{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Why a Human Voice Still Matters: Internet Grandpa on Reading Aloud","description":"You may already recognize his voice. For thousands of Classical Conversations families, Charles Hall \u2014 known simply as "Internet Grandpa" \u2014 has become one of the most beloved figures in the homeschool community, reading rich living books aloud on YouTube and blessing families he has never met. In this episode of the Everyday Educator, host Kelli Wiltsits down with Mr. Hall to talk about how it all started, what it means to hear a human voice read a story, and what happens when faithful work runs into unexpected obstacles. Charles Hall never set out to become Internet Grandpa. It started simply \u2014 reading picture books on YouTube so his grandchildren, scattered from Florida to Pittsburgh, could hear his voice. He made the videos unlisted at first, then figured there was no harm in making them public. What followed was something he never anticipated. CC families discovered his recordings, and comments began pouring in \u2014 parents of struggling readers, moms multitasking through housework, kids making the transition from Foundations into Challenge who needed a warm, steady voice to carry them through books like The Secret Garden and Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. His subscriber count passed the number of friends and family, and Internet Grandpa was born. Kelli opens the episode by sharing her own family's story \u2014 her daughter found Mr. Hall's recordings at exactly the right moment, helping her step into independence as a learner while her mom worked nearby. It's the kind of testimony that appears again and again in his comment section. The conversation turns to why the human voice matters so much. Mr. Hall connects it all the way back to the womb \u2014 children hear their parents' voices before they are born, and that bond between voice and love is something no machine can replicate. Jesus, he notes, did most of his ministry through storytelling. People haven't changed much in 2,000 years. He closes with a story about his son Christopher \u2014 a boy who hated reading, until his dad started leaving him at cliffhangers. One night his wife found Christopher in bed with a flashlight, finishing the chapter himself. That's what Internet Grandpa hopes for every child who hears his voice. What You'll Learn: - How a grandfather reading Narnia to his kids 40 years ago eventually became a YouTube ministry for thousands - Why stories told by a human voice still matter in an age of AI \u2014 and what children hear even before they are born - How Internet Grandpa's recordings have helped struggling readers, busy moms, and kids transitioning into CC Challenge - The cliffhanger trick he used to turn his reluctant reader son into a flashlight-under-the-covers reader - How to support, pray for, and stay connected with Internet Grandpa right now   Resources: https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@InternetGrandpa   This episode of Everyday Educator is sponsored by: Summit Ministries Do you want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endure, and friends and faith for life? Summit\u2019s Student Conferences equip young Christians with the hope, clarity, and confidence they need to follow Jesus boldly in today\u2019s world. It\u2019s not just about getting apologetics answers. Students learn how to live winsomely and bravely in today\u2019s world. Visit summit.org\/cc before March 31, 2026, and lock in the early bird rate. Save an additional $250 when you use the code CC26. Want your child to have conversations that challenge, encouragement that endures, and friends and faith for life? Grab their spot now at summit.org\/cc   Timestamps 00:00 \u2014 Welcome and Introduction 01:06 \u2014 How Did Internet Grandpa Begin? The Origin Story 01:53 \u2014 Reading Narnia to His Kids \u2014 40 Years Before YouTube 02:22 \u2014 Recording for Grandkids Far Away and Going Public 03:05 \u2014 How CC Families Discovered Him 03:29 \u2014 Kelly's Personal Story: How Her Daughter Was Blessed by His Recordings 04:20 \u2014 What Drew Him to CC Challenge Books 06:03 \u2014 Early Books: The Secret Garden, Carry On Mr. Bowditch, Number the Stars 06:43 \u2014 When He Realized He Had Become Internet Famous 07:12 \u2014 The Comments That Have Encouraged Him Most 08:01 \u2014 Why Reading Aloud Still Matters: Stories, Hearts, and the Art of Attending 08:20 \u2014 Why Jesus Told Stories \u2014 and Why People Haven't Changed 09:52 \u2014 Why a Human Voice Is Different from AI 10:32 \u2014 What Children Hear Before They Are Born 11:41 \u2014 How He Hopes These Recordings Support Parents at Home 12:24 \u2014 Adventures in Odyssey, Car Trips, and Multitasking Moms 12:46 \u2014 What He Hopes Children Remember Years from Now 13:57 \u2014 The Demonetization Challenge: What Happened and What It Means 15:01 \u2014 The Difficult Decisions Demonetization Has Created 16:50 \u2014 Rumble and Patreon: Exploring New Platforms 19:09 \u2014 What the Ideal Platform Would Look Like 22:04 \u2014 How to Support Internet Grandpa Right Now 24:52 \u2014 What He Has Learned Through This Season of Difficulty 25:36 \u2014 Trusting God When the Path Is Unclear 27:48 \u2014 An Encouragement to All CC Families: Cultivate a Love of Books 28:15 \u2014 The Story of His Son Christopher and the Flashlight Under the Covers 30:06 \u2014 Prayer Requests and How to Stay Connected 31:15 \u2014 Where to Find Internet Grandpa: YouTube, Facebook, and CC Connected 31:50 \u2014 Closing Words from Kelly and a Final TTFN from Mr. Hall ","author_name":"Everyday Educator","author_url":"http:\/\/classicalconversations.libsyn.com\/podcast","html":"