Best Reluctant Readers Podcasts (2025)

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From 'I Hate Reading' to 'Just One More Chapter'–My Journey as a Reluctant Reader 23:19

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3d ago23:19

23:19

Ever wonder if your reluctant reader will ever enjoy books? I get it—because I used to be that kid. In this deeply personal episode, I share my journey from loving picture books to avoiding reading at all costs… and what finally brought me back. You’ll hear what caused me to pull away from reading, the moments that kept the spark alive, and how bec…

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Supporting Struggling or Reluctant Readers | S.16 Ep.7 30:39

24d ago30:39

30:39

Some children face challenges with reading, even after early exposure to books and language. Learn to recognize common signs of struggle and explore simple, effective strategies to provide support at home. Support the show Send us an email: [email protected]. Find us on Facebook: @scienceofparent. This institution is an equal opportunity provid…

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Ep. 232 - Amelia Blackwell on bringing Jane Austen to the Modern Day 55:22

2d ago55:22

55:22

Amelia Blackwell has a master’s degree in Creative Writing, a corn snake called Colin, and a deep love of the works of Jane Austen. Although the Boleyns appear in her family tree, it’s through marriage, not blood, which is probably just as well. Georgiana Darcy’s most persistent suitor in her novel A Crime Through Time, Baron John de Halighwell, ta…

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S3 | E2: Sheine Lende: A Prequel to Elatsoe x Darcie Little Badger 16:46

3d ago16:46

16:46

Author Darcie Little Badger is here to discuss the novel, Sheine Lende: A Prequel to Elatsoe. The discussion covers the book's setting in 1970s Texas, the main character's ability to raise the ghosts of animals, and the story's focus on the main character's search for her missing mother, while touching on the historical context of the Lipan Apache …

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Ep. 231 - Jonathan Lee on what editing taught him about writing 1:00:58

4d ago1:00:58

1:00:58

Novelist and TV showrunner Jonathan Lee is the author of four novels, including High Dive and The Great Mistake. He is creator, executive producer & lead writer of the BBC/ Netflix drama series “The Bombing of Pan Am 103”. Other TV projects include originating and executive producing the documentary series “Who Killed Jill Dando?” (Netflix, 2023), …

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Beyond Fiction: This Mum's Reluctant Journey into the World of Children's Nonfiction Books. 18:58

5d ago18:58

18:58

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. Have you ever dismissed an entire genre of books only to have your child prove you spectacularly wrong? That's exactly what happened when my son Jaz revealed his preference for nonfiction - a category I'd spent my entire reading life avoiding "like the plague." What began as concern over my youngest son's…

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Mastering Standardized Tests: Stephen Johnson Reveals Secrets to SAT Success 28:22

9d ago28:22

28:22

In this episode of the Jeff Bradbury Show Podcast, Jeff welcomes Stephen Johnson, the creator of The SAT Math Guy. Stephen shares his journey from a challenging educational background to becoming a successful educator and entrepreneur. He discusses the importance of personalized learning, his approach to creating educational content on YouTube, and…

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Ep. 230 - Beth Lewis on Telling Women's Stories in the Wild West 1:01:15

9d ago1:01:15

1:01:15

Beth Lewis is the author of five novels so far, including her debut, THE WOLF ROAD. My latest novel, THE RUSH, came out in the UK on 10th June 2025 and is out in the US on the 7th October. It was July’s Goldsboro Books Prem1ere Book Club pick and a BBC Radio 2 Book Club pick. We had a great chat with Beth, hearing about the influences that went int…

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Gigi Meier- Bikers of Boston series and more 1:16:10

10d ago1:16:10

1:16:10

Meet Amazon best selling author Gigi Meier! In this interview we talk about her latest series, life and how she works to support other indie authors. Stay up to date with all things Gigi at https://www.gigimeier.com/ or find her on social media with the handle @authorgigimeier She goes live every Thursday on Instagram Check out Gigi's podcast Let's…

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No More "I Hate Reading!"—Fun, Easy Ways to Bring Books to Life for Kids 13:44

10d ago13:44

13:44

Does your child resist reading—or claim it’s just plain boring? You’re not alone. Many kids see books as “work” instead of play—but the magic of storytelling isn’t lost… it just needs a little boost! In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook shares creative, low-prep ways to transform storytime from “ugh” to “yay!” …

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Page One Extra - 5 Books That Influenced DV Bishop for Carnival of Lies 42:29

11d ago42:29

42:29

Watch as a full video episode on our YouTube channel D. V. BISHOP writes the award-winning Cesare Aldo historical thrillers, published by Pan Macmillan. A writer of many narrative forms, his love for Italy and the Renaissance meant there could only be one setting for his crime fiction. He has previously guested on the main podcast way back in Episo…

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Adventures in Publishing-land - Debut episode! 56:50

13d ago56:50

56:50

Watch as a full video episode on YouTube! Subscribe to Adventures in Publishing-land's own feed for future episodes or watch on YouTube! Welcome to the very first episode of Adventures in Publishing-land! Join us as we discuss some of the biggest (and strangest) stories in publishing over the past few weeks. This week: 00:17 Intro 01:32 The Unbound…

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Ep. 229 - Fiona Cummins on moving from journalism to writing fiction 1:19:37

16d ago1:19:37

1:19:37

Fiona Cummins is an award-winning former journalist and a graduate of the Faber Academy Writing a Novel course. Rattle, her debut novel, was the subject of a huge international auction and has been translated into several languages. It received widespread critical acclaim from authors and reviewers. She has since written bestsellers The Collector, …

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Books and Social-Emotional Learning | S.16 Ep.8 24:33

17d ago24:33

24:33

Books are powerful tools for exploring emotions and building empathy. Stories help children navigate feelings, manage stress, and connect with characters experiencing similar situations. Support the show Send us an email: [email protected]. Find us on Facebook: @scienceofparent. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full no…

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S3| E1: Rainbow x Verde Arzu 17:35

17d ago17:35

17:35

With author Verde Arzu as my special guest, I'm thrilled to kick off Season 3 | Episode 1 of The Books en Vogue Podcast! Verde Arzu joins us to talk about her debut novel, Rainbow, offer advice on how to create a comfortable reading environment, and even act out an explosive passage from the book! Connect with Verde Arzu : Instagram | TikTok | BluS…

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Saving South Texas Animal Rescue 15:33

17d ago15:33

15:33

In this episode I am interviewing Saving South Texas Animal Rescue. Saving South Texas Animal Rescue is local to Austin and operates throughout Texas but focuses on South Texas. They are a 501c3 non-profit and operate through a volunteer basis. If you are interested in adopting, fostering or volunteering you can contact Saving South Texas through e…

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Ep. 228 - Jane Johnson on how her editing experience made her a better author 1:04:20

18d ago1:04:20

1:04:20

Jane Johnson is a novelist, historian, and publisher. She is the UK publisher of many bestselling authors, including George R.R. Martin. She has written for both adults and children, including the bestselling novels The Tenth Gift and The Salt Road. Her latest book is Secrets of the Bees. We really enjoyed chatting with Jane and hearing how it was …

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Parent Like You've Got a License For It 27:50

19d ago27:50

27:50

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. Navigating parenthood can feel overwhelming, but certain evidence-based resources offer invaluable guidance without claiming to have all the answers. Six exceptional books stand out as practical references for parents seeking to build respectful relationships with their children. • No Bad Kids by Janet La…

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Ep. 227 - Michael Cordy on using science as inspiration for his stories 1:00:36

23d ago1:00:36

1:00:36

Michael Cordy's debut novel,The Miracle Strain/Messiah Code, was published in over twenty-five languages and reached the top five in the Sunday Times Bestseller List. Disney bought the film rights for $1.6 million. Another five novels followed: Crime Zero/The Crime Code, The Lucifer Code, The Venus Conspiracy, The Source and The Colour Of Death. Al…

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Loren Sorensen - The Reluctant Star 1:46:34

24d ago1:46:34

1:46:34

An interview with indie author Loren Sorensen about writing The Reluctant Star (released on 6/5/25) and life as an indie author. * Contains explicit content such as language and talk of an explicit sex scene in a book* Loren Sorensen's Novellas and short stories: The Reluctant Star The Trouble with Christmas Curse of Obsession "in the Dark Fairytal…

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Drafting Notes - Does Networking Help as an Author? And How Do You Do It? 19:10

25d ago19:10

19:10

Watch as a full video on our YouTube channel! Networking. It's a word that is very corporate and as a result off-putting to a lot of writers, but can it help? What are the best ways to go about it, either in person or online? And what shouldn't you do (learn about Marco's "Don't Be A Dick" rule...) Drafting Notes is a new series of podcast episodes…

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Ep. 226 - CL Taylor on finding twists as she writes 1:05:58

1M ago1:05:58

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C.L. Taylor is the nine times Sunday Times bestselling author of eleven gripping stand-alone psychological thrillers: THE ACCIDENT, THE LIE, THE MISSING, THE ESCAPE, THE FEAR, SLEEP, STRANGERS, HER LAST HOLIDAY, THE GUILTY COUPLE, EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE and her newest book, IT’S ALWAYS THE HUSBAND, published on 5th June 2025. We loved chatting with Ca…

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Literacy in the Community | S.16 Ep.6 27:26

1M ago27:26

27:26

Community spaces like libraries, farmers markets, and local events offer more than entertainment—they provide valuable opportunities to support language and literacy development. Support the show Send us an email: [email protected]. Find us on Facebook: @scienceofparent. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discri…

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How to Build Your Child's Reading Stamina (Without the Battles!) 17:52

1M ago17:52

17:52

Does your child fidget, rush through books, or lose focus after just a few pages? You're not alone—and no, your child isn’t lazy or “bad at reading.” The real challenge may be reading stamina—and the good news? It’s a skill they can build! In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook shares practical, low-pressure stra…

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Drafting Notes - Writing Short Stories vs Writing Novels 19:20

1M ago19:20

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Watch as a full video episode on our YouTube channel! It's often assumed that writing novels and short stories use the same skill sets, but is that really true? What can writing short stories teach you about writing novels and vice versa? Should you always start out writing short stories? We discuss all this in the latest episode of Drafting Notes!…

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From Teacher to Acclaimed Author: Roslynne Toerien's Literary Journey 59:56

1M ago59:56

59:56

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. Ever wondered how children can learn complex facts without feeling like they're in a classroom? Roslynne Toerien has mastered this delicate balance through her captivating children's books that blend imagination with education. In this heartwarming conversation, award-winning Durban-based author Roslynne …

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Ep. 225 - Kate Foster on making historical characters feel modern 58:53

1M ago58:53

58:53

Kate Foster worked as a national newspaper journalist for more than twenty years before becoming an author. Growing up in Edinburgh, she became fascinated by its history and often uses it as inspiration for her stories. Her previous novels include The Maiden, which won the Bloody Scotland Crime Debut of the Year and was longlisted for the Women’s P…

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Reading with Adolescents | S.16 Ep.5 26:43

1M ago26:43

26:43

Reading for pleasure boosts cognitive development and improves literacy, yet interest often declines in the teen years. Explore how reading impacts adolescent thinking, empathy, and emotional growth. Support the show Send us an email: [email protected]. Find us on Facebook: @scienceofparent. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Fo…

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Drafting Notes - Dealing with Rejection as a Writer 22:30

1M ago22:30

22:30

Watch this as a full video episode on our YouTube channel! On this week's Drafting Notes, we are discussing that issue that every writer needs to deal with: Rejection! How do you handle it? Is there ever a point in your career where you don't have to deal with it (spoiler: no). And what are our thoughts on being resilient when you receive those rej…

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Ep. 224 - Stuart MacBride on why he loves the thrill of the blank page 57:10

1M ago57:10

57:10

Stuart MacBride is the Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author of the Logan McRae and Ash Henderson novels. He’s also published standalones, novellas, and short stories, as well as a slightly twisted children’s picture book for slightly twisted children. His latest book, This House of Burning Bones, is out now. Despite some technical difficulties (exp…

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Elementary Readers: Building a Strong Foundation | S.16 Ep.4 34:23

1M ago34:23

34:23

Shared reading routines, accurate word reading, writing integration, and selecting engaging texts all play a key role in developing strong reading skills during the early school years. Support the show Send us an email: [email protected]. Find us on Facebook: @scienceofparent. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-…

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Why Reading Aloud Still Matters—Even After Kids Can Read Themselves 13:43

2M ago13:43

13:43

Is your child starting to lose interest in reading? If they push back when it’s time to pick up a book—even after they’ve learned to read on their own—you’re not alone. Many parents stop reading aloud once kids become independent readers, but that’s a mistake. In this heartfelt episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen Westbrook shar…

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Voices, Interruptions, and Fidgets: Mastering the Read-Aloud Experience 16:36

2M ago16:36

16:36

We'd love your feedback. Send us a message. Have you ever felt self-conscious reading aloud to your child? That strange feeling of performing for an audience, struggling with character voices, or wondering if you're "doing it right" when your child interrupts or wanders off mid-story? You're not alone. Reading aloud transforms both reader and liste…

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Harnessing AI in Education: Insights from Chelsea Lopez of The Social Institute 30:54

2M ago30:54

30:54

In this episode of Digital Learning Today, Chelsea Lopez, a former special education teacher and current Director of Education Advancement at the Social Institute, discusses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. If you are a new listener to TeacherCast, we would love to hear from you. Please visit our Contact Page and let us…

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Ep. 223 - Andrew Hunter Murray on moving from writing for TV to writing novels 1:12:12

2M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

Watch this episode as a full video interview on our YouTube channel Andrew Hunter Murray is a writer, broadcaster and comedian. He co-hosts the award-winning podcast No Such Thing As A Fish, which has received 500 million downloads and toured the world. He also writes jokes and journalism for Private Eye magazine, hosts the Eye's podcast Page 94, p…

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Preschool Literacy: Setting the Stage for Success | S.16 Ep.3 28:13

2M ago28:13

28:13

Preschool is a prime time for building language and literacy skills. Reading at this stage involves emerging abilities that begin to resemble more traditional reading behaviors. Support the show Send us an email: [email protected]. Find us on Facebook: @scienceofparent. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrim…

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Avoid the 4th Grade Reading Slump: How to Keep Your Child on Track from K-4 (Part 2) 24:10

2M ago24:10

24:10

Reading gets real in elementary school. Around 3rd or 4th grade, many kids shift from learning to read to reading to learn—but not every child makes that transition smoothly. This stage is where confidence can soar… or where frustration, fluency struggles, and disinterest take root. In this episode of the Engaging Reluctant Readers Podcast, Ellen W…

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Exploring the Impact of the California Wildfires on Education: A Conversation with Dr. Breeda McGrath 48:34

2M ago48:34

48:34

In this episode, Dr. Breeda McGrath discusses her experiences in education, particularly focusing on the impact of wildfires on the community and education system in Southern California. She emphasizes the importance of technology in early childhood education and the integration of AI, while also addressing the need for educators to adapt to these …

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Ep. 222 - Julian Simpson of The Lovecraft Investigations on writing compelling audio drama 1:20:51

2M ago1:20:51

1:20:51

Julian Simpson is a London-based writer and director known for his work across film, TV, and audio, including on Spooks, Hustle, Hotel Babylon, New Tricks, and Doctor Who. He’s also the co-founder of Storypunk and the creator of acclaimed audio dramas like The Lovecraft Investigations. He is currently running a Kickstarter for the next chapter of T…

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Reading with Infants and Toddlers | S.16 Ep.2 32:37

2M ago32:37

32:37

Reading with the youngest children focuses on talking, listening, and building a strong foundation in language—often referred to as “language nutrition.” Support the show Send us an email: [email protected]. Find us on Facebook: @scienceofparent. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. For the full non-discrimination statement or acc…