Reading Inspires by Reading Is Fundamental

Reading Is Fundamental

Reading Inspires is Reading Is Fundamental’s new podcast celebrating the power of books and the joy of reading. Each episode invites educators, librarians, families, authors, illustrators, and all who champion children’s literacy to explore one big question: What does reading inspire for you? Through engaging conversations and storytelling, Reading Inspires bridges the gap between research and real-world practice—showing what literacy looks and feels like in classrooms, libraries, and homes. Grounded in evidence yet open-ended in approach, this is a space for curiosity and connection. Whether you’re an educator seeking fresh ideas, a parent hoping to spark a love of reading, or simply a lifelong bookworm, you’ll find inspiration, practical insights, and stories that remind us all why reading matters—and how it changes lives.

  1. 5 days ago

    Rethinking Kids' Media Habits with Dr. Tiffany Munzer

    Dr. Erin Bailey talks with Dr. Tiffany Munzer, a developmental behavioral pediatrician and digital media researcher at the University of Michigan, about screen time and children's development. They discuss how screen time guidance has shifted from rigid time limits to a focus on quality, content, and connection — emphasizing co-viewing, high-quality media (like PBS Kids and Skybrary), and using screens as conversation starters rather than passive babysitters. The conversation covers differences between print books and e-books, practical strategies for setting screen time boundaries with kids, and a deep dive into AI's role in children's literacy — including its promise for interactive learning, the risks of sycophantic LLM design fostering unhealthy engagement, and the irreplaceable value of embodied human connection. Dr. Munzer closes by encouraging families not to feel guilty about digital media use and to focus on the underlying needs its meeting, while reaffirming that reading builds empathy and perspective. About Dr. Tiffany Munzer:Dr. Tiffany Munzer is a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician and digital media researcher at University of Michigan. Dr. Munzer’s research program is driven by the questions that families often present with related to digital media, parenting, and young children’s development. Her work also includes work includes translation of scientific findings to actionable clinical guidance for families. She serves as the Medical Director of Reach Out and Read Michigan and University of Michigan, an evidence-based intervention providing free books for young children. Tiffany G. Munzer | Faculty | University of Michigan Medical School Skybrary: Children’s Reading App for Kids Pre-K through Grade 3 | Skybrary

  2. 25 Aug

    Lighting the Way to Reading Joy with Rina Madhani

    In this episode, Dr. Erin Bailey speaks with Rina Madhani, co-founder of Start Lighthouse, about transforming underutilized school libraries into vibrant literacy hubs across New York City public schools. Rina shares how her time as a Bronx classroom teacher revealed deep inequities in access to books, inspiring her to launch an organization that staffs full-time educators in school libraries, curates culturally representative book collections, and hosts author visits to help students see themselves reflected in stories. The conversation explores the power of representation in children's literature, building sustainable school partnerships rooted in trust and listening, and how joy and belonging — not just academic metrics — are central to fostering lifelong readers. About Rina Madhani:Rina Madhani is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Start Lighthouse, a Bronx-based nonprofit advancing childhood literacy through culturally responsive programming. She leads the organization’s efforts to transform underutilized public school libraries into vibrant, fully staffed Literacy Hubs that provide daily book access, literacy instruction, and author engagement opportunities for students in historically under-resourced communities. Under her leadership, Start Lighthouse has partnered with multiple NYC public schools and distributed tens of thousands of books to children, with a focus on representation and identity affirming literature. Rina is passionate about building joyful reading cultures in schools and believes that when children see themselves reflected in books, they become more confident learners and leaders. https://www.startlighthouse.org/ https://www.instagram.com/startlighthouse/?hl=en https://x.com/StartLighthouse

  3. 18 Aug

    Building Confident Readers Through High Quality Decodables with Christine Hjorth, Cherish Mims & Letitia Truslow

    In this episode, Dr. Erin Bailey hosts Christine Hjorth (author of the Aligned Decodables and CEO of Aligned Educational Resources), Cherish Mims (Epic's Manager of Education Relations), and Letitia Truslow (leads Epic School Plus) to discuss Epic's expansion of 250+ decodable books on its platform. The conversation covers what makes decodable texts effective for early readers, how they're aligned to 23+ different curricula scope-and-sequences, common misconceptions (that they're only for struggling readers or inherently boring), and how Epic's digital library complements print literacy initiatives like RIF's. The guests share the serendipitous origin story of the partnership, creative techniques for making decodables engaging (surprise illustrations, vocabulary building, nonfiction topics), and how the collection supports differentiation, family engagement, and English language learners. About the guests:Christine Hjorth is the author of the ALIGNED Decodables and CEO of Aligned Educational Resources.  An expert on decodables, she has written a set of 260 decodable titles and aligned them to the scope and sequences of 22 different ELA curriculums. She has sold over 550,000 books over the last 3 years, which are in use around the country and are now found on EPIC! She is certified in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Gifted Education, with over 25 years of experience in the field, including many years as a first-grade teacher. She recently presented about the use of decodables at the International Society for Technology in Education conference and will be presenting again at the National Convention of Teachers of English in the fall.  Cherish Mims serves as the Manager of Educator Relations at Epic, where she builds relationships with educators and develops professional learning, webinars, campaigns, and community initiatives that connect teachers with engaging digital reading resources. She brings ten years of classroom experience and passion for literacy together to help educators make meaningful use of technology to support students and inspire a love of reading. Letitia Truslow leads the Epic School Plus and Customer Experience teams at Epic, supporting school district administrators, educators, parents and students.  In this role, she works closely with school communities to ensure they get the most out of Epic's platform, translating feedback from the field into meaningful improvements to the product and support experience.With a background in customer success and education technology, Letitia is passionate about building strong, lasting relationships between Epic and the districts it serves. She believes that great customer experience starts with genuinely listening to the people who use the product every day—whether that's a superintendent managing a rollout, a teacher navigating a new tool, or a parent trying to support their child's learning and literacy journey at home. Epic! Decodable Texts: New Decodable Books on Epic All of the amazing decodables discussed on this podcast, and found on EPIC, are available as physical copies at Decodables.com.

  4. 11 Aug

    Reclaiming, Reading, and Living the Story with Dr. Valarie Lee, Dr. Marjorie Madden & Dr. Susan Browne

    In this episode, host Erin Bailey sits down with Dr. Valerie Lee, Dr. Marjorie Madden, and Dr. Susan Browne — longtime colleagues and co-authors from Rowan University — to discuss their book Literary Life Histories: Reclaiming, Reading, and Living the Story. The three educators share how their RISP framework (Read, Interpret, Script, Perform) invites students of all ages to go beyond surface-level comprehension by embodying literary and historical characters through collaborative writing and performance. The conversation explores how life histories cultivate deep empathy (not just sympathy), support ELA and social studies standards, and create space for meaningful discussion around complex and provocative themes. The episode also touches on the power of collaborative reading, the importance of building background knowledge, and practical advice for teachers looking to reclaim authentic reading experiences in their classrooms. About the guests:Valarie Lee is Associate Professor of Literacy in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education at Rowan University, USA. With 28 years in high school and university teaching, Valarie researches adolescent literacy and lesson study. She is a co-founder of The Literacy Consortium and the Rowan University Writing Project. She serves on the RIF Early Childhood Advisory Board. Connect with her at leev@rowan.edu  Susan Browne is Professor of Literacy in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education at Rowan University, USA. Susan teaches reading courses and advises graduate thesis research. A former Philadelphia teacher, she researches critical pedagogies, urban education, and diverse youth literature. She co-founded the Rowan University Writing Project. She serves on the RIF Middle School Family Literacy Initiative Advisory Board. Connect with her at brownes@rowan.edu  Marjorie Madden is Associate Professor of Literacy in the Department of Critical Literacy, Technology, and Multilingual Education at Rowan University, USA. With over 40 years of experience in education, Marjories’s researches underserved students, inclusive literacy practices, and critical pedagogy. She co-founded The Literacy Consortium and the Rowan University Writing Project. She serves on the RIF Early Childhood Advisory Board. Connect with her at madden@rowan.edu  Literary Life Histories: Reclaiming Reading and Living the Story: Literary Life Histories: Reclaiming Reading and Living the Story | Springer Nature Link RIF blog: From Reading to Performance: Reimagining Literacy with Life Histories

  5. 4 Aug

    Toddlers Can Read with Spencer Russell

    In this episode, host Dr. Erin Bailey sits down with Spencer Russell, founder of Toddlers Can Read, to discuss his journey from a struggling reader to a literacy advocate and educator. Spencer shares how his own challenges with reading as a child shaped his mission to empower parents as the most powerful — yet underutilized — tool in fighting illiteracy. About Spencer Russell:Spencer Russell is an award-winning early literacy educator, former kindergarten and first-grade teacher, and founder of Toddlers CAN Read, a science of reading–based program that helps parents teach their young children to read at home. After spending six years teaching in the classroom and three years coaching educators, he created Toddlers CAN Read to make evidence-based reading instruction accessible to families through simple, practical lessons. Spencer's work has reached tens of thousands of families, and he is a sought-after speaker on early literacy and family engagement. His mission is to empower parents with the confidence and tools to help every child become a joyful, successful reader. @toddlerscanread Toddlers Can Read: About – Toddlers Can Read Skybrary: Children’s Reading App for Kids Pre-K through Grade 3 | Skybrary

  6. 28 Jul

    Race to Kindness with Orion Jean

    At just 15, Orion Jean — TIME's 2021 Kid of the Year and founder of Race to Kindness — joins Dr. Erin Bailey to discuss how a fourth-grade kindness speech contest sparked a movement that's grown into initiatives distributing toys, meals, and over 500,000 books. Orion shares the origins of his nonprofit, his current Race to One Million Acts of Kindness campaign, and lessons on leadership drawn from his books "Race to Kindness" and "A Kids Book About Leadership" — including the idea that quiet, everyday acts of leadership matter as much as being out front. The conversation turns to literacy, where Orion reflects on how reading built his empathy and worldview, why book access (and closing "book deserts") is so critical, and the joy of watching kids' faces light up at free book fairs. He closes by encouraging listeners that anyone, at any age, can create meaningful change — as long as they find the right community to race alongside. About Orion Jean:Orion Jean is a youth philanthropist, author, speaker, and founder of the Race to Kindness movement. Best known as TIME’s 2021 Kid of the Year, Orion has inspired millions through his message that anyone can make a difference through simple acts of kindness. His service initiative has provided more than 100,000 meals to families in need, donated over 500,000 books to children, and distributed hundreds of toys to hospitalized children and underserved communities. Through his Race to Kindness campaign, Orion encourages people of all ages to become changemakers by identifying needs in their communities and taking action to help others. He is the author of the children’s picture book Race to Kindness and A Kids Book About Leadership, which empower young readers to lead with compassion, courage, and purpose. As a sought-after speaker, Orion shares his belief that kindness is a powerful force for change and reminds audiences everywhere that when we race to kindness, everybody wins.   Race to 1 Million Acts | Race to Kindness   Orion’s summer read: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins amazon.com/Sunrise-Reaping-Hunger-Games-Novel/dp/1546171460

  7. 20 Jul

    Why Comics Belong in Every Classroom with Shannon Live

    In this episode, host Dr. Erin Bailey sits down with Shannon Live, founder of Bat City Comics, at Comic-Con to explore how comics and graphic novels can transform literacy education. Shannon shares her journey from reluctant educator to comics advocate, explains the research behind why graphic novels boost vocabulary and lower the "affective filter" that blocks learning, and offers practical advice for parents and teachers on nurturing young readers through comics. The conversation covers the history of anti-comics stigma, using comics to teach history and identity, book recommendations for every age, and how finding your voice through reading builds lifelong confidence. RIF's Graphic Novel collection: Graphic Novel Collection | RIF.org About Shannon Live:A life-long adventurer of imaginary worlds, Shannon Live knew her path would someday include advocating for creativity. After working as a Reading and Writing Specialist creating pop culture curriculum for Title I schools, Live went on to co-found Bat City Comic Professionals, a 501(c)(3) non-profit comic bookstore that focuses on cultivating reading, writing, art, and imagination skills for young people. As President of Bat City, Live works to develop programming that inspires creative learning using comic books as the primary resource. Through workshops, content, and resource development, Live is hoping to inspire a new generation to find their voice. Shopping for Superman documentary by Wes Eastin: Shopping for Superman Homepage : Shopping for Superman Shannon's TedTalk: Your voice as a superpower | Shannon Live | TEDxBradenton YouTube channel Wine Down Your Weekend: https://www.youtube.com/@batcitycomicbooks Shannon's comic recommendations for families:   Dog Man - because it inspires every young reader to jump in to reading AND creating  The Cartoonists Club - because you get Reina Telgemeier's coming of age story mixed with Scott McCloud's teaching comics. Great for using to teach comics and for kids who find themselves in making art. And maybe it will encourage them to start a club!    March - A great way to showcase history and inspire readers to take action themselves. Great for the older readers and history teachers.

  8. 14 Jul

    Authentic Disability Representation in Children's Books with Jenna Elyse Johnson

    In this episode of Reading Inspires, host Dr. Erin Bailey talks with author, educator, and bookseller Jenna Elyse Johnson about writing authentic disability representation for kids. Jenna shares her path from teacher to author, her personal experience with cerebral palsy and epilepsy, and how her books Every Body Move and I Spark Like Lightning celebrate mobility tools and epilepsy with joy and honesty. The conversation covers common pitfalls in disability representation, the difference between "disability books" and authentic incidental representation, and practical advice for building inclusive classroom and home libraries year-round.

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About

Reading Inspires is Reading Is Fundamental’s new podcast celebrating the power of books and the joy of reading. Each episode invites educators, librarians, families, authors, illustrators, and all who champion children’s literacy to explore one big question: What does reading inspire for you? Through engaging conversations and storytelling, Reading Inspires bridges the gap between research and real-world practice—showing what literacy looks and feels like in classrooms, libraries, and homes. Grounded in evidence yet open-ended in approach, this is a space for curiosity and connection. Whether you’re an educator seeking fresh ideas, a parent hoping to spark a love of reading, or simply a lifelong bookworm, you’ll find inspiration, practical insights, and stories that remind us all why reading matters—and how it changes lives.

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