Tony Mantor: Why Not Me ?

Show Notes
What happens when parenting requires you to remain constantly alert—not just for a season, but for a lifetime?
Jennifer Schwenker joins Tony Mantor to share her experience raising identical twin autistic sons, Benji and Sammy. Now 23 years old, her sons share a close bond but have very different personalities, interests, strengths, and support needs.
Jennifer reflects on recognizing their developmental differences, securing early intervention, and navigating speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA, sensory challenges, and an overwhelming support system. She also speaks candidly about one of the most frightening realities many autism families face: wandering and elopement.
Music became an important part of the family’s journey. What began with her sons’ love of classical music eventually helped inspire sensory-friendly concerts with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, creating a welcoming environment where autistic children and adults could experience live music comfortably.
As Benji and Sammy entered adulthood, Jennifer’s concerns changed but never disappeared. She discusses lifelong caregiving, protecting vulnerable adults, navigating financial and government-support systems, and the question that weighs heavily on many parents: Who will care for our children when we are no longer here?
This honest and deeply personal conversation explores unconditional love, faith, marriage, advocacy, community inclusion, and the urgent need to recognize professional caregivers through better training, benefits, and livable wages.
Jennifer leaves families with an important message: pursue early support, connect with other parents, bring your child into the community, and remember that growth can be difficult to see when you are living through the daily challenges—but every child can learn.
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Show Notes
What happens when the question changes from "What's wrong with me?" to "What do I need?"
In this powerful episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, host Tony Mantor sits down with author, speaker, and mental health advocate Louise Barnett for an unforgettable conversation about living with bipolar disorder.
For years, Louise battled undiagnosed bipolar disorder, addiction, destructive relationships, and overwhelming emotional highs and lows. After standing on the edge of a bridge ready to end her life, one unexpected moment—and the sight of her young daughter—changed everything.
Louise shares her remarkable journey from years of self-blame to receiving a bipolar diagnosis, finding sobriety, rebuilding her life, and ultimately discovering that her condition could become one of her greatest strengths instead of her greatest burden.
Together, Tony and Louise discuss:
What bipolar disorder really feels like beyond the stereotypes
The difference between mania and depression
Why bipolar disorder is often misunderstood and misdiagnosed
Addiction and mental illness
Living with suicidal thoughts and finding hope
Recovery through medication, therapy, sobriety, and emotional regulation
Motherhood and resilience
Finding purpose after diagnosis
Why community can save lives
Turning pain into advocacy
Louise's memoir Tainted Love
Learning to see bipolar disorder as a superpower instead of a weakness
If you or someone you love has been affected by bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, or suicidal thoughts, this honest conversation offers understanding, hope, and practical insight.
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Show Notes:
What happens when a parent refuses to accept that "this is just the way it is"? In this inspiring episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, host Tony Mantor welcomes autism advocate Colleen Lamar, whose personal journey as the mother of two autistic sons led to the creation of opportunities that continue to impact countless families.
Colleen shares the emotional story of her sons' diagnoses, the challenges of navigating therapy, education, insurance battles, and public schools, and how a year living in Germany completely changed her perspective on autism. She explains how that experience inspired her determination to advocate for her children and eventually help establish the Jeremiah Center, an innovative educational program that provides neurodivergent students with the opportunity to thrive in a supportive private school environment.
The conversation also explores sibling relationships, faith, advocacy, independent living, the importance of community, and the remarkable success of Vanderbilt University's Next Steps program in helping autistic young adults prepare for meaningful employment and independent lives.
Whether you're a parent, educator, clinician, advocate, or someone seeking a better understanding of autism, this episode offers hope, practical insights, and a powerful reminder that one family's determination can create lasting change for many others.
In this episode you'll hear:
The emotional reality of receiving an autism diagnosis
Why perspective can completely change the autism journey
Lessons learned from living in Germany
Navigating therapies, insurance, and special education
The story behind the Jeremiah Center
Why advocacy begins with parents
Supporting neurotypical siblings
The importance of inclusive education
Vanderbilt's nationally recognized Next Steps program
Building independence in autistic young adults
Faith, resilience, and finding hope through community
Encouragement for parents just beginning their autism journey
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When Julianna Scott’s son was diagnosed autistic at two years old, her family was given predictions about his future: he would never be mainstreamed in school, never drive a car, and never live independently.
Today, at 25, he has done all three.
But the journey between diagnosis and adulthood was anything but simple.
In this episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, Tony Mantor sits down with Julianna Scott for an open conversation about raising an autistic child while navigating behavioral challenges, multiple schools, anxiety, depression, OCD, loneliness, family relationships, and the uncertainty that can accompany parenting when no one can truly predict what the future will hold.
Julianna shares why families shouldn't become trapped by a prognosis, how she and her husband learned to work as a team, and why understanding the difference between autistic behaviors and co-occurring mental-health challenges can be so important.
She also discusses the lessons that eventually led her and co-host Kelly Jensen to create The Refrigerator Mom, where they encourage families to research, advocate, ask questions, and discover what works for their individual child.
Above all, Julianna offers a powerful reminder to parents: you don't have to know where your child will be 20 years from now.
Focus on the child in front of you. Take the next step. Celebrate progress. Keep the future open.
Because sometimes the predictions made at the beginning of an autism journey say far more about what we don't yet know than about what a child may ultimately become.
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Show Notes
What happens when autism, severe mental illness, trauma, and unimaginable family challenges collide?
Sonia Hebdon knows that journey firsthand.
In this powerful episode of Why Not Me? Embracing Autism and Mental Health Worldwide, author, speaker, and homeschooling mother Sonia Hebdon shares the remarkable story behind her book, The Crazy Mother's Guide to Parenting Exceptional Children. She opens up about raising a daughter with autism and Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), surviving years of crisis, navigating suicidal ideation, bullying, psychosis, hormonal mental health challenges, and discovering hope through faith, resilience, and unwavering love.
Sonia also discusses why parents must trust their instincts, the importance of finding the right support system, and why conversations about autism, mental illness, and suicide can no longer remain hidden behind closed doors.
This is an inspiring conversation for parents, caregivers, educators, mental health professionals, and anyone searching for hope during life's most difficult seasons.
In this episode:
Raising children with autism and complex mental health challenges
Living with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)
Bullying, self-harm, and suicide prevention
The impact of hormones on girls with autism
Parenting through crisis and trauma
Faith, resilience, and finding hope
Supporting families facing mental illness
Why community and connection matter
Sonia's books and mission to help other families
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