Have you ever wondered how an understanding of autism can enrich the world of music? Join us in a riveting conversation with Howard Priestley, the seasoned Music Director of Phoenix Radio, as he beautifully intertwines these two realms. With a background in art and teaching, Howard brings a unique perspective to the table, sharing insights from his experiences working with young people with learning disabilities. His story of resolving a disagreement between two autistic friends not only showcases his deft handling of sensitive situations but also provides a profound understanding of appreciating individual differences.
As our conversation progresses, we dive into the dynamic world of music and the significant contributions of the autistic community. From the pioneering sounds of George Clinton to the unforgettable melodies of David Byrne's Talking Heads, we uncover how their unique perspectives have elevated the music industry. We also share an inspiring story of an autistic presenter's innovative idea that revamped the format of a radio show. Wrapping up, we express our admiration for the commendable work of Phoenix Radio, a platform that empowers people within the autistic community to share their stories. This episode is a testament to the importance of acceptance, understanding, and celebrating our individual talents. You won't want to miss this inspiring and eye-opening episode!
https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
Have you ever wondered how an understanding of autism can enrich the world of music? Join us in a riveting conversation with Howard Priestley, the seasoned Music Director of Phoenix Radio, as he beautifully intertwines these two realms. With a background in art and teaching, Howard brings a unique perspective to the table, sharing insights from his experiences working with young people with learning disabilities. His story of resolving a disagreement between two autistic friends not only showcases his deft handling of sensitive situations but also provides a profound understanding of appreciating individual differences.
As our conversation progresses, we dive into the dynamic world of music and the significant contributions of the autistic community. From the pioneering sounds of George Clinton to the unforgettable melodies of David Byrne's Talking Heads, we uncover how their unique perspectives have elevated the music industry. We also share an inspiring story of an autistic presenter's innovative idea that revamped the format of a radio show. Wrapping up, we express our admiration for the commendable work of Phoenix Radio, a platform that empowers people within the autistic community to share their stories. This episode is a testament to the importance of acceptance, understanding, and celebrating our individual talents. You won't want to miss this inspiring and eye-opening episode!
https://tonymantor.com https://Facebook.com/tonymantor https://instagram.com/tonymantor https://twitter.com/tonymantor https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
Speaker 1:
Welcome to why Not Me the World? Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor, broadcasting from Music City, usa, nashville, tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. We'll show you the real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world. Hopefully, you gain more awareness, acceptance and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to why Not Me the World. Today's guest is Howard Priestley. He's Music Director of Phoenix Radio, located in Northern England. Welcome, howard, it's a pleasure Well, it's a pleasure to have you and I really appreciate you coming on today. If you would tell our listeners a little bit about Phoenix Radio, where you're located and what it is that you do there.
Speaker 2:
Sure, yeah, well, we're based in the north of England, so Halifax is midway between Leeds and Manchester, which are probably two more well-known cities, although Halifax is quite a well-known small town which has got a history of creating things on a worldwide scale. Historically, I run Phoenix as a community radio station.
Speaker 1:
Well, radio is a great thing to do. I understand that that's not all you do. You have other things that you enjoy as well.
Speaker 2:
My background is art and it's also teaching in further education. The work I was doing mostly was with people with learning disabilities and part of what I also did was I was a qualified youth worker and I was determined to try and make the youth service more inclusive. So part of my artwork is cartoons and things. So I try to create things that were of interest to young people generally to try and put messages across about working together, and that's kind of continued with the teaching that I did and also part-time work I've done in local S&E schools and quite often it's meant working with people who are diagnosed as having autism.
Speaker 2:
It's only when you know people, talk to people, you know how things can affect you, not just with having that one thing that you've been told you have, but it was only with talk, people parking. How do you feel? How do you find out how the depression sets in? They can't do the things that the body is able to do with things and equally, other things like bipolar, how, again, it affects people going forward. They may have an episode, but the episode doesn't leave them. It can feel how other people look at them.
Speaker 1:
Now I understand that the radio station that you work with is a local station and you get to use several people within the autistic community to work within the radio station, and I think that's just awesome that you have that ability to do that. Now, one thing that you was telling me, which I think is very important for our listeners to hear, is you had a couple of guys that was kind of upset with each other and they both were autistic and you had to explain to them the differences and just the various things that you would. And they said or one of them said, well, he's autistic too, and because of that, he thought that just because he was autistic, that he should understand everything that he's going through, because he's autistic, which just lends everybody to understand that, just because someone is autistic or not autistic, we all go through the same thought process on certain issues that we might have that upset us. So how did you handle that particular situation?
Speaker 2:
I left it, really starting to take what I said away and to think about it, which is what I would do to anyone really. I mean, I think you were friends and as far as I know they're still friends, but it was something that happened once I had started a relationship. It got a new girlfriend and the other guy couldn't understand why he was kind of being sidelined, which again, is what happened. As you grow up, you know these things, but he just could not understand why this was happening and then he broke into tears. The guy who felt. He said he wasn't aware of what he'd done and he felt bad about and that's why I explained that the other guy was autistic and he said, well, so am I?
Speaker 2:
I said, yeah, but you're both different. I said which we all are. I said I have a brother, and if I was the same as my brother, amy Borey, if we all had the same similarities? I said we're all different, whether it's to do with autism or whether it isn't. So I try and treat them as you would with anyone, and that's how I've always kind of worked with people, you know, and I think the worst thing is to put people in a category and then I think that's an easy, lazy way of assuming that. Oh, they're autistic, so they do that.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, that's so right, and I commend you for handling it that way, because we as people are different, and that's the beauty of it. We have different likes, we have different dislikes. We have things that we do that just other people wouldn't understand, but people in our group would.
Speaker 2:
I can remember someone was saying, because I was saying that I was having a good laugh with one of the guys, and she said oh, you're lucky to get that. I said, what do you mean? Well, somebody with autism having a joke and laugh. But they do, I work with it, you know. I mean we just find each other up as a word with anyone and they make jokes about things and it's you know, sometimes it may not be something that you find funny, but they do.
Speaker 2:
But the fact that, if you do, you know, I think we live in Sorry. Well, I think it's a human thing. I think we've always had this where it's easier to belay, say, and not meet people. It's easier to actually make things up about them because they're fitting the bracket that you want them to fade, and it's not necessarily one that they are in, but we make it here's Chinese whispers. It's easy to make something up Rather than look at the truth. To look at the truth, you have to meet people and talk to people and understand people.
Speaker 2:
And that's the way I've actually tried to be through the radio, because the radio is about communication and it's about communities communicating and it's people who make up a community who may not necessarily have an opportunity, and I like to feel that where we can, we will give people that opportunity. And I think it caused problems at first because people were used to a certain voice. On the radio, as you will have in the states, there are radio jocks, there are people who you know how high this is. I don't want that. I want people to talk like we do around here. I'm not going to let people come and live here with different accents, but equally there are people who live here who wouldn't get that chance and at first people would say what's this, what are you playing? And I would say, oh sad. Whereas now we've got very few people condemning, criticising. I think people now understand where we are, what we do, what we stand for.
Speaker 1:
That means so much more, and that's the beauty of radio. You brought up a good adjective in accepting and radio being about communication. And that's really truly what radio is. It's about people behind that mic doing what they do, whether it's bringing music, whether it's bringing talk. Radio, no matter what the format may be, is putting it across so that the listeners can understand and enjoy it. And the more the radio station replicates its own community, then all of a sudden they're listening to their own people, then they find they're more accepting about it and then they might even just understand a little bit better because you're letting autistic people be behind that mic and talk and tell their stories and do what they do, and that just helps unite the community, I think.
Speaker 2:
Yes, definitely, definitely. I mean I think I have to say there are certain young people who come for autistic, who will not go behind the radio because that's not what they want to do, but they will come and be part of our small community, you know, whether it's again because they do artwork. So some may come and want to do some drawings, some may want to just have a conversation, you know, and that's to me enough, you know, because again, we're working together rather than keeping a part and being separate, you know. So I think you know, I mean, that's always been a policy that I've tried to encourage with people.
Speaker 1:
I think that's just really awesome because at radio, and especially being a community radio station, you have people that donate their time and come in. I think that gives an opportunity for people to, like you said, communicate and get to know each other, and I think that breaks down a lot of barriers as well.
Speaker 2:
And, interestingly, there are volunteers who themselves would not have actually met people with autism had they not been part of what we do, and they've become friends. You know they'd go on gigs and things, you know. Yeah, so it's not just coming down for you and spending a couple of hours going home and forgetting it, they're actually becoming friends and taking them to, you know, like the groups and stuff. But it's all about making sure that it's safe and secure. So you know we'll talk to parents and they will be a vent, say yes or no, or we need to be there or explain some of the issues that may occur.
Speaker 2:
You know it could be that, being in an environment, in a concept, you know one particular guy. He has to sit close to where the emergency doors are in case he has an anxiety attack. These are all things that are kind of taught to people who want to offer that support so that they're not put in a tricky situation either. And they give that what I always call an invisible safety net to a person because it can be the friend. But equally, you know for that moment you are also caring for that person if they need that. You know so.
Speaker 1:
So these are all things that actually grow from being part of a community radio station you know, and the great thing about that is you've got people interacting with other people that they normally wouldn't be seeing, and that's going to not only help you at the radio station, but when they leave, they get a chance to tell their friends, their family you know what they did at the station and who they interacted with. Once that starts spreading around not only their friends and family, but around the community, that teaches people and it breaks down these barriers and gives a better understanding of what's going on, and it's a win-win for everyone.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, and I think it's a different kind of skill set which can be shared. You know, there are things that fascinate me and you know, I think there are things where you can get tripped up, and I understand that, because there are times but again, it's not because it's a general trade but there are times when I've said, oh, let's do this instead, let's try this instead. I don't know what you mean. I don't know what you mean and so well, what I'm thinking here and I'll try and explain. But then, if I can see that there is struggling with a new idea, I'll say, well, let's just carry on as normal, but what I will try and do is I might introduce that new idea by me doing it and then observing me doing it. Other than they have a choice whether to try that in the next week or two, and quite sometimes they will, but sometimes they'll want to say what they're doing. But then we do.
Speaker 1:
Well, we're creatures of habit.
Speaker 2:
We are exactly so. There's quite often times when we don't want to change a thing because we're happy with what we're doing. You know that doesn't make it artistic. No, no, I'm changing it slightly.
Speaker 2:
I watched a YouTube interview with someone the other day and it wasn't about oxygen but it was about ADHD. But it was linking it to jazz and the lady who was talking about it was, I think she's a musician and a journalist in jazz, but she was explaining how, once you got into jazz, the actual concepts, the traps, the confrontations within the music, the way that sometimes there's so many things going on, and it almost gave her that release, because I think she said that ADHD is caused by the slow release of dopamine. Is it in the brain? I think, if that's what she said, and listening to jazz and all these kind of jazz grades, because of the intricacy and because of the way that the music was put together, actually gave her that rush and I thought I thought that was quite interesting.
Speaker 2:
You look at David Byrne, who was recently diagnosed as being autistic. You think would he have created the music with talking heads had he not been diagnosed with autism? But it was doing it before he was diagnosed. So that was how his mind functioned to create a completely unique type of music. So there are so many positives to look at rather than, well, I'd say, bracket things yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:
And plus, you just brought up music. Music is one of those things in the world that can bring great feelings, can bring feelings that you remember that weren't so good. It can put you in a place that you wanna be, where you have your comfort zone. Music is worldwide and it breaks down all barriers in all languages. I think that's just another thing that it shows. Just because someone is labeled something, it does not mean that they can't contribute and can't create great stuff. You can just look at so many people around the world that has done it and you've just brought up one. So, yeah, I think great point to bring up.
Speaker 2:
Well, I was brought up listening to Funkadelic, parliament, george Clinton's music, and nobody in my friendship circle ever knew what I was listening to. We couldn't get any of it. And when I went to art college I had a friend who suddenly discovered it and couldn't believe what he was listening to, but it was like something nobody had really heard. And still, to the same degree, a lot of people I mean George Clinton made a joke on one of his albums like which one's George Clinton? Because nobody heard of him, nobody knew what he was doing, and yet it was genius. Now I know a lot of it was probably drug-induced, but because I liked it and because I was drawing kind of comic books which were considered a bit weird, everybody thought I was on drugs, which it wasn't. It was just I loved something totally different.
Speaker 2:
And I think you could actually almost change the spelling round and make it artistic rather than artistic. Because though, there are I mean, I know it's professional, I've been said before, but I don't know I'll throw that one in there, but it's true. And, as I just said, we've just said David Byrd, a lot of these things people go, wow, that's amazing. Talking edge, oh, you're great. Now if somebody was to say you know he's autistic. Would they go oh, I don't think I'm gonna listen to it, now, there wasn't. Do we accept it? Do we accept it Because they like what they're hearing, they like what he's like on stage. They recognize a unique individual and that's why it is unique and individual. That's two words that we should think about.
Speaker 1:
You know, absolutely. Individuals can just do so many things that others think that they can't do. And the bottom line, when we're listening to music that they're creating, and it doesn't matter who's making it, what they're doing, it only matters that it's just good. Yeah, the fact that you brought up unique is another thing that I think comes under the term understanding, because those that aren't in the autistic world need to understand that, just like people that aren't autistic individuals, we're unique to ourselves, that the autistic community is just the same and they're able to contribute and really elevate and do a lot of great things.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I mean I might be going off on the tangent now, but it's interesting. I mean we're using David Byrne as a musical inspiration and other people have kind of tapped into that. Tom Jones burning down the house I think Booty Collins even plays something. I mean even it's what some of their musicians with Funkadelic went and joined talking heads for a while, but no burner where else particularly was keyboard genius. So that's happened into somebody's you know mind and the things that they do. Without considering the autism, we've seen somebody who is a musical inspiration and they want to be proud.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, and that's just something that just goes way beyond just music. You stop and think about people that, no matter what they do, they figure things out and they find ways to help out and they just become a leader in a sense. So it's part of just expanding their mind and showing others that they are capable of it and just anything can happen from there.
Speaker 2:
No well, I mean it might sound like a strange example, but one of the guys that I've been talking about, who comes to us as an autistic it comes every Friday and because I run the station and I had to take over somebody's show on a Friday temporarily, which was about nine months ago, so I'm still doing it temporarily we had a new presenter that came in but she travels from Leeds Now I know maybe in your terms it's not a long way, but she travels 15 miles and it was to do an hour's show and I was having to put on a pre-record show because somebody else let me down. So from 10 o'clock it was a one hour pre-record. I did two hours and then this young lady did this extra hour and then went back home and it was the autistic presenter who said to me why don't you move your show an hour earlier? That could be pre-recorded show out and then she can have a two hour show. And I've not really even considered that as a possibility because the criminal record didn't have to be there. You know he'd already led before and I went. That's a good idea. So I sat an hour earlier, but it allows her because she travels and then goes home straight away. It made more sense that she does a two hour show because it's more used for her. But it came from him advising me on that and I went.
Speaker 2:
I've never thought about that, so I didn't hear the last of it for about a month. Do you remember what I told you that yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But it's just simple things that I hadn't thought of. So I like to work together with people and then sometimes they're not just coming to do a show and then that's it. He supports other people Wherever a guy who comes in who has a physical disability, comes to the wheelchair, and the guy who's autistic supports him, advises him, gives him help on how to do each show and everything. You know. It's still like say, it's things that I couldn't do without those people helping me. You know, and I'm there, Appreciate being part of what we do, you know. So it's good, it's all around, it's good.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, absolutely, and it just proves another point that just because you're autistic doesn't mean they go into their shell and just be by themselves. They help others, they're giving, they're just there. They're people that you can, that you can look up to, because they're contributing to the world.
Speaker 2:
As far as I'm concerned, the people who I work with, the elements of what we probably consider human traits, which can be not very nice human traits, and none of that shows, you know, the, the, the, the vets do a job of that, so enjoy being there and that's the big element. You know, there's no kind of conniving, no kind of disrespect, you know, and I think those are things that, yeah, I can learn from.
Speaker 1:
I think that when you look around the world and you see different things that go on, there's people in certain areas and places that do Outstanding things, and we don't look at labels, we just look at the outstanding things they do, and I think that it wouldn't hurt us all to look at them and maybe say, you know, maybe I'm gonna learn something from them today.
Speaker 2:
Well, I've always felt for well, felt for a long, long time, that autism is something which we all have. If you wanted to kind of Category to, I think there are certain things that we all do, and it going back to what we're saying about the OCD Wouldn't which I'm not, but I sometimes have thought, always my artistic training. But you know, I walk into a room and if there's a picture on the wall that's slightly Tipped to one side, I'll do everything I can to Straighten it up. If you go into a restaurant, you're getting cutlery thrown on the table. You know I'll move them around. So, yeah, we are fought to the left, nice to the right, sport in front of them. Yeah, and and I don't know whether that's just me Wanted to be more orderly, or is it just something which is built into us. But some people, because it's a spectrum, well, maybe we're at the very lowest part of that spectrum, but he's still something which we have in our genes you know, but Some people it's, it's, it's kind of more.
Speaker 2:
You know, I don't know. It's just, I'm not a doctor, I can't, I can't say, I've done any research on it, but there are just times when I see people like myself who will Move things around or shifting. Oh, that's not quite right, you know. You know that need to have something balanced. You know, I don't know.
Speaker 1:
I don't know, Well, we're all human, we all make mistakes, we all do things differently. We all have our issues. It's just kind of too bad that we have to put a label on things and we just can't accept them for what they are. But you said it earlier, if we were all the same in this world, it would be pretty darn boring.
Speaker 2:
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh no, I mean I'm glad. I mean I'm glad, I mean I'm glad that people think that I'm different. You know with what I, with the drawings I do, the stuff I talk about, I don't mean I have to be yeah, categorized or anything. I'm just like say, I'm just somebody who Approaches life differently than the person next door or whatever you know, and like say you know, you don't want to be the same, I don't want to be the same.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, the biggest thing is that we're a community, whether it be a local community or worldwide community. That's what we are. The commercial radio stations sometimes forget that they are still delivering product to the community, absolutely. If I had an autistic child that was working at a radio station, I mean I would just feel so good that they have the possibility of doing that and the options of doing that, whereas if you go to a commercial radio station because they haven't got this or that, they're not going to let them even try. So there's a lot to be said for community, you know, because communities are what support each other and what help each other. You know just the fact that you're doing that and you know part of that autistic community helping people. I think that's a great thing.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, thanks, and it's about. I mean, the parents have often said it's the personal development and the interaction that they need to work on. You know, by coming to us that's helping them, you know.
Speaker 1:
And that's a huge part of being a community radio station helping others and really showing people that they can elevate to do what they want to do. That nothing's impossible. Thank you.
Speaker 2:
I mean it's interesting that somebody from another community radio station did make a comment that, oh, yeah, we have people come in, but you put them on air. Yeah, why not? You know, it's something which I've never considered being a problem, but you know, you actually, yeah, we have people come in on placements, you put them on. You actually put them on air as well, yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean, we've had visually impaired students who have done broadcasts with us because they brought some. Well, two students came in who didn't know each other, but I paired them up so they went into a studio and one operator of the equipment while the other one did the microphone work. You know, and it's finding ways around things rather than saying nope, not possible.
Speaker 1:
I think that's just tremendous. If we all thought that we couldn't do something just because we have a roadblock that just happens to pop up, this would be a pretty pathetic world to live in.
Speaker 2:
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. We'll be so wondered how we'll make a wheel.
Speaker 1:
Yeah, you got a point there. I think it's just really great that you find ways to make things happen rather than find ways not to make them happen.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, yeah yeah, thank you for that Thanks.
Speaker 1:
Well, I want to thank you for coming on, because this has been great conversation, great stories. I love what you're doing at your radio station and I'm sure that the listeners are going to really appreciate and hopefully they can follow you and find out more about what you're doing over there. So thanks for coming on Excellent.
Speaker 2:
Right? Well, all the best and enjoy the rest of your day, Thanks and you too.
Speaker 1:
Okay, all the best, then. Yes, thanks, I really appreciate you coming on. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to listen to our show today. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you. If you know anyone that would like to tell us their story, send them to TonyMantorcom Contact then they can give us their information so one day they may be a guest on our show. One more thing we ask tell everyone everywhere about why not me, the world, the conversations we're having and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.