Hi Pod! 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 TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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 TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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 TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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 TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

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 Sure

Visit 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 TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

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 himself

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.

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 could

Follow 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 TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

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 appreciation

Visit 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 TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

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 alone

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.

From being unable to say the word "autism" aloud to embracing the term "severe autism," James Gutman shares his transformative seven-year journey with his son Lucas in this heartfelt episode. He recalls a pivotal moment when someone referred to his non-verbal son's condition as "the real autism," triggering both offense and reflection about how we label and understand neurodiversity.

James takes us through his evolution as a father and writer, revealing how his blog "Hi Blog, I'm Dad" (launched in 2017) chronicles their journey from fear to appreciation. He describes the early days of struggling to explain his son's silence to strangers, followed by years of growth that changed his perspective entirely. Rather than defending against pity or judgment, James now focuses on celebrating Lucas's unique way of experiencing the world—from the gentle finger games he plays with his sister to the fascinating way he studies his own hand in the sunlight.

The episode offers rare insight into parenting a child with severe autism, balancing the clinical realities with moments of pure joy. James reflects on how Lucas brings him happiness even during challenging moments, and how his son's unfiltered emotions have taught him to live more authentically. With his book "Hi World I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation" launching soon, James invites listeners to understand that while labels serve their purpose, they never tell the complete story. Pre-order his book now on Amazon to join him on this continuing journey of discovery and appreciation.

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.