Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Phillip Hodge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Phillip, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
The idea for Thuggizzle Reads To Kids came from a combination of my life experiences, my passion for helping children, and my belief that education can change lives.
Growing up, I spent time in foster care and emergency shelters. I know firsthand what it’s like to face challenges and uncertainty as a child. Throughout my life, education became one of the most important tools that helped me move forward. Reading opened doors for me, built my confidence, and showed me possibilities beyond my circumstances.
Years later, as I was building my career in music and community service, I began noticing a need for more positive, engaging, and educational content for children. I saw how much time kids were spending online and on mobile devices, but I also saw an opportunity. What if we could meet children where they already are and make learning exciting? What if reading could feel just as fun as watching their favorite videos?
That question became the foundation of Thuggizzle Reads To Kids.
I wanted to create something that combined storytelling, music, learning, and positive life lessons into one platform that children could enjoy while also building literacy skills. What excited me most was the opportunity to make reading feel approachable and fun, especially for children who may struggle with reading or who don’t always have access to educational resources.
What makes Thuggizzle Reads To Kids unique is that we don’t simply read books. We create experiences around learning. Through read-alongs, educational songs, learning adventures, sight words, and our character Lil Phillip, we encourage children to explore, ask questions, and develop a lifelong love of learning. Our message is simple: “It’s cool to go to school, read, and learn.”
As the project grew, families, teachers, and children began responding positively to the content. Seeing kids smile, participate, and become excited about reading confirmed that this was more than just a business idea—it was a mission.
Today, Thuggizzle Reads To Kids continues to expand through YouTube Kids, educational music, community outreach, and partnerships that help us reach more children. Looking back, the idea started with a simple belief: every child deserves encouragement, opportunity, and access to positive educational content. That belief continues to drive everything we do.
Phillip, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Phillip Hodge, and I am the founder and creator of Thuggizzle Reads To Kids, an educational children’s brand dedicated to making learning fun, engaging, and accessible for children everywhere.
My journey into children’s education is not the path most people would expect. Before creating educational content, I built a career as an entrepreneur, community advocate, and musician. However, throughout my life, one thing remained constant: my belief in the power of education to transform lives.
As someone who spent part of my childhood in foster care and emergency shelters, I understand how important positive influences, encouragement, and educational opportunities can be for a child. Reading, learning, and education helped shape my future, and I wanted to create something that could inspire the next generation in the same way.
That vision led to the creation of Thuggizzle Reads To Kids.
Our mission is simple: help children develop a love for reading, learning, and discovery. We do this through read-along stories, educational songs, original music, learning adventures, literacy activities, and positive character-building content. Our goal is to make education exciting while creating a safe and enjoyable learning experience for children and families.
One thing that sets us apart is that we approach education through entertainment. Today’s children consume content through digital platforms, so we meet them where they are. Instead of simply presenting information, we create engaging experiences that encourage participation, curiosity, and learning. Whether it’s a read-along story, a sight-word lesson, a field trip adventure, or an educational song, every piece of content is designed to support literacy and personal growth.
Our flagship character, Lil Phillip, helps children navigate real-life situations while learning important lessons about kindness, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, and education. Through his adventures, children are encouraged to believe in themselves and understand that learning can be both meaningful and fun.
In addition to our educational videos, we have released numerous children’s music albums that focus on learning concepts, positive messages, and educational themes. We continue expanding our content library to provide families, teachers, and caregivers with resources that support children’s development both inside and outside the classroom.
What I’m most proud of is the impact we are having on children and families. Every message from a parent, teacher, or child who has benefited from our content reminds me why this work matters. Seeing children become excited about reading, singing educational songs, or discovering new ideas is incredibly rewarding.
I also take pride in showing young people that your circumstances do not define your future. My story demonstrates that challenges can become opportunities and that education can open doors that once seemed impossible.
The main thing I want readers to know about Thuggizzle Reads To Kids is that we are more than a children’s entertainment brand. We are a literacy movement focused on empowering children through education, creativity, and positive experiences. Everything we create is guided by our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.
Our message is one we share with children every day: It’s cool to go to school, read, and learn.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One of the biggest examples of resilience in my journey is simply the path that led me to create Thuggizzle Reads To Kids.
Growing up, I spent time in foster care and emergency shelters. There were moments when the future felt uncertain and opportunities seemed limited. Like many young people facing difficult circumstances, I could have allowed those challenges to define my future. Instead, I chose to focus on growth, education, and perseverance.
As I got older, I built careers in music, business, and community service, but creating a children’s educational brand presented an entirely new challenge. Many people knew me from other ventures, and some questioned whether a person with my background could successfully build a children’s literacy platform. There were obstacles, learning curves, financial challenges, and countless moments when progress seemed slow.
What kept me going was the mission. Every time I thought about giving up, I reminded myself why I started. I wanted to create something that could positively impact children, especially those who may be facing challenges of their own. I wanted kids to see positive messages about reading, learning, and believing in themselves.
Over time, the hard work began to pay off. Thuggizzle Reads To Kids grew from an idea into a recognized educational platform featuring read-alongs, educational music, learning adventures, and content that reaches families through YouTube Kids and other platforms.
The lesson I learned is that resilience isn’t about never facing setbacks. It’s about continuing to move forward despite them. Every obstacle became an opportunity to learn, improve, and stay focused on the bigger purpose. Today, when I see children enjoying our content and becoming excited about learning, I’m reminded that persistence and faith can turn even the most difficult beginnings into something meaningful.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Building an audience for Thuggizzle Reads To Kids did not happen overnight. Like many creators, we started with very little and had to earn every view, subscriber, and supporter one step at a time.
From the beginning, I focused on consistency. Instead of chasing trends, I concentrated on creating valuable content that aligned with our mission of promoting literacy and education. We regularly released read-along stories, educational songs, learning activities, and positive content for children and families.
One of the most important lessons I learned is that social media growth is really about trust. Parents, teachers, and caregivers need to know that your content provides value. When families consistently see content that educates, entertains, and inspires their children, they become long-term supporters.
Another factor that helped us grow was staying authentic. We didn’t try to be something we weren’t. Our mission has always been clear: encourage children to read, learn, and believe in themselves. That message resonates with people because it’s genuine.
My advice for anyone just starting is simple:
First, be consistent. Most people quit long before they give themselves a chance to succeed. Keep creating even when the audience is small.
Second, focus on providing value rather than chasing numbers. If your content genuinely helps people, growth will follow.
Third, be patient. Building a meaningful audience takes time. The goal shouldn’t be viral success overnight. The goal should be building a community that trusts and supports your work.
Finally, remember why you started. Trends change and algorithms change, but a strong mission can carry you through difficult periods. For us, that mission is helping children discover that it’s cool to go to school, read, and learn. Staying committed to that purpose has been one of the biggest reasons for our growth and continued success.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thuggizzlecares.org/thuggizzle-reads-to-kids
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thuggizzlereadstokids/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Thuggizzle-Reads-To-Kids-100084746876600/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-junior-hodge-b2057a239
- Twitter: https://x.com/ReadsToKids
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thuggizzlereadtokids
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thuggizzle-reads-to-kids
- Other: Thuggizzle Reads To Kids is an educational children’s brand dedicated to making learning fun through read-along stories, educational music, literacy activities, and family-friendly adventures. Follow us for new read-alongs, learning songs, and educational content that inspires children to discover that it’s cool to go to school, read, and learn.
Image Credits
Phillip Hodge