What if dyslexia is not a deficit, but a different way of processing information that schools still fail to understand?
In Episode 97 of Pre-Zero Sports Talk, Sid Bensalah sits down with Russell Van Brocklen, a New York State Senate-funded dyslexia researcher, to unpack his raw personal story and the learning system he built after being failed for 15 college credits despite receiving state-approved accommodations. That moment pushed him into a 20-year mission to rethink dyslexia, writing, reading, and performance.
After failing 15 college credits despite state-approved accommodations, he decided to solve the problem rather than accept the system as it was. That decision changed everything.
What this episode covers
Russell explains why many schools still teach dyslexic students through the wrong cognitive pathway. He breaks down his focus on the overactive “front brain” and shows how his method uses typing, word analysis, followed by articulation, and teaching from the specific to the general.
He also shares real case studies. These include students who made rapid writing gains, a homeschooled child who moved from low percentiles to the mid-60s in under a year, and an explanation of why sports can become a major strength-builder for dyslexic kids when coached the right way.
Why this conversation matters
This is a long-form, honest conversation on dyslexia research, brain-based learning systems, coaching dyslexic athletes, parent action steps, institutional resistance, and how AI may help the next generation learn faster and write better.
Timestamps
00:00 The Dyslexic Advantage: From First-Grade Reading to a Better Learning System
00:58 The F That Sparked A Mission
08:49 Why Schools Miss Dyslexia
09:37 Brain Science And Early Testing
12:28 Fourth Grade And Up Solution
13:48 First Grade Level Evaluation
17:23 Assembly Internship Accommodations
21:45 Law School Trial By Fire
26:16 Dyslexia As A Grad School Edge
30:22 Front Brain Strategy Explained
32:17 Ten Minute Max Writing Demo
40:46 Casey And Specialty Motivation
45:02 Building A Learning System
49:02 Kimberly And Reed Breakthrough
53:07 Scaling Beyond Elementary
54:11 Movie Review Writing Framework
55:11 Theme Word Challenge
55:27 Adult Movie Reviews
56:52 Shakespeare Story Framework
57:41 From Script to Theme
58:45 Dictionary Word Analysis
01:01:42 Warrants and Body Paragraphs
01:02:58 Proof With Dyslexic Students
01:04:16 Scaling the Method
01:04:52 Grayson Mars Publication
01:06:52 Schools vs Neurodiverse Brains
01:09:11 Parent Action Steps
01:13:09 Three Question Profile
01:21:00 Sports as Strength Builder
01:24:24 Coaching Dyslexic Athletes
01:27:01 Institutional Resistance
01:35:36 Textbooks, Screens, and Markup
01:39:51 AI as Research Assistant
01:44:44 Hope and Advocacy Plan
01:46:19 Lightning Round Takeaways
01:49:09 Final Advice and Closing
Learn more about Russell → https://DyslexiaClasses.com
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📲 Watch the full interview on YouTube + Spotify