Russell Van Brocklen
If You Can Write It, You Can Read It:
Russell Van Brocklen on Dyslexia, Confidence & Possibility
What happens when a child spends years believing they’re incapable? For many neurodiverse learners, school becomes more than an academic challenge—it becomes the place where confidence, identity, and self-worth slowly begin to erode.
In this powerful conversation, Russell Van Brocklen joins The P-I-G to share both his personal journey with dyslexia and the practical learning framework he developed after years of feeling misunderstood inside traditional educational systems.
Russell was once told he would never read at grade level.
Today, he reads at a graduate level and has dedicated his work to helping students rebuild confidence through structured, repeatable methods rooted in neuroscience, writing, articulation, and small wins.
But this episode goes far beyond literacy intervention.
🎙️Together we explore:
The emotional cost of repeatedly feeling “behind”
Why many struggling learners internalize shame and self-doubt
The connection between emotional safety and learning
Why typing and structured writing can dramatically improve outcomes
The importance of motivation and “specialty interests” during intervention
How critical thinking and communication skills matter even more in the AI era
Why systems often fail neurodiverse learners—not because of intelligence, but because of method
One of the most powerful ideas in the conversation is deceptively simple: “If You Can Write It, You Can Read It.”Not just as a literacy strategy—but as a reminder that learning improves when people are finally taught in ways that align with how their brains actually work.
This episode is deeply relevant for:
parents
educators
neurodiverse adults
struggling students
and honestly, anyone wanting to improve the way they think, learn, write, and communicate
Because at its core, this isn’t just a conversation about dyslexia. It’s a conversation about human potential. And about what becomes possible when someone finally stops measuring themselves by failure.
Resources & Support
If this conversation connected with your own experience—or the experience of someone you love—these resources may offer additional support, insight, and encouragement:
Russell Van Brocklen
Forthcoming Book: If You Can Write It, You Can Read It
Dyslexia & Neurodiversity Resources
Support for Parents & Educators
Encourage small, repeatable wins
Focus on confidence as much as performance
Remember that struggling does not define intelligence
Create emotional safety around learning and mistakes
Sometimes the right support changes far more than academics. Sometimes it changes the way someone sees themselves forever.
💗 From Our Hearts to Yours…
The P-I-G is a heartfelt, purpose-driven podcast exploring life, love, loss, and legacy through real conversations and meaningful stories. Together, we unpack the moments that shape us—the stories we carry, the messiness of being human, and what it means to leave something meaningful behind.
Each episode invites us to honor what matters most, remember that grief isn’t linear, navigate life’s hardest moments with PURPOSE, INTENTION, and GRATITUDE, and to be reminded that legacy isn’t just what we leave… it’s how we live—right now.
“Hearing the stories of others helps us create a more meaningful connection to our own.”
Because legacy is built in how we live, every single day.
LISTEN here or on your favorite streaming platform (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & more)
SUBSCRIBE on your favorite podcast and streaming platforms
LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
SHARE an episode with someone who needs it
SUPPORT this work with a donation or sponsorship
The P-I-G Podcast is 100% self-funded and ad-free. Each episode is a true labor of love and we couldn’t do this work without the support of our listening audience. If you have feedback, a story to tell, or expertise to share, we’d love to hear from you.
