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_k4

Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@hiblogimdad

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.

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/CxM41UtGOMs

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 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.

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/R4NwAimSXJo

Subscribe 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, & Facebook

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.

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 & Facebook

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.

We all have stories we tell ourselves about who our kids will become, how our relationships will unfold, and what life is supposed to look like. But what happens when reality tears those stories apart?

In this week’s episode of Hi Pod! I’m Dad, James Guttman shares a raw, honest reflection on the life he never expected. From a divorce during the pandemic to parenting a nonverbal son with autism, James opens up about the imagined futures he had to grieve and the unexpected beauty he found in letting them go.

▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube and subscribe to the channel:
 👉 Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Qn6bV6k6Jq8
📺 YouTube: @HiBlogImDad

💬 The emotional centerpiece? A memory about almost giving his son the middle name “Charming” so he could impress girls at bars one day. It’s a funny, touching reminder of the hopes we place on unborn children — and how healing it can be to release those hopes when life takes a different turn.

🎧 Listen on your favorite podcast platform — including Spotify, Audible, Apple, and more — or stream the episode directly here:
 👉 Listen on HiPodImDad.com

📖 Hi World, I’m Dad — Available now on Amazon (print, eBook, and audiobook):
👉 Buy the book

📝 New blog posts every Monday & Wednesday at HiBlogImDad.com
📱 Follow @HiJamesGutman on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, and Facebook

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.

James Guttman reflects on the emotional milestones of parenting a neurotypical teenager and a nonverbal son with autism. In this week’s heartfelt episode, he shares how Olivia has grown from the little girl who monopolized his time after school into a self-sufficient 17-year-old — and how their bond has evolved along the way.

At the same time, James discusses the equally powerful connection he shares with Lucas, built on unspoken cues and trust. With honesty, humor, and vulnerability, he explores:

• How his blog shifted focus as Olivia requested privacy
• The unique but equal importance of both of his children
• Family values that center on unity, not hierarchy
• Lessons learned from heart surgery, divorce, and parenting through change
• How positivity and self-respect shape the people we attract into our lives

This episode is a tribute to the evolution of parenthood, the power of love without comparison, and the beauty of building a life you’re proud of — one moment at a time.

WATCH THIS EPISODE HERE: https://youtu.be/1EpKjVaXoew

🟢 Follow @HiJamesGuttman on Instagram, Threads & Facebook
📘 New blog posts every Monday & Wednesday at HiBlogImDad.com
🎧 New podcast episodes every Friday at midnight
 ▶️ Subscribe to @HiBlogImDad on YouTube for new podcast episodes every Friday and more stories about fatherhood, autism, and life’s unexpected lessons.

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.

Watch This Episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/ad4q7DE2SlE

James Guttman shares a deeply personal look at the evolution of his parenting journey with Lucas, his 14-year-old son with severe autism. From the emotional tug-of-war over age-appropriate toys to unexpected moments of connection in thrift stores and living rooms, James explores how he learned to stop correcting his son’s play and instead joined him in it.

This episode dives into the beauty of authenticity, the pressure of societal expectations, and the unspoken bond between a father and son. James opens up about dignity, boundaries, and why he now lets Lucas lead the way, because loving a child sometimes means letting go of what the world tells you is “right.”

It’s not just a parenting story. It’s a story about unconditional love, acceptance, and finding peace in unexpected places.

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.

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5tgNT1CIUw4

What does it really mean to appreciate autism - not just accept it? In this personal episode, James Guttman reflects on how his non-verbal son Lucas has reshaped his perspective and brought unexpected joy into their lives.

Through emotional honesty and candid moments, James shares how their bond has grown through trust, gestures, and a shared understanding that goes far beyond words.

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.

In this special episode, James Guttman celebrates the release of his new book Hi World, I'm Dad and officially launches the video version of his podcast - available here on YouTube. He opens up about autism appreciation, what it truly means to love without conditions, and how his son Lucas, who is non-verbal with autism, has shaped his understanding of life, connection, and purpose. From surviving a heart attack and quintuple bypass to embracing his son’s unfiltered authenticity, James shares the powerful moments that led to his most personal work yet.

Catch new blogs every Monday and Wednesday at HiBlogImDad.com and follow James on social media @HiJamesGuttman.

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.