Doing Tech Right

This week Larry Magid interviews Shea Gardner, director of policy and research for LGBT Tech, about LGBTQ+ experiences online and the organization’s policy work.

Gardner shares that LGBTQ+ people rely on digital spaces for community and resources but face worse socioeconomic outcomes and persistent online hate that reflects worsening real-world hostility; annual polling shows LGBTQ+ users report severe harassment yet still often feel safer online than offline.

They discuss how youth-safety legislation, bans, and mandated parental controls can unintentionally censor or endanger youth who need online lifelines, emphasizing education and digital literacy.

Gardner de...

In honor of Safer Internet Day on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, this special podcast episode features ConnectSafely’s education director, Kerry Gallagher, in conversation with Mikki Wilson, the National PTA's Connected National Ambassador. 

They’re joined by members of both organizations’ youth advisory councils, along with parents, for a thoughtful discussion on online safety and digital wellbeing.

In this episode of Doing Tech Right, host Larry Magid interviews Ovee, a high school student and founder of the nonprofit 'Tech Me Kid.' The organization connects tech-savvy teens with senior citizens in need of technology assistance.

Ovee discusses the importance of digital literacy for seniors, the wide spectrum of tech abilities among older adults, and the significance of cybersecurity. She also shares her experiences as part of Snap's Youth Advisory Council, addressing online safety and the rapid pace of technological change.

Listen in to learn more about this innovative intergenerational program making a global...

Understanding and Combatting Online Financial Scams Targeting Teens | With Vicki Shotbolt

In this episode, we speak with Vicki Shotbolt, Founder and CEO of the UK-based organization Parent Zone.

Vicki discusses the pressing issues surrounding online financial scams targeting British teens and young people. We delve into various forms of digital financial complexities, including skin gambling, identity theft, and money muling.

Vicki also provides practical advice for parents and young people on recognizing and recovering from scams. The conversation emphasizes the importance of financial literacy, open communication, and proactive measures to safeguard young people in...

In this episode of Doing Tech Right, host Larry Magid converses with Katelynn Nguyen, a high school senior and advocate for digital wellbeing, about the pressing issues of online trafficking, and sextortion.

Katelynn, a member of Snapchat's Teen Council and founder of Truth Unchained, shares her personal experiences and insights into combating gender-based violence and promoting safe online practices.

They discuss the common misconceptions about trafficking, the nuances of sextortion, and the importance of educating youth on digital risks. The episode also highlights the delicate balance between creating awareness and instilling fear, e...

Larry Magid hosts Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of the Center for Combating Digital Hate, on the 'Doing Tech Right' podcast. They discuss the prevalence and amplification of hate on social media platforms, the algorithms that drive engagement through controversial content, and the impacts of online hate and conspiracy theories on children.

Imran shares insights into how social media algorithms target vulnerable users and the urgent need for regulatory reform. He emphasizes the importance of parental involvement in children's online experiences and supports measures like the Kids Online Safety Act to protect young users.

00:00 Introduction to D...

Larry Magid hosts Erin Williamson, Chief Program & Strategy Officer at Love146, to discuss child trafficking, exploitation, and the role of trauma-informed care, prevention, and education.

They delve into the distinction between online and offline predators, effective parental strategies, and the portrayal of trafficking in media versus reality. The episode also covers the impact of online rumors, proactive communication with children, and the importance of resilience and open dialogue in preventing exploitation.

00:00 Introduction to Doing Tech Right
00:29 Meet Erin Williamson: Advocate Against Child Trafficking
01:10 Understanding Child Trafficking and Exploitation
03:34 Online Predators and Child Safety<...

We’re moving from the first season of our podcast, where we asked, “Are We Doing Tech Right?” to a new title: Doing Tech Right. This episode marks a fresh chapter, with a deeper focus on actionable advice and tips that make parenting and educating with technology easier.

Navigating First Devices: Phones, Tablets, and Timing
Larry Magid, CEO of ConnectSafely, is joined by our education director, Kerry Gallagher. They dive into the big question: When is the right time to get your child their first device, and how can you help them stay safe w...

Larry speaks with Maya Whitaker of the Bay Area Urban Debate League about how debate fosters critical thinking and respectful dialogue. They discuss how learning to argue both sides of an issue can help students navigate social media, avoid echo chambers, and better understand complex, often divisive topics.

Kate Lincoln Goldfinch, CEO and founding attorney of Lincoln Goldfinch Law, joins us to discuss how technology impacts immigration policy and enforcement.

She shares the challenges and complexities faced by immigrants, particularly under heightened enforcement, technology's role in tracking and detaining individuals based on social media activity, and the spread of misinformation.

Additionally, Kate explores the positive aspects of technology, such as enabling communication and money transfers for immigrants. The episode highlights tensions between free speech and surveillance, as well as the difficulties immigration attorneys face in disseminating accurate information online.

Kate Lincoln Goldfinch, CEO and founding attorney of Lincoln Goldfinch Law, joins us to discuss how technology impacts immigration policy and enforcement.

She shares the challenges and complexities faced by immigrants, particularly under heightened enforcement, technology's role in tracking and detaining individuals based on social media activity, and the spread of misinformation. Additionally, Kate explores the positive aspects of technology, such as enabling communication and money transfers for immigrants.

The episode highlights tensions between free speech and surveillance, as well as the difficulties immigration attorneys face in disseminating accurate information online.

In the latest episode of the ConnectSafely podcast, Larry  speaks with Dr. Anil Rama, founder of Sleep and Brain and adjunct assistant clinical professor at the Stanford Center for Sleep Sciences and Medicine. Dr. Rama shares his insights into how sleep impacts general and mental health, especially among children and adolescents.

In this episode of 'Are We Doing Tech Right?' hosted by Larry Magid and produced by ConnectSafely, Larry interviews Eric Stang, the CEO of Ooma, a company that provides internet phone services for homes and businesses using traditional or modern cordless phones. The discussion covers the declining use and quality of conventional POTS (Plain Old Telephone System) lines and Ooma's services, including emergency response reliability, cost-effectiveness, and additional features like call blocking and mobile app integration.

They emphasize the safety benefits of landlines, especially for emergencies, children, and elderly family members.

Larry speaks with Dr. Thomas Grace, head of advocacy and outcomes for Dexcom, the maker of both prescription and over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors including Stelo, which anyone can buy.

Larry speaks with Tami Bhaumik, Vice President of Civility & Partnerships at Roblox about safety, civility and parental controls on the popular gaming platform.

If your child or teen comes to you with a problem encountered online, it's important to have a conversation and not overreact.

"Nudify" apps use AI to enable removing clothing from a fully clothed person, causing emotional harm to victims, including minors.

This week, Larry chats with Dr. Hina Talib, a pediatrician and board-certified adolescent specialist, discussing essential advice for parents regarding the healthy use of social media by teenagers. 

Dr. Talib also shares insights on the dynamic use of parental control tools, the developmental approach towards monitoring social media usage, and strategies for managing mental health issues in adolescents.

This week, Larry chats with James Beser, the Director of Product Management for YouTube Youth Products.  They discuss privacy, community and what it means to be a parent of creators on YouTube and other parts of the internet.

This week, Larry sits down with Rachel Corn, who leads sales, marketing and business development at GoPowerEV, a provider of multifamily EV charging. The topic of the day is EV affordability and accessibility, specifically around the problem of how to charge them. 

This week, Larry sits down with Catherine Teitelbaum, Head of Family Trust at Amazon and a former educator with over 25 years of online safety experience. Together, they explore how Alexa has evolved and discuss innovative ways families can use Alexa and other technology to play interactive games, get homework assistance, or explore topics that spark curiosity.

Local AI experts and community activists from Ashland, Oregon and other parts of Oregon's Rogue Valley organized a conference on regional AI, focusing on the unique needs of their relatively rural region in Southern Oregon. ConnectSafely CEO Larry Magid attended the event and spoke with attendees and speakers including conference co-coordinators Thor Muller and Ian Ingram, workforce expert Heather Stafford, local science museum volunteer Cynthia Sabato, Instute of the Future staffer Toshi Andsers Hoo and Stanford law instructor Brittan Heller.

This week we speak with Dr. Anitra Warrior. Dr. Warrior is the owner of Morningstar Counseling and Consultation in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is from the Ponca Tribe of Oklahoma. She earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology in 2015 and has operated her clinic since 2012. She is also the director of the All Nations Crisis Hotline, a text based service for Native people. 

This week Larry speaks with Catherine Jensen, VP of Global Consumer Experience at Sony Interactive Entertainment. Larry and Catherine discuss PlayStation safety and privacy settings, ways that players can help each other, and the importance of intergenerational play.

This week we speak with Brad Templeton, who started his career as a software developer and after writing about a dozen software packages, he founded the world's first .com. Brad entered the self-driving car space in 2007 and his website and blog at robocars.com is the oldest and most popular site on the topic. Larry and Brad talk about use cases for autonomous vehicles, privacy and safety concerns, and the future of the technology. 

This week we speak with Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE). Larry and Michelle explore the importance of media literacy in education, parenting and our personal lives. 

Today Larry talks to Dr. Logan Schneider, M.D., Clinical Lead for Sleep Health, Google Health. Dr. Logan Schneider specializes in the treatment of sleep disorders. Larry and Logan tackle subjects like: What is sleep health and who should be concerned about it? What does it mean to democratize sleep health - what communities are at most risk? They also talk about the technology of sleep - CPAP machines, wearables, even smart beds. 

Today Larry talks to Peter Adams, senior vice president of research and design for the News Literacy Project. They discuss the upcoming election and how to detect and counter mis- and disinformation, as well as some surprising information on how media literacy is taught in classrooms.

In this episode, we shift our focus to young adults and college students. We talk to Jessie Quintero Johnson, associate professor for health and social change at Emerson College. Jessie is also a psychotherapist and a licensed clinical social worker. Jessie discusses anti-oppressive social change work, the loneliness epidemic, mental health and some of the very hopeful things about this cohort of students.

In this second episode with Jeff Jarvis, Larry and Jeff discuss this part of our two part podcast regulation, encryption, the dangers of techno moral panics, and about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which has been quite controversial in the United States.  Find out more in this follow up with Jeff Jarvis, author of The Gutenberg Parenthesis.

Larry Magid speaks with Dr. Michael Rich, a pediatrician, head of Boston Childrens Hospital Digital Wellness Lab and author of the brand new book The Mediatrician's Guide: A Joyful Approach to Raising Healthy, Smart, Kind Kids in a Screen-Saturated World

Larry talks to Jeff Jarvis, author of The Gutenberg Parenthesis, about how the age of print was an exception in history. And while that exception lasted half a millennium, we are now coming to the other end of it. What that means, and where do we go from here?

This week we join Shea Swauger, a researcher and writer for data sharing and ethics for the Future of Privacy Forum. Join Larry and Shea as they discuss AI, privacy, and ethics.

Leonard Kleinrock shares insights into the early development of the internet, including his work on the ARPANET. His story offers a unique perspective on the internet's early days and its transformative impact. Larry gets a chance to ask him questions about early safety concerns and what they might have done differently, knowing what we know now.

What does it feel like to experience racism as a black teen boy or adult male?

Dr. Courtney Cogburn, associate professor at the Columbia University School of Social Work and faculty at the Columbia Population Research Center and Data Science Institute, hopes her virtual reality experience, “1,000 Cut Journey,” will help viewers better understand both what it feels like and how racism plays out in our society.

“I thought maybe people need to walk in the experience, maybe they need to have a more personal connection that's less intellectual…so [VR] presented an opportunity to do that,” Cogburn sa...

Generative AI is transforming many aspects of American life, including education.

In this week’s podcast, Larry talks to ConnectSafely’s education director Kerry Gallagher, who’s also a full-time educator and administrator at St. John’s Prep in Danvers, Mass., about how generative AI will impact teaching and learning.

Kerry encourages teachers to use generative AI to start discussions with students about their work. And if a student uses generative AI to complete assignments even though they weren’t supposed to, she looks for the “why.”

Today we have two guests, Viktorya Vilk, the Director for Digital Safety and Free Expression at PEN America and Kat Lo, the content moderation lead at Meedan.org.

This episode addresses their new collaborative report called Shouting Into the Void: Why Reporting Abuse to Social Media Platforms Is So Hard and How to Fix It.

Larry, Viktorya and Kat discuss their findings, their recommendations for social media companies and talk about what everyday people can do to stop online harassment and abuse.

Tracy Elizabeth, Head of Family Safety & Developmental Health at TikTok, understands parents' fears surrounding social media. At the same time, she also sees the immense potential parents hold to shape their teens' positive engagement with technology.

Christine Haughney Dare-Bryan, host of the podcast "Computer Freaks," tells us about her dad's role in shaping the ARPANET. She shares his fears about harassment even in the early days of what was to become the internet we know today.

Vint Cerf is widely regarded as one of the "fathers" of the internet as designer of the TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the Internet. He currently serves as Chief Evangelist at Google.

In this wide ranging discussion with ConnectSafely CEO and journalist Larry Magid, Cerf talks about the early days, what they did right, what he'd do differently if he could do it again and what challenges lay ahead.