Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. Although autism is becoming more widely recognized, there is still a lack of understanding and awareness surrounding the condition. As a result, many individuals and families affected by autism struggle to find the support and resources they need. Why Not Me The World podcast aims to bridge that gap by providing valuable information and insights into autism, fostering empathy and understanding, and promoting acceptance and inclusion. Nashville based Music Producer Tony Mantor explores the remarkable impact his guests make by empowering their voices in spreading awareness about autism and helping break down the barriers of understanding. Join Mantor and his guests as they delve into the world of autism and mental health to explore topics such as diagnosis, treatment, research, and personal stories. Together, we can create a more informed and compassionate society for individuals with autism.
Episodes
Psychotherapist Haley Graham shares her journey from pharmacist to mental health advocate after her son's struggle with school led her to found the Bounce Brighter Futures Foundation.
Her personal experience with neurodivergence drives her passion for supporting children, parents, and teachers through therapeutic storytelling and compassionate understanding.
• Founded Bounce Brighter Futures Foundation i...
Patrick Kennedy shares his journey from Congressman to mental health advocate, revealing how his family history and personal struggles with addiction shaped his mission to transform America's approach to mental health care.
• Passed the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act by attaching it to the 2008 bank bailout bill
• Advocates for unifying mental health, addiction, and intellectual disabi...
Judge Steven Leifman shares his remarkable journey from witnessing horrific conditions in a state psychiatric hospital as a teenager to becoming a leading judicial advocate for mental health reform.
His work in Miami-Dade County has transformed how the criminal justice system handles people with mental illness, saving millions of dollars while giving thousands a path to recovery.
• Began his advocacy at 17 wh...
Christine Vester shares her mission with Humanity Over Handcuffs, a national advocacy movement protecting autistic individuals from being criminalized by the justice system.
Her organization supports families, educates legal professionals, and works toward reforming a system that often treats neurological differences as criminal behavior.
• Autistic behaviors like lack of eye contact, shutdowns, and sensory o...
Carol Nistakis shares her family's painful journey through the justice system after her autistic son was manipulated into illegal activity by a neighbor.
Her decade-long fight for justice led her to cofound D3, an organization helping families navigate the unique challenges autistic individuals face in legal proceedings.
• Began advocating when son was diagnosed at age 2, ensuring proper education and su...
CNN contributor and civil rights attorney Areva Martin shares her personal journey of raising an autistic son while becoming a powerful advocate for disability rights and creating systemic change.
• Son Marty's autism diagnosis at age two prompted an intensive learning journey
• Navigated overwhelming and often inaccurate information by applying legal training to seek evidence-based resources
• W...
Ruth Johnston shares her harrowing journey as the mother of an autistic son who developed schizophrenia, and how this experience drove her to advocate for Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania following a family tragedy.
• Ruth's son was diagnosed with autism as a teenager, after she had already been homeschooling him for years
• Around age 13, he began showing signs o...
Angela Calzone shares how Inroads to Opportunities supports individuals with disabilities through comprehensive programs designed to facilitate meaningful employment.
The organization's business-oriented approach focuses on integration, skills development, and changing employer perceptions about hiring people with both visible and invisible disabilities.
• Inroads to Opportunities serves approximately 40...
Brian Shrader, a criminal defense attorney with experience as both prosecutor and defender, exposes how the justice system profoundly fails people with autism and mental health conditions.
• Autism often leads to escalation during police encounters rather than directly causing criminal behavior
• Mental health training is virtually non-existent for lawyers, judges and prosecutors
• The system lacks pr...
Judge Kim Taylor shares her journey as a pioneering female judge and mother of a son with autism, revealing how personal experience fueled her advocacy for autism awareness in the criminal justice system.
Her work began after learning about Sidney Templeton, a young man with autism who died in police custody due to officers' lack of understanding about his condition.
• First woman elected as district cou...
We broadcast live from the Nashville Palace for a special remote podcast supporting "An Acoustic Evening for Autism," bringing together musicians who share their personal connections to autism awareness.
• Jamie O'Neill describes how having a cousin with autism inspired her participation in the benefit concert
• Jamie emphasizes the importance of slowing down in our fast-paced world to acco...
Rita Williams turned personal tragedy into powerful advocacy when her spouse was unexpectedly sentenced to 10-20 years in prison, revealing deep flaws in the criminal justice system and sparking her mission to expose judicial misconduct and support others facing similar challenges.
• Former federal employee who pursued a master's in criminal justice before her spouse faced white-collar charges
• Disc...
Leigh Anne McKingsley shares her journey as Senior Director of Disability and Justice Initiatives for the ARC, where she oversees the National Center on Criminal Justice and Disability to address the invisibility and injustices faced by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the justice system.
• The ARC began as a parent advocacy group fighting against institutionalization of children wit...
Judge David Fleischer, who presides over Harris County Criminal Court in Houston, Texas, shares his groundbreaking approaches to criminal justice reform with a focus on mental health and autism awareness.
• Reforming the bail system to prevent wealth-based discrimination in courts
• Dropping conviction rates from 60% to 25% through bail reform implementation
• Creating court environments where defenda...
Bridget Hampstead shares her journey from discovering her own neurodivergence to founding Fish in a Tree, a virtual community center supporting neurodivergent adults.
Her work combines community building, political advocacy, and neuroaffirming practices to create spaces where late-diagnosed autistic individuals can find acceptance and belonging.
• Founded Fish in a Tree after realizing neurodivergent people l...
John Puls, a psychotherapist specializing in forensic work, shares critical insights on navigating the intersection of autism, mental health, and the criminal justice system.
He draws on his extensive experience working with individuals in crisis to offer practical guidance for families and caregivers.
• Working as a psychotherapist with both autistic individuals and those with severe mental health issues
Trish Ieraci, founder of Teaching Individuals About Autism (TIA), takes us deep into the critical gap between law enforcement training and successful interactions with the autism community. With powerful clarity, she dismantles the narrow stereotype that autism only affects severely impaired children, explaining how this misconception creates dangerous situations when officers encounter well-spoken, educated autistic ...
Tony Mantor hosts a special remote podcast from Nashville Palace supporting "An Acoustic Evening for Autism." Country music artists Daryl Worley and Dillon Massengale share their personal connections to autism awareness and how music has become a platform for making a difference.
• Daryl Worley explains how friends with an autistic child inspired his commitment to the cause
• Worley discusses es...
Joan Lipinski shares her deeply personal journey fighting for her daughter with Asperger's syndrome who received a 63-month federal prison sentence after being manipulated into bringing contraband into a facility where she worked.
Through multiple prison transfers, denied medical care following back surgery, and judicial misunderstanding of autism, Joan has become a determined advocate battling against a system t...
Doug Passon shares his journey as a criminal defense lawyer and filmmaker advocating for autistic individuals in the legal system, drawing from both his professional experience and personal connection as a parent of an autistic son.
• Criminal defense lawyer who uses documentary filmmaking to humanize clients at sentencing
• Pioneered the use of video in sentencing mitigation, recognized by Wall Street Jo...
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