Episode 34: Safety, Spark, and the Autistic Refusal to Shrink

Matt, Erin, and returning guest Kate McNulty are back — and this one moves from burnout to shame to safety, with stops at birds, clocks, and emotional support cheese.We’re talking about what happens when your spark goes out… and how to find it again without shaming yourself into motion.We cover:• How to rebuild momentum in burnout — from “skip a step” strategies to using curiosity as fuel• What shame actually is, how it forms in dysregulated relationships, and why it disconnects us from safety• Fawning, appeasement, and nervous system survival — and why victims aren’t “choosing” compliance• Why reclaiming autistic joy, collections, and special interests is resistance — not selfishnessThere’s honest conversation here about re-parenting yourself while raising autistic kids, being shamed for what you love, and why honoring your natural cycles matters more than burning out in glory.If you’re feeling stuck, flat, or ashamed of the very things that light you up, this one’s for you.And yes — we still want to see the cats in cosplay.