This Holiday Special and Season 1 Finale aims to take everything that we covered this season and stitch it together into one cohesive big picture with some new insight and juxtaposition of these themes. Resources mentioned in the episode: Embrace Autism

Help and Healing Center

Melissa Tacia

Trevor Carroll

Sol Smith

Morgan Foley

Hyperveridical

Michelle and Andrew Preston

Toren and Serenity Wolf

Generic Art Dad

I need your help... Did you know that more than 70% of autistic adults remain undiagnosed- including as much as 80% of autistic women, and 90% of autistic adults over 50- navigating a world that was never designed for their needs? As someone who lived this reality for over four decades, I know the pain, the confusion, and the loneliness all too well. But here’s the truth: understanding and connection can change everything. This past year, My Autistic World has become more than just a podcast—it’s a lifeline. It’s a space where late-diagnosed autistic adults like me can feel seen, heard, and validated. Together, we’ve built a community that thrives on vulnerability, truth, and advocacy. And now, we’re on the brink of something even bigger. Season 2 is about amplifying more voices, sharing authentic stories of late diagnosis, and advocating for change in a world that often overlooks us. But I can’t do this alone. Here’s where you come in: Your donation will directly fund: Transcripts and accessibility tools so our content reaches everyone who needs it. Production costs for high-quality episodes that resonate deeply. Outreach efforts to connect with more late-diagnosed autistic adults and their loved ones. The urgency is real: to meet the demand and expand our reach, we need to raise at least $5,000 by February 14th- Valentine's Day- 2025. Every dollar you give brings us closer to creating a world where late-diagnosed autistic adults no longer feel invisible. Take action now: Go to linktr.ee/myautisticworld to donate now. And share that link and this episode with your network—it costs nothing but makes a world of difference. I’ll leave you with this: When I first spoke into the void, I never imagined people would care. But your support has shown me that they do. You’ve already helped create a space where we can unmask, grow, and heal. Let’s take it further—together.

In this episode of Adult Autism: My Autistic World, Matt dives into the fascinating world of special interests- those unique and intense passions that bring so much joy and purpose to many autistic and neurodivergent individuals. He shares some of the special interests that have shaped his life, from ancient civilizations to cults, and his obsession with Tori Amos. He also shares his latest and dominant special interest- neurodivergence, which has consumed his focus for the past two years.

Matt also discusses the struggle of suppressing and hiding special interests for years, feeling pressure to “leave childish things behind,” and the trauma of misdiagnosis and mapping special interests to signs of mania. He reflects on how this suppression and shaming made him feel diminished joy and connection to self. Rediscovering special interests has been a journey of self-acceptance and authenticity for him.

He also highlights the importance of special interests, explaining how these passions provide a sense of purpose, a means of self-expression, and a pathway to mental and emotional well-being.

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In this episode of Adult Autism: My Autistic World, Matt takes a reflective journey through their employment history, shedding light on how undiagnosed autism impacted his career. Despite often being recognized as a strong employee, he frequently experienced burnout, often leaving jobs due to feelings of overwhelm or becoming stuck in issues related to a strong sense of justice. He also discusses how autism contributed to difficulties in managing basic self-care, finances, relationships, and other aspects of life outside of work. Taking classes to become a life coach improved not only his professional abilities but also his home life. Systemization became a key strength, allowing him to excel at work by seeing the path from point A to point B more clearly. These newfound skills also helped him manage his personal life more effectively, leading to better self-care. He touches on the topic of employment disclosure and the process of seeking disability accomodations, highlighting the power of understanding and advocating for one's own needs.

At the end of this episode, Matt discusses his plans for his future and the future of the podcast, including a second season focused on hearing other autistic people's experiences.

Please consider supporting the podcast by donating as much or as little as you can afford at: https://buymeacoffee.com/mattkandik