Reading scores in America are plummeting, and the crisis is deeper than just academics—it’s a cultural emergency. Could reading aloud be the antidote? Wall Street Journal children’s book critic, Meghan Cox Gurdon joins Raymond Arroyo to reveal how this simple, ancient practice can rewire attention spans, restore family connection, and ignite a lifelong love of learning.

Plus, In the Culture Counter: Raymond sounds off on the controversial production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl, where Tony-winner Cynthia Erivo starred as Jesus. Is this boundary-pushing theater—or a double standard when it comes to religious offense?

You’ll also hear about the push to cancel classic children’s authors like Laura Ingalls Wilder and Dr. Seuss, why smartphones are sabotaging young minds, and how one classroom mystery story sparked Raymond’s own love of reading. If you care about kids, culture, or the written word, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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0:00 - Introduction
0:38 - Culture Counter: Wicked Witch, Superstar?
4:32 - Culture Counter: Male Birth Control
6:13 - Culture Counter - Zoo Reaper
7:45 - Alarming Reading Comprehension Study
9:51 - The "Smart" Phone Effect
12:42 - Differences between Paper Books & Screens
14:18 - Reversing Smart Phone Damage
16:20 - Why has pleasure reading disappeared?
18:58 - Power of Reading Aloud
25:42 - How do begin reading aloud with your kids
27:20 - The Goldilocks Effect
34:28 - Why do kids like re-reading books?
37:30 - Audio Books vs. Reading Together
39:10 - Repercussions of Lower Literacy Rates
40:48 - How do we excited children about reading?
45:58 - Woke Era Literary Purges - Right or Wrong?
48:09 - Trends in Kids' Lit

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