Podcast
Parenting in a Tech World
Hosted by Bark Technologies · EN
Welcome to Parenting in a Tech World, the podcast for families raising kids in the digital age. Join Bark CMO Titania Jordan as she unpacks digital dangers, discusses the latest viral social media trends, and shares expert tips for helping protect kids online and in real life.
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
They're Hunting Predators So You Don't Have To
3d ago00:53:03Summary readyOnline predators are actively targeting your kids right now, and two Michigan men decided they couldn't wait for the system to act. Jake Hockey and C.J. of Pred Task Force built a team that runs undercover stings, with decoys posing as minors on dating apps, confronting suspects on camera, and calling law enforcement when the time is right.Jake and C.J. are citizen investigators who have grown Pred Task Force from a local Michigan operation into a nationwide mission, with hundreds of thousands of followers watching their work unfold in real time. In four months of operation they caught dozens of offenders, and survived a loaded gun pulled on them during a confrontation.They walk you through exactly how a sting works from setup to confrontation to law enforcement handoff. They also get honest about the dangers they face, the legal criticism their work has drawn from local prosecutors, and how they define their role when the system feels too slow. You'll hear what they've learned about how predators operate online and what parents consistently get wrong about where these conversations start.Key insight: Predators aren't lurking on the dark web. They're finding kids on the same apps your teen uses every day, and early detection is the intervention that most victims never got.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review wherever you listen — and if you haven't subscribed yet, now is a great time. It helps other parents find us.Resources and links mentioned in this episode:Follow Pred Task Force on Instagram: https://info.bark.us/predtaskforce-igFollow Pred Task Force on Facebook: https://info.bark.us/predtaskforce-fbSubscribe to the Pred Task Force YouTube channel: https://info.bark.us/predtaskforce-ytSupport Jake and CJ by purchasing PTF merch: https://info.bark.us/predtaskforce-merchJoin the conversation in our Parenting in a Tech World Facebook community: https://info.bark.us/join-pitwBark monitors your child's devices and alerts you to contact with potential predators before a conversation escalates: https://www.bark.us
SummaryThe 3am Spiral: How Technology Is Lifting the Mental Load of Early Parenthood
1w ago00:38:27Summary readyThe invisible mental load of early parenthood — tracking feeds, monitoring sleep, anticipating every need — is one of the most exhausting and least-talked-about realities of having a baby. Nanit's latest parent report pulls back the curtain on what's actually happening in homes across the country during those first overwhelming years.Victoria Vaynberg is the Chief Customer and Marketing Officer at Nanit, the smart baby monitor and parenting platform used by millions of families — and she's spent her career at the intersection of technology, health data, and the moments that matter most to parents.In this conversation, Victoria breaks down what Nanit actually does beyond watching over a crib, what the parent report data revealed that genuinely surprised her, and how the platform is designed to ease — not add to — the mental load parents already carry. She also shares how she thinks about the responsibility of being inside some of the most intimate moments of family life, and the natural through-line between keeping a baby safe at night and helping families navigate technology as kids get older.Key insight: Nanit's parent report found that the mental and emotional weight of early parenthood is significantly underestimated — and that parents are actively looking for tools that give them confidence, not just information.Connect with Victoria: https://info.bark.us/victoria-vaynbergLearn more about Nanit: https://info.bark.us/nanitRead Nanit's 2026 Parenting Report: https://info.bark.us/nanit-parenting-report-2026If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review wherever you're listening — it only takes 30 seconds and helps other parents find us. Join the conversation in our Parenting in a Tech World Facebook community: https://info.bark.us/join-pitw Learn how Bark supports families as kids grow beyond the nursery: https://www.bark.us
SummaryHis 17-Year-Old Son Died by Suicide After a Sextortion Scam. Now He's Changing the Law.
2w ago00:48:07Summary readyFinancial sextortion is targeting teenage boys at an alarming rate — and most families have never heard of it until it's too late. In 2022, 17-year-old Gavin Guffey fell victim to an online blackmail scam and died by suicide. His father, South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, refused to let Gavin's death be the end of the story.Rep. Guffey is one of the driving forces behind Gavin's Law, one of the nation's first pieces of legislation specifically targeting financial sextortion — and he's now working to build momentum for similar protections at the national level.In this episode, Brandon shares who Gavin was as a person, how the scam unfolded, and what he wants every parent and teenager to understand about how these predators operate. He breaks down what Gavin's Law actually does, where the fight to hold tech platforms accountable stands today, and how families can get involved in protecting other kids.Key insight: Financial sextortion scams often move from first contact to blackmail within minutes — and the criminals specifically target teens who are least likely to tell a parent.Learn more about Rep. Brandon Guffey: https://info.bark.us/rep-brandon-guffeyFollow Brandon on Instagram: https://info.bark.us/brandon-guffey-igSupport Less Than 3: https://info.bark.us/less-than-3If this episode moved you, please leave a review wherever you're listening — it takes 30 seconds and helps other parents find us before they need this information.Join our Parenting in a Tech World Facebook community: https://info.bark.us/join-pitwLearn how Bark monitors for sextortion warning signs and alerts parents before a crisis escalates: https://www.bark.us/
SummaryDiane Tarantini on Sibling Sexual Abuse, Teaching Kids About Grooming, and Breaking the Silence
3w ago00:52:58Summary readyDiane Tarantini is a survivor, author, and body safety educator whose work is bringing one of the most underreported forms of child sexual abuse into the open. In this episode, she shares the story behind her children's book The Brave Knight — which teaches kids to recognize grooming and speak up — her memoir Everyone Was Silent, and why child-on-child sexual abuse is being called America's silent epidemic. If you've ever wondered how to talk to your kids about body safety or what warning signs parents often miss, this conversation is a must-listen.Resources discussed in this episode:Visit Diane's website for resources and to order her books: https://info.bark.us/diane-tarantiniFollow Diane on Instagram: https://info.bark.us/diane-igBrad Watts' book Sibling Sexual Abuse: https://info.bark.us/brad-watts-ssaDiane and Kimberly's online course Raising Safe Siblings: https://info.bark.us/rasing-safe-siblingsJohn Hopkins CSA resources: https://info.bark.us/john-hopkins-csa5 Waves: https://info.bark.us/5-wavesSibling Sexual Trauma: https://info.bark.us/sibling-sexual-trauma
SummaryJen Davidson on Keep Talking, Life Lesson Lunches, and Staying Connected When Kids Pull Away
4w ago00:19:36Summary readyJen Davidson spent years raising two kids with a simple but powerful ritual — intentional conversations she called Life Lesson Lunches — and her grown children loved it so much they asked her to write it all down so they could use it someday as parents themselves. In her book Keep Talking, Jen offers a warm, practical roadmap for staying connected with kids even when they're doing everything to push you away. We get into the book, the unconventional origin story behind it, and what Jen has learned navigating social media as a first-time author who never wanted to be on it in the first place.Links mentioned in this episode:Jen's website: https://www.jenshoemakerdavidson.com/Order Jen's book: https://www.jenshoemakerdavidson.com/#preorderSubscribe to Jen's Substack: https://jenshoemakerdavidson.substack.com/Follow Jen on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenshoemakerdavidsonConnect with Jen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jen-shoemaker-davidson-6079a430
SummaryWe Were the Kids You Monitored. Here's What Actually Helped.
May 2800:43:03Summary readyWhat does it actually feel like to be the kid on the other side of all that well-intentioned parenting technology? Audra and Savanna grew up navigating learning challenges with tools, apps, and monitoring software shaping their daily lives — and they're here to tell the truth about what helped, what felt like a leash, and what they wish the adults in their lives had done differently. If you've ever wondered whether the tech you're using is building your child's independence or quietly undermining it, this one's for you.
SummaryTim Tebow: What He's Seen on the Front Lines of Child Exploitation
May 2000:54:59Summary readyHeisman Trophy winner and Tim Tebow Foundation founder Tim Tebow has spent years on the front lines of fighting child sexual exploitation — and what he's seen should be on every parent's radar. In this episode, Tim breaks down the online predators hiding in the apps and platforms your kids use every day, what it took to pass landmark federal legislation protecting children online, and the real link between social media and the mental health crisis facing today's kids. If you've ever wondered whether the internet is really as dangerous as people say — Tim's work makes clear that it is, and that there are concrete steps every parent can take right now. Plus, learn how your Bark Phone purchase directly supports the Tim Tebow Foundation — and how you can be part of the mission.Learn more about the partnership: https://www.bark.us/learn/tim-tebow?ref=timtebow
SummaryHow to Break Your Kid's Phone Addiction Without a Fight
May 1300:48:56Summary readyCatherine Price is an award-winning health and science journalist, #1 New York Times bestselling author, and founder of Screen/Life Balance — and she's here to cut through the overwhelm parents feel around phones and screens. In this episode, Catherine shares what actually works for families trying to reclaim balance, including insights from her newly revised How to Break Up With Your Phone and her latest book, The Amazing Generation, co-authored with Jonathan Haidt and written directly for kids and teens. Whether you've already handed your kid a phone and are wondering what's next, or you're still trying to figure out your own relationship with your screen, Catherine leaves you with real, doable steps — starting today.Follow, connect, and subscribe to Catherine's content:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catherinepriceofficial/LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/catherinepriceofficialSubstack: https://catherineprice.substack.com/Resources mentioned in this episode:Free Family Resource Kit: catherineprice.com/familyUse code "BARK15" for 15% off the 7-Day Family Guide to Screen Life Balance: https://catherineprice.com/shop/p/family-guide
SummaryTech for Kids with Disabilities: What Helps and What Doesn't
May 700:36:36Summary readyNicole Guysi is a Family Transition Navigator at Encircle Families — Arizona's federally funded Parent Training and Information Center — but she's also a parent who has lived the reality of raising a child with a rare diagnosis and figuring out the role technology needs to play in their life. In this episode, Nicole shares what that journey actually looked like: the searching, the gaps, the wins, and the ripple effects on the whole family. If you're a parent trying to find the right tools for your child with disabilities — or you just want to feel less alone in the process — this one is worth your time.
SummaryShe Traced the Teen Mental Health Collapse Back to Smartphones
May 500:39:34Summary readyDr. Alison Yeung is a family physician and mom of two who built a community of 125,000+ followers after spending a decade watching adolescent mental health visits climb in her practice — and connecting the dots back to smartphones and social media. In this episode, she breaks down what the research actually shows about screens and kids' developing brains, why Big Tech deserves more scrutiny than parents do, and practical steps families can take today — including her Six R's framework for navigating the digital world.Don't forget to subscribe to Allison's Substack and follow her on Instagram:- https://thesmartphoneeffectmd.substack.com/- https://www.instagram.com/thesmartphoneeffectmd/
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