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April 20, 2025 15 mins

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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 accommodate different needs
• Minnie Murphy reveals her 5-year-old son is on the autism spectrum, sharing his special abilities like perfect pitch
• Minnie performs original songs celebrating individuality and seeing the beauty others miss
• Both guests praise Vanderbilt's Kennedy Center for their exceptional work in autism research and treatment
• Our guests emphasize autism shouldn't be viewed as a permanent condition but as a different perspective
• The conversation highlights how patience, active listening, and embracing differences creates understanding

Tell everyone everywhere about Why Not Me? The World, the conversations we're having and the inspiration our guests give to everyone everywhere that you are not alone in this world.


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intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild
Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to why Not Me , the World Podcast, hosted by
Tony Mantor, broadcasting fromMusic City, usa, nashville,
tennessee.
Join us as our guests tell ustheir stories.
Some will make you laugh, somewill make you cry.
Their stories Some will makeyou laugh, some will make you

(00:30):
cry.
Real life people who willinspire and show that you are
not alone in this world.
Hopefully, you gain moreawareness, acceptance and a
better understanding for autismAround the World.
Hi, I'm Tony Mantor and welcometo today's episode of why Not

(00:56):
Me the World.
We're recording live at theNashville Palace for a special
remote podcast, unscripted,unedited and full of heart.
Tonight's episode supports anacoustic evening for autism, a
show happening right here thisevening.
We're thrilled to bring youthis country experience and I

(01:16):
hope you enjoy it as much aswe're enjoying sharing it with
you.
We've got two fantastic guestsjoining us tonight.
This is week number three ofthree that I'll be featuring two
guests per episode to dive intoeverything we're covering right
here tonight.
Thanks for tuning in.
Okay, I'm here with JamieO'Neill.
Thanks for coming on.

Speaker 2 (01:37):
Thank you, glad to be here.

Speaker 1 (01:38):
So tell me what is your journey to get to this show
tonight for autism?

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Well, my journey is I have a relationship with Chuck
Rhodes who is working with thecommittee to help them put on an
event such as this, and I loveChuck and close ties to autism.
I had a cousin who was autisticand my aunt passed away and so
it's definitely near and dear tomy heart and you know it's hard

(02:05):
to me as an entertainer to sayno to charities when it's number
one.
It is important, the cause isimportant, but just overall
we're lucky to get to do what wedo and if someone asks us to be
there it is hard to say no.
I live in Nashville, I'm righthere.
It's like what's my excuse?

Speaker 1 (02:24):
Exactly.
So, what, and it's always nicewhen you can use your platform
to help others.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
Absolutely yeah.
I mean, we are, like I said,lucky to get to do what we do,
so anytime that someone asks us,it is an honor.
That's like oh, thank you forwanting me there.
You know whatever I can do toadd to the night, hopefully.

Speaker 1 (02:45):
Yeah, that's like.
Oh, thank you for wanting methere.
You know whatever I can do toadd to the night, hopefully.
Yeah, and autism is somisunderstood with so many
people, absolutely that we needevents like this, not only to
help them financially, but tohelp get the word out there
about what the challenges arethat they face on a daily basis.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Right, absolutely Anything.
I mean, I have a daughter who's21 and I know going through
school, you know all the yearsthrough elementary to middle
school, you know every child'sexperience is a different one
and any challenge that is thereneeds to be met and needs to be
fostered and, like you know,maybe they need extra time on a

(03:23):
test.
You know, you don't know whatsomeone's going through, and I
think it's important, because welive in such a fast-paced world
, to understand that.
Um, you know, no matter whereyou are on the spectrum, many
people are, whether it's a kidor an adult um, that sometimes
it is the extra time, sometimesit's the patience that we need

(03:43):
and, like I said, you know, thefast paced thing really gets to
us.
But it's beautiful when you seea child who takes that extra
time to stop and smell the roses, so to speak.
And if we could be like that,if we could be more appreciative
of all the little things inlife and and slow down and
realize that whatever they need,if they need to go that slow,

(04:05):
that's how slow we need to goyeah, and it's always nice to.

Speaker 1 (04:09):
When you work on a project or going doing a show,
you can go up there in front of5,000, 10,000 people, whatever
the number may be, and it'senjoyable and you put on your
show and the people enjoy whatyou do.
But there's a different senseof of value when you do
something like this when youknow that the people are there

(04:29):
to support the autism part of it?
And you're there to support theautism.

Speaker 2 (04:34):
So it's a completely different, different feeling in
what you're putting out yeah,yeah, and we're all there for
the common goal and the commongood you know of helping those
in need Right.

Speaker 1 (04:48):
It just feels like you've accomplished something.
At least when I'm working on aproject and it's a music project
, it's like I feel good that Idid it.

Speaker 3 (04:55):
But when?

Speaker 1 (04:56):
I'm working on a project and it's finishing up
like an interview with anautistic person or whatever.
It feels like I accomplishedsomething.

Speaker 2 (05:04):
Yeah, absolutely Completely different thought
process.

Speaker 1 (05:09):
I can see that yeah, yeah.
So how many songs?
You're doing tonight three,three, okay, and um, anything
that you want to tell thelisteners that you think is
important that they hear aboutwhat you're trying to do with
with the autism.

Speaker 2 (05:21):
I think um gosh I'm.
You know, I'm definitely not anexpert.
I just feel like Vanderbilt isamazing.
First of all, yes, yes.
And I've been to Vanderbilt forphysical therapy, whether it's
on my voice, my vocal cords,whether it's PT for my back, my

(05:42):
muscles, whatever it may be, andso I think that they do such
great work.

Speaker 1 (05:46):
They do, and they're a learning hospital and they're
a teaching hospital.

Speaker 2 (05:49):
Yes, and those are many things that we all need.

Speaker 3 (05:52):
And so.

Speaker 2 (05:53):
I have a lot of respect when I go there.
I've always had a greatexperience.

Speaker 1 (05:57):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:58):
And I think there's only been a couple of other
charities I've been involvedwith for Vanderbilt.

Speaker 3 (06:04):
And.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
I've always been just grateful to be there because of
the experiences I've had withthem.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
Well, good, well, I appreciate you coming on.

Speaker 2 (06:12):
Thank you.
Thank you for asking.

Speaker 1 (06:18):
Yeah, thanks.

Speaker 3 (06:23):
Okay, I'm here with Minnie Murphy and she's one of
the performers tonight forAutism.
Thanks for coming on.

Speaker 1 (06:28):
Yeah, thanks for having me.
What led you to do this showfor autism?

Speaker 3 (06:30):
tonight.
Well, my sister, Jamie, invitedme to do it and I have a son
that's five and he's on thespectrum, and so it just made
total sense, you know.
Oh okay, I love to supporteverybody that's going through
that and the research withautism and yeah, so I'm just

(06:53):
happy to be here and autism andyeah.

Speaker 1 (06:59):
So I just happy to be here and share some music and
have a good night.

Speaker 3 (07:00):
So you say that your son is autistic.
That's what they've diagnosedhim with.

Speaker 1 (07:03):
And how old is he?

Speaker 3 (07:04):
He's five.

Speaker 1 (07:05):
Oh, okay, all right.
With that said, it appears thatyou're getting a lived
experience of this, so this wayyou can not only help people,
but you can also bring moreunderstanding to them about it.

Speaker 3 (07:17):
Yeah, it's not something that I fully
understand.
I mean, I don't even reallybelieve it.
To be honest, to me he's just aregular kid, sure, and I guess
he has some sort of behavioralthings that are equated with
autism.
He'll organize things, linethings up.

(07:42):
He's really into trains andstraight lines and sometimes
he'll get in the zone with that.
But he's a great singer.
Even if you are singing a songin one key and then you change
the key, he'll follow you.
He's got perfect pitch.
Oh, that's good.
He's got an incredible memory.
So I've heard that people callit a superpower, and so I'm just

(08:08):
going to embrace that and Ithink it's important that we in
general with children, get ridof these ideas of milestones and
when people are supposedity andtheir authenticity and their
own pace Right and justcultivating a supportive

(08:43):
environment for the uniquenessof each person.

Speaker 1 (08:46):
Absolutely, and that's really what it is.
The biggest thing that I foundwhile doing this podcast is the
misunderstanding of what peoplethink autism actually is.
The closer we can get to peopleunderstanding, and that's what
this show does.
It helps raise money to go tothe Kennedy Center at Vanderbilt

(09:08):
to help better understandautism and help people get that
understanding.
So I think this is a greatthing.

Speaker 3 (09:16):
Yeah, and I chose to sing two original songs as well
as the Doobie Brothers' LongTrain Runnin', just because
that's a fun one, you knowwithout love, you know where
would we be now?
But the first song is called Doyou, and that's just all about
staying true to yourself andleaving your beauty mark that

(09:41):
sets you apart is one of thelines, and I just feel like that
was a great message.
And then the other song I sangis called Beauty Hunter and I
dedicated that to my son andthat was hard for me to get
through.
I didn't want to cry but, I justfeel like when someone is

(10:03):
different and special, like onthe autism spectrum, or just
children in general, oreverybody for that matter we all
have our unique perspectiveabsolutely and he points out the
beauty in life.
And you know, and it'll be, youknow, little tiny things that
that he will show me, and sothat's what beauty hunter is

(10:27):
about.

Speaker 1 (10:28):
Yeah, that's great and I heard a great song.
Thanks, yeah, yeah.
And that's the beauty of beingable to get up on stage and do
something like that, becauseit's your talent that that
brings it and also platform youhave that can open other
people's eyes to what autisticpeople have to go through yeah,

(10:53):
yeah, they say I reached out tothe Autism Centers of America I
think is the name of it, andthey had me watch this movie.

Speaker 3 (11:04):
I'm trying to remember the name of it, but
anyway, in the movie what theydo to get on the level of the
kid that's autistic is repeatwhat they're doing.
So if they're flapping theirhands or they're going back and
forth and stimming in a straightline or whatever, do it with

(11:24):
them and show that you know,that you're supportive of them
and you're you're on theirwavelength and and then that
trust and the anxiety can goaway to where they can start to
communicate.
It's all about communicating.
Sometimes my son, his littlechin, will quiver and he might

(11:48):
have trouble finding the rightwords.
He's gotten so much better.
Yeah, um, but I think you knowit's.
It's up to us to be patient andshow them you know that it's
okay, that we're right therewith them and you know all that

(12:10):
and the great thing is that youboth get to learn together.

Speaker 1 (12:15):
So it's something that you can embrace, you learn
together and you can go downthat journey, because autism is
so much more than what peoplethink it is, because back in the
day they thought it was a deathsentence and it's not.
It's just something that peoplehave to learn from and build.

(12:40):
So, from what I'm hearing andseeing, I think you're in a
really good place.

Speaker 3 (12:44):
Yeah, and I do believe that people do improve.
It's definitely not somethingthat is permanent.
It's definitely not somethingthat is permanent.
You know, like there'stherapies, and I think the
therapies are always builtaround patience and, just like

(13:04):
you know, being right there withthem.

Speaker 1 (13:09):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (13:09):
With how they're viewing the world.

Speaker 1 (13:11):
Exactly, and it gives you a different perspective as
well.
Mm-hmm, you might see somethinga little different than you see
what they see.

Speaker 3 (13:20):
Totally.
I think you know it's alwaysgreat to look at the world
through someone else's eyes.

Speaker 1 (13:29):
Absolutely so.
What would you like to leavethe listeners with that they
should know about tonight?

Speaker 3 (13:36):
I mean, I think that's kind of what we just said
is such a powerful thing tosort of sit with, I think, just
being an active listener, youknow, and being patient.

Speaker 1 (13:52):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (13:54):
And embracing each other's differences as a good
thing and also an opportunityfor learning, like you said.
I think that's what it's allabout.
And, um, and just don't letanybody um deter you from the
idea that that, that, that thisis a death sentence or some

(14:19):
permanent condition, because inthe side of everyone is that
light that we all live, thatsource, that light within that
has an infinite potential togrow, and if we can just let
people shine the way that theyare, Absolutely Well.

Speaker 1 (14:40):
I appreciate you taking the time to come on.

Speaker 3 (14:43):
Yeah, thank you so much.
I really appreciate it too.

Speaker 1 (14:45):
Yeah, thanks All right.
Thanks for taking the time outof your busy schedule to listen
to our show today.
We hope that you enjoyed it asmuch as we enjoyed bringing it
to you.
If you know anyone that wouldlike to tell us their story,

(15:08):
send them to tonymantorcomcontact then they can give us
their information so one daythey may be a guest on our show.
One more thing we ask telleveryone everywhere about why
Not Me?
The World, the conversationswe're having and the inspiration

(15:30):
our guests give to everyoneeverywhere that you are not
alone in this world.
You.
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