The Power of Storytelling with Maggie Tokuda-Hall

In this episode of Rise with Defense of Democracy, host Addison K. Witt sits down with acclaimed children’s and young-adult author Maggie Tokuda-Hall to explore the vital role of storytelling in defending democracy. Maggie shares how her family’s history, her creative path, and her resistance to censorship converge in her work. They discuss the rise of book bans in U.S. schools and libraries, the emotional weight of writing for young readers, and why the freedom to imagine—and read—matters now more than ever.

Together, they explore how literature can become a form of protest when voices are silenced, and how one book can open new worlds for readers from every background. By the end of their conversation, listeners will be inspired to see reading not merely as a pastime but as a courageous act of creative survival and civic engagement.