Meet Daphne Russell, the erudite founder and director of Books Save Lives, a remarkable nonprofit dedicated to spreading the transformative power of reading. With her method of connecting students with books that truly resonate with their hearts, Daphne helps young minds break barriers, conquer trauma, and discover the joy of reading.

Podcast Highlights:

0:16 - 0:57 Introduction and Welcome: Tej introduces Daphne Russell, founder of Book Save Lives, and sets the stage for the conversation.

1:02 - 2:28 The Journey to Promote Reading: Daphne shares her inspiring journey of becoming a teacher and realizing the importance of offering students their unique reading journeys. She recounts the challenges she faced in finding books that resonated with her students and how her method evolved to match books to individual students' vocabulary and interests.

2:49 - 4:35 Overcoming Barriers: Daphne explains that her primary goal is to convince students that books are not their enemies, as many have faced trauma or negative experiences with reading. She describes her customer service approach and incentive-driven method of offering vetted book stacks to students, helping them see that reading can be enjoyable and rewarding.

5:04 - 6:07 Reading as Agency: Daphne emphasizes that she aims to create independent readers, not just compliant ones who read to pass tests. Her method focuses on allowing students autonomy to choose their books, regardless of their Lexile scores, fostering agency and self-realization.

7:16 - 9:04 The Magic of Reading Connections: Daphne explains the importance of connections in reading, showing students that reading is not just about comprehension but about relating to the words, thoughts, and characters. She shares how this magical process changes students' attitudes towards reading.

9:15 - 11:20 Catering to Diverse Readers: Daphne discusses the importance of diverse literature and the significance of offering books that speak to readers' hearts. She believes that readers' hearts should be prioritized over well-read status and aims to cater to non-readers and struggling readers.

11:30 - 14:00 Transforming the Publishing Industry: Daphne expresses her vision of changing the publishing industry by focusing on millions of potential readers who haven't discovered the joy of reading yet. She advocates for books that answer questions, spark interest, and create connections with readers.

14:00 - 14:12 Commercial Break: A short message about Chezuba, a platform connecting volunteers and non-profit organizations.

14:12 - 15:25 Cultivating a Love for Nonfiction: Daphne shares her preference for nonfiction books that combine anecdotal stories and science, catering to both the right and left sides of the brain. She believes these books have the power to engage readers and spark their curiosity.

15:25 - 16:59 Final Thoughts and Social Media: Tej commends Daphne's approach and dedication to promoting reading and encourages listeners to connect with her on her social media platforms.