Listen to this episode from The Autistic Culture Podcast on Spotify. This episode originally aired on December 20, 2022, under the title “Fairy Tales are Autistic.”Angela’s all-time favorite episode! #ActuallyAutistic co-hosts discuss how HCA used imaginative stories to reframe common Autistic traits (that we’re frequently bullied for) as treasured gifts.“We are not defective neurotypicals. We are not ugly ducklings. We are swans. We do swan things. We don't do duck things.”“They claim that we have no empathy—we are just overwhelmed a lot by emotion because they're so big for us.”“It's all about the research because, god, we love the research.”“They did these brain scans, and it turns out that neurotypical people tune out 98% of all sensory data. 98%. And we don't.”“The world is overwhelming for us. It's chaotic. And this is exemplified in ‘The Princess and the Pea’ because she feels it, whereas other people wouldn't…And that's the reason she's royalty.”Which fairy tale (or fairy tale character) do you relate to most? Fan Favorite Game: design #2 (get your “not a duck” design here OR your “HCA was framed” design here)Play the game! Fan Favorites Game rulesEpisode 03: Poetry is Autistic (The Emily Dickinson episode)Episode 25: The Legend of AutisticaEpisode 34: Beauty and the Beast is AutisticEpisode 63: Elsa is AutisticReady for a paradigm shift that empowers Autistics? Help spread the news!Check us out on InstagramFind us on Apple podcasts and SpotifyLearn more about Matt at Matt Lowry, LPPMatt’s social media: Autistic Connections Facebook GroupLearn more about Angela at AngelaLauria.com and Difference PressAngela’s social media: Twitter and TikTokTACP’s merch shop This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.autisticculturepodcast.com/subscribe