Tony Mantor: Why Not Me ?

Send us Fan Mail 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 and insights into neurodiversity in education.  Rebecca discusses her experiences as a nonverbal child, the challenges she faced in ac...

Send us Fan Mail 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 through intentional sound design and storytelling. Tyler shares that he is autistic and was diagnosed six months ago through self-diagnosis support...

Send us Fan Mail 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 I Go Travel Company. Cheryl explains how she became a Certified Autism Travel Professional through training offered by Sandals/Beaches Resorts a...

Send us Fan Mail Belqui Ortiz Millili on Parenting a Nonverbal Autistic Teen, Advocacy, and Building Support Host Tony Mantor welcomes Belqui Ortiz Millili to Why Not Me: Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide. She shares that she is the mother of a nearly 17-year-old nonverbal autistic son with high support needs, born extremely premature at six months gestation, and describes early concern...

Send us Fan Mail Faria Ash on Building the Autism Foundation, Training, Advocacy, and Safer Care in the UK Host Tony Mantor welcomes back autism advocate Faria Ash, who returns to share her progress since discussing her book on toilet training for autistic and SEND children and adults, based on her nonverbal daughter Aia’s real-life story. Faria explains that the book’s success led her to form the...

Send us Fan Mail Lois Brady on Autism Digest, Real Stories, and Raising Expectations in Autism Support Host Tony Mantor welcomes Lois Brady, publisher of Autism Digest and a speech-language pathologist, to discuss how the magazine blends expert guidance with lived experience using multimedia features like QR-linked videos. Brady shares how writing Apps for Autism and contributing to Autism, Asperg...

Send us Fan Mail n this episode of Why Not Me, host Tony Mantor, broadcasting from Nashville, Tennessee, delves into the mental health challenges faced by first responders and veterans. Featuring Dr. Jean Cillo, a clinical and forensic psychologist, and retired Lieutenant Tom Antonette from the NYPD, the discussion explores the PTP (Post Tour Processing) program, a pioneering mental health support...

Send us Fan Mail Embracing Autism and Mental Health: Psychiatrist David Hager's Journey In this episode of 'Why Not Me, Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide,' host Tony Mantor speaks with psychiatrist David Hager about his unplanned journey into psychiatry, his work in correctional facilities, and his unique perspectives on mental health and serious mental illnesses like sch...

Send us Fan Mail Empowering Lives: Autism, Mental Health, and Healing with Dr. Cochrane In this episode Dr. Cochrane, a renowned psychologist with over three decades of experience. Together, they explore the challenges and strategies for addressing issues faced by neurodivergent individuals and those suffering from trauma. Dr. Cochrane shares her compassionate approach to cognitive behavioral ther...

Send us Fan Mail Empowering Mental Health: Dr. Robert Laitman's Journey with Psychotic Illnesses and Clozapine Therapy In this episode Dr. Robert Laitman, an internal medicine specialist with substantial experience in treating serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Dr. Laitman shares his deeply personal journey of treating his son, Daniel, who developed schizophr...

Send us Fan Mail Embracing Neurodiversity: A Conversation with Sarah Hartley In this episode of 'Why Not Me: Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, Sarah Hartley, founder of SLH Creative Group and an advocate for the neurodivergent community. Sarah shares her journey as the mother of two neurodivergent boys and details her work as an ADHD and neurodiversity certified coach. She discuss...

Send us Fan Mail Navigating Burnout and Embracing Wellbeing with Garrett Wood Join host Tony Mantor on this episode of Why Not Me as he engages with Garrett Wood, a national board certified health and wellness coach. The show delves into Garrett's innovative and compassionate approach to battling burnout and enhancing wellbeing. Listen as Garrett shares his expertise on managing the pressures...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we hear from Jennifer McGee, a visual artist and advocate for autism. Jennifer shares her transformative journey of adopting her non-verbal autistic nephew, Isaiah, and becoming his devoted guardian and advocate. She discusses her transition from art to advocacy and how Isaiah's presence inspired her to write children's books like 'Izzy Can't Ta...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Why Not Me, Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide,' host Tony Mantor welcomes Steven Seidel, founder of the Del Agency and a TEDx speaker. Steven shares his powerful journey from California to Kentucky, dealing with personal loss, and launching the Gents Journey to address men's mental health. He discusses the creation of his online men&ap...

Send us Fan Mail This episode of Why Not Me, host Tony Mantor discusses with special guest Salima Adelstein, a renowned Sufi mystic and master healer, about her lifelong dedication to spiritual healing and education. Salima shares her journey from teaching special needs children to becoming a spiritual guide, highlighting the transformative power of Sufi practices. The episode explores the challen...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Why Not Me?', hosted by Tony Mantor from Nashville, Tennessee, special guest Dr. Diana Driscoll shares her powerful journey of overcoming Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). An accomplished optometrist and patient advocate, Dr. Driscoll discusses her decade-long battle with chronic illness, the evolution of her research, and her groundbr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Why Not Me, hosted by Tony Mantor and broadcast from Nashville, Tennessee, Theresa Lyons, a Yale University-trained scientist and autism parent, shares her journey following her daughter's autism diagnosis over ten years ago. T heresa discusses the extensive obstacles she faced and the critical steps she took to make informed decisions based on scientific r...

Send us Fan Mail Advocacy and Awareness: Transforming Mental Health Care with Rachel Streiff In this episode of 'Why Not Me', host Tony Mantor welcomes Rachel Strife, co-founder of Arizona Mad Moms, to discuss her extensive advocacy work for individuals with serious mental illness. She shares her personal journey, inspired by a family member's experience, and describes her efforts i...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for a stirring conversation with Justin Peck, a professional race car driver who has turned his personal challenges with class one bipolar disorder into a powerful advocacy for mental health. Justin shares his early experiences of feeling different and the painful reality of bullying and lack of support, which many listeners may find relatable. His candid reflections offer...

Send us Fan Mail From the depths of silence to a voice that echoes across the globe, Temple Grandin's life is a testament to the uncharted brilliance of the autistic mind. Our conversation peels back the curtain on Temple's journey, revealing the significance of nurturing communication in non-verbal children and the power of supportive educational systems. Temple's raw recount of ad...

Send us Fan Mail Judge Milton Mack shares his mission to reform the mental health system by moving from crisis intervention to early treatment and prevention. His groundbreaking work in Michigan demonstrates how changing laws and procedures can dramatically improve outcomes while reducing costs. • Moving from an inpatient model to an outpatient world where over 90% of mental health care now occurs...

Send us Fan Mail Overcoming Insurance Obstacles for Mental Health Care with 'Cover My Mental Health' In this episode, the founder of the nonprofit 'Cover My Mental Health' discusses their mission to help patients, families, and clinicians navigate and overcome insurance obstacles to access mental health care. The organization provides resources and encouragement, highlighting t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Why Not Me, Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide,' host Tony Mantor sits down with Caroline Levander, a scholar and educator from Rice University, to discuss her new book 'Invent Ed.' They explore how historical insights can shape contemporary education, the importance of fostering creativity in students, and strategies for mitigatin...

Send us Fan Mail Empowering Journeys: Embracing Life with Cerebral Palsy – Featuring Jason Moyle Host Tony Mantor welcomes Jason Moyle, an inspiring individual living with cerebral palsy. Jason shares his life story, from his premature birth and early diagnosis to his challenges growing up and facing bullying. Despite these obstacles, Jason has turned his experiences into opportunities to uplift o...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of 'Why Not Me', hosted by Tony Mantor from Nashville, Tennessee, special guest Kati Morton—a licensed marriage and family therapist and renowned social media influence—shares her expertise on mental health. Kati discusses her new book, 'Why Do I Keep Doing This?', exploring themes of control, people-pleasing, and perfectionism influenced by per...