There are so many new shows that we’re updating our literacy-themed podcast post from 2022. Keep reading below for the latest list of our top picks for podcasts.

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Podcasts can be a great format to augment your professional development. You can use podcasts in your teaching, but in addition, they offer new information and perspectives to the literacy field.

What is a podcast?

A podcast is a series of audio episodes, similar to a radio program. Podcasts are on demand, meaning you can listen to them at any time and it’s easy to repeat episodes. Most people listen to podcasts on a smart phone, but you can also listen to them on a computer. They usually feature one or more hosts engaged in a discussion on a particular topic or event. However, there are also dramatic podcasts similar in format to a radio play.

Where can I find podcasts?

There are many websites and mobile platforms that host podcasts. You can also download or stream episodes directly from the creator’s websites. Podcasts are most commonly listened to on applications (apps) such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or SoundCloud.

Below are some of the podcasts about literacy or literacy-related topics.

Literacy Podcasts

Adult Education and Literacy

• Advocast – “Hosts Erin Vobornik and Sara Haghighi engage with leaders to tackle advocacy topics impacting learners, teachers, and administrators in the field of adult education.”

General Literacy

• ARPDC Podcast – “The Alberta Regional Professional Development Consortia (ARPDC) is pooling its resources across the province of Alberta to host this series of conversations with education-related presenters from in and outside of Alberta as well as educators, and leaders inside Alberta as together we explore a myriad of ways by which we can improve upon the great work done in k-12 classrooms in Alberta and education around the world.”
• ASCD Connect – “… brings you inspiring conversations with top authors and thought leaders in K-12 education. Each episode delves into ideas, tips, and discoveries to keep you on top of key issues in the field such as school leadership, equity, instructional strategy, and curriculum. Get fuel for your journey as a life-changing educator!”
• EDVIEW360 – “…  everything you need to get the latest research, insights, and thought leadership focusing on the latest technologies and best educational practices.”
• The Learning Scientists Podcast. – “A podcast for teachers, students, and parents about evidence-based practice and learning.”
  • Example literacy episode: Episode 44 – Literacy and Making Mistakes with Kristen McQuillan
• Literacy Talks – “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 who struggle with reading; Lindsay Kemeny, an innovative, dedicated second-grade teacher who is a CERI certified Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher.”
• Melissa & Lori Love Literacy – “A podcast for educators interested in learning more about the science of reading, knowledge building, and high quality curriculum! Join us as we tackle new ways of thinking about how to teach reading and writing. Guests include literacy researchers and experts, teachers and leaders, parents and advocates.”
• Reading Teachers Lounge – “A podcast where listeners can eavesdrop on professional conversations between elementary reading teachers.”
• The Structured Literacy Podcast – “Learning to read and write is a matter of social justice. Every child deserves to learn through evidence informed practices, and every teacher deserves to be fully supported to make that happen. The Structured Literacy Podcast goes beyond the program to get to the heart of what it’s really like to build a structured approach to literacy across the school.”
• Teaching Literacy – “This podcast bridges literacy research to practice.”
• Teaching, Reading, and Learning: The Reading League Podcast – “The podcast will focus on literacy as we know it (reading and writing) but will also connect to other ‘literacies’ that impact children’s learning; for example, emotional, physical, and social literacies as they apply to teachers and children.”
• What’s Literacy? – “A podcast for English-speaking, lifelong literacy learners in Quebec. Join our hosts Niamh Devaney, Jeff Taylor and Jaimie Cudmore from Literacy Quebec as they explore topics around community building, lifelong curiosity, and the multiple types of literacy.”

English as an Additional Language

• Talking TESL – “In this podcast we feature interviews with B.Ed. students, alumni, faculty, and other TESL community members. We share our stories about teaching in Quebec and abroad, insight from our areas of expertise, tips about navigating the B.Ed. in TESL, and much more.”
• TESOL Pop – “Our mission is to support teacher development by providing information, ideas and tips on popular topics related to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, hence the name TESOL Pop. We achieve this through our short podcast episodes and blog posts.”

Digital Literacy

• EdTech Speaks – “… a podcast bringing guests together to share their expertise and advice on navigating business and education in a technology-driven world. From entrepreneurs to vendors, higher education to corporate leaders, we’ll uncover their perspectives regarding the latest trends and technologies impacting your career or business.”
• The Mind Online – “Through conversations with teachers, librarians, scholars and reporters, Monita explores the critical aspects of digital literacy that shape how we create and consume content online. Discover what educators and students alike need to know—and how we can all become safer, better informed digital citizens.”

Family/Early Literacy

• Reach Out and Read – “Host Dr. Dipesh Navsaria, a pediatrician with a children’s librarianship degree dives into a wealth of varied early childhood health and literacy topics with expert guests examining the many facets of supporting the parent-child relationship as key to early success.”
• Reading With Your Kids – “The Reading With Your Kids Podcast is all about inspiring families to spend more time reading, exercising, cooking, creating and being together. We introduce listeners to some of the best authors in all genres of children’s Literature.”

Financial Literacy

• Mastering Money – Offered by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, this “financial literacy podcast talks about key issues, trends and tips as they relate to financial education.”
• Money Smarts – “AFOA Canada has created a NEW podcast program, Money Smarts – AFOA Canada Talks Indigenous Financial Wellness with the Experts, discussing various topics that address Indigenous Financial Wellness with Experts. Financial literacy can be complicated. Money Smarts makes it simple and will enlighten and assist Indigenous community members in understanding their finances and improving their financial wellbeing.”

Health Literacy

• Health Literacy Out Loud – “Helen Osborne interviews those in-the-know about health literacy. You will hear why health literacy matters and learn practical ways to help.”
• Health Literacy Podcast: with Matt & Amir – This Australian podcast currently only had one episode, but we’re hopeful for more!

Science of Reading

• Science of Reading: The Podcast – “… [delivers] the latest insights from researchers and practitioners in early reading. Via a conversational approach, each episode explores a timely topic related to the science of reading.”
• Sold a Story – This one is certainly a conversation starter! It is a limited run podcast.

  “There’s an idea about how children learn to read that’s held sway in schools for more than a generation — even though it was proven wrong by cognitive scientists decades ago. Teaching methods based on this idea can make it harder for children to learn how to read. In this podcast, host Emily Hanford investigates the influential authors who promote this idea and the company that sells their work. It’s an exposé of how educators came to believe in something that isn’t true and are now reckoning with the consequences — children harmed, money wasted, an education system upended.”

Workplace

• Behind Every Employer – “Hosts Anson Green and Jeffery Abramowitz sit down with future-focused employers to discuss innovations that are advancing frontline worker talent.”
• Learn Launch – A 3-episode limited run podcast produced by Literacy Northwest. “Learn about the reasons employers would work with Literacy and Basic Skills networks, why your workplace and employees would benefit from skills upgrading and the services that we can provide.”
• Let’s Talk Future Skills podcast series – This is a limited run podcast. “Hear Future Skills Council members and invited guests share ways to take action to help Canadians get training and develop the skills they need to succeed and to support business growth now and in the future. Discussions include priorities and action areas to help build a skilled, agile, and inclusive workforce.”

Did we miss one? Send your suggestions to ledgar@decoda.ca to be considered for the next list.