Episode 02: Ghostbusters is Autistic

M: Autistic children are—it has been studied—are much more likely than neurotypical children to experience the paranormal, to experience ghosts, to experience interesting psychic phenomena.

In this episode of The Autistic Culture Podcast:

Actually Autistic podcast hosts, Angela and Matt, explore the Autistic history and legacy of the Ghostbusters franchise, created by Autistic actor and writer Dan Aykroyd.

Dan Aykroyd displayed Autistic traits from childhood like echolalia and special interests in ghosts, law enforcement, and cars. These all influenced Ghostbusters. Today, he credits his neurodivergent nature for helping him creatively. Delightfully, two main Ghostbusters characters, Ray Stanz and Egon Spengler, are canonically portrayed as Autistic in the films.

“You can always link together this Autistic, hyper-connected brain where we love research, we love learning new things, we love investigations, we love the things that we are incredibly passionate about.” —Matt

The films focuses on the characters' deep research interests, which draws in Autistic viewers who appreciate the detailed world-building, and Ghostbusters 2 explores the Autistic experience of emotional intensity arising for unclear reasons.

“So Autistic friends in the land of Autistica listening, if you are at all worried that your special interest could never make you money: paranormal research, ghosts, law enforcement, cars— there is a fortune to be made in our deep diving special interest research.” —Angela

Recent sequels, Afterlife and Answer the Call take different approaches to representing autism—the former from a strengths-based perspective and the latter more deficit-focused. The female reboot had some Autistic characters (and actresses with Autistic traits), but played them for laughs rather than exploring authentic Autistic strengths.

On this virtual culture trip, the hosts argue Ghostbusters shows the symbiotic relationship possible between Autistic and non-autistic people when they come together around shared interests.

Have you seen a ghost? Foretold the future? Are you tuned into the paranormal? Tell us about it in the comments!

Show notes & resources:

Want to learn about more Autistic celebrities making movie magic? Check out: Industrial Light & Magic is Autistic
The Paranormal Life Of Hans Holzer, America’s First Ghost Hunter
Dan Aykroyd, still autistic after all these years
'I have Asperger's - one of my symptoms included being obsessed with ghosts': Under the microscope with Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd's 'obsession with ghosts and law enforcement' is due to Asperger's

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Learn more about Matt at Matt Lowry, LPP

Matt’s social media: Autistic Connections Facebook Group

Learn more about Angela at AngelaLauria.com and Difference Press

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*Note: Transcription technology is still new on this platform. We are aware of the gaps and errors in the transcript and are dedicated to editing it for accuracy as soon as the new technology allows. We appreciate your patience as we work to expand accessibility as quickly as we are able.

**TACP recognizes that ABA for autism is harmful to Autistic mental health. We reject the use of ABA therapy and pathologizing language like Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and associated functioning labels. To learn more, please listen to: Episode 20: Sesame Street is Autistic and Episode 24: The Trouble with Temple Grandin.