The Other Autism
The Other Autism explores late-diagnosed autism and the latest in autism research, and works to dispel myths and stereotypes about autism and autistic people. Episodes cover leading topics in the neurodiversity space and feature interviews with late-diagnosed autistic folks and autistic professionals. Theme music: "Everything Feels New" by Evgeny Bardyuzha. All episodes are written and edited by Kristen Hovet. Contact: otherautism@gmail.com
The Other Autism
When Autism and Extremism Get Tangled Up
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Every few months, a headline lands that makes autistic people brace for impact. A young man does something terrible. Somewhere in the story, the word "autistic" appears. And the public conversation drifts, again, toward the idea that there's something inherently dangerous about how our brains work.
In this episode, I walk through a 2026 study from Autism in Adulthood that pushes back on that drift. Researchers interviewed family members, friends, and clinicians who watched autistic people slide into extreme ideologies up close. What they found is more complicated, more compassionate, and more useful than the headlines suggest.
Topics covered include:
- Why autism alone does not explain extremism
- What "negative autistic identity" means and why it matters
- Hyperfixation as both superpower and liability
- How algorithms exploit the gaps left by under-resourced autistic people
- What real prevention looks like — and why it isn't surveillance
Watch this episode on YouTube.
If you'd like to know more about topics discussed in this episode, check out:
"Family and Clinician Perspectives About How Autism and Extremism Intersect" by Sachindri Wijekoon et al.
"Neurodivergence and the Rabbit Hole of Extremism: Uncovering Lived Experience" by Sachindri Wijekoon et al.
"Autism in England: Assessing Underdiagnosis in a Population-Based Cohort Study of Prospectively Collected Primary Care Data" by Elizabeth O'Nions et al.
"Understanding the Use of the Term 'Weaponized Autism' in an Alt-Right Social Media Platform" by Christie Welch et al.
"Social and Individual Grievances and Attraction to Extremist Ideologies in Individuals With Autism: Insights From a Clinical Sample" by Cécile Rousseau et al.
Theme music: "Everything Feels New" by Evgeny Bardyuzha.
All episodes written and produced by Kristen Hovet.
Send in your questions or thoughts via audio or video recording for a chance to be featured on the show! Email your audio or video clips to otherautism@gmail.com through WeTransfer.
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The views, opinions, and experiences shared by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or production team. The content is intended for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical or professional advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions related to your health, fitness, or wellness.
