy into a sustainable practice, and how to stay engaged when you’re feeling uninspired or overwhelmed.
Together they discuss productivity techniques, creative routines, narrative writing, and the ways art can help us process emotions and communicate experiences.
Regulation Station – Episode 3: Holding Space You Don’t Inhabit: Supporting Neurodivergent Students
Becca Engle is joined by school principal Anthony Chiles for a conversation about neurodivergent students, school systems, regulation, and what children really need to thrive in educational environments.
Wednesday 8th July
Hyperfocus FC – Episode 4: The 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup
In the final episode of their World Cup retrospective series, Simon Scott is joined by James Hepworth and Jack Hoban to look back on the two most recent FIFA World Cups: Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
The trio revisit England’s unforgettable run to the semi-finals in Russia, Croatia’s remarkable journey to the final, France’s emergence as the dominant force of a new generation, and the arrival of stars such as Kylian Mbappé on football’s biggest stage.
The Neurocomplex Creative– Episode 2: Found Family, Big Feelings
Vicki sits down with her aunt Sabrina — PhD in Theatre, lifelong arts educator, and the person who first showed her that big feelings weren’t a problem to be managed but a gift to be expressed.
This conversation is about what that work looked like, why it mattered, and what the arts do for people who feel everything
Thursday 9th July
Autistic Rant Hour – Episode 4: Mental Health Services
What happens when you go to a mental health professional who has zero information about what it means when you, their patient, may be autistic?
The Neurodivergent Experience - Episode 118
Jordan James and Simon Scott return for a conversation about the Neurodivergent Experience!
Friday 10th July
Hot Topic Friday
A new discussion from The Neurodivergent Experience team, tackling a fresh topic from the world of neurodivergence.
Collecting Fish– Episode 3: An Ocean In Your Living Room
James Hepworth explores the beauty, complexity, and controversy surrounding marine aquariums — from clownfish and coral reefs to the realities of recreating an ocean ecosystem at home.
📚 From the Archive - Saturday 11th July
Autistic Culture Podcast Rewind – Emily Dickinson is Autistic
Travel back to one of the earliest episodes of the Autistic Culture Podcast as Dr Angela Kingdon uncovers the Autistic traits and cultural legacy of 18th-century poet Emily Dickinson.
Please rate, share and review our shows, as it helps them grow and reach more people! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Exploring Semi-Speaking as a Communication Identity: A Reflective Practice Guide
Attend the Launch:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/online-launch-of-exploring-semi-speaking-as-a-communication-identity-3-tickets-1990166600877
Get the book:
https://www.amazon.com/Exploring-Semi-Speaking-Communication-Identity-Reflective/dp/1032789522/
Trailer for Angela’s nephew’s horror movie - Bodies of Water
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Thank you for joining us for this first edition of This Week on the Autistic Culture Podcast Network. We’ll be back next week with another roundup of everything new on the network.
Have a Show Idea?
The Autistic Culture Podcast Network is always looking for new voices and new perspectives.
If you have an idea for a podcast grounded in Autistic lived experience, culture, identity, advocacy, creativity, or special interests, we’d love to hear from you.