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Literacy Talks

Reading Horizons
Dyslexia
Science Of Reading
Education
Literacy
Literacy Education
Literacy Instruction
Reading Proficiency
Reading Instruction
Plain Talk Conference
Handwriting
Teaching Strategies
Small Group Instruction
Orton-Gillingham
Literacy Practices
Early Identification and Intervention
Reading League Conference 2023
Cursive Writing
Vocabulary Acquisition
John Hattie
Parent Advocacy

Welcome to Literacy Talks, a podcast from Reading Horizons, where reading momentum begins. Each episode features our trio of literacy champions: Stacy Hurst, an assistant professor of reading at Southern Utah University and Chief Academic Advisor at Reading Horizons; Donell Pons, a dyslexia specialist, educator, presenter, and writer, who now works with adults with reading challenges; and Lindsay ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes109Founded4 years ago
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Education

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Artwork for Literacy Talks

Latest Episodes

As 2025 draws to a close, the Literacy Talks trio—Stacy, Donell, and Lindsay—gather for a spirited season finale filled with highlights, reflections, and bold predictions. From progress in the science of reading to the growing spotlight on writing, i... more

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Ever hear something in a meeting, online, or even at a conference that made you do a double take? In this episode, the hosts of Literacy Talks share surprising, questionable, and even cringe-worthy things they’ve heard about literacy—and why they wis... more

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In this episode of Literacy Talks, we sit down with Viv Ramakrishnan, founder of Project Read AI, to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, pedagogy, and equity in literacy instruction. Viv shares his journey from teacher to tech innova... more

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In this special recap episode, Stacy Hurst and Donell Pons share key takeaways from the 2025 International Dyslexia Association Conference. While Lindsay Kemeny wasn’t able to attend, she joins the conversation to reflect on the insights and themes t... more

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Recent Guests

Viv Ramakrishnan
An educator and founder of Project Read AI, focused on literacy and educational equity.
Project Read AI
Episode: Rethinking AI Through a Literacy Lens: A Conversation with Viv Ramakrishnan
Stephanie Stollar
School psychologist and consultant focused on improving outcomes through the science of reading
Episode: Making MTSS Work: Real Talk with Stephanie Stollar and Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown
School psychologist and consultant specializing in MTSS
Episode: Making MTSS Work: Real Talk with Stephanie Stollar and Sarah Brown
Jake Downs
Researcher and podcaster
Teaching Literacy Podcast
Episode: No Merch, No Problem: Why SSSR Was Worth It — with Researcher Jake Downs
Kari Kurto
Involved in the preparation for the Reading League Summit
Reading League
Episode: From FOMO to Front Row: A Deep Dive into the Reading League Summit
Andrea Setmeyer
Involved in the preparation for the Reading League Summit
Reading League
Episode: From FOMO to Front Row: A Deep Dive into the Reading League Summit
David Herford
A researcher involved with literacy legislation
Episode: Season Finale: Highlights, High Points, and Lessons in Structured Literacy
Louise Spear-Swerling
Expert in structured literacy and educational assessments
Episode: Season Finale: Highlights, High Points, and Lessons in Structured Literacy
Kate Kane
Expert on comprehension and structure in literacy
Episode: Season Finale: Highlights, High Points, and Lessons in Structured Literacy

Hosts

Stacy Hurst
Host of Literacy Talks, Assistant Professor at Southern Utah University and Chief Academic Advisor at Reading Horizons, with a focus on improving literacy instruction and advocacy for effective teaching strategies.
Donell Pons
Dyslexia specialist and educator, recognized for his work with adults facing reading challenges and for elevating awareness around literacy and education equity.
Lindsay Kemeny
Elementary classroom teacher, author and speaker passionate about literacy and early childhood education, focusing on practical teaching strategies and structured literacy.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 99 ratings
  • Powerful

    Wow, wow, wow! Listening to the episode about the life experience and journey that Donell’s husband, Curtis has had was so powerful. Thank you for sharing your words, feelings, thoughts and vulnerability. Every teacher should listen to this one (and every episode with this fabulous trio of hosts)!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ClarkeNatalie
    United Statesa year ago
  • Insightful

    I always find the episodes so insightful. They provide such helpful information. I feel inspired to do the best I can for my students with help from great podcasts like this one.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    greatway yo start my morning.
    United Statesa year ago
  • Talking out of both sides of their mouth

    The episode on Writing matters was infuriating. The hosts disparage Calkins and her approach to writing, yet they exalt the exact lessons and philosophies of writing instruction that Calkins has had in place for years. MANY of the “ideas” they shared were literally ripped from the pages of Calkins’ units of study. Calkins did phenomenal things for writing instruction. The hosts also mention ThinkSRSD in this episode, which is also very much copied from Calkins’s work. Can we stop skirting aroun... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    makenzie132
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good all-arounder

    Summarizes a range of literacy topics with a balance of depth and approachability.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Retrodictionary
    Canada2 years ago
  • The topics, expertise, insights are always appreciated and useful. This is "appointment listening" for me.

    Audible
    5
    Voracious Reader
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The episodes are insightful and provide practical information for educators.
Many appreciate the personal stories shared by hosts and guests, which resonate with their own experiences.
Overall, it's regarded as an informative and motivational resource for teachers and advocates in the literacy field.
Some listeners express concern over the critiques of established literacy approaches without proper acknowledgment.
There is a strong sense of passion for improving literacy among the hosts.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

No Merch, No Problem: Why SSSR Was Worth It — with Researcher Jake Downs
Q: What kind of outcomes did they see with assessment?
Assessment is what really decides what makes it into prime time instruction and helps in curating the right configuration of assessments.
No Merch, No Problem: Why SSSR Was Worth It — with Researcher Jake Downs
Q: Jake, just to kind of set our listeners up who may not know about the organization or the conference, how would you say it differs from other conferences that most educators attend?
The major difference here for SSSR is that it is a research conference, where researchers present to other researchers rather than practitioners.
What Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan Taught Us About Structured Literacy for Multilingual Learners
Q: What changes would you like to see in language instruction for multilingual learners?
Promote multilingualism and start foreign language instruction earlier to build literacy and language simultaneously.
What Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan Taught Us About Structured Literacy for Multilingual Learners
Q: What are some common misconceptions about bilingual literacy development?
Educators often think they cannot help students because they don't know their language, but understanding the structure of the language is what’s crucial.
The Infomap: A Roadmap for Teaching Literacy, Part 2
Q: How can teachers encourage critical thinking in younger students?
Modeling thinking aloud during reading can demonstrate the thought process behind making connections and understanding text.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Literacy Talks

What is Literacy Talks about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A dynamic discussion series focusing on literacy education, featuring passionate hosts who are deeply invested in improving reading outcomes for students. The episodes cover a wide array of topics, including effective literacy instruction strategies, dyslexia awareness, educational equity, and the integration of technology in teaching. They provide valuable insights and practical advice for educators on how to implement structured literacy practices, make sense of dyslexia, and embrace new approaches to phonics and writing instruction. What sets this series apart is its inviting tone, where hosts share personal anecdotes and experiences, creating a supportive community around literacy advocacy.

Where can I find podcast stats for Literacy Talks?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Literacy Talks. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Literacy Talks and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Literacy Talks get?

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What are the audience demographics for Literacy Talks?

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How many subscribers and views does Literacy Talks have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Literacy Talks has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Literacy Talks?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Literacy Talks:

1. Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ®
2. Science of Reading: The Podcast
3. Reach All Readers
4. The Literacy View
5. Shanahan on Literacy

How many episodes of Literacy Talks are there?

Literacy Talks launched 4 years ago and published 109 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Literacy Talks?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Literacy Talks?

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What guests have appeared on Literacy Talks?

Recent guests on Literacy Talks include:

1. Viv Ramakrishnan
2. Stephanie Stollar
3. Sarah Brown
4. Jake Downs
5. Kari Kurto
6. Andrea Setmeyer
7. David Herford
8. Louise Spear-Swerling

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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