Episode
Leland Vittert of NewsNation and author of BORN LUCKY: A Dedicated Father, A Grateful Son, and My Journey with Autism
- Podcast
- I Am Refocused Radio
- Published
- Jun 17, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 505
- Processing state
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Summary
This is a story about not giving up and choosing to be your best no matter what. In Born Lucky, Leland Vittert shares how his father refused to let a label define his son’s future. Instead of waiting for the world to change, they chose to rise above it — through relentless effort, earned self-esteem, and the decision to keep showing up, even when life was hardest. It’s a powerful reminder that your circumstances don’t have to determine your outcome. ABOUT BORN LUCKY In a world of labels being placed on people, one father and one son were determined to break that tag, even if it was one of autism. This is their story. In a world quick to label, judge, and box in people, one father and son stood firm and refused to be defined by an autism diagnosis. If you're channel surfing and happen upon Leland Vittert during his nightly national cable show on NewsNation, he comes off as a poised journalist prying nuggets from guests. If you watched him for years as an anchor at Fox News Channel, you saw him on the battlefields of the Middle East, the anchor desk, and the White House North Lawn. No one, including friends and co-workers, has ever known his full life story and how miraculous it was to get to that point. Leland was a socially awkward boy who didn't speak for years, and when he finally did, teachers and leaders declared him "weird." His unique behavior and inability to connect with his peers made him a frequent target for bullying and exclusion. In one particularly harsh moment, a school principal bluntly told his parents, "The people here think Leland is pretty weird. I guess I do, too." Those words felt like being shot with an arrow, as his parents sat in stunned silence, grappling with their own fears and uncertainties for their son's future. From a young age, Leland s…