Tony Mantor: Why Not Me ?
Autism, Mental Health, Advocacy & Human Stories.
Embracing Autism/Mental Health Worldwide.
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition affecting millions worldwide, characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Despite increasing recognition, there remains a lack of understanding and awareness about the condition.
Mental health encompasses a range of conditions impacting emotional, psychological, and social well-being, affecting millions globally. It includes disorders like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychosis. Schizophrenia is marked by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking, while psychosis involves a loss of contact with reality, often presenting with similar symptoms.
Despite growing awareness, stigma and misconceptions about mental health, particularly schizophrenia and psychosis, persist, underscoring the need for greater understanding and support.
From celebrating neurodiversity to breaking down stigma, we create a safe space for listeners to learn, grow, and feel seen.
Whether you're on the spectrum, a caregiver, or an advocate, join our global community for inspiring conversations and empowering resources that uplift and unite.
Tune in to embrace understanding, healing, and hope worldwide!
Together, we can create a more informed and compassionate society for individuals with Autism and Mental Illness.
Episodes
224 episodes
Dr Aaron Meyer and Anne Marie Counsil: Bridging the Mental Health Gap: Policy, Psychiatry, and the Fight for Early Intervention
In this important episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, Tony Mantor sits down with Dr. Alan Meyer, psychiatrist and Behavioral Health Officer for the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, and ...
John Rolls: What If Inclusion Worked Better Than Quotas
We talk with John Rolls about the Gremlin Club’s Sunday open mic in Camarthen and how it grows from a rehearsal night into a welcoming community where people leave their troubles at the door. We dig into what real inclusion looks li...
Jerri Clark: Ambiguous Loss and When Mental Illness Steals Someone You Love
We sit with author Jerri Clark as he explains how severe mental illness can create a “gone but not gone” grief that families carry in silence. We talk about ambiguous loss, why closure often never comes, and how to keep living with ...
Patrick Kennedy: Part 2 : A Real Mental Health Strategy
We sit down with former U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy to get specific about what a real national mental health strategy looks like and why the current system wastes money while people end up isolated, hospitalized, incarcerated, or living...
Patrick Kennedy: Part 1: We Can Fix Mental Health Care If We Build Power
We talk with former U.S. representative Patrick Kennedy about why mental health parity still fails in practice and what it takes to make insurers and employers cover care that actually works. We keep coming back to one idea: real ch...
Sen Judy Amabile: When Psychosis Hits, Families Need A System That Works
We sit down with Colorado State Senator Judy Amabile to connect one family’s painful path through serious mental illness to the laws that decide whether people get treatment or get pushed into homelessness and the courts. We talk ho...
Senator Creigh Deeds: How A Virginia Senator Turns Grief Into Behavioral Health Law
We sit down with Virginia State Senator Creigh Deeds to talk about how personal loss turns into a long-term push for mental health reform that actually survives the news cycle. We focus on what legislation can change, what funding r...
John Nutting; Treat Brain Disorders Like Any Other Illness
We sit down with former Maine State Senator John Nutting to talk about why serious mental illness belongs in the medical system, not the jail system, and how court ordered treatment can keep people alive and communities safer. We walk through M...
Rep Ann Meyer: How A State Lawmaker Builds Mental Health Support That Works
We talk with Iowa State Representative Ann Meyer about how mental health legislation gets built and why access to care still fails families in crisis. We dig into provider shortages, the fight for mandatory follow-up after commitmen...
Senator Christine Cohen and advocate Denise Paley Legislating Mental Health Care
We sit down with Connecticut State Senator Christine Cohen and advocate Denise Paley to unpack how mental health legislation gets built, watered down, and sometimes rescued through strategy and coalition work. We focus on crisis int...
Senator Cindy Friedman Explains What It Takes To Fix A Broken Mental Health System
We sit down with Massachusetts Senator Cindy Friedman to talk about how mental health laws change real access to care, and why families still hit walls even when “parity” exists. We dig into AOT, crisis diversion, insurance limits, and the prac...
Senator Manka Dhingra: A Senator Maps The Gap Between Passing A Bill And Actually Helping People
We talk with Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra about why mental health care so often lands in the justice system and what it takes to change that through smart legislation and real implementation. We dig into funding, workforce...
Dr Tim Murphy: How A Psychologist In Congress Rewired Mental Health Policy
We sit down with former Congressman and psychologist Tim Murphy to show how mental health laws really get made and why “good ideas” often get changed or stripped before they ever help families. We dig into Medicaid rules, treatment ...
NSSC: Voices of Change Part 3: Serious Mental Illness, Missed Care, and the Criminal Justice Gap
We bring together seven voices to face the hardest question families live with: when severe mental illness and psychosis take over, what does “choice” really mean. We share what it looks like when schools, hospitals, and law enforcement treat b...
NSSC: Voices of Change Part 2: Serious Mental Illness, Missed Care, and the Criminal Justice Gap
We sit with seven voices to name what happens when psychosis and serious mental illness are misunderstood, under-treated, and pushed into jails, courts, and the streets. We challenge the quiet standard of neglect and outline what it takes to tu...
NSSC: Voices of Change Part 1: Serious Mental Illness, Missed Care, and the Criminal Justice Gap
We bring together seven voices to talk honestly about serious mental illness and why families are pushed to wait for crisis before help is allowed. We challenge outdated laws, uneven state systems, and stigma while naming practical fixes that c...
Dr Rachel Moseley: Autistic Voices, Challenges, Joys, and Research Empathy
Dr. Rachel Moseley on Autistic Suicide Prevention, Masking, Misdiagnosis, and Autistic Menopause Host Tony Mantor in Nashville welcomes returning guest Dr. Rachel Mosley to discuss her UK-based research on autistic suicidality, self-injur...
John A. King: Trauma to Triumph by Giving a Voice to the Voiceless
Transforming Trauma into Purpose: John King's Journey on Why Not Me In this episode of Why Not Me, embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, host Tony Mantor interviews John King, a trauma recovery advocate, author, speaker, and survi...
Steph West: Starfish Social Club and the Neurodivergent Community
Steph West on Building Starfish Social Club: Social Skills, Neurodivergent Friendship, and Helpful Social Feedback Host Tony Mantor in Nashville introduces “Why Not Me: Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide” and interviews Steph We...
Ann Grady: Resilience and Advocacy : From the Page to Real Life with Stories that Heal.
Embracing Autism and Mental Health: A Conversation with Anne Grady In this episode of 'Why Not Me,' hosted by Tony Mantor in Nashville, Tennessee, guest Anne Grady shares her profound journey navigating autism and mental health. Ann...
Danny Combs: Building Opportunities In Autism Employment
Danny Combs on Buildable, TACT, and Expanding Trade-Based Careers for Autistic and Neurodivergent People Host Tony Mantor welcomes Danny Combs to discuss progress since their last conversation on creating meaningful employment pathways fo...
Liam Edward Golder: late Diagnoses and New Perspectives
Late Autism Diagnoses, Music, and Seeing Family Through a New Lens with Liam Edward Golder Host Tony Mantor welcomes listeners to Why Not Me: Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide and interviews Liam Edward Golder, a London-born mu...
Rebecca Engle: neurodiversity in the classroom and stories of advocacy
Embracing Neurodiversity: A Conversation with Autistic Educator and Author Rebecca Engle In this episode of 'Why Not Me,' hosted by Tony Mantor from Nashville, Tennessee, Rebecca Engle, an autistic educator and author, shares her journey ...
Tyler Barnett: Autism Advocacy with GAP Music and Empowerment
Tyler Barnett on Late Autism Self-Diagnosis, Masking, and Creating “Gap Music” for Regulation Host Tony Mantor welcomes Tyler Barnett, founder of Tyler Barnett PR and an artistic music creator focused on empowering the autism community th...
Cheryl Bischoff: Making Travel Journeys Autism Friendly
Making Air Travel More Accessible for Autistic Travelers: Cheryl Bischoff of Here I Go Travel Host Tony Mantor introduces the podcast “Why Not Me: Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide” and interviews Cheryl Bischoff, owner of Here...