Adulting with Autism
Autistic Adulting Narcissism Hacks: Myths, Empathy & Neurodivergent Masks | Dr. Sterlin Mosley Interview
25 Oct 2025
Send us a textAutistic adulting labeled "narcissist"? In this raw ramble on Adulting with Autism, host April (autistic OT) chats with narcissism expert Dr. Sterlin Mosley on busting buzzword BS—empathy deficits (not flat affect—autistic circuits differ; narcissists fake/manipulate), 27 subtypes (grandiose/nice/intellectual/dark empath), and masking overlaps (vulnerability armor vs. blending survival). OU professor (Ph.D. intercultural comm, masters human relations), Empathy Architects founder, and author (The Narcissist in You and Everyone Else, Center of the Universe), Sterlin's blending research with real talk—family/professional narc experiences sparked his dive into ego defenses, personality, and relational distortions.Transcript gems: Culture fueling narcissism (social media acquired traits, Western individualism), workplace survival (gray-rocking toxic bosses), relationships (conditional love—repair vs. run?), TikTok pitfalls (nuance lost in memes/gaslighting misuse), and toxic positivity (thought-stopping cliches hiding rage). For autistic young adults mislabeled (info-dump ≠ self-obsession), parents spotting dynamics, or OT squad building boundaries, this is your 'what the actual?' emotional literacy toolkit—no enabling, just self-aware connections.Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro: Narcissism Myths & Sterlin's Journey 2:30 - What Is Narcissism? (Spectrum, Not Buzzword) 8:45 - 27 Subtypes & Red Flags (Love-Bombing) 15:20 - Culture/Social Media Influence 22:10 - Neurodivergent Overlaps (Autism vs. Narc) 30:00 - Workplace/Relationship Strategies 40:00 - TikTok/Toxic Positivity Pitfalls 50:00 - OutroSub on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for unmasked tips—reviews build the squad! Linktree for full eps, Sterlin's sterlinmosley.com (Enneagram coaching), substack (sterlinmosley.substack.com), books (Amazon: Center of the Universe, The Narcissist in You), Instagram (@empathyarchitects), and Adulting with Autism merch: 'Dynamite' tees for boundary sparks or 'Magic Shop' hoodies for squad empathy. Your narc myth? Comment! Follow @adultingautismbts on TikTok for clips.#AutisticAdultingTips #NarcissismMyths #NeurodivergentEmpathy #AdultingWithAutism #BTSNeurodivergent #EnneagramNarcissism #GrayRocking #OTTips #MaskingAutism #ToxicPositivity #WorkplaceNarcissism #RelationshipRedFlags #EmotionalLiteracy #SterlinMosley #EmpathyArchitects #PodMatchhttps://linktr.ee/adultingwithautism| https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adulting-with-autism/id1726252789| https://open.spotify.com/show/3x5XAhD6vUr9vyxwo7PUrn| sterlinmosley.com | Substack | Instagram: @empathyarchitects | The Narcissist in You, Center of the Universemfish: Organize. Simplify. WinEco-friendly, high-quality tech tool to simplify school, work and lifeFind Your Fierce This Fall: Empowerment Shop now to support the show and join the Alliance—find your new favorite at the link in show notes.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show@[email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
No persons identified in this episode.
This episode hasn't been transcribed yet
Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.
Popular episodes get transcribed faster
Other recent transcribed episodes
Transcribed and ready to explore now
NPR News: 12-08-2025 2AM EST
08 Dec 2025
NPR News Now
NPR News: 12-07-2025 11PM EST
08 Dec 2025
NPR News Now
NPR News: 12-07-2025 10PM EST
08 Dec 2025
NPR News Now
Meidas Health: AAP President Strongly Pushes Back on Hepatitis B Vaccine Changes
08 Dec 2025
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Democrat Bobby Cole Discusses Race for Texas Governor
07 Dec 2025
The MeidasTouch Podcast
Fox News Crashes Out on Air Over Trump’s Rapid Fall
07 Dec 2025
The MeidasTouch Podcast