Hi Pod! I'm Dad.

Squeaky Wheels and Silent Strength

With just days until the release of Hi World, I’m Dad, James Gutman opens up about the journey that inspired his most personal work yet. In this heartfelt episode, James reflects on parenting his non-verbal son, Lucas, the fears that never came true, and the quiet beauty that replaced them. This isn't a tragedy- it’s a love story.🔹 Hi World, I’m Dad will be available in stores, on Amazon, and as an audiobook narrated by James 🔹 Lucas, now 14, remains non-verbal, but joyful, kind, and fully present 🔹 “Autism appreciation is easy when you love them”  🔹 Acknowledges the unique bond with both his children: Lucas and his neurotypical daughter, Olivia 🔹 Describes the moment he stopped waiting for his son to speak and finally found peace 🔹 Pushes back on fear-based autism stories, offering hope and hard-won wisdom 🔹 Shares how Lucas taught him to live in the moment, let go of expectations, and embrace joy 🔹 New blog posts on HiBlogImDad.com: The Words My Son Never Said and He Never Says I Love You, But I’ve Never Been More SureVisit HiBlogImDad.com to read more, and pre-order Hi World, I’m Dad wherever books are sold. Tune in next week to hear James reflect on release day and early reader reactions.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 Facebook and YouTube. Follow James Guttman on Instagram. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

What Lucas Taught Me About Living Without Fear

James Gutman shares his journey of learning to truly see and appreciate his nonverbal son Lucas, transforming what many would consider a challenging situation into a source of profound joy and personal growth. This deeply personal episode explores how a heart surgery became the catalyst for shifting from constant worry about what he wasn't doing for his son to genuine appreciation for who his son actually is.• The contrast between raising a neurotypical daughter who hit all developmental milestones early and a son with autism who missed them• How people often take credit for their children's successes but blame themselves for developmental delays• The transformative impact of heart surgery and facing mortality on James's perspective about what truly matters• Moving from autism awareness to acceptance to appreciation• Learning to understand Lucas on his own terms rather than trying to change him• How Lucas embodies the qualities most parents want in their children—authenticity, joy, and living in the moment• The beautiful relationship between Lucas and his sister Olivia• Finding positivity in life's challenges by learning from them• The upcoming book "Hi World, I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation"Pre-order my book "Hi World, I'm Dad" available June 19th everywhere books are sold—in print, digital, and as an audiobook narrated by James himselfIt'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 Facebook and YouTube. Follow James Guttman on Instagram. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

My Son's Love Is Louder Than Any Challenge We Face

James Gutman shares personal stories about raising his son Lucas who has severe autism, revealing how his perspective evolved from fighting against pity to embracing complete appreciation for who his son is.•James discusses his upcoming book "Hi World, I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance, to Appreciation," releasing globally on June 19, 2025.  • Started blogging in 2017 to share stories about Lucas without the pity that often came with in-person conversations• Why he's glad early pitches for the book didn't go through until the time was right• Describes beautiful moments like "Reunion Wednesday" hugs that demonstrate Lucas's clear love• Shares a breakthrough moment when Lucas understood food needs time to cook• Explains how these small victories exceed his early expectations when Lucas was first diagnosed• Emphasizes that his love for Lucas isn't despite autism but encompasses his entire being• Wouldn't change or "cure" his son even if he couldFollow James on social media @HiJamesGutman and visit HiBlogImDad.com with new content every Monday and Wednesday. Reserve your physical and audiobook copy of "Hi World, I'm Dad" on Amazon, Audible, Google, and everywhere books are sold, available June 19th.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 Facebook and YouTube. Follow James Guttman on Instagram. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

Hi World I'm Dad: The Audiobook - Available Everywhere June 19

James Gutman makes a major announcement about his upcoming book "Hi World I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation" being released as an audiobook on June 19th, 2025. He shares personal reflections on recording the audiobook and his authentic approach to parenting his son Lucas.• The audiobook will be available on multiple platforms including Audible, Amazon, Spotify, Apple Books, Google Play, and Kobo. It is available for pre-order now.• James describes his initial hesitation about recording the audiobook but ultimately enjoyed the experience• Authenticity is key to his approach to parenting and advocacy• He emphasizes finding joy in everyday moments with his son rather than lamenting challenges• James shares touching anecdotes about his relationship with Lucas, including why he can never stay mad at him for more than five minutes• The book demonstrates his journey from autism awareness to acceptance to appreciationVisit HiBlogImDad.com every Monday and Wednesday for new blog posts and follow James on Instagram @Hi_JamesGutman.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 Facebook and YouTube. Follow James Guttman on Instagram. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

From Worry to Wonder: When Life Forces You To See Differently

James reflects on his journey from worried father to advocate for autism appreciation, crediting his quintuple bypass surgery at 35 as a turning point in how he viewed his son Lucas's autism. Rather than focusing on what needed to be "fixed," James began appreciating Lucas's unique perspective and finding joy in moments others might misinterpret as sad.• The podcast grew from James's frustration with not being able to share funny stories about Lucas without receiving sympathy• James explains the difference between autism awareness, acceptance, and his preferred term: appreciation• Shares the memorable "pretzel story" that triggered the blog• Reflects on writing about Lucas from age 5 to 14 and watching him grow through the blog• Talks about his upcoming book "Hi World I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation"• Expresses gratitude for the supportive community that has made him feel less aloneIt'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 Facebook and YouTube. Follow James Guttman on Instagram. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.