Hi Pod! I'm Dad.

No Words Needed: Podcasting With My Non-Verbal Son

This week’s co-host doesn’t say a word, but his presence says everything. James sits down with his son Lucas, a non-verbal teenager with autism, for a special episode. With the help of Pirate Booty, duck noises, and an AAC device, Lucas shows listeners what communication looks like when it’s completely authentic. Whether it’s asking for water or no-selling a dad joke, nothing Lucas does is performative and that honesty has become one of James’s greatest parenting lessons.You’ll hear about real moments: a silly game that’s only funny when Lucas says it is, how years of practice lead to a single successful request on a talker, and the deep frustration of strangers assuming they know your child better than you do. This is more than a podcast episode, it’s a window into trust, growth, and fatherhood that doesn't need subtitles.See The Show Here on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jcTwR72r_k4Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@hiblogimdadIt'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 Nonverbal Son With Autism Is Everything He Needs to Be

In this episode, James Guttman explores how his nonverbal son with autism, Lucas, redefined the very idea of perfection. It’s not about milestones, math scores, or sports trophies. It’s about honesty, love, and authenticity.Lucas doesn’t hide his intentions. He doesn’t play emotional games. And while life with severe autism comes with real challenges, James shares how those challenges are matched by something even more powerful: a son who is, in every meaningful way, perfect.If you’ve ever felt like the world’s definition of “normal” doesn’t fit your life, this is the episode for you.Watch The Video From This Show: https://youtu.be/CxM41UtGOMsIt'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.

How My Son and I Learned to Laugh Without Words

What if your child couldn’t speak...but still knew exactly how to make you laugh?In this heartfelt episode, James Guttman shares the unexpected ways he built a private language of humor with his nonverbal son, Lucas. From early fears about never sharing a laugh to perfectly timed glances and paused songs, this story is a reminder that connection doesn’t need to be spoken. Sometimes, all it takes is a sideways look and a shared moment.Whether you’re on your own autism journey or just need a reminder of how deep love can go without words, this one’s 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 Facebook and YouTube. Follow James Guttman on Instagram. Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

Life After Heart Surgery: From Near-Death to Autism Appreciation

At 35 years old, James Gutman was given just four hours’ notice before undergoing a quintuple bypass with no prior health issues, no medications, and no warning signs. But that life-saving operation wasn’t the end of his story. It was the beginning of a new one.In this powerful episode of Hi Pod! I’m Dad, James shares how surviving heart surgery changed everything: how he viewed stress, how he approached parenting, and how he discovered a deeper connection with his nonverbal son Lucas through what he now calls “autism appreciation.”Lucas became an emotional mirror, reflecting James’s calm or stress back at him, and their bond grew stronger when James stopped trying to control everything and instead entered his son’s world. From heart health to emotional growth, this episode is a raw, inspiring look at what happens when life delivers challenges that turn into unexpected gifts.Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R4NwAimSXJoSubscribe To Hi Blog! on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@hiblogimdad📖 Get the book Hi World, I’m Dad — available now on Amazon (print, eBook, audiobook): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3V9Z9X4📝 New blog posts every Monday & Wednesday at HiBlogImDad.com 📱 Follow @HiJamesGutman on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, & FacebookIt'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.

When Haircuts Hurt: A Father’s Autism Parenting Breakthrough

Every parent has their share of parenting challenges, but when your child has severe, non-verbal autism, even something as ordinary as a haircut can become a years-long emotional battle.In this week’s episode of Hi Pod! I’m Dad, James Guttman shares the raw and personal story of how a supposedly “autism-friendly” salon failed his son Lucas and how that painful moment led him down a years-long journey of cutting his son’s hair himself.From heartbreaking meltdowns to trying every trick in the book (and on Amazon), James reflects on what it truly means to parent through difficulty and how progress often looks nothing like what we expect. The solution? Not special clippers or a miracle strategy, but growth, both his son’s and his own.This episode is a powerful reminder that yesterday’s impossible struggles can become tomorrow’s triumphs.▶️ Watch on YouTube:https://youtu.be/ErslqmGlIC8 📺 Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@hiblogimdad📝 New blog posts every Monday & Wednesday at HiBlogImDad.com 📱 Follow @HiJamesGutman on Instagram, TikTok, Threads & FacebookIt'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.