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In this episode of Penned By Design, we explore what it truly means to write with purpose and create work that extends beyond the page.

Educator and author Charlie Marcol shares how writing began as a personal outlet and evolved into a vehicle for impact, identity, and legacy. We unpack the difference between being a writer and simply wanting to be an author—and why that distinction matters when building meaningful, lasting work.

This conversation also dives into storytelling as a form of leadership, the responsibility that comes with shaping young minds, and how creative work can influence confidence, culture, and community. Charlie reflects on how her experiences in education informed the stories she tells and the brand she’s building—one rooted in representation, purpose, and generational impact.

If you’re writing a book, building a brand, or creating something that you want to last, this episode will help you think more intentionally about your voice, your message, and the legacy you’re leaving behind.

Connect with Charlie:

Website: itsthecoolcollective.com

Instagram: thecoolestbooksever

Facebook: Charlie Marcol

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Why do so many students struggle with writing?

In this episode of the Penned By Design Podcast, host Destiny Jordan sits down with Amber Parks, founder of Writing with Design, to explore how writing can be taught in a way that actually works for students and teachers.

After years of teaching in classrooms around the world, Amber noticed a pattern: students didn’t hate writing—they just weren’t being taught how to do it step by step. So she created a writing framework designed to help students move from simple sentences to complex essays with confidence.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Why writing feels so difficult for students
• The difference between writing talent and writing skill
• How structure can actually unlock creativity
• Why brevity is often better than long essays
• How teachers can make writing manageable again
• What the rise of AI means for writing education
• How students build confidence through the writing process

Amber shares insights from over 25 years in education and explains how her program, Writing with Design, is helping schools across the country improve student writing and thinking skills.

If you're a teacher, writer, parent, or creative thinker, this conversation offers a refreshing look at how writing really works—and why it's one of the most powerful skills students can develop.

Connect with Amber Parks

Website: Writing with Design.com

Recommended Book: Best Practices in Writing Instruction by Steve Graham

Follow Amber:
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Facebook

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Instagram: pennedbydesign_podcast

Facebook: Penned By Design Podcast

Twitter: @pennedbydesign

Youtube: Penned By Design Podcast

🌟Free Self-Publishing Guide: Self Publishing 101

Affiliate Links Disclaimer: I only recommend products I would use myself. This episode may contain affiliate links in the show notes. They add no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission that helps support the podcast. Thank you for the support! 😊

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What if improving children’s reading skills didn’t start in the classroom—but at home?

In this episode of Penned By Design, Destiny Jordan sits down with Margaret Bernstein—former journalist, literacy advocate, and author of the beloved dad-centered children’s books All In a Dad’s Day, Donuts with Dad, and The Father’s Walk—to talk about family literacy, fatherhood, and how everyday reading builds lifelong readers.

Margaret shares her journey from newspaper reporter to children’s author, why she left journalism to fight for literacy, and how her books are designed to help dads connect with their kids through simple, joyful reading rituals. You’ll hear:

• Why 20 minutes of reading a day can change a child’s entire academic future
• How dads play a unique and powerful role in raising confident readers—especially for boys
• The real story behind All In a Dad’s Day and how it’s changing families
• Why literacy should be treated like a family culture, not just a school subject
• How schools and communities are using books to strengthen parent-child bonds
• And how to make reading fun, emotional, and something kids actually want to do

This conversation is about more than books—it’s about breaking cycles, building connection, and creating homes where reading feels safe, joyful, and normal.

If you’re a parent, educator, writer, or anyone who cares about children, literacy, and meaningful storytelling, this episode will stay with you.

Join the Penned Newsletter on Substack for more creative entrepreneur, publishing and writing advice and insights.

🔗Connect with Penned By Design 🔗

Instagram: pennedbydesign_podcast

Facebook: Penned By Design Podcast

Twitter: @pennedbydesign

Youtube: Penned By Design Podcast

🌟Free Self-Publishing Guide: Self Publishing 101

Affiliate Links Disclaimer: I only recommend products I would use myself. This episode may contain affiliate links in the show notes. They add no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission that helps support the podcast. Thank you for the support! 😊