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Tony Mantor: Why Not Me ?

Ashley Smith: from crisis to advocacy

03 May 2025

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Send us a text Ashley Smith, an advocate, author, and speaker, shares her powerful journey of recovery from schizophrenia and how she transformed a legal crisis into a platform for mental health advocacy. Through her blog "Overcoming Schizophrenia," seven self-published books, and work with organizations like NAMI and the Curious Foundation, Ashley demonstrates that recovery is possible and helps others find their path forward. • Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia at age 20 after a legal intervention involving a police chase with a military truck • Successfully manages schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression through medication and strong support systems • Works as a Certified Peer Specialist helping others navigate their own mental health journeys • Educates law enforcement through Crisis Intervention Team training on handling mental health emergencies • Founded the "Overcoming Schizophrenia" blog in 2008, recognized among the top 20 schizophrenia blogs worldwide • Has self-published seven books and provides coaching to aspiring authors • Emphasizes that recovery takes many different forms and is possible with proper support Contact Ashley through her blog Overcoming Schizophrenia, find her books at amazon.com/author/Smith.Ashley, or email her directly at [email protected].   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)

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Full Episode

5.816 - 34.044 Tony Mantor

Welcome to Why Not Me? The World Podcast, hosted by Tony Mantor. Broadcasting from Music City, USA, Nashville, Tennessee. Join us as our guests tell us their stories. Some will make you laugh, some will make you cry. real life people who will inspire and show that you are not alone in this world.

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34.925 - 72.297 Tony Mantor

Hopefully you gain more awareness, acceptance, and a better understanding for autism around the world. Hi, I'm Tony Mantor. Welcome to Why Not Me? The World, Humanity Over Handcuffs, The Silent Crisis special event. Joining us today is Ashley Smith. She's an advocate, an author, and a speaker. In 2008, she established the Overcoming Schizophrenia blog. It offers her a candid journey of recovery.

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72.597 - 95.894 Tony Mantor

She then went on to self-publish her first book, What's On My Mind?, It's a collection of blog entries for overcoming schizophrenia. Recently, a popular review recognized Ashley's blog among the top 20 schizophrenia blogs and websites to follow. Ashley continues to show that schizophrenia is not going to stop her from being a voice to help many people.

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96.335 - 102.04 Tony Mantor

She's here to tell us her journey, her experiences and it's a pleasure to have her here. Thanks for coming on.

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102.6 - 103.481 Ashley Smith

Thank you for having me.

103.541 - 107.965 Tony Mantor

Oh, it's my pleasure. Glad to have you here. I understand that you do a lot of writing.

108.506 - 115.353 Ashley Smith

Yes, I am. Yes. I've been blogging since 2008, and I just had a thing for writing.

115.693 - 117.655 Tony Mantor

What led you to get into writing?

118.328 - 134.9 Ashley Smith

I'm not sure. Self-expression, creativity. As a child growing up, I had a journal and teachers gave me compliments on my writing, on my essays growing up in grade school. So I just have a joy for words and putting them together, making them sound lively and passionate and good.

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