Hi Pod! I'm Dad.

James Guttman
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

Hi Pod! I’m Dad is where I talk through fatherhood while raising a son with autism who does not speak. I’m James Guttman, the dad behind Hi Blog! I’m Dad. This podcast isn’t about tips or solutions. It is about what life actually feels like when autism is part of your home every day, and you are trying to be present for it without pretending it is easier than it is. Some episodes are about joy and connection. Others are about exhaustion, fear, patience, and the quiet moments that never make it into awareness campaigns. Everything you hear here comes from real mornings, real mistakes, and a deep love for my kids. There is no takeaway. Just one dad saying the things he usually keeps to himself.

  1. 4d ago

    My Son Has Profound Autism, and I'm Profoundly Happy He's Mine

    People sometimes assume that because I speak so positively about my son Lucas, his autism must be relatively mild. The reality is that Lucas is 15, completely nonverbal, has profound autism, and requires significant daily support. And I couldn't be happier to be his dad. This week on Hi Pod! I'm Dad, I'm talking about the relationship we've built, why Lucas is one of the most emotionally honest people I've ever known, and how learning to understand his needs has changed both of our lives. From navigating meltdowns and building trust to discovering a silly new way to make him laugh, I share why the responsibilities of raising Lucas have never outweighed the happiness he brings me. I also reflect on how my own struggles have shaped the father I've become and why I want parents facing a new autism diagnosis to know that a meaningful, joyful relationship with their child is absolutely possible. Because profound autism doesn't mean a profound lack of happiness. Sometimes, it's quite the opposite. Listen to this week's Hi Pod! I'm Dad, and subscribe for more conversations about autism appreciation, fatherhood, and finding joy in the unexpected. It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print. Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

  2. Oct 23

    My Nonverbal Son Showed His Sister What Words Couldn't

    A weekend trip to visit my daughter at college turned into an adventure involving an overheating Jeep, roadside assistance, an expensive new battery, and a hotel bed shared with a teenager who apparently sleep-fights like Hulk Hogan. Years ago, a trip like this would have sent me into a panic. This time, I handled it. And through it all, my nonverbal son Lucas reminded me that traveling with a child with profound autism isn't always the struggle people assume it will be. But the most memorable part of the weekend had nothing to do with the car, the hotel, or the challenges along the way. It happened at a museum when Lucas refused to leave without his sister. In one simple moment, he showed Olivia something I'd spent years trying to explain to her. This week on Hi Pod, I'm Dad, I'm talking about autism, sibling relationships, overcoming anxiety, and learning to lead with the good parts of life. Plus, we're celebrating seven years of the podcast! It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print. Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

  3. Oct 16

    I Used to Worry About Everyone Staring At My Son

    When my son Lucas was first diagnosed with autism, I worried that I'd spend the rest of my life defending him from strangers. Every trip to a restaurant, store, or public place felt like an opportunity for someone to stare, make a comment, or cross a line. But something unexpected happened. The confrontations I anticipated never came. Instead, I encountered strangers who showed kindness, understanding, and sometimes even generosity. This week on Hi Pod, I'm Dad, I talk about how my attitude toward other people's opinions has changed, including a memorable encounter with an older man at a swimming pool that completely surprised me. I also explore a bigger lesson about parenting both my nonverbal son and my neurotypical daughter. Why do we place so much importance on milestones, achievements, and expectations? What happens when we stop measuring our children's worth by what they accomplish and simply love them for who they are? From autism awareness and public judgment to college, personal happiness, and unconditional love, this episode is about learning when to push, when to let go, and why being a good parent doesn't mean controlling how the world sees your children. Sometimes the things we spend years worrying about turn out to be the things we never needed to worry about at all. It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print. Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

  4. Oct 9

    My Son Never Learned to Talk. We Built a Bond Anyway.

    When my son Lucas was first diagnosed with autism, I thought my biggest fear was that he would never talk. Fifteen years later, he still hasn't spoken a word. But the fear that kept me awake at night was something much deeper. In this episode of Hi Pod, I'm Dad, I talk about the years when I wondered whether my son would ever know who I was, let alone build a relationship with me. I share how we learned to communicate through pictures, PECS, gestures, and other tools, and why understanding what Lucas wanted mattered far more than hearing him say the words. More importantly, I explain the one promise I made to myself: never dismiss him. Even when I couldn't understand what he wanted, I kept trying. Over time, those little moments of patience became something neither of us could have imagined in those early years. Today, Lucas is 15, has profound autism, and is one of my best friends. Our relationship isn't built on words. It's built on years of trust, patience, and showing up for each other. Sometimes your biggest fear comes true, and you discover it wasn't what you needed to fear at all. It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print. Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

  5. Oct 2

    There's Nothing To Be Sorry About

    When I tell someone my 15-year-old son Lucas is nonverbal and has autism, I don't expect to hear, “I’m sorry.” But recently, I did. It reminded me of an editor years ago who called a story about raising Lucas “scary.” The truth is, when Lucas was little, I understood the fear. I worried about his future, focused on milestones he wasn't reaching, and wondered what his life would look like. But Lucas is 15 now. He has profound autism and needs significant support, but he's also sweet, loving, hardworking, and one of my favorite people in the world. There’s nothing to be sorry about. This week, I talk about autism, pity, the milestones that once seemed so important, and why if you feel sorry for me because you don't know my son, I might just feel sorry for you. It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print. Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

  6. Sep 25

    Turn Down the Volume, Not the Joy

    Lucas has been nonverbal his entire life. When he was little, I spent years worrying about whether he would ever talk before realizing I was focused on the wrong thing. He didn't need to speak. He needed a way to communicate. Now, at 15, we're facing a different challenge. The jumping, screaming, hugging, and excitement that were easy for the world to accept when he was little can look very different coming from a teenager who's nearly my size. I know what his sounds and movements mean. A stranger doesn't. This week on Hi Pod, I'm Dad, I talk about learning to recognize when Lucas is getting overwhelmed, the ways I help him calm himself, and why I refuse to teach the joy out of him just because he's getting bigger. I don't want him to stop jumping. I don't want him to stop screaming. I don't want him to stop running in for hugs. I just want to turn down the volume without turning off the joy. It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print. Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

  7. Sep 18

    What My Nonverbal Son Taught Me About Emotional Honesty

    After a week filled with work drama, dating nonsense, and people using a whole lot of words to avoid saying anything at all, I got my son Lucas back. And it reminded me of something I absolutely love about him. Lucas is nonverbal, but he may be the most emotionally honest person I've ever known. If he's happy, you know it. If he doesn't want to deal with me, he'll look me directly in the eyes and close his bedroom door in my face. There's no spin. No word salad. No pretending to feel something he doesn't. And I've realized that I want to live more like him. In this episode of Hi Pod, I'm Dad, I talk about what raising Lucas has taught me about honesty, accountability, relationships, and the value of actually meaning the words we use. I also share the question I once asked someone that completely twisted the way I think about lying:  "Do you think I'm afraid of you?" Lucas may not use words, but he's taught me an awful lot about how I want to use mine.  It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print. Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

  8. Sep 11

    You Don’t Have to Think Twice When It’s Your Kid

    We all say our kids come first. But sometimes life gives you a moment when you find out just how automatic that really is. This week, I talk about telling my daughter Olivia that we'd find a way to make college work no matter what it cost, even as a voice in my own head wondered exactly how I planned to pull that off. Then there's Lucas, my 15-year-old nonverbal son with autism, who needs me in a very different way. When a substitute matron on Lucas's school bus grabbed his arm during a difficult transition, I reacted before I even had time to think about it. For years, I'd wondered how I would respond if someone crossed a line with my son. In that moment, I found out. But this isn't an episode about fighting the world. In fact, raising Lucas has taught me almost the opposite. I once expected judgment, confrontation and strangers who wouldn't understand him. Instead, I've encountered an incredible amount of kindness, including one stranger at a swimming pool whose words during one of Lucas's meltdowns have stayed with me for years. Our kids come first. It's easy to put on a meme or a T-shirt. Living it is something different, and for most of the parents I've met along this journey, it isn't something we even have to think twice about. It's Here! Get the book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation” on audio, digital, or print. Follow Us On TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

See All (312)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Hi Pod! I’m Dad is where I talk through fatherhood while raising a son with autism who does not speak. I’m James Guttman, the dad behind Hi Blog! I’m Dad. This podcast isn’t about tips or solutions. It is about what life actually feels like when autism is part of your home every day, and you are trying to be present for it without pretending it is easier than it is. Some episodes are about joy and connection. Others are about exhaustion, fear, patience, and the quiet moments that never make it into awareness campaigns. Everything you hear here comes from real mornings, real mistakes, and a deep love for my kids. There is no takeaway. Just one dad saying the things he usually keeps to himself.

Information

  • Creator
    James Guttman
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    312
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hi Pod! I'm Dad.
  • Show Website
    Hi Pod! I'm Dad.