nextTalk with Mandy Majors

Send us Fan Mail What actually helps teens talk openly with their parents?  In this special episode, Mandy sits down with her 18-year-old son, Carter, before he leaves for college to hear his honest perspective on parenting, communication, phones, boundaries, and growing up in a digital world.  Together, they reflect on what helped build trust in their relationship, why creating a safe space matte...

Send us Fan Mail What should parents do when a child’s friend starts making unhealthy choices?  When kids open up about what their friends are watching, saying, or experimenting with, many parents instinctively want to immediately end the friendship. But reacting too quickly can shut down communication and teach a harsh kind of “cutoff culture” instead of wisdom, discernment, and healthy boundarie...

Send us Fan Mail A mom asked a question at one of our live events that sparked a conversation on our team.  She created a phone contract with her kids that included mutual phone checks —meaning she could look at their phones, and they could look at hers. Then she asked: “Is that ok?”   In the moment, Mandy said yes—affirming the mom’s desire to build trust and model openness. But afterward, our te...

Send us Fan Mail What’s one simple parenting habit that builds trust?  In this episode, Mandy shares why saying what you mean—and following through—can shape how your kids see you for years to come. When parents are consistent with their words, it builds credibility, respect, and a sense of security in the home.  She also shares two additional thoughts for parents in the early years, including sta...

Send us Fan Mail Last year, we shared a parenting story that went viral.  It was a simple moment—but it sparked a wide range of reactions.  In this episode, we go back and read real comments from that post and respond.  Some were encouraging.  Some were critical.  Some made big assumptions from a single moment.  We talk through what those responses reveal about parenting, marriage, and communicati...

Send us Fan Mail Parents have been raising concerns about social media for years—and now the courts are starting to catch up.  In this episode, we’re joined by Tori Hirsch, legal counsel at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), to break down two major court cases involving Meta.  We unpack the New Mexico case, where the company was found liable under consumer protection laws, and the...

Send us Fan Mail If you’ve ever relied on a screen to get through a busy moment, you’re not alone—and you’re not a bad parent.  In this episode, Mandy Majors is joined by licensed marriage and family therapist Kristina M. Fields, MS, LMFT, to talk about the growing “iPad kid” trend and what it means for young children.  Together, they unpack how early screen habits impact brain development, emotio...

Send us Fan Mail Online gambling is growing fast—and it’s reaching kids through their phones, games, and social feeds.  In this episode, we break down why sports betting has exploded, how gaming mechanics like loot boxes can mimic gambling, and why young men are especially vulnerable.  We also share practical, preventative conversations to start early, plus clear red flags to watch for if your tee...

Send us Fan Mail Parent Question: Something Is Off with My Teen—Now What?   When your teen suddenly seems different, it’s easy for your brain to jump to the worst-case scenario. New clothes, new friends, sharper attitude—and suddenly you’re wondering if something is seriously wrong.  In this episode, we talk about what to do when something feels off with your teen and how to take that concern seri...

Send us Fan Mail Kratom and 7-OH are showing up in gas stations across the country, sometimes in energy-drink style bottles teens can easily access. Drug trend expert Jermaine Galloway (“Tall Cop Says Stop”) joins the nextTalk Podcast to explain what parents need to know about kratom, 7-hydroxy, and other hidden gas station drugs. Parents may assume these products are safe because they are legal o...

Send us Fan Mail Belinda Swan brings front-line insight from NCMEC’s CyberTipline, where reports of sadistic online exploitation (SOE) jumped more than 200%. Unlike traditional sextortion, the goal here isn’t profit or sexual contact—it’s terror. It’s a threat that twists fear into action: hurt yourself, hurt someone else, or we’ll ruin you. We discuss how parents can spot it, stop it, and protect...

Send us Fan Mail What if the real win in youth sports isn’t a trophy or scholarship, but a kid who knows who they are?  In this episode, we sit down with Merideth Zingelmann, Operations Manager at nextTalk and mom of three college athletes, to unpack a practical path for families who love sports but refuse to let it run their lives. From backyard games and rec leagues to varsity pressure and recru...

Send us Fan Mail A landmark verdict and two powerful medical pivots leave parents asking: how do we love kids well while pressing pause on irreversible decisions?   RESOURCES Detransitioner wins $2 million against New York docs who pushed double mastectomy - https://nypost.com/2026/01/31/us-news/detransitioner-wins-2-million-against-new-york-docs-who-pushed-double-mastectomy/ US plastic surgeons g...

Send us Fan Mail Barna’s latest data reveals a historic shift: women now attend church less than men. But what if the Bible’s most debated words about women actually overflow with dignity and strength? Join author and Bible teacher Jen Oshman as we cut through cultural noise and reclaim a Scripture-first vision of womanhood. Support the show KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www.nextTalk...

Send us Fan Mail Outrage is easy. Raising calm, thoughtful kids in a world of viral tragedy is the hard, holy work we unpack today. We start where the internet rarely does—by mourning a human life—and then walk through how to guide teens and tweens when graphic clips and hot takes hit their feeds. Our aim is to lower the temperature at home, foster healthy communication, and teach practical skills...

Send us Fan Mail Sirens wailed, the power went out, and four boys huddled under the stairs while their mom felt the helpless truth every parent dreads: I can’t cover all of them. The tornado missed their house but tore through their town, and later a small voice asked a big question. Courtney Reissig unpacks how one terrifying day grew into a life-giving conversation about God’s character, sufferi...

Send us Fan Mail From an actress in War Room to the author of a new teen girl devotional, this heartfelt conversation is a gentle masterclass in presence over platitudes. We get practical about what to do if your child is struggling with their faith, how open hands can quiet rebellion, and why modeling Scripture at home matters more than quoting it.  Support the show KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Conne...

Send us Fan Mail A bedtime question changed everything: “How can I be a better mom?” What came next—“You’re not a good listener”—cracked open a new way of parenting that traded control for connection and turned our home into a place where hard topics could be spoken out loud. Support the show KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www.nextTalk.org Facebook Instagram Contact Us... admin@nextTa...

Send us Fan Mail How did we move from panic to peace when raising kids in a digital world? We share stories of moving from sleepless nights to steady confidence as we discuss the practical plan where the surprising payoff was immediate—less anxiety while scrolling, more teachable moments, and a home filled with a daily rhythm of open conversations. Support the show KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect...

Send us Fan Mail The hardest part of digital parenting isn’t picking the right app or filter—it’s building a home where conversation is constant and boundaries make sense. We walk through the simple guardrails that protected our kids and explain how relationship-first parenting can coexist with firm, clear rules that kids actually respect. Support the show KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us....

Send us Fan Mail Kids are hearing about explicit content long before they have a phone. We open up about the real shift that changed our homes: moving from protecting everything for our kids to preparing them to protect their own heart and mind. That mindset turns fear into integrity and equips our children for an overexposed world. Support the show KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www....

Send us Fan Mail What if your kid isn’t “addicted” to their phone—what if their brain is just wired for fast dopamine now? Licensed therapist Kristina Fields, MS, LMFT, breaks down the science of attention, why phone-free school policies actually work, and how small, consistent changes at home can rewire focus without declaring war on technology. She also gets real about using her own clinical pla...

Send us Fan Mail Hard questions deserve better answers than panic or platitudes. We dig into a simple, sturdy framework—build a moral compass and default to love—that helps parents lead honest conversations about sex, technology, and culture without shaming kids or surrendering their values. Support the show KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www.nextTalk.org Facebook Instagram Contact Us...

Send us Fan Mail What if the scariest question your kid asks is actually a gift? We explore how a single moment of trust—when a child chooses you over Google—can prevent an algorithm from becoming their teacher. From highly sensitive topics to messy, real-life dilemmas, we unpack a practical, compassionate way to be your child’s safest source in a world that rewards shock over wisdom. Support the...

Send us Fan Mail We break down how a simple guideline – no secrets in our family – turns kids into confident reporters. From team sports to online chats, we walk through a safety scale showing how prevention happens as we trace the grooming playbook from “small” secrets to predatory behavior. Support the show KEEPING KIDS SAFE ONLINE Connect with us... www.nextTalk.org Facebook Instagram Contact U...