Speak Out Stand Out by Green Communications

A single message can flip a teen’s world. Our guest, South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey, walks us through the 100‑minute window that turned a fake Instagram flirtation into a fatal sextortion—and why he chose to go public to save other families. We move past headlines to the mechanics of the scam, the role of shame and speed, and the sobering reality that one in five teens now report sextortion attempts, with spikes...

Christiana Garcia is a high school senior who has been homeschooled from kindergarten through 12th grade. Despite six severe learning disabilities, she went from being inarticulate to an advocate for learning differences, a TEDx speaker, and a keynote presenter. She’s also a podcaster, an aspiring lawyer and co-founder of Ambassadors of Tomorrow where they raise money to support student leadership.

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Discover a hidden dimension of childhood development we talk with Devyn, the Outschool video game educator who's revolutionizing the way we view digital play. Together, we dismantle the stereotype of gaming as a mindless activity, shining a spotlight on its potential to cultivate communication skills and self-assurance in kids. Parents, prepare to be astonished by the social advancements your children can achieve as we explore...

A preschooler looks at a rectangle and says “phone.” That moment launched a teacher-mom into a deep investigation of how screens are changing childhood—and what we can do about it. Kimberly Long, a special education teacher and chapter leader with Mothers Against Media Addiction, joins us to break down the brain science, the culture shifts, and the practical steps that put parents back in the driver’s seat.

We get clear on...

If a four-year-old can price a canvas, track costs, and ship a painting, what else might kids be capable of when we give them the chance? We sit down with Leah Ellis, founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, to explore how children can turn curiosity into real businesses that teach math, money, and leadership—without piling hours onto a parent’s schedule. Leah’s story begins with a pandemic pivot and a bold yes to her daughte...

What if kids learned the moment they needed a skill, not months before it mattered? We sit down with Ben Somers, founder of Recess.gg, to unpack how problem-first projects, kid choice, and safe online communities can turn screens into tools and learners into builders.

Ben shares his journey from public school skeptic to education entrepreneur, influenced by first principles thinking and just‑in‑time instruction. We talk ab...

Hard conversations at home don’t have to turn into shouting matches. We brought in Joe Dillon, a pioneer in divorce mediation, to show how the same tools that settle high‑stakes disputes can make family life calmer, kinder, and more effective. Joe’s story starts in corporate publishing, where he learned to bridge the gap between sales, legal, and clients. That real‑world training led him to master negotiation psychology—and today h...

What if the most powerful tool we have to reduce school violence isn’t a perfect policy, but a daily choice to truly see each other? That’s the heart of our conversation with educator and speaker Jesse Hansen, who has spent 21 years inside junior highs and high schools teaching the psychology of meanness—and how to break the hate cycle with sincere, strategic kindness.

We trace common motives behind school shootings—justic...

Ever ask “How was your day?” and get “fine”? We dig into why that question stalls and what to ask instead to unlock real stories, richer details, and genuine confidence. With strategist and storyteller Anna Tran, we explore the simple shift that changes everything: listen first, then guide with curious questions that help kids hear themselves think.

We talk about transforming shy voices into self-assured communicators by m...

Fear of failure doesn’t vanish with pep talks, and comparison doesn’t make kids try harder. We sat down with psychologist and author Dr. Kate Lund to explore practical ways families can trade perfection pressure for resilient growth—without asking kids to be fearless. Kate shares her powerful personal story of growing up with hydrocephalus and how her parents focused on who she was, not what she had. That lens—see strengths, acknow...

Ever feel the urge to “win” an argument with your kid and realize later nothing was learned, only lost? We sit down with licensed counselor and CEO Gino Titus Luciano to rethink conflict from the ground up—less power struggle, more problem solving. Gino brings experience spanning autism services, child welfare, correctional rehabilitation, and private practice to show why children copy what we model, not what we preach, and how acc...

Ever notice how a single word can flip a conversation with your teen from tense to trusting? We sat down with teen and parent well‑being coach Laura Ollinger to unpack the small, repeatable moves that turn blow‑ups into breakthroughs—without scripts, shame, or power struggles. Laura brings the compassion of a mom of four and the clarity of a coach who’s helped countless families navigate anxiety, curfews, grades, and all the messy ...

What if the fastest way to help your child make better choices is to change how you show up as a parent? That question drives a candid conversation with author and mentor Richard Ramos, whose journey from at‑risk youth counseling to parent coaching revealed a hard truth: when the home isn’t healthy, everything else struggles to stick. We dig into practical, human strategies that replace power struggles with connection, and rigid ru...

What if you could have a conversation with your great-grandmother? Not just read her diary or look at old photos, but actually ask her questions and hear her voice tell you stories about her life? This isn't science fiction—it's becoming reality through innovative storytelling technology that's preserving family legacies in remarkable new ways.

Jeremy Horne joins us to share his passion for capturing family ...

Have you ever wondered why modern parenting feels more challenging than ever before? In this eye-opening conversation with licensed family therapist Todd Sarner, we explore how parents can transform daily stress and disconnection into calm, confident leadership at home.

Todd shares his profound insight that effective parenting starts with placing relationship first. Drawing from decades of experience helping thousands of f...

Gary Chubik, mental performance coach to pro athletes and organizations like the FBI, shares his journey from a shy, reluctant speaker to a confident professional communicator with practical frameworks anyone can use.

• Building self-trust is essential for confident communication
• The "Me-We-Topic-You-Us" framework provides a simple structure for effective presentations
• Preparation and proving skills t...

The college landscape has transformed dramatically in a single generation. What once cost $7,000 annually now approaches $70,000, creating unprecedented financial pressure on families navigating the higher education maze. In this eye-opening conversation with Lee Norwood, founder of College Sharks, we unravel the complexities of finding the perfect college fit while managing costs.

Contrary to popular belief, your child&ap...

Mallary Tenore Tarpley shares her journey through eating disorder recovery and offers guidance for parents navigating these conversations with their children in today's challenging social media landscape.

• Understanding eating disorders beyond body image—Mallary's anorexia developed after her mother's death as an attempt to "stop time" and stay connected to her
• The importance of recognizing ...

"Your psychology is everything. The way you interpret events matters more than the events themselves."

These powerful words from licensed clinical social worker Yuri Mello capture the essence of a transformative approach to parenting teenagers. As a father of five and co-founder of School Pulse, Mello brings decades of clinical experience and personal wisdom to the challenging landscape of parent-teen relationshi...