Youth Unmuted

Ep. 1 - From NFL to Literacy Leader with Malcolm Mitchell

• Boys & Girls Club of Benton County • Season 1 • Episode 1

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Two worlds can shape a life: the one you’re born into and the one you can reach. We sit with Malcolm Mitchell, former New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion, children’s author, and Cox digital access ambassador, to unpack how opportunity, literacy, and community turn potential into progress.

Malcolm shares what it means to grow up in a “book desert” and then discover how access opens doors. We talk about the bridge between traditional literacy and digital literacy: finding credible sources, questioning what we read, and using information to make better choices. He explains why hope needs tools, how the internet can widen a young person’s lens when used with intention, and why reading is the compounding habit that accelerates every other skill.

We dive into the origins of Share the Magic Foundation and the moments that prove kids want to do meaningful things when given the chance. From classroom visits to picture books like A World Within Reach, Malcolm shows how stories can spark belief. We also explore real-world shifts, like a school’s phone ban that led to a 40% rise in library visits, and how to design environments that produce the outcomes we want. Along the way, we trade favorite reads, celebrate community power, and keep it real with a rapid-fire round that reveals Malcolm’s lighter side.

If you care about youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and practical steps to build critical thinking, this conversation will meet you where you are and push you forward. Listen, share it with someone who needs a nudge, and leave a review to help more people find the show. Want part two? Subscribe now, Malcolm’s NFL journey drops November 18th.

SPEAKER_00:

What is up everyone? My name is Holden and I am from the Boys and Girls Club of Benton County. We are getting to be a part of the first episode of Youth Unmuted, and I have an amazing special guest with you guys today. His name is Malcolm Mitchell. He's with Cox Communication. He is a digital access ambassador, and he is passionate about helping young people thrive in today's digital world. He was a former Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and a standout at the University of Georgia. He has since turned the page from playbooks to picture books as a celebrated children's author and advocate for literacy. His journey shows club kids that resilience and hard work can open doors on the field, in the classroom, and in life. So, Malcolm, it's a pleasure to have you. I appreciate that intro. Yeah, no problem. All right. So as we get started, first, um, can you tell me what is your special and what is special about your partnership with Cox?

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I grew up in an under-resourced community, which means we didn't have access to certain things. Um, some will call it a poverty pocket, or there are some food insecurities and a book desert. So the idea of opportunity and having access to things that would allow you to believe that there are opportunities outside of your immediate circumstances were restricted. I grew up in that environment, but I also had the luxury to go to a university. I had the luxury to play in the NFL, had the luxury to have all these amazing experiences, like sitting here with you having this conversation. So I know the importance of having access. So when Cox came along and offered this opportunity to go into different communities and talk about what it means to have access and how the internet powers that, uh, it meant a lot to me because I could speak on some of the things that I saw as a child growing up.

SPEAKER_00:

Absolutely. That's amazing. And it just really like makes me think about like the different worlds that we all come from. Exactly. We're all just like we're all one, like one country, like we're all from America, but like the different like aspects of everyone's life, you know, like where everyone comes, like they can really unite together. And that's something that you're a part of, and that's really amazing.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, we're in Arkansas right now having this conversation, but I've had the privilege of traveling to many different places in this country, and we all face similar challenges. And truthfully, we all have similar hopes and ambitions for the future. Is can we lock arms, have authentic conversations like we're having right now, and find the best path forward? And I respect Cox because they're trying to do that. They're trying to say, hey, we understand the challenges, we understand the opportunities. Let's see what uh we can provide to help get us further.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's exactly right. And I know you've already touched on it a little bit, but what has really inspired you and made you want to become a digital ambassador for Cox? People like you.

SPEAKER_01:

I mean, seriously, it's I remember growing up and not understanding what the world truly had to offer, but having this desperate desire to make a difference. And I know that's not just isolated to me. I know it's not just isolated to you. There are millions of kids around this country who want to be the best version of themselves. But sometimes we face situations and circumstances that we didn't decide. We were just born into that create challenges that distract us from our true potential. I am known to be an optimist. I am known to have this overwhelming belief that all people have value. So to me, it's how do I play my role in this larger, larger ecosystem of um kind of encouraging those positive outcomes? And being with Cox gives me an opportunity to do that.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's exactly right. And to me, like what you're saying is like your circumstances do not define you, like who we are as a person, like where you're from, like what you were born into, like that is not who you are. You can overcome that and just really like be your own person. And like you're a walking example of that. Well, I appreciate that. Yeah, that's something super amazing that you you walk the you walk the walk and talk to talk. So that's super awesome that you're here and just being able to speak on that is super cool. Yeah, but it requires it requires certain ingredients.

SPEAKER_01:

Um and to me, hope is a very important one, right? Hope and belief that I can be more than the challenges that I'm facing, that I can overcome those challenges. There's another ingredient I think is important, which is access, right? You can have hope, right? You play basketball. Yes, sir. Okay. Imagine if you wanted to be a good basketball player, but you never had a basketball. Well, how do you practice becoming a better basketball player? You can't, you can't. So you can have all the hope you want, you can have all the belief that's possible of one person possessing, but you still need a basketball.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's right. And that access is exactly what it sounds like Cox is trying to do. It's make that for everyone. That's something super cool. So I want to know um, how do you see digital literacy and traditional literacy working together to empower youth? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

So when I was growing up, I struggled to read. But later on, I found out that reading was the most self-empowering tool we could possess. So I set out to be a better reader. And through reading, my perspective broadened. So just imagine me seeing the world through a lens that was this small. Once I began to read, that lens widened. And through the widening of that lens, the belief I had in what I could do in the world shifted drastically. I thought I could only be a football player. Well, reading showed me something different through access to that information. Well, as I think critically about what the internet is doing, yes, it provides a platform for us to explore whatever we choose to explore. But through that exploration, we're getting access to information. And to me, digital literacy is understanding how to use the internet to get access to credible information, use that information to help us make strategic decisions and get us further down the path of accomplishing our objectives. I think traditional literacy and digital literacy host the same opportunity, which is access, right? Through that access, we can see further, we can go further, we can believe further, we can dream bigger dreams, we can have hope that's unwavering. But we have to think about it differently than, hey, let's just see who's wearing the coolest stuff.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I agree. And it's just like the social media like that we have today, it's like another way to like amplify people's like stories and like who they are. And like like just today, like being able to be on this podcast and them getting to hear a little bit about who you are and like what you overcome, like that's something that is still like new to this world and that we're learning to adapt to. And that's super cool that you've been able to really like just be able to connect to both of those and like use that as your platform.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, I appreciate that.

SPEAKER_00:

I do.

SPEAKER_01:

And I think if used strategically, those are two powerful tools that can take a person wherever they want to go.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. Um, so with that being said, can you share an impactful story, your achievement from your work with the Share Magic Foundation that exemplifies um your core mission and the positive change in your life? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01:

I created Share the Magic Foundation in 2016. The mission is to inspire kids to read. As I told you, I grew up a struggling reader, went through the process of acquiring the skill to read proficiently. And I think that's what led me to where I am at this very moment. I've traveled this country promoting literacy, encouraging kids to read, writing books for students to read. Wrote one for Cox called A World Within Reach. And on these journeys, I meet kids every day who desire to grow up and do something meaningful. Yeah. I've never, I've never I've never run into a student who desires to drop out of school, who desires to go to jail, who desires to live in a cycle of poverty. Those aren't the things that I witness. Um, so the examples I would say is when I walk into the room, I have a football, but the moment I start talking about literacy and helping them understand how this tool will help, they latch onto the book.

SPEAKER_00:

And to me, that means a lot. Yeah. Um, can you share a little bit about how you're able to start um your share of the magic foundation? Reading. Reading.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, I had no idea what I was doing when I started off. I just wanted to help. And I initially started the process of helping by writing picture books for students. And through those picture books, I formed relationships with educators, and they told me how they thought I could support their ambitions in the classroom. So Share the Magic Foundation was really created, not went through all the proper paperwork. You know, you have to file for your 501c3 status, you have to get a board of directors, and you have to go through the step-by-step process. But at its core, it was community. A community of educators encouraged me to establish something that they thought would be helpful, and I wanted to help. So I did it.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, um, community is something you mentioned, and like with the Boys and Girls Club, like the community is something so strong and like something that we we like to support so much because being able to give back to a community that like does so much for you. Like, as a boys and girls club, like we're a nonprofit, you know, and so much of what we have, especially in Northwest Arkansas, comes from the donations and the support we get from the community. So tell us a little about like your community and like how they've been able to support you through your entire journey.

SPEAKER_01:

Sir Isaac Newton has a quote. And I'm gonna try to articulate it properly. If I have seen further, it's because I've stood on the backs of giants. I've just had some incredible people in my life that allowed me to step on their back. I don't think that any single human being does anything great on their own. There's a a group of people behind you encouraging, supporting. As we got ready to start this podcast, I'm not sure how many people walked in the room, tried to ensure that you had what you need to be the very best that you can be. Right? This ideal of self-made or you do it on your own is just not true. There's nothing more powerful than community. Nothing. And I believe that. I think people are more valuable than money. I think people are more valuable than accolades. I think without individuals who support you and lift you up, you can't sustain. It's just impossible. That the task is too daunting, and I'm not sure that's how we as people were designed in the first place. I have a question for you though. Yes, sir. Why did you decide to do this?

SPEAKER_00:

No, so that's a great question. And um honestly, like it's just the support that I get. Um, like I started my boys and girls club journey when I was six years old. So I've really been a part of the club for almost 13 years now, and it's kind of just become like who I am, like as a person, you know, because of like the values that the boys and girls club has, like, we are constantly like giving back. Like over the summer, um, a group of us, Keystone, Keystone is a um a community service-based organizations for like young adults 14 to 18 years old. And like what we do is we just find ways to give back. And every summer, like all the Keystones from around the world, and I say the world because we have military bases like all over. And um, so we got to meet in um Chicago this year. That was where our conference was, and I got to be a part of 12 members that got to plan and host that conference, and it was just it was just such a surreal experience to just like see everyone come together and just like communicate and like spread ideas and awareness for like the issues that matter to them and just like how they've been able to like fight those issues and like make those aware and just like get the help, and like you really see like the community that each like member has, like the Boys and Girls Club has so many amazing like community members and partners like Cox and like yourself, and I just find amazing ways to give back to us and just to truly allow us to thrive. And when I get to come in like these situations, and I'm surrounded by people like you and like my advisors and just people at the club, it just like it makes me feel like happy inside and like stay optimistic for our future because there's so many good, there's so much good in the world, and so many people that want to give back. So, like being a part of this, like this is just a part of my journey. Like, I'm only 17, like I'm just getting started, and I want it to continue and I want it to flourish and like getting these opportunities that's allowed me to really get to like gain new perspectives and you know, just like really meet new people. And it's just like the connections that I've made and the people that I've got to speak with that like really allow me to like find who I am through like the the support of others, and that's something that I'm super grateful for. I respect that.

SPEAKER_01:

I think what you're doing is amazing, and yeah, you're 17. You got I can't wait to see what you you do as time goes on.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, thank you. I appreciate that. Um, you touched a little bit about getting to like make those picture books for others. Like, what kind of inspired you to like make those and like were any of them like based off of memories in your life or like pictures?

SPEAKER_01:

I wrote my first picture book in college, 2014 when I started writing it. When were you born? Oh, 2007. Come on, man. Seven years old. Seven years old. Yeah, I was reading a lot, and reading was having a profound impact on the way I was thinking and the way I was solving problems. And I thought to myself, man, I need to tell everybody I know because I remember me and my classmates being terrified when we had to read aloud. I knew I was not the only person who struggled with reading. In fact, less than 40% of our students in the country are reading on grade level by third grade. There was an article released this year that reported that 12th grade reading scores are down to the same level they were in 1992. That's before I was born. That's before you were thought about, right? So you think about this evaporation of reading. And if you take away reading, well, you take away all the benefits that are associated with it, and that's just detrimental. That's detrimental to the individual, that's detrimental to the school, that's detrimental to the community, that's detrimental to the state, that's detrimental to the country. Right? And I wanted to do something about it, and I'm one person, understanding my own limitations, I thought a book would be the greatest vehicle. So I started writing picture books to inspire young kids to read. And that inspiration came from my own journey in literacy.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, that's something super impactful. And I also I saw that statistic. Yeah, and like as like a 12th grader, like as a senior, I was like, I was like, that's like that's like upsetting to hear because that can really like can change like the way that people like think and like their decisions were like, wow, like there hasn't been a group that was like not as smart as we were since like 1992. Like with all the advances, like it can it can be hard. And like I know you experienced some of that like yourself with like the struggles of reading, like people it can really weigh on them, and not everyone has that access, like you said, to be able to get the help that you need, especially those rural areas. Check this out.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, I just read an article this morning before I I pulled up. And in Kentucky, there's a school that banned cell phones during school operating hours. Now, my first thought is whoa, because I like my phone too. And I always tell people don't put a book beside a phone and say, pick one, because that's an easy decision, right? They they banned cell phones during school hours, and there's a 40% increase in library visits during the school day. So that forces me to ask the question in a competitive world, how do you create an environment for the outcome that you want? So if we want more kids to read, if we want more people to use the the internet in a meaningful way, well, that may require not granting certain things during certain times. And that makes everyone uncomfortable, which I completely understand. You take my phone away, I have a problem. Yeah, right. But we have to learn how to train our brains to stop us from going down the rabbit hole of what um certain platforms allow you to do.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, and that's interesting that you said that because our school also banned phones. And for me, it's like like, wow, like obviously I want to be on my phone, like when I have free time. But like it does make me think like I have picked up a book more now that I can't be on my phone. And for some of those students, like myself included, like like it always is beneficial to pick up a book, get to learn something new, really get to explore, you know, like what you're learning, but really just getting to find it for yourself. And I think that's something that like books do that, like your phones cannot is like you get to find all the information and decipher like how you want, like it's on your own because the author is writing it for you to like come up with your own mind and like decide like in your brain, like how you want that story to be made. What do you think is happening next? And like on our phones, like everything that we really like see and hear has been like altered just a little bit by who's ever writing that and like reposting that. So I think that is an interesting statistic.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm forced to ask the question if we do that with written text without a book, why can't we do that with written post?

unknown:

Right.

SPEAKER_01:

We'll read a book and say, I don't know if I agree with that. But we could do the same thing. I don't think phones are necessarily the issue, I think it's the way we perceive the information we consume that we have to kind of challenge. But all information should require critical thought. I don't want to distract us from the point of the podcast too much, but no, yeah. You know, I I I hesitate to blame anything except the person in the mirror. Yeah. You know? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00:

No, I mean that's true. So much of like what we're taking today, like people always say, like, take it with like a grain of salt. Just like like barely listen to a grain of sand, like listen to like what they're saying. Like, so much of what we're hearing, we just like take in like without questioning it. Um, and so like it really like makes you like you gotta think about like what you're hearing and like maybe developing those reading skills more and like maybe like learning a little bit about what you're doing, doing that research is like exactly what you need to help you out with that social media and everything. So I agree, I agree, and I think that's an interesting point that you have to think about. Yeah, but we'll keep thinking about no, yeah, for sure. All right, so getting back, um you touched a lot about the library visits, have um got up. You said 40% for that um district in Kentucky. Um, so maybe tell us like what is your favorite book or your favorite author that you have. Oh man, that's hard.

SPEAKER_01:

It's I have to I break it down into different categories. Um, I love reading articles on my phone, to be honest with you. Um because it's it is easy to access the information. So I'll wake up in the morning and I'll check out a few articles and I'll read them and question them and think about them. I read a lot of picture books. Some of my favorites are Oh, the places you'll go by Dr. Seuss. I love a book called Exclamation Mark by Amy Kraus Rosenthal. That's the book that really encouraged me to read a lot more and write. I love The Day the Crayons Quit. You know, I I read a lot of those. Uh I do have two children too, so I read to them, but I also write those type of books too. As it relates to fiction or nonfiction, let's go nonfiction. I really enjoy biographies. I read Malcolm X biography, I thought it was profound. I think he's one of the individuals that morphs on numerous occasions throughout his life. He started one way, went down this uh religious path, questioned that religious path, and then went down another path. And it's just fascinating that a person throughout their entire life until it ended was questioning everything. Um, whether it's controversial or not, it's just the exercise that I enjoyed. Uh watching or reading about him going through. I enjoy um trying to pick up something I read, think of something I read recently that's non-fiction, economic facts and fallacies. I'm reading Fail You Now. It's about higher education and how do you quantify whether it's beneficial or not, which is good to challenge. In terms of non-fiction, I mean fiction, I Homegoing is a book that I really enjoyed. I just finished a book called Theo of Golden, written by a Georgia author. I'm from Georgia. And someone texted me this morning about reading The Anxious Generation. It's about our attention span and things such as that.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah. So um when you talked about those like nonfiction books, like and you like name those and like what do about like over and over in my mind, like I thought about that critical thinking. Like a lot about like those books that you said, like goes back to that critical thinking that we need to have. I think that's something I'm super cool that kind of just relates, like you said, that's important that we have that. Then you're like practicing that again by like reading all these books that really like make you think and you get to hear out this perspectives.

SPEAKER_01:

Yeah, and I think it's through this perspective that you grow because you you're forced to challenge your own perspective. Yeah, right. Or if you think that because I didn't grow up with a father in my life, if you think that um consistently in my life, I'll say that. If you think that that's an excuse for you not to be the best you can be, well, if you read a book about a person who's never known theirs, well, it kind of breaks down your excuses. And once you kind of alleviate yourself from that, you can go further. And I and that's just that's a negative example, but there are positive examples too. Of if you want to write a book, well, you read about someone who writes one and you realize they're not that different than you. So I too have all the tools needed to do the same thing, and I think that's just empowering.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, you know, yeah, and I can relate um myself. I have never met my father, he hasn't been a part of my life, but like for me, it's kind of just something that like I don't see as like something that sets me back. If anything, I just use it to like lift up, like lift me up. And like I think of like my mom and how much she's done a great job. Like, they're amazing. Yeah, I don't know how they do it. I don't have siblings. Uh I don't.

SPEAKER_01:

It's just I'm an only child. Man, I have three. I mean, um, I it's three of us total. I'm the middle. Um, so I got I had to deal with a lot of Malcolm in the middle. Yeah, you know, don't you do it?

SPEAKER_00:

That's what that's what I was thinking of, but I'm not gonna do it.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm not gonna say anything. I'm not gonna but moms are amazing. Uh I appreciate you sharing that too.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, you know, I know it's not always easy to say. Yeah, for sure. I appreciate that. So we do have one more question for you on this part one, but before we get there, I want to play a game, if that's all right with you. Come on. All right, so this is called rapid fire. I'm gonna ask you um around 10 rapid fire questions, and you're just like as fast as you can, you're just gonna respond. All right, you ready? Yeah, all right. What is your favorite comfort food? Skittles. All right. If you were a superhero, what would you want your power to be? Fly. What is your guilty pleasure? Skittles. If you had a theme song, what would it be?

SPEAKER_01:

Um making my way downtown, walking fast. I think I heard that on a movie called White Chicks.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Uh morning or evening. Oh, morning. Morning. Uh pancakes or waffles? Both. Okay. Going in or staying out. Pet dinosaur or pet dragon? Dragon. Favorite movie. The Dark Knight.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay.

SPEAKER_00:

What is your spirit animal? Sea turtle. Favorite snack?

SPEAKER_01:

Skittles.

SPEAKER_00:

What would you rather explore? The o the ocean or the outer space? Ocean. Favorite cartoon? SpongeBob. Okay. That's it. Um I learned from that is you need to get this man some skittles. You really like some Skittles. Alright, this I love me some. Wildberry. Yeah. Wildberry. That's purple pattern. That's purple patch. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get what you're saying. And um, my favorite animal is probably a turtle. So spirit animal, I could definitely see my C Tiddle being that. Yeah. Alright, well, that was super fun. And last question we have. Do I get it? Do we have time? I want to do it to you. Oh, yeah, I guess we do. Yeah, let's go. You ready? Yeah. I'm ready.

SPEAKER_01:

Favorite comfort food. Nachos.

unknown:

Gotcha.

SPEAKER_01:

If you're a superhero, what would you want your power to be? Teleportation. That's a good one. What's your guilty pleasure?

SPEAKER_00:

Oh, it's just nachos again. Okay. If if your life had a theme song, what would it be? Um, the theme song to friends. You know that one. Oh, yeah, I do. I do, I do. Can you sing it? Um, it's gonna be this way. Of respect. Something like that.

SPEAKER_01:

Yes, yes, yes. Morning or evening? Evening. Pancakes or waffles? Waffles. Going out or stay staying. Going in or staying out? Staying out. Pet dinosaur or pet dragon? Pet dragon. Favorite movie? Trek. Whoa, that's a good one. Yeah. That's a good one. Yeah. What's your spirit animal? Turtle. Favorite snack? Nacho's again. Okay. What would you rather explore the ocean or explore out of space? The ocean. Respect. Favorite cartoon.

SPEAKER_00:

I'm gonna do like a Disney show. I was really big into iCarly as a kid. She just did a new movie, I think, on um one of those streaming platforms they're submitting now.

SPEAKER_01:

I'll have to watch that. Miranda Cosgrove.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I was a fan of her as well. Yeah. So thanks. That was super fun. We got some similarities. Um, minded to reline the Friends theme song. Yeah, that's all good. No, yeah, we'll get that. Great attempt. Yeah, thank you. All right. And the last one I have for you is what is one habit or mindset that teens can start building now if they want to chase big dreams? Whether that's shooting for a spot in the NFL or becoming a widely popular author.

SPEAKER_01:

Read. Trust me. Yeah. I've been able to make it as a professional athlete, and I've seen the world from many different perspectives. I don't know everything by any means. I would say I don't know anything, to be honest with you, but I do know the power of reading will change the outcome of our lives.

SPEAKER_00:

Yeah, I mean, that's inspirational. And like getting to hear like everything that you've been through and everything that you overcame and what you're still doing, like to this day. Like reading sounds exactly what you did. You've become like a superstar yard today. So I appreciate that. I appreciate you being open and honest with me. Yeah, being able to like give your time to come out here today. Um, that is all we have for part one. But um part two is gonna come out November 18th, and we're gonna get to hear a lot more about your NFL career and what that was like. So thank everyone for tuning in and thanks for thanks for coming on this podcast. Appreciate you, no problem.