Reading in the Gutter

Jun 30 2024
Reading in the Gutter Podcast artwork

Reading in the Gutter (www.readinginthegutter.com) is a podcast that attempts to bridge the space between comics and education. We aim to have thoughtful discussion with students, teachers, parents, administrators, librarians, and researchers about comics and roles they can place in classrooms and other learning contexts. We seek to share research, resources, pedagogy, and curriculum focused on comics with interested stakeholders that is theoretically sound and empirically vetted. 

Cover art by Dani Kachorsky

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Graphic novels, literature circles, and social justice with Dr. David Low...

Jun 30 2024 64 mins  
Send us a Text Message.In the final episode of Season 2, Dani chats with Dr. David Low, a comics and graphic novel scholar whose research focuses on issues of identity and social justice. David shares how he came to be a comics scholar, why he believes comics have a place in education, how literature circles can be reenvisioned for graphic novels, and why graphic novels and comics

Creator Spotlight: J. Gonzo discusses creating comics, being a Chicano artist, and using his comics in the classroom...

May 31 2024 68 mins  
Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Dani chats with J. Gonzo about his career as a comic book artist and author. He shares his experiences as Chicano artist and discusses the importance of representation in the comics medium. Additionally, he shares his views on the importance of the comics in classroom spaces as well as how he hopes educators take up his work educational conte

Teachers' reflections on teaching Gareth Hinds' graphic novel adaptation of The Odyssey...

Apr 30 2024 43 mins  
Send us a Text Message.Host Dani Kachorsky welcomes high school English teachers Shelby Stringer and Amanda Molitor to Reading in the Gutter to reflect on their experiences teaching Gareth Hinds' graphic novel adaptation of The Odyssey. The three teachers discuss why they selected Gareth Hinds' adaptation, their successes and challenges using this text in classroom, and how they ho

Teaching 'Maus' for the first time: Challenges, successes, and future directions

Mar 31 2024 29 mins  
Send us a Text Message.In this episode of Reading in the Gutter, Dani chats with Brooke Feldman-Cryan, a high school English and Theater teacher, about her experiences teaching the graphic novel Maus for the first time. Brooke shares her motivation behind selecting the text as well as some challenges and successes she experienced, and ultimately, what she would require in order to

Reading and creating graphic novel memoirs with Dr. Sean P. Connors...

Feb 29 2024 36 mins  
Send us a Text Message.In this episode of Reading in the Gutter, Dani hosts Dr. Sean P. Connors from the University of Arkansas to discuss reading and creating graphic novel memoirs. Sean shares his experiences teaching a college course focused on graphic novel memoirs, as well as a culminating experience in which students draft their own comic book style memoirs.

Digital storytelling, digital comics, and STEM with Dr. Daryl Axelrod...

Jan 31 2024 33 mins  
Send us a Text Message.In this episode of Reading in the Gutter, Dani hosts Dr. Daryl Axelrod for a fun-filled discussion about using digital tools to create digital comics. Daryl shares his experiences helping kids to create original comics related to science topics as well as his experiences guiding students through transmediating (or adapting) traditional texts into a variety of

Author Interview: Frank Baker discusses 'We Survived the Holocaust'...

Dec 28 2023 28 mins  
Send us a Text Message.Reading in the Gutter host, Dani Kachorsky, interviews Frank Baker, author of the graphic novel, We Survived the Holocaust. In this episode, Frank discusses the importance of sharing and teaching Holocaust stories in today's day and age, as well as the importance of preparing students to be critical thinkers. Additionally, Frank shares how he was invited to s

Teaching comics in different contexts (college, high school, and middle school)...

Nov 29 2023 35 mins  
Send us a Text Message.Reading in the Gutter returns with our first episode for Season 2 to discuss "Teaching comics in different contexts (college, high school, and middle school)..." with Jason D. DeHart. In this episode, Dani, Ashley, Stephanie, and Jason consider the similarities and differences in teaching comics at different grade levels, how students accept or push back agai

Superheroes and social justice with Dr. Francisco Torres...

Jul 18 2021 47 mins  
Send us a Text Message.The Reading in the Gutter team is [finally] back! In this episode, Laura, Ashley, and Dani discuss superheroes and superhero comics with Dr. Francisco Torres. Francisco shares his experiences teaching a unit called "Heroes of Color" in which students read and discussed mainstream superhero comics that also featured diverse individuals and experiences. After r

Making and assessing comics in the classroom...

Oct 26 2020 46 mins  
Send us a Text Message.In what we affectionately refer to as the Corona Virus Special, the Reading in the Gutter team, Laura, Ashley, and Dani, speak with Dr. Jason DeHart about making and assessing comics in classroom spaces. Jason provides insights based on both his experiences as a middle school teacher and a university professor. He discusses how he has moved from using student