April 2026

A Publishing Professional Discovers Teenagers – Ben and James Could Do Better: Two Teachers, No Idea

A pair of polyester trousers, a slightly posher tie, and the social politics of the stockroom should not lead to a conversation about literacy, but somehow it does. We start by reliving our early retail jobs in Cardiff, from Boots uniforms and "Men's Technical" departments to the legendary stockroom guru who somehow holds the entire operation together. Along the way, we revisit late-night shopping, Sunday opening, and the strange workplace traditions that everyone follows without ever questioning.We also catch up on real life: a trip to a toy superstore, a pretend mobile phone that refuses to charge, and a customer service desk that turns a simple return into something resembling a legal hearing.Then we arrive at the main event: an article by a publishing professional who leaves the corporate world to teach GCSE English resits and discovers that many teenagers don't enjoy reading. Armed with this revelation, he offers a list of suggestions for getting boys to read.Some of the ideas are sensible. Some are obvious. Some feel suspiciously like advice that sounds profound until you remember teachers have been doing it for decades.We pick apart his arguments on reading for pleasure, set texts, literacy, GCSE English, and whether there's really a magic formula for creating readers. Along the way we discuss airport fiction, choice, role models, and the slightly baffling insistence that every reading list should include a short story by Tom Hanks.If you've ever rolled your eyes at education advice that rediscovers things teachers already know, this episode will feel very familiar. Subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave us a review with the book that made you a reader.Found a worse museum postcard? Survived a ridiculous school policy? Or just want to tell us your favourite biscuit? Drop us an email at bandjcdb@gmail.com or leave a comment on our website!Read the blog and see the postcards: https://benandjamescoulddobetter.com/Send us Fan MailSupport the show

A Publishing Professional Discovers Teenagers 39:20
Made-Up Challenges (Solved With More Paperwork) 44:04
Teacher Hacks (And Other Ways to Increase Your Workload) 33:36
Students Found Our Podcast… and It’s Getting Weird 32:09
“10 Things Every Teacher Needs”… Apparently 35:26

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