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.
More About this Episode
From Football Fields to Literacy Frontlines: Malcolm Mitchell’s Mission to Empower Youth Through Access and Reading
In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, the challenges facing young people go far beyond academics or athletics. They’re navigating a world where access to information, to technology, to opportunity can shape their futures more than ever before. Malcolm Mitchell, a former Super Bowl champion turned children’s author and literacy advocate, understands this deeply. Not just because he’s seen both ends of the spectrum, but because he lived the journey from under-resourced communities to NFL glory, and now, to the frontlines of educational empowerment.
His partnership with Cox Communications as a Digital Access Ambassador isn’t a career detour; it’s the culmination of a mission that began with a single realization: reading changes everything.
Bridging the Digital Divide: Why Access Matters
Mitchell's work with Cox is rooted in personal experience. Growing up in a "book desert" with limited access to resources, he understands what it means to dream without a roadmap. Communities like the one he came from are often labeled, under-resourced, high-poverty, low-opportunity, but what Mitchell saw was potential. What was missing was access.
Now, as a Digital Access Ambassador, Mitchell travels the country speaking to youth about the power of connectivity, not just to the internet, but to their own futures. Cox’s initiative goes beyond simply supplying broadband; it's about making digital literacy a cornerstone for upward mobility. Mitchell’s voice adds lived truth to that message.
“You can have all the hope in the world,” he says. “But without access, like a basketball for someone who wants to play, you can’t put that hope into practice.”
It’s this synergy between belief and access that defines his work. With Cox, he’s helping young people understand that digital tools, when used with intention, can unlock doors that once felt permanently closed.
Literacy in a Digital Age: A Dual Powerhouse
Mitchell isn’t just an advocate for digital access; he’s a fierce proponent of literacy in all its forms. Traditional and digital literacy, he argues, are not competing forces but complementary ones. Both offer young people the tools to explore, imagine, and grow.
Reading widened Mitchell’s worldview. What once felt like a life limited to the football field expanded into a life of purpose through words. He didn't just become a reader; he became a writer, penning picture books designed to inspire other kids who may be struggling like he once did.
“Reading was the most self-empowering tool I could ever possess,” he says.
He draws parallels between the internet and a library. Both are vast worlds within reach, if you know how to navigate them. That’s where digital literacy enters the conversation. It’s not just about having internet access; it’s about understanding how to evaluate sources, make strategic decisions, and absorb information that can empower and uplift.
In today’s social media-driven world, where so much information is consumed passively, Mitchell urges young people to take a critical stance: “All information should require critical thought.”
Share the Magic: Literacy as a Lifeline
In 2016, Mitchell founded Share the Magic Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at inspiring kids to read. This mission is deeply personal. Struggling with literacy as a child, Mitchell found hope and power in the pages of books. His transformation didn’t come overnight. It was the result of deliberate, determined effort. And once he discovered the world-changing potential of reading, he knew he had to pay it forward.
“Every room I walk into with a football, the kids are excited,” he says. “But when I pull out a book and talk about what reading can do, that’s when I really have their attention.”
Mitchell doesn’t just talk about literacy; he embodies it. He’s written several picture books, including A World Within Reach, created in partnership with Cox, designed to show kids that their potential isn’t limited by where they come from. His stories reflect his journey and are crafted to resonate with children who may see themselves in his struggles.
He’s also quick to point out that reading isn’t just about schoolwork. It’s a key to unlocking identity, developing empathy, and expanding possibilities. When a child picks up a book, they pick up the power to dream bigger and chase those dreams with knowledge and confidence.
The Role of Community in the Journey Forward
Throughout the conversation, one theme comes up again and again: community. Whether it’s the Boys and Girls Club, educators who encouraged Mitchell’s early writing, or organizations like Cox that support his mission, none of this work happens in isolation.
“I don’t think anyone does anything great on their own,” Mitchell says. “There’s nothing more powerful than community.”
That belief isn’t just sentiment, it’s strategy. Every success story, he argues, is built on a foundation of support. Just as he was able to stand on the backs of “giants” who came before him, he now works to be that support system for the next generation.
And that’s what makes partnerships like the one between Share the Magic and Cox so impactful. They’re not just offering resources, they’re investing in relationships. They’re showing up in communities, having real conversations, and co-creating pathways for success.
Youth Empowerment: Listening, Leading, and Learning
This isn’t a one-way street. Mitchell is quick to point out that the youth he meets on his journey, like Holden, the Boys and Girls Club member hosting the podcast, are his inspiration. Their questions, insights, and ambition reinforce his belief that the next generation is ready to lead.
“They want to be the best version of themselves,” he says. “Sometimes they just need someone to believe in them and give them the tools.”
Holden’s own story, 13 years in the Boys and Girls Club, a leader in the Keystone Club, and a youth podcast host, illustrates the power of opportunity and community support. For Mitchell, it’s more than inspiring; it’s proof that his work matters.
Cultivating a Growth Mindset: It All Starts with Reading
When asked what single habit or mindset teens should develop to chase big dreams, Mitchell doesn’t hesitate:
“Read.”
Not because it’s a school requirement. Not because it’s trendy. But it’s the most consistent, scalable, and self-directed way to grow. Reading builds vocabulary, perspective, empathy, and resilience. It teaches young people how to ask better questions and find better answers.
And in a world where attention spans are shrinking, Mitchell argues that reading is more important than ever. It’s a practice in patience, focus, and deep thinking, skills that are foundational for success in any field, whether it’s football, publishing, or digital entrepreneurship.
The Future is Literacy-Fueled
Malcolm Mitchell’s story is not just about overcoming adversity. It’s about choosing to transform it into purpose. From the gridiron to classrooms, from locker rooms to libraries, he’s using his platform to champion literacy and access for every child, no matter their zip code.
Through his work with Share the Magic Foundation and Cox Communications, he’s showing that reading isn’t just a school skill; it’s a life skill. It opens minds, builds futures, and creates equity where there once was none.
In a world inundated with information, Mitchell’s message cuts through the noise with clarity and conviction: the power to change your life is within reach, and it starts with a book.