For the very first episode of Finding My User Manual, I wanted to sit down with someone who truly embodies what this podcast is about: figuring out how to be human when nobody handed you the instructions, and Mat Ricardo was an obvious guest choice.

You might know Mat as a legendary cabaret performer, a published author, or one of the UK’s most celebrated jugglers. He’s performed by royal command, headlined shows across the world, and according to Magic Circle magazine, has “done more to revive the art of variety than anyone else.” But what struck me most about our conversation wasn’t the impressive CV. It was his willingness to talk openly about the ways his brain works differently, and why trusting your own instincts matters more than waiting for permission.

Here’s what he shared.

Your Way Is The Right Way

When asked what would be on page one of his user manual, Mat’s answer was clear: the way you feel you need to do it is the way you should do it.

As someone who is autistic, Mat has always done things in a different order to most people. Not wrong, just different. And rather than seeing that as a problem to fix, he’s learned to treat it as information about how he works best.

Learning in Solitude

Mat describes himself as someone who learns best alone. The idea of joining a class or workshop fills him with “icy dread.” Instead, he locks himself away and figures things out through trial, error, and relentless curiosity. It’s been that way since childhood.

Both of his parents were librarians, so consuming knowledge was built into his home life from the start. If he liked a pop star who played keyboards, he’d immediately need to learn piano. If he were given a computer, he’d become a hacker. The pattern has never changed: get an idea, get hooked, and figure it out.

The Computer Room Key

In the early 80s, Mat was one of the few students who understood his school’s computer system. His teacher recognised this and did something extraordinary: he gave Mat a key to the computer room.

While other kids were in the playground, he could let himself in, lock the door behind him, and do the thing he loved. It was his first safe space.

Juggling Electric Carving Knives

Mat got tired of people asking if he juggles chainsaws. So, fuelled by spite (which he insists is an excellent motivator for creativity), he decided to do something genuinely dangerous: juggle cordless electric carving knives with the blades on.

What he didn’t anticipate was the physics. The motors create gyroscopic motion, so instead of spinning end over end like normal clubs, they corkscrew unpredictably. It became one of the hardest things he’s ever juggled.

One slip during a show and the knife bounced off his chest, slicing through his tie. He cut his fingers twice. He performed the routine for one season, then put the knives in a box in the loft.

Why Show Business Works for an Autistic Brain

People often tell Mat that show business seems like an odd career choice for someone who thrives on structure. Every gig is different. There’s no office, no regular train to catch.

But here’s what they don’t understand: once you arrive at the venue, theatre life is incredibly structured. You get shown to your dressing room. There’s a speaker, so you know what’s happening on stage. You get a running order, a call sheet, and clear timings for everything.

“That’s perfect,” Mat says. “I want all of life to be like that.”

Choosing Your Own Responsibilities

“Running away to the circus” is often seen as escapism, a rejection of responsibility. But Mat sees it differently. It’s not about running away from responsibility; it’s about running towards a life where you get to choose what matters.

When Mat was eleven, his school made everyone fill out a career aptitude form, and a month later, he received his mathematically determined options: social worker or undertaker.

He became a professional juggler instead, and says he’s not rich, and he’s not a deputy CEO of anything, but he’s built a life around the things that spark joy for him.

Be a Busker in Everything You Do

Mat’s advice for anyone with a similar page in their user manual: listen to the voice in your head.

Nobody told him to learn to juggle. Nobody promised him a career if he got good. Nobody asked him to write his book. He did these things because something inside him said to.

He learned this from street performing: you walk into a space that isn’t designed for a show, to perform for people who haven’t planned to watch one. But if you’re good, you change their minds. You turn that place into a theatre just by deciding to, and you create something wonderful that wasn’t there before.

Be a busker in everything you do.

Listen to the full episode:

Mat’s Book:

The Magic in You is available wherever books are sold.

Amazon

Faber

Connect with Mat:

YouTube: @MatRicardo

Instagram: @matricardo