Our seventh episode of Backwards and Forwards features guest Paia, a high school student with ADHD. She shares with us about the technologies that support her learning, the tools that fall short, and what she wishes existed to make studying and staying organized easier. Together, Paia and Josephine explore how technology can be both a helpful ally and a source of frustration for students navigating ADHD, and they reflect on what it means to create systems that genuinely support every kind of learner.

Our sixth episode of Backwards and Forwards is with guest Rodda Leonardi. Mrs. Leonardi is the librarian at Peabody Charter School in Santa Barbara, CA. Mrs. Leonardi works to foster a love of reading among her students by curating engaging books and programs, including creative initiatives like a school-wide bookmark design contest that encouraged hundreds of students to connect art with literacy. In this episode, Mrs. Leonardi discusses the role of libraries in supporting young readers and the ways librarians can spark imagination and build strong literacy foundations, and Josephine discusses the technology tools that have helped her as she developed her own reading skills.

Our fifth episode of Backwards and Forwards is with guest Nicole Williams, a licensed marriage and family therapist. Nicole brings a unique perspective on the emotional side of learning. Nicole discusses how stress, self-esteem, and family relationships can shape a child’s experience with reading and learning, and how supporting a student’s emotional well-being can be just as important as teaching academic skills. In this episode, Nicole explores the connection between emotional health and literacy development, and Josephine shares her own experience dealing with anxiety related to schoolwork and how it has shaped her journey as a learner.

Our fourth episode of Backwards and Forwards is with Romy Greenwald. Romy is a sophomore at Duke University studying political science and government. She discusses her tips and tricks about succeeding academically in college and talks about her transition from high school to college.

Our third episode of Backwards and Forwards is with guest Dr. Phyllis Myers. Dr. Myers is the founder and president of Superior Chicago Tutoring, a program that provides supplemental educational services to schools that are performing below the 50th percentile nationally. Dr. Myers discusses in this episode the differing styles when teaching reading, and Josephine discusses how she learned to read and the skills she used before becoming a fluent reader.

On the second episode of Backwards and Forwards, Katherine Myers-Crum, founder of Great Lakes Academy in Chicago, IL, discusses how children learn to read, why it matters how they are taught, and how to individualize lessons for children with dyslexia.

I am excited to share the launch of Backwards and Forwards, a podcast dedicated to exploring dyslexia from multiple perspectives. The purpose of this series is to highlight the many ways dyslexia can affect people’s lives, showcase the resources and strategies available to support them, and spark conversations about how we can all contribute to greater understanding and inclusion. Through these episodes, my goal is to create a space where stories, insights, and practical tools come together to inform and inspire others.

Our third episode of Backwards and Forwards is with Romy Greenwald. Romy is a sophomore at Duke University studying political science and government. She discusses her tips and tricks about succeeding academically in college and talks about her transition from high school to college. 

Our second episode of Backwards and Forwards is with guest Dr. Phyllis Myers. Dr. Myers is the founder and president of Superior Chicago Tutoring, a program that provides supplemental educational services to schools that are performing below the 50th % nationally. Dr. Myers discusses in this episode the differing styles when teaching reading, and Josephine discusses how she learned to read and the skills she used before becoming a fluent reader.

On the first episode of Backwards and Forwards, Katherine Myers-Crum, founder of Great Lakes Academy in Chicago, IL, discusses how children learn to read, why it matters how they are taught, and how to individualize lessons for children with dyslexia.