Podcast Summary: The Michael Knowles Show

Episode: Father REFUSES to Let Autism Define His Son – Emotional Interview with Leland Vittert
Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)
Guest: Leland Vittert, Chief Washington Anchor at NewsNation, host of On Balance, and author of Born Lucky: A Dedicated Father, Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism

Overview

In this heartfelt and insightful interview, Michael Knowles speaks with journalist Leland Vittert about his personal journey with autism, the unique parenting approach his father took, and how that experience shaped his life and career. Focusing less on political hot takes and more on personal triumph, the episode explores themes of resilience, the pitfalls of modern "identity-first" culture, and the extraordinary agency parents have in guiding their children through adversity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Childhood Diagnosis and Parenting Philosophy

• Leland's Autism Diagnosis:
  • Diagnosed at age 5-6 with symptoms including behavioral issues, sensory overload, and a “70-point spread” on IQ tests—far beyond the threshold for a learning disability (03:23).
• Parent Response:
  • The professionals told his father there was "not much you can do" (03:23), but his father refused to accept this verdict.
  • "Born Lucky" Philosophy: Instead of adapting the world to Leland, his father focused on adapting Leland to the world, with no accommodations, extra time on tests, or special treatment (05:39).
  • Leland's father never told him or others directly about the diagnosis growing up (05:39), forcing Leland to navigate the world as it is.
• Social Skills as a Learned Process:
  • Leland describes how his father would take him to lunch with adults, use subtle cues (like tapping his watch) to indicate social faux pas, and later break down social interactions in detail—like “watching game film” (01:26, repeated 05:39).
  • They role-played conversations so that Leland could learn how to read social cues and adapt (05:39).

Contrasting Past and Present Approaches to Autism

• Modern vs. Past Mindset:
  • Knowles observes, “It's the exact opposite approach that everyone is taking now... people want the world to bend to their eccentricities” (04:51).
  • Leland affirms, “Dad’s idea... was sort of the opposite of the coddling, the coddling of a child” (07:34).

Autism in Today’s Culture

• Trends and Misdiagnosis:
  • Both note the surge in self-diagnoses and “identity-first” culture—Leland jokes, “Yeah, I was autistic before it was cool” (02:53).
  • Knowles critiques people using undiagnosed “autism” to excuse bad behavior (02:57).
• The Science and Mysteries of Autism:
  • Leland: “I have absolutely no insight because I'm not a doctor... Born Lucky is not a prescription... It's a father-son love story to give parents the hope my parents did not have” (10:06).
  • Diagnoses have soared from 1 in 1,500 children to 1 in 31 (10:16), with disparities across gender and socioeconomic lines—“We don't know what it is. And boy, I think it should be the scientific question of our time” (10:16).
  • Leland calls out politicization that inhibits genuine progress (10:16).

The Emotional Cost and Triumphs

• Childhood Struggles:
  • Leland shares traumatic incidents, including extreme bullying from both classmates and teachers ("If my dog was as ugly as you, I would shave its and make it walk backwards" – unnamed teacher, 10:16).
  • His father focused on building self-esteem through discipline (e.g., “200 pushups a day, five days a week, starting when I was six or seven” 10:16).
• Parental Sacrifice:
  • Leland reveals how, every night, his dad would spend hours putting him back together after school bullying, followed by his father weeping alone—“every night... he would sit in the living room by himself and cry for hours” (14:35).
  • His father never wanted autism to become Leland’s excuse or sole identity (14:35).

Career Choices and Openness

• Choosing Journalism:

  • Knowles asks why Leland would pursue the most social/performative profession given an autism diagnosis (12:30):
  • Leland explains: “It was one of the few professions that just yielded to hard work... hard work really paid off, especially early on in journalism” (12:30).
  • Leland also discusses his late-in-life openness, going public only after decades and 20+ years of “practicing to hide it” (14:35), motivated by parents who reached out after reading his book and by the hope it gives them (13:14).

• Not Defining by Diagnosis:

  • Despite sometimes still slipping up, Leland notes, “My dad said... my son's not gonna be defined by a diagnosis, but he's not gonna be able to use it as an excuse either” (14:35).

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Leland Vittert (02:53):
  “Yeah, I was autistic before it was cool.”
• Michael Knowles (04:51):
  “It's amazing, because it is the exact opposite approach that everyone is taking now... people want the world to bend to their eccentricities.”
• Leland Vittert (05:39):
  “Dad realized from the beginning I wasn't going to have any friends. So he said, in his words, maybe I can be your friend.”
• Leland Vittert (10:16):
  “Born Lucky is not a prescription. It’s not a cure. It’s not an autism book. It’s a father-son love story to give parents the hope that my parents did not have.”
• Leland Vittert (13:14):
  “What I view as the success here is the hundreds of emails I have gotten from parents who say, thank you for writing this. We know we’re not alone and you’ve given us hope... Born Lucky is hope and proof of the power of great parenting. And nobody’s talking about that right now.”
• Leland Vittert (14:35):
  “My dad said... my son’s not gonna be defined by a diagnosis, but he’s not gonna be able to use it as an excuse either.”

Important Timestamps

• Leland’s Childhood Diagnosis and Parental Strategy – 03:23 to 05:39
• Game Film Approach, Social Skills Training – 05:39
• Cultural Critique of ‘Letting Your Freak Flag Fly’ – 09:01
• Surge in Autism Diagnoses, Scientific Questions – 10:16
• Bullying and Early Struggles – 10:16
• Parental Sacrifice and Emotional Toll – 14:35
• Decision to Pursue Journalism and Public Openness – 12:30, 13:14
• Closing Reflections on Parenting and Agency – 13:56 to 16:33

Tone and Style

The conversation is candid, admiring, and laced with self-deprecating humor. Leland is remarkably open about his difficulties and growth, while Knowles respectfully highlights the broader cultural and parental implications. The dialogue pushes back against the modern trend of identity-based exceptionalism, instead championing personal responsibility and the unsung heroism of dedicated parents.

Conclusion

This episode is a testament to the transformative power of tough, loving parenting and relentless perseverance. Leland’s experiences illustrate both the pain and potential in raising children with challenges—messages magnified by the vulnerability he shares and the practical hope his story provides. For parents facing similar circumstances, the episode offers rare encouragement: Your actions matter greatly.

Final call to action from Michael Knowles:
“You have to get the book, is what I’m saying. All of that to say. You have to get the book right now. Born Lucky, a dedicated father, a grateful son, and my journey with autism.” (16:33)