Usha Vance Launches New Podcast Focused on Childhood Literacy
On March 30, 2026, Second Lady Usha Vance made her entry into the world of digital media with her podcast, “Storytime with the Second Lady.” This initiative zeroes in on promoting reading and education, all while she manages her prominent duties and growing family.
The podcast kicked off with three episodes available on platforms like Spotify and YouTube. Its primary goal is to spark a love for reading among children, which feels timely, particularly given the recent National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results indicating that only 31% of fourth and eighth graders in the U.S. are proficient in reading.
In her debut episode, Usha read from her own childhood favorite, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter. She discussed her vision for the podcast in an interview with NBC News, highlighting that it’s essentially “an advertisement for reading.”
“Reading for pleasure at home builds stronger literacy and classroom skills and opens the door to a world of opportunity for children,” she expressed. “I’m excited to invite special guests to share great stories, spread their love of reading, and help reverse the decline of childhood literacy rates in our country.”
“Storytime” will feature various guest readers, with initial appearances from Danica Patrick, a former NASCAR driver, and Brent Poppen, a Paralympian and author who read excerpts from his book, “Playground Lessons.”
This podcast adds to a series of educational initiatives that Usha has championed since her husband took office in 2025:
- Summer Reading Challenge: Launched in June 2025, this initiative encouraged thousands of children nationwide to read 12 books over the summer.
- Bookmark Design Challenge: In February, she collaborated with the National Endowment for the Arts to create a contest for students K-8 to design bookmarks for America’s 250th anniversary.
- Phones in Focus: Usha has actively advocated for “cellphone-free schools,” urging the spouses of governors to promote policies that eliminate mobile devices in classrooms to boost student focus.
Additionally, the podcast’s launch aligns with a significant personal milestone for Usha and her husband, as they announced they are expecting their fourth child, a boy, in July. This event marks a historic moment, as they will be the first Vice Presidential family to welcome a child while in office since 1870.
Despite her public role, Usha, who holds a law degree from Yale and hails from San Diego, California, keeps a down-to-earth perspective. In a recent interview, she referred to herself as a “trusted adviser” to her husband, noting they don’t always see eye to eye, but their candid conversations strengthen their marriage.
Overall, Usha Vance’s new podcast seems like a genuine effort to make reading appealing for kids, and it will be interesting to see how it evolves while she juggles her numerous roles.
