Ep. 295: Born Lucky: Leland Vittert’s Journey Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum

In this powerful episode of Parenting Great Kids , Dr. Meg Meeker sits down with journalist and author Leland Vittert , who shares his compelling journey growing up on the autism spectrum. From enduring bullying to discovering his voice through writing, Leland opens up about the key role his father played in his development and how perseverance and unconditional support changed the trajectory of his life. Leland’s memoir, Born Lucky , chronicles his experience navigating the world with neurodiversity, the impact of an autism diagnosis, and the emotional highs and lows of childhood. This episode is a message of hope for parents raising neurodiverse children , reminding us that persistence, trust, and love truly matter. Key Themes: The emotional and social challenges of growing up autistic The long-term effects of bullying Why early diagnosis and support matter The powerful role of a present and engaged parent Learning social skills and resilience in real life 📘 Learn more about Leland Vittert’s book Born Lucky : Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. 📢 Join the Ask Dr. Meg Parenting Portal for exclusive content, expert-led courses, and tools to help you parent with confidence. Sign up here for the free webinar: Protecting Your Kids from Pornography, Part 2: What You Can Do. Sponsors: Hungryroot – 40% off + free gift with code DRMEG Fam Gabs – 10% off conversation cards with code DRMEGPOD K12-powered Schools – Tuition-free, accredited online learning for K–12 Thrive Causemetics – Clean beauty with purpose. 10% off your first order Listen to Aidee , “Nothing Rhymes With Orange”: Rula makes quality mental healthcare accessible and affordable—matching you with licensed therapists who accept your insurance, often with appointments as soon as tomorrow. Get started at Rula.com/drmeg See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at .

You can listen to Ep. 295: Born Lucky: Leland Vittert’s Journey Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Ep. 295: Born Lucky: Leland Vittert’s Journey Growing Up on the Autism Spectrum is an episode from Parenting Great Kids with Dr. Meg Meeker by Dr. Meg Meeker.

This episode is 00:52:27 long.

This episode was published on Oct 12, 2025.

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