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We sit down with Connecticut State Senator Christine Cohen and advocate Denise Paley to unpack how mental health legislation gets built, watered down, and sometimes rescued through strategy and coalition work. 

We focus on crisis intervention training, prison mental health care, and the hard questions around rights, re-entry, and what real accountability looks like. 
• Senator Cohen’s personal path into mental health advocacy 
• why mental health bills stall between chambers and committees 
• compromise as a necessity and a long-term risk 
• budget priorities and the fight to fund care 
• stigma around mental illness and incarcerated people 
• how advocates and legislators build trust and momentum 
• crisis intervention team training as a practical reform 
• re-entry realities and why untreated illness drives recidivism 
• staffing shortages for corrections officers and mental health providers 
• Assisted Outpatient Treatment and the ethics of forced care 
• anosognosia and why refusal is not always choice 
• prevention through school-based mental health support 
• coalition building and making marginalized people visible 
If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at whynotme.world. 
One last thing spread the word about why not me. 

INTRO/OUTRO Music: T. Wild

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We sit down with Massachusetts Senator Cindy Friedman to talk about how mental health laws change real access to care, and why families still hit walls even when “parity” exists. We dig into AOT, crisis diversion, insurance limits, and the practical fixes that keep people out of ERs and jails. 
• her personal path into serious mental illness advocacy and why systems matter 
• what changed after the Mental Health ABC Act 2.0 and why outpatient demand rises 
• why reimbursement rates still skew against behavioral health despite parity laws 
• how crisis-first funding leaves ongoing care underpaid and hard to find 
• trauma as a driver of worsening illness and the gap in trauma-informed support 
• why Massachusetts has no AOT law and how old legal standards shape treatment today 
• addressing fears of coercion while explaining least restrictive court-ordered services 
• co-responder teams that pair police with social workers for de-escalation 
• restoration centers as an alternative to ER screening and quick discharge 
• mental illness inside county jails and how sheriffs can shift outcomes 
• rural mental health access challenges plus telehealth parity and community clinics 
• why psychiatric meds are not one-size-fits-all and how insurers resist trial periods 
if you know someone who has a story to share tell them to contact us at whynotme.world one last thing spread the word about why not me our conversations our inspiring guest the show you are not alone in this world 

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We talk with Washington State Senator Manka Dhingra about why mental health care so often lands in the justice system and what it takes to change that through smart legislation and real implementation. 

We dig into funding, workforce, 988 crisis response, diversion programs, and how communities can push practical mental health reform that actually reaches people. 

• her path from prosecutor work to mental health court and forensic mental health 
• why jails and prisons function as default mental health hospitals 
• the biggest legislative roadblocks: funding levels and views of individual liberty 
• assisted outpatient treatment in Washington and why implementation varies by county 
• how Washington built a stakeholder-driven model to implement 988 
• oversight, metrics, and the workforce shortage that blocks care even with funding 
• rural mental health access, telehealth, and consultation lines like PAL 
• diversion options from first law enforcement contact through jail re-entry supports 
• sharing best practices across states through conferences, data, and evidence 
• community-driven policymaking and contacting elected officials with solutions 

If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world. 
One last thing spread the word about why not me. 

INTRO/OUTRO Music: T. Wild

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We sit down with former Congressman and psychologist Tim Murphy to show how mental health laws really get made and why “good ideas” often get changed or stripped before they ever help families. 

We dig into Medicaid rules, treatment access, psychosis risks, and the hard truth that silence is how broken systems stay in place. 
• the real path of a bill from idea to compromise to final vote 
• why mental health policy creates intense conflict between groups 
• assisted outpatient treatment as an alternative to repeated hospitalization 
• how “gravely disabled” standards shape who can get care 
• Medicaid payment rules that discourage psychiatric beds and longer stays 
• why Congressional Budget Office scoring can derail reforms 
• what happens when severe mental illness is handled in jails 
• solitary confinement as a driver of worsening symptoms and suicide risk 
• high potency marijuana and the rising risk of psychosis 
• the estimated $340B to $380B annual cost of schizophrenia 
• families left holding the system together without guidance 
• HIPAA and confidentiality blocking parents from sharing critical history 
• why large organizations lose focus and stall action 
• how autism and schizophrenia advocacy can find common ground 
• practical steps to educate legislators through emails letters and visits 
If you know someone who has a story to you, tell them to contact us at why notme.world. 
One last time, spread the word about why not me. 

INTRO/OUTRO Music: T. Wild

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We bring together seven voices to face the hardest question families live with: when severe mental illness and psychosis take over, what does “choice” really mean. We share what it looks like when schools, hospitals, and law enforcement treat brain illness like behavior, and we lay out concrete steps that can shorten the gap to real care.
• capacity and consent when someone refuses help during psychosis
• power of attorney and psychiatric advance directives plus where they fall short
• anosognosia explained through dementia comparisons and street homelessness
• the “10-year gap” to diagnosis and why mandatory care and AOT come up
• early warning signs of psychosis and why peers and schools need training
• privacy barriers and why HIPAA is often misread or over-restricted
• CIT training realities and the need for the right officers
• frustration with professional leadership and the call for more beds and workforce training
• legislative paths including HR 4022 and ending the IMD exclusion
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If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world.
One last thing. Spread the word about why not me.

Music INTRO?OUTRO: T. Wild

Mantor Music BMI

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We sit with seven voices to name what happens when psychosis and serious mental illness are misunderstood, under-treated, and pushed into jails, courts, and the streets. We challenge the quiet standard of neglect and outline what it takes to turn awareness into policy, funding, and care that actually saves lives. 

• failures in jail-based competency restoration and medication continuity 
• why anosognosia is under-taught and widely misunderstood 
• the life expectancy gap for schizophrenia and why it should alarm all of us 
• first-episode psychosis dismissed at intake unless suicide is stated 
• families carrying trauma in silence and why tragedies stay out of public view 
• reframing “crime” as illness when actions happen during psychosis 
• culture change through education and responsible media storytelling 
• courts naming behavioral health as a top driver of caseloads and cost 
• coalition-building across chambers and parties to move stalled bills 
• cost comparisons of hospitalization and incarceration versus treatment up front 
• homelessness as a revolving door and the role of AOT 
• the Medicaid IMD exclusion as a barrier to beds, housing, and long-term care 

Before we jump in, if you haven't already, I invite you to tap follow. 
If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world. 
Spread the word about why not me. 

INTRO/OUTRO: T. Wild

Mantor Music BMI

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We bring together seven voices to talk honestly about serious mental illness and why families are pushed to wait for crisis before help is allowed. We challenge outdated laws, uneven state systems, and stigma while naming practical fixes that can make outpatient care real and measurable. 
• mental health codes built for inpatient care in an outpatient world 
• step-up assisted outpatient treatment and why earlier petitions matter 
• accountability gaps when AOT lacks judge involvement 
• voluntary programs colliding with anosognosia in schizophrenia 
• stigma and discrimination treating brain disease differently than other medical emergencies 
• early intervention standards shifting from “dangerousness” to “risk of harm” 
• discharge planning and why follow-up community treatment changes outcomes 
• Arizona and California as opposites on laws, funding, and hospital beds 
• criminal justice and forensic systems filling the void left by civil care 
• medication non-adherence, substance use, and the revolving door to rehospitalization 
• recruiting and training psychiatrists and clinicians to handle the hardest cases 
• families as full-time caregivers with little support and no consistent standard of care 
• building statewide councils to align stakeholders and move legislation 
I invite you to tap follow. 
If you know someone who has a story to share, tell them to contact us at why notme.world. 
One last thing, spread the word about why not me.

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Dr. Rachel Moseley on Autistic Suicide Prevention, Masking, Misdiagnosis, and Autistic Menopause
Host Tony Mantor in Nashville welcomes returning guest Dr. Rachel Mosley to discuss her UK-based research on autistic suicidality, self-injury, masking/burnout, misdiagnosis, and menopause.
Mosley explains that changes in autistic suicide rates are hard to track due to delayed and incomplete reporting, and cites data indicating suicide as the leading cause of death in autistic children in the National Child Mortality Database, likely undercounted due to missed diagnoses.
Autistic participants in her research emphasize suicide prevention requires systemic societal change addressing stigma, discrimination, bullying, education accessibility, employment, financial security, and healthcare.
They discuss clinicians mistaking autism for mental illness, common misdiagnosis as borderline personality disorder, the safety-driven nature of masking, and the complex emotions and relief of late diagnosis.
Moseley challenges the “lack of empathy” narrative and highlights autistic joy through passions, sensory joy, and stimming. She also presents her book, "Autistic Menopause," featuring interviews with 16 autistic people.
Show Welcome
Meet Dr Rachel Mosley
Suicide Research Update
revention Needs System Change
Misdiagnosis And Cure Myths
Mental Health And Masking
Autistic Girls And Early Diagnosis
Late Diagnosis Emotions
Empathy Myth Debunked
Autistic Joy And Flourishing
Changing Systems And Policy
Autistic Menopause Book
Final Thanks And Outro

INTRO/OUTRO: T.Wild
Mantor Music BMI

The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. 

The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, or affiliates.

Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed.

Listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or physicians, before making decisions about mental health or autism- related care.

Reliance on this podcast's contents is at the listener's own risk. 

Why Not Me is not liable for any outcomes, financial or otherwise, resulting from actions taken based on the information provided.

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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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Transforming Trauma into Purpose: John King's Journey on Why Not Me
In this episode of Why Not Me, embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, host Tony Mantor interviews John King, a trauma recovery advocate, author, speaker, and survivor.
John shares his compelling journey from being trafficked and abused as a child to becoming a prominent advocate for trauma recovery, neurodiversity, and anti-human trafficking.
He discusses his recent autism diagnosis, the challenges of masking, and his methods for healing and resilience.
John emphasizes the significance of authenticity, self-discipline, and relentless resilience in transforming trauma into a purpose-driven life.
He also talks about his foundation, Give Them a Voice, and his future aspirations as a writer.
This episode offers profound insights and practical advice for anyone facing similar struggles and endeavors to inspire and empower listeners worldwide.

01:08 Meet Today's Guest: John, a Trauma Recovery Advocate
02:00 John's Journey and Diagnosis
03:22 Steps to Healing and Managing Trauma
04:30 Understanding Trauma in the Body
05:52 Navigating Social Interactions and Self-Discipline
06:54 John's Recent Autism Diagnosis
08:43 The Venn Diagram and Living Authentically
10:37 Handling Bad Days and Emotional Challenges
14:10 John's Mission to Help Others Heal
16:24 Changing the Stigma Around Male Trauma
18:43 Reframing the Inner Narrative
20:44 Four Key Steps to Getting Back on Track
22:43 Give Them a Voice Foundation and Future Work
25:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

INTRO/OUTRO : T. Wild
Mantor Music BMI

The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. 

The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, or affiliates.

Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed.

Listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or physicians, before making decisions about mental health or autism- related care.

Reliance on this podcast's contents is at the listener's own risk. 

Why Not Me is not liable for any outcomes, financial or otherwise, resulting from actions taken based on the information provided.

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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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Steph West on Building Starfish Social Club: Social Skills, Neurodivergent Friendship, and Helpful Social Feedback
Host Tony Mantor in Nashville introduces “Why Not Me: Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide” and interviews Steph West, founder and director of Starfish Social Club in San Antonio, Texas, which runs small-group social skills programs for neurodivergent kids and teens (autism, ADHD, learning disabilities) in person and via Zoom.
West describes her path from special education teacher to autism/behavior specialist and “accidental entrepreneur,” the origin of the Starfish name, early challenges with marketing, pricing, and hiring, and how COVID shut down her in-person business but led her to create online classes, develop her own curriculum, and license others to teach it.
She explains how her ADHD helps her understand students and take risks, emphasizes that autistic people are often misunderstood (including around empathy), reframes friendship as “someone we choose to spend time with,” and outlines her interpreter approach between neurotypical and neurodivergent “social languages.”
She shares a story illustrating blunt but respectful feedback and her goals of building students’ social competence, confidence, and connection, and invites listeners to find her at starfishsocialclub.org and take one small step toward their ideas.
00:00 Show Welcome and Mission
01:21 Meet Steph West
02:31 Why Starfish Social Club
04:09 The Starfish Story Name
05:22 Local and Online Reach
06:20 Accidental Entrepreneur Challenges
08:59 COVID Pivot and Curriculum
10:25 ADHD as a Superpower
11:51 Autism Myths and Empathy
12:55 Redefining Friendship
14:21 Helping Parents Understand
16:46 Protecting Emotional Energy
18:56 Goals Competence Confidence Connection
21:10 Why Not Me Mindset
22:28 Helpful Social Feedback
25:26 Finding Steph Online
25:35 A Story That Stuck
28:50 Vision for Clubs Everywhere
30:21 Final Thanks and Sign Off

INTRO/OUTRO: T. Wild
Mantor Music BMI

The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. 

The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, or affiliates.

Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed.

Listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or physicians, before making decisions about mental health or autism- related care.

Reliance on this podcast's contents is at the listener's own risk. 

Why Not Me is not liable for any outcomes, financial or otherwise, resulting from actions taken based on the information provided.

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https://Facebook.com/tonymantor
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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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Embracing Autism and Mental Health: A Conversation with Anne Grady
In this episode of 'Why Not Me,' hosted by Tony Mantor in Nashville, Tennessee, guest Anne Grady shares her profound journey navigating autism and mental health.
Anne, an author, speaker, and advocate, discusses her experiences raising her son Evan, who has multiple diagnoses including autism, severe mental illness, ADHD, and oppositional defiant disorder.
The conversation delves into challenges around diagnosis, the importance of resilience, and strategies for coping with neurodiversity and mental health issues. Anne also talks about her books, advocacy work, and the personal and systemic difficulties she has encountered.
The episode emphasizes acceptance, understanding, and the profound impact of sharing stories to inspire and connect people worldwide.
Introduction to Why Not Me
Meet Anne Grady: Advocate and Author
Anne's Personal Journey with Her Son Evan
Challenges and Resilience in Parenting
Understanding Autism and Mental Illness
The Importance of Acceptance and Support
Anne's Advocacy and Writing Journey
Practical Advice for Families and Caregivers
Anne's Current Life and Advocacy Efforts
Final Thoughts and Farewell

INTRO/OUTRO: T. Wild
Mantor Music BMI

The content on Why Not Me: Embracing Autism amd Mental Health Worldwide, including discussions on mental health, autism, and related topics, is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. 

The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not reflect those of the podcast, its hosts, or affiliates.

Why Not Me is not a medical or mental health professional and does not endorse or verify the accuracy, efficacy, safety of any treatments, programs, or advice discussed.

Listeners should consult qualified healthcare professionals, such as licensed therapists, psychologists, or physicians, before making decisions about mental health or autism- related care.

Reliance on this podcast's contents is at the listener's own risk. 

Why Not Me is not liable for any outcomes, financial or otherwise, resulting from actions taken based on the information provided.

https://tonymantor.com
https://Facebook.com/tonymantor
https://instagram.com/tonymantor
https://twitter.com/tonymantor
https://youtube.com/tonymantormusic
intro/outro music bed written by T. Wild
Why Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)