Rephonic
Artwork for The Science of Reading Formula

The Science of Reading Formula

Malia Hollowell
Education
Phonics
Reading Instruction
Teaching Strategies
Science Of Reading
Phonemic Awareness
Dyslexia
Phonological Awareness
Teacher Training
Morphology
Literacy
Reading Comprehension
Phonics Instruction
Brain-Friendly Teaching
Phonics Skills
Teacher Burnout
Sight Words
Reading Skills
Classroom Management
Structured Literacy

Welcome to The Science of Reading Formula, the podcast that helps you simplify reading instruction, save time, and support every student’s success—without feeling like you’re running on empty.I’m Malia Hollowell—a National Board Certified Teacher, author, and founder of Playdough to Plato. Over the past 20 years, I’ve honed my craft, combining science-backed practices with practical solutions to m... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes107Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToCoursesEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Science of Reading Formula

Latest Episodes

What if reading isn’t just a skill we teach—but a right we protect?

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall, a powerful voice in education who invites us to rethink what it really means to teach every child how to read. We go beyond t... more

You’ve heard all about the science of reading—but what about the science of writing? Most K–2 teachers are handed phonics programs with zero guidance on how to actually teach writing. That changes today.

In this episode, Joan Sedita pulls back the c... more

What happens when a veteran teacher discovers that her reading instruction isn’t working—not even for her own son?

In this episode, Lindsay Kemeny, author of 7 Mighty Moves, shares the pivotal moment that changed everything and walks us through the ... more

What if your MTSS system actually worked—and didn’t leave teachers or students overwhelmed?

In this episode, Dr. Joan Schumann shares the exact strategies she used to build a Multi-Tiered System of Support that’s practical, sustainable, and truly ef... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators
Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for EducatorsMichelle Sullivan • Literacy Coach & Science of Reading Advocate
Literacy Talks
Literacy TalksReading Horizons

Recent Guests

Tanji Reed Marshall
Educational advocate and author focusing on inclusive literacy and representation in curriculum
Educational advocate, author
Episode: Literacy is a Human Right with Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall
Joan Sedita
Literacy expert, author of The Writing Rope
Keys to Literacy
Episode: What No One Tells PreK-2 Teachers About Teaching Writing... Until Now with Joan Sedita
Lindsay Kemeny
Author of 7 Mighty Moves
Author of 7 Mighty Moves
Episode: 7 Mighty Moves That Transform Reading Instruction with Lindsay Kemeny
Beth Gaskill
Founder of Big City Readers, literacy entrepreneur, former kindergarten teacher
Big City Readers
Episode: Why Students Can Sound Out Words but Not Read Them with Beth Gaskill
Linsey Jones
Speech-language pathologist; school-based SLP; developer of tier two intervention program
Episode: The Tier 2 Formula You've Been Missing with Linsey Jones
Tim Shanahan
Professor/educator and literacy researcher introduced as guest
Shanahan on Literacy; Harvard Education Press (book publisher mentioned)
Episode: What to Do When Kids Can Read but Don't Understand with Dr. Tim Shanahan
Devin Kearns
Goodnight Distinguished Professor in Early Literacy at North Carolina State University; former teacher and reading specialist for kids with dyslexia
North Carolina State University
Episode: A Simpler Way to Teach Multisyllabic Words with Devin Kerns
Beck Goodman
Early literacy expert
Grow with Beck
Episode: How to Teach Phonological Awareness Through Play with Beck Goodman
Joy Anderson
A former stay-at-home mom who started a preschool at her kitchen table and now helps women launch their own preschools.
Episode: Turn Your Living Room Into a Thriving Preschool with Joy Anderson

Host

Malia Hollowell
Host of The Science of Reading Formula, founder of Playdough to Plato.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 77 ratings
  • More about the money?

    I went into The Science of Reading Formula podcast by Malia Hollowell hoping for substance… something that truly unpacked the research behind effective literacy instruction. What I found instead was a glossy, surface-level show that feels more like marketing than meaningful professional development.

    To be fair, Hollowell is articulate, enthusiastic, and clearly passionate about literacy. The podcast is well-produced and easy to follow, which might appeal to teachers new to the science of readin... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    EduProf5000
    Canada7 months ago
  • All About Access

    It was a pleasure being a guest on your show! You are a wonderful host and ask thoughtful questions, making a lot of information in this literacy realm really accessible for educators! Sending all the kudos!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MSullivan-Literacy in COLOR
    United States9 months ago
  • Decodables vs Leveled Readers

    As a seasoned kindergarten teacher who began my Science of Reading (SoR) journey just a year ago, I’m always searching for resources that are both practical and research-aligned. This podcast on decodables vs. leveled readers was exactly what I needed — and I can’t recommend it highly enough to fellow K-2 educators.

    What made this episode stand out was how easy it was to understand while still tackling essential, research-based information. The host, Malia, laid out the pros and cons of both de... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kinder Kay
    United Statesa year ago
  • GRTB69

    This content is long overdue to support teachers so kudos Malia. As an educator & parent of a child with hearing loss I LOVED this episode. The content is spot on and can really elevate your game to reach more students’ academic goals. We are seeing more students with hearing loss in the regular classroom. They can find more success academically with a few extra modifications from their teacher. Bonus points as the modifications will aid all students. AND it really isn’t that difficult. You need... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GRTB69
    United Statesa year ago
  • Not just for educators, a must listen for parents too!

    I am the parent of 2 early elementary aged students. Outside of homeschooling my oldest for kindergarten (and inevitably and simultaneously pre-k for my youngest 😵‍💫), I am FAR from being an educator of any kind. With a BA in graphic design and visual communication, I have always been passionate about making personalized resources for my kids even if they just want a particular coloring page. Since finding Malia, I have not only been able to add real educational value to my home worksheets and... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mandella6584
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Positive feedback on guest variety and host expertise.
Some episodes feel like marketing; strong production and accessible explanations.
Clear, practical literacy guidance with actionable tips for classrooms.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Literacy is a Human Right with Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall
Q: Why is it important to think about literacy as a human right, and how does that change practical teaching approaches?
Literacy is power and must be developed in tandem with critical thinking; teachers should address both the foundational decoding skills and the higher-order processing that supports independent decision-making for students.
Literacy is a Human Right with Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall
Q: For anyone who is new to your world, could you tell us what you do and how you became an educational advocate?
Dr. Tanji describes transitioning from retail to education, partnering with states and districts to support equitable education through mindset and skill-building, with a focus on ensuring every kid receives excellent education.
Why Students Can Sound Out Words but Not Read Them with Beth Gaskill
Q: What advice would you give teachers for communicating with parents to build a strong home-school partnership?
Treat parents as teammates, provide clear, actionable activities that can be done in 4 minutes at home, and avoid overwhelming them with long, complex explanations; consistency and practicality matter most.
Why Students Can Sound Out Words but Not Read Them with Beth Gaskill
Q: How do you explain working memory and its role in helping a child blend sounds into words?
Working memory involves holding and ordering sounds in your mind; practical activities like using everyday objects to represent sounds and gradually increasing complexity help children build this skill without overwhelming them.
Why Students Can Sound Out Words but Not Read Them with Beth Gaskill
Q: Beth, what gave you the courage to take the leap from classroom teacher to tutor and entrepreneur?
I realized I had a lot to share and a strong desire to connect with parents; the goal was to help families, not to pursue fame or a big business plan, and stepping into tutoring created opportunities I hadn't anticipated.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Science of Reading Formula

What is The Science of Reading Formula about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, research-informed show that translates the science of reading into classroom-ready strategies. Episodes cover phonemic awareness, phonics progression, dyslexia support, assessment for instruction, and classroom workflows designed to save teachers time while boosting student outcomes. Guests range from literacy experts and teachers to dyslexia advocates, sharing hands-on activities, data-driven decision-making, and real-world implementation tips for K-2 to early elementary settings. The host emphasizes teacher well-being, family partnerships, and scalable approaches that busy educators can adopt immediately, making the show useful for both classroom practitioners and literacy leaders seeking actionable insights.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Science of Reading Formula?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Science of Reading Formula. 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 The Science of Reading Formula and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Science of Reading Formula get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Science of Reading Formula, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Science of Reading Formula?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Science of Reading Formula, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Science of Reading Formula have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Science of Reading Formula 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 The Science of Reading Formula?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Science of Reading Formula:

1. Reach All Readers
2. Melissa & Lori Love Literacy ® | Science of Reading for Teachers
3. Science of Reading: The Podcast
4. Literacy in Color: A Science of Reading Aligned Podcast for Educators
5. Literacy Talks

How many episodes of The Science of Reading Formula are there?

The Science of Reading Formula launched 2 years ago and published 107 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 The Science of Reading Formula?

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 The Science of Reading Formula?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Science of Reading Formula from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Science of Reading Formula?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Science of Reading Formula. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Science of Reading Formula?

Recent guests on The Science of Reading Formula include:

1. Tanji Reed Marshall
2. Joan Sedita
3. Lindsay Kemeny
4. Beth Gaskill
5. Linsey Jones
6. Tim Shanahan
7. Devin Kearns
8. Beck Goodman

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days