In this powerful episode of Dads in Autismland, host Mark de Grasse sits down with Neal Tricarico, a devoted father and founder of Endurant Movement. Neal shares his deeply personal journey of raising his autistic son, Anthony, whose silent struggles with mental health ultimately led to tragedy.
Through heartbreak, Neal and his family have transformed their grief into a mission—raising awareness about the critical gap between autism and suicide prevention. He opens up about the signs he missed, the emotional complexities of parenting a child on the spectrum, and how society’s perception of autism needs to change.
This conversation isn’t just about loss—it’s about hope, healing, and advocacy. Neal’s nonprofit, Endurant Movement, is leading the charge to bridge the gap between neurodiversity and mental health support. If you're a father raising an autistic child, this episode is a must-listen.
TOPICS
- Recognizing early signs of autism and anxiety in children
- The hidden struggles of autistic individuals who "mask" their condition
- The high risk of depression and suicide among autistic teens
- How COVID-19 intensified mental health challenges for autistic youth
- The importance of changing the autism narrative—removing the stigma of "disorder"
- Neal’s journey from grief to advocacy with the launch of Endurant Movement
- Practical advice for parents navigating autism & mental health
QUOTES
“To know one kid with autism is to know one kid with autism.”
“When that black-and-white mind decides they’re done, they’re done. It’s not for attention—it’s final.”
“We started to explore this idea and came to know that the only ones looking at it are in the United Kingdom. There’s a significant gap between autism, neurodiversity, and mental health.”
“When we had to make that difficult decision to take him off life support, we were doing it with him, and it created this energy of love and community.”
“We’re being called to something greater, and we have to keep our eyes open for it.”
DISCLAIMER
Every child's autism journey is unique. This video shares one family's personal experience and is meant for informational purposes only. Always consult with healthcare professionals for medical advice.
Host
Mark de Grasse
Popular Podcasts
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce
Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!