HIGHLIGHTS:  43 Million Americans Can’t Read Well Enough to Work (Here’s the Fix)

HIGHLIGHTS: 43 Million Americans Can’t Read Well Enough to Work (Here’s the Fix)

Author: iHeartPodcasts September 1, 2026 Duration: 36:12

Nearly 2/3 of American kids aren't reading proficiently by 4th grade. And if they don't catch up, - they're far more likely to drop out, struggle to find work, and cycle through a lifetime of limited options. Right now in the United States, 43 million adults can't read well enough to hold a basic job.

This week, Bill sits down with Tony Kriz, co-founder of the Children's Literacy Project, who believes the solve for this crisis is normal folks like you. He wants you to give just one hour a week to sit with a struggling kid, read with them, and uplift them.

In this episode you'll learn exactly why kids fall behind, what it takes to close the gap, and how normal folks like you can walk into a local school and make a real difference starting this week.

ARMY ACTIONS

Subscribe to the podcast and rate & review us!

Signup to join the Army, visit NormalFolks.org

Follow us on social media @ArmyofNormalFolks

Join or start an ANF local service club at https://normalfolks.org/service-clubs/

Take The 10 Level Challenge, "the hero's journey for service" at 10LevelChallenge.org

Support the show: https://www.normalfolks.us/#join

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


You won't find the solutions to our biggest challenges in the green rooms of cable news, but in the everyday decisions of regular people who see a need and step up. That's the heart of An Army of Normal Folks. Hosted by Bill Courtney, the coach featured in the Oscar-winning documentary "Undefeated," this iHeartPodcasts production is a documentary-style series dedicated to finding and honoring those individuals. Each episode introduces you to someone who looked at their community, their street, or a single person struggling and simply said, "I can help." These aren't stories of celebrities or politicians with vast resources; they're authentic accounts from the army of ordinary citizens doing extraordinary things. By listening to this podcast, you'll hear the real, unscripted conversations between Courtney and his guests, exploring their motivations, the obstacles they faced, and the tangible impact of their actions. It’s a weekly reminder that change is often built person by person, and it’s released every Tuesday to spotlight the powerful force of normal folks getting things done.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Army of Normal Folks
Podcast Episodes
The One Thing You Need Before Grit, Resilience, or Confidence (Pt 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:06
Contrary to popular belief, hope isn't a feeling. It's a formula that Dr. Ashley Cross is about to teach you about. And according to research, it's the single best predictor of wellbeing. More than grit, resilience, conf…
The Plane Was in the Bay. Then He Said Something Remarkable. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:21
In today's Shop Talk, Bill and Alex discuss the Asoh Defense — the forgotten leadership principle that says admitting your mistake honestly and immediately is more powerful than any excuse you could make. This one's for…
Eric Church Compared Life to a Guitar. And It Went Viral. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:26
Most commencement speeches are forgotten within days. But when country music star Eric Church compared life to a guitar with six strings that must stay in tune—faith, family, relationships, ambition, community, and ident…
She Heard One Podcast and Drove Nine Hours to Volunteer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:43
For Shop Talk, the extraordinary story one Army member inspiring another one, which inspires us and hopefully you! Amy Crenshaw's nonprofit ComeUnity Cafe where you can donate money or work for your food inspired Lisa Fo…
The 7 Things Every Person Needs to Flourish (Pt 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:13
What does it actually take for a person—and a whole community—to flourish? That's the nut that Joe Woodward from Stand Together is trying to crack in Wichita, as part of their goal to make it a model city for the country…