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October 2, 2025 • 1 min

👉A live reading from the Amazon book, “every clock is a handgun pointed at my head.”

What You’re About To Watch

A quick, sharp destruction of the “autism as superpower” narrative that’s everywhere in neurodivergent spaces. No superpowers. No kryptonite. Just the messy, explosive, delightful reality of being autistic without the costume drama.

These 60, live seconds cut through the inspiration porn... and all that other ‘you’re so brave’ bullshit. Saying exactly what needs said:

We’re the heroes and villains of our own lives without needing to fly. Or… entertain you.

Plain-spoken truth from someone who’s lived autistic 72 years. Just long enough to have no patience for platitudes.

💬 Let’s Talk About It

* Tired of the same superpower false role model that I am? Comments are where we build real community.

* Tell me: What autism myth are you done performing? What would you rather people understand instead?

* Comments are the biggest way you help neurodivergent voices beat the algorithm and find each other.

📌 Pinned comment prompt: “Which autism myth are you most done performing?”

This Is For You If:

* You’re autistic and exhausted trying to live up to “superpower” framing

* You’re sick of inspiration porn that makes your neurodivergence easier to take… for others

* You want honest talk about autism that doesn’t infantilize or glorify

* You’re done with ableist narratives dressed up as positivity

* You’re looking for autistic elders speaking unmasked truth

* You work with autistic people and want to understand what we actually experience

* You’re navigating late diagnosis and sorting through what’s real vs. what’s marketing

* You love sharp, literary spoken word that doesn’t waste your time

🔗 Subscribe & Connect

Subscribe to this channel for more unmasking without apology—spoken word, essays, and real talk about the neurodivergent experience.

Free resources:👉 Subscribe to my Substack (free or paid) and get a PDF of the entire “every clock is a handgun pointed at my head” collection

Support this work:👉 Available as Amazon ebook or softcoverExclusive hardcover edition and Audible book coming soon.

What This Explores

Why ‘superpower’ language makes us invisible. Turning us into symbols... stealing our personhood. Just leaving two choices: inspiration or tragedy. For others.

Reclaiming ordinariness as radical act—we don’t need to be exceptional to deserve basic respect and understanding

The delight in being ourselves without performing neurotypical expectations or living up to superhero mythology

Agency over our own narratives where we get to be messy, complicated humans rather than simplified symbols

#ActuallyAutistic #AutisticAdult #Neurodivergent #AutismAwareness #AutismAcceptance #DisabilityJustice #Unmasking #AutisticVoices #InspirationPorn #AutisticCommunity #NeurodivergentLife #AutismMyths #SpokenWord #AutisticElders #ActuallyAutisticAdults

📖 FULL TRANSCRIPT

[Transcript appears here on Substack. For YouTube, replace this section with:]

Read the complete transcript on Substack: [link to post]

After the Secret

The whole fucking superpower thing. So, let’s start with a quick blow up of the whole fucking superpower thing.

I call this “After the Secret.”

I have strengths.Not one is my superpower.I have challenges.Not one is my kryptonite.

I’m that kid in third gradeDrop drop droppingA mysterious blue crystalInto that test tube—Squealing in delightEvery time it explodes…In purple streams.

I love cosplay.But I don’t have to flyWear a maskOr sport a capeTo be autistic.

Still…

I get to be the heroor bald evil geniusof my own life.

Outro

This free podcast is supported by listeners like you. Please like and share. It’s the biggest thing you can do to help all neurodivergent voices beat the algorithm.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit johnnyprofaneknapp.substack.com/subscribe
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