What does it mean to be Dyslexic?

Summary

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"Who Smarted?" Episode Summary

Title: What does it mean to be Dyslexic?
Date: September 22, 2025
Host: Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media
Target Audience: Kids and families

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Overview

This episode of "Who Smarted?" explores what it means to be dyslexic in a fun, accessible, and engaging way. Using relatable scenarios, interactive questions, and the signature conversational style (including a talking brain diagram!), the host walks listeners through the science of reading, the signs and causes of dyslexia, famous dyslexic individuals, and strategies for managing it successfully. Throughout, the episode emphasizes that dyslexia is common, not an indicator of intelligence, and often comes with unique strengths.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Science of Reading and Dyslexia

• How Reading Works in the Brain (01:12–01:44)

  • Reading is a complex process involving several brain regions: the visual cortex (identifying letters), left parietotemporal lobe (analyzing words), left occipitotemporal area (reading fluently), and parietal lobe (linking language to memory).
  • Quote:

    "To learn how to read... the parietal lobe links spoken and written language to memory. So you can understand what you hear and read."
    — Brain Diagram [01:21]

• What is Dyslexia? (01:54–02:54)

  • Dyslexia is described as a difference in how the brain processes written and spoken language.
  • Example: Dave Pilkey, author of "Captain Underpants," is dyslexic.
  • Dyslexia often involves less gray matter in the left parietotemporal area.
  • Quote:

    "But also, I didn't know Dave Pilkey is dyslexic, but what exactly is dyslexia? How can it affect how you read and write?"
    — Host [02:10]

Common Signs and Causes

• Signs of Dyslexia (03:02–03:45)

  • Trouble identifying words, sounds, and sequences; may reverse letters and numbers; trouble with spelling and handwriting.
  • Early childhood signs include delayed speaking and difficulty expressing thoughts.
  • Many dyslexic people reverse lowercase 'b' and 'd.'

• Inheritance (03:49–03:56)

  • Dyslexia often runs in families; it can be inherited.

• How Common is Dyslexia? (03:56–04:30)

  • Over 10% of Americans are dyslexic—more than 1 in 10.
  • Many famous individuals (Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison) had dyslexia.
  • Quote:

    "That means over one out of every 10 people is dyslexic. Which also means dyslexia is pretty common."
    — Host [03:56]

Dyslexia in Popular Culture and Strengths

• Dyslexia in Fiction (04:33–04:53)

  • Percy Jackson, a popular book character, is dyslexic.

• Talents and Creativity (04:53–05:12)

  • Many dyslexics excel in creative fields: Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, Pablo Picasso, Leonardo da Vinci.
  • Quote:

    "Many people with dyslexia are highly creative and have talents in areas like art and storytelling."
    — Brain Diagram [04:53]

Overcoming Dyslexia

• Diagnosis and Support (05:28–05:43)

  • Doctors and teachers are now better at recognizing dyslexia and providing support.

• Orton-Gillingham Approach (05:49–08:56)

  • Gold standard for teaching reading, writing, and even math to dyslexic students.
  • Developed in the 1930s by Samuel Orton and Anna Gillingham.
  • Focuses on individual needs and uses multisensory teaching (engaging multiple senses).
  • Quote:

    "The Orton Gillingham approach is named after Samuel T. Orton, a neuropsychiatrist... and Anna Gilliam, an educator and psychologist..."
    — Brain Diagram [06:25]

  • Multisensory learning involves sight and hearing, breaking words into sounds and letters, repeated practice, and tailored strategies.

• Adapting Strategies for Math and Other Areas (08:39–09:01)

  • Though primarily used for language, the approach works for math by using multisensory tools.

Practical Strategies and Resources

• Support Systems (09:01–09:57)

  • Teachers, family, and friends are all crucial to dyslexic children’s success. Study groups and open communication help.
  • Quote:

    "Many teachers have received training... Your family can work with you and your teachers to find the best learning strategies..."
    — Host [09:57]

• Staying Organized (10:05–11:02)

  • Organization can be tough. Use folders, planners, and sitting at the front of the class for better focus.
  • Ask for technology accommodations, like recording lessons or using easier fonts.

• Time Management Advice (11:02–11:41)

  • Start assignments early to avoid stress and improve outcomes.
  • Quote:

    "Giving yourself plenty of time to complete an assignment not only helps you get it done on time, it also takes some of the pressure off..."
    — Host [11:12]

• Books and Resources (11:55–12:25)

  • "Aaron Slater, Illustrator" by Andrea Beatty features a dyslexic protagonist and is printed in a dyslexia-friendly font.
  • Other recommended reading includes "Captain Underpants," "Dogman," and biographies of dyslexic creators.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dyslexia’s Brain Science:

  "Learning to read requires many parts of the brain. For example, the visual cortex helps you identify letters..."
  — Brain Diagram [01:21]

• On Dyslexia Prevalence:

  "Over one out of every ten people is dyslexic."
  — Host [03:56]

• On Creativity:

  "Many people with dyslexia are highly creative..."
  — Brain Diagram [04:53]

• On Support Systems:

  "Teachers, family, and friends are important for success."
  — Host [09:57]

• On Time Management:

  "Start working on it as soon as possible... Working at a relaxed, steady pace is good practice, whether you're dyslexic or not."
  — Host [11:12]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:49–01:44: Introduction to reading and brain science
• 01:54–02:25: Dyslexia basics and Dave Pilkey example
• 03:02–03:45: Common signs and causes
• 03:56–04:30: Prevalence and famous examples
• 04:33–05:12: Strengths and creativity
• 05:49–08:39: Orton-Gillingham approach explained
• 09:01–09:57: Importance of support systems
• 10:05–11:02: Staying organized tips
• 11:02–11:41: Time management advice
• 11:55–12:25: Recommended books/resources

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Tone & Approach

True to its format, the episode is lively, interactive, and inclusive. Listeners are frequently addressed as "smarty pants," and knowledge is peppered with jokes, quizzes, and gentle encouragement. Even while discussing scientific information, the tone remains light, friendly, and supportive—making complex concepts accessible for kids.

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Conclusion

This episode demystifies dyslexia while empowering listeners to value neurodiversity, seek help when needed, and appreciate the unique strengths associated with dyslexia. It successfully balances humor and empathy, leaving kids informed, supported, and inspired—whether they have dyslexia or know someone who does.

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Transcript

[Host]

And now it's time for who Smarted?

[Librarian]

Psst.

[Host]

Hey, smarty pants.

[Librarian]

Shh.

[Listener 1]

Quiet. You're in the library.

[Host]

Oh, right, right. I'm in the library. And the first rule of library is be quiet.

[Librarian]

Shh.

[Host]

Sorry. Anyway, I'm surrounded by lots of fun books, including a bunch created by Dave Pilkey. Have you ever heard of Captain Underpants, smarty pants? Well, Dave created the character when he was in elementary school. Who knows, smarty pants? Maybe you, too can create a cool character to be featured in their very own book series.

[Librarian]

Shh.

[Host]

I am not good at this quiet thing. Come on. Let's head to the nonfiction book section. That's where you can find books on the science and history topics that we talk about. On who smarted?

[Listener 2]

Who smarted?

[Host]

This is actually the reason I came to the library today. I was curious about how people learn to read and why some people have a harder time than others.

[Listener 1]

Ooh.

[Brain Diagram]

I can help you with that, trusty narrator.

[Host]

Uh, who said that? And why is nobody shushing you?

[Brain Diagram]

It's me. The diagram of the brain in a nonfiction book. And only you can hear me.

[Host]

Oh, well, as the trusty narrator, I am used to talking to strange things. So what can you tell us about reading brain diagram?

[Brain Diagram]

Well, to start, it requires many parts of the brain. Me. To learn how to read. For example, the visual cortex helps you identify letters. The left parietotemporal lobe helps with analyzing words. And the left occipitotemporal area is important for reading fluently. While the parietal lobe links spoken and written language to memory. So you can understand what you hear and read.

[Listener 1]

Wow.

[Host]

It sure takes a lot of bright brain power to recognize, comprehend, and remember what you read, smarty pants. But for some people, reading can be much more difficult.

[Brain Diagram]

Well, trusty, some people have less gray matter in their left parietotemporal area than others. Which may be why some people have dyslexia. Like Daft Pilkey, author of Captain Underpants and Dogman book series.

[Listener 1]

Whoa.

[Host]

We were just talking about him.

[Librarian]

Shh.

[Listener 1]

Quiet.

[Host]

But also, I didn't know Dave Pilkey is dyslexic, but what exactly is dyslexia? How can it affect how you read and write? What do you do if you have dyslexia? And what other famous people are dyslexic? It's time for another whiff of history and science.

[Listener 2]

On who's smarted. Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science? Or History. Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun. Smart.

[Host]

Okay, smarty pants. While I do feel a little strange talking to a diagram of a brain in a book, I am very interested in knowing more about dyslexia. To start with, what are the common signs that someone has dyslexia or is dyslexic?

[Brain Diagram]

People with dyslexia often have a hard time identifying individual words while reading. They may also have difficulty identifying separate sounds in words or identifying sequences of sounds and sentences. They might also mix up or reverse words while reading.

[Listener 1]

I see.

[Host]

What about writing?

[Brain Diagram]

People with dyslexia often have a hard time spelling and often mix up or reverse numbers and letters. As very young children, those with dyslexia may take longer to start speaking and may have a hard time expressing their thoughts in writing. They often confuse direction and right or left handedness and have handwriting that is difficult for others to read. For some reason, many people with dyslexia reverse lowercase b and d. Wow, I.

[Host]

Didn'T realize dyslexia affected so many things. So what causes dyslexia?

[Brain Diagram]

Dyslexia often runs in families, so if you have a parent or sibling who has dyslexia, you might inherit it too.

[Host]

Smartypants, any idea how many Americans have dyslexia? Is it A over 5%, B over 10%, or C over 20%? If you said B over 10%, you're right. That means over one out of every 10 people is dyslexic. Which also means dyslexia is pretty common. Chances are you may know someone with dyslexia or you may have it yourself. If so, you're in good company. Many famous smarty pants, including Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison, had dyslexia.

[Brain Diagram]

There are also famous characters from books who have dyslexia.

[Host]

Ooh, can any smarty pants? Name one. Did anyone say Percy Jackson? Good job if you did. While I'm sure none of the smarty pants have Percy Jackson superpowers, they may share his dyslexia. Are there any strengths or benefits that come along with dyslexia?

[Brain Diagram]

Many people with dyslexia are highly creative and have talents in areas like art and storytelling. Steven Spielberg, Walt Disney, Pablo Picasso, and Leonardo da Vinci.

[Host]

It's gorgeous to be constructive, not destructive.

[Brain Diagram]

Are among the many famous and creative people with dyslexia.

[Listener 2]

Whoa.

[Host]

So obviously smarty pants. Being dyslexic doesn't mean you can't learn or do things. It just means certain aspects of reading and or writing might be A little more challenging. Right, brain?

[Brain Diagram]

That's right. The good news is, doctors and teachers are much better at recognizing the signs of dyslexia now than they used to be. Not long ago, many people lived their lives never knowing they were dyslexic. Now it's easier to diagnose and accommodate for.

[Host]

Excellent. So if dyslexia affects how your brain reads and writes, how do people with dyslexia overcome it?

[Brain Diagram]

Well, the Orton Gillingham approach is the most common method.

[Host]

Smarty pants, what do you think the Orton Gillingham approach is? Is it, A, a way to teach literacy subjects like reading and writing, B, a test, or C, ooh, a type of pizza? Why, of course. It's a, a way to teach literary subjects like reading and writing. I just said pizza because I'm hungry. So, brain diagram. What is the Orton Gillingham approach and how does it work?

[Brain Diagram]

Well, for one thing, this learning system dates back 80 years.

[Listener 2]

Wow.

[Host]

Orton Gillingham is the O.G.

[Librarian]

Shh.

[Host]

Sorry. Continue.

[Brain Diagram]

The Orton Gillingham approach is named after Samuel T. Orton, a neuropsychiatrist and pathologist who started studying dyslexia as early as 1925, and Anna Gilliam, an educator and psychologist with a talent for working with language. Dr. Orton encouraged Anna to publish her instructional materials that provided the foundation for student instruction and teacher training. In the 1930s, this became the Orton Gillingham approach.

[Host]

It's pretty interesting that something created back in the 1930s is still used to help kids today.

[Brain Diagram]

Well, when something proves effective, you stick with it.

[Host]

Good point. So how does the OG Approach work?

[Brain Diagram]

The Orton Gillingham approach usually involves a teacher or instructor working one on one with a dyslexic student. But it can also be used with a small group or even an entire class. But no matter how it's taught, all lessons and materials are designed around each student's individual need.

[Host]

That makes sense, since dyslexia can affect every person differently. What might be too easy for one person might be too hard for someone else.

[Brain Diagram]

Exactly. The Orden Gillingham approach uses what's known as multi sensory teaching.

[Listener 1]

Hmm.

[Host]

Smarty pants, what do you think multi sensory means? Is it A, eating pizza while you read, B, doing math at the same time as reading, or C, using more than one of your five senses at a time? If you said C using more than one of the five senses at a time. Good job.

[Librarian]

Shh.

[Brain Diagram]

Multi sensory teaching engages both your sight and your hearing to help you sound out words and sentences. For example, every word is made up of symbols, what we call letters. Each letter relates to an individual sound. When you put those sounds together, you make a word. Several words form a sentence. The Orton Gillingham approach is very helpful at getting students to understand how speech and sound work with letter combinations, how the Alphabet works, building vocabulary, reinforcing tricky words until they become automatic, and building the relationship between spelling and reading. Between all that and lots of review and practice, most students are able to overcome their dyslexia.

[Host]

That's terrific, smarty pants. True or false? The Orton Gillingham approach is only used for reading and writing. If you said false, you're right. Although primarily used for reading, writing, and spelling, the Orton Gillingham approach has also been adapted for math.

[Brain Diagram]

Yep, multisensory learning is also good for numbers and teaching math concepts.

[Host]

But, smarty pants, there's more to success than just the OG approach to learn other tools and strategies to help you succeed at learning. Stick around. Now back to who's smarted? Maybe I should have taped this episode outside the library. Anywho, when it comes to overcoming dyslexia, it's helpful to have the right support and strategies in place. Smarty pants, which of the following do you think are important for success? A, your teachers, B your family, C your friends? Or D all of the above. If you said D, you're right. Many teachers have received training on strategies to help you. Your family can work with you and your teachers to find the best learning strategies for you. And studying and doing homework with friends can make it more fun and effective. Not to mention, talking to family, friends, or teachers can be so helpful if you're ever feeling frustrated.

[Brain Diagram]

Besides reading, writing, and schoolwork, staying organized can also be an area of frustration for many people with dyslexia.

[Host]

Hey, staying organized can be hard, even for people without dyslexia.

[Brain Diagram]

True, but with a few basic tips, I can have you working towards being better organized.

[Host]

I would love that.

[Librarian]

Shh.

[Brain Diagram]

First, it helps to learn a little self discipline. That means knowing what you need to do and devising a plan to do it in school. Try sitting near the front of the class to help you focus more on the lesson. You can use an expanding file folder to keep track of your papers and a planner to write down due dates and keep you on schedule. Always have extra paper, pencils and pens available. If you're not great at taking notes, ask to use technology like a tablet, smartphone, or laptop to record a lesson. Also, it might help to keep a list of commonly mixed up words that you can easily refer to.

[Host]

Smarty pants, if you get a school assignment, you know will take you a long time to do. What should you do?

[Listener 1]

A.

[Host]

Start working on it as soon as possible.

[Listener 1]

B.

[Host]

Wait a few days. C I put it off and rush to finish at the last minute. D Forget about it and just don't do it. The answer is A. Start working on it as soon as possible. Giving yourself plenty of time to complete an assignment not only helps you get it done on time, it also takes some of the pressure off, and you'll probably make less mistakes if you're not stressed out and rushing. Working at a relaxed, steady pace is good practice, whether you're dyslexic or not.

[Brain Diagram]

Another thing you can do is take advantage of any resources that exist to help you, everything from videos online to books you can order in this library, there's a book called Aaron Slater, Illustrator by Andrea Beatty.

[Host]

Oh, that's part of the questionnaire series. I love those books because they're all about creative problem solving.

[Listener 1]

Wow.

[Brain Diagram]

You know it. Trusty.

[Listener 2]

How cool.

[Brain Diagram]

Anyway, in the book, Aaron Slater has dyslexia, which makes it very difficult for him to communicate his ideas through writing. However, he's very creative in art and storytelling, so he uses drawing or illustrations to share his thoughts. The book's even typed in a font that's easier for people with dyslexia to read.

[Host]

I'll check it out, along with some Captain Underpants and Dogman books, Percy Jackson and the biographies of Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, and Steven Spielberg.

[Listener 1]

Quiet.

[Host]

That wasn't me. Ah, Dinosaur run.

[Librarian]

Sh.

[Host]

A triple shout out to smarty fans Elizabeth, Henry and Charlotte in Swampscott, Massachusetts. We hear your number one podcast pick is who Smarted? And that you're always asking questions and finding answers through our episodes. How awesome is that? You three are smarty legends this episode, Dyslexia was written by Sarah Sweetiek and voiced by Taya Garland, Kim Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn, who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis, who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colber. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production.

[Listener 2]

Too. Smart and.