Doing Tech Right

AI’s Environmental Costs, Copyright Battles, and Privacy Risks (Part 2 with Dr. Karen Boyd) In part two of Larry Magid’s interview with Dr. Karen Boyd on Doing Tech Right, they discuss AI’s environmental impact, noting that video streaming often uses more data-center resources than chatbots, and that water for cooling can burden nearby communities while electricity use adds pollution on a fossil-f...

In this episode, Larry Magid and Kerry Gallagher discuss the ethical implications of AI in education with values and technology researcher Dr. Karen Boyd.  The conversation explores critical questions facing educators today: When should students be allowed to use AI tools? How do we balance convenience with learning outcomes? What skills and values might be threatened? The panel examines real conc...

In this episode of Doing Tech Right, Larry  talks with Nicholas Carlisle, CEO of Power of Zero, about childhood moving online and the rapid spread of AI as a transformative “general purpose technology.” Carlisle explains the origin of Power of Zero’s name and its focus on helping children use technology responsibly with “zero violence and zero bullying” from an early age. They discuss very young c...

This week, Larry speaks with longtime ConnectSafely partner Matthew Soeth, head of the nonprofit Thriving in Games group, about why online games matter and how to make multiplayer gaming safer and more fun.  They discuss the social, cognitive, and teamwork benefits of gaming and esports, including opportunities for neurodivergent youth, and how design choices (like player matching and communicatio...

In this episode of Doing Tech Right, Kerry Gallagher and Larry Magid explore how conversational AI can feel human, why that can be both useful and risky, and what it means for children, families, and educators. They discuss the importance of verifying AI-generated information, helping young people use AI to support rather than replace learning, and the growing concerns around AI deepfakes and “nud...

Larry is joined by Trisha Prabhu, who created the Rethink app at 13 to prompt users to pause before posting potentially harmful words. Now in law school, Prabhu leads Rethink Citizens, a nonprofit focused on K–12 education and empowerment through a youth incubator for ideas to improve the internet, training students to deliver social media safety workshops for parents, and digital literacy educati...

Larry hosts Amanda Lenhart to discuss her newest study for the Joan Ganz Cooney Center, where kids and parents used playful activities to surface challenges and brainstorm solutions for managing technology at home. Lenhart explains a key takeaway: digital parenting is cyclical—families repeatedly research, adopt, “unbox,” and then continually manage devices as children mature and new tools arrive—...

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 s...

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 als...

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, iden...

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 pra...

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 targ...

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 rum...

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, Ke...

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, Ka...

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, includin...

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.

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 adoles...

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.