10-year-old Ypsilanti boy explores love of books and reading on new podcast

YPSILANTI, MI — Joziah Jason wants to share his love of reading with the world, so he started a podcast dedicated to other bookworms.

The 10-year-old Ypsilanti boy, a fifth grader at South Arbor Charter Academy, launched “R.E.A.D Books with Joziah,” which stands for “Read, Explore, Adore and Discuss” three weeks ago. At six years old, Jason began participating in a program reading to barbers at Ypsilanti’s Fuller Cut, which gives kids $2 for engaging. Through the podcast, he reviews books, highlights his favorite parts and aims to inspire others to pick up a book.

“I read a part of the book, explore some fun facts the book inspired me to learn, like, share what I adored about the book,” Jason said, adding he also discusses it with friends. “Or I can have people call in on the pod … and then maybe they might be featured on the podcast.”

His favorite author is Rick Riordan and he loves mythology and fantasy books.

“I like seeing how it’s just a whole different world from the world we live in,” Jason said. “Reading can take you pretty much wherever you want to go.”

His father Keith Jason, a sports announcer, handles the editing process. Ever since he was a small child, he always had a book in his hand, Jason said of his son, who frequents the Ypsilanti library, Barnes and Noble and Black Stone Bookstore.

“To be able to support my son this way, and to be able to see him grow and really flourish, and help him find his voice throughout the writing process, the research process, and helping him learn how to take an idea from a concept to actually bringing it to life is a skill that he’s going to be able to use for the rest of his life,” Jason said.

Like many parents, Jason worries for his son but the two have discussed internet concerns, such as ill comments and ratings, especially since his son spends time playing games like Minecraft and Fortnite online and witnesses negativity. Low reviews don’t faze Joziah. But they might make him wonder, he said.

“In the same way that you see mean comments on those people’s posts, you might see some mean comments on your posts, and other things that you share,” Jason said to his son. “You kind of scroll past them when you see them on other people’s stuff, or maybe you comment and ‘Hey, that’s not cool.’ You have to scroll past a lot of that and let it roll off your back.”

His first episode was a review of “Home of the Brave” by Katherine Applegate with his two friends and older brother, Jozef Jason. He already has listeners from across the world, including Ireland and Australia, he said.

Beyond reading, Joziah enjoys playing basketball, football, writing fantasy stories and taking care of his pet fish, Neptune. He also learned coding and how to program his computer by waving his hand in front of the screen to track the mouse movement.

Positive feedback from his classmates and teachers also amplified Joziah’s desire to create more podcasts. Some things to expect in future episodes are an interview with with the barbers from the “Read to a Barber” program at Fuller Cut and a review on Brazilian soccer player Pele, which the AFC Ann Arbor soccer team is sponsoring.

“They gave me a book about Pele that I’m going to do an episode on, and they’re doing a giveaway to schools on that book,” Joziah said. “I think it’s really important for students to read.”

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