Tony Mantor: Why Not Me ?

Show Notes What happens when parenting requires you to remain constantly alert—not just for a season, but for a lifetime? Jennifer Schwenker joins Tony Mantor to share her experience raising identical twin autistic sons, Benji and Sammy. Now 23 years old, her sons share a close bond but have very different personalities, interests, strengths, and support needs. Jennifer reflects on recognizi...

Show Notes What happens when the question changes from "What's wrong with me?" to "What do I need?" In this powerful episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide , host Tony Mantor sits down with author, speaker, and mental health advocate Louise Barnett for an unforgettable conversation about living with bipolar disorder. For years, Louise battled undiagnosed bipolar disord...

Show Notes: What happens when a parent refuses to accept that "this is just the way it is"? In this inspiring episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide , host Tony Mantor welcomes autism advocate Colleen Lamar , whose personal journey as the mother of two autistic sons led to the creation of opportunities that continue to impact countless families. Colleen shares the emot...

When Julianna Scott’s son was diagnosed autistic at two years old, her family was given predictions about his future: he would never be mainstreamed in school, never drive a car, and never live independently. Today, at 25, he has done all three. But the journey between diagnosis and adulthood was anything but simple. In this episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide...

Show Notes What happens when autism, severe mental illness, trauma, and unimaginable family challenges collide? Sonia Hebden knows that journey firsthand. In this powerful episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide , author, speaker, and homeschooling mother Sonia Hebdon shares the remarkable story behind her book, The Crazy Mother's Guide to Parenting Exceptional Children...

Show Notes What happens when a personal tragedy becomes a national movement for change? Award-winning filmmaker, actress, and advocate Susie Singer Carter joins Tony Mantor to share the heartbreaking story that inspired her acclaimed documentary exposing America's nursing home system. After watching her mother suffer from preventable neglect while living with Alzheimer's disease, Susie turned grie...

Show Notes What happens when grief becomes the turning point instead of the ending? At just 22 years old, Sean Hotchkiss lost his father to suicide. That devastating loss led him into years of addiction, unanswered questions, and emotional isolation. But instead of allowing tragedy to define his future, Sean chose a different path—one built on healing, vulnerability, recovery, and purpose. T...

Show Notes What happens when an elite undercover police officer is secretly fighting for his own life? In this deeply moving episode of Why Not Me? , host Tony Mantor sits down with retired Australian Detective Sergeant Todd McGuire , who spent 27 years investigating serious and organized crime—including two years living undercover under a completely different identity. But behind the badge...

Show Notes Suicide is one of the most urgent—and least discussed—issues affecting the autistic community. In this powerful episode, Tony Mantor welcomes Dr. Rachel Moseley , autistic researcher, author, and leading expert on autism, mental health, and suicide. Diagnosed with autism at age 28 while pursuing her PhD, Dr. Moseley shares her personal journey and explains why so many autist...

Show Notes At just 40 years old , Gemma Inggall never imagined an ordinary weekend would change her life forever. After a boxing class and horseback riding lesson, she suffered a life-threatening stroke that left her facing overwhelming physical and emotional challenges. In this inspiring episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide , host Tony Mantor sits down with Gemma to...

Show Notes: What happens when an autism diagnosis changes the direction of your family's life? In this heartfelt episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide , Tony Mantor welcomes Kelly Jensen, co-host of the Refrigerator Moms podcast, autism advocate, and mother of a 26-year-old autistic son. Kelly shares the emotional realities of recognizing autism in the early 2000s, na...

Show Notes What if the biggest obstacle facing autistic individuals isn't autism itself—but the way society chooses to understand it? In this thought-provoking episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide , host Tony Mantor sits down with nationally recognized educational and behavior therapist Robert J. Bernstein , who has spent more than 35 years helping autistic chi...

Show Notes What if the biggest breakthrough in autism isn't changing autistic people—but changing the way we see them? In this inspiring episode of Why Not Me? , Tony Mantor sits down with internationally recognized autism advocate, educator, author, and founder of The Miracle Project , Elaine Hall. After adopting her son from Russia and later learning he was autistic, Elaine's life took an...

Show Notes What happens when someone is told they'll never walk, speak, or regain their independence—and then proves everyone wrong? In this inspiring episode of Why Not Me? , Tony Mantor welcomes Mark Desmond , founder of High Hopes , a nationally recognized nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals recover from traumatic brain injuries, strokes, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological...

Show Notes: What does it really take to help a child with autism succeed in today's school system? In this powerful episode of Why Not Me? , Tony Mantor sits down with Dr. Christopher Khoury, educational diagnostician, and special education expert who has spent more than two decades helping students and families navigate autism, learning differences, and individualized education. Dr. Khoury shares...

Show Notes What happens when an autism expert becomes the grandmother of a child on the spectrum? In this heartfelt episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide , Tony Mantor sits down with Jennifer Kaufman—author of Grandparenting on the Spectrum: A Journey from Both Sides of the Desk —to explore autism through the unique lens of both a school principal and a gr...

Show Notes What does mental health look like when someone has lost everything? In this inspiring episode of Why Not Me? , Tony Mantor sits down with Weanne Estrada , Mental Health Specialist with ADRA International (Adventist Development and Relief Agency), to explore the realities of humanitarian work in more than 120 countries around the world. Together they discuss how mental health extends far...

(Show Notes) What if addiction isn't the real problem? In this powerful episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide , Tony Mantor sits down with psychologist, TEDx speaker, and bestselling author Dr. Adi Jaffe to challenge everything we've been taught about addiction, recovery, trauma, and personal transformation. Drawing from both his professional expertise and his own rem...

Show Notes What happens when the diagnosis changes, the struggle feels endless, and hope seems impossible to find? In this episode of Why Not Me? , Tony Mantor sits down with writer and journalist Meg LeDuc to discuss her personal journey through depression, anxiety, psychosis, suicide attempts, self-harm, recovery, and ultimately healing. Meg shares how years of misdiagnosis, hospitalization, and...

Send us Fan Mail Show Notes What happens when the systems designed to help people with serious mental illness become the very barriers preventing care? In Part 2 of this important conversation, Tony Mantor welcomes Dr. Aaron Meyer and Anne Marie Council for a candid discussion about the failures and possibilities within America's mental health system. Together, they explore why so many indivi...

Send us Fan Mail 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 Ann Marie Council , retired Senior Deputy City Attorney and mental health policy advisor, for an in-depth discussion about the challenges facing today&apo...

Send us Fan Mail 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 like for autism, mental health, and disability when the room treats everyone as equal and still makes space for what people need.  • how the Gremlin Clu...

Send us Fan Mail 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 love and meaning even when the outcome is out of our control.  • Jerri’s story of losing his son through psychosis, system failures, and suicide  • Wh...

Send us Fan Mail 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 on the streets.  We dig into integrated care, schools-based prevention, telehealth, and the rising risks of AI so listeners walk away with...

Send us Fan Mail 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 change happens when we build power and design a system that rewards early help, long-term outcomes, and community support.  • Barriers to full enforceme...