Usha Vance Launches Children’s Podcast
On Monday, Second Lady Usha Vance unveiled a new children’s podcast.
The show, titled Story Time with the Second Lady, features Usha along with special guests such as celebrities, children’s authors, athletes, military veterans, and musicians, all reading stories for kids.
Vice President J.D. Vance expressed his pride on social media, saying, “I’m so proud of my wife Usha for launching her podcast today!”
Usha is enthusiastic about early childhood education and aims to foster a love of learning in children throughout the nation.
Three episodes were released on Spotify and YouTube on the same day. In the first episode, Usha read Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit— a beloved story from her own childhood.
“Reading time with the kids is the highlight of my day,” Vance commented. “Books have taken our family on so many adventures. We’ve discovered new things about science, nature, distant lands, ancient civilizations, and American history. Most importantly, we’ve had a blast reading together. I thought it would be even more enjoyable to share story time with everyone. So every few weeks, we gather in my office and read together.”
A few notable guests joined Vance in later episodes. Race car driver Danica Patrick read from Disney’s Cars, while Paralympic bronze medalist Brent Poppen read from his book Playground Lessons.
As noted in a press release from her office, this podcast is part of Usha Vance’s ongoing campaign to promote childhood literacy and inspire a love of reading.
Looking ahead, Vance’s summer reading challenge will begin in June 2025 for students from kindergarten through eighth grade. Participants will be encouraged to read 12 of their favorite books over the summer and track their progress, with certificates and small prizes awarded to those who complete the challenge. Her office has already reported tens of thousands of submissions from across the country.
“Usha Vance is genuinely invested in early childhood education and is focused on inspiring a lifelong love of learning in children nationwide,” a spokesperson mentioned. “The previous Summer Reading Challenge was met with great enthusiasm, and through this podcast, she hopes to continue sharing her passion for literature with kids in a fun and accessible way.”
