#87 - Leland Vittert: Middle School Trained Me for War Zones

#87 - Leland Vittert: Middle School Trained Me for War Zones

Leland Vittert didn't speak until age three. Diagnosed with what we now know as autism, he spent middle school crying himself to sleep while his father repeated one message: "The qualities that make you bullied now will make you successful later." In this raw conversation, Leland opens up about his memoir Born Lucky, a father-son story about choosing resilience over accommodation and truth over popularity. We talk about the decision his parents made not to shelter him from adversity, but to hold his hand through it. About learning to turn isolation into independence, and pain into purpose. This isn't a polished highlight reel. It's an honest look at neurodivergence, parenting choices, bullying, and what it costs to stand your ground when the truth matters most. Key moments: Growing up neurodivergent before we had the language for it The parenting decision that changed everything Why middle school bullying prepared him for Washington newsrooms Finding your voice when you literally couldn't speak The father-son relationship that became his foundation Whether you're a parent of a struggling kid, someone who's faced isolation, or anyone trying to find strength in their story, this conversation offers hope, honesty, and the reminder that your hardest seasons might be preparing you for something greater. Guest: Leland Vittert is a journalist and author of Born Lucky, chronicling his journey from a nonverbal child with severe learning disabilities to a voice millions trust. Get the book Born Lucky: https://bornlucky.com/ Chapters: (00:00) Trailer (01:09) Intro (01:44) Introducing Leland Vittert (02:41) Overcoming Childhood Challenges (08:16) The Power of a Nickname: 'Lucky' (11:37) Navigating Autism and Social Challenges (20:41) Journalism and Personal Growth (27:30) Facing Adversity in the Newsroom (40:06) Covering the George Floyd Protests (43:37) The Challenges of Neutral Journalism (47:54) The Role of Media in Political Polarization (50:02) Interviewing Extremists (58:02) Personal Sacrifices for Integrity (01:05:08) Autism and Personal Growth (01:11:24) Faith and Family (01:19:56) A Father Tribute (01:20:58) Rapid Fire Questions SPONSORS: ElevenLabs: Thanks to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ElevenLabs⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for supporting this episode and powering Tim’s voice. SOCIAL: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nlupod.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nlutimgreen⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/NLUpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@nlupod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ AUDIO ONLY: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Apple Podcasts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ PERSONAL: Tackle ALS: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tackleals.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tim Green Books: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠authortimgreen.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ ROCKET ARM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amazon.com/dp/0062796895/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episoder(115)

#113 - Dr Tommy Wood: The Hidden Cost of Optimizing Your Health

#113 - Dr Tommy Wood: The Hidden Cost of Optimizing Your Health

Dr. Tommy Wood is a neuroscientist and physician focused on brain injury and long term cognitive health. This conversation challenges common assumptions about how the brain works and what actually imp...

29 Apr 2h 14min

#112 - Sam Peltzman: The FDA Rule That Kills More People Than It Saves

#112 - Sam Peltzman: The FDA Rule That Kills More People Than It Saves

Sam Peltzman, a leading economist known for the Peltzman Effect, explains how the U.S. Food and Drug Administration drug approval process delays life saving treatments long enough to cost millions of ...

22 Apr 1h 28min

#111 - Kurt Haggstrom: Building Practical Brain–Computer Interfaces for ALS Communication

#111 - Kurt Haggstrom: Building Practical Brain–Computer Interfaces for ALS Communication

A grounded discussion on how brain–computer interfaces are moving from research into real clinical use, with a focus on restoring communication and autonomy for ALS patients. Kurt Hagstrom explains th...

15 Apr 1h 7min

#110 - Tu Lam: The ACTUAL Reality of War

#110 - Tu Lam: The ACTUAL Reality of War

Former Green Beret Tu Lam joins us for a second time and breaks down the psychological reality of 15 years at war, the loss of identity that followed, and the long path through trauma, discipline, and...

8 Apr 1h 33min

#109 - Tim Green: We recorded our family therapy session

#109 - Tim Green: We recorded our family therapy session

Tim Green sits down with his children for an unfiltered, deeply personal conversation on family, faith, regret, and legacy, turning the interview into something closer to real family therapy. Through ...

1 Apr 29min

#108 - Ben Brandenburg: ALS Took His Body. It Didn’t Take His Purpose.

#108 - Ben Brandenburg: ALS Took His Body. It Didn’t Take His Purpose.

Ben Brandenburg spent his career behind the scenes in elite college athletics, helping others perform at the highest level. In 2021, he was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that steadily take...

25 Mar 1h 22min

#107 - Clifford Winston: The Incentive Problem Driving Modern Politics

#107 - Clifford Winston: The Incentive Problem Driving Modern Politics

Brookings senior fellow Clifford Winston joins Tim and Troy Green for a sharp conversation on political incentives, institutional trust, market competition, and why he believes many government solutio...

18 Mar 1h 38min

#106 - Dr. Shireen Rizvi: Building a Life Worth Living

#106 - Dr. Shireen Rizvi: Building a Life Worth Living

Dr. Shireen Rizvi joins Tim and Troy Green for a deep conversation about dialectical behavior therapy, emotional regulation, trauma, suffering, and hope. She explains what DBT actually is in plain lan...

11 Mar 1h 5min

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