THE COURAGE TO COME BACK is an episode with my guest David Chalk. David is a Canadian businessman, AI innovator, and national literacy advocate who learned to read at the age of 62. He is featured in the acclaimed documentary The Truth About Reading—now streaming on Apple TV and Prime Video—which exposes the widespread crisis of illiteracy across North America. David’s story offers hope to families and parents seeking answers, proving it’s never too late to learn and change is possible at any age. As a child, David was wrongly labeled “mentally retarded” in an era before learning differences were understood. He lives with ADHD, dyslexia, prosopagnosia (the inability to recognize faces), and other challenges. Dismissed by the education system and told he would never succeed, David barely made it through school. Yet by 20, he became an airline pilot. By 23, he launched his first business—and by 28, was a self-made millionaire. He credits his resilience to the unconditional love of his mother and a belief in human potential. Today, David is using his decades of experience in artificial intelligence to help families break free from the cycle of reading failure. He is the founder of ReadingRoad.ai, a groundbreaking platform that blends neuroscience with emotionally responsive AI to help children and adults master reading. His focus is on creating safe, empowering experiences—especially for parents who feel lost in a system that’s failing their children. In 2025, David was awarded the Courage to Come Back Award, one of Canada’s highest civilian honors, for overcoming adversity and driving national awareness. He speaks across North America to parents, educators, and leaders—explaining how the brain learns, why current methods fall short, and what can be done right now to create lasting change.

David’s message is clear: no child should struggle alone, and no parent should be left without answers. With the right tools and understanding, literacy can be unlocked—for everyone.

For more info on David Chalk, please visit www.chalkcorp.com

The Truth About Reading — full documentary

- screening link

https://vimeo.com/860490581/10293b81d2?share=copy

Conversations That Matter - Youtube

https://youtu.be/Gz1DPkoPlLw?si=3fCvmJAIrtxGBPwS

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