Pillar 7: Boldly Creating (Episode 145)

An episode that isn’t about making art that’s palatable—it’s about making art that’s true. In Episode 145 of The Autistic Culture Podcast, Dr Angela Kingdon continues our journey through the 10 Pillars of Autistic Culture as we move onto Pillar 7 — Boldly Creating with Nina Danon, Composer, Sound Artist, and Doctoral Researcher, whose work explores the rich intersections between autism, music, creativity, and sensory experience.Nina’s work on Musical Neuroqueering will be published in 2026 in Neuroqueer Theory and Practice, edited by Dr Nick Walker, providing the first draft of her toolkit to empower anyone to expand their neurodivergence through music, and music through neurodivergence.Autistic creativity is deeply rooted in our sensory experiences, emotional intensity, and need for authentic self-expression.Boldly Creating is the autistic drive to express truth through movement, sound, pattern, and special interest, using creativity as connection, regulation, and radical self-expression. So much of boldly creating comes from stimming and sensory experiences that are core to music and the heart of your work.Here’s what defines this core Autistic trait:* Boldly Creating isn’t about making art that’s palatable—it’s about making art that’s true. * We don’t wait for permission to make art, to move, to stim, or to build new worlds. We create in ways that often defy convention—through rhythm, repetition, structure, texture, sound, and story. * Autistics’ creative work is fueled by special interests, hyperfocus, and bottom-up processing. We invent new forms when existing ones don’t fit, building from the ground up, not following someone else’s form.* Whether it’s knitting, composing, coding, dancing, designing, scripting, or sound-building, autistic people boldly create because that’s how we process, regulate, connect, and express our deepest selves.* Autistic creativity is sensory-rooted, emotionally rich, and self-expressive, often expressed through movement (like stimming), sound, visuals, and texture.Key Concepts:* Stimming is performance. Fandom is creation. Knitting is structure, roller derby is choreography.* Bold creation resists perfection—it values expression over conformity.* Autism-centered creativity often dismantles genre boundaries.* It’s embodied, synaesthetic, non-linear: world as your playground.💭 For folks listening who maybe don’t see themselves as “artists,” but have a deep love of sound, movement, pattern, or rhythm, how can you lean into boldly creating on their terms?* 🧠 Lean In: Let stimming be your creative score.* 🧠 Lean In: Bring sensory textures into your medium (knit, sculpt, code).* 🧠 Lean In: Collaborate in flow—create shared flow states.* 🧠 Lean In: Make mistakes public—share drafts, rough takes.* 🧠 Lean In: Use creative tools you build, like Nina’s Stimming Wheel.* 🧠 Lean In: Amplify sensory-emotional fusion—write what you feel AND see.So, whether you’re autistic, exploring the possibility, or just someone who loves and respects autistic people, you are welcome here.If you’d like to discuss Autistic and Neurodivergent music, or if you are an artist of any discipline interested in beta testing the Embodied Stimming Wheel, please email Nina at [email protected] or find Nina BlueSky: @ninadanon.bsky.socialWe’re saving you a seat!This episode is a part of our Start Here Series, which is designed for new listeners of the show who are wondering, “where should I start?” to have a solid foundation for their experience here. It’s also for loyal listeners to begin to more fully embody the pillars of Autistic culture with more clarity and pride. Join the convo with #AutisticCulture!Resources:Bill Davis on Autistic Listening: https://salford-repository.worktribe.com/output/1361259/autistic-listeningVolcano, a neurodivergent sonic experience by Nina Danon & Francesco Cassino: https://www.ninadanon.com/volcano“Composing Neurodivergence: A Musical Neuroqueering Journey”, a talk by Nina for the Autistic Research Seminar Series, King's College, February 2025:Further Reading Recommendations from Nina:Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, H., Örnulf, L., Hasselblad, S., Hansson, D., Nilsson, K., & Seng, H.(2020). Designing an Autistic Space for Research: Exploring the Impact of Context, Space, and Sociality in Autistic Writing Processes. In H. Bertilsdotter Rosqvist, N. Chown, & A. Stenning (Eds.), Neurodiversity studies: A new critical paradigm. Routledge.Sondheim, S. (2011). Look, I Made a Hat: Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with AttendantComments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany (First edition). Alfred A. Knopf.Related Episodes:Eminem - Eminem’s lyrical precision, rapid-fire delivery, and emotional vulnerability are trademarks of autistic creation. Through music, he boldly created a voice no one could ignore—even when they tried. (Ep 19)Questlove - Questlove’s encyclopedic music knowledge, rhythmic innovation, and deep sensory connection to sound make him a quintessential example of autistic creativity. His intuitive DJing, obsessive cataloging of music history, and relentless experimentation embody boldly creating through stimming, hyperfocus, and intense world processing. His work isn’t just music—it’s immersive, sensory-rich storytelling. (Ep 29)Aquariums - Aquariums might seem passive, but for many autistics, designing and maintaining them is an act of boldly creating immersive, sensory microcosms. This episode reveals how aquariums provide a stimmy, visually rich world where autistic minds can engage in detail-driven creativity and caretaking. It's art, science, and serenity in one glass box. (Ep 51)Kink - Kink, when approached through an autistic lens, becomes a space for radical self-expression, sensory exploration, and boundary-setting. It’s not just kink—it’s creative autonomy. (Ep 69)Bellydance - Bellydance allows autistic creators to embody movement, rhythm, and sensory connection in powerful ways. It’s not performance—it’s personal liberation through creation. (Ep 71)Broadway - Broadway is more autistic than it appears at first glance—its passion for precision, repetition, and immersive storytelling speaks directly to autistic ways of processing and creating. ( Ep 85)Punk - Punk’s DIY ethos, anti-authoritarian spirit, and raw self-expression are a natural match for autistic boldness. Boldly creating here means rejecting the mainstream and crafting identity through sound and rebellion. (Ep 89)Knitting - Knitting offers a tactile, rhythmic stimming that transforms into bold artistic output. Often dismissed as a “hobby,” knitting here becomes a radical act of self-regulation, focus, and creative control. (Ep 93)Roller Derby - Autistic roller derby athletes boldly create not only by mastering a physically demanding sport but by reshaping community and identity. (Ep 125)Follow us on InstagramFind us on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyLearn more about Angela at AngelaKingdon.com Our Autism-affirming 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