Dr Kristy Goodwin is one of Australia’s leading digital wellness and digital parenting educators and the author of Raising Your Child in a Digital World. Kristy is regularly called upon by the media to translate the latest research about kids, teens and screens into practical and relevant information for worried parents and professionals. She provides parents and professionals with facts, not fears, about how screens are impacting on children’s health, learning, wellbeing and development and also on adult health and productivity. Kristy’s on a mission to empower people to tame their technology habits and not be a slave to the screen! Here's just some of what we cover in this episode: The part of the brain related to personality and expression and when it's at its most active in teens Digital footprints and what you need to know about digital archives Parent dilemma: gaming, plan or ban? How best to manage the boundaries. The growing shift in the power dynamic and why digital rewards are not recommended Fake social media accounts and vaults. What you need to know How technology encourages us to multi task and why we need to learn how to mono task  Why attention management is the most important skill we can cultivate in our children today. Plus so much more For further information on Dr Kristy and her work or to see where she is speaking next in Australia, visit her website.

Kim McCabe is the founder and director of Rites for Girls which, since 2011, has offered Girls Journeying Together groups, support for mothers and training for women wanting to support girls. Described by Steve Biddulph as 'the creator of an extraordinary social advance', Kim's robust remarkable work gives girls the support they need to see them through their teens. After studying psychology at Cambridge University, Kim worked as a counsellor to teenagers. She has also trained and worked as an assertiveness trainer, a business management consultant and a shamanic dance teacher. Kim contributed to Ten Things Girls Need Most by best selling author Steve Biddulph before writing her own book From Daughter to Woman, parenting girls safely through their teens. For more information please visit Rites for Girls.   Here's just some of what we cover in this episode: The 4 stages a mother can support her daughter through to help her know herself and hold onto her dreams for her future Creating a culture of acceptance where teens can be themselves and don't feel they have to 'fit in' How a daughter date will help you develop a unique bond and healthy relationship with your daughter  Tools for your teen to build self-awareness and handle stress  Why teaching our teens how to self regulate can empower and protect them  Modelling behaviours and why it's better to show rather than say what we believe  Plus so much more!

Christine Wheeler is an expert EFT practitioner and has worked with thousands of people to help them alleviate physical, emotional and spiritual challenges and live with hope and joy. She has also taught parents, school and counselors to put this unique self-help tool into the hands of the people who are caregivers for youth. A Hay House author, Christine's book The Tapping Solution for Teenage Girls is the essential tool for teen girls to help them Stop Freaking Out and Keep Being Awesome. Here's just some of what we cover in this episode: What EFT tapping is and why it can help alleviate teen stress and anxiety Why teens don’t know how to manage their stress and what they do instead How we can help our youth better manage their increasing stress levels and build their own toolbox What a stress backpack is and why we need to empty it regularly An alternative option to screen time for hyperconnected teens  How to let go of deep-rooted fears You can learn more about Christine and get her book The Tapping Solution for Teenage Girls on her website.  

Zack Bryers has been a homeless teenager, a soldier in Afghanistan, a gridiron player for Australia, a Churchill Fellow, and now a youth worker. After leaving home at 15, Zack spent time on the streets, before he set a goal to join the army which turned his life around. He spent tours of duty in Afghanistan before post-traumatic stress disorder saw him medically discharged. Within 18 months Zack was playing for the Australian gridiron team in the World Cup in the United States. He then trained as a youth worker. With compassion and consistency and drawing on his own experiences, Zack supports and inspires some of our community’s most disadvantaged and disengaged young people. Here's just some of what we cover in this episode: key milestones in Zack's life that led him to receiving the prestigious 2018 ACT Young Australian of the year award  the warning signs of a disengaged youth and what to do about it external validation, what it means and why teens crave it ways to improve low self esteem in young people how to spark interest and hope in teens that have tuned out goal setting and how it transforms a teens mood and mindset  how young teens can make the most of technology and use it for positive growth and development Further Resources To learn more about Zack and the work he does visit his website.

Jordan Foster is formally recognised as one of Australia’s foremost cyber safety experts, providing online safety education to over one hundred thousand students, families and school staff Australia wide. Jordan is a Clinical Psychologist Registrar and the founder of ySafe, a now nationally-adopted household name in the field of cyber safety. Jordan has extensive clinical expertise in working with children and adolescents managing problematic technology use, including cyber bullying, image-based abuse, and Internet Gaming Addiction. Jordan has presented as a guest lecturer at prestigious Australian universities, provides comment in national media stories as a subject matter expert, consults with medical and mental health consortium conferences, and presents as a key note speaker at national education and cyber events. I know you're going to get so much out of my conversation with Jordan, I certainly did. Here's just some of what we cover in this episode: values and venting and how both play such a big part of online behaviour what we can do as parents and educators to address these challenges what online disinhibition is and the problem it creates for young people the latest trends and apps you need to look out for understanding our role in conflict mediation and some simple steps we can take to prevent online incidents escalating the one word we need to say more of, as parents and educators who is really responsible for cybersafety? schools or parents. one piece of advice you can implement straight away to offer some Zen in your life and the life of your teen Further Resources To learn more about ySafe and the work Jordan does to support parents, schools and communities visit ySafe.

Susan McLean is Australia's foremost expert in the area of cyber safety and young people. Widely regarded as Australia’s first cyber cop, she was a member of Victorian police for 27 years and took her first reported case of cyber bullying, amongst Year 8 girls, in 1994! Her best selling book Sexts, Texts and Selfies has just launched a second edition and in this interview she shares all the latest insights. I found this conversation with a Austlalia’s cyber cop so helpful and I think you will too. Here's just some of what we cover in this episode: how to deal with cyberbullying sexting, its reality and the new laws surrounding this sextortion and image based abuse – the risks and the reality how to manage your child's digital reputation  how to establish and maintain good online habits the good apps and the ones you need to avoid   Further Resources: To learn more about Susan, her book and her work visit Cyber Safety Solutions. Cyber Safety Solutions on Facebook.

Commonly known as the ‘Queen of Common Sense’, Maggie Dent has become one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators, with a particular interest in adolescence and resilience.    Maggie’s experience includes teaching, counselling and working in youth suicide prevention. The author of 10 books, she is a dedicated advocate to quietly changing lives in our families and communities. Maggie is the mother of four sons and a very grateful grandmother. Note: Whilst this episode is audible there were some technical issues on this interview, hence the quality is compromised. It's a great conversation with Maggie and worth listening to, so thank you for your patience. Here's just some of what we cover in this episode: The major challenges parents and teachers are facing with young people and their digital lifestyles and what we can do to help Sensationalised and negative news cycles and how best to manage a 24/7 biased news feed. Great actionable tips from Maggie's many books, in particular Real Kids in an Unreal World. What is excessive consumption and online addiction and how to take preventative measures against it. How our tweens/teens can build emotional intelligence in a healthy sustainable way online. Heart connections - why you need to create these micro moments in your day. Creating higher digital standards in the home with some simple steps and boundaries. To learn more about Maggie and her books and programs, visit her website.  

  Rachel Downie is an educator and social entrepreneur who has worked in public and private school settings for over 20 years. She now workshops with students, teachers and parents in school communities in Australia, to tackle issues of bullying and harm, eSafety, cyber wellness and personal safety. She educates through two organisations she has founded: Stymie, an anonymous online reporting system for use in schools nationally and Bravely, which focuses on raising confident girls.   Here's just some of what we cover in this episode: What Stymie is and how it can help your teen at school. Why teens are device literate but not digital literate and the challenges that creates for them and you. Free Resources to help you have more empowering conversations with your teen about how they are consuming digital media. What happens to a teen's Emotional Intelligence when they are online. How to create your own Digital Values to guide and support your family. Why we need a Culture of Care in schools today and what it looks like. Two great pieces of advice that you can implement right now to offer some Zen in your life.   Further Resources: Rachel Downie’s website Stymie Anti Bullying for schools website ESafety Commissioner Conversation Starters Family Zone Cyber Safety  

Dr Justin Coulson is a dad (of six!), a bestselling parenting author and founder of Happy Families. He is an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Positive Psychology in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne. Justin consults to the Federal Government's Office of the Children's e-Safety Commissioner and acts in an advisory capacity to well-known organisations including Beyond Blue, the Raising Children Network, Life Education, Intel Security, and the Alannah and Madeline Foundation. Here's just some of what we cover: How much screen time is too much and what to do about it. The number one concern for parents, carers, educators and youth workers regarding the young people in their lives. Why a one size fits all solution for teen tech wellbeing doesn't work. How to positive parent and why fear and guilt fails to support our children. Why incorporating PLAY is vital and how you can do that with your tweens and teens. The simple love languages you can practice to improve your relationships with the young people in your life. What device addiction really looks like and what to do about it. The opportunities in tech and why it's not all doom and gloom. One simple piece of advice you can act on today to experience more Zen! And so much more.   You can learn more about Justin and his great work on his Happy Families website.   Further resources: Love Languages for Teens Happy Families Books and Programs

Anya is an education correspondent for National Public Radio (NPR). She wrote about technology, innovation, sustainability and social entrepreneurship for five years with Fast Company magazine.  She was named a 2010 Game Changer in Education by the Huffington Post and won 2009, 2010, and 2015 National Awards from the Education Writers Association.  Here's just some of what we cover: The real state of play with tech in our family lives Why saying it's all social media's fault is not the answer Using tech to enable and empower our young people Behavioural red flags to watch out for before we consider using the word 'addicted.' The TWO things to consider when assessing digital consumption. Why you have more influence over your teens/tweens online habits than you think. What is an Internet Gaming Disorder? The Kill Switch and other great apps to get kids off the screen. Anya's one piece of advice that you can take to introduce some Digital Zen in your life. Right now. You can learn more about Anya and her new book, The Art of Screen Time on her website. Further resources: The World Health Organisation, the public health division of the United Nations, has released its newest list of classified diseases, of which "gaming disorder" is included. WHO's International Classification of Diseases (ICD)    Headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation Ltd Lifeline SMARTRecovery Australia Circle: Smart Family Controls  Family Zone