Traci Thomas, creator and host of The Stacks Podcast joins Joy for a conversation that starts with "why can't the children read?" and doesn't let up. They get into why comprehension, not decoding, is the real crisis; why "talking shit about books" is good for books; the messy state of publishing for Black authors; parenting accountability; and Traci's favorite (and most controversial) book takes. Plus: Traci announces her six-week Understanding Shakespeare class starting September 23.

 

00:00 – Open: "Books Are Niche Because People Don't Read Them"

00:24 – Welcome + Meet Traci Thomas, Host of The Stacks Podcast

01:15 – Why Can't the Children Read? 03:19 – "I'm Too Hard on Everyone" (Joy's Confession)

04:26 – Pushback: It's Not That People Won't Read

05:28 – Hot Take: Talking Shit About Books Is Good for Books

07:51 – ACOTAR, Spice, and Reading as a Group Sport

10:04 – Bring Back Reading Goosebumps to Your Kids 13:31 – Growing Up in a House That Made You Read

15:02 – Shoutout to Dub: When "Can't Read" Means Something Different

17:00 – "You Guys Are Failing as Parents" 19:49 – Joy's Grandfather, the Army, and Illiteracy as a Control Tool

22:00 – "We Live Like Animals": Coming Home From Japan

25:18 – The Lost Art of Looking It Up

29:00 – "I Choose to Become the Villain You're Forcing Me Into"

30:02 – Books Aren't Niche, You Are

31:01 – Black Women Are the Most Likely People to Buy a Book

34:00 – "You're Not Famous Enough to Write a Book" 

35:00 – Guns, the Second Amendment, and Reading as Power

38:09 – Talking to Strangers and Learning to Trust Again

40:28 – I Wear the Black Hat: Our Obsession With Villains 42:00 – The James Baldwin Hot Take 44:56 – Books Are the Only Entertainment With No Ads

46:55 – Brick Your Phone, Save Your Brain

 50:20 – Stop Crying on the Internet: The Texas Teacher Video

53:08 – "Your Kid Is Not Special" (The Auntie Speech) 

54:10 – Understanding Shakespeare Class + The Stacks Pod

Traci Thomas, creator and host of The Stacks Podcast joins Joy for a conversation that starts with "why can't the children read?" and doesn't let up. They get into why comprehension, not decoding, is the real crisis; why "talking shit about books" is good for books; the messy state of publishing for Black authors; parenting accountability; and Traci's favorite (and most controversial) book takes. Plus: Traci announces her six-week Understanding Shakespeare class starting September 23.
&nbsp;
00:00 &ndash; Open: "Books Are Niche Because People Don't Read Them"
00:24 &ndash; Welcome + Meet Traci Thomas, Host of The Stacks Podcast
01:15 &ndash; Why Can't the Children Read? 03:19 &ndash; "I'm Too Hard on Everyone" (Joy's Confession)
04:26 &ndash; Pushback: It's Not That People Won't Read
05:28 &ndash; Hot Take: Talking Shit About Books Is Good for Books
07:51 &ndash; ACOTAR, Spice, and Reading as a Group Sport
10:04 &ndash; Bring Back Reading Goosebumps to Your Kids 13:31 &ndash; Growing Up in a House That Made You Read
15:02 &ndash; Shoutout to Dub: When "Can't Read" Means Something Different
17:00 &ndash; "You Guys Are Failing as Parents" 19:49 &ndash; Joy's Grandfather, the Army, and Illiteracy as a Control Tool
22:00 &ndash; "We Live Like Animals": Coming Home From Japan
25:18 &ndash; The Lost Art of Looking It Up
29:00 &ndash; "I Choose to Become the Villain You're Forcing Me Into"
30:02 &ndash; Books Aren't Niche, You Are
31:01 &ndash; Black Women Are the Most Likely People to Buy a Book
34:00 &ndash; "You're Not Famous Enough to Write a Book"&nbsp;
35:00 &ndash; Guns, the Second Amendment, and Reading as Power
38:09 &ndash; Talking to Strangers and Learning to Trust Again
40:28 &ndash; I Wear the Black Hat: Our Obsession With Villains 42:00 &ndash; The James Baldwin Hot Take 44:56 &ndash; Books Are the Only Entertainment With No Ads
46:55 &ndash; Brick Your Phone, Save Your Brain
&nbsp;50:20 &ndash; Stop Crying on the Internet: The Texas Teacher Video
53:08 &ndash; "Your Kid Is Not Special" (The Auntie Speech)&nbsp;
54:10 &ndash; Understanding Shakespeare Class + The Stacks Pod

Finally, a podcast that gets brutally honest about the toughest conversations we need to have. The groundbreaking new show Two Personal facilitates thoughtful dialogue on hot-button topics. TV Personality Joy Taylor tackles these conversations head-on, getting candid in a way typically reserved for your inner circle. With equal parts humor and wisdom, Joy chats about culture and social issues. Unafraid to explore complex topics like racism, sexism, and mental health, she advances these conversations with nuance and compassion.

Two Personal with Joy Taylor

Why Can't Kids Read? Traci Thomas Gets Real About Illiteracy and Why America Doesn't Read Anymore

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/78a347aa-3282-4ac5-837c-a72300032082/clips/f24d7ddb-9ad3-47b2-ad4c-b4b201090a7f/transcript