630: What My Nonverbal Autistic Son Taught Me About Truly Listening with J. Brad Britton

Today's guest, J. Brad Britton, is one of my earliest mentors and the co-author of the new book, Real Words with Sam. J. Brad's son Sam was diagnosed with autism at age two, and he remained largely non-speaking for most of his life. But after attending a symposium and seeing the success other families had with a unique spelling method, J. Brad discovered that Sam had been thinking, listening, understanding, and was capable of communicating, often poetically, in ways that changed everything. In our conversation, Brad shares the emotional story of how his relationship with Sam has evolved and how it has completely changed the way he understands his son, himself, and others. You'll also understand why this conversation is about so much more than autism, what it means to move beyond assumptions and truly see someone, and why becoming a more patient, present, empathetic human being may be one of the most powerful transformations any of us can experience. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Inspiration For Writing "Real Words with Sam" How Brad's Entire View of People Changed The Symposium That Created A Huge Breakthrough Spelling to Communicate Changed Everything The Relationship Between Apraxia and Autism The Power of Open Questions and Original Thought Everyone Needs to Be Seen and Heard Learning and Adapting Never Stops As a Dad Spiritual Lessons Learned On This Ongoing Journey The Chapter That Intentionally Induces Tears Why This Book Is For Every Human Being   Get The Full Show Notes To get full access to today's show notes, including audio, transcript, and links to all the resources mentioned, visit MiracleMorning.com/630 Subscribe, Rate & Review I would love if you could subscribe to the podcast and leave an honest rating & review. This will encourage other people to listen and allow us to grow as a community. The bigger we get as a community, the bigger the impact we can have on the world. To subscribe, rate, and review the podcast on iTunes, visit HalElrod.com/iTunes. Get Access to Hal's Books and the Miracle Morning App For access to Hal's Miracle Morning books, CLICK HERE.  To upgrade your morning routine, CLICK HERE to download the Miracle Morning App.  Book Hal to Speak At Your Event! If you'd like to book Hal to speak at your next event, CLICK HERE. Connect with Hal Elrod Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube TikTok   Copyright © 2026 Miracle Morning, LP and International Literary Properties LLC