Episode 340: A Story of Autism and Hope with Leland Vittert

Raising Boys & Girls

That Sounds Fun Network

Religion & Spirituality, Kids & Family, Christianity, Parenting

4.9 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 13 January 2026

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Sissy Goff and David Thomas sit down with journalist and author Leland Vittert to talk about his memoir Born Lucky and the profound impact his father had on his life growing up with autism. Leland shares candid stories of adversity, resilience, and learning to navigate a world that wasn’t built for him—highlighting how character, hard work, and perseverance are formed not by removing hardship, but by walking through it with steady support. With honesty and hope, this conversation encourages parents that while they can’t erase their child’s challenges, their presence, belief, and commitment to helping their child do hard things can make a life-changing difference. . . . . . . Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share! Access Raising Boys and Girls courses here! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . . If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form. QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply. ATHLETIC GREENS: Go to DRINKAG1.com/RBG to get their best offer… For a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order! Only while supplies last. COOK UNITY: Go to cookunity.com/RBG or enter code RBG before checkout to get 50% off your first order WAYFAIR: Get organized, refreshed, and ready for the holidays for way less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. OUR PLACE: Stop cooking with toxic cookware, and upgrade to Our Place today. Visit fromourplace.com/RBG and use code RBG for 10% off sitewide. HIYA: Visit hiyahealth.com/RBG to get 50% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:20.0	Because Slackbot isn't just another AI.
0:23.3	It's AI that knows your work as well as you do. Visit Slack.com forward slash meet Slackbot to learn more.
0:34.5	Hey friends, welcome to the Raising Boys and Girls podcast.
0:42.5	I'm Sissy Goff.
0:43.6	And I'm David Thomas, and we're so glad you've joined us for this conversation.
0:48.3	Let's dive in.
1:00.1	Leland Vitterd is the host of On Balance with Leland Vitter is the host of On Balance with Leland Vittert and serves as News Nation's chief Washington anchor. A veteran journalist, Vitter joined News Nation in May 2021, where he has been
1:07.4	pivotal in covering national affairs and delivering special reports across the network's primetime weeknight newscasts.
1:14.3	Before joining News Nation, Vitter at work for Fox News from 2010 to 2021,
1:20.4	starting as a foreign correspondent based in Jerusalem and later serving as anchor and correspondent in Washington.
1:27.3	He is the author of the New York Times
1:30.5	bestselling book Born Lucky, which we loved talking about his amazing journey with his dad,
1:38.5	learning about his autism and all the incredible things he offered through this conversation.
1:44.3	Leland, it is so good to meet you, and we're excited to talk about your new book, Born Lucky,
1:50.6	a dedicated father, a grateful son, and my journey with autism. Will you start out just by telling
1:56.0	us some about your story and how you came to understand about autism? Sure. It wasn't until I was in my 20s that I
2:04.5	knew that I had been diagnosed with what we now know to be autism when I was much younger. I was
2:10.1	about eight years old when my parents were told they needed to have me be evaluated, which I'm sure
2:15.5	is something that a number of the children you work with,
	...

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