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LATE BLOOMERS

AUTISM MYTHBUSTERS: 10 things everyone gets wrong about autism

Jun 17, 2026 · 34 min · 16 segments

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich has had enough of autism misconceptions, so Rich and Rox are going through the top ten myths one by one and busting them wide open. Rich didn't know what was coming…

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich has had enough of autism misconceptions, so Rich and Rox are going through the top ten myths one by one and busting them wide open. Rich didn't know what was coming. That's kind of the point. From "autistic people can't feel empathy" to "sensory issues are just being difficult" to the big one — is autism being overdiagnosed — this episode covers a lot of ground. Rich talks about what it actually feels like to have emotions on the inside that nobody can see on the outside, why flip flops are genuinely the enemy, and why the label "high functioning" needs to go in the bin. If you've ever had to explain your autism to someone who thinks they already know what it looks like, this one's for you. And remember if you've met one autistic person, you've met one autistic person... 20% off Loop Earplugs: https://www.loopearplugs.com/adhdlove

This week on LATE BLOOMERS, Rich has had enough of autism misconceptions, so Rich and Rox are going through the top ten myths one by one and busting them wide open. Rich didn't know what was coming…

Speakers: RoxHostRichHost

Top entities: Sia×11 Myth×3 Loop Asperger syndrome×2 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders×2

Myth 1 – All Autistic People Excel at Maths & Coding1:16 – 3:19

R

RoxHost

1:16

You ready for number one?

R

RichHost

1:17

I'm ready.

R

RoxHost

1:19

All autistic people are good at maths, coding, or science.

R

RichHost

1:23

Well, this is interesting because I- I actually am really good at maths, but not coding or science.

R

RichHost

1:32

And also, if I look at Syr, they're brilliant at a lot of things.

R

RichHost

1:37

Maths is not one of them.

R

RoxHost

1:39

They were a bit of a coder at school.

R

RichHost

1:41

Yeah.

R

RoxHost

1:41

I feel like there's a kind of...

R

RoxHost

1:44

I don't wanna stereotype, but I'm absolutely going to.

R

RoxHost

1:46

There is, like, a bit of a male, non-female and female stereotypes that happens.

R

RichHost

1:54

Mm.

R

RoxHost

1:54

Because some of the autistic characters we've seen on TV, Rain Man-

R

RichHost

1:59

Mm

R

RoxHost

1:59

... for those old enough to remember, Sheldon Cooper.

R

RichHost

2:02

Legend.

R

RoxHost

2:04

Even sort of in the modern-day atmosphere, Elon Musk and people like that.

R

RichHost

2:11

Yeah.

R

RoxHost

2:11

There is a...

R

RoxHost

2:13

I don't know.

R

RichHost

2:15

Representation problem.

R

RoxHost

2:16

There's a representation problem.

R

RichHost

2:19

Yeah, okay.

R

RoxHost

2:20

Because actually, a lot of autistic women, some will be great at maths or coding and science, but there'll be other areas of special interest and skill, and not everyone has to have a special interest or a skill.

R

RichHost

2:34

I think regardless of gender, I don't think that that myth is true because it will depend on what you're passionate about.

SiaPersonAustralian singer-songwriter
96%11 mentions
MythEntityLiterary genre
88%3 mentions
LoopEntityGame engine
79%1 mention
Asperger syndromeEntityCondition
71%2 mentions
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental DisordersEntity
63%2 mentions
Elon MuskPersonIndustrialist and former Senior Advisor to the President of the United States
50%2 mentions
Sheldon CooperEntityFictional character
50%2 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
38%2 mentions
ChristmasEntityCelebration
29%1 mention
H&MCompanyClothing company
21%1 mention
NazismEntityPolitical ideology
13%1 mention
Ben BransonPersonFounder of Seedlip
4%1 mention

Mental HealthHealth
NeurodiversitySociety > Disability
Society
DisabilitySociety
EmpathyPsychology > Emotions
NeurodiversityHealth > Mental Health
AutismHealth > Mental Health > Neurodiversity
AutismSociety > Disability > Neurodiversity
AutismEducation > Awareness
EmotionsPsychology
RepresentationEducation > Awareness > Autism
Health
Education
Psychology
AwarenessEducation
AutismPsychology > Emotions > Empathy
Myths and MisconceptionsSociety > Disability > Neurodiversity > Autism
Emotional ExpressionPsychology > Emotions > Empathy > Autism
Social BehaviorSociety > Disability > Neurodiversity > Autism
StereotypesEducation > Awareness > Autism > Representation
Support NeedsHealth > Mental Health > Neurodiversity > Autism

Myth 1 – All Autistic People Excel at Maths & Coding1:16 – 3:19

R

RoxHost

1:16

You ready for number one?

R

RichHost

1:17

I'm ready.

R

RoxHost

1:19

All autistic people are good at maths, coding, or science.

R

RichHost

1:23

Well, this is interesting because I- I actually am really good at maths, but not coding or science.

R

RichHost

1:32

And also, if I look at Syr, they're brilliant at a lot of things.

R

RichHost

1:37

Maths is not one of them.

R

RoxHost

1:39

They were a bit of a coder at school.

R

RichHost

1:41

Yeah.

R

RoxHost

1:41

I feel like there's a kind of...

R

RoxHost

1:44

I don't wanna stereotype, but I'm absolutely going to.

R

RoxHost

1:46

There is, like, a bit of a male, non-female and female stereotypes that happens.

R

RichHost

1:54

Mm.

R

RoxHost

1:54

Because some of the autistic characters we've seen on TV, Rain Man-

R

RichHost

1:59

Mm

R

RoxHost

1:59

... for those old enough to remember, Sheldon Cooper.

R

RichHost

2:02

Legend.

R

RoxHost

2:04

Even sort of in the modern-day atmosphere, Elon Musk and people like that.

R

RichHost

2:11

Yeah.

R

RoxHost

2:11

There is a...

R

RoxHost

2:13

I don't know.

R

RichHost

2:15

Representation problem.

R

RoxHost

2:16

There's a representation problem.

R

RichHost

2:19

Yeah, okay.

R

RoxHost

2:20

Because actually, a lot of autistic women, some will be great at maths or coding and science, but there'll be other areas of special interest and skill, and not everyone has to have a special interest or a skill.

R

RichHost

2:34

I think regardless of gender, I don't think that that myth is true because it will depend on what you're passionate about.

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