Immersive Audio And Reading with Benjamin Strouse
Download MP3About This Episode
Dr. Erin Bailey talks with Benjamin Strouse, award-winning children’s author and co-founder of GZM Shows, about the power of immersive audio storytelling to engage young people and open pathways into reading, writing, and deeper learning. Strouse shares how his work in books, serialized audio drama, and educational storytelling brings complex stories to life for children and families.
They discuss the creative and educational possibilities of audio fiction, the role of curiosity and imagination in literacy, and how stories can give educators meaningful ways to engage students in literary analysis, critical thinking, and creative expression. The episode also explores how listening to a great story can become a gateway to reading.
What You’ll Learn
- How immersive audio fiction can engage tweens, teens, and families.
- Why original storytelling can support literary analysis and critical thinking.
- How listening experiences can lead young people toward reading and writing.
- What makes serialized stories compelling across classrooms and communities.
- Ways educators can use high-quality storytelling to deepen literacy engagement.
Chapters
- 0:00 — Reading Inspires introduction
- 0:42 — Meet Benjamin Strouse
- 4:00 — From children’s books to immersive audio
- 10:00 — Building serialized stories for young listeners
- 18:00 — Storytelling, imagination, and literacy
- 26:00 — Bringing audio fiction into classrooms
- 34:00 — What reading inspires
- 38:59 — Closing
Resources
- Benjamin Strouse — Award-winning children’s author and co-founder of GZM Shows.
- Hey, Boy — Strouse’s picture book, recognized by The New York Times and Kirkus Reviews.
- GZM Shows — Immersive audio fiction and educational storytelling for tweens, teens, and families.
