This is amazing! Thank you for sharing Leland’s story! I am my daughter’s best friend. She is still young but we too are searching and allowing time for her to find what she is interested in. I just sent this to her to listen to. Also, I live how you articulate the Israeli conflicts! The honest, pure and accurate truths. Just refreshing and validating!
You just opened my eyes!!! Holy Cow...I AM AUTISTIC!!! Maybe we all have some form of autism, whatever is considered "normal" is that which is accepted by the masses...
All my life I've felt that I was the "outsider" , From an early stage in my life...that first day of Kindergarten, alone, never making friends and not knowing why. Mrs Grillo screaming at me in front of my French Class in high school..."Why are you doing so badly, why are you failing, why don't you do the work?" Me, just sitting in frightened silence while she screamed at me...Each of these memories are vivid in my life...and this must NOT be just about ME and my ego...but all people! We all want to belong...I think... Thank you , Lucky and Rick for revealing this bit of an eye opener...At 82, I am still learning...and maybe it wasn't all that important because I've survived and am still trying to do better,
Maybe ALL people are "Autistic" to a certain degree... My heartfelt thanks for this podcast!
I knew nothing about Leland Vittert before watching this interview but really appreciate you putting this out there. I have a 17 year-old son on the autism spectrum. Though he is so very different from Leland, my husband and I have tried hard over the years to nudge him, to take him out of his comfort zone, and it's made a big difference. Thank you for sharing Leland's fascinating story!
Very interesting interview, and good for Leland that he had such amazing parents and enjoys a productive life with autism. What will linger on in my mind will be the incredible struggles that many families continue with, especially when their child becomes an unmanageable adult and they look for assistance and proper care. As the parent of an adult child with a learning disability and chronic illnesses, I know all too well how hard a parent can work to advocate for correct medical and educational intervention, therapy and hoping for a bright future. Nothing has ever shattered my heart more than realizing the conclusion that "well, this is as good as it probably gets so let go of those high hopes". Radical acceptance and unconditional love save the day. On the other side of the coin, now that I am an instructor at a tech college, I see the teacher side of having more and more adult students on the spectrum and the challenges that brings to a big busy lab class. How far do you bend the expectations and grade according to their level of ability when at the end of the year, there is no way some of them can fulfill the requirements to graduate much less work in that field. It is sad, frustrating, and if our tax dollars end up going to vouchers for private schools (who don't have to accept any students with issues they don't like) and the public schools get flooded with more students with disabilities the same time their revenue dries up, our education system will collapse. I don't have the answers.
My daughter is Autistic, and wasn't diagnosed until her 20s. She was bullied all through school, and still is some. She's 38 years old and had to leave her last job because she was bullied so badly by her coworkers and her director did nothing about it. She's scary smart and on her way to working at Mayo Clinic, but people are cruel. I loved Leland's story and can't wait to read the book.
Tell me about it! As her mother, I had to almost physically restrain myself from going to the lab where she worked to confront her coworkers. It was so bad, you wouldn't believe it if I told you. She's at a different hospital lab now and it's night and day different. She's always liked the work, but now she's got friends at work, too. She's among like-minded people.
My daughter was NOT ever thought of as "autistic" but I realise now that she is dealing with these problems, these challenges too. I am also on that spectrum that Leeland just informed us of, ( my grammar is terrible) and I just hope there's a way to help her and so many others.
There’s a familiar trope at work in the framing of this episode—one that deserves more scrutiny than applause. A high-functioning overachiever reveals an autism diagnosis, not to complicate our assumptions about difference, but to retroactively explain and ennoble his success. The result? A feel-good redemption arc for the LinkedIn crowd: “how I turned my hardwired awkwardness into a superpower.”
This narrative—equal parts TED Talk and self-help pitch—serves two functions. First, it flatters neurotypical audiences by making “difference” legible, inspiring, and above all, non-threatening. Second, it subtly markets itself as a life hack: if he could overcome emotional shutdown and social alienation to make it in cable news, what’s your excuse?
But not everyone who feels alienated in groups, misattuned in conversation, or stunted in emotional fluency is autistic. And not every autistic person ends up with a memoir and a talk show. For most, these traits don’t yield clarity or reward—they yield isolation. In elite institutions especially, they’re often punished, pathologized, or ignored altogether.
There’s nothing wrong with Leland Vittert sharing his story. But let’s not pretend it’s emblematic of anything except the culture industry’s ongoing urge to repackage adversity as personal branding. Most people with invisible differences don’t get superpowers. They just get left behind.
Varying shades and such a wide spectrum of people who "fall" into these categories, of which there are many of us.. Walk a mile in our shoes...I think this is important to those of us who needed this eyeopener. I've dealt with this all my life, not knowing why...and listening to this explained a lot of the many who know there's something amiss and don't know how to face it.
Yup. He's got his priorities mixed up. It would be interesting to know why he is so fixated on autism when we have illnesses like measles cropping up AGAIN because of his ignorance.
You are correct...especially children who need all the help we can give them...This measles epidemic has been terrible for these our kids and their families...I can not imagine anything worse than having our kids lose our medical advances...too many children in danger..
I wish all parents were able to invest their time in their children like Leland’s dad. Too many parents are hanging on by a thread and honestly unable to “Be Best”. (Fuck that Slovenian whore for co-opting those words.)
Diagnostic tools can give us labels, but a label needs to be a tool not a weapon. Tools are great. Rick, you’re a tool. An excellent barometer. I was very young when I learned about barometers. It was a tool my dad used because he worked in the woods as a faller.
Mr. Ward abandoned me for several hours after I had surgery last year and he couldn’t understand why I was upset with him. He refused to apologize because he didn’t understand what he’d done wrong. After that incident I asked him to go to a marriage counselor with me. We did several tests and we both tested as possibly autistic. No problem for me. So I’m ADHD and neurodivergent. Cool. Michael was offended. He’s very smart, but there are situations where he doesn’t know how to react. He’ll be 73 at the end of this month and has had a-fib for a dozen years. There IS something going on with his brain. I can’t help him if he doesn’t acknowledge that his behavior sometimes has deleterious effects.
Exactly!!! Thank you!! And I bet there's far more of "us" in this challenging boat than the statistics show. We who've grown up with this challenge and have never had it explained to us .
Thank You sir! For sharing your story! Good conversation! Again thank you!
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing Leland’s story! I am my daughter’s best friend. She is still young but we too are searching and allowing time for her to find what she is interested in. I just sent this to her to listen to. Also, I live how you articulate the Israeli conflicts! The honest, pure and accurate truths. Just refreshing and validating!
That was an awesome interview!!!
You just opened my eyes!!! Holy Cow...I AM AUTISTIC!!! Maybe we all have some form of autism, whatever is considered "normal" is that which is accepted by the masses...
All my life I've felt that I was the "outsider" , From an early stage in my life...that first day of Kindergarten, alone, never making friends and not knowing why. Mrs Grillo screaming at me in front of my French Class in high school..."Why are you doing so badly, why are you failing, why don't you do the work?" Me, just sitting in frightened silence while she screamed at me...Each of these memories are vivid in my life...and this must NOT be just about ME and my ego...but all people! We all want to belong...I think... Thank you , Lucky and Rick for revealing this bit of an eye opener...At 82, I am still learning...and maybe it wasn't all that important because I've survived and am still trying to do better,
Maybe ALL people are "Autistic" to a certain degree... My heartfelt thanks for this podcast!
I knew nothing about Leland Vittert before watching this interview but really appreciate you putting this out there. I have a 17 year-old son on the autism spectrum. Though he is so very different from Leland, my husband and I have tried hard over the years to nudge him, to take him out of his comfort zone, and it's made a big difference. Thank you for sharing Leland's fascinating story!
Very interesting interview, and good for Leland that he had such amazing parents and enjoys a productive life with autism. What will linger on in my mind will be the incredible struggles that many families continue with, especially when their child becomes an unmanageable adult and they look for assistance and proper care. As the parent of an adult child with a learning disability and chronic illnesses, I know all too well how hard a parent can work to advocate for correct medical and educational intervention, therapy and hoping for a bright future. Nothing has ever shattered my heart more than realizing the conclusion that "well, this is as good as it probably gets so let go of those high hopes". Radical acceptance and unconditional love save the day. On the other side of the coin, now that I am an instructor at a tech college, I see the teacher side of having more and more adult students on the spectrum and the challenges that brings to a big busy lab class. How far do you bend the expectations and grade according to their level of ability when at the end of the year, there is no way some of them can fulfill the requirements to graduate much less work in that field. It is sad, frustrating, and if our tax dollars end up going to vouchers for private schools (who don't have to accept any students with issues they don't like) and the public schools get flooded with more students with disabilities the same time their revenue dries up, our education system will collapse. I don't have the answers.
A perfect description..I wish you had been my parent. Or even one of my teachers.. Thank you!
Thanks Leigh!
My daughter is Autistic, and wasn't diagnosed until her 20s. She was bullied all through school, and still is some. She's 38 years old and had to leave her last job because she was bullied so badly by her coworkers and her director did nothing about it. She's scary smart and on her way to working at Mayo Clinic, but people are cruel. I loved Leland's story and can't wait to read the book.
There's a LOT of us out here...all dealing with the bullies of life...We deal and we find our ways. Thank you!!
That's terrible, being bullied at that age. ANY age is unacceptable, but 38?
Tell me about it! As her mother, I had to almost physically restrain myself from going to the lab where she worked to confront her coworkers. It was so bad, you wouldn't believe it if I told you. She's at a different hospital lab now and it's night and day different. She's always liked the work, but now she's got friends at work, too. She's among like-minded people.
My daughter was NOT ever thought of as "autistic" but I realise now that she is dealing with these problems, these challenges too. I am also on that spectrum that Leeland just informed us of, ( my grammar is terrible) and I just hope there's a way to help her and so many others.
I have a grandson that demonstrates the same behavior at 4 and this will help us learn how to work with him 👍
Sorry don't know how to sign in.
There’s a familiar trope at work in the framing of this episode—one that deserves more scrutiny than applause. A high-functioning overachiever reveals an autism diagnosis, not to complicate our assumptions about difference, but to retroactively explain and ennoble his success. The result? A feel-good redemption arc for the LinkedIn crowd: “how I turned my hardwired awkwardness into a superpower.”
This narrative—equal parts TED Talk and self-help pitch—serves two functions. First, it flatters neurotypical audiences by making “difference” legible, inspiring, and above all, non-threatening. Second, it subtly markets itself as a life hack: if he could overcome emotional shutdown and social alienation to make it in cable news, what’s your excuse?
But not everyone who feels alienated in groups, misattuned in conversation, or stunted in emotional fluency is autistic. And not every autistic person ends up with a memoir and a talk show. For most, these traits don’t yield clarity or reward—they yield isolation. In elite institutions especially, they’re often punished, pathologized, or ignored altogether.
There’s nothing wrong with Leland Vittert sharing his story. But let’s not pretend it’s emblematic of anything except the culture industry’s ongoing urge to repackage adversity as personal branding. Most people with invisible differences don’t get superpowers. They just get left behind.
Varying shades and such a wide spectrum of people who "fall" into these categories, of which there are many of us.. Walk a mile in our shoes...I think this is important to those of us who needed this eyeopener. I've dealt with this all my life, not knowing why...and listening to this explained a lot of the many who know there's something amiss and don't know how to face it.
How do you feel about RFK Jr. and his obsession about finding the cause of autism?
ARRRRGGGGG!!! ( maybe...but it doesn't NEED to be part of American's lives when we are dealing with dangerous diseases!!!)
Yup. He's got his priorities mixed up. It would be interesting to know why he is so fixated on autism when we have illnesses like measles cropping up AGAIN because of his ignorance.
You are correct...especially children who need all the help we can give them...This measles epidemic has been terrible for these our kids and their families...I can not imagine anything worse than having our kids lose our medical advances...too many children in danger..
The cost of listening to RFK JR. He’s such a danger to everyone!
I wish all parents were able to invest their time in their children like Leland’s dad. Too many parents are hanging on by a thread and honestly unable to “Be Best”. (Fuck that Slovenian whore for co-opting those words.)
Diagnostic tools can give us labels, but a label needs to be a tool not a weapon. Tools are great. Rick, you’re a tool. An excellent barometer. I was very young when I learned about barometers. It was a tool my dad used because he worked in the woods as a faller.
Mr. Ward abandoned me for several hours after I had surgery last year and he couldn’t understand why I was upset with him. He refused to apologize because he didn’t understand what he’d done wrong. After that incident I asked him to go to a marriage counselor with me. We did several tests and we both tested as possibly autistic. No problem for me. So I’m ADHD and neurodivergent. Cool. Michael was offended. He’s very smart, but there are situations where he doesn’t know how to react. He’ll be 73 at the end of this month and has had a-fib for a dozen years. There IS something going on with his brain. I can’t help him if he doesn’t acknowledge that his behavior sometimes has deleterious effects.
Exactly!!! Thank you!! And I bet there's far more of "us" in this challenging boat than the statistics show. We who've grown up with this challenge and have never had it explained to us .
I'm Autistic.
God podcast I have nieces and nephews who are autistic! One niece has the same problem as Angie Dickson later daughter had! Nichol Bacarack!
It probably runs in ALL our families...America is AUTISTIC!!! So let's use it to the best of our abilities!!! What's normal???
Very interesting.
I wish I had more time for podcasts. So much to learn.
Truth...and we're all on this trip...a little at a time...