Parenting in a Tech World

Ben Gillenwater — aka The Family IT Guy — brings 30 years of cybersecurity expertise to the parenting table. He shares how his background shaped the way he protects his own kid online, what parents can expect from his online community, and the one change that can make the biggest difference in your family's digital safety.

Connect with Ben:
On his website
Instagram
TikTok

Resources mentioned in this episode:
How to Set Up Roblox Parental Controls
Roblox App Review
The Top 5 Hidden Dangers of Roblox
Why Parents are Banning Roblox
Ben's meditation app, Being
NCMEC and the Cyber TipLine

Stories discussed in this episode:
Jordan DeMay, sextortion
Adam Raine, ChatGPT and suicide
764 Group

Heather Dubrow, star of The Real Housewives of Orange County and mom of four, joins us to share her real-life wisdom on raising kids in the digital age. From screen time struggles to teaching inclusivity, this episode is full of honesty, perspective, and a little Housewives flair.

Parenting a child with mental health challenges can feel isolating, but support is out there. Casie Fiorello from Other Parents Like Me shares her experiences, practical resources, and advice to help families navigate these challenges with confidence and community.

Learn more about Other Parents Like Me.

Kim Gravel gets real about parenting in an always-connected world. She shares how she talks to her kids about online safety, balances social media and privacy, and uses tools like Bark to help protect her family.

Resources in this episode:
Check out Kim's website
Connect with Kim on Instagram
Tune into Kim's podcast
"Delay is the way" with Protect Young Eyes

Kids and tech collided in big ways in 2025 — from viral slang taking over classrooms to major online safety laws reshaping the internet. We’re breaking down the moments that mattered and what they mean for your kid’s digital world.

Discussed in this episode:
Australia's social media ban and how our friends from Parenting in a Tech World, the Facebook group, are feeling about it
Jonathan Haidt's The Anxious Generation
Kids Online Safety Act
All things SLANG:
Algospeak
6-7 trend
Bark's slang guide
Bark's emoji guide
Bark's sexual slang guide
Our predictions for 2026 ????
More about the Disney/Sora announcement and AI sycophancy