Podcast Summary: Tony Mantor: Why Not Me?

Episode: John Payne: Autism Solutions for a Better Tomorrow

Date: October 22, 2025
Host: Tony Mantor
Guest: John Payne (Founder, Pure Life Genetics)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the intersection of autism, metabolic health, and innovative solutions with John Payne, founder of Pure Life Genetics. John shares his 50-year research journey, culminating in the development of the Technon Protocol—a metabolic health-focused dietary intervention designed to help improve the quality of life for individuals with autism. The conversation covers the science behind the product, touching personal stories, global impact, and the persistent challenges facing both families and advocates for those with autism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. John Payne’s Background in Metabolic Health

• [02:19 - 02:35] John spent five decades researching diseases like Type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's, dementia, and Parkinson’s.
• His introduction to autism research began after a pivotal conversation at the C3 US-Arab Healthcare Summit, where he learned about the potential metabolic underpinnings of autism.

"They had come to the conclusion that autism was a metabolic disorder, not a neurological disease, which science now knows. That's a fact."
— John Payne [02:40]

2. Understanding Autism as a Metabolic Disorder

• [03:45 - 04:45] John highlights the systemic problem of late autism diagnosis and the unreliability of current subjective measures (e.g., CAR scoring).
• The focus shifted toward the gut-brain connection—a critical axis in autism symptomology.

"I realized that unless I did something like that, I'm not going to make really an impact ... in my area of research, I probably wasn't going to be able to do that."
— John Payne [04:45]

3. A Life-Changing Encounter: Meeting Ethan

• [05:58 - 10:31] John recounts a formative meeting with Ethan, a severely autistic child only willing to eat french fries, whose withdrawn behavior and poignant question, "Why me?" inspired John to dedicate his research towards autism solutions.
  • Notable moment: John’s spontaneous engagement with Ethan led to the boy’s first meaningful interaction in that setting.

"Just out of the blue, I said, Ethan, what would you say to me if I asked you that? And I was Jesus. And this kid stopped dead, still in his tracks, totally silent ... in this really tiny, quiet voice, he goes, 'Why me?'"
— John Payne [08:17]

"He just looks up, up at me, and he looks straight down, and in the tiniest, tiniest, quietest voice, he goes, 'Don't forget about me.' And then he got in the truck and they went home."
— John Payne [10:31]

4. Gut Health & The Technon Protocol

• [11:21 - 13:38] Scientific rationale:
  • Autism’s strong links to metabolic/gut dysregulation.
  • The team developed a nutrient-dense, primarily plant-based formula, stepped up with an extract from camel milk colostrum due to its similarity to human colostrum’s nutritional profile.
• Developed the Technon Protocol, focusing on restoring gut microbiome health to indirectly mitigate neurological and behavioral symptoms.
• Adoption of camel milk colostrum was inspired by promising outcomes in Pakistan.

“We focused on developing a nutrient dense primary plant based formula to treat their gut ... What we found was that the colostrum in a specific type of camel milk is virtually bioidentical to the colostrum in a new mother's nursing milk, which is the greatest nutrition, you know, that exists in the world today.”
— John Payne [11:21, 12:59]

5. Tangible Results from Technon

• [13:44 - 15:16] Documented improvements include:
  • Cognition and social communication
  • Verbal ability (non-verbal children and adults starting to speak)
  • Aggravated behavior reduction (within 3-12 weeks)
  • Improved digestion and sleep patterns (within 1-3 weeks)

“Three things will show up ... significant improvement in calmness, significant improvement in digestion ... and ... virtually all of them will start sleeping at a much earlier hour. Those three things ... you know you're going to have success with time.”
— John Payne [14:12]

• Clear assertion: It is a management protocol, not a cure.

“Technon does not cure it. What it does is it helps you manage the symptoms to where your child can live, you know, a functionally normal life.”
— John Payne [15:27]

6. Usage of Technon

• [16:14 - 16:57] Form and administration:
  • Powdered sachet, mixed with water as a drink
  • 2X daily dosing—morning and afternoon for optimal absorption and effect

“It's in small sachets that are individual servings. And you mix it with water and you drink it. You drink it twice a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.”
— John Payne [16:14]

• While designed for autism, many use it for general gut health.

7. Success Stories: Ethan and Hunter

• [17:23 - 21:23]
  • Ethan: Progressed to junior college, driving, and having a girlfriend.
  • Hunter: From screaming and self-harm, requiring sedation, to smiling, speaking, eating normally, and engaging in social interaction.

“Ethan now is attending junior college. He has his driver's license. Okay. And he has a girlfriend. None of those were possible before.”
— John Payne [17:39]

"He [Hunter] greeted me at the door with a nice smile on his face ... asked to see my car, held my hand. The mother is just crying her eyes out on the sidewalk."
— John Payne [20:00-21:09]

8. Global Impact: Middle East Outreach

• [21:31 - 23:12]
  • Initial studies and significant adoption in UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain—areas with highest autism prevalence.
  • Endorsements include American Mission Hospital in Bahrain naming their center after Payne and Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health "fast-tracking" approval after positive trials.

“They named the Autism and Developmental Disorder center in this new hospital after me because of the success we'd had.”
— John Payne [22:40]

9. Practical Information & FDA Regulatory Barriers

• [24:40 - 25:31]
  • Product details and information available at www.PureLifeGenetics.com (search for Technon).
  • Due to FDA restrictions, direct claims around autism cannot be made on the website—further information is available via phone or Instagram (@DolinaStore).

“Because of the FDA and their 600 million regulations against anything that's not a drug or pharmaceutical. We can only say a limited amount of things ... You can't even use the word autism.”
— John Payne [24:40, 25:18]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “These kids know, we wonder why they're so stressed out, why they have such a anxiety and so on. They know ... And nobody seems to be able to tell them.”
  — John Payne [10:31]

• "It's very gratifying for somebody that's as old as I am to actually be able to help these young children and adults ... you know, one to three weeks is not a very long time."
  — John Payne [23:12]

• “I'd like to share if you have time. I'd like to share Hunter's story also, if it's possible.”
  — John Payne [17:55]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• John’s Background & Shift to Autism: [02:19 - 04:45]
• Meeting Ethan: [05:58 - 10:31]
• Development of Technon Protocol: [11:21 - 13:38]
• Notable Results & Protocol Description: [13:44 - 16:57]
• Success Stories: Ethan & Hunter: [17:23 - 21:23]
• Middle East Initiatives: [21:31 - 23:12]
• Website & Regulatory Issues: [24:40 - 25:31]

Conclusion

John Payne’s work exemplifies hope, science, and dedication amidst the complexity of autism. Through powerful storytelling and scientific insight, he offers families and advocates not a "cure," but a meaningful, evidence-backed path toward better quality of life. The episode encourages open-minded exploration of metabolic interventions and urges listeners—especially those affected by autism—to seek informed, compassionate care and community.