Leland Vittert, NewsNation’s chief Washington anchor and author of the memoir Born Lucky, joins us to talk about his childhood, his career, and all the unexpected ways he truly was born lucky.
Despite years of bullying and difficulty navigating school as an autistic kid, Leland had one enormous blessing: parents who never gave up on him, never lowered the bar, and never stopped believing he was capable of a beautiful life. The devotion of Leland’s father will melt your heart—and make you think about the millions of ways a child’s life can be transformed through love, discipline, and grit.
Leland shares moving stories about how his dad refused to quit on him and modeled what character really looks like. We also dig into journalism—his time reporting from Jerusalem, the state of today’s media, who to trust, what’s broken, and what still gives him hope.
If you’ve ever felt different, misunderstood, or simply love a powerful father–son story, listen in. This episode will make you rethink what’s possible.
Timestamps
02:45 – Growing up autistic without knowing it 05:42 – “Wait… I was autistic this whole time?” 12:20 – Why you shouldn’t run from adversity 15:39 – A father who refused to lower the bar 18:41 – The character lessons Leland got from his dad 27:04 – How Leland found his way into journalism 28:44 – Reporting from Jerusalem & who to trust in news 30:33 – The Fox anchor who questioned Trump’s claims 32:41 – How the Middle East shaped Leland’s worldview 46:59 – BBC apology
Check out our website: https://meantforyoupod.com
Reach out to us: meantforyoupod@gmail.com
