Media Savvy Moms

When you need to communicate the next play in football, you huddle. When you need to regroup, you call a timeout. It’s not all that different for a family when you think about it. Each day, there are plays to be made, problems to solve, and new ground to cover. Why not huddle? Try a Family POWER Meeting to layout your next winning game plan. Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Do you ever find yourself caught in a parenting slump? You know, when it feels like the weight of the world rests on your shoulders; but your last ounce of creativity just flew out the window. How do you get unstuck? Try harnessing the energy of the Family POWER Meeting. If you’re a longtime listener of the podcast then you’ve heard me use the term Family POWER Meeting before. I think it's one of the most effective tools a family can use to foster better, more open communication. (And you know I’m all about open, honest communication!) But a Family POWER Meeting is more than that. It’s an energy booster, a problem solver, a solution generator, and effective crisis control. Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Addicted. Not addicted. How would you describe someone that can’t stop looking at porn? What if that someone is just a kid? Does that change your perspective? If addiction is not the right word, what do we call it? How should a parent respond when their teen feels trapped? Does it help to know how a teen’s brain responds to porn?  These are the questions I was eager to ask Mary Sharpe. She, with her husband Dr. Darryl Mead, founded the Reward Foundation in 2014. They aim to make the science of sex, love, and relationships accessible to everyone. What drew me to them is their concern about pornography’s impact on adolescent growth and development. Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Who has time for self-care when their child is struggling? As moms, we tend to put everyone else first, neglecting our own well-being. We take on guilt and lose our individuality. We assume we’ll have time to take care of ourselves after the crisis has passed. But while we’re frantically patching up the problems on the outside, our insides are deteriorating.   In this episode, Barb Winters of hopefulmom.net joins Marilyn to talk about the importance of self-care, especially when our child is in a crisis. A few months after Barb learned of her son’s struggle with porn, she realized she was grieving the loss of the son she thought she knew, and she heeded the advice she had given so many other women. Take time to mourn the loss and heal. We are more effective when we parent our children from a place of wholeness.   Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://paren

More than a half-century beyond the civil rights movement and America is still fighting to end racism. How does this connect to the conversation of pornography? Think about it. Porn thrives on exploitation. Racism included. But it’s something most people don’t consider. Why is that? What are the consequences of leaving racism in pornography unchecked?  Dr. Carolyn West is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Washington, Tacoma. In that capacity, she’s been investigating domestic violence and sexual assault for more than two decades. Recently, she began to look more closely at racism in pornography. What she found was deeply disturbing. In an effort to raise public awareness and help college students recognize blatant racism in the media they consume, she created the documentary film, “Let Me Tell Ya’ll ‘Bout Black Chicks: Images of Black Women in Pornography.” Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to their children and teens about pornograph

Does the idea of talking to your child or teen about pornography make you nervous? Why do you think that is? Perhaps, simply, it’s a conversation muscle that hasn’t been used. I’ve been thinking about strength lately. And all the courageous things we do as parents that take us out of our comfort zone. What do you do when you don’t feel strong? How can you find the necessary courage and strength to talk to your kids about pornography? One of my friends posted about an impressive (read: insane) workout she completed on New Year’s Day to mark the beginning of 2021. It was a combination of things like lunges, mountain climbers, burpees, pushups, situps, etc. to make up a mere 2000 reps. Whoa! For most of us, what my friend accomplished sounds way too hard to even attempt—almost impossible. Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podca

When has sex-education not been a polarizing topic? One side against the other. Home against the state. But while concerned adults are still duking it out, internet pornography has swooped in and taken over. Not cool! Porn instructs children and teens through the lens of exploitation. So how do we set our differences aside and find a way to safely address pornography in the classroom? Liz Walker, Managing Director of the Youth Wellbeing Project, says the key to better education is to get over the “us against them” mentality. Rather, we need to look at both sides objectively to determine what’s actually putting our kids at risk. Children and teens can be fortified against the harms of porn. But we need to give them an opportunity to understand what drives the industry (i.e., violence, exploitation, trafficking, and profit) and help them appreciate porn’s impact on individuals, relationships, and society. Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids an

Your child’s been caught looking at pornography again and again. How do you respond? Is it panic first? Quickly followed by a determination to “fix” the problem? Maybe you want to spring into action. Finding therapy for your child crosses your mind. Why? Because dealing with pornography is new to your parenting repertoire. But is therapy right for your child? Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

Imagine being a kid, all alone, and carrying the weight of a dark secret. For many teens, that’s how they describe using porn. What begins as curiosity quickly becomes a compulsion. Breaking free feels nearly impossible. Now, imagine being that same kid and finding out you have a whole team supporting you: parents and friends that love you enough to tackle the porn talk. And help you find true freedom from pornography! I had the privilege this week of meeting and talking with Smith Alley. By all accounts Smith is your average seventeen-year-old. He goes to high school. He loves to play football and lacrosse. He loves to connect and hang out with friends. In his spare time he works on his motorcycle and fixes up old cars. Plus, he’s set up his own company to help families tackle the porn talk and stay safe online.  Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://pare

Welcome, 2021! And welcome, third season of the Media Savvy Moms podcast. I’m excited to see where this year will take us. I'm an optimist at heart and I can’t help but think, no matter what life throws at us this year, we got this! I know you’ve probably gone through tough times. And you’ve got big worries. I have them too. But I believe that together we can look forward with excitement, joy, and confidence to the year ahead. Imagine us sitting down together with a cup of tea. Or better yet, going on a walk—talking through whatever is most pressing on your mind. For me, it just helps to get the words out. Somehow it helps put things in perspective. And there’s nothing like a friend to be your sounding board … definitely makes the worries more manageable. Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality.

Want to connect more with your kids over the holidays? Consider the benefit of storytelling and shared memories. It’s a strange and wonderful gift. One that I discovered almost by accident. A few years back my parents decided they wanted a different kind of Christmas gift. Instead of a wrapped present, they asked me (and each of my siblings) to write a story—or more precisely a memory. It could be from our childhood or otherwise. The only rule was that it had to be ready to share with the whole family on Christmas Day. Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to children and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality.

One by one, young survivors have come forward. They’ve told harrowing stories about videos posted on Pornhub that portray their victimization and even their rape. Discover how you can take action against Pornhub today and help put an end to child exploitation online.   There are lots of ways to spread awareness: tweets, posts, blogs, podcasts, newspapers, demonstrations, etc. But if we want to see real change in our community we have to engage the policy-makers.  That means getting involved (just a wee bit) in the legislative process. So, I’m challenging you to write one simple letter. It might not seem like a big deal. Or maybe it does (because you don’t like writing). But I’m going to show you how EASY it is to write that letter. AND why it is so very important that you TAKE ACTION NOW!  Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality.

How do you feel about kids and video games? If you’re like many parents, you’re conflicted. You want your children and teens to have fun and enjoy the very best that tech entertainment has to offer. But you're also concerned about hidden risks. Are the chat features in today’s games safe? What about exposure to extreme violence and pornographic content? How likely is it for a child to become addicted to video games?  We’re parents, we get it. We’ve asked all these questions (and more!). That’s why we sat down this week with Nadja Strieter, Programs Director at Game Quitters—an organization devoted to helping gamers (and their loved ones) understand and overcome gaming addiction. Nadja’s approach is practical and down-to-earth. She’s able to cut through controversy, go to the facts, and give us sound advice. If you’ve got kids that love to game, be sure to tune in for the full interview.  Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about po

2020 has brought numerous changes to our households. During the lockdown, our normal typically structured daily routine loosened, and many of us (parents and kids alike) became more involved with gaming. Even though our daily schedule has changed again, many kids are staying up later and even gaming all night. You may be wondering what to do, especially as the Holidays approach.  This episode is part of our #DearSavvy series. Sometimes you just want a quick answer to a burning question. These shorter episodes are designed to give you just that. Tune in to the podcast to hear the whole scoop, and check out the show notes for helpful tools and information. If you’d like to submit a question, click here to Contact Us.  Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. For complete show notes, visit http://parentsaware.info/index.php/podcast/.

On your list of tricky topics to bring up with your kids, how high is sexting? Top 3? Top 10? Is it even there? If it's not, keep reading, and it’ll soon be number one. The combination of digital cameras, instant messaging, and the adolescent brain puts our kids at huge risk. The bullying begins. An intimate photo is blasted. The police are called in. Kids today need to know they have better options. They need to know that they can stand up to sexting.  Fortunately, there’s a phenomenal resource that takes this particular tricky topic and turns it into a fun—yes fun!—and incredibly comfortable conversation starter. It’s a book (or a guide, if you prefer). And it’s called Stand Up To Sexting: An Open Conversation for Parents & Kids.  We had the privilege of sitting down this week with the authors, Christy Monson and Heather Boynton. Christy’s a grandma to tweens, teens and beyond. Heather’s a mom to teens and younger. Both are professionals in the field of child development. And both have seen first hand t

How do we choose the perfect gift for kids today? And what does that even mean? Do we simply get them whatever they ask for? We could go with the latest tech device, right? But then that means coming up with digital safety solutions. Maybe it’s better to choose a more thoughtful and creative gift? It’s possible that there are just too many choices! Well friends, 2020 has caused us enough stress! Budgets may be tight. And is it safe to say that we're all sick of screens? Let’s take a fresh look at how to tackle the Holiday shopping list. Whether interested in going tech-free or tech-friendly, this episode has the advice needed to find the perfect gift for all the kids on anyone’s list.  Tune in as we wax nostalgic to uncover the secret gift-giving formula. Plus, summarize what our favorite tech experts say is the most important thing to do before wrapping up any tech gifts this year. Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornogr

We talk about how connecting with our kids can help protect them against addiction and the harms of pornography. But how exactly do we build those healthy connections? Ever considered the benefits of adventuring with your kids? They go well beyond exercise and a healthy dose of fresh air. Adventuring together builds connections in unimaginable ways. Plus it's fun! We have a return guest this week, Greta Eskridge—supermom, home educator, social media influencer, and most recently ... published author (details below). And BOY is she fun to follow! Her passion is to be out doing AMAZING stuff with her kids! And that’s exactly why we’re picking her brain. What’s the secret to these amazing adventures? And what can we learn from her experience? Last time Greta was on the show, we were in the first few weeks of the COVID-19 madness. Suddenly dumped into the schooling-from-home arena, we looked to her for advice. At that point, none of us imagined that several months later, we would still be in lockdown. Most of us

Pornography is easily accessible and is permeating our lives. And while we, as parents, are becoming more aware of its effects and recognize the need to talk with our children about pornography, many wonder when, where, and how to start the conversation. It’s a scary task, oftentimes more so for parents than for the kids! So, where do we start?  This episode is part of our #DearSavvy series. Sometimes you just want a quick answer to a burning question. These shorter episodes are designed to give you just that.Tune into the podcast to hear the whole scoop, and check out the show notes for helpful tools and information. If you’d like to submit a question, click here to Contact Us.  Media Savvy Moms is a podcast by ParentsAware, an organization dedicated to helping parents talk to kids and teens about pornography and healthy sexuality. 

Child sexual abuse. It’s a serious topic with no easy answers. It can hurt just thinking about it—no matter whose child it affects. So what are we to do? Do we close our eyes, try to think of happier thoughts, and wish for it to all go away? No! We do what we can do. We control what we can control. We teach children about body safety. We give them the best protective information we can. No one knows how to do this better than Holly-ann Martin. She, with the help of her husband Roger, founded Safe4Kids, a Western Australia organization devoted to Abuse Prevention Training. Simply, they saw a need and went to work. With a background in education, Holly-ann has developed a host of incredible resources (see links below). Each is designed to help parents and teachers empower children with the necessary life skills to not only help protect from unwanted sexual touch (including exposure to pornography), but also teach children how to build and nurture respectful relationships. If there’s one underlying message that

Do you have a child who is obsessed with anime? Are you freaking out? Or maybe you just want to know what all the hype is about. What is anime? Is it dangerous? If so, how can I protect my kids? Is there any way to safely enjoy anime?  Anime. Suddenly it’s everywhere. All the kids are talking about it. All the parents are scratching their heads about it. And many families have sent us horror stories because they didn’t know what they were getting into, and their kids have been traumatized in its wake.  So what is anime anyway? Maybe you have some pieces of the puzzle. You know Pokemon Go is a thing. You’ve seen anime titles pop up on YouTube or Netflix. (Who could miss that pronounced Japanese animated style?) The kids are chatting non-stop about their favorite series and anime characters in the carpool on the way to school. So what’s the deal? Is anime evil? Is it safe? Should we be worried about this craze permeating the upcoming generation? Tune in to the podcast and we’ll figure it out together! Media Sav